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: February 2013
The Warrior on the Hill
When Amalek came to fight against Israel in the wilderness, Exodus 17:9 says that Moses told Joshua, “Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” It is instructive to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Exodus 17:9, intercessors, intercessory prayer, prayer warrior
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Cultivating The Fear of the Lord
Psalm 119:38 says: “Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You” The “fear of the Lord” is one of the most important qualities we can possess. Scripture tells us that it is the beginning of … Continue reading
Better Riches
In I Timothy 6, Paul commands Timothy in :17 to “instruct the rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches.” He then goes on to exhort them “to be … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged be rich in good works, good works, I Timothy 6:18, riches
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Turn My Eyes From Vanity
In Psalm 119:37 the Psalmist prays: “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways.” This verse admonishes us: if we are going to be “revived” in the ways of the Lord, one of the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged a harmful glance, covetousness, eyes, holiness, look, lust, Matthew 5:28, Matthew 6:22, personal holiness, Psalm 119:37, revival, time management, what you look at
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A Doer’s Prayer
In Psalm 119:34 the writer prays: “Give me understanding, that I may KEEP Your Law”! The understanding of God’s word that we are to seek is not merely for intellectual enlightenment or academic achievement.
Grant Me Your Law
In Psalm 119:29 the Psalmist prays: “graciously grant me Your Law.” It should be challenging to many of us that when he makes his request to God, he asks for His Law. When many of us ask God to “graciously … Continue reading
A Day’s Portion Every Day
In Exodus 16:4, God instructed the people of Israel regarding the gathering of the manna that would feed them during their wilderness journey: “The people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, … Continue reading
Farewell to Our Church Family
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the past 12+ years of service with our church family at Moss Bluff. It would be almost physically impossible for me to write a personal note to everyone who has blessed my family … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Ministry
Tagged day by day, Exodus, farewell, First Baptist Church Moss Bluff, God's purpose, moving, pastor resignation, peace, POTS, providence, Shawn Thomas
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My POTS experience: Peaks and Valleys
Although POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) varies greatly from individual to individual in the type and severity of symptoms, one of the signature features of it in my own personal experience is the almost daily fluctuation of my symptoms. Journeying … Continue reading
The Fifteenth Day of the Second Month
Exodus 16 opens in :1 by saying that it was “the fifteenth day of the second month” – i.e., about 6 weeks into the journey of the people of Israel in the Exodus. It is notable that the chapter goes … Continue reading
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