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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
April 7, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 7.
What’s the most expensive book in the world? Well, a few years ago, billionaire Bill Gates paid 30 million for the Leonardo da Vinci Codex. That’s a manuscript from the early 1500’s, written in the master’s mysterious hand - he famously wrote backwards from right to left. A nice little volume to have in your personal library.
But the most valuable book was not handwritten, and that is the very reason it is priceless. In 1545, a German printer named Gutenberg produced the first book made entirely by machine. He developed the process of moveable type and, in that moment, he changed the world. Before this invention, the written word was only available to the very wealthy. The printing press opened an information revolution. Imagine the impact of the internet... and then multiply that by a million.
For this momentous step in the history of man, Johannes Gutenberg chose the Word of God. In 1554 he printed 180 Bibles. Only 49 still exist. None are owned privately, but are found around the world in museums and libraries. Gutenberg’s homeland - Germany - boasts the most, with 13. We’ve got 11 here in America. Tokyo has one, so does Australia, and - a bit of a surprise - there are two Gutenberg Bibles in Russia. The last one went up for sale in 1978 and was purchased by the University of Texas. You can see it there today. It is reputed to be worth over 50 million dollars.
What is the Bible worth to you? What value would you place on the written Word of God? We find the answer in Psalm 19:7 - “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
April 4, 2025 - Just for a moment, ponder the message of the following passages of scripture. Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Ephesians 4:29-30, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
By our words we express our ideas and thoughts. With words we can hurt, discourage, anger, stir up strife and crush the spirits of those around us. Conversely, we can cheer, enlighten, encourage, uplift and calm others by our words also.
We can speak a language that is pure and pleasing in the sight of God and unquestionable in the sight of men, or we can corrupt that language until it damns our soul. Stop and think!
Do my words justify or condemn me? Is my speech pure and clean or is it distasteful in the sight of God and man? Let us strive to speak in a manner that is becoming to Christians and uplifting to those we associate with daily.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
April 3, 2025 - Pleasant Grove Cemetery Annual Meeting and Homecoming on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 11:15am Meeting followed by lunch at 1440 County Rd 1470, Timpson, TX 75975 (Shelby Co.) Please join us at the annual Pleasant Grove Cemetery homecoming. The minutes from last year’s business meeting are posted on the Pleasant Grove Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/pleasantgrovecemetery/
Donations can be mailed to Pleasant Grove Cemetery Association, 663 Private Road 118, Center, TX 75935.
April 1, 2025 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Africa Community, is hosting a Family and Friends Day at 2pm on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The day’s theme is “Count on Me" John 15:12-17.
Rev. Johnny Jones is the guest pastor from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. O' Come Let Us Exalt His Name Together!! Invite your Family and Friends to come Worship with us. The church is located at 2308 Co Rd 2050, Center, Texas 75935.
Rev. Winston Kibbles- Pastor
March 31, 2025 - Truitt Cemetery Homecoming is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 11am until 1:30pm. A brief meeting will be held at 11am and a covered dish luncheon will follow.
Truitt Cemetery is located 6 miles southwest of Joaquin off of Highway 7. Signs on Highway 7 indicate the turn off to the cemetery.
If anyone would like to donate to the Truitt Cemetery you can mail a check to the treasurer at the address below. All money goes to the maintenance of the cemetery and is greatly appreciated.
Tina DuBoise
PO Box 558
San Augustine, TX 75972
In case of inclement weather the Truitt Homecoming will be at The First Methodist Church, 105 Faulkville Road, Joaquin, TX 75954.
March 31, 2025 - Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ in Center, TX cordially invite you to our Bi-Annual Conference 2025 hosted by Presider Archie Thompson and County Mother Sharon Thompson on April 3rd thru April 5th 2025. Bishop Howard Cloudy Sr.
Thursday night Joint session at 7pm
Friday Day at 12pm
Friday night at 7pm
Saturday Day at 12pm
March 31, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, March 31.
Today is the 340th birthday of my favorite musician. On March 31, 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach was born. Bach is on the shortlist of the greatest composers in the history of Western civilization - along with famous names like Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Bernstein. But that’s not the reason he’s my favorite.
During his lifetime, Bach’s music was largely unknown or ignored. He was famous, not for composing, but for being a performer, an organist. And his skill as a keyboardist, especially in the technique of improvisation, was said to have been nothing less than amazing. But that’s not the reason he’s my favorite.
Bach’s music went unplayed and largely forgotten for almost a hundred years after his death in 1750. The “Bach Revival” of the 19th century introduced his work to a new generation, and he’s been on the Mount Rushmore of musicians ever since. But, with all that fame and skill and genius, he’s my favorite for another reason - he’s my favorite because he was a church musician - like me. For his entire working life, which spanned half a century, he made his living and supported his big family (20 kids!) by serving as a director of music at Lutheran churches.
And so, considering that career choice, that “calling”, it’s not surprising that Bach said -
“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.”
“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God.”
And on his deathbed, Johann Sebastian Bach, said - “Do not cry for me, I am going where music was born.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
March 27, 2025 - One of the great inventions of the 20th century was the washing machine. It totally changed the back-breaking way that laundry had to be done. With the washing machine, you can put the clothes in, turn it on, come back in a few minutes and clean clothes are ready to be put in the dryer or hung on the clothesline (yes, some folks still do that!)
Yet, have you ever noticed how clothes sometimes come out of the washing machine? Often the shirts come out with the sleeves all twisted. Aprons come out with the strings tied in knots. This is caused by the outward pressure as the clothes are squeezed dry on the tub of the machine.
If you think about it, the spin of the washing machine often illustrates the way we live our lives. We spend our lives in a whirlwind of activity. Consequently, we often feel like we have been through the spin cycle and come out all tied in knots.
God never intended for us to live like that. Remember, Paul would write; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6). Let’s stop living our lives in the spin cycle.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
March 27, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, March 27.
First of all, let me say thank you to all the faithful readers who reached out yesterday with celebratory messages on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Daily Devotions. I appreciate your encouragement, and I’m blessed that these little thoughts have been a blessing to you.
And now... the first devotion of Year Six!
A new king was crowned in Egypt around this time of year in 198 B.C, - about two hundred years before Bethlehem. Ptolemy V was just thirteen years old, and, in his honor, a message of praise was etched into a stone, transcribed three times using three languages - Ancient Greek, Egyptian cursive, and hieroglyphics. After several centuries, the young king was forgotten, and his stone disappeared. Then, in 1779, Napoleon conquered Egypt, and his soldiers, while building a fort, discovered the ancient stone, near a little town named Rosetta.
By that time, the meaning of hieroglyphics had faded into the past. Linguists had long attempted to decipher them, but with very little success. But with the Rosetta Stone, they had the key that would unlock the mystery. The hieroglyphics could be compared to the better known texts in Greek and Egyptian cursive. The door had been opened to understanding 3000 years of Egyptian culture. It remains one of the greatest discoveries in history.
Speaking of stones with writing etched on them, this leads us to an intriguing question. What language was used to write the Ten Commandments? Historians know, that at the time of Moses (1500 B.C.), the Hebrew alphabet did not yet exist. We also know that Moses was raised in the royal court, a prince of Egypt, and would have certainly been taught to read and write the Egyptian language. The Israelites had lived in Egypt for over 400 years, so it is safe to assume that they were familiar with the language, as well. And so, it is quite possible that the tablets that Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were filled with those little picture symbols - hieroglyphics.
But, this is a theory that will never be proven, since the actual Ten Commandments have been lost to history. We cannot go to the British Museum in London and view them - as we can the Rosetta Stone. But, we can be thankful that those ancient words have been preserved in His Word, and in our native language. Thankful that the Ten Commandments continue to be our spiritual Rosetta Stone - guiding us to God.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
March 25, 2025 - New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Timpson, Texas will be having Pastor and Wife's appreciation (Pastor Rayford and Sis. Judie Caraway) on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 2:30pm. Guest Speaker is Pastor Byron Coutee, Jr., Blount Chapel Baptist Church, Center, Texas and Unity Baptist Church in Grapeland, Texas. Everyone is invited to attend.
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