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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
“A friend loveth at all times….” Proverbs 17:17
February 13, 2017 - Delman Rogers is one of my best friends…ever. We met at ETBU when we were freshmen there. He was there on a full basketball scholarship having played on Coach Cotton Robinson’s Buna, Texas State Championship team. Delman and I both served small church pastorates during our college days. He also worked part-time selling shoes for Sears, in Marshall, Texas. He loaned me a dollar for gas many, many times to get to my student pastorate. Gas was around 20 cents a gallon back then and a dollar’s worth could get me to and from my church in Patroon, Texas.
We went in together to buy a haircutting kit to cut each other’s hair. The day after I cut his, Delman said his church members wanted to know what all those white spots were on his scalp.
I never saw Delman mad….except once. I had caught a 5 lb. bass at T & P Lake and gave it to Mr. Stinson, ETBU’s Business Manager. I was behind on my college debt and had to have Mr. Stinson’s permission to take the semester tests. Delman and I loved to catch…and eat… fish.
In later years, I conducted Revival Services in several of Delman’s churches…Darco Mission in Marshall, Texas, Cowden Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, First Baptist Church of Arnett, Oklahoma and Magnolia Baptist Church of Mansfield, Louisiana. Delman is 80 years old now (2016), lives in Mansfield, Louisiana and preaches every Sunday.
I called him yesterday and asked if he still owns his farm near Logansport, Louisiana. He does….and he and his son Bruce raise blueberries there every year… and many other vegetables.
It’s good to be in touch with my “blood brother” again.
February 7, 2017 - It was a time when the Roman empire was at the height of its power and the last thing they needed was for their soldiers to be concerned about anything other than fighting. But as has always been, young men and young ladies dream of love and marriage. The Roman government, not caring that much about a young soldiers dreams realized that if he had a wife he would be more concerned about his wife than conquering the world. So a decree went out that no soldier could marry, and any priest caught marrying them would be arrested. But a priest named Valentine felt that the perfect will of God was demonstrated by true love between a man and woman. So he began secretly performing marriages between soldiers and their loves. He was arrested and thrown in prison. While in prison he continued to minister to the imprisoned Christians of the love of God. He became friends with the jailer. As their friendship grew Asterius (the jailer), told Valentine of his sick daughter. Valentine had him bring the girl to him and he prayed for her and she was miraculously healed. The story goes that before he was to be executed he wrote the young girl a final letter and signed it "your Valentine."
Of all the things talked of in the bible, nothing is mentioned more than love. Throughout the bible God reassures us of His love for us. His love is a perfect, pure and unconditional love that crosses all cultures. A perfect description of how we should love is found in 1 Cor. 13:3-8. Paul writes; "If I give away all that I have and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but do not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." If you read this closely you will see that love doesn't have as much to do with how we feel, but what we do. For some reason we have distorted love over the years and turned it into a "feeling." The Bible teaches that love is not about how we feel about each other at all, but how we treat one another. To show love you have to give love.
So this Valentine day if you really want to show someone that you love them do something for them. Don't just buy them something. Do something for them that is completely unselfish and ask nothing in return. Do it just because you love them. Material gifts last only for a little while but a true act of love last for eternity. Gods gift to us was given over 2000 years ago and is still as relevant today as it was then. Jesus gave the ultimate gift of love; Himself. Accept His gift of love to you today and enjoy the peace that comes from living in a loving relationship. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Don't miss out. Receive the love of God and share it with someone today.
I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
February 7, 2017 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries will be having our Church Anniversary on Sunday, February 12, 2017 at 3 o'clock. Guest speaker will be Bishop T.C. Keli of Dallas, Texas. Please join us as we uplift the Lord.
House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries is located at 215 South Church Street, Center, Texas 75935.
February 7, 2017 - “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so….” Psalms 107:2
While on recent vacation to the West Coast, Pam and I took the “Alton, Utah” exit searching for a much-needed quart of motor oil. Nine miles later we entered the village of about 40 houses, found a beautiful Mormon Church, but not a store anywhere. We knocked on several doors but couldn’t find a soul home….anywhere. It was like a ghost town.
But I finally got a response. A young mother with two young children came to the door and got me a quart of motor oil from their garage. Refusing to take money for it, she asked me to wait as she went back into her house. She later reappeared with a religious tract on which she had written: “Have a safe trip, Love, The Heatons”.
As we topped the hill on our way out, I began comparing what the lady did with what so many church members would have done.
While most Christians would’ve given the quart of oil, I wonder how many would have also shared their faith. The needy might not expect us to give them anything more than a quart of oil.
But God does.
February 7, 2017 - (Flyer) - Strong Triumph Church, under the leadership of Elder Faye Dell Allen, cordially invites everyone to our Royal Kingdom Pageant, to be held May 6, 2017 at 6 p.m.
We are currently seeking young boys and girls, ages 0-2, 3-5, 6-9, and 10-12 (these are the categories). We will crown a King/Queen, Prince/Princess, but please know that every participant will walk away with a prize. The goal is to raise the most amount of money, which will be put towards our building fund. There will also be a People's Choice Award given to the best dressed in each category. Please download the form attached with this announcement and return it via email to heavyn_angel123@hotmail.com.
For more information, please contact Elder Faye Dell Allen at 936-368-2611/936-572-5810 or Sis. Sylvia Hubbard at 936-332-3103.
February 7, 2017 - Strong Triumph Church, under the leadership of Elder Faye Dell Allen, cordially invites everyone to their Pack the Pew Spring Musical to be held March 4, 2017 at 6 p.m.
We are anticipating some very gifted and talented musical groups who are coming to share their musical talents with us as we lift up praises to God.
For more information, please contact Elder Allen at 936-368-2611/936-572-5810 or Sis. Sylvia Hubbard at 936-332-3103!!!
February 7, 2017 - "It is finished" (John 19:30)
These were the last words spoken by Jesus before he gave up His spirit on the cross.
The Bible says he bowed His head and gave up His life. With those three words, the most important and selfless act of service ever to be seen on this earth was completed.
The sins of mankind from the beginning of earth until the end of this age were, once and forever, paid-in-full by the Lord.
The act of love shown to us by the Heavenly Father was on par with the act carried out by Jesus on the cross for the Father gave up His only Son, condemned Him to death for all mankind.
"I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) By His ministry and His death Jesus made the Father known to all men, for all time.
"He will receive blessings from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob." (Psalm 24:5,6) This is the blessing, the reward for those who do know the Lord. Those who do accept the free gift of the Holy Spirit to guide them through this world.
The eternal blessing of salvation, freedom of the penalty of sin, forever, paid for by Christ Jesus, freely given to those who seek the face of God Almighty.
Jesus asked the Father in His prayer just before being arrested by the soldiers; "I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." (John 17:15) Freedom from the penalty of sin, forever, for the saved.
Our promise of salvation, eternal life spent with the Lord; "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)
That day will come with the Rapture of the Church when all the saved will be lifted up to meet the Lord in the sky.
"Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us into His presence." (2 Corinthians 4:14) This will happen just as the Bible says, it even gives us reassurance as we grow older, that we are to wait patiently, for our time is coming. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)
If you are saved then your time is coming when you will be with the Lord in heaven, forever.
If you do not know the Lord then I beg of you today, seek His face, pray for forgiveness and you will be saved.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you every day of your life...
February 6, 2017 (Event Flyer) - Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) 5th Annual Women's Conference - Don't Worry About Anything: Instead Pray About Everything (Phillippians 4:6).
The Women's Conference is February 11, 2017 at 9am with registration beginning at 8am. Key note speaker for the event is Rev. Shelia Willis-Timberlake of Ebenezer CME Church, Lodi, Texas. Rev. Elgena "Niki" Weaver will be the host pastor, Rev. Trever Barnett, Presiding Elder, and Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III, Presiding Prelate.
Speakers are Prophetess Lydia Osby (Morning Glory NewLife Worship Center), Sis Feleshia Thompson (Triumph Church, Todd Spring), and First Lady Pearlie Nash (House Of Refuge Apostolic Ministries).
Registration options: $25 includes continental breakfast, conference t-shirt, conference bag, and lunch; $10 includes continental breakfast, conference bag and lunch.
Mt. Zion CME is located at 921 MLK, Center, Texas. Mailing address is P.O. Box 1504, Center, Texas 75935. For more information, contact Tracy Garrett (936) 332-4927 or Rose Patton (936) 598-3064.
February 6, 2017 - Starting Feb. 12 we will only have one service, and it will begin at 1pm. We will start off with an hour of Sunday school and then go into worship service / preaching.
The kids will start off with their Sunday school class and then join everyone for worship service. Then they will be dismissed again to go to kids power hour where there will be puppets, interactive songs, snacks, and much more for them.
Please make note of this change and we hope to see you there.
For more information you can contact Pastor Jamie Seaton at 9365984433. God Bless.
February 6, 2017 - We the members and Pastor of Carroll Chapel CME Church in Shelbyville will be having our annual Black History Program on Feburary 19th at 3PM.
Our guest speaker will be Bishop Roosevelt Swindle of the Triump First Pentacostal Church in Shelbyville. Everyone is invited.
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