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 Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Winning Strategy," for June 28, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Remembering God's Works" for June 21, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- “The Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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
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- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
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- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
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- Habakkuk "Find Us Faithful" series messages
- History
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- India Mission Trip 2011
- Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
- John 3:16 sermon series
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- missions
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- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
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Tag Archives: faith
David’s 3 Commitments In Trials
In Psalm 71, David rehearsed in :10-13 all of the troubles he was facing: those who were watching for his life (:10) etc. Then he said in :14, “BUT AS FOR ME …” and he listed 3 actions he was … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, hope, persistence, praise, Psalm 71:14-15, trials, witness
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You Are My Hope
In Psalm 71:5, David said to God: “For You are my hope; O Lord God; You are my confidence from my youth.” Notice he said: “For YOU are my hope.” David’s hope in the difficult situation he describes in Psalm … Continue reading
“Just Thunder” — or the Work of God?
I Samuel 7:10 says: “The Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel.” There are times in scripture when it seems that God does enough of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged ambiguity, coincidence, disbelief, faith, I Samuel 7:10, John 12:28-29, room for doubt, skeptics, thunder
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Not Just For Atheists
Psalm 53:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.’” It has often been quoted in regard to atheists, and certainly it applies. But the verse also applies to the many who claim to be God’s … Continue reading
We Do Not Yet See
Hebrews 2:8 says: “But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him.” This verse follows a whole section of the first part of the book, which proclaims the superiority of Christ, and how God has “put all … Continue reading
What Real Faith Looks Like: Trusting A Benevolent God
One of my favorite scenes from the movie world is from the Christmas classic: “A Christmas Story”, when little Ralphie discovers the BB gun which his father had bought him for Christmas. The dad watches with delight as Ralphie opens … Continue reading
Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
Tagged Daniel 4:29-30, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 2:9, faith, God is good, Greek word thelema, Habakkuk 3:17-18, I Timothy 2:4, II Peter 3:9, James 1:17-18, Jimmy Stewart, Job 1:21, John 3, John 3:27, Joshua Breland testimony, King Nebuchadnezzer, Mark 10:18, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 119:68, Romans 6:23, salvation as a gift, self-made man, Shenandoah, the goodness of God, trust, you must be born again
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Nursery Lessons About God
Psalm 22 is about trust in God, even under adverse circumstances which might lead one to doubt. In it, David said that his first lesson in trust came at an earlier age than many might think. He wrote in :9, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged breastfeeding, faith, first lesson about God, Hebrews 11:6, mother, nursing, Psalm 22:9, trust
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When Faith Means Giving Up
In II Timothy 4:6-7 the Apostle Paul wrote: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged acceptance, accepting God's will, faith, II Timothy 4:6-7, trials
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A Step of Faith
In Exodus 25 God gave His people instructions regarding the construction of the ark of the covenant, and in :16 He commanded: “You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.” This was an act of … Continue reading
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