Shelby County Today

November 6, 2025 - According to the teachings of Jesus, every person is going through one of two gates. Either they are choosing to enter the narrow gate and the narrow way that leads to life or they are choosing the broad way which leads through the broad gate to destruction. 

These two ideas represent two ways of life. One represents the way of good while the other represents the way of evil. The thought taught by Jesus in Matthew 7 is that more people will follow the easy and popular way of life than the one prescribed in the scriptures. 

This teaching is harmonious with another of the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 22:14. Here he says, “for many shall be called, but few chosen”. That indicates there will be only a few people comparatively speaking, who are interested in the Lord’s way enough to follow it and be saved. Jesus makes his call this way, “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there at. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” 

In this Jesus is warning people to be very careful how they live. Too many people, who may think they are on the narrow path, might be surprised to find themselves on the broad way if they carefully analyzed their lives. Jesus wants everyone to be saved, but he must have the cooperation of every person who wants to be saved. They must enter the gate he prescribes and live his kind of life, his way.

It’s something to think about... tbp

Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com

November 3, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, November 3.

The Wizard of Oz is considered to be one of the greatest and best loved movies in history. But it didn’t start out that way. Premiering in 1939, it did only modest business. After production and publicity costs, its studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, ended up a million dollars in the hole. And then, on November 3, 1956, it showed up on TV. By that time, over 60 million American homes had a television set, and the failed movie became a nationwide success. In 1959, a tradition began where The Wizard of Oz was shown every year on Easter Sunday. The rest, as they say, is history.

History teaches us that failure doesn’t have to have the last word. The Bible teaches us the same lesson. David was an adulterer and a murderer, but we remember him as a great king. The mighty prophet Elijah had bouts of severe depression, but did mighty things for God. Mark, as a young man, deserted the Apostle Paul on a missionary journey, but went on to write a gospel, the gospel that Matthew and Luke used as a source for their books. Paul, himself, appears first in the New Testament as a persecutor of Christians, and ends up as the primary architect of the Christian faith.

Perhaps the greatest biblical success story is Peter’s story. On the night before Calvary, he denies he even knew Christ. He hides in fear as Jesus dies on the cross. But then, Peter is the first disciple to see the resurrected Savior. It is Peter who stands before thousands and preaches with power at Pentecost. And it is Peter who becomes the first leader of the young Church.

Failure doesn’t have to have the last word. History teaches us that. And so does the Word of God.

Meet you back here tomorrow,

David
cindertex50@yahoo.com

October 29, 2025 - St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church is having its 116th church anniversary on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 2pm.

Guest church will be Spring Hill Baptist Church, Mansfield, Louisiana.

Guest Pastor is Eric Cason.

The church is located at 617 Hopkins St, Center, TX 75935.

October 28, 2025 - Ramah Baptist Church Christian Fall Festival Trunk-A-Treat in Tenaha is 5pm until 7pm on Saturday, November 1st. Come join us for Food, Fun, and Fellowship.