I served as pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana for almost 30 years before taking a medical leave from the pastorate in February 2013 due to dysautonomia (POTS) and moving to Norman, Oklahoma. Blessed with renewed health, I was called as Senior Pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, NC in February 2015.
In this blog I share daily devotions from my own personal Bible readings, as well as sermons, book reviews, illustrations -- and occasional humorous "peeks" at life inside this pastor's home!
Category Archives: Ministry
A Gospel “Hallelujah”
Our son Michael shared his first public solo in church this morning, and Cheryl & I were extremely proud of how well he did. He taught himself to play the guitar this past year and has been developing both vocally … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Home & Family Life, Ministry, Music, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog), Uncategorized
Tagged Cohen Hallelujah, Hallelujah alternative lyrics, Hallelujah lyrics, Leonard Cohen Hallelujah alternate lyrics, Michael Thomas, North Greenville University, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church
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“The Unseen Battle”
With three of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church’s adult members on mission in three different nations the next couple of weeks, our members need to realize the important responsibility we have to support our colleagues in prayer. In the biography, Hudson … Continue reading
Distractions From Devotions
Our church, Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, North Carolina, is sending three adult members out to different mission fields this weekend: one to Wales, one to Haiti, and one to Romania. I sent them this quote from China Inland Mission … Continue reading
“Reaching, Teaching, Caring: Following the Footsteps of Jesus” (Matthew 4:23 sermon)
The yellow footprints you see are scattered all over our Marine Corps Recruit Depots in San Diego and in Parris Island. In the early stages of a Marine recruit’s time at the training base, these footprints show the young Recruits … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged "reaching, caring, Church ministry, CT Stuff, discipleship, evangelism, Jesus example, Matthew 4:23 sermon, ministry, ministry model, mission statement, Only one life, Reaching Teaching Caring, Sunday School, teaching, vision statement, worship
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Using People
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.’” (John 8:3-4) One … Continue reading
Jesus’ Word & Salvation
“As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.” (John 8:30) The Bible tells us that when Jesus spoke the words He did in John 8, that “many came to believe in Him.” Sure, there was controversy, as … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, Ephesians 6:17, evangelism, God's word, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John 8:30, ministry, preaching, Romans 10:17, salvation, scripture, teaching, word, word of God
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Before You Give Up Praying For Your Loved One, Try This
Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) was considered by many of his contemporaries to be the greatest preacher in Scotland of his day. His book, Lord Teach Us To Pray, consists of a number of sermons on prayer from a variety of scripture … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life, Ministry, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Alexander Whyte, family, holiness, intercessory prayer, John 17:19, prayer, sanctification
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