Author Archives: vanguardpresbytery

            I do not remember when I first learned of Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, but it was shortly after I became a Christian. One of the first books I read was Arnold Dallimore’s, George Whitefield: The life and times of the great evangelist of the 18th century revival, which I purchased in 1970 while I was still inContinue reading “Remembering Dr. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones”

            In 1977, it was my privilege to make a trip to Great Britain to attend the Leicester Minister’s Conference by the Banner of Truth Trust. It was a trip I will never forget as I got to meet many British Christians, some of whom I had known only through their writings—‘the Doctor’ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones,Continue reading “Learning from Errol Hulse”

            One of my favorite pastimes is to read spy stories. It is a fascination that began during my teenage years as I would read various articles in The Reader’s Digest about Soviet espionage and the dangers it posed for the freedom of America. That is probably also where my lifelong interest in Russia began. When IContinue reading “Old Soldiers Never Die”

            One of the hallmark doctrines of the Protestant Reformation was Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone. The Reformers were willing to die on that hill defending the sufficiency of Scripture alone to guide our doctrine, our worship, and our church government. We hold to that same principle. Yet, it was the Reformers and their children who gaveContinue reading “God’s Way or Ours?”

            One of the subjects dearest to the heart of those of us who started Vanguard Presbytery is the office of evangelist. It is also the doctrinal position that has caused the most disagreement with us by people who should be supportive of our efforts. Perhaps there are many reasons for such disagreement, but the mainContinue reading “Evangelists are Elders”

            Herman Bavinck’s, Reformed Ethics: The Duties of the Christian Life, is essential reading for reformed pastors in this writer’s opinion. I have been reading through it recently and was much benefitted by the second chapter of this volume, “Collision and Classification of Duties.” The gist of the chapter is answering the question of what is ourContinue reading “Always Do the Higher Commandment First”

            There was an article recently on The Aquila Report by PCA pastor, Jacob Gerber, “The Biblical Foundations of Parliamentary Procedure”, which made some very good points, especially this one: “if we were to tease all the principles that the Bible teaches for resolving disagreements in the church, we would end up with a system that looks veryContinue reading “The Importance of Good Rules”

            One of the advantages of being old is that you have been around a long time and seen a lot of things. I like that commercial for Farmers Insurance where actor J. K. Simmons makes the statement, “At Farmers Insurance we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” Not allContinue reading “Matthew 18, the PCA, and the Wild, Wild West”

            A few days ago I was told of a seminary professor at a reformed seminary in the US who was being asked by students about Vanguard Presbytery. Supposedly, his reply was that Vanguard is far right and hyper-Calvinistic. I feel something of what Jesus felt when Nicodemus came to Him by night and our LordContinue reading “Is Vanguard Presbytery Hyber-Calvinistic?”

            When I awakened this morning, I had an email from a Reformed Christian friend in Dubai, UAE. He referred to Jonathan Edward’s, A History of the Work of Redemption, particularly a section concerning the success of the gospel in the ‘empire of Muscovy’ (Russia):   I proceed now to show what success the gospel has had in these laterContinue reading “Church Courts Commend, But Do Not Command”