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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
August 5, 2021 - The Bright Morning Star Baptist Church will be hosting it's annual revival three nights, beginning Monday, August 9th - 11th at 7:30 p.m. nightly. The special guest speaker will be Pastor A.L. Horton, Sr., Reed Chapel Baptist Church, San Augustine, Texas. Please come and join us each night. The church is located at 623 Martin Luther King Drive, Center Texas.
Host Pastor Anthony Jackson
August 5, 2021 - James would write for us, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14) If you want to make God laugh, really laugh, tell Him what you are going to do tomorrow.
The Bible is filled with examples of those who had great plans for tomorrow and yet, tomorrow never came. When Felix heard Paul preach, he trembled upon hearing the word of God. He told Paul to go his way and he would call for him at a more convenient time. He told Paul he would wait until tomorrow and for Governor Felix, tomorrow never came.
Jesus tells us of a rich farmer who had an abundant harvest in Luke chapter 12, He was planning to tear down his old barns and build greater barns to have a place to store all his abundance. He had great plans for tomorrow, but God had other plans. God called that man a fool and told him his soul was required that very night. Tomorrow never came for that farmer.
Paul would write to the church in Corinth, “now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2) Do not put off serving the Lord until tomorrow, but begin today, right now to serve the Lord and live His kind of life, His way.
It’s something to think about…..tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
August 2, 2021 - On August 8, 2021 at 11:30am, Mt. Gillion Baptist Church will be holding it’s “Second Sunday” in August Annual Homecoming Service. Speaker is Bishop Joseph Hall Jr., Pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church, Mansfield Louisiana.
Rev. Gary Suell, Sr. Pastor.
August 2, 2021 - On Sunday, August 8, at 10:15am the congregation of First Baptist Church of Center will honor area educators. On this Sunday before school starts we invite any teacher, coach, counselor, administrator, retired teachers, etc. to join us for our morning worship service which will include a time of recognition, prayer, and a special gift for each educator present. We love teachers at First Baptist Center. God bless teachers! For more info call David Mathis at 979-533-1575 or 936-598-5605.
July 29, 2021 - It is an exciting time when a toddler abandons crawling and takes those first faltering steps. Once that happens, it is not long until they are going to attempt to climb the stairs. If they have reached The talking stage, they will inform you that they will do it "all on their own." However, parents are standing nearby to see how they make out and make sure they do not fall. To be sure, that little toddler will reach the top safely if they just keep going. For them, the last step is just as easy as the first one. Trouble comes only if they begin to wonder why they are so high and they get in trouble if they turn back. It is then they will take a tumble.
Paul would write, "Forgetting those things which arre behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:13-14) As Christians pressing toward the goal, we can learn some things from a toddler. You see, our heavenly Father is standing by, ready to assist us when we stumble. We also can leer that the struggle is not greater as we climb higher, but it is easer because we have experience behind us. Then, it is dangerous to look back, we must forget what is behind.
It is a big adventure for a child to climb the stairs. It is the greatest possible adventure for us to climb the heights toward God. Are you moving closer to God day by day? If not, you should be.
It's something to think about... tbp
Join us for worship this coming Lord's Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
July 26, 2021 - Grace and peace from our friend and brother Jesus. The typical Texas summer weather pattern has come to our part of East Texas. After months of rain and more moderate temperatures, next week promises to reach almost 100! I am watering my various gardens and fruit trees every day, which takes about an hour and a half. But gardening has kept me going during the quarantine, so I have no complaints.
That is not completely true. I can always complain about something. People, we must step up and get vaccinated! Texas and most other states are seeing Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths increasing at an alarming rate. We are entering a fourth wave. This spike will be be mostly among those not yet vaccinated. But there are breakthrough infections among those who have already had Covid-19 and those who are vaccinated. These are very troubling times. It is your patriotic—and Christian—duty to get your vaccination now!
Fannie had a very thought-provoking lesson prepared for us. The title of the lesson was “Love Your Neighbor. Really.” Ms. Fannie asked us what story we usually associate with being a good neighbor: The Good Samaritan, of course. But the scripture for today that Gene read was Mark 2: 1-12 about four men who lower their paralyzed friend through a hole they created in the roof. This man is not only healed but also forgiven. Of course, that sets off the legal experts who wonder who this Jesus thinks he is.
Sue operates the CD player; luckily, we have many hymns on CDs. We are able to play and sing the Gloria Patri and the Doxology in response to our Affirmation of Faith and our offering. Today’s hymns were “Shall We Gather at the River” and “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand.” Both songs have water themes, which I thought was appropriate for the Sunday we read about Jesus walking on the water.
My sermon was based on the scripture, John 6: 1-21. Today’s Gospel tells two miracle stories. The first is about Jesus feeding the multitude and the second, Jesus walking on water, telling his disciples not to fear. Each of these beloved stories should have its own Sunday, but for some reason the lectionary scholars put them together. I focused on Jesus’ caution to avoid being fearful. We are living in scary times and need to call upon Jesus, as well as our friends and families that God has given us, to calm our anxious minds.
All during the month of July, Paxton Methodist collected cans of spaghetti and ravioli for Community Christian Services. I will deliver the food and some checks to Community Christian Services. In August, with its school reopenings, we will focus on “Undie Sundays” to help outfit returning students. This was the original monthly collection for Christian Services at Joaquin Methodist, which later was expanded to various foods and hygiene items each month. It’s August, so we will be collecting kids’ underwear and socks all month long.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
July 26, 2021 - Back To School Bash at Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church on Saturday, August 7th at 6pm. Come enjoy activities: inflatable obstacle course, kiddie bouncy house, horse shoes, washers, dunking booth, 42 - dominoes, cake walk, and free hotdogs.
All Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the fellowship.
Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church, 5527 FM 417 East, located 2 miles off of Hwy 87 on 417 East in Shelbyville, Texas 75973.
July 23, 2021 - The annual North Jericho Homecoming is set for Sunday, August 1, 2021, the first Sunday in August. There will be a service and business meeting starting at 11am following with dinner on the ground at 12 noon. Please make plans to attend!
July 22, 2021 - Lydia Missionary Baptist Church would like to invite all children ages 2 years old through 12th grade to Vacation Bible School beginning August 2nd through the 6th at 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm each night.
Climb aboard for mountains of fun at Rocky Railway VBS! On this faith-filled adventure, kids discover that trusting Jesus pulls them through life’s ups and downs.
You can pre-register your kids at our website lydiambc.org.
We are located on FM 139 in Huxley. For more information, please call the church at 936-368-2462.
July 22, 2021 - In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, "Unless you change your whole outlook and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Phillips). Do we really comprehend what it is to have the faith of a child?
We had our grandsons with us over the weekend, and the oldest is almost 3 and is an early riser. He would come into the kitchen with me before the sun was up and I would be making coffee. One morning he asked me, "Poppy, where is the sun." Well, I summoned all my scientific vocabulary and told him, "the sun is asleep, but it will be waking up soon." Then he asked "why?" (that's his favorite question). I told him the sun needed to rest so it could spend the day lighting and warming the earth.
Our kitchen window faces east. As soon as the sun started to peek out over the treetops, I picked him up and stood him on the cabinet and said, "Mason, look, the sun is waking up."
He looked at me and said, "Poppy, God made the sun... and the moon." There was no question there. It was just a matter of fact statement from a 3 year old informing me the sun was coming up that morning because God made it. Every morning he came in and wanted me to pick him up so he could see the sun "wake up."
Jesus said that is the kind of faith you and I need. A simple childlike faith in God. Maybe we should work on that.
It's something to think about... tbp
Join us for Worship this coming Lord's Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
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