Shelby County Today

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.”

May 8, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, May 8.

Something very special and kind of cool happened last Friday here in Center, Texas. A photograph was taken on our town square. Doesn't sound that special, you say? Well, here's some background.

On May 5, 1923, a panoramic photograph was taken on that same square. It showed a bustling town with hundreds of people, scores of Model-Ts, lots of horses, and even a team of oxen. Exactly a century later - last Friday, May 5, 2023 - that new photo was taken. Cool, right?

As we compare those two pictures, we also reflect on all that has occurred here in those 100 years.  We remember all the people, all the families, all the generations. Yesterday at First Baptist Center we sang a song called "The Blessing", a song inspired by the blessing found in Numbers 6:24. (Look it up!). The song goes on to also quote Deuteronomy 7:9 - "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations, those who love Him and keep His commandments."

God's blessings to you and yours!

Meet you back here tomorrow,

Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org

May 4, 2023 - St John Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Winston Kibbles invites you to our Annual Usher Day Program May 22, 2023 at 2pm. Guest: Sweet Union Missionary Baptist Church, Billy Gardner - Pastor. Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:24

May 1, 2023 - This Sunday First Baptist Church Timpson will be hosting Jim Glaspy and Susan Martin in concert during the morning service at 10:45am. Both Jim and Susan have been singing their entire life and received multiple awards and recognition for their tremendous talent in playing instruments and singing. Come and be blessed as they minister with Old-Time Gospel and Bluegrass songs this Sunday, May 7, 2023. This is a Free concert! A love offering will be taken up to bless them with.

Susan has been singing since she was a child. She has performed on stage all over the country. She has an astonishingly dynamic vocal range and has the ability to sing any style of music, but her favorite is American Classics along with Bluegrass and Old-Time Gospel music.

Jim was born into a Bluegrass family and has been performing on stage since 1967. He started singing in his family’s living room and moved into professional touring in his early twenties. Jim has played concert halls and Bluegrass festivals all over the U.S; performing with musical greats such as The Dillards, Albert Lee, Mac Wiseman, Chubby Wise, and Gov. Jimmy Davis. Jim is an accomplished musician who achieved national status on the Dobro in 1988. He also won the Texas State Flat-Picking Guitar Championship in 2005. Doug Dillard is quoted as saying, “A superlative musician and singer. He has great artistry when he performs.” Jim has a large genre of music including Jazz, Folk, and Bluegrass. But his first love is Old-Time Gospel.

For more information please call the church office at 936-254-2220.