Archives for December 10, 2019

Two new RHB small books in the “Cultivating Biblical Godliness” series arrived today: “How Can I Grieve to God’s Glory?” by Ryan McGraw, and “How Should We View Our Children in the Church?” by me.

The Queen and I just arrived home safely from Ontario last night. On Saturday, we drove to Ontario where we visited some friends of the seminary and attended an evening of advent music held in the Vineland, Ontario Free Reformed Church. On the Lord’s Day, I preached to this church of close to six hundred people (a vibrant flock with lots of young people and children) on The Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane. It was good to be there and to serve them. Between the services we enjoyed spiritual fellowship with some friends from this church, Henry and Jackie VanderVeen and Garry and Marietta Postma. The flock is pastored ably by Rev. Joel Overduin, a PRTS graduate, who is greatly appreciated. After the late-afternoon worship service, we had a special evening visiting a few of the Beeke families (children and grandchildren and a new great-grandchild of my brother and sister, John and Miekie—see picture). The new great grandchild is the firstborn of my namesake, Joel Beeke (see picture of me with him). I can hardly believe he is a father already!

Monday morning we visited a few more friends of the seminary, saw my brother at the thrift store he works so diligently for on behalf of their local Christian school, stopped by Niagara Pre-hung Doors (now run by my brother’s sons) where we received a fascinating tour from our nephew Mark Beeke, who lived with us for four years while attending college in Grand Rapids, and then headed for home Monday afternoon.

Last night we stopped by our favorite diner in Flint for my birthday dinner (yes, I turned 67 yesterday—and thanks for so many of your best wishes), and enjoyed our drive home talking about a host of things as only a husband and wife can do. There is no person in the world I would rather spend my day with—any day, but especially a birthday—than my very special wife. I love Mary far more than words can ever express; she is an amazing gift of God to me.