Serving the Platte Valley since 1888

Articles written by William F. Holland Jr.


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  • Living on Purpose: Cherished memories about my father

    William F. Holland Jr.|Jun 13, 2024

    May God bless each and every father as we wish you a Happy Father’s Day. Fatherhood is a theme within scripture, and we know that God is the best Father who loves His Son Jesus Christ, and all of His children so much that He provided a way for them to spend an eternity with Him. My dad passed away in 2016. I miss my father, I admired him and always will. There are lots of stories about Father’s Day and recently I was curious about how the special day began. According to one historian, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea of hon...

  • Living on Purpose: Fallen but not forgotten

    William F. Holland Jr.|Jun 6, 2024

    This week we honor those who died while fighting for our country. There was a time when society seemed to be more sensitive and compassionate about casualties of war, but today there are so many distractions that cause us to not have our priorities in the right order. This day is not about politics or worldviews, it’s about giving the highest respect to those who paid the greatest price. The liberties we are thankful for today did not come without the sacrifice of many brave men and women as freedom does not come without cost. We remember t...

  • Do we love God and ourselves enough to change?

    William F. Holland Jr.|May 23, 2024

    I recently read a story about an elderly preacher who was invited each week to speak at a school in Africa and he made a tremendous impact on the children. In every lesson, he would begin and conclude by leading them into confessing the phrases, self-control, self-discipline, and sound mind. One of the young students in these classes is now a man who remembers how they recited these words so much they became a part of their vocabulary. When the children would see him walking down the streets, they would shout, “self-control, self-disciple, a...

  • Living on Purpose: Knowledge and obedience are not the same

    William F. Holland Jr.|May 9, 2024

    It’s wonderful to be positive-minded and appreciate that God is good all the time because He is! It’s common to seek the Lord for His protection and blessings as this usually takes up a majority of our prayer time, and it’s perfectly fine to do so. However, it’s also important to remember we are not just a spectator within the Christian life waiting for manna from heaven. Being a participator is a very real aspect of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ that involves our responsibility to trust and obey Him. Our vow to follow God is...

  • Living on Purpose: Spiritual sign or natural occurrence?

    William F. Holland Jr.|Apr 11, 2024

    A few readers have asked me lately about my thoughts on the coming eclipse. I’m sure that almost everyone has heard by now about the total solar eclipse on April 8. It will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. The questions that many speculate about include events like when planets come into a straight line or when there is unusual activity i...

  • Living on Purpose

    William F. Holland Jr.|Nov 16, 2023

    Late one stormy London night in 1763, a man filled with despair was determined to end his life. He hired a driver to take him to the river and was convinced that if he could only cast himself into the depths of the Thames, his agony could be finally put to an end. He was unwavering in his resolve as he stepped down from the carriage and as it pulled away; he walked through the fog toward the pier and suddenly noticed a strange figure sitting there, staring at him as if he had been expecting him. In the awkward silence, he also observed the...