Trowel And Sword -The Early Years

Dick Vander Pijl. Trowel & Sword. 1965 Preamble: If the title of this article and its contents sound familiar, they should be. This was the opening article of our recently published (December) Trowel & Sword – Special Edition. Why publish it again? Because like the Auckland brethren responsible for getting the ball rolling for theContinue reading “Trowel And Sword -The Early Years”

Addiction To Self – The Problem

David Groenenboom. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb. 1999 Preamble: In his opening statement Davis names “Addiction to Self” as the “…biggest threat to the western Church at the end of the 20th century.” He also writes that it has been a problem since Adam. It would therefore be safe to say that it is just asContinue reading “Addiction To Self – The Problem”

The Rights Of Your And My Children

Prof. G. van Groningen. Trowel & Sword. October 1965 Preamble: Children – They are a blessing from God, but how often do we see them as an inconvenience or, dare I say it, even a source of annoyance when it comes to church life and/or the worship service? Children misbehaving or babies crying are oftenContinue reading “The Rights Of Your And My Children”

Lining Up!

Prof. K. Warren. Trowel & Sword. June 1981 Preamble: This article could have been written last week instead of 44 years ago. Talk of Nuclear war, atomic annihilation, World War 3, has recently and consistently been hitting the airwaves. Add to that the constant scare mongering about the end of civilisation due to “climate change”,Continue reading “Lining Up!”

I Love Christmas!

Rev. J. de Jonge. Trowel & Sword. Dec. 2010 Preamble: Christmas can mean many different things for different people. In this article Rev. de Jonge takes us through his own experiences growing up and ultimately, what Christmas means for the Gospel story and the message of salvation. I Love Christmas! “For [God] chose us inContinue reading “I Love Christmas!”

Christianity or Churchianity?

Rev. J.W. Deenick. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1955 Preamble: This is the last of four articles John Westendorp looked at in his walk back through history. In it Rev J.W. Deenick responds to the suggestion by an unnamed but apparently well-known Christian worker that the world needs Christianity but not the plethora of denominations whichContinue reading “Christianity or Churchianity?”

Catechism Classes

Rev. Prof. K. Runia. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb. 1965 Preamble: This is the third instalment of John Westendorp’s look back through time in 1995, “This Month in Trowel And Sword History” and he found that thirty years earlier, in the Jan/Feb. 65 edition, Prof. K. Runia wrote this article about Catechism classed. In it RuniaContinue reading “Catechism Classes”

The Agony Of Our World and Our Lifestyle

Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1975 Preamble: In Jan/Feb 1975, the second decade of John Westendorp’s walk back through history, we encounter this offering by Rev. J.J. Van Wageningen which even today gives us much to think about. Did we get caught up this weekend in the great money splurge euphemistically referredContinue reading “The Agony Of Our World and Our Lifestyle”

New Zealand Elders Conference Labour Weekend 1984

Jack E. de Graaf. Trowel & Sword. Jan/Feb 1985 Preamble: In 1995 Rev. John Westendorp looked back through old Trowel & Sword magazines to see what had been written about back then. Ten years earlier T&S reported on a New Zealand Elders conference and the wide variety of topics discussed make for interesting reading. ItContinue reading “New Zealand Elders Conference Labour Weekend 1984”

Christmas – Its Origin And Its History

J.W. Deenick. Trowel & Sword. December 1963 Preamble: Once again the countdown has begun – “ONLY SIX WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS”. “Avoid the last minute rush and get your Christmas shopping done early”. Cost of living crisis? There’s no such thing when it comes to Christmas – that comes later when the credit card has toContinue reading “Christmas – Its Origin And Its History”