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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
September 18, 2023 - Mrs. Era Miller, former English Department Director at East Texas Baptist University, was my favorite teacher… ever. I took courses in World Literature, English Literature and courses in Shakespeare, Browning and Tennyson from her. I remember well how she often compared Browning with Tennyson. Her favorite lines by Browning were what he wrote to his wife, Elisabeth Barrett Browning: “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. Our times are in His hand who saith, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!”
Mrs. Miller compared Browning’s lines with those written by Alfred Tennyson (From “Crossing the Bar”): “For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar.”
Robert Browning was confident that “the best was yet to be” but Alfred Tennyson “hoped to see His Pilot face to face.” Both men were Christians but had different views on getting to heaven after they “crossed the bar”.
John wrote: (1 John 3:2) “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
September 18, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, September 18.
If you're a faithful reader of these little daily devotions, you noticed that I didn't post one last Friday. I had one ready, but when I got up that morning, my wife uttered those four dreaded words, "The Internet is down!" But today my service is back up, so I share this light, inspiring thought.
I live next to an animal sanctuary. Not really. But sometimes it feels like it. My neighbor, down the way, has quite the menagerie - horses, cows, goats, sheep, pot belly pigs, cats, and an assortment of dogs. All of these animals, at one time or another, have mistaken my front lawn as their feeding ground. It's a show.
The dogs include a bull terrier, a hound, a dachshund, two Great Pyrenees, and a teacup chihuahua. Great Pyrenees weigh in at over 100 pounds, while the chihuahua tips the scale at about two pounds. It's quite a spectrum. The dogs move around my neighbor's property, and mine, in a - I won't say pack - they're all too gentle for that word. It's more of a parade. And the drum major leading the way is always the teacup chihuahua.
This canine caravan reminds me of an old saying - "and a little child shall lead them." Did you know that comes from the Bible? Here's the whole verse (Isaiah 11:6) - "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the goat, and the calf and the lion together, and a little child shall lead them."
Isaiah lived during a time when the Israelite people were in exile, and dealing with great challenge and great loss. And, while he was always careful to remind his people that God was a God of judgement and that sin has consequences, Isaiah also encouraged them with words of redemption and reconciliation and restoration. This passage, that some call "the peaceable kingdom," was an encouragement to them, and to us today.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
September 14, 2023 - As the story goes, the family had come home from church and little Bobby followed his mother into the kitchen. She took the fried chicken out of the oven she had cooked before church and put it on a platter. She left to go into the other room and when she came back Bobby had a drumstick and thigh on a plate and was headed out the door. When questioned, he pleaded with his mother that he wanted the drumstick and thigh to feed his dog. Mother informed him in a not so gentle manner that the fried chicken was for the family dinner.
After dinner, Bobby collected the bones from the table and took them outside and explained, “Well, Rover, I really wanted to bring you an offering today, but it turned out to be just another collection.
That story has been around a long time. It has been used on numerous occasions to emphasize the importance of proper stewardship of our material possessions. However, that story is just as applicable to stewardship of other things God has entrusted to our care.
How about our time? What kind of offering does God receive of the time he has given us? Do we really love the Lord and love His church when we cannot find the time to serve Him? How much time do we devote to the study of God’s word and to prayer? How much time do we devote to telling others about our Savior, Jesus Christ? Did you find time to worship him last Lord’s Day? Will you find time to worship Him this coming Lord’s Day?
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
September 12, 2023 - Mt. Herman Cemetery Homecoming will be held Sunday, September, 17, 2023. Lunch will be at noon. Donations for the upkeep of the cemetery will be taken or may be mailed to Jerryl Adams, 670 CR 1190, Center, TX 75935.
September 11, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, September 11.
There are moments that happen in every generation that are so earth shattering, that everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. For my parent's generation it was December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. For my generation it was November 22, 1963, the assassination of President Kennedy. And for all of us, it was September 11, 2001.
Events like these change us, change our culture, change our world. Remember what going to the airport used to be like - greeting loved ones as they got off the plane, standing at the window - without a ticket - watching the landings and take-offs. My daughters know nothing of those memories. And my parents experienced things that I never knew.
Change. It comes. Ready or not. I look at the preschoolers in our church and wonder what kind of world they will grow up in. That's a question that's been asked by every parent in history, I guess.
On July 19, 1971, the second Twin Tower in New York City was completed - topped off, as they say. One week earlier, on July 11, a baby boy was born to Bill and Gloria Gaither. They named him Benjy. The gospel songwriting couple worried about bringing a child into a world where the Vietnam War was raging, where protests were happening in every major US city, where Watergate was on the horizon, where the Cold War with Russia was a constant threat to the safety of America.
The Gaither's, like all artists, used their art to deal with what they were going through. As they awaited the birth of their new child, they wrote these words -
How sweet to hold a new born baby and feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still, the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Today, Benjy is a film producer, actor, songwriter, and father. Things turned out ok, life goes on, change happens, God has a plan.
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
September 8, 2023 - Northside Church of Christ invites you to a “Zealous For Kingdom Work” Gospel Meeting with Kyle Campbell of Lufkin, TX on September 17-20, 2023 located at 192 Hwy 96 North, Center, Texas 75935.
- Sunday 9:30am - “Therefore I Endure”
- Sunday 10:30am - “They Shall Still Bear Fruit In Old Age”
- Monday 7pm - “Do You Want To Be Made Well?”
- Tuesday 7pm - “3 Traits of Kids Who Don’t Lose Their Faith”
- Wednesday 5:30pm - “Casting Shadows”
If you have any questions contact Nathan Cox, Minister (936) 332-1091 website - northsidechurchincenter.com or Facebook - @northsidechurchofchristcentertx
September 8, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Friday, September 8.
I love quotes. My library includes dozens of books filled with wise thoughts from wise people. Here's ten inspiring quotes to start your day...
- The greatest glory in life lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. ~ Nelson Mandela
- Let no one come to you without leaving happier. ~ Mother Teresa
- Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
- Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ~ Benjamin Franklin
- I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. ~ Thomas Jefferson
- Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. ~ Charles Swindoll
- Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ~ Helen Keller
- It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~ Aristotle
- If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. ~ Booker T. Washington
Proverbs 3:13. Blessed are those that seek wisdom, those that gain understanding.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
PS - Do you have a favorite quote? Send it my way!
September 7, 2023 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries presents Women's Empowerment Brunch Saturday, September 16th at 10am. Guest Speakers are First Lady Donna Martin from Bennett Chapel Baptist Church, Shelbyville; First Lady Natasha Jones from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Center; First Lady Juanita Yarbrough from Temple of Refuge, Dallas; and First Lady Pearl Nash From House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries, Center. Our Vendors for this event will be Lotus by Bae, RedZone Aesthetics LLC, Bling by Mellody, Primerica Financial Services, and BeatbyDay/Shady Lips Cosmetics LLC. Tickets are $40 this includes your entry, buffet, drinks and door prizes. Everyone is invited!!!
September 7, 2023 - All of us are aware of the “Golden Rule.” It was announced by Jesus in Matthew 7:12 when he said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”. Of course, we are more familiar hearing it as “Do unto others as you would have other do unto you.”
However, though we see it practiced more and more in our society, especially by those who would riot, burn and loot, we are not so familiar with the “Iron Rule.” Simply stated it is “Do unto others what you would not want them to do unto you.” This is the pagan law of life and the law of the jungle. It is the law of those who rob, rape, steal, and beat. It is viciously doing unto others whatever you may wish as long as it serves your own purposes. This is the rule we see practiced in Communist Countries by totalitarian governments. This was the rule in practice when Cain killed Abel in the early morning of time. This is the rule of those who would by brute force attempt to impose their will upon others.
Perhaps, it would do more to bring humanity together and to solve the problem of man’s inhumanity to man if people would put the “Golden Rule” into practice and eliminate the “Iron Rule”. This might even be something our politicians would want to consider. It just might bring about more unity and harmony in our communities and our nation. I, for one, think Jesus knew what he was talking about.
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
September 5, 2023 - Clever Creek Baptist Church's annual Homecoming and Cemetery Celebration will be, as always, on the last Sunday in September -- September 24, 2023. We will share in fellowship with those who come to remember the founding of the church that still identifies as Clever Creek Baptist Church. This is our 120th anniversary.
Bro. Son Windham will be our guest preacher for this homecoming/cemetery celebration. There will be Sunday School at 10 am and then our morning worship with Evangelist Windham singing and preaching for us. Following the worship there will be a lunch served for all attending the meeting. Clever Creek is located at 199 CR 1042 at FM 417 W. All are welcome to worship with us.
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