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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
July 15, 2024 - First Methodist Church, Center is hosting at Blood Drive this Saturday, July 20th from 10am until 2:30pm. Register online at https://www.commitforlife.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/373190
For more information, visit www.CenterFirst.org. First Methodist Church is located at 211 Porter Street, Center, Texas 75935.
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
July 11, 2024 - A physician got up a few Sunday’s back to go to church, but he never made it there. The only explanation he gave was “T.B.” Poor Doctor! He spent his life fighting almost every disease known to man and T.B. finally got him.
A prominent woman was honored with an invitation to come and worship with the saints of God, but she was not able. You see, “T.B.” prevented her from being there.
T.B. is a very old disease. A man in the Bible explained his refusal of an invitation by indicating he had trouble with T.B. “Too Busy”, the most vicious form of T.B. ever known. “I have bought five yoke of oxen, I have bought a field, I have married a wife”. That is the way they explained it in the scriptures. Today, “I have a job; Sunday is my only day for recreation; life is so cluttered, I just don’t have any time to serve the Lord.” That’s the way spiritual T.B. is explained today. However, one day, all those suffering with T.B. today will discover they will not be too busy to die nor too busy to attend the judgment.
Friends, T.B. is not incurable, however it finds its origin in heart disease. Those suffering from T.B. must make their heart right with God. When you cure your “heart trouble” you will never again be “Too Busy” to live for Jesus.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
July 8, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, July 8.
What do these names bring to mind? Alicia, Ike, Rita, Carla, Harvey. If you've been a Texan for very long, you know that they're all catastrophic hurricanes that have visited the Lone Star State. As we wait to see what Beryl is going to do, I'm waxing meteorological today.
Carla, in 1961, is the first storm I can remember. I grew up in Houston and she hit us pretty hard. I was still in H-Town in 1983 when Alicia put a big tree across my driveway. The sound of chainsaws and generators was heard across the land. Rita, Ike, and Harvey have been some fairly recent unwelcome visitors. And even though she wasn't a Texas storm, Katrina sent a lot of evacuees to Houston. Hard to believe that next year will be the 20th anniversary of that disaster.
And then there's the mother of all hurricanes - The Great Galveston Storm of 1900. All these years later, it's still the worst natural disaster in United States history. The storm (this was before we decided to give them names) roared in with 150 mph winds and a 12-foot storm surge. An estimated 8,000 souls were lost, 7,000 buildings and houses were destroyed, leaving a third of Galveston's citizens homeless.
Before the storm, Galveston had been the largest city in Texas and boasted one of the largest ports in the country. It would never regain that place, a place taken over by its neighbor to the north, Houston.
As I write this, it's still uncertain what kind of storm Beryl will be. But, living in Texas, you can be sure of two things - storms will come and Texans will survive. I'm reminded today of God's promise in John 16:33.
"In this world you will have tribulations but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
July 5, 2024 - James would write these words for us in James 3:8-10, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
Have you ever thought about how powerful the tongue is and how powerful your words can be? By our words we express our ideas and thoughts. Our words often convey the deepest thoughts of our heart. With words we can hurt, discourage, anger, stir up strife and crush the spirits of those around us, or we can cheer, enlighten, encourage, uplift and calm those we come in contact with.
We can speak a language pure and pleasing in the sight of God and unquestionable in the eyes of men. Conversely, we can corrupt that language until it damns our soul.
Do my words justify or condemn me? Is my speech pure and clean or is it discolored with the kind of foul language that makes is distasteful not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of men and women I come into contact with? We must seek to speak in a way that is becoming to Christians and uplifting to those we associate with on a daily basis.
It’s something to think about. . . tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
July 3, 2024 - Pleasant Grove Baptist Church is hosting its 5th Pastoral Anniversary honoring Pastor Johnny and Lady Natasha Jones on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at 10:30am. Special guest is Bishop Joseph Hall Jr.. The church is located at 96 County Road 4356, Tenaha, Texas 75974.
July 3, 2024 - Old Home Baptist Church will be having the annual Homecoming on Sunday, July 14th at 11am. Lunch will follow the service. The cemetery meeting will be at the church on Saturday, July 13th at 2pm. Old Home Baptist Church is located at 685 CR 3455, Tenaha, Texas 75974 or just south of Paxton off of Farm Road 699 on CR 3455. Call or text for details 936-332-9293.
July 2, 2024 - Annual revival “Trying To See Jesus” Luke 19:3 7pm nightly
- Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - Rev Brian Wilson
- Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - Pastor W.R. Ricks First Missionary B.C. Lufkin, Tx
- Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - Pastor Al Horton, Reed Chapel B.C. San Augustine, Tx
- Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - Pastor A. Douglas Evergreen B.C Shreveport, La
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - Pastor T. Teel, Bell Chapel B.C. San Augustine, Tx
July 1, 2024 - Come out, worship, fellowship, and help us 'Pack the Pews' during our annual Family and Friends Day, on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 2:30pm. Pastor Alvin Davis of Open Door Worship Center, Center, Texas will be our guest minister. ALM's regularly scheduled 10am service is canceled for the day.
You are welcome and invited to join us in celebration, as well as any of our other regularly scheduled weekly services.
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville Street, Center, Texas 75935.
“He was lost and is found…” Luke 15:32
July 1, 2024 - In the summer of 1980, Mother called her ten children to tell us our dad was missing. His habit for years was to rise at 4:00, drive to his Water Superintendent’s Office in East Center, Texas and return home at 8:00 for breakfast. But this day he didn’t return.
We asked J.M. Warr to fly his plane over the Jericho area and look for his truck. (Daddy made frequent early morning drives down these peaceful roads). Meanwhile, family members frantically searched the myriad of Sand Hill roads, but found no trace of Daddy. But on the second day of searching, we received a radio message from J.M.’s plane: “I’ve spotted Henry’s truck… it’s on a hillside in the Snow Hill community.”
When we finally located the right road, we found him lying about twenty yards from his truck. His mattered eyes were almost swollen shut and fire ants covered the bleeding cuts on his face and arms. As I leaned over him weeping, he weakly raised his hand and whispered, “Son, don’t worry… I’m alright.” He then desperately clutched the cup of water we’d gotten from the nearby spring.
We later learned that Daddy had stuck in deep sand as he returned from a drink from the spring. But as he jacked up the back of the truck, the jack gave way and the truck backed over him as it rolled downhill. He intermittently gained consciousness during his two days in the scorching sun and had almost given up any hope of rescue. To our great joy, a few days in the hospital made him almost like new.
Our dad passed away in 1983. He was a deep believer in Christ… so I know that he is safe in the arms of Jesus!
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