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 13:24-30, 36-43, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Judgment Coming," for 2/22/26.
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 14:22-33, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Courage," for March 1, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Rejecting Legalism," for 2/15/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 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: Home & Family Life
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
This Week In Paradise (2nd Edition)
Last week I gave you an intimate look at quirky life inside the pastor’s home. It seemed to be well received (who doesn’t like the inside scoop?), so I decided to write a “second edition” of ordinary events at the preacher’s … Continue reading
Thursday Hospital Funnies
Every cloud has its silver lining — or its funny moments! Thursday I had to go back to Memorial Hospital for some more tests. First was a fasting blood test, earlier in the morning, which consisted of two parts, separated … Continue reading
This Week In Paradise …
I know that some church members think that everything must be “perfect” at the pastor’s home (you know, just like his kids!) — that it is some kind of terrestrial paradise. Others, I am sure, wonder “what really happens inside the … Continue reading
Fleeting Laughter, Lasting Pain
Most of us have been guilty at some point of poking fun at someone without thinking of the pain it might be inflicting on them. In Peter Ackroyd’s Dickens, he tells the story of John Coleman, who lived opposite the … Continue reading
My MRI Experience
Last Thursday I had my first MRI. “MRI” is short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which is the use of nuclear magnetic resonance to produce images of internal body structures that don’t show up well on x-rays. I have had headaches and … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Home & Family Life
Tagged Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRA, MRI, MRI experience, open vs. closed MRI
9 Comments
Rigor Mortis: “The Stiffness of Death”
I petted our dog Percy’s head for a few minutes, gave him what would become my final blessing to him – and left for a few moments to go to the store. While there I received a tearful call from … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Ministry
Tagged adaptability, change, rigor mortis, signs of life
3 Comments
A Reprehensible Scam
I was really looking forward to my Friday off: after a pretty hectic start to the new year, I had a stress-free day with nothing planned! Unfortunately someone marred the middle of it with a really despicable act.
Posted in Home & Family Life, Ministry
Tagged accident, church, highway patrol, pastor, scam, spiritual warfare, test
8 Comments
Day Trip To Natchitoches
Our family has lived in Lake Charles for over 11 years now, but we had never spent much time in one of Louisiana’s premier destinations, the venerable Natchitoches, which lays claim to being the oldest city in the state. Oh, … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Reviews, Uncategorized
Tagged day trip, Front Street shops, Lasyone's, meat pies, Natchitoches, Sam's used bookstore
2 Comments
The “Thanksgiving Gift”
It is not that unusual for a tale to become twisted in its transmission, often to someone’s detriment – but the slightly misunderstood story of “the Thanksgiving Gift” may just end up being to the benefit of all!
shawnethomas 