Weekly Devotional for September 24, 2025

I would like to say that throughout my career as a pastor, I liked everyone I served.  That would be a lie.  Let me explain. When I was a young, second-year seminary student, I got a call from my district superintendent saying I had been appointed to serve two small churches way out in the country.  I was … Continue reading Weekly Devotional for September 24, 2025

Weekly Devotional for September 17, 2025 

While no preacher will admit this, deep down, each of them feels like they are God’s gift to preaching.   Those that think this are misguided, arrogant, and wrong, because I say this with all humility, outside of Jesus Christ and Billy Graham, I am God’s gift to preaching.  As the great boxer Muhammad Ali used to say, “It ain’t … Continue reading Weekly Devotional for September 17, 2025 

Weekly Devotional for September 10, 2025

About a month ago, I underwent rotator cuff surgery. I heard there’s a rumor going around that I injured myself while picking up a five-gallon fuel can.  Clearly that’s not the case because any cowboy, farmer, construction worker, or hairstylist would tell you only a sissy would get hurt that way. The truth is that a … Continue reading Weekly Devotional for September 10, 2025

Weekly Devotional Sept. 3, 2025

Some people are cat people, some people are bird people, some people are snake people (which I will never understand), and some people are dog people. Shannon and I are dog people.We almost always get our dogs from the animal shelter.  We currently have four dogs.Marley is a German shepherd/blue healer mix.  She is so cool, we … Continue reading Weekly Devotional Sept. 3, 2025

Daily Devotional for August 27, 2025

In my junior year as a student at Tarleton State University, I was arrested for the possession of narcotics and with the intention to distribute.  In other words, I was arrested for being a drug dealer.  That night had not gone the way I expected.  Let me explain. Late on a Friday night, I was watching television in … Continue reading Daily Devotional for August 27, 2025

Weekly Devotional for August 20, 2025

Throughout my entire career as a pastor, my favorite part of Sunday morning was the children’s time.  I loved it the most because it was the most interactive moment in worship where I got immediate feedback from the children.  Sometimes what they said was right on the money and sometimes we would end up wondering down rabbit … Continue reading Weekly Devotional for August 20, 2025

Weekly Devotional for August 13, 2025

You ever have one of those days where you are in a hurry to dig a hole to bury a horse before the rains come?  Then, when you rush to the equipment barn, climb into the Bobcat and crank it up, you realize it needs more diesel.  So, you throw the five gallon diesel cans into the … Continue reading Weekly Devotional for August 13, 2025

Daily Devotional for August 6, 2025

Jack is a really good guy.  He’s a member of our church.  He’s also my doctor. A few weeks ago, Jack was giving me my annual physical and he made a hurtful, insensitive comment about my weight.  Knowing in the past, I would have used Jack’s comment in a daily devotional, he said, “I’m glad you aren’t writing … Continue reading Daily Devotional for August 6, 2025

Daily Devotional for February 13, 2025

One of my primary goals in being the pastor of our church is making sure the children love me more than their own parents.  I do this by giving them candy.  It’s working.I give our children candy every Sunday during the children’s time.  More importantly, I have a huge bowl of candy in the breakroom at Dennis Hall. In … Continue reading Daily Devotional for February 13, 2025

Daily Devotional for February 6, 2025

Sunday, after church, we had a meeting of the Staff Parish Relations Committee.  As the meeting ended, Laura said, “Tom, look at Jack.  He shaved his beard and looks so much younger.  You should shave your beard.”  That’s when I noticed Jack’s betrayal of all men.Sure enough, even though Jack had grown a great-looking beard and looked very distinguished, … Continue reading Daily Devotional for February 6, 2025