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: March 2013
I Was Glad
Psalm 122 opens with a familiar and beloved verse for many: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of YHWH”. This Psalm is one of 15 Psalms called “Songs of Ascent” which were … Continue reading
My “Holy Saturday” Tradition
I attended a Good Friday service at Trinity Baptist, Norman last night and really enjoyed the service. It included some public worship singing, a series of scripture readings, and several choir anthems. I had not been in the habit, as … Continue reading
The Leadership We Deserve?
Psalm 125:3 says: “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.” Basically this verse indicates that God will not allow wicked … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged prayer, Psalm 125:3, repentance, the leadership we deserve, ungodly leadership
3 Comments
Learning to Hate Evil
Many Christians think we should not hate anything, but that is not true according to scripture. Psalm 97:10 says “Hate evil, you who love the Lord.” In fact, one of the greatest problems modern Christians have is that they do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged God's word, hate evil, Psalm 119:104
5 Comments
Packing Up Paradise
We have found that there is generally something to laugh about, even in the midst of some of our most difficult experiences as a family — and that laughter helps us keep whatever measure of sanity we still possess. Selling … Continue reading
Compassion, Not Condemnation
There is something touching about God’s command in Exodus 22:21, “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Indeed I think it is intended to call out the empathy of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, condemnation, empathy, Exodus 22:21, Golden Rule, prejudice, sympathy
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Worse Than An Unbeliever?
In I Timothy 5:8 Paul writes: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” That last phrase really catches one’s … Continue reading
Avoid Such Talk
In II Timothy 2:16 scripture commands: “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness”. There are two kinds of language the Bible enjoins in this verse: — First, we are to avoid “worldly” talk. This … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Ephesians 4:29, II Timothy 2:16, language, speech, talk
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The Authority of God’s Word
In Psalm 119:128 the Psalmist said: “Therefore I esteem right all Thy precepts concerning everything.” This was a strong statement about his commitment to the authority of God’s word in his life. In it he asserted that:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged application, authority of scripture, inerrancy, Psalm 119:128
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A Faithful Friend
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” The Bible describes a true friend as one who is constant and faithful. He does not merely love when it is popular, convenient, or … Continue reading
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