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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
May 5, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, May 5.
I am a thoughtless person. And this morning I did a thoughtless thing.
I began this blog in March of 2020, sending out daily devotions each week to friends and family through emails, and to anyone through the Shelby County Today website. That was over five years ago, over 250 weeks ago, over 1500 devotions ago.
And then, this morning I woke up . . . without a thought in my head, I didn’t have a clue as to what I would share with you today. I was thoughtless! And then I remembered. Then I remembered a little verse from the sixth chapter of Matthew’s gospel - “Take no thought about your life”. These are red-letter words from the New Testament, words spoken by Jesus Himself, from His famed Sermon on the Mount. I remembered the scripture in the King James language. But modern versions use different words - “Don’t Worry!”
Later in that same chapter, in that same sermon, Christ says, “Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?” And then there’s the famous verse 33 - you know it - “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” I had no words to share with you this morning, but His words are more powerful and wise and inspiring than any thoughts I could have possibly imagined.
I didn’t need to worry!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
May 1, 2025 - Devine Movements Presents: Mother's Day Prayer/Luncheon. A Cry Within "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" PSALM 34:18
On May 10, 2025 located at the Windham Civic Center, 146 Express Blvd, Center, Texas 75935 from 1pm-5pm
Keynote Speaker Prophetess Lydia Johnson-Blake Arlington, TX.
This will be a moment in your life to let go of any hurt, pain, and shame in your life. This will be a time for all Mothers to release their pain from the lost of their child/ children. This will be a time to receive the Powerful Annointing of the Holy Ghost. God will reign through this event to give you peace, healing, and deliverance. Come with expecting a Powerful Move of God.
There will be free food and at least 65 goodie bags to give to all who will attend.
Presented by Divine Ministries Outreach Inc.
First Lady Vanessa Davis Center, TX, Evangelist Lisa Carpenter Center, TX, Kim Holman Bobbb, MBA Houston, TX
April 23, 2025 – The Shelby County Ministerial Alliance, in collaboration with local officials, invites the community to gather in observance of the National Day of Prayer at 12 noon on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Historic Shelby County Courthouse on the Square.
This annual event is an opportunity for residents to come together in unity and lift up the nation in prayer. All are welcome to attend this meaningful time of reflection, hope, and intercession for our country.
What: National Day of Prayer Gathering
When: Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 12:00 noon
Where: The Historic Shelby County Courthouse Square
Hosted by: Shelby County Ministerial Alliance and Local Officials
For more information, please contact Pastor Malcolm Monroe at 409-960-8828. Let’s join together as a community to pray for our leaders, our nation, and one another.
May 1, 2025 - Oftentimes we wonder why the church is weak, and why that in a recent nationwide poll, almost 70% of those who claim membership in church never attend services.
We could blame it on our secular-progressive society and we often do. We could blame it on the godless politics of our nation, organizations like the ACLU and Freedom From Religion Foundation, and they too are often our “whipping boy”. We could even blame it on churches, hypocritical members and uncaring preachers and there are numerous Christians who are doing that also.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for church members to look in the mirror and really take a good look at what they see. Perhaps congregations across America are weak because many church members have lost the biblical understanding of what it means to be a part of the local church, the body of Christ.
People come to the church expecting to be served, fed and cared for. God did not give us the local church for it to be a “Country Club” where membership means there are privileges and perks. The church is where we are to serve, care for others, pray for leaders, learn, teach and give.
Perhaps churches are weak because we have turned the meaning of membership upside down. We were saved to serve and not saved to be served.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
April 30, 2025 - Clever Creek Baptist Church, the Shelby-‘Doches Baptist Association and many other churches and groups in the area are joining together in this special project – A New Day – God’s Way. We are focusing our attention on sharing Jesus as Savior and Lord. Evangelist Larry McFadden from Orlando, Florida is our guest preacher/teacher for these special days – Friday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 7.
Here is the schedule of meetings and those who are responsible for music, testimonies and preaching for the New Day—God’s Way event.
- Friday – May 2, 2025 – Feast, Fellowship and Focusing on Jesus
6pm Feasting on Good Food – Clever Creek Baptist Church – Center, TX
7pm Fellowship and Focusing on Jesus – Worship, Singing, Testifying and Preaching
Barney and Sheran Bryant (Parkway Baptist Church, Carthage, TX) Music
Evangelist Larry McFadden (Orlando, FL) – Sermon and Testimony - Saturday – May 3, 2025 – Fasting, Prayer and Praising Jesus
We will spend today in fasting prayer, seeking God’s guidance, goodness and glorification. - Sunday – May 4, 2025 – Prayer, Bible Study, Worship, Preaching Jesus
Clever Creek Baptist Church – Center, TX
9:30am Prayer
10am Bible Study – Psalm 119 Bro. Robert Horn (adults); Lucyann (youth)
11am Worship – Bro. Robert Horn preaching
Chireno Baptist Church – Chireno, TX
11am Worship – Evangelist Larry McFadden preaching;
Pastor Jerry Hopkins – Testimony
Highways and Hedges Baptist Mission – Garrison, TX
2pm Worship – Evangelist Larry McFadden preaching
Clever Creek Baptist Church – Center, TX
7pm Worship – Evangelist Larry McFadden preaching
Testimonies, Singing, Praising the Lord
Pastor Barney Bryant and wife Sheran leading music/singing - Monday – May 5, 2025 – Rusk-Panola Association Meeting, First Baptist Church, Waskom, TX
6:30pm Food and Fellowship
7pm – Evangelist Larry McFadden preaching
Association Executive Board Meeting following sermon - Tuesday – May 6, 2025 – Clever Creek Baptist Church, Center, TX
7pm Evangelist Larry McFadden preaching
Pastor Barney Bryant and wife Sheran leading music/singing
Testimonies and witnessing - Wednesday – May 7, 2025 – Clever Creek Baptist Church, Center, TX
7pm Evangelist Larry McFadden preaching
The old ways and days are past. We are facing a new day and we need to embrace God’s Word and God’s Way for a new day. We must not try what we have always done, but wait on God, embrace a new way, God’s way, for our day. This is a vision that God would have us embrace that we might see Him work mightily in us and through us.
This project A NEW DAY—GOD’S WAY has been developed by prayerful thought through the work of Pastors Jerry Hopkins, Robert Horn, Tim Rule. John Worley, Ivy Shelton, Barney Bryant, Director of Missions Dr. Gerald Edwards, SBTC Field Strategist John McGuire, BGCT Director Tim Watson and Evangelist Larry McFadden.
April 30, 2025 - Timpson First Baptist Church Youth are having a car wash fundraiser this Saturday, May 3rd from 10am to 2pm. Money raised will be used to send FBC students to church camp. The car wash will be in the parking lot of First Baptist Church, 715 N 2nd Street, Timpson, Texas 75975. Donations only.
April 28, 2025 - The Pleasant Hill Cemetery Homecoming is Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 11am.
As we cherish the memories of our loved ones laid to rest here, we kindly ask for your support in maintaining the beauty and integrity of this cemetery. Your donation will directly contribute to vital upkeep projects, ensuring the lasting dignity of this sacred space.
Send donations to: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, PO Box 91, Shelbyville, TX 75973.
We would also appreciate if you would share this with your families. It is important that future generations be aware of the cemetery and the future needs. We would love to add them to our mailing list.
Chain Anderson: Family lore has it that Jonathan H. Anderson (Chain) was not an upstanding citizen: he was a gambler, womanizer, and probably a thief. And his habit was to ride horses fast! One night a group of men getting even for a woman Chain had done wrong strung a rope across the trail and on his way home fast riding Chain hung himself and broke his neck on the rope. His was the first burial in Pleasant Grove and with his brother's birth date to protect the grave. The only indication that it is Chain's grave is the marker, which has a hand holding a chain with the index finger pointing down, and the initials J. H. His brother, John S, is buried in Pleasant Hill under his brother Chain's name (Jonathan) and CSA service record.
April 28, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 28.
Last Saturday, over a billion people watched the funeral service of Pope Francis. Perhaps you were one of them. I was. Hundreds of thousands lined the streets of Rome. A crowd of a quarter million gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Our president was in that crowd.
I was reminded of another president who came to my hometown of Houston on a Monday in September, 1960. Well, John F. Kennedy was running for president, the election just two short months away. On that autumn morning he spoke to a group of Baptist ministers at the Rice Hotel. My father was in that crowd.
Kennedy’s Catholic faith was a divisive issue. The question of who he would serve - America or the Vatican - was playing a significant part in the campaign. The eloquent speech he gave that day was later sent to over a half million ministers, and played a part in his narrow victory that November. How things have changed. Former President Biden and Vice President Vance are both practicing Catholics, and whatever you may think of these two men politically, their personal religious choices have seldom, if ever, become an issue.
In my Houston neighborhood, growing up, there were two major churches - my dad’s Baptist church and a Catholic church. They were about a mile apart, but the gulf between them, between their congregations, was much, much wider. In my teens I started dating a Catholic girl. There were more than a few conversations about that at my house, let me tell you! A few years later, my Houston college course on religion required me to interview a person of a different faith. I told my dad that I had set up a meeting with the neighborhood priest. I can still remember his look of concern as he gravely instructed me to “be careful over there.”
His concerns - and mine - proved to be unfounded. I received a warm welcome, and the priest patiently fielded the list of questions that I had prepared. As I left, I remember having the distinct impression that, even though there were doctrinal differences between our denominations, his personal faith was not that different from mine. I remember wishing that the Father and my father could just sit together and talk.
Generations later, we still live in a world where people are quick to denounce, and even demonize, those who have different beliefs. A world where people talk about people, talk past people - instead of talking to them, talking with them. Perhaps you’ve had the opportunity for a personal connection with someone from a different faith, a different ethnic group, a different political party. Invariably, once we see someone as a person, and not an ideology, we gain a fresh perspective.
Sometimes we need to just sit together and talk.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
April 24, 2025 - Jesus didn’t quit assembling with the disciples because Judas was a hypocrite, or because Peter was always “buttin’ in.” Nor did he quit because James and John “flew off the handle” occasionally. His interest in these men was not lessened because they were envious and jealous of each other at times. He did not quit teaching the high standard of life because some of his close associates failed miserably to live as they should. He did not refuse to teach others because they were unkind and unbelieving.
Jesus did not quit as a leader because some could not see “eye to eye” with him and criticized him to his back. He did not cease to teach good morals just because he associated with an adulterous woman, an unscrupulous business man or demon worshippers. When he didn’t get everything his way he didn’t stop praying nor did he give up the fight because all his disciples fled from him when there was danger.
Instead, he chose a course of right and was sure it was right and let nothing stop his development and accomplishments for God. He drank the bitter cup of betrayal, crucifixion, death and burial. But he didn’t quit there. He came from the grave to be the ruler of the universe.
When we feel like quitting or taking off, we must remember Christ and Him crucified. That will keep us at our post of duty.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
April 24, 2025 - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church will host their 86th annual Homecoming service April 27, 2025. Service begins at 10:30am. Lunch and fellowship to follow.
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2271 FM 139 Joaquin, Texas.
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