I'm a retired Southern Baptist pastor of almost 40 years. My wife Cheryl & I moved to Norman, OK in March of 2025. I share a weekly overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, as well as texts of my sermons and other articles.
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Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Amazing Grace," for June 14, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- "The Disciple's Character: Purity of Heart" (Matthew 5:8 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
Categories
- "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12)
- "The Disciplines of Disciples" series
- "This Is My Story" sermon series
- Beatitudes Series 2020 FBCA
- Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
- COVID-19 crisis assorted messages
- Current Events
- Devotions/Bible Studies
- Discipleship
- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
- Doctrine/Theology
- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
- Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
- Habakkuk "Find Us Faithful" series messages
- History
- Home & Family Life
- I Peter sermons
- India Mission Trip 2011
- Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
- John 3:16 sermon series
- Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series
- Luke 2 Christmas series
- Matthew sermons
- Ministry
- missions
- Music
- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
- Psalms studies and messages
- Revelation sermon series
- Reviews
- Sermon Illustrations
- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Monthly Archives: July 2011
Samuel Rutherford’s Five Lessons From the Furnace
In 1636 Samuel Rutherford, pastor of the Scottish church of Anwoth, was removed from his pulpit during a time of religious persecution. Sent into exile into Aberdeen, Rutherford, at first despondent, found grace that gave him a seldom-equaled walk with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, History, Reviews
Tagged furnace, Samuel Rutherford, spiritual growth, temptations, trials
2 Comments
“The Root of All Evil”
Habakkuk 2:4a “The Root of All Evil” July 24, 2011 There is a verse of scripture that is often misquoted; virtually everyone here has heard it: “Money is the root of all evil.” But I Timothy 6:10 actually does NOT say “money … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Tagged Habakkuk sermon, Job 38, Paradise Lost, pride, pride and salvation, pride in church, root of all evil, sin of pride
9 Comments
Am I An Old Dog?
You know the old saying: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Sometimes I wonder if I’m becoming an “old dog” and don’t know it. I don’t “feel” old (usually!). In fact, a few weeks back, Cheryl & I … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
2 Comments
The Great Mouse Hunt
One of our church members began a Facebook post today with the words: “There is a mouse in my house …”. I wrote that I thought that sentence would make a good opening for a children’s book! It also reminded me of … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
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The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days
Habakkuk 2:1-3 “The Word that Sustains in Difficult days” July 17, 2011 In the midst of the Branch Davidian crisis a few years back, when David Koresh’s compound outside of Waco, Texas, was stormed by Federal officers, there was a somewhat humorous … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Sermons
Tagged Bible Reading, Habakkuk 2:1-3, Habakkuk sermon
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Our Triune God
Ephesians 2:18 Our Triune God Sun. p.m. July 10, 2011 Several weeks ago, in my report from the SBC, I mentioned how one of the speakers talked about the importance of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and yet how … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
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“The God Who Reigns In Evil Days”
Habakkuk 1:12-13 “The God Who Reigns In Evil Days” Years ago I knew someone who had lost a loved one in a tragedy. Friends of theirs wondered that they kept their faith in God. One of them said, “How do you … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
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“Is God A Christian?”
Associated Baptist Press released a review today on a new book, Is God A Christian? by Kirby Godsey, and interviewed the author. The article does not leave one in suspense as to Godsey’s answer to the question, as it quotes him … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Doctrine/Theology, Reviews, Uncategorized
1 Comment
Your Dual Citizenship
I saw some time ago that Michael J. Fox, the actor, who was born in Canada, has what is called “dual citizenship” – that is, he is a citizen of Canada AND of the United States at the same time. A number … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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