Dear Editor,

I want to thank OUTLOOK for its tribute to Edwin H. Palmer, for he was responsible for my being aware of the magazine, he bought me a gift subscription in March. The thoughts about him were absolutely true, especially the statement, “he wanted Reformed people to love their doctrine and to promote their heritage with competence, courage and conviction.” What Dr. Palmer wished for his brothers, he exemplified personally.

The Lord saved me in 1972. In 1976 I began teaching in Bainbridge, N.Y., attending a small Baptist church six miles away. The pastor, Louis Caruana (and thoroughly reformed, at the time I didn’t even know anything but Arminianism) gave me a book to read one Sunday entitled, The Five Points of Calvinism by Edwin H. Palmer. Until this time I had never heard of him. I wrote to Dr. Palmer for his book propounded. some very new ideas about Christianity which I had never heard about. He wrote back, answering the multitude of questions I had and also sending his book on the Holy Spirit as a gift. That gesture really touched my heart. I studied both of his books with a growing conviction and thank God they opened my eyes to the absolute scripturalness of Reformed theology. Even though we never in this life met face to face whenever I had questions (and they were many, as we all have) about God’s ordaining sin, reprobation, God’s love, he very patiently and logically guided me to the Word for answers. His grasp of doctrine was profound and yet he could explain it so simply. He often sent little helps—a Bible highlighter, an essay on the KJV, and essay on “How to Mark Your Bible.” Dr. Palmer always took time out of his busy schedule to help me get established.

As a result of over two years of frequent correspondence I have come to love the writings of Owen, Berkhof, Kuyper, Murray and others. I still am at times so amazed that he took such time out of a hectic schedule to help someone he had never met. As a Christian artist I often had questions as to how far my dedication to art should go. Dr. Palmer wrote the following, “You must decide what you should do, and then do it. There will always be some who oppose anything you do. And it seems to me that since you have a talent—you should give it all you have and not let it die on the vine. Letter June 1980.”*

I will always treasure the sweet friendship we had, his excellent writings, the NIV, (which in one letter he said, “the NIV is and will be my life for the rest of my life.”) and the marvelous truths which the Lord taught me through Dr. Palmer’s ministry. I dare say that when we are all gathered “on the other shore,” he will be one of the first I can meet with face to face.

By His grace,

Daniel K. Tennant

*This wisdom could apply to all who have a God–given talent.