Shelby County Today

August 21, 2025 - It is an exciting time when a toddler abandons crawling and takes those first faltering steps. Once that happens, it is not long until they are going to attempt to climb the stairs. If they have reached the talking stage, they will inform you that they will do it “all on their own”. However, parents are standing nearby to see how they make out and make sure they do not fall. To be sure, that little toddler will reach the top safely if they just keep going. For them, the last step is just as easy as the first one. Trouble comes only if they begin to wonder why they are so high and they get in trouble if they turn back. It is then they will take a tumble.

Paul would write, “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:13-14) As Christians pressing toward the goal, we can learn some things from a toddler. You see, our heavenly Father is standing by, ready to assist us when we stumble. We also can learn that the struggle is not greater as we climb higher, but it is easier because we have experience behind us. Then, it is dangerous to look back, we must forget what is behind.

It is a big adventure for a child to climb the stairs. It is the greatest possible adventure for us to climb the heights toward God. Are you moving closer to God day by day? If not, you should be.

It’s something to think about... tbp

Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.

August 18, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, August 18.

With my background as a church musician and worship leader, it’s not surprising that a significant percentage of these little thoughts, over the years, have been about gospel music. The stories behind the hymns. The stories behind the men and women who wrote them. One of the most prolific hymn writers in history, penning over 8000 songs, was named, appropriately enough, Gabriel.

Charles Gabriel was born in 1856 on a small farm in Iowa. His father, to make extra money for his large family, held “singing schools” in their home. This musical tradition featured shaped note notation in oblong hymnals. The most famous of these was called “The Sacred Harp”. I’ve got one in my library. Sacred Harp Singings continue to this day, mostly in the Southern United States. Armed only with this meager education, Charles achieved a remarkable career as a songwriter, teacher, church music director, hymnal editor, and publisher. Many of his songs have survived and are included in modern hymn books. Maybe you’ve sung some of them -

*Send the Light *Higher Ground *I Stand Amazed *Crown Him With Many Crowns *His Eye is on the Sparrow

Gabriel died in 1832 in Hollywood, California - a long way from that little farm in Iowa. Two years later, the Carter Family - Country Music legends - recorded one of his songs. Hundreds of famous artists have recorded it since and it is perhaps his most famous composition. You know the chorus...

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com

August 14, 2025 - It was Mark Twain who said, “They did not know it was impossible, so they did it.” When you give that some thought, it is a very inspirational concept. It conjures up thoughts of perseverance, courage and accomplishment. It is amazing to think how many interesting and worthwhile things most of us could do, if we did not put mental handcuffs on ourselves.

When we are young, we are filled with dreams of the future, and of the idea of attaining great things in this life. Sometimes, failures are made, and after a number of failures, we become permanently discouraged, we become cynical and decide that we cannot really do anything worthwhile after all. And so it is, as we grow older, the lives of the vast majority are filled with “it can’t be dones.” Along with the statement of impossibility is a myriad of excuses for why it cannot be done.

How long has it been since you took stock of yourself? Are you bound down by the idea that you cannot accomplish those things you need to accomplish?

It is time for us to realize that with the help of the Lord, anything can be done! It was Paul who wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) We need to eliminate from our vocabulary the expression “It can’t be done!”

It’s something to think about... tbp

Come join us for worship at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com

August 11, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, August 11.

I’ve recently taken up a new hobby. I grew up in a home where the practice of memorization was highly prized. My father spent his life “hiding” the Word of God in his heart, and encouraged his children to pursue that calling. Over the last half century I’ve been blessed to have had that opportunity.

But this past May I began a different focus. I began memorizing poems. That was a practice encouraged by my elementary school teachers, but one that I had set aside for over 50 years. It has been a blessing to set aside about an hour a day for this new pursuit. I average about 3 poems a week. The shortest so far - just one verse - is by Edna St. Vincent Millay. You’ve probably heard it ...

My candle burns at both ends / it will not last the night
But ah my foes and oh my friends / it gives a lovely light!

The longest, coincidentally also by Millay, is called “The Ballad of the Harp Weaver”. It won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1920, and clocks in at 30 verses. That one took me the better part of a week to conquer. My latest is another long poem - “Casey at the Bat”. It’s a fun one! I’ve memorized works by famous poets like Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg and Emily Dickinson, classics by Longfellow and Wordsworth and Shakespeare, and some modern poets too. But their modern style of “free verse” is more challenging for me to memorize. I prefer the regular rhythm of rhyme.

Rhyme isn’t a part of biblical poetry. The great poems in Psalms make use of a different style, a different tool - parallelism. While Shakespeare rhymed words - King David rhymed ideas. Time and time again we observe him, and other psalmists, repeating ideas, repeating phrases, but with slight alterations each time. Psalm 95 is a good example . . .

O come, let us sing unto the Lord / Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving / and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms
For the Lord is a great God / and a great King above all gods
In His hand are the deep places of the earth / the strength of the hills is His also
The sea is His and He made it / and His hands formed the dry land
O come, let us worship and bow down / Let us kneel before the Lord our maker

Psalm 95 is my memory poem for today.

Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com