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 Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "This Is My Story: The Man Born Blind" (John 9 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 15:1-11+, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson for March 8, 2026, "Real Devotion"
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Working Out Your Salvation" (Philippians 2:12-13 sermon)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- "The Church That Left Their First Love" (Revelation 2:1-7 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
- Discipleship
- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
- Doctrine/Theology
- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
- Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
- Habakkuk "Find Us Faithful" series messages
- History
- Home & Family Life
- I Peter sermons
- India Mission Trip 2011
- Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
- John 3:16 sermon series
- Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series
- Luke 2 Christmas series
- Matthew sermons
- Ministry
- missions
- Music
- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
- Psalms studies and messages
- Revelation sermon series
- Reviews
- Sermon Illustrations
- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Tag Archives: trust
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 You Don’t Have A Word
In Psalm 130 the Psalmist, in “the depths,” cries out to God. Then in :5 he says: “in His word do I hope”. In “the depths” of our own particular situations, we should do the same thing: put our hope … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged a word from God, depths, faith, I Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 130:5, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:29, trials, trust
4 Comments
A Simple Recipe For The Day
Sometimes we make things too complex; looking way off into the future, worrying about “what if” and “which way”, when many times those decisions don’t really need to made today. What we really need to focus on this day is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged living in the present, Psalm 37:3, trust, trust in the Lord and do good, worry
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The Illusion of Security
Proverbs 18:11 says: “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.” This verse is instructive to us in that it proclaims that the rich man’s wealth is like a wall “in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged insecurity, riches, security, trust, wealth
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Our Limited Plans
Psalm 33:7-8 speaks of how it is God who gathers the waters in a heap, before whom all the peoples should stand in awe. That same Psalm then immediately goes on to point out the limited nature of the plans … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged future, Hurricane Isaac, plans, Presumption, Psalm 33:10, Psalm 33:12, trust
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Your Focus in the Storm
It seems like the eyes of everyone on the Gulf Coast are glued to the Weather Channel, with the rapid approach of a potential hurricane. It’s good to stay informed, but our constant focus should be where it is always … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", Hurricane Isaac, Psalm 33:7-8, trust
1 Comment
I Didn’t Roll “Snake Eyes”!
Proverbs 16:33 concludes: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” This Proverb isn’t just about “dice”. It is really about two very different, very competing world views: do things in our world happen … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged dice, dysautonomia/POTS, lot, luck, Proverbs 16:33, providence, snake eyes, theocentric worldview, trust
1 Comment
My Times Are In Your Hand
David Boudia, who just won the gold medal in the 10 meter platform diving in the 2012 Olympics in London, had a very shaky preliminary round, and thought he might not even make it to the finals. But he was calm … Continue reading
Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right
The words of this old hymn are very pertinent for me right now – in a number of ways – and perhaps they may minister to you, too. Samuel Rodigast (1649-1708), the son of a Lutheran minister in Germany, wrote this … Continue reading
“The Lord is in His Holy Temple”
Habakkuk 2:9-20 “The Lord Is In His Holy Temple” 8-14-11 a.m. A couple of weeks ago, when we studied Habakkuk 2:4, we talked about how Job, when he had endured so much, asked God questions for which he never really received … Continue reading
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