+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
July 4, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, July 4th.
Today our country celebrates her 246th birthday - that’s a lot of candles! And we take a moment to look at the story behind the song “God Bless America”
Irving Berlin, a young songwriter, was a private in the US army during World War I. He wrote a catchy tune and was sure it would be a huge hit. It wasn’t. The song lay forgotten for twenty years until the world, once again, went to war. Berlin premiered it (again) on November 11, 1938. Today we call that Veteran’s Day. Back then they called it Armistice Day - the anniversary of the end of World War I.
Singing this “new” song was a young singer named Kate Smith. She went on to have a long and illustrious career, but this remained her signature song. And she would always include the seldom heard verse -
As the storm clouds gather far across the sea
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free
Let us all be faithful to a land so fair
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer . . .
Irving Berlin always referred to it as his “peace” song. In this time of war and rumors of wars, we sing it once again.
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
God bless America, my home sweet home
Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
July 1, 2022 - There is a tender story told in Mark 14:1-9 of something which happened during some very difficult days for Jesus. The Jewish leaders were plotting his death and He was surrounded by his critics and His enemies. In this narrative, we see Him going to the little village of Bethany. It is the night before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and He goes to a party in His honor in the home of Simon, a leper.
Picture the scene as Jesus is reclining at the table and John tells us Mary came and anointed the feet of Jesus (John 12:1-3). Well, the critics began to raise their voices and talk about her. Jesus said to leave her alone, she had done what she could.
Have you ever thought about the love that caused her to do this? Have you ever experienced that kind of love? An unexpected act of pure love, that is what you see in this beautiful story. She loved Jesus and she did what she could. She didn’t have much, but what she had she gave to Jesus. Not to Simon the Leper, not to Peter or James or John. What she did, she did for Jesus.
God loves us more than we can ever love Him. You see, we can never pay Him back for what He has done. God doesn’t require the debt to be repaid. He just wants us to accept what He has done and to love Him for it. He wants us to live a life obedient to His will. He only wants us to do what we can.
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 1, 2022 - The House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries Presents 'An Evening with Lady Nash' on Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 3:30pm. Special guest is Dr. Alma Allen, Vineyard Place International, Houston, Texas. The theme is 'Blessed and Highly Favored' from Luke 1:28. Lady Nash will be escorted by Tyrone Davis. Dinner will be served. Everyone is welcome.
The church is located at 215 Church Street, Center, Texas 75935.
June 30, 2022 - Homecoming at Old Home Baptist Church will be Sunday, July 10th. The meeting will begin at 10:30 followed by the Worship Service at 11:00. Bring your favorite dish and join us for lunch in the fellowship hall afterwards. Call or text for more information: 936-332-9293.
June 29, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother and our teacher, Jesus. Amen. Summer is officially here as of last week: In downtown Joaquin, we got our first summer shower Sunday. It wasn’t much of a rain producer, but we will take what is given and be thankful. My phone says we are in for a week of cooler temperatures, only in the low and mid-nineties. Add to that the promise of lower humidity, and we all may be ready to venture out. I got up early Monday morning for my walk in the park with my canine companions, Gunter and Sam. We saw Doug pull up at the Community Center to get the Joaquin Senior Center off and running. It was nice to see that they were able to open again after being closed for illness. Gunter usually runs to the fence to bark at Doug but gave him a break this morning.
We had everyone back for Sunday School. Fannie was in prime teaching mode with a really good lesson on character building. Wearing a commemorative tee shirt, Fannie shared a project that her students did some eighteen years ago about developing positive character traits. Everything Fannie brought up fit right into our Sunday School lesson and worship service. It was wonderful to have Joy and Claudia back and hope they keep feeling better. We send our good wishes to Fred, that he’ll be back in the pink next week. Larry is back from his Arkansas trip, reporting a good time.
We began our worship with Psalms 43-43 as the gathering words. Our first song was “It Is Well with My Soul,” a little ambitious for our small group. Fortunately, the accompanist played slowly, or we might still be trying to get on the same page. We did much better with “Near to the Heart of God,” which was shorter, easier, and more familiar. Our affirmation was a modern statement of 21st century faith.
Reflecting the gathering words, our bulletin cover quoted Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief: “When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.” Inside was a quote from Jon Meacham, the writer who eulogized George H.W. Bush: “We’ve always grown stronger the more widely we’ve opened our arms.” And one of our illustrations was from 1 Peter: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Lots of good advice!
I felt like I got very little done last week, putting things off to the last minute. I can’t operate like that for long before I get out of whack. So I am trying to get an early start on next Sunday. Usually in my sermon I choose one of the four traditional lectionary scriptures to focus on: Old Testament, Psalms, Gospels, and Epistles. However, this time—maybe because I was so unfocused last week—I covered a little bit of each one. My wife, a retired high school English teacher, said I connected each idea to the others; I’m happy she didn’t find anything to correct with her red pen!
The first part of Paxton’s mission statement says that we “gladly minister to our entire community.” That was evident as we loaded up my truck bed with rolls of toilet paper and paper towels. Obviously there was no shortage of paper products in our area during June! In July we will collect cans of ravioli and spaghetti.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
“For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.” Jeremiah 5:26
June 27, 2022 - When my brothers and I were growing up in Center, Texas, we discovered a little stretch of woods just out of the City Limits that was our closest place to hunt squirrels. The woods were so close to our house in East Center that we had time for a quick evening hunt after we got home from school.
After school one day, I grabbed my shotgun and hurried down to “the squirrel woods.” Just as I entered the woods, I heard the screaming cry of a dog coming from the dried-up creek bed. I ran down the creek and found a young beagle hound struggling in the jaws of a steel trap. When I saw his horribly injured front leg, I reached down to take the tension off the trap, the dog continued crying and snapping at my hand. After being bitten several times, I found a nearby limb that I carefully pressed the trap’s spring and… VIOLA!!!... the puppy sprang from the trap at full speed and quickly disappeared over the hillside. And as he ran off, I felt almost as happy as he did.
There are millions of people the world over that are crying in pain for the same reason that this little beagle did… their painful cries might not be their fault… they may have stepped in one of the world’s steel traps and can find no way out.
But if we aren’t afraid of getting bit… and show a little patience and understanding… we might be just the person to get the trap jaws open for someone… and if we do, they won’t just run off over the hill, but will hug and thank us… and when they do…
… we’ll be just as happy as they are.
June 27, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 27.
Here at First Baptist Center, we’re working to grow and nurture a Ministry to Men. During the last three months, about 40 guys have been part of weekly prayer meetings. And tomorrow night at 6:00 we’re sponsoring a community Men’s Fish Fry. One of our deacons has a huge and amazing “man-cave” at 717 CR 1140. Any man is welcome to join us for some great food and great fellowship.
In our 21st century world, it’s challenging to live as a Christian man. The culture around us is constantly trying to move men in a different direction, away from God's light and into darkness. The Bible uses the term "man of God" 35 times. So, what are the characteristics of a man of God? We can answer that question by examining the lives of the great male characters in the Bible story.
Men like Abraham and Moses and Elijah and David and Solomon and Isaiah and Peter and Paul and John were examples of strength and courage and faithfulness. But they were also human and when they fell short of God's best, they were willing to admit their sin and ask for forgiveness. And when they fell down, they got back up again - not through their own strength - but through the power of God.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
June 27, 2022 - The Men's Ministry of First Baptist Center is hosting a Community Men's Fish Fry on Tuesday, June 28 at 6pm at 717 CR 1140. Great food - Great fellowship - and it's Free! Every man and boy from our community is warmly invited. For more information, text David Mathis at 979-533-1575.
June 23, 2022 - Most if not all of us are familiar with the first miracle Jesus performed. It was at a wedding in Cana and Jesus and his disciples were there. Jesus’ mother, Mary was there too. They ran out of wine and Jesus changed six pots of water into wine. It was not just any wine, it was better wine than what had already been served.
Hidden in that story is a statement made by Mary that is often overlooked. She was speaking to the servants and John writes that she told them, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it”. (John 4:5) You know, that is good advice for us to take to heart in our own day and time.
You see, the commandments of Jesus, the things Jesus tells us to do, the way Jesus instructs us to live are more than just suggestions, they are imperatives. Too often in our world today we fail to take Jesus seriously and obey what He tells us to do.
Jesus had a lot to say about obedience. In the sermon on the mount in Matthew 7:21 He says, “Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” Then again, in John 14:15, speaking to His disciples, Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
You know, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it” seems like sound advice.
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.
June 20, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 20.
Over the next few days, I’ll be outnumbered by females... in my own home! My two daughters and my granddaughter will be visiting, and when you add in my wife - that’s four to one. Outnumbered! And very happily so. We haven’t seen our youngest (the New Yorker) since Christmas. A sweet reunion.
The Bible speaks of a sweet reunion that we’re all looking forward to - a reunion with our loved ones in heaven. I remembered my dad yesterday. He's been gone for 27 years, but I have confidence that I will see him again. King David lost his infant son and he grieved very deeply. But In 2 Samuel 12:23 he says, "I cannot bring him back again, but I will go to him." David found great comfort in that future reunion, as do we.
And, most of all, we look forward to being united with our Savior. In 1 John 3:2 we read, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we shall be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is."
A sweet reunion.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
Pages
