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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 3, 2024 - Ahoy Maties!
You're invited to join First Methodist Church Center VBS for three evenings Exploding with Fun-Filled Adventures as the VBS crew discovers the ways to find Jesus in their Deep Blue Seas!
June 11 - 13 5:30pm to 7:30pm the VBS Crew would love to have you volunteer too!
For VBS or to Volunteer:
Contact Terri Lacher 936-488-8701
Register online by clicking here
June 3, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, June 3.
Today is opening day for Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Center. It's going to be a busy week! It's going to be a blessing! And of all the VBS activities, perhaps the one that's the biggest blessing . . . is scripture memorization. I have no doubt that some of the verses that are firmly implanted in my brain were ones that I learned as a child - at Vacation Bible School!
Is scripture memorization part of your spiritual journey? It should be. It's a blessing for the mind and the soul. A spiritual work-out. Mental calisthenics. And like any exercise regimen, you need to start slowly. First, pick a verse that you're already familiar with. And then Read, Write, Repeat.
Read it through several times. Be sure to pick a translation that you're comfortable reading. Then write it down. Now you're using a slightly different part of your brain and that's good reinforcement. Write it in a journal. Write it on post-it notes and put them on your bathroom mirror or your refrigerator. Speak the verse out loud. Listen to the verse. Websites like Bible Gateway have audio features. Use a variety of tools. And then repeat, repeat, repeat.
Every day, in our modern culture, we're bombarded with information. Much of it is frivolous and trivial. Some of it is negative and harmful. Why not spend a little time memorizing the Word? Time well spent!
Proverbs 3:3. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
May 30, 2024 - The title suggests it all. How important is God in our lives? Is Jesus Christ the Lord and Master of your life? You see, if Jesus Christ is not Lord of ALL of your life, He is not Lord AT ALL in your life. Yet, how many times do we let the cares and concerns of life in our modern world crowd out the things of God? How often do we seem to have time and energy to engage in activities for our pleasure and enjoyment but seem to have little or no energy when it comes to things that involve the service and worship of God?
How would we feel. . .
- If God gave us the same amount of time and attention that we devote to Him?
- If God put as many things ahead of us as we put ahead of Him?
- If God offered as many excuses as we do? And if the excuses were no more justifiable than ours?
- If God’s promises were no more certain than ours?
- If God withheld His blessings from us as we withhold our offerings from Him?
- If God loved Himself as much as we love ourselves and gave as little thought to us as we give to Him?
Tragically, so often we loudly proclaim our love and devotion for God and our words ring hollow. They ring hollow because our actions belie our verbal proclamation. Let’s make sure our devotion to God is real.
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online www.centerchurchofchrist.com
May 28, 2024 - Joaquin Methodist is having Bible School from June 3 thru 7 at the church in Joaquin. 'All Aboard for Jesus' is our theme with trains everywhere you look. We even have train rides for the little ones. Ages 3 thru high school are welcome from 9am until 12 noon each day with a light lunch served daily. We will have music, crafts, science and lots of fun. Join us. All are welcome.
May 28, 2024 - Join in Revival services with Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church Bro. Martin Ferguson, Pastor, May 27 - May 31 starting at 7pm.
Bro. Brian Sellars, Evangelist; Bro. Jay Pollan, Music Director; Dr. Travis Worsham, Pianist.
Lone Cedar Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2068 FM 3082, Joaquin, Texas 75954.
"And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God." Ecclesiastes 3:13
May 27, 2024 - When I was a college ministerial student, I was invited to preach at the Neuville Baptist Church near Center, Texas. It was a "Half-time Church" meeting on the first and third Sundays of each month. I was already preaching on the second and fourth Sundays at the Patroon Baptist Church, another "Half-Time Church." So, these two half-time churches now had me… a half-grown Baptist preacher… preaching for them.
I arrived at the church on a cold, rainy morning… and carefully maneuvered my '49 Mercury down to the church. As the members arrived, they walked straight to the center of the small frame building and stood… hands to their back… around a small wood heater… and when everyone was warm, we sat down together for Sunday School.
After Sunday School, I stepped out on the front steps and spotted two brothers (Fate and Jehu Bailey) walking up the clay hill with a stringer of small catfish.
"Y'all come in for church," I hollered. "Oh, no, we're too muddy," they quickly replied. But after we talked a while, they laid their muddy rubber boots and fish on the steps and came inside.
Afterwards I went home to eat with them and while Fate played his guitar, Jehu cooked. My mouth literally watered from the aroma coming from the kitchen. Jehu's meal was both simple and delicious: fried catfish and eggs scrambled with green onions. It was a meal I have never forgotten…
But as much as I enjoyed it, it's a wonder that I have never… at any time since then… eaten scrambled eggs with green onions again. But that doesn't mean I never will. I'll probably try it again…
… some day.
May 27, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Monday, May 27.
Today at 11AM our community will gather at our historic courthouse to commemorate Memorial Day. A program of music and presentations and traditions will be hosted by our VFW in the courtroom. At the close the crowd will move to the flag plaza for the playing of Taps. A memorable moment. A time to remember.
Memorial Day was inspired by a 19th Century Southern tradition called Decoration Day. It was a day for families to go to the cemetery to honor their ancestors and to plant flowers. In the years following the Civil War the practice expanded to the North. After World War II, the name Memorial Day became generally accepted, but it wasn't made an official federal holiday until 1967.
Wherever you are today, take a moment to remember the fallen. Remember those who, as Abraham Lincoln put it, "gave the last full measure of devotion".
Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for a friend. John 15:13
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
May 24, 2024 - Join First Baptist Church Timpson for Vacation Bible School June 3-7, 5:30-8pm!
Kids (preK-6th) will be challenged as they discover that God’s truth never changes, everyone needs Jesus, and to learn to speak the truth in love. Adventure awaits each day as kids explore tide pools, spot orcas, fly kites, and watch the mighty waves crash up against the immovable Breaker Rock!
May 23, 2024 - Bennett Chapel MBC church family invites everyone to worship with us as we celebrate 39 devout years of service from Bishop WC and First Lady Donna Martin on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 3:30pm. Special Guest is Bishop RL Brazzle and the BTM Ministry from Longview, TX.
May 23, 2024 - There is a very significant passage in Luke chapter 11. Jesus had come from prayer, and his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples.” Those men had never seen prayer like that. They were accustomed to much prayer in their religion, but to them prayer was a duty and a part of their ritual. In the life of Jesus, they saw prayer as a fresh and more intimate approach to God.
You see, prayer in the life of Jesus was extremely important. Not only was it his regular habit, but it was also his resort in every situation, whatever the nature of that situation might be. When perplexed, he prayed. When hungry for fellowship, he prayed. If he was fatigued in body or weary in spirit, he would go to the Father in prayer.
We read in Mark 1:25 that Jesus started his day with prayer. Mark writes, “Rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Prayer brought Jesus unmeasured power and kept the flow unbroken and undiminished. There is no emergency, no difficulty, no necessity and no temptation that will not yield to prayer if we practice it as Jesus practiced it.
Yet, we must ask ourselves if prayer is as important a part of our lives as it should be? Is prayer a habit of our lives or something we use “only in emergencies”? Daily prayer, daily talking with God should be a part of our lives.
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
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