February 28, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, February 28.
Quick! What word is found the most times in the Bible? Forget about the little ones like “and” or “the” - what meaningful word occurs more than any other word in God’s Word? Got an answer ready? OK, here we go!
In 5th place - the word “people”, 2270 times. Proverbs 29:11 - “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns a people.”
4th - “Israel”. 2750 times. Isaiah 46:13 - “I will establish my salvation in Zion, my splendor in Israel.”
February 27, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, February 27.
On this day, ten years ago, Texas lost a favorite son. Van Cliburn was one of the greatest pianists of the modern era, and easily the most famous. In 1958, at the tender age of 23, and at the heart of the Cold War, he won an international piano competition in Moscow. The tall, lanky Texan became the toast of Russia and a worldwide celebrity.
February 24, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, February 24.
This coming Sunday is a special day at First Baptist Center - it’s Baby Dedication Day! We’ll see parent’s bring their newborns and toddlers and children forward to our pastor at the altar, and we’ll offer up a special prayer of blessing. Reminds me of the story in Mark 10.
February 22, 2023 - Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 22.
On this day, billions of Christians around the world are beginning the spiritual season called Lent. And on this day, in the year 303, the Roman emperor Diocletian ushered in a period of persecution against Christians that saw churches closed, scripture burned, and believers martyred.
February 21, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday, February 21.
Hope you enjoyed the President's Day holiday. And now we celebrate again . . . Happy Mardi Gras!
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent that leads to Easter Sunday. The tradition was to indulge in rich foods and merriment on Fat Tuesday that would be discouraged during Lent. Mardi Gras parades and festivities are held in St. Louis, Mobile, Galveston, Shreveport, and, of course, New Orleans.
February 17, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, February 17.
Were you in Texas at this time two years ago? Well, then you remember the Wacky Winter Weather Week when it never got above freezing, temps went down into the low single digits, and we were walking in a winter wonderland! Here’s a reprint of a daily devotion from that week.
February 16, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, February 16.
This Sunday, our interim pastor, Dr. Tim Watson, will be preaching on the subject of... salt. His text will be these words from Matthew 5:13, words spoken by Jesus - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
February 15, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, February 15.
On this date in 1564, a baby boy was born in Pisa, Italy. His name was Galileo Galilei. He would grow to be perhaps the greatest scientific figure in history. Albert Einstein called him the “Father of Modern Science”. Galileo laid foundations in mathematics, physics, engineering, and the scientific method. But, perhaps, he is most remembered for his groundbreaking discoveries in the field of astronomy. When NASA prepared a spacecraft to explore the planets, they named it “Galileo”.