Pastor Sam's Blog

Happy 37th Anniversary, ParkwayHills

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:44:00 +0000

The Winter Of Our Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:46:00 +0000

Good News. Great Joy. All people!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 22:55:00 +0000

The Shepherds received a message that never grows old. It is a message for all people. After they found the baby, the Christ, they told everyone they met about what they had been told and seen. This was evangelism 101, and... they got it right.

Would to God we might do the same.

Merry Christmas -

Pastor Sam

https://youtu.be/aY5bbcpi8Co?si=JMDzBXOTjjsqObSx

Good Friday - Redeemed

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:08:00 +0000

Our effort will never be enough to pay for our sins. Only Christ could do this. We call Friday of Passion Week 'good' because the Son of God paid the ultimate price for 'our' good. We are redeemed! Forgiven! Holy! Justified! Set free! Adopted and reconciled to God! Good Friday, indeed!

Pastor Sam

Holy Wednesday - A Day to Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:14:00 +0000

On Wednesday of Holy Week, the Bible records that Jesus remained in Bethany and dined with his disciples at the home of Simon the leper. There he was lavishly worshiped by a woman with an alabaster box of precious ointment. Judas also betrayed Jesus on Wednesday - two stark events so obviously juxtaposed.

Pastor Sam

Holy Tuesday - 'The Withered Tree'

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:28:00 +0000

On Tuesday of Holy Week Jesus returns with his disciples from Bethany to Jerusalem and... to the Temple. As they travel, they encounter the fruitless tree Jesus had cursed the day before. It was now withered and dried up. Once in the temple we see that Christ was really citing evidence of the same condition in the religious leaders of the day - calling them 'whitewashed tombs.'

Today's devotion reminds us to heed the warning of a dried-up tree and a whitewashed tomb to become those who bear fruit in Christ.

Pastor Sam

April 15, 2025

Monday of Holy Week - A House of Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:47:00 +0000

On Holy Monday Jesus cursed a barren fig tree, drove the money changers out of the temple, and answered questions meant to accuse Him by the religious leaders who were against Him. Reflecting on this day and its application to us, we should look to our own house of worship - the sanctuary of our heart - regarding the purpose of God's temple (which is Christ in us), making our house, the house within our hearts, one of prayer.

Pastor Sam

'A Winter Word: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things'

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:03:00 +0000

In this video, I share Psalm 139, the life of David, and a bit of my personal story to remind us that God knows us and chooses to use us, ordinary though we are, to accomplish His plans and declare His glory.

Blessings, indeed!

Pastor Sam

A Word for 2025: Circumstance and the Goodness of God

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:36:00 +0000

Happy 2025, FRIENDS.

In this video, I share a word and reminder regarding our faithfulness to God and His promises, regardless of circumstance.

I have discovered that faith in God is not always easy, especially for those tempted to live as if 'we' are in control. This said, here's a message for ALL of us.

Pastor Sam

September 11, 2024 - Twenty Three Years & Not Forgotten

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:53:00 +0000

Twenty Three years ago today I was in New York City, staying at 7th and B Avenue in New York City's Lower East Side. In this video, I share a few thoughts from my journal regarding this day that changed all of us.

Pastor Sam

Things I Learned from Dad - A Fathers Day Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:05:00 +0000

My Dad passed from this life to heaven 35 years ago this July. I still miss him. But, I am grateful that so much of who I am today came from his influence. Dad loved Jesus and he loved us, and that love impacted me greatly.

In this video I share a memory - a story of my first communion - and Dad's advice to me as a brand new Christian that I just follow him.

From Easter 1989 to Easter 2024 - He is Risen, Indeed!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:07:00 +0000

Palm Sunday, 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:42:00 +0000

Palm Sunday reminds us of how quickly we can turn from worship of God to other things. In this video, I share a few thoughts on how our understanding of this can open some new doors.

Pastor Sam

Who are you? God knows - and that's good!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 21:36:00 +0000

In Genesis 32, vv. 24 - 30 we find the story of Jacob wrestling with God.

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

When God asked Jacob, 'What's your name?' It was a question really asking... 'Who are you?' The answer was known by God - but Jacob's admission of the truth became his place of beginning.

Check out my video for a few words of encouragement on how answering this for ourselves can become our place of beginning as well.

Blessings,

Pastor Sam

Happy New Year & The 'Goodness' of God

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:43:00 +0000

As we begin 2024 we would do well to remember that the 'goodness' of God is a blessing that goes beyond our circumstances. It is a gift (grace) that draws us to God by giving us the eyes and the heart to see that - no matter what happens - God continues to pursue us with His mercy, love, and promise. (Psalm 23)

Check out my video to hear a few thoughts as to why I believe this will be essential to any who might find true joy in 2024.

Blessings, Pastor Sam

Finding Joy at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:06:00 +0000

The Joy that came with the advent of Christ was not circumstantial. It was spiritual - and something we all need. Good tidings of great joy for all people was a message announced to lowly shepherds referencing more than a baby. This was Emmanuel! And this was...

Joy, indeed! Pastor Sam

A Word and Reminder Regarding Israel and Our Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:37:00 +0000

In light of the recent and horrific events taking place in Israel, many have asked me how this might relate to Christ’s return - if at all. To be clear, Israel has been brutally attacked in a most despicable and cowardly way by a terrorist group that uses Gaza and other territories as a shield for their evil. However, for those who seek and are praying for Crhist's return, here’s a word of encouragement and hope regarding what we cannot know and... what we can.

God is sovereign over all things. Israel will not fall, but stand. And salvation in Christ is sure.

Praying for Israel -

Pastor Sam

‘Calling out the Called’ - a message for all time!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 22:31:00 +0000

Here's an encouraging video on the calling of God and the blessedness of our salvation in Christ. Indeed, He is calling still - as I often say, 'calling out the called' - and it is our joy, great and only task to hereald this news.

Sam

A Life of Legacy

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 03:21:00 +0000

As I reflected today on our national remembrance of the attack upon our nation on 9.11.21, I wondered over the difference this has meant - not just to our nation, but to me. Check out my video below for my thoughts about how this event, as well as my decision to place my faith in Christ, has impacted the life I want to live and the legacy I hope to pass on.

Pastor Sam

An August Greeting and Update from Pastor Sam Dennis

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:02:00 +0000

Friends,

This summer, thanks to your support and prayers, we have been blessed to see so many come to faith in Christ.

Check out my video sharing an update on our 2023 Mission to Brazil - as well as our plan to cruise the Adriatic Sea in the fall of 2024 and visit the sites of the early churches as we learn of the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.

Blessings,

Pastor Sam

Remembering Dad (Delmer Dennis, 1925 - 1989)

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 20:04:00 +0000

My Dad, Delmer Samuel Dennis, passed from this life to heaven on July 12, 1989. This was two months shy of his 64th birthday and the same year I planted ParkwayHills Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. He had participated in my ordination in February and attended our Inaugural service on Easter Sunday. I talked to him in person or by phone almost every day. To say I loved Dad would be an understatement and it was years before I quit reaching for my phone to call him. I still want to today, 34 years later.

While I served as a pastor I often encouraged fathers on their potential impact in my sermons, saying of Dad that, ‘Everything I learned of significance in life I learned from him.’ Dad taught with words and by example. And describing his effect on my life, I added, “He taught me how to love one woman, mow a yard, finish what you started, love unconditionally, tell a story, sing a song, laugh at myself, that it's OK to cry, to not be afraid of starting over, and to not quit.” When people heard me say these things they might have considered them generalizations, but the opposite was true, they were on point and life-changing realities I saw every day. By ‘love one woman’ I meant Dad showed the beauty and benefit of being faithful to your wife. He loved Mom with passion and fidelity regularly showing affection in front of us kids by giving her tender ‘pats’ and kisses. I never saw Dad look at other women the way he looked at Mom. By ‘mow a yard’ I meant, Dad taught me how to do a job well and right, which included changing the direction of your mower cut each week, cleaning your equipment after finishing, and making sure the same was prepped and ready for the next week's use. By ‘finishing what you start,’ I meant Dad taught that signing up to play, even if you never got off the bench, meant showing up for every practice and keeping your head and heart in every game. And by this dictum he likely did more to prepare me for life as a pastor than anything else as I regularly ‘stood in the wings’ or ‘preached’ from the ‘prompter’s box’ (the pulpit) to encourage and fan the flame of God’s love, grace and calling in others.

Dad was orphaned when just a boy. As the youngest child of 13, His mother died when he was 5 and his father when he was 8. This necessitated his having to live in the homes of his older siblings, and eventually settling in with his sister, Mont, and her husband, Bill Miller. Bill and Mont were farmers just outside of Celina Texas, not far from where Dad's parents had leased their own farmland. They had a daughter of their own, Billie Maurine, who was near Dad’s age and became like a sister to him. Dad loved Mont, Bill, and Billie, even though years later Mom confessed that one reason ‘family’ was so important to our Dad was that he wanted his children to never feel as if they were visitors and not part of one another. So, we were. All four of us, with me the eldest and sisters Pam, Kim, and younger brother David.

Dad loved the United States of America and was a veteran of WW II. In September of 1942, just after turning 17, he went to Dallas and enlisted in the United States Navy. He had just begun his Senior year, which meant he never finished High School. He was attending the Allah Hubbard school, a country school just north of Celina, TX. - on Doc. Hubbard's property. Today, through the beneficence of the same family, Celina High School now sits on that same property, and Dad, along with others who served our country, were eventually awarded their High School Diplomas by Celina - a much-deserved and highly regarded honor.

Dad worked hard, leaving home early in the morning long before any of us were up. And though returning home each night 'bone tired', we looked forward to seeing him knowing that after a bath and his changing into a fresh t-shirt and pair of khakis, he'd lay with us on the living room floor to wrestle and 'snuggle up'. Because of his work, Dad rarely attended any of my daytime activities, but he did see me hit my first home run. It was my only home run ever, and as I ran across home plate I headed straight for the fence where he stood to reach my fingers and hands out to touch his and ask, "Did you see that Dad? Did you see it?" His answer was direct. "Yes, son, I did. And I am proud of you." He would have said that to anything I did. But seeing me through the fence that day he knew what I most needed to hear, and gave it to me. Nothing more and, lovingly, nothing less.

The year I planted ParkwayHills Church I was blessed to be ordained by my home church in Dallas, where I was serving as Church Administrator. In keeping with the church’s custom, Dad was invited to participate in the time of ‘laying on of hands,' which is part of the ceremony and service. This is a solemn moment as ordained clergy, deacons, and others participate by placing their hands on the head or shoulders of a candidate to speak words of encouragement and pray God’s blessings over them. As I knelt at the altar Dad was the last to pass by. I could tell it was him by the smell of his Old Spice cologne and began to cry. He spoke tenderly and said, ‘Son, I want you to know I am more proud of you today than any other time in your life – even when you hit your first home run.’ I could sense his smile as I, attempting to speak through my tears, said, “Dad, I only hit one.” He didn't respond, but continued, “Listen to me!” I want you to commit that you will both preach the Word and love God's people.” Going on, he continued – ‘many preachers preach God’s word without loving His people. Others will love God's people but not have the courage to preach His word. But, if you do both you will never have to back up to your paycheck.” As he reached the end of this solemn dictum, I was blubbering. For I knew this man and what he meant by it all too well. He was telling me, in the best and only way he knew how by using language I had heard since childhood, to accomplish my ‘calling’ fully, to do it right, and to finish the job.

Now, years later I confess that following his words has not always been easy - and this goes for either side of his admonition. However, Dad's words to me on that cold February evening to "Preach the Word and Love the People" became the mantra of my life and call. For, indeed, Dad was right! (cf. 2nd Timothy 4:2; 1st Corinthians 13:1). And… I am grateful.

Pastor Sam

Friday of Holy Week - A Good Friday, Indeed!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 17:14:00 +0000

Thursday of Holy Week - Maundy Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 18:15:00 +0000

Wednesday of Holy Week - A Day of Silence?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:48:00 +0000

Tuesday of Holy Week - Jesus Teaches in the Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Sam) — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 20:10:00 +0000