I can’t share every conversation our family has, but when I can, it goes on “The Little Condo”… 🙂 A few stories from the past few weeks:
A MOTHER’S PRIDE
I called my mom in Tulsa on Mothers Day and in the course of the conversation we had the following exchange:
Mom: “So they had a big crowd at the church today, huh? I guess word got out that you were preaching!”
Me: “Uh, Mom, I think that most likely had to do with the fact that it was Mothers Day!” Continue reading
Psalm 14:1 opens with its well-known words: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds.” This verse is revealing on several accounts:
(Preached at FBC Pauls Valley, OK, Sunday evening 7-13-14)
On April 17th, 1862, private William Scott was pardoned by President Abraham Lincoln for sleeping on guard duty. That may not sound like a big deal, but the private had been sentenced to death by firing squad for his neglect. Lincoln decided to pardon him, because of his previous service, and the heartfelt entreaties that were made on his behalf, but he noted in his pardon: “The duty of a sentinel is of such a nature, that its neglect by sleeping upon, or deserting his post, may endanger the safety of a command, or even of the whole army, and all nations affix to the offence the penalty of death.”
All armies take the duty of the sentinel seriously: they are watching out for the safety and well-being of their army by their duties. We need to understand that we have a similarly serious duty, in our responsibility to pray. Colossians 4:2 gives us our “orders”:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” Continue reading
Colossians 3:22 admonishes, “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” It is interesting that the two words in this verse for the ones we are serving are the same: Continue reading
(This is the text of the sermon I preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley on Sunday, July 13th 2014. It is a revised and updated version of a previous message by this title I preached at FBC Moss Bluff, LA in 2011)
Some time ago, as I was getting out of my car, I saw that I had a can of Coke in the cup holder. I can’t stand to leave anything in the car, so I picked up the can to take it in, and noticed that I still had a little bit of Coke left in it. I didn’t really want to drink it right then, so I just poured it out on the ground not far from the car. It was just wasted.
Then a few weeks ago, Cheryl & I were out driving in Northwestern Oklahoma, and we saw some of those big irrigations systems they have out there, that pour water out on the ground. An ignorant bystander, watching the watering go on, might say, “What a waste, just pouring all that water out on the ground like that.” But of course we know that water was not “wasted”, it was purposefully being poured out to water the crops that feed thousands of people. There is a big difference in something which is poured out being “wasted”, and being “invested” for a greater purpose.
In II Kings 5 the king of Aram, having heard of the prophet Elisha, sent his leprous general Naaman to the king of Israel so that he might be cured of his leprosy. We find the king’s response in verse 7: “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?” Despite his other failings, at least the king demonstrated an important attitude here:
II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of how Naaman the leper was healed. But we should make sure that we do not overlook a remarkable thing in verses 2-3, which says that there was “a little girl” who had been “taken captive” on the Arameans’ raid in Israel. What a horrifying thing! Can you imagine the fear and horror she had experienced? Now she was made a servant to Naaman’s wife. Many would have been consumed by bitterness and fear. But her response is striking:
In Psalm 13:4 David wrote: “And my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.” One of the most difficult aspects of enduring hardship is that it gives one’s enemies an opportunity to think “they were right” and that they have triumphed.
II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of Naaman and Elisha — but the introduction is insightful as well. Verse 1, speaking of Naaman says that he was “highly respected, because by him, YHWH had given victory to Aram.” Here is another scriptural example of the sovereignty of God, and yet also the instrumentality and responsibility of men:
In II Kings 4:2, the prophet Elisha asked a widow an important question: “What do you have in the house?” His question may hold the key to God’s solution for the situations some of us face today as well:
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.
shawnethomas 