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 Matthew 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
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Tag Archives: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
“The Goodness of God in the Midst of Affliction” (Psalm 119:65-72 sermon)
In February 2012, I stood to lead prayer meeting at the church in Louisiana I had pastored for 12 years, but the longer I stood the sicker I became. I had to leave during the prayer time and have my … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged "Fall Apart" song, affliction, attributes of God, becoming like Christ, Christlikeness, cleansing, cocoon of a butterfly, confession, conformed to His image, dysautonomia, Ephesians 6, faith, faith testing, glory, God attributes, God goodnesss, God is good, God is good all the time, god is good and does good, God's purpose, good, grace, identification, II Corinthians 12:9, it is good for me that I was afflicted, John 17:3, knowing God, lessons, life, life purpose, Matthew 13 parable of the sower, maturity, minister, ministry, My grace is sufficient, pastor, pastor Shawn Thomas, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, POTS, prayers, priorities, Psalm 119 acrostic, Psalm 119:65-72, Psalm 119:67, purification, purpose for suffering, purpose for trials, purposes for affliction, Romans 8:28-29, Ronnie Rogers Trinity Baptist Norman, salvation, Shawn E. Thomas, sin, spiritual maturity, spiritual warfare, suffering, sword of the Spirit, test, teth, theodicy, theology, theology 101, thorn in the flesh, tob good, trials, word of God, You are good, You do good
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A New Regimen: POTS Update, June 2013
I haven’t updated much on my bout with dysautonomia or POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) in a while, basically because I haven’t had much to report. In a previous post I shared that I had been much improved since we … Continue reading
My POTS experience: Peaks and Valleys
Although POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) varies greatly from individual to individual in the type and severity of symptoms, one of the signature features of it in my own personal experience is the almost daily fluctuation of my symptoms. Journeying … Continue reading
Family Christmas Newsletter 2012
— One weekend in September while Libby and Josh came home for her birthday, she gave US perhaps the biggest present of the year: they are expecting our first grandchild in May! Josh is finishing his ministry degree at Louisiana … Continue reading
POTS update: “Redeeming the Time”
One of the things I am starting to get used to with having POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is the rapid change of condition that I often experience. I wrote previously of how I was feeling pretty well a number … Continue reading
Posted in POTS (dysautonomia) articles
Tagged church office, dysautonomia, Ephesians 5:16, James 4:14, make hay while the sun shines, opportunity, pastor, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, POTS, preacher, priorities, redeem the time, time, time is a precious treasure which attracts many robbers
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This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 3rd
This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 3rd This week in the “Paradise” of the pastor’s home, we dealt with an impending hurricane, aging bodies, and of course our kitten, Eponine. Get Behind Me! My wife Cheryl loves French fries, but had … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
Tagged ailing parents, diet, dysautonomia, french fries, Hurricane Isaac, Hurricane Isaac spoof video, hurricnae preparation, ice cream, kitten Eponine, pastor's family, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, POTS, spoiled kitten, weather reporters
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A POTS Analogy: My Life in Miniature
Some moments in time can serve as a picture of your life in miniature, as a kind of analogy. Today (Thursday, August 30th 2012) was one of those days. Like most other residents of Louisiana, we spent yesterday at home, … Continue reading
POTS update August 2012: Sunday Challenges & “Hibernation Saturdays”!
Like many of our church members, I spend my Saturdays preparing for our Sunday services. I have done that previously, but the nature of my preparation has changed since I was diagnosed with dysautonomia or POTS this summer. With a … Continue reading
Posted in POTS (dysautonomia) articles
Tagged dizziness, Dr. Gerry Hebert, dyautonomia, First Baptist Church Moss Bluff, headaches, heart rate, heat intolerance, heat sensitivity, metoprolol succinate, nausea, pastor Shawn Thomas, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, POTS, preaching, trazodone, Wendy's potatoes & gravy
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My POTS Experience: The Beginning
I was diagnosed with dysautonomia, or POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) a couple of weeks ago (June 2012). Since this may be a part of my life from this time forward, and a number of my blog posts will refer … Continue reading
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