NEW HORIZONS in the ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

6 Our Church’s Journey to Reach 14 Review: Olinger’s JULY 2019 Families with Disabilities Geerhardus Vos // // by Stephen J. Tracey by Chad B. Van Dixhoorn DISABILITY AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

by Joni Eareckson Tada // 3 VOLUME 40, NUMBER 7 CONTENTS New Horizons in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Editor: Danny E. Olinger Managing Editor: Judith M. Dinsmore FEATURES Editorial Assistant: Diane L. Olinger 3 Proofreader: Sarah Pederson Disability and the Body of Christ Cover Designer: Christopher Tobias Editorial Board: The Committee on Christian By Joni Eareckson Tada Education’s Subcommittee on Serial Publications 6 Our Church’s Journey to Reach © 2019 by The Committee on Christian Education of Families with Disabilities The Orthodox Presbyterian Church. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are By Stephen J. Tracey from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard 9 Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing Joy in Volunteering ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. By Pamela Hughes All rights reserved. (We use the 2011 revision.) Articles previously published may be slightly edited. 10 Real Hope and Real Help New Horizons (ISSN: 0199-3518) is published monthly except for a combined issue, usually August- By Esther Vannoy September, by the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 607 N. Easton Road, Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA 19090-2539; tel. 215- DEPARTMENTS 830-0900; fax 215-830-0350. Letters to the editor are welcome. They should deal 12 with an issue the magazine has recently addressed. Foreign Missions Their language should be temperate, and they may not charge anyone with an offense. They should be brief, More of the Lord’s Grace in Montevideo and they may be condensed by the editor. 14 Send inquiries, letters to the editor, and other corres- Christian Education pondence to the editor at [email protected]. Review: Geerhardus Vos • Our Membership Send address changes to [email protected]. Allow six weeks for address changes. Vows • Out of the Mouth … The digital edition (PDF, ePub, mobi) and an archive of 16 previous issues are available at www.opc.org. Home Missions Views expressed by our writers are not necessarily Showing Mercy to Our Neighbors those of the editors or official positions of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. 18 Stewardship Copies are distributed free to members and friends of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Nonmembers Giving Is Practical Theology are asked to donate $20.00 for an annual subscription 19 (USD $30.00 if sent to addresses in Canada; $40.00 Prayer Calendar elsewhere abroad). A free e-mail PDF subscription is also available. Requests for a subscription should be 21 News, Views, & Reviews sent to [email protected] or the address below. Periodicals postage is paid at Willow Grove, PA, and at additional mailing offices.Postmaster: Send address changes to New Horizons in the Orthodox Presbyterian Cover photo and photos on pages 8–9 are used Church, 607 N. Easton Road, Bldg. E, Willow Grove, PA with permission of Joni and Friends. 19090-2539.

For the last few years, Emmanuel OPC in Wilmington, Delaware, has hosted monthly summer block parties in their parking lot. Organized by a committee, the church invites neighbors by distributing around three hundred flyers, putting up banners on the church property, and posting on their website. Recently, they have begun inviting neighborhoods through the NextDoor app as well. The parties have included a welcome station, a children’s station, outdoor games such as giant Connect- Four, giant Jenga, ping-pong, and corn-hole, a Bounce House, live music, and, of course, a tasty grilled meal.

2 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 DISABILITY AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

JONI EARECKSON TADA // In April 1995, a domestic terrorist bombed the Federal office building in Oklahoma City, leaving hundreds dead or trapped in the rubble. A pastor-friend of mine asked me to join a counseling team that would be ministering among the families who were awaiting news of loved ones.

After I flew into the city airport— a terrible crisis—like this terrorist at- a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, and before I could see and serve the tack—they need to see others who smile the lame, the blind, and you will be families—I was escorted to an Ameri- through their suffering. People like you blessed.” can Red Cross center to be cleared and who have courage. People who suffer Invite the crippled, the lame and credentialed. greater conflict always have something the blind? It’s not often that Jesus gets When I wheeled into the center, to say to those who suffer lesser.” that specific about who he wants in- I noticed volunteers placing coffee and Then the mental health counselor vited to his banquet. True, the point snacks on some tables, forms and re- asked a question I will never forget: of this passage is that God’s grace is sources on others. The place was slowly “Could you please tell us where we can lavished on the undeserving—specifi- filling up with families and more volun- find others like you to serve with us? cally, the Gentiles. But it also contains teers. From across the room, an official- We need people with disabilities! You a principle about hospitality toward the looking woman in a white lab coat saw are more valuable to us than you real- oft-neglected and forgotten. Jesus tells me enter. She put down her clipboard ize!” us to break out of the comfort zone of and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, are The Luke 14 Mandate friends, brothers, and relatives, and in- we glad to see you here!” stead be proactive about reaching out I wheeled up to her, curious. At first Oh, that the body of Christ would to special-needs families. Do this, Luke I thought she must have recognized me recognize the value of including people 14:13 says, “and you will be blessed.” from the Joni book. But when she intro- with disabilities, as did the Red Cross Blessings Abound duced herself as head of mental health counselor! Perhaps that’s why Jesus spe- services for the Red Cross and asked for cifically mentions the lame and disabled Just how is the church bolstered by my name, I realized that wasn’t the case. in the gospel of Luke. The woman in inviting in people struggling with dis- So I asked, “Why are you so glad I’m the Red Cross lab coat probably never abilities and their families? here?” read Luke 14:12–14, where Jesus says, I met Karla Larson, a wheelchair “Oh, sweetheart, you need to un- “When you give a luncheon or dinner, user, while at a Joni and Friends Fam- derstand that when someone like you do not invite your friends, your broth- ily Retreat. When I learned that she in a wheelchair comes to volunteer, it ers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; had lost both legs, had suffered three speaks volumes to others who are filled if you do, they may invite you back and heart attacks, was visually impaired, had with anxiety. When people go through so you will be repaid. But when you give four fingers amputated, had a kidney

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 3 removed, and had endured countless Jesus has saved us from suffering in hell, and serving him. He does this to show angioplasties, I was stunned. Juvenile but not from suffering on earth. The tes- how mercy ministry is a way of minis- diabetes was at the root of it all. When timony of the Spirit-inspired endurance tering to Christ himself. I met her, I said, “Karla, I’m surprised of special-needs families strengthens the Serving those with disabilities can you were able to make it to retreat!” To church. certainly mean sacrifice. We cannot serve which she replied, “Well, I thought I Serving the Savior at a safe, arm’s-length distance. We can- better come before I lost any more body not remain untouched. But that’s a good parts!” Karla had obviously not lost her What other blessings flow from thing. We shouldn’t merely proclaim the sense of humor. obeying Luke 14? Serving special-needs gospel; we must become the gospel to Throughout the Family Retreat, I families, and serving them sacrificially, is those in need. And that always involves was impressed with the way she poured a very personal way of serving the Lord going the extra mile and making the ex- her time into younger wheelchair users, Jesus. When I read Matthew 25:35–40, I tra effort. When we show love that costs encouraging and cheering them on dur- picture the joy of serving Christ through us our time or infringes on our comfort ing the games and activities. Karla hob- helping a disabled person: “Then the zones—such as home-sitting with a nobbed with parents, listening to and King will say to those on his right … ‘I child with Down syndrome while mom praying with them. And she always sat was thirsty, and you gave me something and dad take a much-needed break—we in front during worship time to enthu- to drink,’ … Then the righteous will an- experience Christ’s love in its fullest. Do siastically belt out all the praise songs. swer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you this and you will be blessed, Jesus says. Karla Larson epitomizes Titus 2:7: hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give Jackie Fernald knows what it means “In everything set them an example you something to drink?’ … The King to embody the good news to eight-year- by doing what is good.” Karla inspired will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever old Arthur. When young Arthur first courage in people came to Access Ministry at Jackie’s just by showing church in Virginia, he was shrieking, up; just by getting throwing himself on the floor, and up, facing the day, thumping his fists on the tiles. More and arriving. She than once, Jackie either had to roll on instinctively knew the floor with this boy while holding that people who him tightly or train college students suffer greater con- to help Arthur walk out his melt- flict always have downs around the church parking lot. something to say It wasn’t easy. to those who suffer Arthur’s mother and father were lesser conflict. amazed at her care. They told other My wheel- parents, “Come to this church—they chair-using friend really care about families like ours!” and those like her Joni Eareckson Tada (center) with Karla Larson (far left) More than a few families came to have a message for Christ and joined the fellowship. the church: God The Arthur you would meet has not redeemed us to make our lives you did for one of the least of these today is a self-aware, generous young happy, healthy, and free of trouble. God brothers of mine, you did for me’” (vs. man who loves talking about Jesus. His has redeemed us to make us like Jesus. 34, 40). prayers include missionaries and the Yes, God has wired life to be hard. Very Imagine yourself at the cross when young girl in Guatemala he sponsors hard for some—just ask any quadriple- Jesus uttered the words, “I thirst.” Don’t through Compassion International. It’s gic, any parent of a child with autism you think you’d spring into action? Per- all because one church sacrificially prac- (ASD), or any young man with cerebral haps you see yourself running to get a ticed Christianity with its sleeves rolled palsy who must reside in a facility. glass of water—anything to quench the up by giving “a drink to the thirsty.” Ac- Theirs is the power of example, thirst of the Lord, right? Sadly, you were cording to Matthew 25, we can still give reminding other Christians that life- not there that dreadful day. You cannot Jesus that drink of water. altering suffering has a place—an im- quench his thirst. What Does Disability Teach Us? portant place—in anyone’s walk with Or can you? When you serve a dis- Christ. When a congregation hears the abled person—the least of the broth- The story of Jackie, Arthur, and Ar- testimony of a couple who must live ers—you are serving Jesus. What a thur’s parents is a story of redemption. with a serious disability in the family, it blessing! God draws a connection in That young boy’s transformation is yet reminds them of an oft-forgotten fact: Matthew 25 between serving the needy another example I use to remind people

4 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 that we are all a work in progress. We are Spirit heals brokenness, cultivates com- tion. She suffered the indignities of all broken and in need of redemption. passion, and instills a spirit of sacrificial being bathed, using a bedpan, and be- We are all frail, enfeebled, and in need love. ing hand-fed her meals. After she was of God’s transforming grace. Never do The church should not be a picture- released from the hospital, she said, we enter the kingdom from points of perfect institution, all neat and normal, “Joni, I don’t know how you do it as a power; rather, we enter Christ’s king- regulated and rule-keeping. Ministry quadriplegic! It’s so hard being bathed, dom from points of grace. Disability to persons with disabilities keeps the toileted, and even fed by others. I could ministry in a church displays to every- church messy and cluttered, needy and never live like that!” one this powerful principle. dependent on God. It requires the full I laughed! I may be a quadriplegic, Disability ministry can be com- immersion of a congregation. And I but Charlene is deaf and blind. I could plex, such as in Arthur’s situation. Some don’t mean a special-needs department, say the same to her: I could never live disabilities can evolve into oppositional segregated and separated off to the side; deaf and blind! You would probably defiance disorder in children. But re- I don’t even mean mainstreaming or in- agree. We all think we could never sur- member that these children exist in clusion. I mean embracing. People with vive without our eyesight or hearing or families, families who are often socially disabilities want to know that they be- live without use of our hands or legs. isolated, financially stressed, burdened long to the body. If they fall ill and are But Charlene and I prove that people by nonstop daily routines, and just plain unable to come to church, they want to do it every day. None of these parts of tired. God hears their plea for help: know they will be missed. God wants the human body are indispensable; the “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the churches to embrace families affected eyes, ears, even the use of your legs or afflicted; you encourage them, and you by disability, telling them, “We need hands—none of it is critical to the life listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17). you here!” and vitality of the physical body. Perhaps it is why Jesus insisted that When there’s a tough disability to However, let me remind you of his followers, “Go out to the roads and deal with, there’s no time to be a pow- what the body cannot live without. You country lanes and make [the disabled, er-broker. Pastor Lon who serves at a cannot live without your kidneys, lungs, lame and blind] come in, so that my church in Virginia was struggling with or your liver. Although these body parts house will be full” (Luke 14:23). division and factions in his congrega- may be uncomely and are often neglect- When a congregation recognizes tion. His church lacked direction and ed, ignored, or unnoticed, each organ is a family’s disability-need and seeks to vision. Just when Pastor Lon was con- absolutely essential to the life and vital- meet it, the body of Christ is “working” sidering stepping down, his wife gave ity of the human body. as it should. For “the eye cannot say to birth to a little girl with multiple dis- I am convinced that the church the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the abilities. body needs more people who may be head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need Suddenly, factions and in-fighting uncomely and are often neglected, ig- you!’” (1 Cor. 12:21). We all need each disappeared. People became focused on nored, or unnoticed. We need “liver” other—for we all are a broken work in the need and rallied around his family. kinds of people. We need “kidney” kinds progress. And so, “those parts of the The church’s outreach was broadened of men. Ladies who are “lungs” in our body that seem to be weaker are indis- to include other disabled children in church. People with physical and in- pensable, and the parts that we think Sunday school. And today, Pastor Lon’s tellectual disabilities. These individuals are less honorable we treat with special church is strong, growing, and has built teach us so much about trusting Christ honor” (vs. 22–23). an early childhood intervention center through inordinate hardships. They Why do we treat those who seem to minister to local parents of kids with provide the opportunity for Christ- to be weaker with special honor? In 2 special needs. What a poignant illustra- followers to exercise sacrificial service. Corinthians 12:9, the apostle Paul ex- tion of 1 Corinthians 12:24–26: “God And according to 2 Corinthians 12:22, plains, “But he [God] said to me, ‘My has combined the members of the body they are indispensable to the vitality of grace is sufficient for you, for my power and has given greater honor to the parts the body of Christ. is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, that lacked it, so that there should be no Just ask Arthur and his parents, or I will boast all the more gladly about my division in the body, but that its parts Karla Larson. Better yet, ask my friend weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may should have equal concern for each oth- in the white lab coat from the American rest on me.” We treat those with dis- er. If one part suffers, every part suffers Red Cross. Bring in the disabled, and abilities as indispensable because their with it.” you will be blessed. circumstances can be the platform from “I Could Never Live Like That” which God’s power is displayed to the The author, CEO of Joni and Friends, is church. Perhaps if we embraced more My friend Charlene had to remain an international advocate for people with weak people, we would see a more mi- for many days in the hospital due to disabilities and lives near Calabasas, Cal- raculous display of God’s power as the an unexpected neuromuscular condi- ifornia. She quotes the NIV-84.

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 5 OUR CHURCH’S JOURNEY TO REACH FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES

STEPHEN J. TRACEY // Many Orthodox Presbyterian churches warmly welcome, encourage, and disciple people and families with disabilities. At Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine, we are learning that to minister to families with disabilities, you don’t need to be an expert; you just need a teachable and willing heart.

There is plenty of reading material Mark wasn’t driving yet, so my wife and I must tell you that I cried. I didn’t on disability and the church, with in- I went to pick him up at the end of the know what to say. And to be frank, I still teresting titles like “How Wide Is Your retreat. We arrived in time for the clos- don’t know what to say. I’m still trying Door?” or “Through the Roof ” or “The ing ceremony, walking into a gymna- to find words to describe not simply Inclusive Church.” But it was not read- sium with about three hundred people what I think is the compassion that is ing any of these that set me thinking, or in it. Everywhere I looked, it seemed, shown at Joni and Friends Family Re- that pushed Lakeview OPC to learn. It there were children with disabilities. treats, but the justice, and rightness, if was Finley. Just then, in came Andrew. That year, he not the righteousness, of it all. This is Finley is one of God’s precious gifts was not in his wheelchair. Having just love. And this love is the fulfilling of the to our church. He was born twelve years had several surgeries, he was in a kind of law and the gospel. ago, a child of the covenant. His parents small, solid stretcher. He had two bud- Where Are the Families with and grandparents are believers. He is dies assigned to him, and they carried Disabilities? fourth in a family of six children. At the him everywhere as though he was in an time of his birth, we did not know there old-fashioned sedan chair. Mark later That grinning boy, Andrew, passed was a problem, but eventually, along told me that everywhere they went, the into the presence of the Lord Jesus a few with his mom and dad, we learned that buddies would shout, “Make way for years ago. He was a wonderful child. He the challenges were serious. the king!” Andrew was grinning a big loved Jesus. And he was deeply loved. Recognized, Loved, and Honored grin as he came in the room. Yet not all special-needs children Then the slideshow began. As a pic- are so warmly received by Christians. Around the same time, my own ture of each child came onto the screen, Author and advocate Mike Dobes com- son, Mark, volunteered for one week there were whoops and hollers and ments, as a short-term missionary at the Joni cheers. Here were little people, made in Families affected by disability spend and Friends New England Family Re- the image of God, in a place where they countless hours and energy navigat- treat (see sidebar on page 8). This retreat were being celebrated just for being ing the education system, the medical provides five days of respite for families themselves. They were being recognized system, the therapy system, and the who are affected by disability. Each fam- and loved and honored. They were no- list goes on. What would it look like ily has at least one companion assigned ticed; not pitied, not mocked, not hid- if they could attend your church and to them, called a short-term missionary. den from sight. not feel like there was a list of items

6 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 (New England) to our church to help our church. Their little guy is also on to navigate? What if church was not us think more carefully and practically the spectrum. He now sits in the very another place where they felt like a about these things. It was profoundly front row, in the front right seat. And burden, but instead was a place where helpful. We looked at our building, and I hear him repeating every word of the they were loved, cared for and even we looked at our attitudes. We thought Lord’s Prayer. In the same year another celebrated? (Are You Ready?, 27) more carefully about the things to say family arrived, with a five-year-old son After the retreat, I began to think and the things not to say. We learned who has Down syndrome. more carefully about our church and some etiquette toward people in wheel- We also set aside one of our rooms disability. At first, I was only thinking chairs. as a sensory room and bought equip- about Finley and ministering to his We also began learning about the ment for it, including weighted blan- family. We began to address the issue autism spectrum. As Doug Babbitt kets, a huge bean bag, and several senso- of accessibility in our physical space. teaches all volunteers in the training, ry toys to help calm an over-stimulated We realized that our church building “When you’ve met one child on the au- mind. Another family uses that room needed a better ramp, and then an el- tism spectrum, you’ve met one child on every week. It has enabled their whole evator. We introduced a buddy scheme the autism spectrum.” It’s a spectrum, family to attend church. for Finley in Sunday school. after all. A buddy system is a simple and How Your Church Can Reach But a question that first came to me effective way to begin to help both the Families with Disabilities at the retreat kept bothering me: where child and the family who are affected were the families with disabilities in our by this need. If you’re exhausted after One way to learn more about dis- community? One day I asked Finley’s serving as a buddy, remember how the abilities is simply to volunteer at one father, a ruling elder, “Does our area just moms and dads must feel! of the thirty-four Joni and Friends Re- not have very many families with dis- In the last two years, another fam- treats throughout the country. A few abilities?” (You see my ignorance.) “Oh ily arrived at Lakeview, a single mom years ago, Mark finally persuaded me to no,” he replied. “Just be in the therapist’s with a boy on the autism spectrum. His volunteer with him at a Family Retreat. I was apprehensive, but agreed. I served for a week as the buddy of a teenage boy who was there with his mother. His medication was being changed, and he was in great pain. (Getting medication right for children on the autism spectrum is not always easy.) I spent a few days with this deeply gifted and artistic young man and glimpsed the daily challenges his mother faces. There are few masks at a Joni and Friends Retreat; the pain and difficulty is all too apparent. But so, also, is the happiness. It is the sweetest happiness this side of glory. (From left) Mark, Stephen, and Joshua Tracey, all volunteers at Family Retreat Now, I not only go as a volunteer, to do whatever they need me to do, but I go to learn. I learn from the families: or surgeon’s waiting room at the right grandparents are already members. This they care the most for their children; time.” That is when I realized that per- young man hears every word I say when they are passionate advocates; they tell haps we just weren’t looking. I’m preaching, but while listening care- the funniest stories and often weep the In the year 2017, an estimated fully he also often draws a map of the heaviest tears. I also learn from the staff 12.7 percent of noninstitutionalized roads around the church, marking every and the other volunteers. Then, I try to men and women in the United States utility pole, and distinguishing the four bring it home and fit it into our ordi- reported a disability, according to dis- different types. There are four differ- nary church. Now I find myself looking abilitystatistics.org. The prevalence in ent utility poles leading to our church around our community for families af- Maine is 16.5 percent. building. Who knew? Well, this little fected by disability. I started to explore the Joni and guy knows. He perceives things that I Another way to begin to consider Friends website—every nook and overlook. A gift. disability in the context of the church is cranny of it. There’s a lot of material Both Finley’s family and the new through the parable of the great banquet there. Then we invited Joni and Friends family invited another family to visit in Luke 14. Jesus prefaces the parable

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 7 with an instruction: “But when you give First: Pray. Ask for wisdom in Fourth: Be patient. There might a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the helping families with disabilities. Rec- be noise. You won’t die. You might be lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, ognize that families are often exhausted drooled on. Fret not. because they cannot repay you. For you and may have been hurt elsewhere. Fifth: Remember Jesus’s compas- will be repaid at the resurrection of the Second: Saying hello is always a sion in Matthew 19:14: “Jesus said, ‘Let just.” Then Jesus tells the story of a man good start. We are, after all, command- the little children come to me and do who gave a great banquet. When those ed to greet one another. Doesn’t the not hinder them, for to such belongs the invited turn down his hospitality, the command say there is to be a holy kiss? kingdom of heaven.’ ” man instructs his servant to bring in the Well…hugs are good too! We need to We all have much to learn. I have poor, crippled, blind, and lame that his greet people. Remember the warning in much to learn. Lakeview Orthodox house might be filled. Matthew 5:47: “And if you greet only Presbyterian Church has much to learn. It is poor exegesis to think we will your brothers, what more are you doing We thank God for the precious gifts he invite everyone who is suffering from than others? Do not even the Gentiles has given us in these individuals with “spiritual” disabilities, but not people do the same?” disabilities. More and more we under- with physical or intellectual disabilities. Third: Ask families what would stand that they are indispensable to the Jesus saw people with disabilities. He be helpful. They know their child well. body of Christ. did more than notice them; he filled his Be gentle and wise. Don’t ask, “What’s house with them. He instructs us to do wrong with her?” Ask, “How can we be The author is pastor of Lakeview OPC in the same. of help today?” Rockport, Maine. So where do you start? Joni and Friends provides many free resources at irresistiblechurch.org/library. These booklets are available to download for free. The booklet “Start with Hello” has a host of practical suggestions, a few of which I have adapted here:

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Mark with twins David and Lauren Adamsen, also volunteers and members of Lakeview Mark Tracey

During my childhood, I had difficulty learning. Reading some families face every day. Although these children and and spelling were especially hard, and I struggled through their families wrestle with school, with medical providers, elementary school. Because of this, although I came to and even with unwelcoming churches, at Family Retreats know Jesus when I was young, I had a hard time believing they are welcomed and celebrated. that God had a plan and direction for my life. How was I In serving these little ones, the Lord Jesus is teaching going to serve him? me not to be proud. I am amazed at these children. We are God was good to me, and I received help through edu- all “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Paul cational therapy and wonderful teachers. My godly parents reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:18 that “God arranged the also always encouraged me to persevere. Today, I’m not far members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” There from graduating college. I want to share what changed, is a place where each one of us can serve in the church, and and how the Lord Jesus helped me and gave me direction I have learned this from children affected by disabilities. in life. Romans 5:3–5 reminds us to rejoice in our sufferings Soon after graduating high school, I was asked to help because “suffering produces endurance, and endurance with the Sunday School program at my home church by produces character, and character produces hope, and hope being a buddy to Finley, a child with a disability. Eventu- does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been ally, I also helped care for him in his home once a week. poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has One Sunday after evening service, someone told me been given to us.” These verses beautifully describe how I about the Joni and Friends Retreats for families with chil- have been changed and overwhelmingly blessed by God. dren with disabilities. I have now volunteered at the retreat Through serving families in church and at retreats who are every year for seven years. It has been a life-changing ex- affected by disability, I know what joyful hope looks like. perience. When I was young, I thought my struggles were hard; I now see they are small compared to the struggles The author is a member of Lakeview OPC in Rockport, ME.

8 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 JOY IN VOLUNTEERING

PAMELA HUGHES // For years, I watched a former student volunteer every summer as a short-term missionary at the Joni and Friends Family Retreat. Each year, when this young man shared his experiences with our church, I would think, “Oh, I want to do that someday!” But caring for my aging parent and other responsibilities prevented me—until last summer. My this young man. I cannot do this without After the retreat ended, Sawyer responsibilities covered by others, I was you, Lord! I knew that volunteers and and his family kept in touch with me. finally able to go. campers are not paired until the staff has I worshiped with them in their church, Even though I am a professional prayed diligently over the assignments, and visited when they vacationed close educator, I still entered my week as a so I had to trust that this match was di- by. He continues to grow and develop in Joni and Friends volunteer with uncer- rected and blessed by God. many ways, cognitively and verbally, and tainty. What type of needs would my As soon as I met Sawyer’s family, his joyful heart is evident for all to see. camper have? I know about learning dif- his mom and I instantly connected, ferences, but what if my camper’s needs and I learned that she had relatives were more profound than those with in my hometown. In fact, I had even which I had experience? I was sixty years met Sawyer’s grandfather! When she old; would I have the stamina to keep up introduced me to her son, this non- with my camper? Would I be in over my verbal boy opened his arms to me and head? I held tightly to the God of the gave me a big hug. I quickly saw that impossible, trusting that he would, in- he didn’t need words to communi- deed, display his faithfulness during this cate: this boy had a heart full of love week, for my good and for his own glory. to share. But when I learned who my specific The staff and volunteers were all camper would be, and the nature of his a team, and there was always someone Hughes with Sawyer (left) needs, my uncertainty increased. His coming alongside to help me with name was Sawyer, he was twelve years Sawyer, often before I even acknowl- old, and he was on the autism spectrum edged the need myself. Sawyer tried He loves the Lord Jesus, and delights in with very limited verbal skills. I had several new activities and delighted in singing the praises of our Savior. Sawyer never worked with a nonverbal student many new experiences during our week has taught me to see others with the eyes before. How would Sawyer and I com- together. I learned how to read his “sig- of my heart. May God grant us the grace municate? I also learned that he had nals” when he needed redirection or less to see others from his perspective, and to occasionally been known to wander or sensory stimulation. I learned how to communicate the love of our Savior to bolt impulsively in the past. Would I be help him de-escalate and focus his at- them in many different ways. able to keep up with him? I kept pray- tention on the small details that would ing, Lord, you have brought me here. Please bring him joy. I was growing right along The author is a member of Lakeview OPC give me what I need to help and encourage with him! in Rockport, Maine.

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 9 REAL HOPE AND REAL HELP

ESTHER VANNOY // “Oh no! I forgot Finley’s medicine!” The singing in the back of the van stopped. Three of my kids and I were on our way to our first Joni and Friends Family Retreat, full of excited anticipation as we drove down the highway that sunny morning in August.

But when I made that announce- Greenfield, where the retreat was locat- The Deep Sorrow of Disability ment, the singing stopped. They all ed. And of course, I had to listen to this Our son Finley is like an infant knew that we would have to turn voice. I had no other map—remember, the size of a twelve-year-old. Adults around and go back. Finley had to have absent-minded? look away, and children, less concerned his seizure medicine! We left the happy We inched our way past Fun Town about politeness, stare. There is drool. caravan we’d been traveling with and Splash Town where everyone was hav- And super loud whooping and holler- grimly headed back home—an hour ing fun, and we were not. We meaning in the middle of church. Always, and a half away. I felt sick. This was one dered through every little village and there is this sorrow: sorrow over your more mess-up. One more disappoint- stopped at every stop sign between son’s disability, over what he will never ment for my kids. This is what happens, Maine and New Hampshire, and by the do, over what he will never say. over and over again, when you have a time we finally pulled into the camp, For years I had avoided the Joni child with special needs and an absent- we had been in the van for nine hours! and Friends Retreat. Pulling in with minded mom. Even though we were so late arriv- our minivan that day was like the final My anxiety (another unfortunate ing that it was now dinner time, there step in accepting Finley’s disability. It feature in a mom) crept out of the glove were people waiting for us as we pulled had taken me nine hours and twelve compartment and started choking me. up to the Joni and Friends Family Re- years to get to this point, and all that “Maybe you should just not go,” it treat. Before I knew it, the van door was sorrow came welling up to the surface whispered. “This is too much to ask of opened and friendly volunteers were and streaming down my face. your kids, especially Finley. And you talking and helping my kids out of the The kind souls who greeted me will have to do the trip all by yourself vehicle. And then, the kind face of our that evening may have been surprised now. No more caravan to follow!” own dear pastor appeared at my win- at my blubbering, but they did not Ignoring these whispers, I drove dow. He volunteers at these retreats, show it. They only smiled and offered home, grabbed the medicine (which and when I saw him, all my anxiety to help me get settled into our cabin. was right where I had left it), and melted into tears of relief—relief mixed jumped back in the van. But I was now as always with sorrow, because, after all, Christ’s Love Through His Body at the mercy of the GPS for directions, you don’t get to attend this fun, joy- I have found, over the years, that and its evil voice told me to get off the filled camp unless you have a child with Christians are the only people in the highway and take the scenic route to a disability.

10 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 world who can offer real hope and real me a bunch of CDs of Joni Eareckson to his class, so that I could have a break. help in the face of the deep sorrow and Tada’s radio program. I listened to those My church family has helped take care anxiety of disability. During the early, over and over again, too. Joni taught me of Finley again and again, even some- dark days when Finley was first diag- that caring for a person with a disability times overnight. When we had to move nosed, well-meaning unbelievers would is serving Christ. That was my first real to a house with downstairs bedrooms, say things like, “Good luck!” “Keep your ray of hope. The Lord was giving me my kids counted seventy people who fingers crossed,” or “Just think happy the honor of serving him in this way! helped either with the actual move, or thoughts!” Finley was not sleeping, he Joni sang hymns to me while I washed with cleaning, or with babysitting—all was not eating, he was crying for hours dishes and wiped drool. She reminded from our church! They have been, as on end, and he was having seizures. me of wonderful promises from God’s Joni says, “the hands and feet of Jesus” Their well-meant words were like ice Word. She took my thoughts off myself to my family. water in my face. and put them on Christ. And they truly love Finley! People Then a friend from church gave My church family not only offered make a point of coming to the back of me a CD of Elyse Fitzpatrick reading me real hope but real help. They rolled the sanctuary and saying hi to him af- Scripture and singing praise songs. One up their sleeves and brought meals, ran ter the service. Someone put his prayer passage she read was Psalm 46: “God is errands, even cleaned out my fridge card up on our church bulletin board, our refuge and strength, a very present (an act of true love!). They watched our which is right at the main entrance to help in trouble. Therefore we will not other kids when Finley was in the hos- the building, and it has been there for fear, though the earth give way and the pital. One friend came over and planted years. Finley gets invited to birthday mountains fall into the heart of the sea” tulips in my yard. Another friend gave parties. The church, just to show their (vs. 1–2). us a box of granola bars every Sunday. love for our boy, paid for the ramps I listened to that CD over and In later years, when things had settled that we use to get Finley in and out over again. The thought of God on his down a bit, a friend came over once a of our van. Perhaps most importantly, throne surrounded by joy and beauty, week and played with Finley so that I they welcome him into the sanctuary even if the mountains crumbled, truly could vacuum upstairs. for worship. Instead of complaining comforted me. I had an anchor for my When it became clear that Finley about the noise he makes during the soul when everything around me was would not walk, the church installed service—if you can believe this—peo- being washed out to sea. a lift so that he could attend Sunday ple often tell me how much they like to Another friend from church gave school. A friend offered to go with him hear him! Most recently, our dear church family covered the entire cost for us to attend the Joni and Friends Family Retreat in New Hampshire where my husband and I were able to relax, our kids were able to make up for missing Fun Town Splash Town, and where we were offered the real help and real hope that only Christians can give. Johnny Cash has a song called “The Reverend Mister Black” about a preacher who carried a Bible in a can- vas sack and told a cussing lumberjack that “You’ve got to walk that lonesome valley. You’ve got to walk it by yourself.” I am so thankful my pastor never said that to me. I am so thankful that we have not had to walk this path of disability by ourselves. Jesus, our anchor, is always with us. And he has given us real hope and real help from our church.

The Vannoy family with other families and volunteers from Lakeview OPC at the 2018 Joni and Friends Family Retreat Esther Vannoy is a member of Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine.

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 11 FOREIGN MISSIONS MORE OF THE LORD’S GRACE IN MONTEVIDEO

// MARK E. RICHLINE The congregation of Iglesia Presbiteriana Salvos por Gracia

man in the room nodded in agreement. In many ways this isn’t surprising. Since the early 1900s, ay 2019 marked nineteen years since I was ordained Uruguay has been a largely secular and atheistic nation. Rather into the Reformed ministry of the gospel. What an than one that shakes its fist at God, this brand of atheism Mawesome privilege it has been to lead people to a sovereign, shrugs its shoulders and says “Who cares?” Entire genera- gracious God who justifies sinners by his grace through faith tions have grown up knowing little to nothing of the Bible. alone in his Son, Jesus Christ! Into this spiritual vacuum entered the evangelical movement, Every aspect of this Christ-centered ministry is deeply mostly Baptist and Pentecostal churches, the latter bringing rooted in the gracious sovereignty of God. We preach scrip- with them their apostles as well as their prosperity teachings. tural truth with all our hearts and then wait on the Lord to But over the past decade, the Lord has initiated a Reformed use it as he wills. We evangelize, planting gospel seeds and gospel ministry that has not existed here since the mid-1800s. watching God water them as he pleases. We get on our hands A Reformed church in Uruguay first began in Rivera on the and knees to wash our brothers’ feet, resting in Christ who northern border of Brazil. Then a Brazilian missionary started alone sanctifies the heart. We strive with all our might to a Presbyterian church in Montevideo, which in turn devel- build Christ’s church while fully trusting in Christ to keep his oped a daughter church in Mercedes to the northeast. And promise to do the building. now God has raised up another faithful Reformed witness in Reformed Ministry Gaining Ground Montevideo where we are laboring. Our Reformed circle may yet be small, but it is turning Because Reformed gospel ministry is so amazing to me, heads in the local evangelical Christian community. In fact, I am thrilled to see it gaining ground in Uruguayan church- the term “Presbyterian” is becoming associated with sound es. I recently attended a doctrine in this country. meeting where nearly Hearts for Grace twenty church officers had gathered from vari- Allow me to intro- ous parts of the country. duce you to some of our Representatives from Uruguayan friends whose Ligonier Ministries pre- heart for the doctrines of sented materials they of- grace has drawn them to fer in Spanish. When our ministry. Ligonier asked the group Sandra is a young what they believed to Christian woman from be the greatest needs of an independent church Uruguayan congrega- whom I met at one of our tions, someone respond- English Club outreaches. ed, “sana doctrina,” or The church’s Sunday school class When infant baptism “sound doctrine.” Every somehow came up in

12 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 our conversation, she peppered me with questions, curious to know why we baptize our children. She now meets with my wife, Jeni, for English lessons, and they often discuss how Re- formed theology impacts daily Christian living. Several members at our three-and-a-half-year-old church plant Iglesia Presbiteriana Salvos por Gracia came out of the Pentecostal church hungering for biblical preaching and teaching grounded in God’s sovereign grace. Three men from this group are on the way to begin their own Reformed ministry as church officers, having demonstrated a knowledge of

Scripture and a love for God’s people. I once listened to one of Richline at the pulpit these brothers distinguish between law and grace to a Jewish friend. I listened in humbled awe as he explained the gospel of God’s pure grace, stressing how totally incapable man is of Christian brother devours book after book in the quiet hours saving himself. of the night shift at his security job. Another just asked me to A young Baptist brother who moved here with his moth- reserve a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism until he can pay er from Cuba six months ago loves Reformed literature, meets for it. Friends of ours are recommending our library books with me for discipleship, and is quickly committing himself to others and handing out the OPC pamphlet, “What Is a to our congregation. Another former Baptist brother has em- Reformed Church?” Seeing the necessity of putting this rich braced Reformed doctrine and is already being sought out by Reformed literature in the hands of others, a couple of our other church members and even regular visitors for spiritual members have begun to promote the library on our website. guidance. Our online outreach has grown beyond a website One woman was di- and Facebook page. One of our members has just orga- rected to our church by nized an online Reformed radio program that will fea- her missionary friend in ture broadcasts of sermons from our pulpit, this mem- Paraguay who knew of ber’s own Scripture meditations, and sermons from other our Reformed ministry. Reformed pulpits in Central and South America. Our Because of her heart for worship services are broadcast on another radio program missions, she recently run by one of our regular visitors. presented a project Uruguay’s first Reformed seminary will begin in which encourages the August. The other Presbyterian church in Montevideo church to pray regularly has initiated this work to train gifted men for ministry. for the 10/40 window of The program is designed to allow men to attend part- nations (a term coined time, completing their training in five years. Several stu- by evangelical missionar- dents are already registered, including some from other ies for the area of North parts of the country who will attend via teleconference. I Africa, the Middle East, am excited to prepare and teach a course on the Gospels. and Asia between 10 and As I begin my twentieth year in Reformed ministry, 40 degrees latitude north The church’s library of Reformed resources I am grateful to the Lord to be here in Uruguay where he of the equator). We also is obviously at work building a church true and faithful pray for our own country to his Word. and for neighboring nations in Latin America. An average of thirty-two people attend our worship ser- The author is an OP missionary in Montevideo, Uruguay. vice, along with at least one new visitor each week. Our mid- week meeting has grown to more than a dozen people who participate in sermon discussions and in prayer. What’s New The Library: A Main Attraction

One of the church’s main attractions is its Reformed // Comings/Goings library because such literature is not easily accessible here. Tentmaker Miss Tina M. DeJong (Westminster OPC, Through the faithful giving of Orthodox Presbyterian church- Hamill, SD) completed her term of service in Asia and es, our collection has grown to include Reformed literature in returned to the United States in late June to begin a Spanish covering a variety of subjects. Our visitors regularly six-month furlough. borrow from our collection or buy books we are selling. One

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 13 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REVIEW: GEERHARDUS VOS

// CHAD B. VAN DIXHOORN

years, the choice to stay at Princeton or move to Westminster. Along the way unexpected relationships are briefly illu- anny Olinger’s recent book on beloved teacher Geerhar- mined: the curious family friendship with the political doyen dus Vos offers the first full account of the theologian’s of the progressives, President Woodrow Wilson (first presi- Dlong life and is the best introduction to date to Vos’s key bibli- dent of Princeton University, later of the United States); the cal and theological insights. warm relations with Mrs. Anne Warfield, wife of B. B. War- The book opens with a helpful summary of the complex field, who was usually thought to be too much an invalid to church-world from which Vos emerged. The best of recent socialize at all; and the reciprocal respect for J. Gresham Ma- scholarship is tapped to help the chen, who worked to see Vos’s The reader understand the dynamics Self Disclosure of Jesus (1926) find a among Reformed churches in the publisher. Netherlands, as well as the back- As the subtitle, Reformed Bibli- ground to Vos’s friendships and cal Theologian and Confessional Pres- tensions with other major Dutch byterian, suggests, this is clearly an theologians of the day, including intellectual biography. Thus, as one Abraham Kuyper and especially would expect, the book is structured Herman Bavinck. Vos became in- more by the arrival of books than creasingly convinced that he was babies. In my judgment, it is the a man living in the last times, but story of Vos’s writings that is most he was also a man between two compellingly told in Geerhardus Vos. worlds, one Dutch and the other Olinger artfully traces Vos’s own American. progression as a theologian from The narrative twists of an early reflections on the divine de- immigrant-academic at the turn crees, to considerations about cov- of the twentieth century are all enant theology, to the persistence here: the Vos family move to the of eschatology in Vos’s more de- United States, a provincial educa- veloped writings. Works are put in tion in a Grand Rapids Christian their historical context, which was school, and eventual instruction often a polemical context. And then by American presbyterians and for each piece produced by Vos, the German liberals. So too are the biography offers an incisive summa- painful decisions: Vos was torn ry—“Olinger Notes,” if you will— between family and friends, the that overworked seminary students Netherlands and America, uni- and forgetful pastors alike will trea- versity and seminary, Michigan sure as helpful guides to Vos. Vos, a dog-lover, at Princeton in 1930 and New Jersey, and, in his mature For those accustomed to see-

14 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 ing Vos’s books published by Eerdmans, Presbyterian and Re- formed, Banner of Truth, and more recently Lexham, one of the surprises in Olinger’s book is the revelation that The Pauline Eschatology (1930) was first privately printed. Of course, influ- OUR MEMBERSHIP VOWS ential authors from John Locke to Julia Child have brought Communion with God books into the world without the midwifery of a publisher. Nonetheless, self-publication is no author’s dream. It comes as in Worship no surprise that Geerhardus Vos’s wife, Catherine Vos, was the more popular author in the marriage, as her Child’s Story Bible Glen J. Clary was warmly received by Reformed readers around the world. On Sunday, which is the Lord’s Day, believers gather The final third of the book outlines positions that Vos together in the name of Christ to “worship the Father in held with respect to seminary politics. He was never very in- spirit and truth” (John 4:23). In the service of worship, the volved in the courts of the church. The book ends quietly, as triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) meets with us did the life of Vos himself. Vos chose to finish his teaching ca- and communes with us through the ordinances of worship reer at Princeton—his wife Catherine chose to attend West- that he has appointed in the Holy Scriptures. minster Theological Seminary’s opening event, but he did not. The ordinances of ordinary worship are prayer, the The Voses retired to California, where he wrote poetry, a small reading of Scripture, the preaching and hearing of God’s sampling of which makes its way into Olinger’s biography. Word, the singing of psalms and hymns, and the admin- Geerhardus Vos contains remarkably few typographical er- istration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s rors or redundancies. On some occasions there are curious uses Supper. Through these ordinances of worship, we have of secondary sources where primary sources would have served fellowship and communion with the Father by the Spirit equally well. And the publisher would be kind to increase the through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ, our high size of the punctuation marks for readers experiencing the ad- priest who leads us in worship in the heavenly sanctuary: venture of declining eyesight. But the very pettiness of these We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the comments only serves to highlight how successful Olinger’s right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a endeavor truly is. For those wishing to move on from read- minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the ing Grace and Glory (1922) to a deeper conception of Vos, Lord set up, not man. (Heb. 8:1–2) Olinger’s biography is easily the best guide. I enjoyed it thor- Communion with God in worship is vital to the oughly, and I commend it heartily. Christian life. Faithful participation in the ordinances of worship on the Lord’s Day nurtures and strengthens our The author is professor of church history at Westminster Theological faith and enables us to live a godly life. The ordinances Seminary and an Orthodox Presbyterian minister. of worship are the means through which Christ and the benefits of his redemption are applied to us by the Holy Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Pres- Spirit. Shorter Catechism Question 88 asks, “What are the byterian, by Danny E. Olinger. Reformed Forum, 2018. Hard- outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communi- cover, 344 pages, $29.99. cates to us the benefits of redemption?” Answer: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and Out of the Mouth . . . prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. My cousin was driving past a cemetery with his Through the ordinances of worship, we commune with son and took the opportunity to explain that after God as a friend holds fellowship with a friend. Through death, our bodies remain in the ground until the the ministry of the Word and sacraments, God speaks to resurrection, but our souls go to heaven immedi- us and blesses us with spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. ately if we believe in Jesus. “What’s a soul?” the 1:3). Through prayer and the singing of psalms and hymns, boy asked. After giving a sound, biblical descrip- we speak to God, offer our petitions, and “worship the tion of the soul, his dad asked, “Does that make Lord in the splendor of holiness,” ascribing to him “the sense?” “Not really,” replied his son. “Can we ask glory due his name” (Psalm 29:2). As “a holy priesthood,” Google?” we “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). —Patti Palmer Madison, AL Note: If you have an example of the humorous “wisdom” that can come from children, please send it to the editor.

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 15 HOME MISSIONS SHOWING MERCY TO OUR NEIGHBORS

// ALBERT J. TRICARICO JR.

This parable is for all of us. Let’s never look at the lawyer and say, “That’s not me.” Or at the priest and Levite and say, ome time ago, a professional London actor ran into some “I am not like them. I would have helped.” Or at the Samari- trouble onstage. He was supposed to pick up a telephone tan and think, “I’m not perfect, but I am basically a merciful Sand respond to what he heard, but when he put the phone to person.” Let’s not name others who could use this message his ear and listened, he forgot his line. There he was, on stage before we admit our own need to hear and respond. While for a moment that felt like an hour, with absolutely nothing we may never find ourselves in the presence of a half-dead to say to an audience waiting for him to speak. He did what victim of violence and theft, we are all called by Jesus to show you or I might do if we thought of it. He gave the phone to mercy to others. one of the other actors and said, “It’s for you.” When Jesus said to the questioning lawyer, “Go and do A clever trick to save a performance is not at all a proper likewise,” he is saying it also to you and me. Let’s all listen. way to receive the Word of God. But isn’t that sometimes Let’s all go and do likewise. Let’s have compassion for those how we treat what God has said? Forgetting our part, we say, who suffer, with a view toward doing good to them in Christ’s “It’s for you.” We have a friend, a child, a spouse, who needs name. this message. But as for us? Not so much. Consider Eternal Life Jesus once gave a lawyer a message that he couldn’t squirm away from. (And neither can we.) The lawyer came to The lawyer’s initial question to Jesus was this: “What Jesus asking a good question from a bad motive. “He, desir- must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was naturally interested ing to justify himself, asked Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?’” in such things. In a way, it was his job to think about them. (Luke 10:29). Jesus did not answer the lawyer’s question—at He was an “expert” in God’s law. He read it and studied it. least, not directly. His response was the Parable of the Good He was an authority on it—at least, that was the expectation Samaritan. In it, a Samaritan sees a beaten victim and delivers in the religious culture of his time. When Jesus responded, the needed help that was not given by those who knew bet- “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” the man ter—a priest and a Levite. He finds a neighbor in need, has was prepared to give an answer. He didn’t understand the an- pity on him, and generously gives of himself to bring healing. swer he gave, but the words he spoke were from the Bible: The direct answer to the lawyer’s question is obvious. All “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and people are our neighbors. Our duty is to love God and to love with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your everyone. But at the end of the parable, through a question of mind, and your neighbor as yourself ” (Luke 10:27). his own, Jesus suggests that the lawyer really asked the wrong While the lawyer’s understanding was defective, and his question. “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be intention was to justify himself and discredit Jesus, the ques- a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” asked tion he asked was a good one. We should all be interested in Jesus. The lawyer said, “The one who showed him mercy.” (See eternal life and its relation to our present time. Peter’s confes- Luke 10:36–37.) sion to Jesus must be our confession: “You have the words of Let’s not ask the question, “Who is my neighbor?” We eternal life” (John 6:68). know that answer. Let’s ask instead, “How can I be a good Grace-empowered mercy-giving is the duty of all believ- neighbor to those I am called to love?” ers. Those who have been shown mercy in the gospel are to

16 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 deliver that mercy to others in need. But mercy has its price, in our communities. They may be even when the costs are not material. It is often inconvenient lonely, underemployed, or trou- to enter the lives of others. It is time-consuming and inter- bled by a decision that needs to be rupts our plans. We might be persecuted for the efforts we made. Some have medical condi- make. Those costs, though they feel burdensome, do not com- tions, addictions, or disabilities pare with the honor of glorifying Christ through attentive, that make life very hard. Some selfless living, and the eternal joy that comes to those who neighbors flourish and seem to live for Jesus. have everything put together, but Be a Good Neighbor they may be the neediest of all if they are relying on themselves and The love of neighbor needs to be qualified—surely we see no need for God. cannot love everyone! At least, that is what the lawyer be- Consider that God has posi- lieved. He asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” The man knew tioned his church and its mem- that the teaching of the day was an expanded (and corrupted) bers in places where opportunities version of Leviticus 19:18. Jesus knew it too. That is why he to show mercy abound. And then said in the Sermon on the Mount, ask how mercy can be delivered. It is possible to feel over- You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neigh- whelmed by the brokenness of bor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your ene- the world and the particular trials mies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matt. 5:43–44) faced by our neighbors. God is not Do not discriminate and withhold love because, by some calling his people to address every twisted understanding of God’s law, you think that people issue and fix every problem. But exist who do not qualify as neighbors. That was the message he does want us to be involved of Jesus to the lawyer. with people. He wants us to love Right now, in the broadest sense, the neighbor count is them. He wants us to see them 7.7 billion and rising. Our neighborhood is the whole world as he sees them—broken, loved, in a way. No earthly resident is disqualified. But only a small needy, and invited to believe in his number of our global neighbors are within our mercy-reach. Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is not calling us to show particular acts of mercy to ev- Jesus is the ultimate mercy- ery person in the world. He wants us to show mercy to needy giver. We who know his mercy people we see. Be like the Samaritan in the story. Be a good recognize ourselves in the injured neighbor. man on the side of the road— While we are not to exclude anyone, we do have to re- weak and incapable of helping strict our neighboring in geographic terms. A good place to ourselves. We are in trouble, but start is the street where we live. We all have neighbors. Our not left for dead. Jesus came, lived, neighbors have needs. Do you know your neighbors’ needs? died, and rose in order to save Do you know their names? Do they know you? Have you us from our sins and bring us to considered how you might get to know them better and con- heaven. We wait for his appear- tribute positively to their lives? ing and a time when all things Christians live in neighborhoods. Congregations wor- will be made new. He saved us, ship in neighborhoods. Emerging mission works are located not because of works done by us in places where people live. Even when a church building is in righteousness, but according to not surrounded by homes, its ministry has reach to people his own mercy. (Titus 3:5) who live nearby. It is so important that we see this and love The ways to show mercy are our neighbors well. many, and it is good for us to think The victim in the parable was in bad shape, as are many creatively about how to show the mercy we have been shown. The very best gift of mercy we can give Home Missions Today to our neighbors is Jesus himself. We have Jesus. Our neighbors For up-to-date news and prayer requests, need Jesus. Let’s give him to them. receive our newsletter by e-mailing [email protected]. New editions: July 3, 17, 31. The author is associate general secretary of Home Missions.

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 17 STEWARDSHIP

self-deception, he instead replies, “all these [commandments] GIVING IS I have kept” (v. 20). So Jesus tells him to go and sell all his possessions, give away the money, and then follow him (v. 21). It’s a bold request, and it exposes this man’s idolatrous love of PRACTICAL wealth. The man has not kept even the first commandment to “have no other gods before me”! He “went away sorrowful, for THEOLOGY he had great possessions” (v. 22). The condition of this man’s heart, his unbelief, is laid bare by his unwillingness to give as Jesus commands. Sorrowful, he walks away from the Son of // JOSHUA L. MCKAMY God and hope of true life. This story is not a condemnation of wealthy Christians, nor does it elevate poverty as the desired state for the Chris- tian. Jesus is not after the “great possessions” of this man. Jesus is after his heart. As we read this text, we must examine our own hearts. n Scripture, the Lord often asks us to examine our atti- Our approach to giving away our money and possessions is a tudes and behaviors toward money, prompting us to con- practical and, at times, convicting barometer of our theology. Isider what our giving says about our relationship with God in Rather than thinking, “all these commandments I have kept,” Christ. One passage that encourages us to ask this question is we must see our sinful estate and lack of righteousness, then the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. look to God’s provision of a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, in By the time we arrive at chapter 19, we have already read whom we have salvation and life by grace through faith. To much in Matthew concerning possessions. We have been com- put this theology to the test, we must be willing to freely give manded to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth of our earthly treasures to God. (Matt. 6:19–20); we’ve been encouraged to trust God’s provi- We do not do so to merit God’s favor or out of compul- sion in this life (Matt. 6:25–33); and we’ve been warned about sion, but rather because God’s favor already rests upon us in the dangers that accompany wealth (Matt. 13:22). All these Christ. Giving freely and generously in this way, to the lo- come to bear in the story of the rich young ruler. cal and to the denominational church, also allows us to flee The scene opens innocently enough in Matthew 19:16. A the temptation to love our money more than the Lord who man approaches Jesus and asks, “What good deed must I do to bought us with the precious blood of Jesus. have eternal life?” From Jesus’s answer, we see that this man’s thoughts about himself and salvation are in serious error. Jesus The author is pastor of Covenant OPC in Chambersburg, Penn- rebukes the premise of the question, that the young man might sylvania. do some “good deed” in order to earn eternal Worldwide Outreach Year-to-Date life. “There is only one who is good,” answers 2019 Receipts with 2019 Goal Jesus. In other words, the only true standard of “good” is God himself. “If you would enter 5,000 life,” Jesus continues, “keep the command- 4,500 Christian Education deficit: $(10,187) ments.” He is pressing the young man to see 4,000 Home Missions surplus: $2,567 the impossibility of earning eternal life on Foreign Missions surplus: $59,543 3,500 his own merit. Similarly, after instructing his Total YTD budget surplus: $51,923 listeners to love their enemies in Matthew 5, 3,000 Jesus gives the standard of God’s righteous- 2,500 Thousands ness: “You therefore must be perfect, as your 2,000 heavenly Father is perfect” (v. 48). No sinner is able outside of Christ to meet the high de- 1,500 mands of God’s law. 1,000

The young man at this point ought to 500 have recognized this; he should have seen 0 his sinfulness and need of Jesus. But in his Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

18 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 PRAYER CALENDAR JULY

Pray that our Asia associates may 6 have opportunity to fellowship and share the good news during the annual team invitational The Bakers picnic. / Pray for Dave (Elizabeth) Menominee 2018 Holmlund, regional home missionary for the Presbytery of Philadelphia.

Jeremy & Gwen Baker, Yuma, Chris & Grace Ann Cashen, 1 AZ. Ask the Lord to bless Yuma Mr. & Mrs. S. F., Asia. Pray for 11 Clarkston, GA. Pray for more OPC’s monthly outreach efforts. 7 Mr. S. F. as he travels to teach a volunteers to join in summer / Mr. & Mrs. J. M., Asia. Pray that seminary course in South Korea. ministry to refugee children in effective medical treatment may / Larry & Kalynn Oldaker, Huron, Clarkston. / Pray for the short- be identified for Mrs. J. M. as OH. Pray that God would lead term mission trip to Menominee they’re in the US. the combined group in unity at Missions, Zoar, WI. Grace Fellowship OPC. Matthew & Lois Cotta, Pasadena, David & Rashel Robbins, Nakaale, 2 CA. Pray that God would add to 12 Uganda. Pray that the villages of Pasadena Presbyterian Church. / Home Missions associate gen- Akuyama and Alamacar would Melisa McGinnis, the OPC’s new be released from the bondage 8 eral secretary Al Tricarico. / Ryan controller. Pray for her as she of witchcraft. / Marc (Ruth) Sca- (Alisabeth) Woods, Covenant trains and becomes familiar with turro, summer intern at Harvest OPC, Rochester, NY, and Chris- staff. OPC in Wyoming, MI. topher Byrd, Knox OPC, Silver Spring, MD, as they complete

Mr. & Mrs. M. M., Asia (on yearlong internships. Dr. Flip & Anneloes Baardman 3 furlough). Pray for the family as 13 give thanks as the clinic is now they vacation and travel to visit fully staffed, allowing Flip more churches in the West. / Tent- Mark & Carla Van Essen- interaction with patients. / Da- maker T. D., Asia. Pray for rest 9 delft, Nakaale, Uganda. Pray mon (Elisabeth) Young, summer and spiritual refreshment while for the children as they adjust intern at Covenant Presbyterian on furlough. to the departure of friends on in Barre, VT. the field. / Gregory & Ginger O’Brien, Downingtown, PA. Pray Jay & Andrea Bennett, Neon, KY. Joseph (Andrea) Pollard, sum- for the Lord’s blessing on new Pray for evangelistic faithful- mer intern at Faith OPC in Long 4 members at Christ Church. 14 ness and fruit, and the calling of Beach, CA. / Jason & Amanda more officers to Neon Reformed Kirklin, Waco, TX. Pray that Trinity Presbyterian Church. / Boardwalk Ethan & Catherine Bolyard, Wilm- OPC would make good prog- ington, NC. Pray for Heritage Chapel, Wildwood, NJ. Pray for 10 ress in officer training over the the volunteer staff. OPC as they begin receiving summer. denominational field support. / Pray for health and strength Pray for Mark (Peggy) Sumpter, for Nakaale, Uganda, missionary Yearlong interns Brendan 5 regional home missionary for associates Leah Hopp, Rebekah 15 Westerfield, Redeemer in Bea- the Presbytery of the Southwest. Moore, Angela Voskuil, and vercreek, OH, and John Paul / Pray for Ross Graham as he Christopher and Chloe Verdick. (Corinne) Holloway, San Antonio completes the minutes and year- Reformed in TX. / Danny Olinger, book of the 86th (2019) General general secretary of Christian Assembly. Education.

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Heero & Anya Hacquebord, L’viv, 21 Ukraine. Praise God for the new worship facility and outreach opportunities in the neighborhood. / Pray for affiliated missionaries Jerry & Marilyn Farnik, Prague, Czech Republic.

The Westerveld family The Ambrose family Pray for Home Missions general 22 secretary John Shaw as he serves for three weeks with Team Praha (in Prague). / Foreign Missions Silas (Anastasia) Schreyack, sum- Pray for affiliated missionaries general secretary Mark Bube mer intern at First Church in Dr. Mark & Laura Ambrose, Cam- 16 and associate general secretary 27 Merrimack, NH. / Ben & Melanie bodia, as they resettle after their Douglas Clawson. Westerveld, Quebec, Canada. furlough. / Pray for Jim Bosgraf, Pray that many children and regional home missionary for the teenagers may hear the gospel Bradney and Eileen Lopez, Arroyo, Presbytery of the Midwest. through the English Bible camps. 23 PR. Pray that Iglesia Presbiteriana Sola Escritura would become Lowell & Mae Ivey, Virginia more intentional in its outreach Ryan & Rochelle Cavanaugh, 17 Beach, VA. Pray for the Lord’s and evangelism. / Home Mis- 28 Merrillville, IN. Pray for unity at blessing as Reformation Church sions administrative assistant Mission Church and transparent, looks forward to possibly orga- Katie Stumpff. redemptive relationships. / Ben nizing in 2019. / Grant (Stormie) & Heather Hopp, Haiti. Pray for the Allard, summer intern at Christ family as the two oldest, Ethan Covenant in Amarillo, TX. Praise God for the OPC’s fruit- and Emma, prepare for college. 24 ful partnership with the PCA in Great Commission Publications. / Pray for the volunteers and staff Mark & Jeni Richline, Montevi- Pray for OP military chaplains on 18 at English Camp in Prague, Czech deo, Uruguay. Pray for Mark as 29 active duty: Daniel (Stacey) Hal- Republic, and the short-term he prepares to teach at the new ley, US Air Force, and Cornelius mission trip Team Praha, which Reformed seminary. Joshua Val- (Deidre) Johnson, US Navy. / will arrive next week. / Ordained OPC.org staff, including Ste- Servant editor Gregory Reynolds. phen Pribble, Andrew Moody, dix, summer intern at Providence and Linda Foh. 25 OPC in Bradenton, FL. / Bob & Grace Holda, Oshkosh, WI. May Pray for the labors of affiliated Resurrection Presbyterian be Associate missionaries Octavius 19 missionaries Craig & Ree Coul- grounded in Christ’s love as they 30 & Marie Delfils, Haiti. Pray for bourne, and Linda Karner, Japan. reach out in love to others. the work on the Book of Church / Bill & Sessie Welzien, Key West, Order for a presbytery in Haiti. / FL. Continue to pray for growth New Horizons managing editor at Keys Presbyterian Church. Judith Dinsmore and editorial as- Charles & Connie Jackson and sistant Diane Olinger. 26 missionary associate Joanna Grove, Mbale, Uganda. Pray that Pray for Chris (Nancy) Walmer, the Mbale churches may grow in Pray for retired missionaries Cal 20 area home missions coordinator, maturity in difficult times. / Mis- 31 and Edie Cummings, Brian Presbytery of Central Pennsylva- sionary associates Steve & Carrie and Dorothy Wingard, Greet nia. / Matthew (Hyojung) Walker, Hill, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pray Rietkerk, and Young and Mary summer intern at Covenant for newcomers to visit regularly. Lou Son. / Ben (Tiffany) Ward, Presbyterian in Marina, CA. church-planting intern, Christ the King, Naples, FL.

20 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 NEWS, VIEWS, & REVIEWS

BRIONES ORDAINED AS TEACHER OF THE WORD

On May 10, Dr. David Briones was ordained as Teacher of the Word at Refor- mation OPC in Oviedo, Florida, in order to serve as associate professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. Mike Francis (pastor, Imman- uel Presbyterian PCA in Deland, Florida) read the sermon text and Eric Watkins (pastor, Covenant Presbyterian in St. Au- gustine, Florida) preached the sermon. John Tweeddale (academic dean and professor of theology, Reformation Bible College) led the prayer during the laying At the ordination of David Briones, left to right: Mike Francis (PCA), on of hands, and Stephen Oharek (pastor, John Tweeddale (PCA), Larry Mininger, Bill Montgomery, David Chilton, Reformation OPC) gave the charge to the David Briones, Stephen Oharek, Eric Watkins, Joel Fick, and David Veldkamp minister and led the service.

Atlantic and within the Presbytery of the demit the office of minister. Southeast. The caption on the cake re- • On May 10, the Presbytery of the South flects the hearts of the entire presbytery: ordained and installed David E. Brio- “Well done, good and faithful servant.” nes as a Teacher of the Word, laboring at Westminster Theological Seminary in UPDATE Philadelphia, PA. • On May 24, Dhananjay Khanda was MINISTERS ordained and installed as pastor of Holy Trinity Presbyterian in Fort Lauderdale, • On April 26, the Presbytery of the FL. Southeast received into its membership retired PCA minister Ronald N. • On May 24, Brian M. Guinto was Gleason. • On May 3, C. Steve and Joanie Doe Phillip Hollstein III was installed DOE RETIRES as an evangelist of the Presbytery of Philip Proctor the South to serve Stephen Doe, the regional home mission- as chaplain of ary of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, Providence Hos- retired on May 31. The presbytery ex- pital in Mobile, pressed thanks for Steve’s tireless labors, AL. great wisdom, and the gift that he and his wife, Joanie, have been to our congrega- • On May 4, the tions. They have been tireless in attend- Presbytery of ing and supporting individual congrega- Central Pennsyl- tions as they engaged in evangelism and vania granted the in encouraging new works both within request of Da- At the May 24 ordination and installation of Dhananjay Khanda the bounds of the Presbytery of the Mid- vid A. Smiley to

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 21 NEWS, VIEWS, & REVIEWS Continued ordained and installed as associate pastor affiliations. But that is a matter for each of his counselees, who have endured vari- of Reformation OPC in Olympia, WA. brother’s and sister’s conscience to con- ous forms of suffering—physical, emo- tend with. tional, financial, and spiritual. • On May 26, the Presbytery of the Da- Arthur J. Fox Tripp’s account of his life-threatening kotas dissolved the pastoral relationship Hanford, CA illness begins the book. He describes how between Steven A. Richert and Calvary suffering is never “neutral,” but always OPC in Volga, SD, upon his retirement. Editor’s note: In his review, Dr. Hart com- pushes the sufferer to respond with po- • On May 31, Stephen D. Doe retired as ments that “many assessments of the tentially disastrous or beneficial spiritual regional home missionary for the Presby- 2016 presidential election” tie the appeal results. tery of the Mid-Atlantic. of President Trump to white Protestants. The book is then divided into six According to these assessments, says Dr. forms of temptations (called “traps”) and Hart, the MAGA slogan “is then, in effect” six forms of comfort available to believ- LETTERS (emphasis added) a code for “restore white ers who suffer. The traps for a sufferer are hegemony.” Dr. Hart then argues that the (1) awareness of the profound, and po- REFRESHING AND CHALLENGING book being reviewed overturns this idea. tentially permanent, difference suffering The statements to which Mr. Fox refers are makes, (2) fear of more suffering coming, Editor: largely descriptive, not prescriptive. (3) envy of those who are not suffering or The May issue of New Horizons, “Reform- who are happy, (4) confusion about what ing Race Relations in the Church,” was God is doing and doubt that God is good, refreshing and challenging. It hit me REVIEWS (5) denial that what happened is as bad where I live, as they say. I bless the fact as it seems, and (6) that, though I had and have had many Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t the discouragement challenging interactions over the years re- Make Sense, by Paul David Tripp. Cross- that can dominate lated to the topic of race, God graciously way, 2018. Hardcover, 224 pages, $16.75. one’s thinking and allowed me learn early what I think is Reviewed by OP pastor Stephen A. life. The comforts are the biblical attitude: the idea of separate Migotsky. (1) God’s grace as races, some superior and some inferior expressed in Romans for whatever reasons, is a lie. There is one Paul David Tripp is a careful student 8:18–39, (2) God’s human race in many colors, with many of the two ways God has given us to know presence and the rest cultures, religions, and languages. Who him, special revelation and general revela- it brings, (3) God’s God is, as reflected in his human creation, tion, and this book reflects his study. In sovereignty and the is too amazing and too detailed to be ad- special revelation, God reveals us to him- absolute control God has over all things, equately reflected in one type of human self through the written Word, which, if (4) God’s good purposes for suffering, (5) being. properly interpreted, is infallible. In gen- the comfort of God’s people when they Edith Mcklveen eral revelation, our observations and expe- love the sufferer, and (6) the comfort of a Rochester, NY riences of the world, if properly interpret- heart that is resting in Jesus Christ. Each ed, never conflict but only support special of these twelve chapters has strong warn- BEST LEFT TO THE CONSCIENCE revelation. In times of suffering, however, ings, strong encouragements, and healthy we may likely have difficulty interpreting advice on finding God’s help and comfort. Editor: both the written Word and our observa- This book belongs byGod’s Grace in I am compelled by conscience to object to tions and experiences of the world. Suffer- Your Suffering (2018) by David Powlison some of the tone in Darryl Hart’s review of ing, by Paul Tripp, provides a guide. and The Crook in the Lot (1737) by Thomas Religion and American Culture in the May After earning his doctor of ministry Boston in your library. It is not only for issue of New Horizons. Certainly, I have no in biblical counseling from Westminster those who suffer now, but it is certainly objection to Mr. Hart having an opinion Theological Seminary, Tripp became a for them. about the President. He is welcome to faculty member at Christian Counseling hold to his conscience in voting and to ex- and Educational Foundation and a lec- The Soul in Paraphrase: A Treasury of Clas- press his opinion. But the language “The turer in biblical counseling at Westmin- sic Devotional Poems, by Leland Ryken. campaign slogan ‘Make America Great ster. In 2006, he began his own ministry. Crossway, 2018. Hardcover, 272 pages, Again’ is, in effect, a code for ‘restore white What motivated Paul Tripp to write this $29.75 (Amazon). Reviewed by OP pas- hegemony’” is inappropriate. It accuses the book was his kidney failure and the actor Thomas D. Church. President and his supporters of being, in companying physical agonies, permanent effect, racists who want to dominate Af- disability, financial challenges, and temp- If you are one of the many who find po- rican Americans. For the most part the tations to sin—as well as the transforming etry boring, inaccessible, or altogether dis- review is useful and informative. I agree power of God’s grace. To his own experi- interesting this good book might honestly that we must be careful with our political ences, he adds the anonymous experiences move you to a more generous attitude.

22 / NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 NEWS, VIEWS, & REVIEWS Continued

The editor is Leland Ryken, who was What bitter cups had been your due, tioned by Christ and the apostles (Matt. for nearly fifty years a professor of English Had He not drank them up for you. 19:16–22; 1 Tim. 1:8–11). The Westmin- at Wheaton College. He is well qualified Give it a chance! These poems are filled ster Larger and Shorter Catechisms have to choose and present some ninety de- with Scripture and will light up Christ in large sections on the Ten Command- votional poems that are truly penetrating your heart. And if you thirst for more, may ments. There is a good reason for this. As and sweet to the Christian heart. I direct you to what I believe to be the very DeYoung put it, the Ten Commandments Two features that follow each poem set best anthology of Christian poetry avail- are closely related to the nature and char- this collection apart and will commend it able: A Sacrifice of Praise (Cumberland, acter of our God, our Christian life now to a wide audience. 2006) by James H. Trott—another trea- (sanctification) and in the world to come The first is a short sure for your groaning library shelf. (glorified life), and ultimately what Christ paragraph of notes has done for us. That is why DeYoung on selected words takes his task very seriously. The Ten Commandments: What They found in the poem— DeYoung sets the stage by telling us Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We some of them ar- why it matters to know and understand Should Obey Them, by Kevin DeYoung. chaic or simply not the Ten Commandments. In doing so, he Crossway, 2018. Hardcover, 208 pages, in common use (but engages with postmodern slogans of mo- $12.62. Reviewed by OP pastor Z. Bulut many of them should rality. DeYoung writes this book in almost Yasar. be). This is followed catechetical form. He asks and answers, by a brief commen- In one of the episodes of Family Feud, anticipating the question of his readers. tary in which Ryken very skillfully pro- contestants were asked to guess how many Each chapter covers one of the command- gresses through the text, carefully uncov- of the Ten Commandments a surveyed ments, and in each chapter, DeYoung ex- ering the author’s meaning and purpose in group said they had broken that month. plains what the commandment is, why we each piece. This is gold. It draws out the The most frequent response of the group should obey it, and how we should obey deep spirituality of these beautiful classic to this question was “one.” That there is it. He also keeps the redemptive-histori- poems in a delightful and rewarding man- a gross misunderstanding of the Ten cal context in mind. ner. You’ll find yourself happily rereading Commandments in our society would He is aware that al- many of the poems to see his point, saying be an understatement. However, the though the coming of to yourself: “Of course! What a blessed, situation is not much better in the the Messiah did not clever thought!” church. As Kevin DeYoung so humor- abolish the command- The poetry is largely from the seven- ously paints the picture, if we were to ments, it “transposed teenth and eighteenth century, with a call on children and adults on Sunday them.” small collection of nineteenth-century and ask them to recite the Ten Com- One of the greatest examples. Most are composed by clearly mandments, how many of them would strengths of this book Christian men and women celebrated in be able to remember all of them? In this is that DeYoung does English literature. Ryken includes works context, DeYoung’s The Ten Command- not shy away from hard by William Shakespeare, John Donne, ments is a welcome aid and indeed a breath questions. Whether it is the prohibition of George Herbert, John Milton, John of fresh air. the use of images in the Second Com- Dryden, Alexander Pope, Christina Ros- There is no doubt that the Ten Com- mandment or what living long in the land setti, Anne Bradstreet, and others. If his mandments have always been important means in the Fifth Commandment, he is selections are a little heavy on the meta- for the church. In the New Testament, always ready to dig deep into the Scrip- physical poets, they are all the more pro- the commandments were repeatedly men- tures. Study questions make this book a voking. The book itself is typeset on thick, almost vellum-like pages, bound in a lovely brown cloth cover, with a red ribbon marker to keep your place as you move through the collection. Here’s a taste: from Robert Herrick (1591–1674), “His Savior’s Words, Going to the Cross”: For Christ, your loving Savior, hath Drunk up the wine of God’s fierce wrath; Only, there’s left a little froth. Less for to taste, than for to show

NEW HORIZONS / JULY 2019 / 23 NEWS, VIEWS, & REVIEWS Continued perfect tool for Sunday school classes and him, of his desire for isolation and self- tion and advice for caregivers and for small group studies, but it really would be medication. She notes, however, that it brothers and sisters in Christ who want a great help for anyone who wants to un- was also a time laced with God’s grace. to come alongside in love to uphold the derstand the Ten Commandments better. She writes of Jonathan’s conversations family in their sufferings. She helps navi- As you read it, you will see that the Ten with his pastor and elders, of finding bits gate the often-maddening medical system Words (Decalogue) are not only our duty of his poetry that expressed faith in his that sometimes seems to prioritize patient but our destiny. DeYoung masterfully and Redeemer. She writes hon- privacy over patient care. She with a great sense of humor shows that estly of her struggles and shares suggestions (her own the Ten Commandments are beautiful and failures concerning Jona- and those she has collected the best options for our lives. than’s care, of feeling angry from the medical community and overwhelmed by the and friends) on early diagno- Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends mysterious changes in her sis and brain scans, medical Them: Schizophrenia through a Mother’s son, and of finding comfort treatment centers, treatment Eyes, by Simonetta Carr. P&R, 2019. in the Scriptures. She recalls advocacy centers, medications, Paperback, 368 pages, $12.00. Reviewed King Jehoshaphat’s prayer in therapy, alternative therapies, by OP member Christine Wilson. 2 Chronicles 20:12: “We are counselors, psychiatrists—as “What do you do when you hear voic- powerless against this great well as thoughts on the ben- es?” Jonathan Carr’s question to his moth- horde that is coming against efit of work and the need to er illustrates the delusory nature of schizo- us. We do not know what to do, but our rest. She offers suggestions for those who phrenia, as illusion and reality become eyes are on you.” God’s answer to the king desire to help and some practical tips for indistinguishable. For his mother, the au- sustained her: “Do not be afraid and do churches that might increase opportuni- thor of the book, interpreting the question not be dismayed at this great horde, for the ties for those with schizophrenia to attend is like peering into a dense fog. She sees battle is not yours but God’s…the Lord worship and enjoy fellowship. muted but familiar contours and strains to will be with you” (vs. 15, 17). Scripture God, Carr writes, “is greater than our glimpse the fading reality of who her son was her daily reminder that “our limited minds, our circumstances, and our fears. used to be. Her answer to him reveals her experience doesn’t have the final word in Things are often not what they seem… commitment to loving and serving her son establishing what is real” (344). We can’t see the full reality, but God does” with honesty: “I don’t hear voices….” Part 2 is a trove of practical informa- (212). The first part of Simonetta Carr’s book chronicles her walk with Jonathan through that fog. The second part offers support and resources to those living with schizophrenia or to friends who come alongside. Part 1 is raw and honest, a heart- breaking account of the progression of Jonathan’s illness. Schizophrenia, Carr writes, “doesn’t just erase a personal- ity—it substitutes it with another” (13). Jonathan’s two-year battle, beginning in his late teens, was terrifying and exhaust- ing and painful. She recounts the pain of his losing friends, and of friends losing

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