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 7:15-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority Acknowledged," for 1/11/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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: This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
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
This Week in “Paradise” Oct. 1
This week in the earthly “paradise” otherwise known as the pastor’s home, I threw … Caution to the Wind Monday night I was standing at the kitchen counter, halving some of my prescription pills with the pill splitter, and placing … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 24
Big news in “Paradise” this week, with the much-anticipated announcement that pretty much overshadowed everything else: our first grandchild is on the way! (I’ll still give you everything else anyway. Well, almost everything! 😉 So That’s News? Monday I was … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” September 17
This week in the “paradise” otherwise known as the pastor’s home, we had company from out of town, which proved to be very entertaining — on top of our own typical antics. I can even share SOME of what went … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 10
Disgusted Fan The University of Oklahoma did not do as well as their fans might have hoped in their football season opener a week ago, including an ugly blocked punt in the first quarter. Just after it happened, Libby sent … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 3rd
This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 3rd This week in the “Paradise” of the pastor’s home, we dealt with an impending hurricane, aging bodies, and of course our kitten, Eponine. Get Behind Me! My wife Cheryl loves French fries, but had … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
Tagged ailing parents, diet, dysautonomia, french fries, Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Isaac spoof video, hurricnae preparation, ice cream, kitten Eponine, pastor's family, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, POTS, spoiled kitten, weather reporters
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This Week in “Paradise” August 20
Many naive church members consider the pastor’s home to be a “paradise” on earth. We prove otherwise every week! 🙂 Pop Goes The Weasel! When Libby and Josh came home for the weekend, they were entertained byhow Eponine, our baby … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” August 13
Did I Do That? Cheryl hates the little lawnmower we have here in “Paradise”; she has lodged complaints against it on several occasions. Thus I must admit that I was more than a little suspicious when she “accidentally” left it … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
Tagged back-to-school, Calvinism debate, cats and women, dinner, felines, football, Freudian song, garden, grading, home school, humor, kitten, lawnmower, nap time, Paradise, pastor's family life, POTS, Proverbs 31 woman, supersized, toothpaste, weight gain
2 Comments
This Week in “Paradise” Aug. 6
Comfort Food One day last week, Cheryl decided to take Michael to the Popeye’s, to comfort him as she told him that our church’s youth minister was going to be moving to Ohio. Michael is tender-hearted, and she felt that he needed … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” July 30
Pow … Bam … Zap! I omitted a story from last week’s “Paradise” that Cheryl thought was too good to pass over. It comes from my last doctor’s appointment. I have had some random, but pretty sharp pains in my … Continue reading
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