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Magazine, Past Issue
Nov/Dec 2025 issue
WHAT'S INSIDE: You can't fight screens with nothing
Given how popular our summer screen-fast challenge was, it’s evident that our tech usage is an issue that deserves ongoing attention in Christian homes. It was great so many of us could take a break from our phones, but if we’re going to limit our screen-time for the long-term, we need to think of what we’re going to do instead. So, what alternatives do kids (and adults) have to screens?
1. Get outside
One option: in this issue, school teacher Dave Penninga shares stories from his own childhood to speak to the impor- tance of risky play. He’s also working from Jonathan Haidt’s recent book The Anxious Generation - How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Penninga makes the case for parents to back off some, and allow more unsupervised outdoor play.
2. Stack bricks – our “Building Block” contest is back!
Lego is another great alternative to screens. Earlier this year, more than 500 youth pulled out their bins of Lego and entered our first-ever “building block” contest. It’s back and in time for Christmas break. Be sure to point your little, and not-so-little, ones to the back cover for details.
3. Write or record – we need you to share your training, experiences, wisdom, or story
In light of what we confess in Lord’s Day 12 of the Heidelberg Catechism, that every Christian shares in Christ’s anointing as a prophet, priest, and king, we are grateful to launch a new contest where you have an opportunity to share your own message in writing, audio, or video. Perhaps you have training and education that would be a huge help to others, or you have experienced a trial and have learned lessons that you could share to the benefit of many. Maybe you have a story to encourage or warn your siblings in Christ. This is your opportunity to inspire and bless Christ’s Church!
Not only could your work be published, thanks to the generosity of a donor, there is a whopping $7,000 in cash prizes! Find the details on pages 2-3.
Keep the printing presses rolling
As the year draws to a close, we respectfully remind our readers that Reformed Perspective is only able to publish this magazine (and produce many other resources) and give it away for free because of the generosity of people like you, who recognize the importance of thinking, speaking, and acting for God’s glory. As you can read on pages 82-83, our donors allowed us to take 4 big steps forward this year. Are you willing to help keep the presses rolling through 2026?
We have three options for you to read the magazine. First up is the flipbook edition, with its turning pages. Below that, you can click the cover to view the pdf in your browser, or click here to download the PDF (13 mb)
INDEX: RP Contest: Your Turn / What will Canada look like in 2040 / Vera's story: the fight for her life... / Why Charlie Kirk's death hit so hard / The importance of risky play / Introducing the ARPA Academy / Why you (or someone you know) should plan to go to Calgary's 2026 Summit Reformed Young Adult Conference / Why I don't have a bucket list / Christine Farenhorst's annual Christmas story: Learning / Interview with an artist: Paul Roth loves painting her studio / Come & Explore: Have you ever wondered... / Why it's good for teens and kids to do chores / In a Nutshell / Post Tenebras Lux: Martin Luther and the road to Reformation / More than the magazine / E.D. Update: our donors enabled us to take 4 big steps forward in 2025 / RP contest: can you build it better?
News
Fewer young people identifying as “queer” or “trans”
A recent research report based on polling tens of thousands of American college students each year shows a significant decline among those who identify as “Trans” or “Queer.”
The poll, conducted by the Centre for Heterodox Social Science, found that the number of students who identified as transgender peaked in 2023 at 7 percent but has since nearly halved to under 4 percent.
Not quite as steep a decline, those who simply identify as being “not heterosexual” declined by 10 points from approximately 28 percent to 18. Of this group, those who identify as homosexual has remained stable, but those who identify as “bisexual” or “queer” has decreased. The report’s author, Eric Kaufmann, reflected in a post on X that:
“The fall of trans and queer seems most similar to the fading of a fashion or trend. It happened largely independently of shifts in political beliefs and social media use, though improved mental health played a role.”
While identifying as trans or queer may be less socially popular today, the underlying search for identity and meaning remains. This can only be satisfied when we understand who we are: human beings made by a loving and powerful God, who has a good plan for our lives, including our sexuality. Far from being repressive, conforming our lives to God gives lasting joy and freedom. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Today's Devotional
November 12 - Are you faithful leaders, Fathers?
“Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” - Proverbs 1:8
Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-25
Yesterday, the topic was nations; today, it is on the building block of nations: the family. Look at the focus of Deuteronomy 6 where it is commanded that the family spends its time and energy teaching the children of the household to know the LORD. >
Today's Manna Podcast
The spiritual act of forgiving # 1
Serving #1024 of Manna, prepared by Ian Wildeboer, is called "The spiritual act of forgiving # 1".
