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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
May 17, 2023 - First Methodist Church, Center is happy to announce Vacation Bible School for kids ages 4 - 12. This year's theme is Knights of the North Castle. Our knights will discover that the King's armor is made of something stronger than iron and chain. The knights will be invited to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s Power. (They may also get a little from a friendly dragon!) VBS will take place June 13 - 15 (Tues, Wed, Thurs) from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Registration is required and spots are limited. Register online at http://www.CenterFirst.org or call the Church Office at 936-598-2707.
Looking forward to a fun-filled adventure.
May 15, 2023 - Mt. Zion Church is hosting the 2023 Baccalaureate Services along with family, friends, and school officials to honor the Class of 2023 on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11am.
The church looks forward to this worship experience, as an interfaith body of believers, celebrate our graduates, give thanks for all they have learned, and submit their futures unto God.
Theme scripture for service is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Anita Williams and Kristi McClelland
2023 Baccalaureate Services Chairpersons
“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” Psalms 55:6
“I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalms 23:6
May 15, 2023 - As usual, our backyard is filled with doves. When we moved to San Augustine years ago, we had only Mourning Doves, but now we also have Inca Doves, Collared Doves and for the past two years, White-wing Doves. All three have certain things in common. When we walk upon them, they all burst up swiftly on the take-off and and within seconds are across the big field behind the house. They fly up so quickly that they sometimes inadvertently drag their eggs from the nest as they fly upwards. When I see them disappear across the field, I more clearly understand David’s words, “If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly away.”
Even though David’s sins were forgiven, the Prophet Nathan tells him the sword would never depart from his house. David had many friends… and many enemies. King Saul repeatedly tried to kill him, his son Absalom who led an army against him was later found hanging dead in a tree. In his desperation, he didn’t pray for wings… but meant that if he had them, he’d do what frightened doves do… shoot up quickly and soar away swiftly from his troubles.
David was Israel’s greatest King and reigned for forty years. At seventy years of age, he called his son Solomon to his death bed and said, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God.” Then David soared… without wings… all the way to heaven’s rest.
“… And dwells in the house of the Lord forever.’”
May 15, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, May 15.
A few weeks ago, a member of my choir was blessed to take a trip to Israel. Today at 11:30 at First Baptist Center, she will share stories and photos of her adventure. It's the monthly Third Monday luncheon for the Golden Harvest Senior Adult Community Club. A free lunch will be followed by gospel music and the special program. Any senior is warmly welcome.
Here's some facts about the Holy Land -
- Israel is about the size of Massachusetts, 8000 square miles. In comparison, the great state of Texas weighs in at 270,000 square miles.
- Israel is long and narrow, 10 miles at its narrowest, and not wider that 80 miles - about the distance from Center to Shreveport.
- The cell phone was invented in Israel. So were cherry tomatoes and the game Rummikub.
- The population of the Holy Land is 9 million, about the same as New York City.
- Some of the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane date from the time of Christ.
- Jerusalem is the only city in the world that is a holy city for three religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathus@fbccenter.org
May 12, 2023 - (Photo Album) - Religious groups, community leaders and citizens of Shelby County gathered at the Historic 1885 Shelby County Courthouse on May 4, 2023, for the National Day of Prayer.
The event featured many speakers praying for the community, and was well attended by citizens of the area.
May 11, 2023 - In III John 2, John expresses his concern for the physical well being of his friend, Gaius. John writes, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” How many of us really would like for our physical health to be as strong as our spiritual health?
Physically, we need a strong immune system to ward off disease. Spiritually, how strong is our ability to withstand threats? Are we equipped to deal with temptation, false teaching and persecution? We are commanded to be in the world but we are also commanded to not be of the world.
We also need regular exercise. Just as we only thrive physically when we are active, we also only thrive spiritually when we are active. We need to exercise ourselves unto godliness and living God’s kind of life.
A healthy diet is also necessary for good physical health and it is also a necessity for good spiritual health. We need the spiritual nourishment that comes from the word of God. Doing this means we will avoid “spiritual junk food”. We need what the Bible refers to as sound doctrine, that is healthy teaching. We must beware of fluff and anything that is designed to appeal to itching ears.
The prescription for spiritual health is a simple one. A healthy diet and regular exercise will build a strong immune system and our soul will prosper.
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.
May 11, 2023 - Open Door Baptist Worship Center with Pastor Alvin Davis are hosting their 23rd Church Anniversary Service on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2:30pm.
Special guests will be Bishop W.C. Martin and the Bennett Chapel Church of Shelbyville, Texas.
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935.
May 11, 2023 - Hawthorne Missionary Baptist Church is having a fundraising bake sale, proceeds will help send our youth to Church Camp. We will be at Napa on Friday, May 12th starting at 8am going until we sell out. Come out and grab something sweet for Mother's Day!
May 10, 2023 - St. John Baptist Church of Center is hosting Pastor and Wife's 17th Appreciation service for Pastor Winston Kibbles and 1st Lady Terri Kibbles. Everyone is invited to this Great Celebration on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 2pm!!
Special guest is Rev. Roderick Kirkendall of St. Luke Baptist Church, Logansport, Louisiana.
St. John Baptist Church is located at 2308 CR 2050, Center, Texas 75935.
May 8, 2023 - In 1947 Daddy moved his family of eight children to the Jim Boothe rent house across the tracks in East Center, Texas. I was fourteen years old and had heard that revival services were being held in a "Blue-topped" tent across from the Grammar School downtown. We hadn’t been raised in church, but our parents read the Bible to us and taught us strict morality. So when we asked if we could “go to the revival,” Mother told us we could but to come right home.
So the night came and my brother John and I hurriedly made our mile trip across the RR tracks and the Center square. We stopped for a few minutes to listen to Milton Wilkinson electioneering for State Representative, then rushed to the tent. To the pulpit walked 34 year-old old John Rawlings, pastor of Tyler’s Central Baptist Church --- handsome and dynamic. He preached as if he was preaching only to me and while the choir sang “Just As I Am,” I felt a tug in my heart that I’d never felt before. Since I was too timid to walk down the aisle, someone touched me on the shoulder and whispered, “Do you want to know Jesus?” I immediately stepped out, trembling and praying in my heart, “God be merciful to me a sinner — and save me.”
In 1951 I came home from Panola Junior College in Carthage one day and tearfully told Mother --- “Mother, I’m going to be a preacher” --- and we wept together. I later enrolled in the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. My first pastorate was the Patroon Baptist Church and since then I got a B.A. from ETBU in Marshall and later pastored churches both large and small in several states.
Last week Pam and I were converting some of our VCRs t0 DVDs and watched a four hour tape of my building her rifle---(I have built almost a hundred of them over the years) and am proud (in an humble way) of the reputation my custom rifles have received. But watching that tape left me with mixed emotions. I’m almost 90 now, have neuropathy in my hands and feet and can no longer build stocks, fit barrels, etc. But about the time I am lamenting to Pam about it, she played one of my sermons from yesteryear and I suddenly realized something. I write for five newspapers and am working on my second book. Thank you, Lord… for my calling… thank you for something more precious than all my guns, cameras and hobbies combined. Thanks for that night in Center. Thanks for the most wonderful night in my life… the night I found Jesus…
… and Jesus found me.”
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