Alice was dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease. During the last stages of her illness, letters arrived daily to comfort and encourage her. Were these notes from the Hemlock Society, urging Alice to claim her right to die with dignity and call someone in to assist her in suicide? Were these messages from the Stoic, coaching Alice to keep a stiff upper lip, to suck in her gut, and to draw from her inner resources in order calmly to resign herself to her fate? Or were these daily words to the dying Alice from God the heavenly Father Himself, reminding Alice of His sovereignty, goodness, and love—even in suffering and death—and teaching Alice to rest, by faith, in His will and in the sufficiency of His grace?

The attitude of the Christian toward suffering, based on a theology that recognizes the sovereignty of God in all trials, is well defined in the foreword by Professor Herman Hanko. For comfort in suffering and for an example of how to be a godly comforter to others in their suffering, read Good Morning, Alice.

REVIEW

“Good Morning Alice,” by Gise J. VanBaren. Grand Rapids: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1994. 157 pp. (paperback). [Reviewed by Prof. Robert D. Decker.]

We quote from the jacket of the book: “Alice (the author’s sister, RDD) was dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, RDD). During the last stages of her illness, notes from an anonymous friend arrived daily to comfort and encourage Alice. Each note reflected on a Scripture passage. These reflections helped Alice come to terms with her suffering and brought her to acknowledge the sovereignty of God in His way for her.

“The author skilfully weaves these letters into his account of and commentary on Alice’s illness and death. In these pages the reader also can find comfort and strength to endure the sufferings, discouragements, and tragedies which come to each child of God and can find the joy and peace of trusting God in all His works and ways.”

God’s children who struggle with terminal illness, or those who have loved ones struggling with serious or terminal illness, will want to read this moving account. Any believer who wrestles with the question of how a good God can cause His beloved saints to suffer will benefit from the book and from the preface which was written by Prof. Herman Hanko.

Gise J. Van Baren was a minister in the Protestant Reformed Churches in America until his death.

The RFPA is to be commended for making this moving story available to the reading public.

In this devotional for ages 9–13 (though saints of all ages will benefit), you will travel through several time periods, starting with Israel in the wilderness, then through the life of David, the captivity of Judah and finally the work of our Lord Jesus on earth. You will tour many important sites like deserts, caves, palaces, battlefields and even a national park. We will also make some stops along the way to consider spiritual topics from the Psalms that are still relevant for young (and old) Christians today.

For each of these devotions, we will conclude by meditating on the work of our Saviour. By God’s grace, you will be strengthened in faith and grow closer to him today and every day as you journey through this life to heaven.

Mike Velthouse is an avid reader. In 2020, he began writing articles for his church’s newsletter about people and places from Bible history. Since then he has published many articles for children in the magazine Ignited by the Word. Mike lives in West Michigan near his three adult daughters and granddaughter. Journey Through the Psalms is his first book.

What others are saying about this book:

“I called my grandson Liam and asked how the book was going. He said it is one of his favourite books!” — Lori (Escanaba, Michigan)

“I met Mike at the #SpeakUpConference last year. I was thrilled when I heard that he was releasing his first book on the Psalms. I started adding it to my morning routine (if there is such a thing with three young kids). It’s a devotional, so it’s a quick read and it’s beautifully illustrated! I’ve been looking for a resource that could provide some biblical insight in an easy-to-understand way and, since it’s written for a younger audience (9-13 years), this book delivers! It’s been a great resource to have and, because of the pictures, it has also sparked some great conversations with my six-year-old about the Bible!” — Stephanie (Franklin, Tennessee) 

“This is a great devotional for the entire family. We read it every night after dinner and the devotions were not too short or too long and led to nice discussions with the children, who are high school age and younger. Looking forward to the next devotional from this author.” — a reader via Amazon.com (Indiana)

Some chapters of this book can be read in Urdu.

At the height of his powers as an interpreter of the Word of God in the late 1930s, Reformed theologian Herman Hoeksema preached a series of ninety-seven sermons covering the entire book of Romans. The transcription of them by a member of his congregation was recently made available to the RFPA for publication. The outstanding worth of this new work is its fresh, bold, penetrating, and utterly faithful exposition of the book of the Bible that the Reformation rightly regarded as the summa of the gospel of salvation by grace alone. Hoeksema called Romans “one of the richest and most beautiful parts of the Word of God. “In addition to abundant natural abilities, wide-reading, and disciplined theological study over many years, Hoeksema shared the zeal of the apostle Paul for the glory of the triune God in His sovereignty. This emboldened him to proclaim faithfully what Paul said, particularly on predestination. This exposition is addressed not to the scholars, but to the very same audience for whom the apostle wrote the epistle: the “beloved of God, called to be saints.”

“The clarity of language, the simplicity of explanation, the warmth of teaching, the sharpness of application, and the homeliness of illustration make this book truly a devotional commentary on Romans“—David J. Engelsma, editor.

Click here to read a review of this book from the British Reformed Journal.

A chapter of this book can be read in Chinese.
Read chapter 61 of this book in Hungarian.
Chapters of this book can be read in Italian.
Read chapter 3 and chapter 10 of this book in Polish.
Read chapter 21 and chapter 59 of this book in Portuguese.

Click here to read a review of this book in Korean.

Dr. William Hendriksen: “[Hoeksema’s] preaching was forceful, well organised, thematic exegetical and generally inspiring …”

“In this book the .. reader will be edified, for he is constantly shown his own worthlessness, and the worth of Christ’s perfect righteousness imputed to him; he will be challenged because Hoeksema was a profound and original preacher; and the reader will always be driven back to God and the Scriptures. The present reviewer has used this commentary as a devotional aid in studying Romans, and it is one of the best he has used. Averaging six pages per sermon—[it is suitable] even for the time pressed worker. If you want to know why the likes of Prof. Cornelius Van Til would make his way to hear Hoeksema preach, then you should get this book … I cannot recommend it highly enough” (English Churchman).

“Handling the deepest doctrines with a sure and sanctified hand, afraid of no difficulties, Hoeksema had also the common touch in making his exposition easy, lucid, and very readable indeed … Christians ‘in the pew’ will find themselves frequently turning to it to refresh their soul, be challenged, and find encouragement. Like all the publications of the RFPA this book is excellently produced, and good value for money. Those who invest in a copy will, I believe, come to treasure it as a choice blessing from the Lord” (British Church Newspaper).

“In the opinion of this reviewer, Herman Hoeksema, a contemporary of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, was the best expositor of the twentieth century … His grasp of Paul’s inspired thinking is as though he had been a personal friend of the Apostle … The essence of Scripture is what Hoeksema is all about … He demonstrates the irrefutable substance of Paul’s reasoning. he does so with warmth, challenging his hearers, with profound depth yet in language we all understand. There is nothing dryly theological in this exposition. The messages are from a heart to hearts. It is stirring reading because it follows the author closely—alive with Scriptural application … the personal benefits from this exposition are a fine gold. Procure it!” (New Focus).

“The material in this book constitutes the best combination of theology and devotional reading that I have come across for a long time … This book is thoroughly recommended. I have read it every day at the close of my own devotions for the past eight months, with great benefit and thankfulness to God” (Evangelical Times).

“Yesterday, I received the superb Righteous By Faith Alone, and have already been blessed by the first two sermons.  Could you please convey my thanks to the dear young people of the PR churches who have subsidised the sale of it here.”

“Thank you for apprising me of the availability of the long awaited volume [Righteous By Faith Alone]. Within minutes of the arrival of your email I placed an order …”

“For the last 4 months, we have been studying the epistle to the Romans in our youth Bible classes. The commentary of Hoeksema proved to be very helpful material. It’s crystal clear, sound, deep and wonderful. Thank you for this book!” – Hungary

“Just letting you know that I find Herman Hoeksema on Romans excellent. Highly recommended, very edifying! Every blessing.”

“At last! A book I have been waiting for. Please mail me a copy of the latest offering from Herman Hoeksema. I am grateful to Rev. Stewart for letting me know. Am enjoying his CR News.”

“Hoeksema on Romans continues to be a real blessing to me.” – Wales

“Please send me one Righteous By Faith Alone, and bill me for it. [A friend] couldn’t commend it more highly.”

“I e-mailed [a friend] and told him to do anything, even if it meant trading in the wife, and get Hoeksema on Romans. He told me he had ordered it.”

“Purchased Righteous By Faith Alone from you earlier in the month and managed to read the first 153 pages thereof over the past few days. Very profitable indeed (!) and I look forward to the remaining pages. I remember hearing it said that ‘we read to know that we are not alone.’ A book such as the aforementioned (the first 153 pages at least) would illustrate this point well in my own experience and circumstance.”

“You know how that the faces of small boys are apt to glow when they receive something they really want. Well, something akin to this influences me now as I hold in my hand this beautifully ‘packaged’ volume of sermons, Righteousness by Faith Alone, by ‘Harm’ Hoeksema. I anticipate being seriously incommunicado, tucked up with this volume by the fireside. I dipped into it and read the first paragraph of chapter 1—oh yes, vintage Hoeksema, the same clarity, force of truth, depth of understanding, expressed in plain language which has endeared me to all his material. He was a giant of a man spiritually.”

“I’m reading Romans at present with the help of the wonderful Righteous by Faith Alone. I’m being convicted and illuminated greatly by it” – Yorkshire

Meditations on the Epistles and the Book of Revelation.

The Rev. Gerrit Vos was many things: a gifted preacher-teacher, a compassionate and sympathetic pastor, an able leader in the protestant Reformed Churches. Of all his God-given gifts, one stood out. Rev. Vos was by the grace of God a humble man. He knew his sins and sinful nature; and his only comfort in life and in death was the he belonged to his faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In 1966, while I was pastor of the Doon, Iowa, church, Rev. Vos became emeritus. At that time I wrote him a letter expressing my appreciation to him for what he had done for me and for our churches. To that letter he responded with this advice: “My son, of all the things I counselled you remember this: be humble. there is a humility which is feigned. That is abominable in God’s sight. Be humble from the heart and God’s people will bear you up in their arms” That was, by God’s grace, Gerrit Vos, V. D. M.

These meditations reflect a pastor who loved God’s people, rejoiced with those who rejoiced, wept with those who wept, and who in this way humbly served his Lord. The reader will find in them rich instruction, profound insights, and much comfort from God’s Word. – Prof. Robert D. Decker

Chapter 1, chapter 2 and chapter 3 are in Italian.

This second volume of meditations from the hand of Rev. Gerrit Vos, describing to us the sufferings and glory of our Lord, gives another evidence of his remarkable ability to make language live and make words speak to us.  We are carried along with him, so that we share his delights, his blessings and comforts that he draws from the Scriptures.  Those who knew him well recognized his unique character and the peculiar gifts God had entrusted to him.  It was often said, “There is but one Rev. Vos.”  He could be jolly, but also deeply serious.  He could rise to heights of enthusiasm and zeal, but he could also descend to depths of sorrow and pathos.  He could rejoice with those who rejoiced and weep with those who wept.  He lived a full and rich life in the ministry of the Word, thought much of his Christine and also of his children, but no less of the church and the cause of God’s kingdom.  Those of you who never knew him can still share with him in his meditations the riches of God’s grace as revealed to us through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“The Unspeakable Gift [that I ordered] was a present for somebody but could you send me another copy for myself? I just love the meditations of Vos.” – Lancashire, England

Third Edition

This Lenten anthology is a collection of six books, originally radio messages delivered during Lent, which explore the various aspects of Christ’s suffering and death. Each of the six sections—The Amazing Cross, The Royal Sufferer, The Power of the Cross, Rejected of Men, Jesus in the Midst, and Man of Sorrows—is devoted to a specific aspect of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through these inspirational messages, readers will be brought to a deeper knowledge of their own worthlessness and of the absolute necessity of Christ’s cross for their salvation. May every reader, as did the author, welcome the opportunity which the season of Lent affords to “survey the wondrous cross” and to seek refuge in the shadow of that cross.

“[This book is] among the very best that I have read on the general subject of our Lord’s suffering. [It has] the following commendable characteristics: 1. [It is] deeply devotional and practical. 2. [It] stress[es] the divine, not the human aspect; that is, we are made to see Jesus as our Lord who voluntarily laid down His life, and not as a mere martyr, however virtuous or courageous. 3. [It is] expository; that is, [it] seeks to delve into the meaning of the text. This is lacking in almost all Lenten volumes. 4. The style is very clear and very simple. The thought is generally rich and original. All in all, a fine piece of work! All of this does not mean that we endorse every statement in [this book]. The book, nevertheless, [is one] of the finest Lenten volumes we have seen. We have read [it] with delight.” – Wm. Hendriksen (The Banner)

Joel R. Beeke: “The best one-volume twentieth-century work [on Christ’s sufferings] is Herman Hoeksema, When I Survey …  A single, basic theme underlies each of six sections that were originally published as books of radio messages (1943-56)” (in Joel R. Beeke and Sinclair B. Ferguson [eds.], Reformed Confessions Harmonized [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1999], p. 259).

“I have got Herman Hoeksema’s book When I Survey the wondrous cross, that is pure wonder to me.” – Lancashire, England

“Thank you for the book When I Survey. I cannot but be totally amazed at what I am reading, and above all seeing, in this book … Since starting to read this book, my spiritual warfare has become far more intense, which I take to be a good effect. Praise the Lord.” – England

Click here to read chapters of this book in Portuguese.