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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
June 30, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 30. Over the next four days we’ll take a patriotic journey that leads us to this Friday, our nation’s 249th birthday - the 4th of July!
In 1831, a young 24-year-old minister named Samuel Francis Smith was concerned about the spiritual condition of his young country. He decided to write a hymn that would, in his words, “bring America back to God”. His song - “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” - became hugely popular and was considered, for a hundred years, to be America’s unofficial national anthem.
That changed in 1931, when “The Star Spangled Banner” was voted to be our official song. I would have voted for Rev. Smith’s composition. For one thing, it’s so much easier to sing! In the last century, it has continued to be sung whenever Americans celebrate our freedom. In 1939, opera star Marian Anderson was barred from giving a concert at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. because of the color of her skin. Instead, on Easter Sunday, she stood before an integrated crowd of 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial. And she sang this song.
On August 28, 1963, a young 34-year-old minister named Martin Luther King stood before 250,000 people at that same Lincoln Memorial. His legendary “I Have a Dream” speech quoted the final phrase from Samuel Smith’s hymn, as he passionately exhorted his country to “Let Freedom Ring!” For almost two centuries now this patriotic song has encouraged us to do just that, as it brings honor to our country, and to our God.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
June 30, 2025 - Strong Triumph Church is hosting a Three Days Conference - A Spiritual Awakening starting July 18 and ending July 20.
Friday, July 18th at 7:00pm
Saturday, July 19th at 7:00pm
Sunday, July 20th at 2:00pm
For more information, contact Elder FayeDell Allen at 936-572-5810 or the church at 936-368-2478.
June 27, 2025 - Join us Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 2 pm for our Sneakers and T-Shirt service at First Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Center. We have a seat saved for you! Following service there will me a meal, cake walk, games set up, an inflatable obstacle course for the kiddos, and snow cones.
The church address is 480 FM 2026, Center, Texas. The church is lead by Pastor Richard Goodwin, Sr.. Come and worship with us!
June 26, 2025 - If you come to our home and look in the refrigerator for the margarine, you won’t find any. You will, however, find real, sweet cream butter in both salted and unsalted varieties. We use butter at our house, lots of butter and I have the waistline to prove it! This morning, as I applied a generous amount of butter to my biscuits, I watched it turn into a beautiful golden liquid as it soaked into that dry biscuit. That beautiful golden liquid made me think of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12, you know, the passage we call the “golden rule.”
Jesus said, “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”. Have you ever thought what a difference that would make in our world if we put that into practice in our lives? Some of the luster of that passage has been lost because it is tossed about so glibly and has been used on so many “plaques” that we hang on the wall. Yet, just like generous application of golden butter enriches a biscuit (or anything else!) every relationship in our lives could be improved and enriched by a generous application of Jesus’ “golden rule.”
If we would take a moment and remember these words of Jesus, it would drastically change our disposition, our words and our actions. Take a look at life from the other person’s point of view. Let’s make sure we use a portion of the golden rule in our lives as generously as the portion of butter we want on our biscuits!
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
June 23, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 23.
Would you say that Jesus Christ is at the center of the world in 2025? Perhaps you would say that that was once the case, but that culture has changed, has diversified, has grown to include many different beliefs, many different “ways” to God. Perhaps. But Jesus Christ definitely remains at the center of the most precious thing in our world. No matter who you are, or where you live, or what you believe, Christ is the center of... time.
In the 6th century, a monk devised a new way of recording time. He traced it back to the moment he supposed that Christ was born. Every year before that moment was categorized as B.C. (before Christ), and every year after as A.D. (anno domini - the year of our Lord). This new concept of time was not widely used until the 9th century. But since then, and for over a thousand years, Christ has been the center of time.
Orthodox Jews date time from the supposed moment of Creation. Muslims start counting from the year that Muhammad fled from Mecca. But these are merely religious designations, and Jews and Muslims alike, in the world of culture and commerce, use the system that finds its foundation in the little village of Bethlehem. To bypass the spiritual connection, some historians use CE (common era) and BCE (before common era), but this doesn’t change the fact that the year that they are labeling is tied to Jesus.
And so, on this day, June 23, in the year of our Lord 2025, we recall these words - “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
June 19, 2025 - Paul’s second letter to Timothy is the last of his letters that has been preserved for us. In chapter 1 and verse 12 he writes, “I know whom I have believed”. Dr. Moffatt’s translation reads: “I know whom I have trusted”.
Notice what Paul says. He does not say he knows what he believes. He says he knows the one he has trusted. It was personal with Paul. His trust was in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Paul trusted Jesus completely. No reservations. No hedging or contingency plans. No hesitation. He had placed his faith in a person, not merely a message.
A little later in this letter, chapter 4, he tells young Timothy that the time of his departure is at hand. However, he tells him that a crown of righteousness is waiting for him.
The faith that sustained Paul in his final imprisonment and execution is available to us. Paul had made Jesus Christ the Lord and Master of his life when he was obedient to the things Ananias told him to do. When we make Jesus the Lord and Master of our lives by our obedience and putting Him on in baptism and living obedient to His will, like Paul we can know whom we have believed, we can know whom we have trusted and we can face the end of life with the same confidence Paul had that a crown of righteousness is waiting for us.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
June 19, 2025 - Church garage sale in the Neuville Community benefiting the youth group at Neuville Baptist Church located at 1258 FM 2140 south of Center. Days and times of the sale will be Friday, June 20, 8am - 4:30pm and Saturday, June 21, 8am - 12pm.
June 18, 2025 - Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church is excited to announce its 11th Anniversary celebration this Sunday, June 22nd, and invites the entire community to join them for a special day of worship, fellowship, and fun.
The anniversary festivities will begin with Sunday School at 10:15am and morning service at 11am, featuring an inspiring message and uplifting music. Following the service, attendees are invited to stay for a time of food and fellowship, along with exciting activities, including a slip and slide, perfect for all ages.
"We are incredibly grateful for eleven years of God's faithfulness and the vibrant community we've built here at Pleasant Grove MBC," said Pastor Josh Crawford. "This anniversary is not just a celebration of our past, but a stepping stone into a future where we continue to grow, serve, and welcome new members into our church family. We would love for you to come worship with us, experience our warm community, and stay for the fun activities."
Pleasant Grove MBC is located at 1440 CR 1470, Timpson, TX 75975. This event is a perfect opportunity for individuals and families looking for a welcoming church home to connect with the Pleasant Grove MBC community.
For more information about Pleasant Grove MBC and the anniversary celebration, please contact Pastor Josh Crawford at 936-572-5303.
About Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church:
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church is a community-focused church dedicated to sharing the love of Christ and fostering a welcoming environment for all. Located in Timpson, TX, the church offers regular services, community outreach programs, and opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship.
June 17, 2025 - Strong Triumph Church Family & Friends Day Sunday June 22, 2025 at 2pm.
Guest speaker Minister Cameron Cloudy of Abundant Love Ministries
Host Shepherd is Elder Faye Dell Allen.
Address 2611 County Road 2545 Shelbyville, Tx 75973
Shepherd Allen phone number - 936-572-5810
Church phone number - 936-368-2478
June 16, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, June 16.
I read somewhere that the Eskimos have hundreds of different names for “snow”. I’m not sure that that’s true, but it’s an interesting idea - the idea that the more important something is to you, the more you’ll think about it, and the more ways you’ll try to describe it. Snow must be pretty important to Eskimos.
With that in mind, here - off the top of my head - are some synonyms of the word “heaven”.
Paradise / Glory / Beulah Land / The New Jerusalem / My Father’s House / The Pearly Gates / Eden / Zion /
Abraham’s Bosom / The Afterlife / My Eternal Home / The Sweet By and By / Beyond the Blue / Life Everlasting / Elysian Fields / The Land of Milk and Honey / Over Jordan / The Happy Hunting Ground / The City of God / The Promised Land / Pie in the Sky / Higher Ground / The Life to Come / The Sky / The Next Life / Up Yonder /
The Sweet Hereafter / The Streets of Gold / The Pearly White City / Mansion Over the Hilltop / Canaan / God’s Celestial Shore / Gloryland
Wow! That’s a lot of names. Heaven must be pretty important to us.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
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