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!
Tag Archives: compassion
“The Misplaced Passion of Spectator Religion” (Jonah 4 sermon)
On this Father’s Day, many of us are remembering our dads — whether they are still with us, or like my dad, have gone on to be with the Lord. I can remember my father sitting in his recliner, watching … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Amos, Apostle Paul, armchair religion, Charles DIckens, Christianity, church, clergy laity divide, comfort, compassion, convenience, critic, cruise ship or battleship?, disciples, discipleship, Ephesians 4:11-12, evaluate, Fathers Day, gifts, grieve, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 12:7, Jonah, Jonah 4, La-z-boy Christianity, Marquis St. Evremonde, Matthew 26:58, Matthew 5:4, mercy, ministry, mission, mourn, Nineveh, passion, religion, Romans 10:1, salvation, service, spectator, spectator Christianity, spectator religion, spiritual gifts, Tale of Two Cities, worship, worship services
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“YOU give them something to eat!”
“But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’” (Matthew 14:16) Although the gathering of the multitude before Jesus that day was unusual in a sense, in another way it is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, concern, excuses, love, Matthew 14:16, ministry, responsibility
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People Aren’t “Interruptions”
“When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14) In this passage, Jesus had just heard about the tragic death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, love, Matthew 14:14, ministry
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Compassion, Not Criticism
“But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’” (Matthew 12:2) “When (they) saw … they said …”. Seeing, and then being critical, was a mark … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, criticism, Hosea 6:6, judgmentalism, Matthew 12 devotion, Matthew 12:2, Pharisees
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Book Review: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, by Rosaria Butterfield
I’ll just say it up front: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert is one of the most compelling books I have ever read. The title leads one to think that it will give the reader a peek into the … Continue reading
Have You Learned Compassion?
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13) If Jesus told you to go and learn something, don’t you think it would be important to do so? Here Jesus tells a group of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, compassion or condemnation, condemnation, judgment, love, Matthew 9:13, Pharisees
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“The Disciple’s Character: Mercy” (Matthew 5:7 sermon)
Several years ago, a man and his wife were traveling on the Interstate Highway in Florida, when their car broke down. The next exit was 40 miles away, and there had been a rash of highway robberies, so no one … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12), Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, character, character of Christ, compassion, definition of mercy, grace, Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 5:7 sermon, merciful, mercy, ministry, Prodigal Son, salvation, The Good Samaritan
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