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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
Sat, Oct 18
October 7, 2025 - On the 3rd Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 7pm, New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Tenaha, Texas, will be honoring their musicians (Sis. Janice Garrett, Bro Terrence Garrett, and Bro. Aiden Brooks). We are asking your choir to come and rendered an A & B selection.
On the 4th Sunday, October 26, 2026, at 1pm, New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Tenaha, Texas, will be celebrating their Annual Harvest Program. Minister James Moseley, Tyler, Texas, will being the message. Everyone is cordially invited to attend.
Rayford Caraway, Pastor
Sun, Oct 19
October 13, 2025 - The Patroon Cemetery Association will hold its Annual Meeting and luncheon on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 12:30pm. After consideration of whether to return the meeting to the cemetery, the Cemetery Board decided Patroon Baptist Church Fellowship Hall would be the most cost-effective location. You are able to visit the cemetery and your loved one before or after the meeting.
The Annual business meeting will begin at 12:30pm and lunch will follow. Please bring your favorite covered dish or dessert.
You are welcome to attend Patroon Baptist Church Services. Sunday School begins at 10am and Church Service at 11am.
The importance of a Cemetery Reunion:
Donations are needed for the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery. Our cemetery is a historical cemetery and this event has always brought together families and friends to honor their loved ones.
For those unable to attend and who would like to donate please mail checks to:
Patroon Cemetery Association
c/o Chris Windham,Treasurer
2088 CR 2798
Shelbyville,TX 75973
Hope to see you there!
Sun, Oct 26
September 10, 2025 - First Methodist Church of Shelbyville would like to invite everyone to our 200th Anniversary on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 2pm where we will celebrate 200 years since the formation of our congregation. The speaker will be Bishop Kenneth Levingston.
The First Methodist Church of Shelbyville was established in Shelbyville in 1825. As years passed, the name was changed to First Methodist Church in conformity with many historical records. Tradition holds that the first church service held in Shelbyville was held by “Brother” James English, a local Methodist preacher and circuit rider. As one approaches this, now, sleepy, but once lively community deep in the piney woods, the spire of the First Methodist Church may be seen from some distance. As early as the 1820’s another church building stood on the same spot, but it was destroyed by a storm and rebuilt in 1897.
For more information contact, Pastor Sherry Harding at saharding1969@gmail.com.
Faith
October 14, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, October 14.
This news just in - The Rapture didn’t happen... again! You may have noticed the internet story last month about a South African pastor, Joshua Mhlakela, who predicted that The Rapture would occur on September 23. Well, we all woke up on September 24, still here on planet Earth. After that, one might think that Pastor Mhlakela would choose to take a break from posting his predictions to the world - but he’s not a quitter! He quickly informed us that his calculations had been slightly off and that it would happen, instead, on October 8. Oh well, perhaps the third time will be the charm. I’m thinking that this won’t be the last time we hear from the esteemed pastor.
People predicting the end of the world is certainly not a new phenomenon. The difference now is that anybody with a smart phone can share their prediction with the entire world. But what is The Rapture anyway? The word “rapture” doesn’t actually occur in the Bible, and the doctrine of Christians suddenly disappearing from the earth wasn’t widely preached until about two hundred years ago. Beliefs about the end times remains one of the most diverse and divided areas in Christian theology. I grew up in a church where The Rapture was preached, and it continues to echo from many pulpits today. And some continue to predict the date that it will happen.
Perhaps Matthew 24:36 could be a source of wisdom for Joshua Mhlakela - and for us. Jesus said, “but about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” And Christ, in verse 44, adds this postscript, “so you must remain ready.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
October 13, 2025 - The Patroon Cemetery Association will hold its Annual Meeting and luncheon on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 12:30pm. After consideration of whether to return the meeting to the cemetery, the Cemetery Board decided Patroon Baptist Church Fellowship Hall would be the most cost-effective location. You are able to visit the cemetery and your loved one before or after the meeting.
The Annual business meeting will begin at 12:30pm and lunch will follow. Please bring your favorite covered dish or dessert.
You are welcome to attend Patroon Baptist Church Services. Sunday School begins at 10am and Church Service at 11am.
The importance of a Cemetery Reunion:
Donations are needed for the maintenance and preservation of the cemetery. Our cemetery is a historical cemetery and this event has always brought together families and friends to honor their loved ones.
For those unable to attend and who would like to donate please mail checks to:
Patroon Cemetery Association
c/o Chris Windham,Treasurer
2088 CR 2798
Shelbyville,TX 75973
Hope to see you there!
October 13, 2025 - Open Door Women Ministries presents the 2025 Women’s Conference on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 10am at Open Door Baptist Church, 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas. Speakers are Sister Stephanie Hicks, Minister Nicole Ross, Minister Abril Wright, and Elder Sheila Willis.
October 9, 2025 - To my mind, “Sonnets From The Portuguese” is one of the most beautiful works to come from the pen of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The most familiar passage from that great work reads, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” My favorite is a bit more obscure.
Hidden among the lines of the poem are these words, “The face of all the world is changed, I think, since first I heard the footsteps of thy soul”. Of course, this poem was a love poem. It was written by a woman to the man of her choice. My friends, those words have a spiritual application to those who are followers of Jesus Christ.
You see, Jesus has the power to transform lives. There are many examples in the New Testament of those whose lives were never the same since they first heard the footsteps of Jesus in their soul. Think of the sinful woman dragged before Jesus early one morning, caught in adultery. What about the Jewish ruler, Nicodemus who came to see Jesus late one night? There was the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed. Then there were the two tax collectors, Matthew and Zacchaeus along with those nameless souls who were healed of their various infirmities.
When we truly come to know Jesus Christ, our lives will never be the same either. If our lives have not been transformed by Jesus, then maybe we have never made Him the Lord and Master of our lives. Perhaps it’s time for us to fully surrender our stubborn will to His.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
October 7, 2025 - On the 3rd Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 7pm, New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Tenaha, Texas, will be honoring their musicians (Sis. Janice Garrett, Bro Terrence Garrett, and Bro. Aiden Brooks). We are asking your choir to come and rendered an A & B selection.
On the 4th Sunday, October 26, 2026, at 1pm, New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Tenaha, Texas, will be celebrating their Annual Harvest Program. Minister James Moseley, Tyler, Texas, will being the message. Everyone is cordially invited to attend.
Rayford Caraway, Pastor
October 7, 2025 - The Annual Short Cemetery Homecoming is set for Sunday, October 12th. Please make plans to attend and see the new progress being made at the cemetery. Lunch on the grounds at 12 noon. Help with the upkeep of the cemetery by making donations in person or mailing them to Short Cemetery, P.O. Box 915, Center, Texas 75935. For more information call John at 936-239-7100 or Bubba at 936-590-1252.
October 7, 2025 - The Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a Bake Sale on Saturday, October 11, 2025 on the Timpson Square from 10am until sold out!
October 6, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, October 6.
On October 6, 1952, a new play opened in London. It was called “The Mousetrap”. Written by mystery author Agatha Christie, it got decent reviews from the critics, and Agatha thought it might run for a year, maybe two. It is STILL running! After 73 years, 400 different actors, 30,000 performances, and 10 million audience members, The Mousetrap has the record for the longest consecutive theatrical run in history. That’s a fantastic legacy of incredible longevity.
The power of longevity is often underestimated, as our culture is constantly pulled toward the next new thing. The things that have stuck around for years, lasted for decades, endured for centuries - even millennia - shape our lives in countless ways. The plays of the author William Shakespeare still delight us and inspire us. And the words of the biblical authors continue to light our path and guide our steps.
How old is the Bible? It’s difficult to answer that question with any specific accuracy, but most scholars believe His Word began to be written down over 3000 years ago. The Book of Job may be the oldest, maybe 1500 B.C. The last Old Testament book, Malachi, is thought to be the final one penned, about 400 years before Bethlehem. The writing of the New Testament was compressed into a much smaller time frame, from about 50 A.D. - Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia - to about 95 A.D. - John’s mighty Revelation.
Ancient words.
Christian music artist, Micheal W. Smith, penned a song by that title. I leave you with a few of those words this morning.
Holy words long preserved
for our walk through this world
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home
Ancient words, ever true
Changing me, changing you
We have come with open hearts
Oh, let the ancient words impart
We have come with open hearts
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
October 3, 2025 - Mt. Herman Missionary Baptist Church, 9181 State Highway 7 West, Center Texas, will have revival services October 8th, 9th and 10th at 7:00 each evening. Evangelist will be Bro. Brandon Jones. Pastor is Bro. Don Moore. Looking forward to seeing you there.
October 2, 2025 - 2nd Sunday, Mt. Gillion Baptist Church In Center, Texas will be celebrating their Annual Harvest program on October 12, 2025 at 10:30am. Everyone Is cordially invited to attend.
Rayford Caraway, Pastor
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