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: faith
“The Faith That Pleases God” (Hebrews 11 sermon)
What kind of gift makes your spouse happy? That’s important to know, isn’t it? Because people vary so much in what pleases them. For example, some women might be delighted if you got them a certain kitchen appliance for Christmas … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged "name it claim it", archeology, believe, Bible and faith, Blaise Pascal enough light, blind faith, Christianity, discipleship, Don Sunshine evangelist, faith, faith acts, faith and works, Faith works, false teaching, Galatians 1:10, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, God's word, Hebrews 11:, Hebrews 11:1-6 sermon, Herman Melville Moby Dick, Hinduism, I Corinthians 6:19-20, I Peter 1:8-9, James 2:17, James 2:26, John 20:29, Luke 9:23, MasterLife, Mormonism, people pleaser, pleasing God, reasonable faith, religion vs. practical world, resurrection of Jesus, salvation, salvation by faith, scripture and faith
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“Worshiping God Anyway” (Habakkuk 3:16-19 sermon)
On November 5th of last year, a killer shot 46 people people who had gathered to worship at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, just southeast of San Antonio. The pastor, Frank Pomeroy, and his wife were out … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged abortion, Acts 16, commitment, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Facebook, faith, gospel, Habakkuk 3, Habakkuk 3:16-19, heaven, hinds feet, hinds feet meaning, II Corinthians 4:16, Job, joy, joy in God, judgment, pain, pain holy angel, Paul and Silas, prosperity gospel, Psalm 147:10-11, Psalm 2:2, Romans 8, salvation, Sutherland Springs shooting, word faith, word faith teaching, worship
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“Warnings From The Wilderness” (I Corinthians 10:1-13 sermon)
On the coastline of Japan, by the little village of Aneyoshi, is an ancient stone tablet. Engraved on this tablet is a somber warning: “Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes beyond this point.” In … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, Aneyoshi Japan Tsunami, Aneyoshi tablet, commitment discipleship, decision, faith, grumbling, homosexuality, I Corinthians 10, I Corinthians 10:1-13, I Corinthians 10:13, idolatry, idols, immorality, living together, pornography, salvation, temptation, testimony, Tim Keller tweet, trust, trusting God
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“Testing The Fruit Of Your Salvation” (James 1:21-27 sermon)
For Mothers Day we got some things for Cheryl for the garden. She loves to garden outside — and I love to go out and walk through the garden with her for 5 minutes before I go inside to read! … Continue reading
Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged age, Bible, Book of James, born again, church, church attendance, conviction, darkness, doer of the word, faith, Faith works, fruit, fruit of salvation, holiness, I John 1:5, II Corinthians 5, James, James 1, James 1:21-27, James 1:21-27 sermon, John 13:17, John 3, light, Matthew 13 parable of the sower, minister, ministry, mirror, mirror of the word, new creation, obedience, orphans, Paraliament, purification, repent, repentance, salvation, sanctification, scripture, service, sin, slavery, widows, William Wilberforce, word of God, works, worship
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It’s Only Temporary
“He made two golden rings for it under its moldings on its two sides — on opposite sides — as holders for poles with which to carry it.” (Exodus 37:27) It wasn’t permanent. That’s what stands out here. As you … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged buildings, Exodus 37, faith, golden rings, material, Matthew 24, poles, tabernacle, Temple, temporary
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“The Man Who Almost Gave Up His Faith” (Psalm 73 sermon)
One of the best known memoirs of the Holocaust is Night by Elie Wiesel. Wiesel was a devout Jew before his experience in the Nazi death camps, but his time there destroyed his faith. He wrote, “Why, but why should I … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons
Tagged Asaph, Bible Reading, church, devotionals, doubts, Elie Wiesel, eternity, faith, Harvey Weinstein, heaven, hell, Holocaust, Hugh Hefner, it will end better, John 6, judgment, justice, Luke 16, Psalm 73, Psalm 73 sermon, punishment, questions, revelation, rewards and punishments, Rich Man and Lazarus, scripture, temptations, unanswered prayer, Whitney Hand knee injury, wrong side of history
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“What The Centurion Can Teach Us” (Acts 10 sermon)
Well I learned something new this week: Cheryl & I had dinner with Chris & Gina Bailey, and she made the best homemade eggrolls. I asked her what was in them, and one of the ingredients she mentioned was “white … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons
Tagged Acts 10, Acts 10 sermon, American flag symbol, baptism, baptism point of no return, baptism symbol, Baptist, commitment, Cornelius, Ephesians 1:13, faith, heaven, Holy Spirit, hymn To God Be The Glory, Muslims and Christian baptism, Nik Ripken, racism, Romans 3, salvation, sexuality, sin, subway, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives, the vilest offender who truly believes, universalism
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