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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
May 21, 2026 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church is hosting the 19th Pastor and Wife Anniversary for Pastor Winston and 1st Lady Terri Kibbles on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 2:30pm.
"Called and Chosen for This Season" Isaiah 61:1-2
Guest speaker for the event is Pastor W.R. Ricks, First Missionary Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas.
May 21, 2026 - In the long ago, when God appeared to Moses out of that burning bush, He was sending Moses on an errand to the ruler of Egypt. He was going on a mission to the king for his King. He needed credentials.
God asked him, “What is that in thine hand?” Moses answered, “A rod.” What was simply a stick in the hand of Moses, by the power of God became the force that brought the plagues on the land of Egypt, divided the Red Sea and brought water from a rock. All of that when Moses used it as God directed him. Little things, when placed in the hand of God become great things.
In the hands of a young shepherd boy named David, a sling and five small smooth stones were enough to bring down a Philistine giant. A young boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish when placed in the hands of Jesus and with his blessing became enough to feed five thousand.
Each of us have in our hands a decision. The decision of whether or not we are going to live God’s kind of life. God can take our life and make it something big, wonderful, useful and beautiful. When we submit ourselves to the Lord, when we allow God to direct our lives, we can become a mighty force for good.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
May 20, 2026 - New Hope Cemetery annual homecoming will be on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 12 noon. Please bring your lawn chairs and favorite dishes.
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation for the upkeep of the cemetery, please send your checks to:
New Hope Cemetery Association
c/o Alyson Harris Porter
1597 FM 2974
Center, TX 75935
May 18, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, May 18.
I had the blessing yesterday of preaching at a lovely little church near my home in Tenaha, Texas. A warm and welcoming fellowship of believers, a lighthouse on a hill for over a century. The church literally sits atop a hill, overlooking miles and miles of beautiful green pastures, pastures filled with contented Texas cows. It’s a picture. As I left the sanctuary following worship, I paused to take it all in. And a scripture verse came to mind.
“Every beast of the forest is mine, says the Lord, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10
Sometimes we pat ourselves on the back when we put a little money in the offering plate, or maybe we congratulate ourselves for giving to a special ministry or mission project. But when you really think about it, it’s kind of ridiculous. It’s like if I borrowed my neighbor’s lawn mower, used it, gave it back - and then celebrated MY generosity! Everything we have comes from God and literally belongs to Him. Our houses, our possessions, our jobs, our families . . . the cattle on a thousand hills.
He asks only that we be good stewards of His blessings. And that we be careful not to let all these things become more important than our relationship with Him, our relationship with “the Giver of all good gifts”.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
May 15, 2026 - Everyone is invited to come to the West Hamilton Cemetery Homecoming on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
We will begin at 11am With singing followed by a message by Pastor Bro. Wayne Butler.
Then we will have the cemetery association meeting followed by a covered dish meal. Singing in the afternoon for all interested in hearing, or singing praise to the Lord.
Come and enjoy fellowship together and honor our loved one who have gone on.
For more information please call Maxine Parker, 936-275-3897
May 14, 2026 - Sometimes, the best thing we can do is just get out of the way, not make any comment and let the word of God do all the talking. The dictionary defines obedience as “compliance with an order, request or law or submission to another’s authority.”
That said, here is what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:21; “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (KJV)
Here is that same passage in some other translations:
“It is not everyone who keeps saying ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the man who actually does my Heavenly Father’s will.” (Phillips)
“Knowing the correct password – saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance – isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience – doing what my Father wills.” (The Message)
“Not all those who say “You are our Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants.” (New Century Version)
Seems like this concept of “obedience” that is “living God’s kind of Life” just might be important.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
May 12, 2026 - Join First Methodist Church in Center to celebrate Pastor Malcolm Monroe and his faithful years of ministry and leadership at a reception following the 10am worship service on Sunday, June 7th.
Thank you, Pastor Malcolm, for your dedication, faithfulness, and the lasting impact you've made.
First Methodist Church is located at 211 Porter Street, Center, TX 75935.
May 11, 2026 - Mt. Calvary Full Gospel Church is hosting a Meet and Greet from 11am until 4pm on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Come enjoy free food, fellowship, and fun for all ages!
The church is located at 2925 FM 417, Shelbyville, Texas 75973.
May 11, 2026 - The annual Arcadia/Powdrill Cemetery homecoming will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Neil Grant’s barn (11360 FM 1645), one mile north of the intersection with FM 138. Potluck lunch will take place at 12 noon followed by a short Powdrill Cemetery business meeting and election of new cemetery board members.
Bring your favorite dish, something to drink, and contributions for the Powdrill Cemetery Fund. This is a great opportunity for friends and relatives to visit the cemetery grounds, enjoy good food, and visit with all who have an interest in the historic Powdrill Cemetery and the Arcadia Community.
If you are unable to attend, please mail contributions and donations for cemetery upkeep and preservation to: Powdrill Cemetery Fund, Derek Grant DVM, 549 Lakewood Drive, Center, Texas 75935. Due to the cost of printing and postage please include your email address and cell phone number as we are considering going to digital communication.
May 11, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, May 11.
I’m a committed collector - record albums and sheet music, vintage cameras and antique telephones, old coins and music boxes, political buttons and coca-cola memorabilia, wooden boxes and ceramic elephants. But my favorite thing to collect, and my biggest collection... is books. My latest library count is about 2000 volumes. Some people buy fancy cars. Some people buy boats or fine watches or the latest fashions. I buy books.
What would you guess is the highest selling book in history? Well, the novel “Don Quixote” is said to have sold over 400 million copies. Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” rings in at 200 million. In our era, the “Harry Potter” series tops out at 500 million units, and my favorite novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” has garnered over 40 million in sales.
But there’s one book that leaves all the others in the dust. The Book. It’s estimated that, to date, there have been over seven BILLION Bibles sold. And it doesn’t stop there. The Bible is also the book that is most often given away. The Gideons distributed over 70 million copies of The Word just last year. Take your own inventory. How many Bibles do you have in your house? How many have you owned over your lifetime? How many have you given as gifts? Perhaps your primary access to God’s Word now is electronic. Maybe you spend more time at sites like Bible Gateway and Bible Hub than you do within the literal pages.
I haven’t read all 2000 books in my library. Some were purchased and then just placed on a shelf. But that’s no place for a Bible. The Bible is a book to be read. The Bible is a book to be studied, and memorized, and meditated upon, and cherished. The Bible is a treasure.
Open one - from your collection - today.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
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