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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
July 23, 2024 - Clever Creek Baptist Church is hosting Evangelist Lee Thomas for meetings Saturday and Sunday, August 10 – August 11, 2024. The theme of the Saturday meeting, August 10th, beginning at 10am is “The Power of Relationships” based on Thomas’ book 'The Power of Relationships.' Evangelist Thomas is a much consulted minister who holds many meetings across the nation. This book and study is about the supreme value of relationships and how we must through the power of God’s Holy Spirit deal with ourselves and with those we live and work with. Relationships must be a top priority in our lives.
The Sunday meeting, August 11th, with Evangelist Thomas is on his book 'Life's Best Kept Secret.' He seeks to express what Evangelist E. Stanley Jones contended, “Man knows everything about life except how to live it.” He seeks to reveal what God has provided for us to personalize truth and express it with all its meaning. This is about how we are created and what we are after the fall of Adam and Eve. We must deal with what God has done for us and does in us.
The meetings at Clever Creek will begin Saturday morning at 10am with Evangelist Thomas teaching at the 10am. This meeting will be followed by a noon meal provided by the church for all attending. Then the concluding session will begin about 1pm and end around 2:30 or 3pm. There is no charge for the meeting, the book or the meal.
The Sunday meetings at Clever Creek will begin at 10am, followed by a noon meal provided without charge for all attending the meetings. The final session will begin around 1pm and conclude about 2:30 or 3pm.
The Clever Creek Baptist Church is located on FM 417 West which is between SH 96 South and Shelbyville at the intersection with CR 1042. The physical address of the church is 199 CR 1042. All are welcome to share with us in the meetings and in the meals.
Reserve your place and secure your copy of either or both of these marvelous studies for learning about ‘The Power of Relationships’ and God or for learning about ‘Life’s Best Kept Secret’ from the Bible. Please call Dr. Jerry Hopkins, Pastor of Clever Creek Baptist Church, to register and secure your place, book and lunch. Call 936-591-1936 or Email drjerryhopkins@yahoo.com.
July 23, 2024 - Mt. Gillion Baptist Church in Center, Texas is celebrating their annual homecoming on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 12:00 noon. Pastor Cedric Wyatt, Pine Grove Baptist Church, Mt. Enterprise, Texas will bring the message. Everyone is cordially invited to attend.
Annual Revival will be held on August 12-14, 2024 at 7pm.
- Monday night, August 12, 2024 - Pastor Bryon Coutee with Blount Chapel Baptist Church, Center, Texas and Unity Baptist Church, Grapeland, Texas.
- Tuesday night, August 13, 2024 - Bishop Cedric Grace with Mt. Zion Baptist Church, San Augustine, Texas
- Wednesday night, August 14, 2024 - Pastor Mike Jenkins, Mt. Dena Baptist Church, San Augustine, Texas
July 22, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, July 22.
My sister and brother-in-law paid us a visit this past weekend. They live in San Antonio - six hours from East Texas - and so we don't get to see them as often as we'd like. It was a blessing to have our families together for a few days.
Carolyn has always been, more than any of my siblings, the one who has worked to keep our family connected - the "glue". I think most families have someone like that, someone who understands the importance of family unity, someone who nurtures and encourages the ties that bind.
That kind of effort is important for church families, as well. Churches need members who work for unity, work for fellowship, work for connection. Here's what God has to say about this -
Ephesians 4:3 - Keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Philippians 2:2 - Make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same mind, having the same love, being one in spirit, and one in mind.
Romans 14:19 - Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and to build each other up.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
July 18, 2024 - Oftentimes we feel the church is not what it should be. We feel it just doesn’t quite meet “our expectations”. Since the Republican Convention is in full swing, and the Democratic Convention is just a few weeks away, perhaps we should examine the words of two former presidents. In his inaugural address in 1961, President John F. Kennedy stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” At the Republican National convention in 1916, Warren G. Harding said, “we must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.”
The challenge issued by these two presidents suggests a like principle that should guide every Christian toward the church. We need to be less concerned about our “needs” being met, less concerned about “being served” and more concerned about serving.
Perhaps we have been asking the wrong question. Instead of asking “is this a good congregation to be a member of” maybe we should ask “am I a good member of the congregation.”
It is not how much I get out of worship but how much do I contribute toward making the worship meaningful for others. A life of service is a life lived within the will of God. To be pleasing to God, we must be obedient to his will and surrender our stubborn will to His will.
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.
July 18, 2024 - Lydia Missionary Baptist Church on FM 139 in Huxley announces their Farm Fresh Faith Vacation Bible School!
Sunday, July 21, through Thursday, July 25, 6pm until 8:30pm each night.
Classes for ages 3 years old through 12the grade.
A meal will be served every night and the kids will get a free t-shirt!
For more information, please call 936-368-2462.
July 16, 2024 - St. John Baptist Church Center, Tx Pastor, Rev. Winston Kibbles, invites you to join them for their Annual Homecoming and Revival Services Sunday, July 21 at 2pm with Rev. Mario Osby Smith Chapel Baptist Church Timpson, TX.
This will then be followed by a three night Revival Monday, July 22 - Wednesday, July 24 at 7pm nightly with Rev. Cedric Grace Mt. Zion Baptist Church San Augustine, TX
Revive, Revive, Revival!
July 16, 2024 - White Rock Missionary Baptist Church is hosting five nights of revival with Bro. Nathan Luellen of Stockwell Road MBC of Bossier City, Louisiana starting Monday, July 22nd at 7pm nightly.
Bro. Nathan also serves as an Instructor and as Dean of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary (LMBIS) of Minden, Louisiana. Last month, he preached the Annual Message at the 2024 Annual Messenger Meeting of the ABA in Springfield, Illinois.
We are very excited to have him as our evangelist this year at White Rock, and we hope you will attend every night if you can.
July 15, 2024 - Everyone is invited to the annual homecoming for Tennessee Cemetery on Sunday July 21, 2024.
Homecoming will be held at the Tennessee Presbyterian Church on FM 947. The business meeting will begin at 11am with lunch following at 12 noon. Please come to enjoy a wonderful lunch and catching up with friends. If you are unable to attend and would like to contribute to the upkeep of the cemetery, send your donations to:
Tennessee Permanent Trust Fund
% Jeanie Rhodes
1434 CR 4916
Timpson, TX 75975
Tennessee Working Committee
% Billie Jackson
7607 RM 947
Gary, TX75643
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3
July 15, 2024 - I learned early on that a successful Hitch-hiker had to follow these rules: Maintain a clean, youthful appearance, carry only a small amount of luggage, and stand in good light. I also discovered that most truckers aren’t allowed to have passengers and that hitchhiking was difficult on weekends and holidays when people were on vacations and family outings.
When I was in the seminary in Springfield, Missouri, I often made the 550-mile trip quicker by hitchhiking than I could by bumming a ride from a fellow-student. A man in a 1950 Olds Rocket 88 once gave me a hair-raising ride from Springfield to Shreveport, Louisiana at speeds reaching 90 miles an hour. I hitchhiked for over a year from ETBC in Marshall, Texas to my first pastorate in Patroon, Texas and was always back for my 7:00 class on Monday morning. Sometimes I was dropped off in pitch darkness but was never late for a preaching appointment at any church except one time at the First Baptist Church of Martinsville, Texas. But the rapists, murderers, drunk drivers, and dopers have ruined a once-good-and-fun thing. Picking up a hitchhiker nowadays is much too risky and no one thinking right would ever pick one up.
Thumbing a ride all those years never cost me a thing… but did cost the person giving me the ride. When I was fourteen, I got a free one-way ticket to heaven, too… but it cost the very life’s blood of the One giving me the ride. He’ll never drop me off in the dark and won’t be late getting me home, either. And even though making the trip was my decision…
… how I’ll go… and when… will be His.
July 15, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, July 15.
And Jesus said to His disciples, Go into all the world, and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15
For decades, First Baptist Church of Center has been broadcasting a Bible lesson and a worship service each Sunday morning. When internet technology became available, our technicians were quick to make use of this new tool. Last night I was reminded of just how powerful and amazing that tool is.
Yesterday, First Baptist welcomed a missionary couple. They serve in a largely Muslim country, a place that is over 7,000 miles from East Texas. A large crowd gathered last evening to hear them share about their ministry. But before the event, the missionary shared something with me about our ministry. I introduced myself, but he quickly said he knew who I was because he and his wife watched our Sunday broadcasts... from the other side of the world.
I was suddenly filled with thoughts of thankfulness, thankful to God that he would allow a small church in a small town to "proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." To Him be all the praise, all the honor, and all the glory.
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. Psalm 96:3
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
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