Center Point Christian Church

10/27/2026

October 27, 2026

Dear Church Family,

We had a great fellowship dinner last Sunday, with over 40 in worship service, and most stayed for dinner. Thanks so much to Nancy for always preparing the roast beef, and to everyone who brings a side dish or dessert. If you leave hungry, it's your own fault!

I am once again thankful, humbled, and blessed by the wonderful card and generous gift you gave me for Pastor Appreciation. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and kindness.

Please remember that early voting continues through Friday, and Election Day is just one week from today, Tuesday, November 3. We are extremely blessed to live in this country and enjoy the freedoms we have. But with those freedoms comes the responsibility to vote and to pray for those in elected office.

I have heard too many reports about people who are choosing to either sit out this election entirely or leave certain races on the ballot blank because they can't support either candidate. I can't buy that excuse. As a Christian, I believe we have a God-given responsibility to participate in the process, and that includes voting. That will be the subject of my message this Sunday.

God established the family, government, and the church. We, as God's children, have a part in all three. Please don't take your responsibility lightly. Pray before you enter the voting booth, pray after you leave, pray for those who are running, and pray for those who win. But above all, make sure your voice is heard. I don't have a central text for my sermon this week, but I would suggest reading Romans 13:1–6, Exodus 18:19–23, Proverbs 29:2, and 1 Timothy 2:1–4 for some biblical context.

We do have an event coming up this Saturday. We will have a table set up at the Historical Park for the Halloween event being held there. We will be handing out candy to all the children who come by. This event has taken the place of the Trunk or Treat we used to have at the circle. I want to thank everyone for the candy donations and let you know that we now have plenty. If you'd like to help, or just come by for a while, the event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Historical Park.

I hope to see everyone this Sunday. Bible Study begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by worship service at 11:00. And remember to set your clocks back Saturday night. If you show up for Bible Study and haven't been coming regularly, I'll certainly be pleased, but it's most likely because you forgot to set your clocks back!

Continue to pray for one another. We have many reasons to praise God for answered prayers. And as always, let me know of any concerns.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

A Christians Responsibility to VoteVarious Scripture

10/27/2026

10/22/2026

October 22, 2026

Dear Church Family,

I hope everyone is doing well. I’m a little later than usual getting out the update this week. It amazes me how quickly we can go from Sunday to the end of the week. I’ve been writing these weekly updates for over six and a half years now. I began during COVID, when we were still meeting in the circle at the high school. I try to write a short update each week as a way to share information and stay in touch with the congregation.

Communication has changed drastically over the years. My grandmother was a prolific letter writer. She had six sisters and one brother. Three of her sisters lived in California, having moved there during the Great Depression in search of work. Another sister lived on a farm in the northern Panhandle, about 150 miles away. My grandmother wrote letters to her sisters at least once a week. She also kept a diary, recording the events of her daily life.

They had a telephone, but long-distance calls were expensive. Most of our news came from newspapers, radio, and television. I even vaguely remember telegrams being used to deliver important messages. Now, more than a century after my grandparents were born, communication looks entirely different. Much of our news comes through digital media, and we communicate with one another through text messages and email.

Personally, I like email. It is a convenient way to stay connected, conduct business, and communicate with doctors and others. However, like so many good things, it can also be used for evil. Among the dozens of emails I receive each day are bogus or fraudulent messages. Some look so legitimate that it can be difficult to distinguish the real ones from the fakes. They can be very deceptive.
I suppose I could eliminate email altogether and avoid the problem. But in doing so, I would also eliminate the good messages along with the bad ones, making it much more difficult to communicate and conduct business.

That reminds me of a parable Jesus told about a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But when the wheat began to grow, the farmer's servants discovered weeds growing alongside it. Jesus explained that an enemy had come during the night and sown the weeds among the wheat. The servants offered to pull up the weeds, but the farmer told them no. In doing so, they might uproot the good wheat along with the weeds. Instead, he instructed them to let both grow together until the harvest, when they would be separated.

Now, Jesus wasn't talking about email, of course. He was teaching a much more important lesson about the kingdom of heaven. He explained that the good seed represents those who belong to His kingdom, while the weeds represent those who belong to the evil one. Both live alongside one another in this world, but that will not always be the case. There will be a day of judgment, and Jesus makes it clear that God will separate the wheat from the weeds. But why does He allow them to grow together in the meantime? And what does that mean for those of us who seek to follow Christ? I’ll attempt to answer those questions in my message on Sunday from Matthew 13: 24-30; 36-43.

I have a few reminders this week. We will once again be passing out candy at the community Halloween event at the Historical Park. If you can, please bring a bag of candy to church next Sunday.

This year’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox project will be wrapping up soon. At last report, we had close to 100 boxes ready to send. Great job, Fellowship of Christian Women, on this project.

Remember that this Sunday is Fellowship Dinner Sunday. We will be having roast beef, so bring a side dish and a friend. Also, early voting continues through next Friday, October 30, and Election Day is November 3. This is a very important election.

Finally, a reminder that we meet for Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning, followed by Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.

Continue to pray for one another, and as always, let me know of any concerns.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

"Why Does God Allow the Weeds?Matthew 13: 24-30; 36-43

10/15/2026

October 15, 2026

Dear Church Family,
It is good to be back home after spending a week in the cool mountains of northern New Mexico. I can report that the aspen trees are beautiful this time of year. What a blessing it was to witness God's handiwork in the changing colors of the trees and the changing of the seasons.

As I said, it is good to be back. Another blessing while traveling was the opportunity to worship at the church I attend when staying in Red River. I know it isn't always possible, but I would encourage you, whenever you travel, to make time to worship with other believers wherever you may be. If our hearts are fertile soil for the Word of God, we can receive nourishment from His Word wherever and whenever we have the opportunity to hear it. My message this Sunday will be from Jesus' Parable of the Sower, sometimes called the Parable of the Four Soils. Jesus reminds us how easily the worries and distractions of this world can choke out the Word of God and keep it from bearing fruit. But my prayer is that our hearts will remain good, fertile soil, receiving God's Word, growing in faith, and producing fruit wherever the Lord leads us. My text will be Matthew 13:1–23, but the parable is also found in Mark 4:1–20 and Luke 8:4–15 if you would like to do some reading before Sunday.

As a reminder, our church will have a table at the Historical Park on October 31st from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., where we will be handing out candy to the children. This will be the second year the event has been held at the park rather than the traditional “Trunk or Treat” at the high school. There should be plenty of activities for families to enjoy throughout the evening. Most importantly, we need your help. Please remember to bring a bag or two of candy to church next Sunday so we will have plenty to share with the children.

I look forward to seeing everyone this Sunday. Our worship service begins at 11:00 a.m., but I also want to encourage you to join us for Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. If you're missing Bible Study, you're missing a blessing. Phillip does a great job leading our study as we continue to learn not only what God's Word teaches, but how we can apply it to our everyday lives. After all, we are called to be followers of Jesus, not just fans.
Continue to check on one another, encourage one another, and keep each other in your prayers. As always, please let me know if you have any concerns or prayer requests.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

“What's Growing in Your Garden?” Matthew 13: 1-23

09/30/2026

September 30, 2026

Dear Church Family,
I begin the update this morning with a praise. It is raining at my house! It may not be much, but it is wet. I pray we get a good soaking rain without the damaging flooding we have experienced before. Pray in faith and take an umbrella with you when you go outside.

I sincerely want to thank everyone for the prayers. I am feeling better and pray that I will continue to improve while, at the same time, we find the cause of what has been going on. That would be my prayer—that a reason can be found and the problem addressed. Again, thank you, and I ask for your continued prayers. It is hard for me to ask others to pray for me, and it shouldn’t be. After all, one of the greatest things we can do for one another is pray.

Prayer is also one way of using what God has given us. As long as we are on this earth, God has a purpose for us, and we have been entrusted with opportunities, abilities, resources, and time that can be used to further His Kingdom. My message this Sunday comes from Matthew 25:14–30, “The Parable of the Talents.” I’ve titled the sermon, “What Are You Doing with What You’ve Been Entrusted?” In a nutshell, the point of the parable, as one source I read put it, is simply this: “Our readiness for Jesus’ return is determined by our stewardship of the resources that He has given us.” So, give, pray, serve, sing, praise, and witness, the list goes on. God has entrusted each of us with something. The question is not whether we have been entrusted with something, but what are we doing with what we have been given? Let’s invest it well.

The next Fellowship of Christian Women meeting will be October 14th at 2:00 p.m. Nancy’s band will be performing at Comfort City Park on October 6th at 6:00 p.m. as part of an event honoring Comfort’s first responders.

Last Sunday was a great day. We had about 35 in worship, and most everyone stayed for our fellowship dinner. I always enjoy the time we have together and look forward to seeing everyone again this Sunday.
I’ll also continue to put in a plug for Bible Study. We meet at 10:00 a.m., followed by Worship at 11:00. If you haven’t been joining us for Bible Study, we would love to have you.
As always, let me know of any concerns or prayer needs.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

What Have You Done With What You’ve Been EntrustedMatthew 25: 14-10

09/23/2026

September 23, 2026

Dear Church Family,
I pray everyone is having a good week. I missed seeing everyone last Sunday, and I’m so thankful Phillip was there to fill in. This will be a little different from my usual Weekly Update. I am stepping out of my comfort zone and sharing some personal thoughts and revelations about myself. I believe every experience can be a learning experience and an opportunity to grow. Therefore, I share the following.

To say the least, it has been a trying and frustrating week. For several weeks I have been experiencing lightheadedness, along with blood pressure that seems to drop and then rise. I can go from feeling great to being fatigued after the least bit of exertion. I can walk three miles and barely break a sweat, then later walk from the shop to the house and feel exhausted.

Last Friday, the lightheadedness led to me passing out, not once, but twice. That resulted in a two-day stay in the hospital and more tests than I can remember: MRIs, EKGs, echocardiograms, and several others. After all of that, there still wasn't a clear answer. I am scheduled for another stress test with my cardiologist in a few weeks.

I will admit that it is frustrating. At one point, out of that frustration, I started to say, “If I can't do the things I want to do and go to the places I want to go, then what's the point?” I stopped before I finished the sentence. At that moment, I felt a conviction that I can only attribute to the Holy Spirit. I realized just how faithless and selfish that attitude was, and how quickly frustration had turned my focus inward. It was a jolting reminder that if I truly believe what I preach, and if I am truly sold out to the Lord, then I have to remember that I am not ultimately in control of my life. God is.

James warns us about speaking too confidently about tomorrow: “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Instead, we should say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:14–15).

There was another part of my attitude that bothered me as well. It wasn't only selfish toward God; it was selfish and hurtful toward Brenda and toward the people who love and care about me. My life has value beyond the things I want to do, the places I want to go, or even the physical abilities I may or may not have. God has blessed me with a wife, a family, a church family, and people who care about me. To act as though life somehow loses its value because I cannot live it exactly as I choose fails to appreciate those blessings.

Paul reminds us in Romans 14 that none of us lives for ourselves alone. “ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8). Those words struck me differently this week. My life belongs to the Lord. My days belong to Him. My abilities belong to Him. And even my limitations must be entrusted to Him.

I have often preached from James that trials will come. It is one thing to preach that truth from the pulpit; it is another thing to be reminded that it applies to me also. James doesn't tell us that we will understand every trial. He tells us to persevere through them and to trust what God is doing in us through them.

I don't know what the next round of tests will show. I don't know whether there is a simple answer or whether this is something I will have to adjust to. But I do know this: my purpose cannot depend upon whether I can walk three miles, work all day, travel where I want, or do everything I once did. My purpose is to faithfully use whatever days, strength, and opportunities the Lord gives me. Sometimes the preacher needs to hear the sermon too.

Now back to the lighter stuff. Remember that this week is fellowship dinner Sunday. I’m sure the main course will be roast beef, so bring a complementary side dish or dessert; or even both. Bring an appetite and a friend.

My sermon this Sunday will be what I had prepared for last week. If you recall from last week’s update, the title was “Life Is a Bumpy Road: How Are Your Shock Absorbers?” Maybe I should be paying attention to what I preach. I will be preaching from Psalm 46, and yes, the Lord is my refuge and strength. I attached the YouTube video last week.

One final reminder: Nancy’s band will be performing at Comfort City Park on October 6th at an event honoring Comfort’s first responders. I will send out a flyer with more information later and will announce it again next week.

Continue to pray for one another, check on one another, and, as always, let me know of any concerns.

Lord Bless,
Scott

You Tube Link:

Life is a Bumpy Road: How Are Your Shock Absorbers?Psalm 46: 1-11

09/17/2026

September 17, 2026

Dear Church Family,
I hope everyone is doing well this week. I am a little later than usual getting out my weekly update. I don’t really have a set time, but I do like to get it out before Wednesday. But sometimes life happens, and it is later in the week. I could blame it on the heat, but I doubt I could sell that excuse since I work from an air-conditioned room.

I’m sure everyone has heard the saying about something being rougher or tougher than 40 miles of dirt road. I grew up where daily travel nearly always required a long stretch of dirt road, and it could be rough, bumpy, and dusty. Over time, those roads would take their toll on a vehicle if it wasn’t properly maintained. They could take a toll on your body as well, bouncing down a washboard road.

Daily life can be much the same. Jesus never told us that our walk with Him would be easy. In fact, James tells us at the very beginning of his letter that we will face trials. Since we can’t avoid every trial or rough stretch of road, we need something that will help us endure the bumps along the way. We can turn to God’s Word for comfort and reassurance, knowing that God is our refuge and strength and will guide us through those rough patches.

This Sunday I will be preaching from Psalm 46, a message entitled, “Life Is a Bumpy Road: How Are Your Shock Absorbers?” I hope you can join us. If not, a link to the message is posted below.

I don’t have many announcements or reminders for the upcoming week. The Operation Shoebox project will be wrapping up soon, but there is still time to contribute. I would also encourage everyone to remember those on our prayer list. It is now three and a half pages long, so unless you have a great memory, you may want a copy. If you do, let me know, and I will email it to you or bring you a printed copy on Sunday.

I hope to see everyone this Sunday. If you haven’t been coming to Bible Study, I would encourage you to join us. Phillip is currently leading us through the book of Acts.

As always, let me know of any concerns.

Lord Bless,
Scott

YouTube Link:

Life is a Bumpy Road: How Are Your Shock Absorbers?Psalm 46: 1-11