+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
September 24, 2026 - Some years ago, I was walking through the mall and saw a display in the window of a Jewelry store. The display featured gold and silver crosses of various sizes, some with diamonds, some with birthstones and some plain. They were neatly arranged with other types of jewelry, all with a cross as their central theme. In a corner of the display was a neat little sign that said, “Easy Terms Available.”
You know, that makes us wonder if that is not what modern religion has done to the cross of Jesus Christ. Have we turned the cross into a fashionable trinket, an adornment? Something available to everyone on “Easy Terms?”
Jesus did not promise men and women an “easy” road. On the contrary, he called men and women to selfless service and daily sacrifice. He dared ask people to “forsake all” and come follow Him. You may find a cross in the jewelry store window on “easy terms.” You may even hear preachers offer you the opportunity to follow Jesus on “easy terms.” However, the cross of Jesus is not available on “easy terms.”
Here is what Jesus said in His own words, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24)
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come and Join us For Worship!
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
September 4, 2026 - Center Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a three day Fall Revival starting September 27, 2026. Discover a new season of worship! Service time is 6pm nightly with the following guest speakers.
- Sunday, September 27 - Bro. Joe Jones
- Monday, September 28 - Bro. Dale Walker
- Tuesday, September 29 - Bro. Levi Cohorst
Center MBC is located at 443 Moffett Drive, Center, Texas.
September 16, 2026 - The McWilliams-Rather Cemetery Association will meet on Saturday, September 26 at 4pm.
The meeting will be held at Todd Spring Baptist Church. The church is located at 532 State Highway 147, Center, TX 75935 (in the Shelbyville area).
September 14, 2026 - The historical Old East Hamilton Cemetery will have its Annual Homecoming and Dinner on the Grounds on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 11am to 3pm. This is a wonderful time of visiting and singing, as well as conducting the annual business meeting for the cemetery. Prior to homecoming weekend, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, will be the annual workday from 8am - 10am to prepare the area for the homecoming. Please join with us to set up the tables and clean and arrange the chapel.
As always donations are welcomed and encouraged for the maintenance and upkeep of this beautiful old cemetery. We look forward to seeing everyone! If, for some reason you are unable to attend, but would still like to donate, please contact Doyle Miller at 936-368-2246, and he will be glad to accept your donation.
Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you there!
September 21, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, September 21.
Herbert George Wells was born on this day in 1866. H.G. Wells is considered one of the greatest science fiction writers in history. But the thing is, most of his fiction has become fact. His over 50 novels were mostly written in the late 1800’s, and in them he foretold the coming of airplanes, space travel, genetic engineering, television, wireless phones, and the internet. And in 1913, 30 years before Hiroshima, he coined the term “atomic bomb.”
One of H.G. Well’s most famous books was titled “The Time Machine,” and it seems like he must have had his own time machine in order to be so amazingly accurate about the future. As for me, I’ve never been very good at predicting what’s going to happen next. How about you? Want to hazard a guess what life will be like 50 years from now? In 10 years? Next week? I’m reminded of the lyrics of an old gospel song.
I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what lies ahead
Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know He holds my hand!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
September 18, 2026 - Homecoming for Mt. Herman Cemetery located on Hwy 7 West in the Mt. Herman community in Center, Texas will be held on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 12 noon.
The cemetery will be taking donations for the yearly upkeep. You may give to any board member or if you cannot make it but would like to donate please mail to:
Mt. Herman Cemetery
c/o Deanne Sample
1106 CR 4314
Tenaha, TX 75974
We are also collecting names and addresses of those whose loved ones are buried here, so please get with a board member to leave your info or email deannesample99@yahoo.com.
Deanne Sample, Secretary/Treasurer
September 17, 2026 - Pleasant Grove Baptist Church will be having their Usher’s Day program at 2:30pm on Sunday September 27, 2026.
Guest speaker will be Pastor Winston Kibbles of St. John Baptist Church.
The church is located at Hwy 96 N CR 4356, Tenaha, Texas 75974. Pastor Johnny R. Jones, Pastor. All are welcome.
September 17, 2026 - The doorbell rings. Oh no! It’s some of the church folks coming to see why it’s been so long since I’ve attended church services. Yes, come in. Won’t you have a cup of coffee? We engage briefly in small talk.
Yes. I know it’s been a while since I’ve been… I’ve had quite a bit of sickness… we worshipped with another congregation several times… once out at the lake we had a devotional-just the family… we have to work hard to make a living… one of the members hurt my feelings… there are hypocrites in the church.
Well, good-by. I’ll plan to see you before long if nothing happens. Okay. Good night. That takes care of that! My visitors seemed satisfied with my explanations so I guess everything is o.k.
You know, though, the thought does nag me some. What am I doing with my life? Why haven’t I learned to love the church more? I know that someday I will die and then meet God in the judgment. Who am I kidding anyway? Those visitors from the church were nice and gentle, but they still know I am negligent and weak. I am not really fooling the church, or my family, or friends or my God. I have been cold, weak and indifferent. Unchristian. I am not kidding anybody, not even myself. Oh Lord, have mercy on my soul and help me to do better.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come and Join us For Worship!
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
September 14, 2026 - Hillcrest Baptist Church will be hosting a Vacation Bible School on Saturday, September 19th between 10am and 2pm. Come join us to learn more about Jesus, have fellowship and lunch with recreation time. Please bring a change of clothes and towel for water slides.
Please call 936-591-1198 or 936-572-5115 for more information or any questions.
September 14, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, September 14
I’m an avid collector, and one of the items I like to collect is postcards, particularly ones with interesting messages written on them. For a long time, postcards have been mainly sent by people on vacation. On one side is a picture of their hotel or the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower, and on the other a message like “wishing you were here!” That kind of postcard always struck me as a bit cruel, since it was being sent to someone who was not on vacation and most certainly was not “here.”
But if you look at earlier postcards from, say, the early 1900’s, you’ll often find a very different type of communication. Back then postcards were used, by many people, in the same way we use texting today - for quick communication. If you lived in a city, your mail was probably delivered twice a day, seven days a week. You didn’t have a telephone, and a postcard was a lot cheaper than a telegram. And so I have a postcard in my collection with the cryptic message - “Meet me tomorrow at noon at the corner of Main and Seventh Street.“ I was always intrigued by that message. Who were these two people? And why were they meeting? If I was a better writer I could have turned that postcard into a short story or even a novel. I don’t think the message would seem nearly as mysterious if it was just a text.
And so, the technology of communication has changed. But one thing that has never changed, and never will, is the instinctual need for human beings to share their thoughts and feelings, to share themselves, with other human beings. And God gave us that desire. He created us that way. And He has much to say in His Word about sharing ourselves with others. In Romans 13:15, Paul encourages us to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” And so we reach out, through phone calls and texts and social media and emails and notes and letters - and, yes, even postcards. And we try to connect the dots between two minds, between two hearts.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
Pages
