October 2000 New Horizons

Shepherds Needed

by Mark T. Bube

How often do we consciously try to look at people in the world as our Savior might see them? Explaining the parable of the good shepherd to the unbelieving Pharisees, Jesus Christ says: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd." (John 10:11, 14-16) He is the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep. There are sheep, many sheep, each of which belongs to the Good Shepherd, each of which is intimately known by the Good Shepherd, and each of which knows him. Some of these sheep have already been gathered into the local fold. Others have not, but ultimately all of the sheep will be gathered into the one flock with the one Shepherd. He will gather them ... Read more

Is the Larger Catechism Worthwhile?

by Chad Van Dixhoorn

A recent article in New Horizons asked the question, "Is the Shorter Catechism Worthwhile?"—and answered with a resounding yes! This article asks the same question about the Larger Catechism. Unlike the Shorter Catechism, the Larger Catechism has suffered much neglect in Presbyterian and Reformed churches. At least a dozen commentaries have been written on the Shorter Catechism, and I can think of at least seven commentaries on the Confession of Faith. Yet only Thomas Ridgeley has penned a commentary on the Larger Catechism, and that was in the early 1730s. Many of the commentaries on the Shorter Catechism and the Confession are still in print; Ridgeley's work was never reprinted and is now very scarce. Closer to home, another indication of the popularity of the Larger Catechism among conservative Presbyterians may be Trinity Hymnal: the Larger Catechism has never been printed at the back of our hymnal, unlike the Confession of Faith and the Shorter Catechism. Many families learn and study the ... Read more

The School of Grace

by Joanie Doe

I'm sitting on a lounge chair in my backyard. I hear the sound of birds and the sounds of my husband and son as they clean up the debris from a fallen tree. I am tired. It is impossible to sleep through the night, and naps don't come easily. Apart from a constant tiredness, I am doing well. In two days, it will be two weeks since I had a mastectomy and breast reconstruction. I would like to think that this marks the end of breast cancer in my life. Only God knows if it does. I do know that what he has taught me will continue to bless me, no matter what he brings into my life. It was October of 1992 when I first put my name and the word cancer together in the same sentence. The scare turned out to be only a benign fibroadenoma. Then in December we moved to Vermont. One month later, while still adjusting to what seemed like the extreme cold of our first Vermont winter, I discovered a lump and decided it must be a cyst. That seemed to be the only logical explanation so soon after the October surgery, ... Read more

His Grace Is Sufficient

by Connie Keller

I have often sent letters in the past to update you on how our son Matthew is doing and to ask for your prayers. It has been nearly two years since Matthew was diagnosed as autistic. At that time, the pediatric neurologist told us to find a speech therapist and that maybe our son would learn to talk. In the intervening time, a lot has happened. You all have prayed many times for Matthew. And so, I need to let you know how God has answered those prayers. Six months ago, Matthew had his regular appointment with an occupational therapist, and afterwards we discussed his condition. I explained to her that Matthew had begun asking "why" and "how" questions. She told me that most high-functioning autistic children never get to the point where they understand nonconcrete relationships. Then we discussed all aspects of Matthew's progress. She said that Matthew no longer needed occupational therapy. He had apparently undergone a complete change in his neurological system. He processes things completely ... Read more