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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
November 7, 2024 - Have you ever noticed how complicated some folks want to make religion? We live in a world of problems. Preachers even spend a lot of time pointing out the problems of our time. Yet, the world is not asking for an elaboration on the problems, rather, the world is seeking a solution to those problems.
Often we are searching for complex solutions to our present day problems and anxieties. Yet, the God of heaven, who is high and holy is not insensitive to the hurts and problems that we face. He offers a simple solution to modern day problems in every area.
People spend millions of dollars to rid themselves of stress and anxiety. Men and women spend hours upon hours with psychiatrists and drugs. Yet, the simple solution is in John 14:1. Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
We need to stop focusing on ourselves and focus on others. We need to follow the example of Jesus who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). We need to realize that real security is built upon trust in God and that God is the source of real security.
When we spend more time with the solutions provided in the word of God, and focus on the promises of God’s word, we will find that with trust in God we have a simple solution to the stress of life.
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.
November 5, 2024 - The Pastor and members of Carroll Chapel CME Church in Shelbyville, would like to invite you to our Annual Harvest Drive Program. Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 3pm.
Our guest speaker will be: Prince Archie Thompson. Pastor of Triumph, The Church and Kingdom of God in Christ.
Everyone is invited.
November 4, 2024 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, November 4.
Tomorrow is a big day, an important day, a serious day. So, something lighter this morning.
I love words. I find them endlessly fascinating. For instance, why do flammable and inflammable mean the same thing? Here are some more synonyms that seem like they should be opposites - bone/debone; valuable/invaluable; regardless/irregardless; press/depress; caretaker/caregiver
And then there are those words that seem like they should mean the same thing, but don’t - Repetitious and Repetition. Repetitious - boring, tedious. Repetition - an important tool for learning.
And Trivial and Trivia. Trivial - insignificant, unimportant. Trivia - Fun Facts!
Here are some fun facts for this first Monday of November -
- The most popular item at Walmart is bananas.
- The longest common word with the letters in alphabetical order is almost.
- The Eiffel Tower was originally considered an eyesore, and would have been dismantled in 1909, if it had not become useful as a radio tower.
- The yo-yo was originally a weapon in the jungles of the Philippines.
- Before the Civil War, shoes were not made with distinctive left and right shapes.
- People suffering from anatidaephobia constantly feel that somehow, somewhere a duck is watching them.
- The average American spends more time watching people cook on television, than they do cooking themselves.
And I’ll leave you with two more words - happiness and joy. People often use these words interchangeably, but they are intrinsically different. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy comes from the Lord. During challenging times, many may lose their happiness, but the children of God, through His strength, can never lose their joy.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
November 1, 2024 - I once read where someone said the most dangerous thing in the world is to try to leap over a chasm in two jumps. That ranks right up there with the story of the young boy who cut his puppy’s tail off an inch at the time so it wouldn’t hurt so badly by cutting the entire tail off all at once. Both of those little stories illustrate the tragic mistake many people make about Jesus.
Living for Jesus is not a partial thing nor is it a sometime thing. Living for the Lord is an all or nothing commitment. As we have said on many occasions, if Jesus is not Lord of all of your life, He is not Lord at all in your life. Attempting to live for Jesus without a total commitment is like trying to leap a chasm in two jumps. You leave one bank and miss the other. Here is the way Jesus put it, “He that is not for me is against me”. (Matthew 12:30). Jesus Christ will not share a divided heart. We must give him our all, our life, our talents, our service.
The second story shows us another side of commitment to Jesus. You see, Commitment to one thing means forsaking something else. We cannot hold on to the Lord and the world. Often folks try and give up the world like that little boy cut off the puppy’s tail, a little at a time. The result is the same, pain is multiplied.
We must commit every part of our lives to Jesus and give up the baubles of the world in cleaving to the Lord. Let’s resolve to live for Jesus, wholeheartedly and unreservedly.
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
October 30, 2024 - Blount Chapel Baptist Church is celebrating 115 years on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 3pm. Come and celebrate the 115th Church Anniversary with speaker of the hour, Pastor Johnny Jones from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Center.
The Anniversary theme is "Faithfulness Through the Ages" ~ Lamentations 3:22-23.
October 29, 2024 - First Baptist Church of Shelbyville is hosting a Trunk or Treat and a Fish Fry on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 5pm until 8pm. First Baptist Church is located next to the Shelbyville Fire Department at the top of the hill at 5030 St. Hwy 87 S, Shelbyville, Texas 75973.
Free event - Everyone is welcome!
October 28, 2024 - Pleasant Grove Baptist Church located on Hwy 96 N., CR 4356, Center, Texas, will be celebrating their 149th Church Anniversary, at 2pm Sunday, November 17th. Pastor Byron Coutee Jr. and the Blount Chapel Baptist Church will be the special guest.
Good Morning! It’s Monday, October 28.
On this day in 1886, the very first “ticker tape” parade was held in New York City. It wasn’t in honor of a politician or an athlete or a brave explorer. It honored a woman, a very BIG woman. She stood 151 feet high and weighed in at 500,000 pounds! On that day the Statue of Liberty was officially unveiled.
She was a gift from France, a project that had begun more than 20 years before, right after the Civil War. The statue was constructed in Paris, then disassembled and floated across the Atlantic. The base, the pedestal, was supplied by America, and was paid for through donations from more than 100,000 Americans, many of whom could only send a few pennies.
Her left foot stands on broken chains, commemorating the abolishment of slavery. Her left hand holds a scroll that reads July 4, 1776. And her right hand lifts high a torch. The public hasn’t been allowed access to the torch since 1916, but you can still climb to the crown. I had the pleasure and honor of climbing those 162 steps in 1978. Seeing the statue from the inside was an amazing experience and looking out through her crown was a moment that I’ll never forget. Have you had that experience? Email me at cindertex50@yahoo.com and tell me about it.
There is a bronze plaque attached to the Statue of Liberty, and on it are words written by the poet Emma Lazarus. You know them. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” The United States was struggling with the issue of immigration when Lazarus wrote those words in 1883, and we, of course, continue to struggle with this issue today.
The inspiring words from that beautiful poem always remind me of other words - spoken 2000 years ago. “Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
October 24, 2024 - Believe it or not, there have been times I have been accused of being too “narrow minded” when it comes to spiritual matters. Yet, Jesus said in Matthew 7:14, “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it.” There are actually other areas of life where you find narrow-mindedness.
There is no room for being broadminded in the chemical laboratory. Water is composed of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. The slightest deviation from this formula means you do not have water.
There is no broadmindedness in the garage. The mechanic says the piston rings must fit the cylinder walls within one thousandth of an inch if the motor is to run smoothly. There cannot be any variation.
Broadmindedness cannot exist on the athletic field. The game is played according to the rules and there are no favors shown for “charity’s sake.”
Why then do folks expect broadmindedness in the realm of religion and the plan of salvation? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6) Jesus Christ expects us to follow His plan and live His kind of life if we want to go to heaven. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16). Well, neither am I.
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
October 23, 2024 - Hallelujah Night is a community event, where everyone is welcome. This year we will have the “Creature Teacher” in attendance. She will be bringing some pretty interesting friends with her, including “Quigley the Kangaroo,” among other interesting animals for your kiddos to take their pictures with. The event will be on Thursday, October 31st, from 6:00-8:00pm. There will also be a Hay Ride and plenty of ways for your kiddo to have a blast!
We believe Jesus is working 365 days a year, and everyone is welcome to come and Fellowship from 6:00-8:00pm at Center Christian Fellowship, 2471 Highway 96 North, Center, Texas 75935.
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