Shelby County Today

September 11, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Monday, September 11.

There are moments that happen in every generation that are so earth shattering, that everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.  For my parent's generation it was December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  For my generation it was November 22, 1963, the assassination of President Kennedy.  And for all of us, it was September 11, 2001.

Events like these change us, change our culture, change our world.  Remember what going to the airport used to be like - greeting loved ones as they got off the plane, standing at the window - without a ticket - watching the landings and take-offs.  My daughters know nothing of those memories.  And my parents experienced things that I never knew.

Change. It comes. Ready or not.  I look at the preschoolers in our church and wonder what kind of world they will grow up in. That's a question that's been asked by every parent in history, I guess.
On July 19, 1971, the second Twin Tower in New York City was completed - topped off, as they say.  One week earlier, on July 11, a baby boy was born to Bill and Gloria Gaither.  They named him Benjy.  The gospel songwriting couple worried about bringing a child into a world where the Vietnam War was raging, where protests were happening in every major US city, where Watergate was on the horizon, where the Cold War with Russia was a constant threat to the safety of America. 

The Gaither's, like all artists, used their art to deal with what they were going through.  As they awaited the birth of their new child, they wrote these words -
 
How sweet to hold a new born baby and feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still, the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives.
 
Today, Benjy is a film producer, actor, songwriter, and  father.  Things turned out ok, life goes on, change happens, God has a plan.  
 
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Meet you back here tomorrow,

Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org

September 8, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Friday, September 8.

I love quotes. My library includes dozens of books filled with wise thoughts from wise people. Here's ten inspiring quotes to start your day...

• The greatest glory in life lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. ~ Nelson Mandela
• Let no one come to you without leaving happier. ~ Mother Teresa
• Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
• Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ~ Benjamin Franklin
• I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. ~ Thomas Jefferson
• Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. ~ Charles Swindoll
• Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ~ Helen Keller
• It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~ Aristotle
• If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. ~ Booker T. Washington

Proverbs 3:13. Blessed are those that seek wisdom, those that gain understanding.

Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org

PS - Do you have a favorite quote? Send it my way!

September 7, 2023 - All of us are aware of the “Golden Rule.” It was announced by Jesus in Matthew 7:12 when he said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”. Of course, we are more familiar hearing it as “Do unto others as you would have other do unto you.”

However, though we see it practiced more and more in our society, especially by those who would riot, burn and loot, we are not so familiar with the “Iron Rule.” Simply stated it is “Do unto others what you would not want them to do unto you.” This is the pagan law of life and the law of the jungle. It is the law of those who rob, rape, steal, and beat. It is viciously doing unto others whatever you may wish as long as it serves your own purposes. This is the rule we see practiced in Communist Countries by totalitarian governments. This was the rule in practice when Cain killed Abel in the early morning of time. This is the rule of those who would by brute force attempt to impose their will upon others.

Perhaps, it would do more to bring humanity together and to solve the problem of man’s inhumanity to man if people would put the “Golden Rule” into practice and eliminate the “Iron Rule”. This might even be something our politicians would want to consider. It just might bring about more unity and harmony in our communities and our nation. I, for one, think Jesus knew what he was talking about.

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

September 5, 2023 - Bright Morning Star Baptist Church invites you to our annual Ushers Celebration, Sunday, September 10th at 2:30 p.m. Guests will be Pastor Mario Osby and the Smith Chapel Baptist Church of Timpson, Texas.

Bright Morning Star Baptist Church is located at 623 Martin Luther King Drive, Center Texas 75935.

Rev. Anthony Jackson, Pastor/Teacher