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: pride
Do You Really Want To Know God’s Way?
In Psalm 25:4-5 David prays, “Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me …”. Many Christians might identify with these words. Upon reading them they might say, “Amen! … Continue reading
“Don’t Be A Hypocrite!” (Matthew 6:1+ sermon)
“Beware!” If you are out driving, and you come across a sign in the road that says “Beware!”, you are going to pay attention, and proceed very carefully, aren’t you? And you should. You know there is something dangerous ahead, … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged actor, alms, applause of heaven, church, Facebook, fasting, giving, heart, humility, hypocrisy, hypocrite, hypocrites, Jesus, John 11 Jesus prayer, let your light shine, Luke 20:20, Matthew 23, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:1-18, model prayer, motivation, NBA home court, Pharisees, poor in spirit, praise, prayer, pride, private prayer, public ministry, pure in heart, recognition, righteousness, scribes, singing, tip of the iceberg, worship
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“He Must Increase But I Must Decrease”
“He must increase but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) This statement was true for John the Baptist in a very literal way, in which it will not be for us: John’s ministry and popularity would decrease, as more and more … Continue reading
The Root Sin
“I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say … He himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged church, church discipline, III John 9-10, Korah, Numbers 16, pride, root sin, surface issues
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“The Servant & The Savior” (Matthew 3:11 sermon)
Several years ago, one of my sisters was attending a missions banquet, and she heard that the President of our Southern Baptist International Mission Board was going to be in attendance, so she was looking forward to meeting him. She … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Charles Spurgeon conversion, cruise ship or battlleship, Deity of Christ, humble, humility, Isaiah 45:22, Jesus, life change, look to Jesus, love, Matthew 3:11 sermon, power of the Holy Spirit, pride, Savior, service, spiritual gifts, steward, stewardship, the Holy Spirit and fire, transformation
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Don’t Harden Your Heart
“Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.” (Matthew 28:11 NASB) You have to ask yourself: just how depraved were these chief priests? … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged bitterness, disobedience, harden heart, heart, humility, Matthew 28:11, obedience, Pharaoh, pride, repentance, sin
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Who’s Your “PR Agent”?
“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) Have you ever seen someone boast (or maybe “humble brag” — if there is really such a thing! — on Facebook or Twitter) in order … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged boasting, exalt, humble, humility, I Peter 5:6, Matthew 23:12, Matthew 5:5, meekness, PR agent, pride, Proverbs 27:2, Psalm 37
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