So why are we here, anyway? The Westminster Shorter Catechism says it this way, ‘man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.’ Does that mean we should first commit ourselves to give glory to our God, and then move on to enjoying him?

Sometimes religion is important, but usually barely, on the margin. Why is that? When you fit religion under the social sciences that helps you think it over.

At certain times we do well to say only what is necessary and only about a subject we know and understand. Young wiseacres, on the other hand, at precisely those times, offer themselves up as as experts in everything, and end up sticking their feet in their mouths. This seems to be the case in much of the growing social media commentary about this new SARS-CoV epidemic, especially as fueled by the overload of information by the "new" media.

Today, as in the past, we are faced with the enormity of the impact of the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic (Covid-19). Everyone is worried because of the transmission that is so fast, simultaneous, and deadly. Covid-19 not only kills humans, but also destroys the economy to the extent that it might go as far as economic stagnancy.

Cowper’s 18th century song rings true: when comforts are declining, God grants to the soul a season of light to cheer us again.

Our (Australian) Prime Minister has said, more than once, that we’re facing significant deprivation of comforts and such hardship that we’ve not seen for generations – even as far back as the two world wars.

COVID-19, which has so spectacularly brought the world to its knees, is a particularly deadly member of the Coronavirus family.  Corona is Latin for garland.  In Spanish it means crown.  It is also the brand name of a globally successful Mexican beer. 

Job knew loss and pain, suffering and depression. He had been a good man, a man of integrity who loved others and served God. And he had been blessed and prospered. God had “hedged him about” with a devoted family and great business success. He had everything, and he was grateful for God’s hand of mercy and grace.

Even though Rudolph had been around as a story book character well before 1949, Gene Autry’s recording in that year of the musical version of the saga made the red-nosed reindeer a standard member of the Yuletide cast in popular culture. I was a nine-year-old at the time and, having successfully pleaded for the Rudolph record, I played it over and over, much to my parents’ frustration.

Yesterday (October 1, 2018), I received a reminder from WRF Member Dr. Doug Green that that day was the 25th anniversary of the death of Dr. Raymond B. Dillard. Dr. Dillard was Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) during the time that both Dr. Green and I worked there.

 Psalm 103

Our church lost two heroes this year. Chad Wescher was a deacon and a 34 year old father of three small children. Long term disease took his life. Dot Tropiano’s three children are a bit older. Her brave struggle required wrestling against cancer. To have known either of these warriors was to know a hero.

Virtually Alone? by WRF Member Leah Farish, MA, JD

Occasionally I have the privilege of surveying church congregations to find out how to improve ministry.  In surveying the women of a PCA church recently, I felt the most intriguing response was the answer to this question:

In his book The Presbyterian Way of Life, published in 1960, John A Mackay described Presbyterians as ‘a theologically minded people’ (p 34).  For Presbyterians and all Reformed Christians, theology addresses the human mind.  But Calvin’s crest testifies that Reformed Christians also experience theology as energising the heart.