From the first day I met my wife’s father, he talked to me at length, asking many biblical questions. Once Terri and I were married, those spiritual conversations continued. One Christmas, Lee and his wife Jane gave me a complete set of all of Pastor Stam’s writings. For two years I spent very little time reading them. But, with patience, love, and wisdom, Lee (Dad Bekemeyer) didn’t give up on me.

While we were visiting over a Christmas break, Dad Bekemeyer engaged me in a number of casual spiritual conversations. He would ask what I thought about a passage in the Gospels and listen to my explanation. Then he would skillfully guide the conversation by asking what I thought about a contrasting passage in the letters of the Apostle Paul. After I’d given my best explanation, he would concisely say, “There is a difference between the Jewish program in the Gospels and Acts and the Gentile program in Paul’s epistles. They were under the Law, looking for a Millennial Kingdom, while we today are under Grace, awaiting the Rapture into the heavens.”

That week we spent three or four nights, and many hours, looking at contrasting principles in the Scriptures. He would always ask what I thought, respectfully listen, show me Paul’s instruction, and remind me of the difference between Law and Grace, and between Israel and the Body of Christ. His approach was not pushy or condescending. Instead, his was such an example in graciously sharing the principles of rightly dividing the Word of Truth, that it made me hungry to learn more. That week was the beginning of my journey into a clearer and more consistent understanding of God’s Word.

I thank God for Dad Bekemeyer. Much of anything positive that has been accomplished in my ministry over the past thirty-five years, from a human perspective, is because of the impact of his ministry to me. He has been a friend and a father figure, but most importantly, he has been a spiritual influence in my life. It is my prayer that there will be many others who will take someone under their wing and graciously share with them the principles of rightly dividing the Word of truth. Thank you, Dad, I love you.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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