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!Top Posts & Pages
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "Following Jesus" (Matthew 4:18-22 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- “Comforting the Afflicted & Afflicting the Comfortable” James 1:9-11
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- The Drink Offering: Don't Waste Your Life
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Gerasene Demoniac" (Mark 5:1-20 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Woman At The Well" (John 4:1-42 sermon)
- "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
- Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
- Current Events
- Devotions/Bible Studies
- Discipleship
- Doctrine/Theology
- History
- Home & Family Life
- India Mission Trip 2011
- John 3:16 sermon series
- Matthew sermons
- Ministry
- Music
- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
- Reviews
- Sermon Illustrations
- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Tag Archives: legalism
Perfected In The Flesh?
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) Writing to the legalistic Galatians, Paul was reminding them that they were not saved by works of “the flesh” — good … Continue reading
The Height of Hypocrisy
“Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.” (John 18:28) Jesus had previously condemned … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged chuch attendance, deacon, deacon qualifications, employees, Great Commission, hypocrisy, I Timothy 3, inconsistency, John 18:28, legalism, Matthew 23:24, mercy, pastor, pastor qualifications, Pharisees, Roberts Rules of Order, strain out a gnat and swallow a camel, tithing
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Love & The Commandments
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (I John 5:3) There is a fallacy in the thinking of many people, that there is a distinction between the “love” of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged commandments, dilemma, fallacy, I John 5:3, legalism, love, love vs. commandments
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Will Your Righteousness Get You To Heaven?
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) This is one of those sayings of Jesus that must have astounded His hearers. … Continue reading
Legalism & “Renewing Your Mind”
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) One of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fundamentalism, holiness, legalism, media, renewing the mind, Romans 12:2, television
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The Old, Old Story
Many contemporary Christians are looking for something “new” to share from their pulpits and classes — but they are making a huge mistake. In Romans 1:15 the Apostle Paul writes: “So, for my part, I am eager to preach the … Continue reading