The Satisfaction of Looking Unto Jesus - J.C. Ryle

Keep on looking unto Jesus. Faith shall soon be changed to sight, and hope to certainty. Looking to Jesus on earth by faith, you shall end with seeing Jesus eye to eye in heaven. Those eyes of yours shall look on the head that was crowned with thorns, the hands and feet that were pierced with nails, and the side that was pierced with a spear. You shall find that seeing is the blessed consequence of believing, and that looking at Jesus by faith, ends with seeing Jesus in glory, and living with Jesus for evermore. When you awake up after His likeness, you shall be satisfied. - J.C. Ryle

A New Wheelchair Ramp

In order to get into my backyard to enjoy the garden and patio, I have to negotiate a single step from the driveway to the sidewalk along the side of the house. My son Gerrit built a temporary ramp for me out of wood. The problem with it was that there was a risk of my wheelchair running over the 

edge of the walkway and tipping over.

After a few weeks of using the temporary ramp, and a few close calls too many, Gerrit showed up on one of the hottest days of the year to pour a concrete curb and ramp instead. Now I have the freedom to negotiate the terrain in a safe manner, to the relief of my wife Lena.

I thank God for a talented and loving son to do these things for me. My family members are all making great efforts to make my life as pleasant and comfortable as possible. It all helps to make my difficult journey more bearable.

Jack.

Grade 12 Awards and Scholarships Evening

Last week I was invited by the Grade 12 graduating class of Rehoboth Christian School to attend the 2012 Awards and Scholarships night. I have been the Principal for 12 of the 13 years that these students have attended RCS. I was not able to be there for the dinner part of the evening, but I witnessed the awards and scholarships being handed out, and the charge being given to the 34 graduates by Pastor Schoeman. I was asked to present the Jack Westerink Scholarship which was to be awarded for the first time. It was an evening of mixed emotions for me, as you can imagine.

Below you can find the text of the presentation speech I delivered to the graduates and their parents. I used a DynaVox computer, which was mounted on my electric wheelchair. This computer has software that can change text to audible speech. Steve, the occupational therapist who specializes in computers and electronics, got the hardware all together for me the day before. Thank you Steve.

It is my privilege to be here this evening to present the Jack Westerink Scholarship.


First of all, congratulations to all of the grade 12 students for 
successfully completing your high school education at Rehoboth Christian School. You have been highly privileged and blessed to have been given such a precious gift, the gift of a Christian education.

When the concept of a scholarship was first proposed to me, I did not expect to actually experience the first presentation of it in person. It is very humbling, and also a great honor for me that this scholarship was established by generous donors, in my name.

The design of the scholarship is to support and encourage a student who will attend full time studies at an accredited Christian post secondary institution. The amount is $2,500 per year, for each year of the degree program.

The 2012 recipient is a person who has become very special to me over the last year, and is an all round, talented, sporty, hard working student. The first scholarship recipient is, Tracey Kranendonk.

Christ the Only Way - J.C. Ryle

Only the blood of Christ can cleanse us; only the righteousness of Christ’s can clothe us; Only the sacrifice of Christ can give us a title to heaven. Jews and Gentiles, educated and uneducated, rich and poor — everyone, no matter what their position or standing in life must either be saved by Jesus Christ or lost forever. And the Apostle emphatically adds, “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  There is no other person commissioned, sealed, and appointed by God the Father to be the Savior of sinners, except Christ. The keys of life and death are only found in His hand, and all who want to be saved must go to Him. ~ J.C. Ryle