+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
August 26, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, August 26.
Bro. David is on vacation this week and will be reprinting some favorite devotions. This one originally ran on June 21, 2020.
As the story goes, the writer Ernest Hemingway was having dinner with some friends, when he offered a challenge. Who could write the best story - using only six words? Everyone put in $10, and the winner would get the pot. Hemingway won his own contest when he wrote... For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.
You could think about that story for a long time.
When I began writing these daily devotions, I decided to never write more than you could read in two minutes. I'd rather leave out some good parts, than write to my heart's content - and scare you off. William Shakespeare famously wrote, "brevity is the soul of wit.” And then there's the old show business motto, "always leave them wanting more.” So, in that spirit, here's some scripture thoughts - in six words or less.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Philippians 2:14
I and my Father are one. John 10:30
Jesus wept. John 11:35
Rejoice always. I Thessalonians 5:16
And, finally, there's this three-word story that Jesus told one Friday afternoon... It is finished!
You could think about that story for a long time.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
August 22, 2024 - Benford Chapel Baptist Church is having its Annual Homecoming and Revival.
A three night revival is slated to be held September 9-11 at 7pm nightly.
Revival speaker will be Bishop Joseph Hall, Jr.
Homecoming speaker Dr. Freddie Wilson of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Center Tx. 2nd Sunday, September 8 at 2:30pm.
Benford Chapel Baptist Church is located at 126 Martin Luther King Street Tenaha, Tx. 75974.
August 22, 2024 - There is a very beautiful and meaningful passage of scripture in Nahum 1:7. This prophet of God writes, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” The Lord is Good. A message of tranquility in a time of trouble. A message of comfort in a time of chaos. A message of peace in a time of peril.
Have you ever given thought to a simple statement like “The Lord is good”? God is good. He is not a dictator bent on punishment. He is not a tyrant waiting to pounce on us. To be sure, it reminds me of the simple prayer children say at mealtime that begins…”God is great, God is good,” And He is! When you look at the world God has created for us, when you think of his provisions for us, it shouts loudly of the goodness of God.
God is a stronghold when trouble comes into our lives. Let’s be honest, trouble comes to every life. Yet, when trouble comes, the Lord meets us there. In times of sickness, He is there. In times of emotional stress and depression, the Lord is present. He is with us in all our trials and tribulations.
Yet, when we come to the cross, we see the greatest demonstration of the goodness of God. We see the demonstration of God’s mercy and his love. John declares that God so loved us that He gave his son to die for our sins. Truly, as Nahum said, “the Lord is good”. Therefore, He is worthy of our faith.
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
August 19, 2024 - Back to Awana starts at 6pm on Wednesday, August 28 with a Youth Ministry Bash at Jackson Missionary Baptist Church. Awana is for ages 2 years through the 12th grade. All we need is you!
Bring your towel and join in as the 2024-2025 Awana Year begins with Food, Fun, and Games!
Jackson Missionary Baptist Church is located at 11620 St Hwy 7 East, Joaquin, Texas.
August 19, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, August 19.
I love games. All kinds of games. Card games, board games, word games, puzzles, you name it! But in my twenties my favorite game was Trivial Pursuit. Maybe you've played it, too. It came out in 1981 and took the country by storm. Not as popular today, but I've still got one in my games closet and if you want to challenge me - just say the word!
It would be inappropriate and inaccurate to call the Word of God trivial. But, with respect, here are a few items that could be described as Bible trivia.
- It took over a thousand years to write the Old Testament, the New Testament was penned in less than 70.
- Women read the Bible more than men, older people more than younger, and African Americans more than any other race.
- China produces more Bibles than any other country.
- Esther is the only book of the Bible that never mentions the name of God.
- The name David is found over 1100 times in the Bible, second only to the name Jesus.
- There are six Mary's in the New Testament.
- Horses are mentioned 156 times in the Bible, dogs 41 times, cats . . . zero.
- 93 women speak in the Bible. Their words make up about 1% of God's Word.
- The word hate is found about 90 times in the Bible, but we read the word love more than 300 times.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
August 15, 2024 - The night that Jesus was betrayed, once the Roman soldiers seized Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, things started to happen in rapid succession. He was brought before Annas and then Caiphas and then to the Sanhedrin. He was sent to Pilate and Pilate sent Him to Herod and then Herod sent Him back to Pilate. Pilate told them he found no fault in Jesus. It was the custom that a prisoner would be released at the Passover and Pilate gave the people a choice of Jesus or Barabbas. Pilate thought this would be a no-brainer. After all Barabbas was a robber, a criminal, and yet, the people wanted Barabbas released.
So, then, Pilate asked the supreme question, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22) That is a question that is still being asked by men and women in our world today. Pilate tried to wash the blood of Jesus from his hands, he is still trying to get them clean. You see, Pilate knew what the right thing to do was, but the right thing was not the politically expedient thing. So, we see the Roman governor without the courage to do what was right.
The question for us today is what will we do with Jesus? We can receive Him or reject Him. We can obey Him or disobey Him. We can openly confess our faith in Him or we can deny Him. We can live a life of obedience or a life of disobedience. What will you do with Jesus?
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
August 13, 2024 - Blount Chapel Baptist Church of Center and Pastor Byron Coutee, Jr. are hosting Family and Friends’ Day on Sunday, September 1, 2024 at 3pm.
Special Guest is Pastor Terrance Hicks with Power of the Word Ministries, Nacogdoches, Texas.
A friend liveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. ~ Proverbs 17:17
August 12, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, August 12
School starts back tomorrow here in Center, Texas. Children and teenagers are making all those last-minute preparations for the big day. But teachers have been preparing for weeks. And yesterday, at First Baptist Center, we took a moment to recognize, encourage, and pray for our educators. It was our honor to honor them. As school bells are about to ring, here's some thoughts about teachers.
*It takes a big heart to shape little minds.
*Teaching is the profession that creates all the other professions.
*A teacher's influence cannot be erased.
*Anyone who helps a child is a hero to me. Mr. Rogers
*Teachers change the world, one child at a time.
*A teacher is like a candle, that consumes itself to light the way.
*I touch the future. I'm a teacher. Christa McAuliff
Matthew 7:28 - When Jesus had finished these words, the crowd was amazed at his teaching.
God bless teachers.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
August 9, 2024 - A Call To Help Ministries to host community feeding Saturday, August 10th from 12 noon to 2pm at 516 Shelbyville Street in Center. You must call to get name placed on the list by Friday, August 9th by 5pm. Call 936-427-2255.
August 8, 2024 - There are very few who are unaware that Pentecost was the birthday of the New Testament Church. However, there never would have been Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit like the Apostles had if the upper room had been like the habits of so many in our day and time. If the attitude of the upper room had been like today, then the New Testament record might have read like this:
“The meeting was called for the first day of the week; but so many things interfered that of the company of 120 only 40 were able to be in attendance. Peter and his wife had bought a cottage on Lake Galilee and were away from the hot city over the weekend. Bartholomew had guests and of course could not come. Philip and his family had been up late the night before and overslept. Andrew had a business conference about a new fishing boat. James had to stay home and cut the grass.”
All of that raises a question does it not? If the church would never have been born under those circumstances, then how can it possibly survive, much less grow under those circumstances?
That’s why people need to be part of the local church and involved n the work of the local church. We need to contribute a sense of vitality to the church. Until we do, the world will continue to heckle our “faith” as a popular indoor sport. How much responsibility do you feel toward the local church?
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
Pages
