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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
August 21, 2026 - Joshua was born a slave and yet became the leader of Israel. He was appointed to lead Israel into the Promised Land and was commissioned by the Lord to lead His people. Leading the people of God, Joshua went from victory to victory. They successfully crossed the flooded Jordan and conquered the fortified city of Jericho.
Yet, Joshua sent a few thousand to conquer Ai, and they were defeated. Following this, we see Joshua on his face, defeated and in despair. We hear the Lord tell Joshua to get up and He asks Joshua why he is lying on his face (Joshua 7:10)
Joshua has been defeated, however, he must not focus on this one defeat. He needs to consider the good things God has done for Israel. He must remember all of the blessings God has already given and all of the blessings God has promised for the future. Joshua has become focused on the wrong thing. Instead of being power conscious Joshua has become problem conscious and is focusing on this one defeat.
Well, Joshua did rise up and he led his people to victory. When we feel defeated, we need to remember all that God has done for us. He loved us, He gave His son for us and he will also give us the victory. Like Joshua, when we suffer defeat, if we are not careful we too will become problem conscious and not power conscious. It was Paul who tells us that God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57). Living our lives within the will of God, we can loudly sing that grand old hymn, “Victory In Jesus.”
It’s something to think about... tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
August 19, 2026 - Revival Services at Jackson Missionary Baptist Church are Monday, August 24 thru Thursday, August 27 at 6pm nightly with preaching by Joshua Howington. Enjoy a Thursday pot luck dinner after the service. Children's worship available.
Come renew and leave revived.
Jackson Missionary Baptist Church is located at 11620 State Hwy. 7 East, Joaquin, Texas.
August 17, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, August 17.
Most of the school districts in EastTexas started back last week. That’s true most everywhere across the country. It seems like now they usually begin classes mid-week. I guess they figure that not much real teaching will go on the first few days, with all the effort to get settled, so why waste an entire week? That makes the “first Monday” kind of a true start to classes. And that’s today. So I woke up thinking about teachers and students and a man with an unusual name - Kearnie Keegan.
Kearnie Keegan was born in 1907 in Nachitoches, Louisiana. He showed early promise as a speaker and musician and graduated from Northwestern College in Nachitoches at the age of nineteen. He quickly began teaching high school and during summers would lead music at church camps and revival crusades. By the young age of 25 he was pastor of First Baptist Church in his hometown, and in his early thirties he was leading the mighty Temple Baptist in Los Angeles. He was definitely a rising star.
Keegan always had a special place in his heart for young people, for students. In 1950 he became director of student ministry for the entire Southern Baptist Convention. During that time he created many of the youth ministry practices and tools that are still used today. In the fall of 1960 he was boarding a plane in St. Louis, on his way to a student conference, when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was only 52 years old.
At the funeral of Kearnie Keegan they sang a hymn that he had written just a few months before. The lyrics seemed appropriate for today.
Teach me, O Lord, I pray, Your precious truth divine
Lead me to understand Your Word and make its precepts mine
Impart Your wisdom, Lord, shed light upon my way
That I may know Your boundless love; teach me. O Lord, I pray
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
August 13, 2026 - To one person, religion is a blessing to be enjoyed, and yet to another person it is a burden they are forced to bear. To some it is a weight that seems to hold them back while to another it is wings that lift them up. You see that individual who approaches a church service with the reluctance of a schoolboy returning to classes after summer vacation and another individual hurries saying with David “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalms 122:1)
Sadly, many people never reach the point where their religion is not a burden to them. It should not be this way. We should find joy in serving the Lord. We should look forward to the Lord’s Day when we can assemble with the saints of God for worship. A time when we can fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.
One reason that so many find their religion to be a burden is because they have never really come to know Jesus Christ. We have all heard that old expression, “to know him/her is to love them.” So it is with Jesus. To know Jesus is to love Him. Paul could say, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (II Timothy 1:12) Perhaps if you really come to know Jesus in the way that Paul did you will find religion to be a joy rather than a burden.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
August 10, 2026 - Upcoming events hosted by Center MBC:
- Sunday, August 16 at 11am - Teacher Appreciation. Current or retired teachers, public school, private school, or homeschool - all are invited.
- Sept 27-29 - Fall Revival.
August 10, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, August 10.
In the late summer of the year 70 AD, at about this time, the mighty Roman army destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. The Holy City had been under siege for months, until the ancient walls were finally breached and the great place of worship, of sacrifice, the center of Jewish life, was burned to the ground. Today, two thousand years later, the Temple has yet to be rebuilt.
The original temple, Solomon’s Temple, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC. It was rebuilt 70 years later, but in a relatively small and modest fashion. Then, 20 years before Bethlehem, King Herod the Great expanded and enhanced it. During Christ’s ministry here on earth, it was known as Herod’s Temple. And Jesus foretold its day of destruction.
In Matthew 24:2 Christ said, “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another, every one will be thrown down.” These words came as Jesus and His disciples, a few days before the Cross, were walking by Herod’s Temple. It was said to have been breathtakingly beautiful, and so perhaps the attention of the Twelve was focused on that beauty. In that moment they were focused on the present, but Christ spoke of the future. We, like the disciples, are often preoccupied with what we can see, while God speaks to us of what is unseen. While we worry and fret about today, He speaks to us of eternity.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
August 7, 2026 - The Short Cemetery Committee is currently updating cemetery records and seeking information on individuals who may have an interest in Short Cemetery located on CR 1005 off Highway 96 South of Center, Texas.
If you or someone you know has an interest such as a reserved burial slot, an unmarked burial plot or a permanent resting place within this cemetery, please reach out to a committee member to get current information added to our contact list.
Also, if you would like to reserve a burial plot, this would be a good time to do so as we are having our cemetery updated with a mapping directory.
This information will help with future mapping and preservation efforts. Also, this years homecoming will be Sunday, October 11 starting at 12 noon. Come out and see the changes being made to help with preservation of the cemetery.
Contact John Monk 936-239-7100 or James (Debbie) Bell 936-590-1252.
August 6, 2026 - In the “Sermon On The Mount,” Jesus tells us to “let our light shine before men” and he also tells us that we are “the salt of the earth.” What He means, of course, is that we are to live our lives in such a way that we bring honor and glory to Him and Honor and glory to the church. Yet, I often wonder how well we are doing at that.
When we lose our temper in the store and “explode” on some clerk or manager, does that reflect well on Jesus and the church? Those times when we are engaging in idle gossip, whether listening to it or repeating it, does that bring honor and glory to Jesus and the church? Obviously, there are many things we can do that bring shame to Jesus and the church.
Well, we can hand out more tracts, we can set up more Bible Studies, we can invite more people to church. That will honor Jesus. Wait, I know, we can take meals to shut-ins and sick people. To be sure, there are numerous good works we can be involved in that will reflect well on the church and bring honor to Jesus.
However, when all is said and done, Jesus gave us the supreme way we can bring honor and glory to Him and to the church. In John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, If ye have love one to another.” There it is, short, sweet and simple. If we want to bring honor and glory to Jesus and the Church, we are to love one another. We are to love as Jesus loved. How are we doing with that?
It’s something to think about... tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
August 3, 2026 - We would like to thank all of the families of Westview Cemetery.
Our committee would like to inform you of an increased price change effective October 1, 2026 on burial plots.
For those that have requested payment plans to secure a price lock you must contact us and begin payments prior to October 1, 2026.
We are truly grateful for your business and understanding. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to any member of our committee.
Kind Regards,
Evette Netherly
Westview Cemetery Secretary
August 3, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, August 3.
Last night I had the pleasure of playing with a local community band in an annual event called The Orchestra Bash. The ensemble, about 35 players strong, with winds and brass and strings and percussion and keyboards, was made up largely of band directors. They get together each year around this time, right before school starts, for an afternoon rehearsal and an evening concert. Much fun!
I met a euphonium player who was new to the group. His brother, who I know, is a college student preparing to be a band director, just like their dad. I just assumed he was one too, and asked him what high school he taught at. He said he was actually an engineer, a career that would typically elicit much pride from proud parents. “Not in my family”, he laughingly told me. “I’m not a teacher - I’m the black sheep!”
My family tree is full of teachers. I taught at high school choir during the 1990’s. I have a great deal of respect for teachers. School bells start ringing in our area next week, but teachers start back this morning. Here’s some thoughts for them, and for all the teachers out there.
- Teaching is the one profession that creates all the other professions.
- It takes a big heart to shape little minds.
- Teachers affect eternity. They can never know where their influence ends.
- Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is becoming a lost tradition.
- Teaching is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
Thank you teachers!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
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