Shelby County Today

May 12, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, May 12.

Mary Stewart was Queen of Scotland and the rival of the first Queen Elizabeth of England. Mary had a son that she named James, and when he was twenty years old, Elizabeth had Mary, her rival, executed. Sixteen years later, Elizabeth died, and James Stewart became King of the British Empire. James was highly intelligent and well educated, but not a particularly successful monarch. He was often at odds with Parliament and unpopular with his people.

Four centuries later, we remember King James primarily for two things. He actively supported the arts, particularly playwrights like the young William Shakespeare. And he ordered his theologians to produce a new translation of the Bible, a translation using the beautiful language of his time, the language of Shakespeare - Elizabethan English - named after his mother’s executioner. The King James Translation was first published in 1611. It is the Bible that I grew up with, and even though I use several modern translations today, the words of James Stuart’s Bible are the words that I hear in my head, and in my heart.

Hebrews 4:12 - “The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Meet you back here tomorrow,

David
cindertex50@yahoo.com

May 8, 2025 - I received word Wednesday morning that a very dear friend was hospitalized in serious condition. With that thought in mind, I would like to share this old poem by Charles Hanson Towne. I present it without comment so that we might apply it to our lives.

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end;
Yet the days go by, and weeks rush on,
And before I know it a year is gone,
And I never see my old friend's face,
For Life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine. We were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men:
Tired with playing a foolish game,
Tired with trying to make a name.
"To-morrow," I say, "I will call on Jim
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But to-morrow comes -- and to-morrow goes,
And the distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner -- yet miles away,...
   "Here's a telegram sir,..."  "Jim died today."

And that's what we get, and deserve in the end:
   Around the corner, a vanished friend.

It’s something to think about... tbp

Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.

May 7, 2025 - St. John Baptist Church welcome the community to its Annual Usher Day Program at 2pm on Sunday, May 18, 2025 with special guest Blount Chapel Baptist Church and Byron Coutee, Pastor.

St. John Baptist Church is located in the Africa Community, Center, Texas with Winston Kibbles, Pastor and Jacklyn Moton-Cartwright, director.

May 5, 2025 - The Jackson Cemetery Association Homecoming will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, beginning at 10:30am. 

The day will begin with a meeting in the old church auditorium for traditional group singing and special song selections. The speaker for this year’s program will be Bro. Dock Lazarine. After the program we will have our potluck meal in the fellowship hall. As usual, outside space is available for those families who prefer to gather outdoors.

We hope to see you on May 17th, but if you are unable to attend, you may continue to mail your donations to: Jackson Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 15, Joaquin, TX 75954.

The Jackson Cemetery Association is an IRS Section 501(c) entity, so all donations are tax deductible. The Committee's mission is to maintain the cemetery grounds in a manner that reflects the honor and respect of our loved ones and is totally dependent on personal contributions to complete this task. Your attendance on this occasion and continued support is greatly appreciated.