Charge to our Graduates from My Sickbed

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My beloved colleagues in the Gospel of God's grace, and graduates: I congratulate you and your families on this remarkable achievement. You will look back upon these days as sacred times when the Lord fulfilled His promises to you as you accepted your Continue Reading

The Valley Commandos: Will Revival Return to Wales? And if So?

One of the joys of being associated with the Seminary is being associated with her students. The apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and he asked a rhetorical question, "What is our glory or hope or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you…" (1 Continue Reading

Considering a Call Amidst the Clamor of Bigger is Better

Dear Students of the Pastoral Ministry: Charles Haddon Spurgeon had it right when he commented on Zechariah 4:10: "It is a very great folly to despise 'the day of small things,' for it is usually God’s way to begin His great works with small Continue Reading

Remembering Presidential Inaugural Prayers: Part 1

The inauguration of the new president is a remarkable time. The Constitution of the United States calls for the inaugural vows to be taken by the new president on January 20. It is customary, extending back to George Washington, to call upon a clergyman Continue Reading

A New Years Letter to our Ministry Colleagues at RTS

My beloved in Christ, I wanted to write you directly. I wanted to share what it is a central and growing concern and aching plea to God: for revival in our time. I share this video of the first Faith for Living of the new year, recorded just a few weeks Continue Reading

“Do You Get the Picture?”—Classic Christmas Films through the Lens of Creation, Fall, and Redemption

The greatest stories are stories that show in some way the drama of Creation, Fall and Redemption.Such stories are great not merely because that is the very drama that we are all experiencing (or may experience, for of the three movements, only redemption Continue Reading

Inaugural Prayer for 9/14/2012

The Reverend Robert E. Baxter is the most noble man of God that I have ever known in my life. He is, now into eight decades of living, a very active preacher and pastor and encourager of the saints. He is the Associate Minister, First Presbyterian Continue Reading

Entrusted with God’s Truth to Extend God’s Grace (2 Timothy 2:1-2)—An Inaugural Address

An inauguration is not a coronation. An inauguration is a consecration—a setting apart for the purposes of God. This service is a consecration of our institution, our vision and values, and a consecration of our very lives, with my life intertwined Continue Reading

On the Matter of Preaching from Difficult Texts: A Letter to our Students (with attention to 2 Corinthians 5:21)

              My Dearest Students in the Pastoral Ministry: I write to you about a matter which will occupy your life as much as any other—the matter of preaching from a difficult passage. Indeed, after Continue Reading

“Come Apart for a While”—Vacation Greetings and a Prayer for My Colleagues

I will always think about a certain time in my life when I read this Scripture: "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat" (Mark 6:31 ESV). I Continue Reading