1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

540 Crescent St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
By the Spirit’s grace, discipling believers in Christ and evangelizing unbelievers for God’s glory.
“I can’t wait until I can see Him!”
Fall Itinerary
Dear friends,
Here are a few notes of my itineraries over the last two months.
November 5, 2014
Grand Rapids (September 9)
The Ministry Wives’ Institute (MWI), which aims to help train women to be biblical and faithful ministers’ wives, is a great
blessing to PRTS’s seminary community. It is particularly appreciated by the wives of foreign students who often find themselves in a rather lonely situation in a “foreign” country while their husbands are studying hard and working long hours. Led
by my wife, and assisted by the wives of the other faculty members and a few wives from the student body, MWI meets every
other week to fellowship and to address various themes and issues that arise in the role of being a minister’s wife in a pastor’s
family. Addresses are arranged for a three- or four-year cycle, with every semester focusing on a particular major theme confronted by ministers’ wives. Speakers for these occasions include faculty members, their wives, and outside speakers as well.
This year I gave the opening address to the MWI on “Being Busy But Fruitful: How to Organize Your Time for God’s
Glory.” I addressed the foundational use of our time—namely, to be used for God’s glory, and then expounded eleven practical ways to help wives organize time.
Lake Mary, Florida (September 11)
I spent the day at Reformation Bible College, which is a fairly new college
on a very beautiful campus, replete with a large pond and remarkably tame
sandhill cranes moving about, situated some forty miles from Orlando,
Florida. The college is associated with R. C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries, and has huge potential for growth—especially in our day when so few
colleges or universities teach from a self-consciously biblical and Reformed
perspective. The president of the college, Stephen Nichols, a personable and
able 43-year-old church historian, was my guide for the day. It was great to
spend some time with him, as I had long wanted to get to know him better.
I first taught a class
on Puritan Preaching for
a few dozen students in
their Church and Ministry Course, then delivered
a chapel message for the
student body and faculty (approximately 125
people) in the magnificent St. Andrews Church,
after which I gave a PRTS
power point presentation
St. Andrews Church
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With Stephen Nichols
to nine students who expressed an interest in hearing more about
PRTS in connection with their future studies. Four of the students
seemed openly interested in attending PRTS once they have completed their college degree at RBC. In the afternoon, I spoke again
for about two dozen students—this time for a class on The Church
Before the Reformation. My address was on Anselm’s view of the
atonement and its impact on the Reformers and Reformed theology.
I then had a short visit with Dr. R. C. Sproul
just before he was going on the air with Dr. John
MacArthur. It was great to see him again and to
hear that he is feeling reasonably well and pressing on in the Lord’s work. I also spent some time
with Chris Larson—Dr. Sproul’s right-hand man
who does an amazing job of overseeing the entire
Ligonier Ministries operation. Chris has in his office
several antiquarian Reformed and
Puritan books, so
we took a picture
of him holding the
Pious Annotations
of John Diodati and
of me holding The
Complete Works of
Richard Greenham.
With Chris Larson
With a family in Iowa
With Dr. R. C. Sproul
Iowa and South Dakota (September 12–15)
After overnighting at home, I flew the next day to South Dakota to meet
Mary there. She had gone ahead of me (while I was in Florida) to spend
a few days with her sister (Linda VanBeek). On Friday evening and Saturday we visited about a dozen families—mostly in their own homes, to
fellowship and show them our new PRTS power point presentation. It
was an intensely busy but encouraging and profitable time.
On Sunday, I preached twice to the Hull, Iowa HRC, once on “the
woman that was a sinner” (Luke 7:37) and in the evening on heaven’s
genuine utopia (Rev. 21:1–8). I felt remarkably helped in the evening message. As we flew home on Monday, we said to each other that in addition
to enjoying time with our relatives, this weekend bonded us to the dear
Hull congregation more than ever.
Cheyenne, Wyoming (September 19–21)
On September 19 and 20 I gave four addresses for a conference put on by
the Northwoods Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming around
the theme of “Families Living for God’s Glory.” Topics included lessons
from the Puritans for contemporary marriages and child-rearing, family
worship, training children to follow Christ, and how to live godly through
difficult times of family affliction. I also preached twice on Sunday, did a
presentation on the seminary, and participated in a Q&A session.
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Over the weekend I spent considerable time with Pastor Milan Norgauer—a tender-hearted minister who deeply appreciates the Reformed experiential emphasis. On more than one occasion, he wept on the pulpit in reflecting upon the truth
being expounded. By the time I left, I felt like we had built a remarkably good friendship for only knowing each other for
three days. The gospel has a way of allowing believers to do that, doesn’t it?
I also enjoyed time over breakfast with some of the elders who picked
my brains on a number of edifying subjects. Equally delightful was a time
of fellowship over a Sunday dinner at the beautiful home of Dr. and Mrs.
Alexander Ramig, Jr. out in the rather barren countryside.
Conference attendees came from a variety of backgrounds. Most were
of Reformed persuasion. Some Baptist families were present. Many came
from small, rural congregations scattered throughout the sparsely populated
state of Wyoming. A few families came from Denver, Colorado, including
the Roy VanZweden family. It was great to have lunch with them and catch
Had a great time with Pastor Milan and his wife.
up with their lives.
Litchfield, New Hampshire and Limington, Maine (October 2–6)
My trip to New England got off to a rough start. The flight coming in from Chicago
to Grand Rapids arrived three hours late because the flight crew had worked too many
hours to continue flying. So, while they were resting in Chicago, I realized that I would
miss my connection in Newark, New Jersey, so I managed to get rerouted through
Laguardia, New York. The plane from Chicago finally arrived in Grand Rapids three
hours late, however, which meant I would now miss my flight from Laguardia to Manchester, New Hampshire as well. Since there were no more flights into Manchester
that day and I had to preach in the evening, United re-booked me again—this time
putting me on a flight to Boston. Happily, Pastor Dave McClelland of the Grace Free
Pastor Dave McClelland at Grace
Presbyterian Church of Litchfield, New Hampshire, was willing to drive all the way
Free Presbyterian Church, who is
to Boston to pick me up. I landed in Boston at 4:15 p.m. (five hours late), and we then
in
his study here standing beside a
battled traffic getting out of Boston.
scarce, beautiful set of Thomas
On the way, Dave told me the fascinating story of how he went through the
Chalmers’s Complete Works
motions of appearing fairly religious as he grew up since he didn’t want to displease his
father who was a quiet, faithful pastor. He then began to date an attractive girl named Gina who had no religion at all. She
had a troubled past, but he was attracted to her looks and honesty. For a while he tried to hide this relationship from his parents—also because of her worldly appearance (she had sixteen earrings
in her ears!), but finally could hold out no longer. To his surprise, his
father said he should bring her to church. Then, to his astonishment, she
was impressed, asked numerous questions, and was eventually converted.
Her worldliness dissipated and she then became a positive influence on
him, God using her in his own conversion! They now have a wonderful
relationship as husband and wife.
We arrived at the Grace FP church ten minutes before the evening
service was to begin. I could have flown more quickly to Europe than to
New Hampshire, but was glad to arrive in time for the service, and felt
Grace Free Presbyterian Church
helped in delivering the message.
The following morning I breakfasted with Dave, one of his elders, and a fellow FP
pastor, David DiCanio, who is ministering in Liberia. We had a fascinating conversation
about the issue of “separation” from erring brethren and shared with each other how the
Lord converted us.
Dave then drove me to Maine. The time flew; again, we had great fellowship on the
way. He has become a good friend and it was great to get to know him better. By God’s
grace, he has built up this FP church in New Hampshire—a state that is hostile or at best
indifferent to the Reformed faith—to become a flock of 250 people, most of whom are
quite young and have been drawn to faith from out of the world.
Pastor Leonard Gulstrom drove halfway from his church in Limington, Maine to meet
Dave and me for lunch. To my surprise, they did not know each other despite the fewness
With David DiCanio
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of sound Reformed ministers
in New England. After lunch,
Leonard—a friendly, humble,
steady brother who has run an
effective ministry in Maine
for eleven years—drove me to
his beautiful country home,
where I homesteaded for the
next three days. I enjoyed my
fellowship with him and his
hospitable wife, Sonya, and
Limington OPC
their son Jason (the only one Pastor Leonard and Sonya Gulstrom
of seven children still at home)
immensely. The Gulstrom
parsonage is only two blocks
from their quaint country
church—Limington Orthodox Presbyterian Church,
which is commemorating its
225th anniversary. For most
of those years it was a Congregational church, but under
Leonard’s leadership became
Limington OPC sanctuary
an Orthodox Presbyterian Ringing the church bell for the Sunday
evening service in the country OPC
Church in 2011, and is growing steadily.
in Limington, Maine
The church now has four elders and
four deacons.
Over the weekend, I delivered five messages on “The Faithfulness of
God” in commemoration of the church’s anniversary. I also presented the
work of Puritan Reformed Seminary at a Sunday school hour. Visitors came
from near and far. A great friend and co-author, Pastor James La Belle,
together with six of his children, and one of his elders with two of his children, drove up four hours from Cape Cod, Massachusetts early on Saturday
With several children from two special families after
to spend most of the day with us. I was able to treat them to a meal prior
the conclusion of the Limington, Maine conference
to their return. On Saturday evening, I had an engaging discussion at the
Gulstrom home with three elders and a deacon from Limington’s
OP church. Though the attendees never rose much above one hundred throughout the weekend, fellowship was great, the people were
hungry and appreciative, and the books I had brought were nearly all
sold already by Saturday.
I was particularly touched by some of the children in the congregation. Seven-year-old Veronica (see picture) was deeply touched
when I gave her one of my children’s books and gave me a thank you
card on Sunday evening for it, telling me that she had already read
the first chapters. “They were good,” she said in a mature, confident
voice. Then there was a three-year-old boy (see picture) who walked
up to me and said sincerely and articulately on Sunday, “Sir, thank
you so much for coming to preach for us this weekend.”
Washington State (October 10–12)
More than a thousand people—nearly all home-schoolers—attended the “Family Relationships and Parenting Conference” held
at the Ocean shores Conventions Center in Ocean Shores, Washington. The conference was presented by Christian Heritage
Home Educators of Washington, and was well organized by Danny Craig (25 years old), together with his father and brothers. I gave five addresses: How to Bring Your Children to Christ; The Church and Healthy Family Relationships; Nurturing
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Intimate Communication with Your Spouse;
Puritan Insights for
Husbands and Wives;
How
the
Gospel
Changes Relationships.
I also participated on a
panel on Advice for
Husbands and Fathers.
Other major speakers included Gregg
Attendees at Ocean Shores family conference
Two of the youngest attendees
Harris, Craig Houston,
and Lou Priolo. I enjoyed getting to meet and know them. Gregg Harris, well known for his leadership role in the homeschooling movement over the past twenty-five years, is the father of Joshua Harris (author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy
Meets Girl, Not Even a Hint, etc.) and Alex and Brett Harris (co-authors of Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low
Expectations). Craig Houston is a faithful pastor and father of twelve who is a joy to be with. We promised to try to find time
to get to know each other better.
I also enjoyed my time with Gerry and Eileen Epp and their children, including mealtimes and talking around an
evening campfire they made on the ocean beach with the waves rolling in behind us in the darkness. Joining us around the
campfire were two additional families from Canada: Brian and Ann-Marie DenHertog, and Marvin and Wilhelmina from
Alberta. Together the three families had more than twenty children with them!
Isaac Epp was particularly helpful in chauffeuring me from
the airport and assisted me at the book table together with his
brother Joseph. We were able to sell all eighteen boxes of books
that we had sent out to the conference, including scores of books
written for children. It was also great to meet some of the other
large families that were present—many having from seven to
twelve (even one with fourteen) children. Many of those children’s
maturity level—both intellectually and spiritually—appears to be
quite astonishing.
On Sunday morning I preached for Carl DeyArmin at Shiloh
Bible Camp on “The Only Way to Live and Die” (Phil. 1:21). We
went to the camp because Pastor DeyArmin’s church only holds about seventy people. He has built the church up from 20
people to 40 people in three years. That is really a major achievement in this rather deserted area. The church belongs to a group
of churches being supported by Village
Missions, which seeks
to place pastors in rural
settings to serve dying
churches. The goal is
to preserve and build
these churches across
rural North America.
On Monday, I
Chapel at Shiloh Bible Camp
With Pastor Carl Deymarin, after preaching
flew to Detroit, landfor him at Shiloh Bible Camp
ing an hour before
Mary joined me from Grand Rapids. Several hours later we were winging our way to Brazil on a long overnight flight to
São Paulo. I am scheduled to speak about ten times in the next seven days—mostly on the Holy Spirit and His saving work.
Brazil (October 13–21, 2014)—written by Mary Beeke
We are thinking it is Joel’s twelfth trip to Brazil, and it is my fourth. We met in Detroit, he flying in from Seattle and I from
Grand Rapids, then on to São Paulo on an 11-hour overnight flight. Four hours by car—hills and curves—brought us to
Águas de Lindóia, where the FIEL Conference is held. In total, it was a 31-hour trip for my husband, and 25 hours for me.
The place and the people have become pleasantly familiar. This year’s conference drew 1,900 people at which time they cut
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off the registration due to lack
of accommodations for more
people. About 70% of the
attendees are pastors and their
wives. Five to six thousand
people heard the addresses
through livestreaming. Many
thousands more will tune in in
due course, we were told. God
is doing great things in Brazil.
This year’s theme was
“The Work of the Holy Spirit.”
Kevin DeYoung spoke on how
An inquisitive attendee
Nearly 2,000 at the sessions
the Holy Spirit speaks to us, the Spirit’s role in our holiness, and on the conscience. R. C. Sproul Jr. spoke on the
Holy Spirit as Lord and Giver of life and on sanctification.
You may recall R. C. lost his wife about two years ago to
leukemia. Their eight children range in age from 4 to 20
now. He spoke of how God is glorified through struggles,
and that He sends trials for our good and for His glory.
Deep ways—I can’t imagine. The tears flowed—his and
ours. The Brazilian speakers were Davi Charles Gomes,
Franklin Ferreira, Leandro Lima, Mauro Meister, and
Silas Campos. Skilled interpreters were Heber Campos
With most of the speakers at FIEL and a few of their spouses.
Jr. and Eros Pasquini.
Nearly 6,000 were listening online around the world.
Joel’s first two addresses were on the importance of
the Holy Spirit’s saving work and on the Spirit’s role in bringing believers to full assurance of faith. For his last address,
which was the closing address of the conference, he decided to change it to something that the people could go home with,
something to encourage and inspire them, something to apply all the other messages to their hearts. The Lord helped him
in a wonderful way as he preached from Revelation 21:1–8 on the glory that awaits God’s
people as the culmination of the Holy Spirit’s
saving work in their lives.
It was great for us to meet old friends
again. Joel enjoyed seeing Augustus Nicodemus Lopes again, a friend who served as
president of Mackenzie University for ten
years and is now pastoring a church of twelve
hundred. We are also very fond of Bill and
Mary Barkley. Bill translated and published
With Dr. Augustus Nicodemus Lopes
With Bill and Mary Barkley
Meet the Puritans in Portuguese. What warm,
loving friends they are! And of course, we again enjoyed
immensely our time with Tiago Santos and Rick Denham,
able leaders of FIEL.
Between the addresses, many people like to have their
pictures taken with the speakers, have them sign books,
and show appreciation and affection. There was lots of
boisterous talking, smiling, and hugging. My husband’s
new book, in Portuguese, Puritan Reformed Spirituality,
sold 650 copies, and his Living for God’s Glory sold 300
copies. It is very special to hear how God has used books
and past sermons and addresses to touch people’s lives. A
Signing my new book which just came out in Portuguese last week,
sampling of some of the stories we heard were:
Puritan Reformed Spirituality
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• Two formerly Pentecostal pastors told Joel that reading Living for God’s
Glory was used by God to enable them to fully embrace Calvinism, which
has transformed their lives and ministries.
• Several people told Joel that after his talk on family worship a few years back
they started family worship for the first time and were blessed in doing so.
Others revived the practice. One brother (see picture) told Joel movingly
that his quotation of Thomas Brooks that a family without daily prayer is
like a house without a roof exposed to all the storms of heaven deeply convicted him. He started doing family worship again, and his family’s life has
been transformed.
• One husband told my husband that the Holy Spirit used his and Steve Lawson’s addresses two years ago to deliver his wife (see picture) from spiritual
bondage. She found freedom in the gospel for the first time in her life.
• One woman told us with tears how my husband’s address on the Spirit’s
work in bringing His people to heaven where they will gaze on His face
forever was an overwhelming blessing to her. She also said that a blind man
sat next to her and wept throughout the address, longing for the day when
he will be able to see Christ forever. At the close of the message, he said to
her, “I can’t wait until I can see Him!”
• Several ladies told me how my book on kindness and speeches a few years ago impacted their family life.
On Friday, we were driven back to São Paulo, where a group of us
flew to Salvador for a mini FIEL conference which dealt with the same
general theme. Joel spoke on how the Holy Spirit works genuine repentance and on the indwelling work of the Spirit in the Shunnamite woman
(2 Kings 4). On Sunday, he preached at Igreja Presbiteriana de Brotas,
whose pastor is Samuel Vitalino, on Philippians 1:21. For the Sunday
school he preached on coping
with affliction. After the sermons, we met a blind man who
was wonderfully converted from
With Pastor and Mrs. Samuel Vitalino
a spirit form of worship similar
to black magic. His eyes have
been truly opened to the gospel.
Joel’s first trip to Brazil years
ago was in response to Dr. Manuel Canuto’s invitation to the
Puritan Project, where he met
Pastor Josafá Vasconcelos, who
has since become a close friend.
(My husband even dedicated one
of his books to this very dear
brother.) This present trip ended
With the blind brother in the center
with Joel preaching the first time
in Pastor Josafá’s church, with Dr. Canuto in
attendance. It was a very emotional experience for them. There is nothing like a mutual
love for the Lord Jesus Christ to bind friends
together. He preached on Hebrews 12:1–2. As
Pastor Josafá eases into retirement over the next
With Pastor Josafa, in front of his
years, the plan is for Daniel Silveira, one of our
house church, in Salvador where
present PRTS students, to take up the mantle.
I preached on Sunday evening.
Two children who listened well!
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Daniel, his wife Flávia, and their daughter Isabel have
brought Brazilian warmth to our church and seminary
communities here in Grand Rapids.
After the service Sunday evening, so many young
people wanted to ask my husband questions, that he
offered to have a sit-down, twenty minute Q&A session—a session that quickly turned into an hour of
great questions.
We had time to see Salvador Monday morning. SamAnswering young people’s questions about assurance
uel Vitalino was our able tour guide. Salvador is a coastal
of faith and Puritanism after the service
city of nearly three million, and a place of much religion:
few evangelicals, many Pentecostals and Roman Catholics, but also a large presence of the cult Candomblé, which is a mix of
African worship and Roman Catholicism. Many of the souvenirs have idolatrous significance. The slaves that were brought
here in the 1700s and 1800s were from the same parts of Africa as those brought to America. We saw the public square
where slaves were publicly beaten. In 1888, Princess Isabel
set all the slaves free. Racism is absent in the church. At the
conference and at all the churches that we visited, there is a
beautiful mix of different ethnic backgrounds. We loved the
Brazilian folks before, and we love them even more now.
As I write this account of our trip, my dear husband is
sitting next to me. Reading is his normal airplane activity.
But the last eleven days, two consecutive trips for him which
involved speaking 22 times, have worn him out. The page
he is attempting to proofread is entitled “Learning to Enjoy
Recording a video message for young people in Brazil on Monday
Meditation.” But I think he is actually taking a power nap.
morning. The last of 22 speaking engagements since leaving home.
I do love him so very much.
The Lord is good.
Mary and I doing three interviews for FIEL
Caught napping by my queen during the homeward bound 11 hour flight
from São Paulo to Detroit. Grateful, exhausted, but happy to be home.
Visiting a lighthouse and other scenic sights on Monday before heading for home. Lots of syncretism
and superstition in Salvador. Beautiful, but sad, needy place. Pray for revival here.
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Asheville, North Carolina (October 29–November 1)—written by Mary Beeke
On Wednesday evening, Mary and I flew to Asheville,
North Carolina to speak at a home-schooler’s conference.
The National Center for Family-Integrated Churches
(NCFIC) promotes dependency on Scripture in church
and family life. The theme for this year’s conference
was “The Power of the Gospel.” The 1,200 attendees
included many large, wholesome families. Pastor Scott
Brown is the leader, and in lockstep with the mission
of NCFIC, involves a number of his family and church
family in running the conference. The five young men in
this year’s internship program spent seven months being
1,200 attendees at NCFIC—lots of hungry, grateful families
discipled and mentored in the Hope Baptist Church in
Wake Forest, North Carolina. The culmination of their internship was to help run the conference. We didn’t think twice
when one of them introduced himself as James Fletcher at the airport. Then on the way to the conference, he said, “I think
you know my grandparents, Bob and Betty Fletcher.” What a happy surprise to meet the grandson of such dear friends!
On Thursday we attended a pre-conference for church leaders and wives where my husband spoke on the need for pastors and their wives to live out of the Scriptures. Other speakers included Joe Morecraft, Craig Houston, John Snyder, and
Jeff Pollard. A roundtable discussion which focused on shepherding the sheep followed the addresses.
We had the joy of having dinner Thursday evening with two large families who reside near Lansing,
Michigan: Jerry and Tamael Flore and Joel and Tammy
Brown. The Flores’ had “only” thirteen of their eighteen
children with them this year, and the Browns had seven
of their soon-to-be eleven children with them (they are
in the process of adopting three more children). What a
joy these families and friends are!
The keynote speakers for the main conference from
Thursday afternoon to Saturday evening were Scott
Brown, John Snyder, Jeff Pollard, R. C. Sproul Jr., Kevin
Swanson, Carlton McLeod, and my dear husband. The
addresses were on the Holy Spirit’s work in salvation,
covering many of its major steps, including election, These two precious families took us out to supper here in North Carolina.
Had a great time with them. So grateful for their prayers and friendship.
conversion, justification, sanctification, assurance, perseverance, and glorification. My husband was asked to
speak on assurance and to give two messages on perseverance. He also gave a one-hour interview on holiness,
as did some of the other speakers, in anticipation of next
year’s conference.
There was a separate session for men and boys called
“Burnings in the Soul,” in which nine speakers told in
fifteen minutes each what issues were on the forefront in
their hearts. Joel shared these: family worship, which was
a motivation for producing the KJV study bible; exciteWith Scott and Deborah Brown and Craig and Emily Houston for
ment for reprinting the Works of William Perkins, the first
a speakers’ lunch just after finishing my fifth and last address.
time ever since it was printed in the 1600’s; Reformed
experiential preaching and writing a book about it; and national repentance and the prayer that God would raise up Godfearing preachers and politicians.
The NCFIC Conference was the place of the debut of the publication of the KJV Reformation Heritage Study Bible.
Steve Renkema, RHB manager, stopped in Indiana on his way down and picked up the first skid of the hard cover edition.
Larry and Linda VanBeek drove down also, to work the book table. Close to 400 Bibles sold together with many more
books, especially after Joel urged the people to use the study bible for family worship, to read the Puritans (reprinted in
today’s language), and for the children to read about heroes of church history. Most of the children are home educated, so
they are always looking for materials. One little boy had saved money to buy a certain book, and he seriously laid out his
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one dollar bill and many coins. Another family purchases a book for each child every year, so they diligently check out
each booth to make their choice. Several families bought Bibles for their entire family (ranging from 5 to 15 Bibles per
family) so that every child of reading age could participate directly in
family worship. What an encouragement such families are!
I think seeing the KJV study bible in print was one of the most
special moments in my husband’s life. It is a dream come true for him
as well as for his fellow editors, Dr. Michael Barrett (OT editor), Dr.
Jerry Bilkes (NT editor), and Rev. Paul Smalley (editorial assistant). It
is the fruit of countless hours of work for the writers and especially the
editors. The most special part about it, aside from the Scripture itself
of course, is the section of thoughts for personal and family worship at
the end of each chapter’s notes. We hope and pray that sinners will be
saved and souls fed, and that fathers will lead their families to discover
the treasures of Scripture, so that Jesus Christ will be at the center of
every heart.
A happy family after buying
KJV Study Bibles and other books
Dorr, Michigan (November 3)
On Monday evening, just prior to the elections, I preached a pre-election sermon for New Hope Reformed Fellowship in
Dorr, Michigan. Earnest prayer was offered for our needy country, that God would still have mercy upon us, and send us
the gift of Spirit-worked reformation and revival.
Post-elections, let us remember that Jesus Christ sits upon His throne. May our expectation be in Him.
I wish to conclude with a brief comment on our national elections yesterday. Here is a summary of the results by Gary
Bauer’s “Campaign for Working Families” report:
Last night’s Republican victory was historic—and that’s not hyperbole. It is exceedingly rare for the country to experience two wave elections in a decade. Many pundits presumed that the GOP got its wave election in 2010, so it just
couldn’t happen again in 2014. But it did.
Republicans picked up eight Senate seats last night: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina,
South Dakota, and West Virginia. In the process, they defeated four incumbent Democrats (Begich, Pryor, Udall, and
Hagan), something they haven’t done since Ronald Reagan’s 1980 landslide.
In the House, the GOP succeeded in expanding its majority by more than a dozen seats. Speaker John Boehner will
now control the largest Republican House majority in more than 60 years.
Across the country, at least 31 states now have Republican governors. GOP gubernatorial candidates prevailed in
surprising places like Illinois, Maryland, and Massachusetts, while Governors Sam Brownback, Scott Walker, and Rick
Scott were reelected.
Republicans also added to their tremendous 2010 state legislative victories. According to one analysis, “state legislative chambers now stand at 65 Republican, 23 Democrat, 1 tie, and 4 undecided,” leaving Democrats “at their weakest
point in state legislatures since the 1920s.”
Let us pray that the newly elected men and women may take a real stand for promoting spiritual, moral, and fiscal responsibility in this country. Above all, let us storm God’s mercy seat for repentance, reformation, and revival among the populace,
that God’s true people may stand for righteousness and that many unbelievers may be saved. Genuine conversions in a
national revival is what this nation needs more than anything else. Pray for it every day.
Warmly, with pastoral love,
Pastor Joel Beeke
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