All Articles For Langerak, William

Fire is the most prevalent, destructive yet, if controlled, beneficial power in the universe. Man, therefore, largely credits his ability to control fire for being able to swing out the trees and build modern civilization, to heat homes, forge steel, make electricity, and even rocket to the moon. But man cannot control all fire. He cannot control the fires of lighting and lava. He cannot control his fiery passions whereby he uses fire to sin, serve idols, shoot his neighbor, bomb cities to rubble, and thus also worry about living only a twitchy finger from nuclear oblivion. But most importantly,...

Everyone, it seems, wants to be first. Understandable, for to be first is to be best or have the most of some ability or power, which usually brings riches or honor. This appeals to us. And we often imagine that if only we, or our children, our team, business, or nation, were first, life would be much better. But this isn’t true, for Jesus said, many who are first shall be last (Mark 10:31). And so we would do well to consider from the Word what it truly means to be first. Scripture celebrates many firsts, and even as we...

*The contents of this article are derived from a number of sources, including personal interviews with Rev. Breen and his wife Pauline during our many visits, the family, and especially his grandson, attorney Mr. Ben Veldkamp, to whom I am indebted.   Although the year 1919 began with the nation mourning the death of Teddy Roosevelt, optimism seemed to abound. The flu pandemic that snuffed out some 30 million lives, was beginning to fade. World War I, the four-year quagmire that swallowed up another 18 million souls, had just ended (and with it the furor in West Michigan over a...

Basic to hope is its place in the grand spiritual trinity of the Christian life: faith, hope, and love (I Cor. 13:13). In this relationship, faith and hope are essentially one. Martin Luther once wrote that although faith and hope can be distinguished, there is such affinity between them that, like the two cherubim over the mercy seat, they cannot be divided. And what unites faith and hope is love. For love believeth all things and hopeth all things (I Cor. 13:7). In ardent covenant love, every child of God cleaves unto God with true faith and firm hope (Baptism...

The candle is a significant biblical picture. This should not be that surprising, since for thousands of years candles were a prominent appliance in the ev­eryday life and even worship of the church. The fact that candles have little practical value and use today does not diminish their continued spiritual significance as an enlightening symbol for us. In general, the candle symbolizes the presence, life, and knowledge of God. In a real sense, God gives to ev­ery man a candle. The spirit of man (that God breathed into him in the beginning) is the candle of the Lord, searching all...

Are you content? Content right now, at this very moment, in your current situation as you read this article? Are you content with your government and its leaders, with your church and its members and officers, with your life and its circumstances? Are you content with your health and appearance, abilities and personality, possessions and home, station and calling, marriage and spouse, family and friends? And content even with any lack of these things? We should be. Our gracious, kind, and beneficent Lord Jesus says that, having food and raiment, let us therewith be content (I Tim. 6:8). Surely we...

I think, therefore I am. Thus reasons man. But the Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are vain (I Cor. 3:20). God is not in all his thoughts (Ps. 10:4). Man’s thoughts are an abomination unto the Lord (Prov. 15:26). The thoughts of his heart are evil continually (Gen. 6:5). His thoughts are of iniquity, and evil against the righteous every day (Is. 59:6; Ps. 56:5). Man thinks his name will continue for ever (Ps. 49:11). He thinks he can escape the judgment of God (Rom. 2:3). But he knows not the thoughts of the Lord (Mic. 4:12)....

The most precious substance in the universe is the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood of Christ is most precious because it is the only substance in heaven or earth of infinite worth and value (Canons, II.3). You cannot buy it with mountains of gold, or vaults stuffed with cash. Its value surpasses the worth of all the jewels, fine art, business assets, architectural marvels, and national treasuries in the entire world. Only the blood of Jesus Christ is truly priceless. The blood of Jesus Christ is of infinite worth because it alone is intrinsically precious. Preciousness is a derived...

Rend is an uncommon word in the Bible, but one with a rather specific use, which actually sharpens its meaning and enhances its significance. In Scripture, to rend is the opposite of to sew (Eccl. 3:7), and refers almost exclusively to the tearing apart of fabrics, or, occasionally, items with textile-like qualities. Being woven like textiles, nets can be rent (John 21:11); or altars that are constructed with interlocking stone (I Kings 13:5). And because the heavens act as a cloak shielding God from view, the prophet prays God to rend them and come down (Is. 64:1), a prayer fulfilled...

Our thanks to Rev. Langerak for writing this memorial. The editors apologize for it coming a year late. Late Sunday evening, September 21, 2014, the Lord took Rev. Dale Kuiper to live with Him in Paradise. That he lives where there is no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain was comforting for family and friends, especially because for several years prior, Rev. Kuiper suffered the debilitating effects of a stroke. It was difficult to see this man who enjoyed being outdoors, confined to a wheelchair; one who loved visiting others, needing company himself; and one whose work depended upon a...