Resources by Charlie Wingard

Conflict is inevitable; lack of charity isn’t. One of my heroes of Christian ministry, Charles Simeon, served Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, England from 1782-1836. During the early years, his evangelical convictions became the target of ridicule and withering criticism, and  throughout his career, he fully engaged the theological controversies of his day.  Simeon had no fear of debate, but the trashing of reputations that often accompanies controversy gravely concerned him. If an argument’s merits won’t prevail, go after an opponent’s character when he’s absent. Debase his reputation; reduce the esteem others have for him. To fight against the temptation to speak evil of others, Simeon formulated a strategy. In a July 1817 letter, he counseled: “The longer I live,…

88. In how many things does true repentance or conversion consist? In two things: the dying of the old man, and the making alive of the new. 89. What is the dying of the old man? Heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing us to hate and turn from it always more and more. 90. What is the making alive of the new man? Heartfelt joy in God through Christ, causing us to take delight in living according to the will of God in all good works. 91. What are good works? Those only which proceed from true faith, and are done according to the Law of God, unto His glory, and not such as rest on our own opinion or the…

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire, or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen. (1662 Book of Common Prayer)