Recent posts have zeroed in on various elements involved in being a Dad.  Preparation for the upcoming General Synod of the Canadian Reformed Churches (in Edmonton)

Boys today are no longer expected to become warriors as a rite of passage to manhood. And that’s a good thing; I’m grateful that my sons did not have to physically kill an enemy to be considered men. Continue reading Teaching Boys to Fight

Previous Bits to Read had drawn out that fathers have the primary responsibility in raising their children. I want to pay attention today to the element of parenting known as discipline. How should fathers discipline their children? Continue reading Discipline – the Lord’s way

Join us for our annual Community Breakfast!

Saturday, November 2nd
8:00am – 10:00am

John Calvin School Gymnasium
330 Station Street, Smithville

Join us for an all-you-can-eat breakfast in support of
the West Lincoln Community Care Food Bank.

Bring your appetite and payment in the form
of non-perishable food items or toiletries.

Cash donations are also welcome.
For more information on the West Lincoln Community Care Foodbank, visit their website .

Hosted by the Canadian Reformed Church of Smithville

The Family Post of two weeks ago advertised the “Ezra Institute Escarpment Lecture Series”, with Dr Peter Jones set to address the topic: Carl Jung, Psychology and Jordan Peterson on Friday, June 15. Jordan Peterson: a lecture on him sounded interesting to me – and I’m grateful I went. Continue reading Jordan Peterson

For the third time (previously in 2012 & 2015) I traveled at the behest of the Mission Board to visit our missionary in Timor and present lectures at the Seminary where he teaches (the place is known as STAKRI). Now that I’m homeward bound, I’ll try to get some of my experiences and observations to paper for the benefit of the congregation. Continue reading Visiting Timor, Indonesia

Precisely 400 years ago this coming November, the great Synod of Dort began its momentous work – and so we may this year expect to hear much about what this Synod accomplished. That Synod, of course, is known particularly for its publication of the Canons of Dort. But it ought not to be forgotten that this Synod also finalized a document in which the churches agreed how they would conduct themselves in church life. That’s the Church Order, officially known as the Church Order of Dort. Continue reading Do We Need The Church Order?

People have interesting habits. The Babylonians of Ezekiel’s day believed that one of their gods, named Tammuz, died yearly when the fields turned brown. No worries, though; this god came alive again in due time, and when he did the fields turned green again. His coming alive wasn’t automatic; to ensure this god’s resuscitation, people had to bewail his death in autumn. Continue reading A Christmas Meditation

This past week many in the Christian world paused to reflect on the movement begun 500 years ago last October 31 in Wittenberg. Very correctly, many of us paused also, be it with the assistance of the assemblies put on at John Calvin School or at Guido, or perhaps by attending the Reformation Rally hosted at Redeemer College. For my part, I’d like to take a moment today to put this anniversary celebration into the context of what’s happening in today’s North American culture. To do that I intend first to discuss in one paragraph what the Reformation was about, and then consider the significance of today’s Halloween. Continue reading The Reformation

A recent discussion around the Consistory table revealed that the elders in Smithville are concerned about the ease with which our Young People (and some not so young) strike up a romantic relationship with a person outside the church. As a result of that discussion, the elders have encouraged me to republish a Bit to Read first published in early 2015 about dating. The brothers wish the members of the congregation to remind each other that dating someone outside the faith is sin before God. The brothers wish the congregation to understand too that dating someone from an unfaithful church is also contrary to God’s revealed will. In the slightly reworked article reprinted below, I’ll draw attention first to what the 1st commandment says about dating, then to what the 2nd commandment says about dating, and then I’ll wrap it all up with some specific detail. Continue reading Dating – who?