“ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.” –1662 Book of Common Prayer MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE WINGARDS!
Read More“Lord, come among us, we pray, with your power and help us with your great might so that, although we are hindered by our sins and wickedness from running the race set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us through the work of your Son our Lord to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be honour and glory now and for ever. Amen.” – An English Prayer Book
Read MoreToday is the 115th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a pulpit giant of the 20th century. In his mid-20s he left a promising medical career to enter the Christian ministry. During his twenty-nine year pastorate at Westminster Chapel in London, he became one of the most prominent evangelical leaders in Britain. Read a biographical trust at MLJ Trust. Thirty-five years ago my father passed along a cassette tape of this sermon on Ephesians 2:1-10. Seldom had I heard the gospel proclaimed with such clarity, compelling logic, and spiritual authority. MLJ Trust has 1600 sermons available for listening and downloading.
Read MoreA 53-second video records my former assistant pastor, Fred Rice, celebrating his 70th birthday yesterday. Way to go Fred!
Read MoreA beautiful grave marker in the Monticello Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia. Lucian King Truscott, III (1921-2000) A SOLDIER WE HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE TOGETHER AND RAISED FIVE CHILDREN Anne Harloe Truscott (1922-1998) A SOLDIER’S WIFE AFTER 52 YEARS OF BEING TOGETHER, THIS TIME, DEAR, YOU LED AND I WILL FOLLOW
Read More“O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.” – 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Read MoreAlexander Whyte reflects on the sad condition of those who are never wrong: “The mulish, obstinate, and proud man never says, I don’t know. He never asks anything to be explained to him. He never admits that he has got any new light. He never admits having spoken or acted wrongly. He never takes back what he has said. He was never heard to say, You are right in that line of action, and I have all along been wrong. Had he ever said that, the day he said it would have been a white-stone day both for this mind and his heart.” – Alexander Whyte, Bunyan Characters. 1893 (vol. 1 of Bunyan Characters; Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2000), 26.
Read MoreIn 1893 Scottish Presbyterian minister, Alexander Whyte, published his famous lectures on John Bunyan’s characters from The Pilgrim’s Progress. To modern readers, the language and style may seem dated, but his words on patience in marriage are just as timely as ever: “To begin with, how much impatience we are all from time to time guilty of in our family life. Among the very foundations of our family life how much impatience the husband often exhibits toward the wife, and the wife toward her husband. Patience is the very last grace they look forward to having any need of when they are still dreaming about their married life; but, in too many cases, they have not well entered on that life,…
Read More“BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.” – 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Read MoreOne of the strengths of Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson)is the pastoral experience of its faculty. Yesterday I was delighted to have Dr. Michael McKelvey, professor of Old Testament, share with my homiletics class his very practical approach to the preparation and delivery of sermons.
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