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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
April 13, 2023 - A preacher one time was asked if a certain man and his wife belonged to the church where he preached. His reply was, “No, they do not belong to the church here. They are members, but they do not belong to the church.”
“It’s like this,” the preacher explained, “neither their time, their affection, their energy, their money, nor their influence belong to the church.”
Does that make you wonder what kind of membership these people had in the church? The preacher said, “They came to us, and we received them in good faith, and we thought they were looking for spiritual fellowship and service. Sadly, their attendance has been so infrequent they have no sense of belonging to the church family and the church has not been a spiritual home to them. Truthfully, there is not an ounce of this man and his wife that belongs to the church. All they have ever added to the church is a name on the roll.”
The sad truth is, the rolls of local churches are loaded with names that are “members only”. This is their only indication of love for Christ. Yet, Bible love is active and not passive. Jesus expressed His love by dying for us. Will we show our love by living for Him?
Do you belong to the church? Where will you be this coming Lord’s Day?
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.
April 12, 2023 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Africa Community, Center, Texas and Pastor Winston Kibbles invites everyone to come fellowship at their Family and Friends Day Celebration on Sunday, April 16th at 2:00pm. Special guest is Pastor Johnny Jones, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Center.
Friends love through all kinds of weather and families stick together in all kinds of trouble! Proverbs 17:17.
April 11, 2023 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries presents their Usher Program at 3pm on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Guest speaker is Elder Richard McCowin, Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church, Chandler, Texas. Everyone is invited. Lunch will be served.
Apostle W.E. Nash Jr. and church family
April 10, 2023 - The Annual Duncan Cemetery meeting will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 1pm at the Cemetery.
If you cannot attend and want to send your upkeep donation, send it to Duncan Cemetery, c/o Traci Parker Barrientos, 25514 Saddlebrook Way, Katy, Texas 77494.
Hope to see you there.
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
April 10, 2023 - In 1949, Daddy moved our family of eight children to a house on the Shelbyville Hill. It was a good year for me: I had been converted in a tent revival that year and George Smith had given me a job taking up tickets at The Rio Theater in Center. I was able to hitch-hike to work every Saturday and hitch-hiked back home around midnight. I would be dropped off on the hilltop where the old cotton gin used to be and walked the 100 yard walk to the house in total darkness. I could see neither the road nor the dark ditches on each side.
So I prayed all the way home… that God would hold my hand and keep me from falling in the ditches. I was learning that praying in dark times was a lot easier than praying when the sun was shining. And who would believe that in 1990… fifty years later… we moved back… not just to East Texas… but to Shelbyville’s First Baptist Church. And the sanctuary sets precisely at the mouth of that dark road I walked years ago. I’m an old feller now and God still holds my hand and guides my feet…
… and I’m still praying on my way home.
April 10, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 10.
The Bible is a book that is dominated by stories about men. I challenge you to name more than ten significant female characters from God’s Word. Why is this? Perhaps it’s because the Bible was written in a culture dominated by men. Whatever your conclusion, we must agree that women of the Word, although few in number, are often great in faith. Women like Queen Esther, Deborah the Judge, Ruth, of the Book of Ruth, Priscilla, protege of Paul, and Mary, the mother of Christ.
Yesterday, on Easter, many Sunday School lessons and sermons centered on the resurrection story from the 20th chapter of the gospel of John. The main character of that story was, of course, Jesus, a man. But, in a very important role, we find a woman, Mary Magdalene.
The Bible tells us that, early in His ministry, Jesus healed Mary of seven demons, and we can safely assume that she was one of the many that followed Him and supported Him and loved Him throughout His time on Earth. This is evident in the events of Holy Week, when ten men, the disciples, were nowhere to be found when Christ was dying on the Cross. But Mary Magdalene was there. When two men took Jesus down from the Cross and buried Him, the Bible tells us that Mary was there, silently watching. And on that first Easter morning it was Mary who came to the empty tomb. It was Mary who was the first to see the Risen Lord.
After this story in John 20, there is nothing else written in the Word about Mary Magdalene. But we can safely assume that she remained a devoted follower of Christ for the rest of her life, perhaps sharing, over and over, her unique and powerful testimony. Mary Magdalene, an inspiring Bible character. Mary Magdalene, a woman of faith.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
April 7, 2022 - First Baptist Church of Center would like you to join us for our Easter Block Party on Saturday, April 8th from 11am - 1pm at Portacool Park! There will be food, bounce houses, an Easter egg hunt and more!
April 7, 2023 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries located at 215 Church St. Center will be celebrating their Ushers Sis. Carolyn Price, Sis. Barbara Cartwright and Sis. Denise Peoples on April 16 at 3pm.
Their guest speaker for that day is Elder Richard McCowin from Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church in Chandler, TX.
Everyone is invited.
April 6, 2023 - The House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries presents Soul Saving Conference 2023 on May 10-12, 2023 at 7pm nightly. Conference host is Pastor Pearlie Nash and theme is "Saving the Lost at Any Cost" ~ Luke 15:3-6.
This article is copied from Shelby County Today without permission.
Guest Speakers are:
- Wednesday - First Lady Lillie Stanley, East Liberty Baptist Church, Shelbyville
- Thursday - Shawnacey and LaMarcus Goodwin, Free People Church, Lufkin
- Friday - Ronda Coleman, Gates Community Church Int'l, Athens, TX
Everyone is invited. Admission is free and will have food vendors on site. The church is located at 215 Church Street, Center, Texas 75935.
April 6, 2023 - When we meet Moses in Exodus chapter 4, he is 80 years old. He has spent 40 years in Egypt, growing up in the household of Pharaoh and 40 years in Midian, herding sheep for his father-in-law on the back side of nowhere.
He had a stammering voice and some serious self-esteem issues. There was nothing about his physical appearance or disposition to make him outstanding as a leader among men.
But, when he submitted himself to the Lord, when he allowed God to direct him, he became mighty in the history of the people of God. You see, God can take the little things and change them into something great. God asked Moses, “What is that in thy hand?” Moses answered, “A rod”. Something that was simply a stick in the hand of Moses, by the power of God became the force that brought the plagues on Egypt, divided the Red Sea, brought water from a rock and won a battle when Moses used it as God directed him. Little things, when placed in the hand of God become great things.
David’s sling and five small, smooth stones by the power of God were able to slay a Philistine Giant. Five loaves and two fish that belonged to a small boy became enough by the blessing of the Savior to feed five thousand.
We must be willing to take our talent, our ability and commit fully to God and become an instrument in the hand of God to do great things for His glory.
It’s something to think about. . . TBP
Join Center Church of Christ for Worship this coming Lord’s Day - www.centerchurchofchrist.com
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