Here are words of hope and inspiration. Decades have passed since their author, Robert Whitfield Miles, preached these words, but their value endures to benefit all who seek spiritual substance and focus in their lives. Firmly grounded in a vibrant Christian faith, the messages breathe optimism. The theme, which knits them together, is that God's purposes for human beings shall triumph ultimately over evil. These purposes will grow steadily clearer to a person as God's relationship with that person evolves. Graphically articulated, these messages offer compelling alternatives to fanaticism, exclusion, and bigotry. To read them is to glimpse the possibility of a future in concert with an accessible God who cares. The twenty-five sermons, or messages, are representative of Dr. Miles' preaching in a ministry that spanned thirty-four years. Transcribed from recordings, their voice and cadence exemplify the great oral tradition of preaching in America and show remarkable literary vitality in addition to biblical interpretation and spiritual guidance. * * * * * * Robert Whitfield Miles, Presbyterian clergyman, scholar, and writer, devoted his pastoral career to the furtherance of God's kingdom on earth and to building unity and ecumenism in the Christian community. Were he alive today, he would approach the future with the same optimism that so characterized his life and work in the past. Throughout his ministry he served four congregations: First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, North Carolina, as assistant minister; First Presbyterian Church, Auburn, Alabama; Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, Virginia; and First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, as minister. In addition to his sermons, Dr. Miles published numerous articles and two books: "That Frenchman, John Calvin" and "Christian Reconstruction."
