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 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20, "Our Task," Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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 Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 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
Category Archives: Devotions/Bible Studies
Mind or Mouth?
In reading Proverbs 15:14 I noticed a most interesting parallel. If you are familiar with Proverbs, you know that most of the book is composed of verses of wisdom which are presented in the form of parallelism: comparing or contrasting … Continue reading
Ask — and Seek!
Psalm 27:4 says “One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I shall seek …”. Notice the two important phrases here: “I have asked …” and “I shall seek”. Each of these actions is important, and necessary in its own … Continue reading
Confusing Certainty With Correctness
Proverbs 14:12 says: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” In the first words of this familiar verse is an important truth: Just because people think they are going … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged godly friends, misplaced confidence, Proverbs 14:12, scripture
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“The Democracy of the Dead” (G.K. Chesterton)
Proverbs 11:14 is noted for its adage: “In abundance of counselors there is victory.” But there is a source of counsel that many in our proud age, which generally adheres to the credo that “newer is better”, neglect. Our generation is apt … Continue reading
“The Glorious Habitation”
The other day someone asked me how I was doing. I wish I had given this answer from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon on Psalm 90:1. Whether I am sick or well, preaching or homebound, joyous or depressed, prognosis better or worse, … Continue reading
“Thy Thoughts To Me, O God” (Psalm 139:17-18)
I received a call from my doctor’s office yesterday, and his assistant began the conversation by saying, “The doctor said he was thinking about your situation all night last night, and …” – and quite frankly, it really doesn’t matter … Continue reading
“Most of them” are WRONG! (Mark 9:26)
“Most of them said, ‘He is dead.’” Only, he wasn’t! This came from my Bible reading today in Mark 9, when Jesus cast the demon out of the man’s son. It says after the demon went out that “the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fallacy of majority rule, Mark 9:26 devotion
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Why Do YOU Applaud?
After Louisiana College graduation this morning, my mom, who had driven down from Oklahoma to see our daughter Libby and our daughter-in-law Ashley graduate, asked: “Who was that man who so enthusiastically led the opening hymn at graduation?” … Continue reading
Why Then Am I This Way?
My Bible reading this morning from Genesis 25 was very applicable to my own personal situation, and I wonder if it might be to yours as well. The chapter says that after Isaac prayed for Rebekah, who had been … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Genesis 25:22, God's purpose, meaning of trials, Rebekah, seeking God
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Bonhoeffer on Your Daily Bible Reading
Last Thursday I shared some insights from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, for the National Day of Prayer. The same book contain several helps for our daily time in God’s word. In Life Together he uses the term “meditation,” but he is … Continue reading
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