The Protestant Reformed Church in the City of Lynden, Washington, is located in the Nooksack Valley of Whatcom County at about 15 miles east of the extreme northwest corner of the U.S.A. and four miles south of the Canadian border.  The area is a broad, flat valley extending from the bay thirty miles or so […]

Although I know the hymn question is a weighty matter with our young people, I am somewhat surprised at the silence in their ranks.  Possibly you are just sitting by awaiting the appearance of another’s position or perhaps Synod’s final decision?  If so, let me encourage you not to stand idly by, but pen your […]

The Upward Calling—R. E. O. White—Eerdmans—202 pp. The Upward Calling completes Rev. White’s trilogy, the other two books being The Stranger of Galilee (Beacon Lights, June-July 1961) and Beneath the Cross of Jesus.  One who has appreciated the Baptist minister’s stylish simplicity in previous writings will not be disappointed in this book.  The grand topic […]

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life:  he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?” Believest thou this? “I am the resurrection and the life.”  To know Me is to know the Father.  […]

The time is 8:30 on a cold wintery morning.  The school buses have been out for over two hours picking up the children from the area surrounding Edgerton, Minnesota.  They now deposit their precious cargo at the various schools in the town.  The last deposit is at the Free Christian School.  It is small, twenty-eight […]

Margaret put down the magazine she had been reading and sighed.  She had been looking at the recipes; somehow, nothing appealed to her today.  The tempting dishes seemed too complicated; the easy ones too dull. It was just one of those days, she said to herself.  In spite of all the work she had had […]

The skies above are dark and gray; It had been a dreary day; Coming would be a dark night, No moon or stars to give their light. Slowly the rain begins to fall; It seems a shower will be all, But then the winds begin to rise. Blowing clouds across the skies. A flash of […]

Gnarled, twisted, writhing snake, Snow-shod ‘neath a winter sky, Putting on the feathery flake, Only then to lay it bye. Standing bleak and bare, alone— Leaves have drifted to the ground; Cheerful, chirping birds have flown; The howling wind’s the only sound. Stalwart, staunch, and strong it stands ‘Neath the vaulted roof of sky. Fearless […]

In the past, considerable interest and discussion have centered upon meaningful phrases.  “I love you,” probably ranks as most popular, for obvious reasons.  The poet Whittier says that the saddest words of tongue and pen are these: “It might have been.” Today, another phrase must concern us.  Although we all use it, it is not […]

He built a wall around his life, Hate mortared every stone, Enclosed from taunt, from scorn, from strife, His boast: I’ll dwell alone. The tines of hate which he employed Impaled the love of friend and kin, The darts of foe did not destroy… He rotted from within!