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 Matthew 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "True Righteousness," for 12/28/25.
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
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
Category Archives: Current Events
My LASIK Experience
About two weeks ago I had LASIK surgery: a popular procedure used to correct one’s vision. It was something I had contemplated for some time. I had several relatives who had experienced the procedure, including two of my sons and my … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Home & Family Life, Uncategorized
Tagged LASIK, LASIK expectations, LASIK experience, LASIK side-effects
5 Comments
The Third Team on the Field
At The Response, the prayer gathering attended by 32,000-plus in Houston a few days ago, most of the event was spent in some kind of prayer. There were no “sermons” as such, although periodically, a preacher or recognized figure would … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Uncategorized
2 Comments
I’m Going.
The list of those lining up in opposition to The Response, the day of prayer and fasting for our nation that Texas Governor Rick Perry called for in Houston’s Reliant Stadium this Saturday, is growing: –The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
1 Comment
“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
A Most Memorial Day
My Memorial Day did not unfold exactly the way I had envisioned it a week or so ago, but in the end it was the most poignant, and memorable, I have ever experienced …
Posted in Current Events, Ministry
5 Comments
Not So Among You
Tonight I saw some footage of the crowds at various venues in America Sunday evening, celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden. As I watched the videos, my brow furrowed, and I began to have the feeling that I had … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
1 Comment
“Which Side Are You On?”
Although I haven’t heard the song since my college years, I can still “hear” the group enthusiastically singing the chorus: “Which side are you on, boys, which side are you on? Which side are you on, boys, which side are … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Doctrine/Theology
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Basebaal Strikes Out
Did you catch the sad interview on the news the other evening, when former Philadelphia Phillies baseball manager Dallas Green was asked about the death of his granddaughter in the recent Tucson shooting rampage? The multiple deaths were, of course, tragic in and of themselves. … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
2 Comments
shawnethomas 