Shelby County Today

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ Jesus.” Galatians 4:7

April 19, 2021 - I woke up early this morning to a fact that I never realized about my Dad. In all the years of growing up around him, I never remember his calling me anything but “Son.” I know he called me “Henry” or “Hen Doug” when he talked to others about me, but when he addressed me, it was always “Son.” When he took me on my first squirrel hunt on Mill Creek near Center, Texas, we completed the four-mile walk just before day light. “I hope the wind lays down soon,” he said. “It’s hard to see squirrels when its windy.”

When he shot a fox squirrel in a Magnolia tree, I raced to grab the wounded squirrel. Daddy hollered out, “Son, don’t pick that squirrel up—he’ll eat you up.” While I was a second grader, I told Daddy that James Hughes kept shoving me at the water fountain. Daddy replied, “Son, don’t you ever start a fight, but when you have to fight, be sure to get the first lick in---hit’im as hard as you can.” I came home from college one day to visit my parents and noticed Daddy wasn’t smoking his pipe as he always did. When he told me he had quit, I said, “Oh, Daddy, I am so proud of you quitting after all these years ... I know it’s been hard.” “Son, it wasn’t hard—I never inhaled nothing.”

When Daddy’s truck backed over him near Snow Hill it was two days before we found him half-conscious with mattered eyes and covered with blood and ants. As I stood weeping over him, he weakly raised his hand to my shoulder and whispered, “Son, I’m alright.” I grabbed a tin can and got him a drink from a nearby spring.

I remember talking to him on the phone only once. (Actually, we never had a phone until after I left for The Seminary in 1951). But he called me at college one day, and I remember his exact words: “Son, come home. Mickey’s gone.” Mickey, Mother’s younger brother, my favorite uncle, had crossed the Jordan at 28 years of age.

Daddy was not one to say, “I love you” and never said he loved me. But there was never a day that I doubted he loved all his ten children. When he said “Son” to me, there was a tone of love and endearment that was unmistakable.

And how wonderful it is to be called “Son” by my Heavenly Father.

April 12, 2021 - A BBQ Chicken Plate Fundraiser for Smyrna Community Church Youth Group to attend church camp is Friday, April 16, 2021 starting at 10am until sold out!

Come enjoy a BBQ chicken plate for $10 which will include half-chicken, baked beans, potato salad, bread, and bottle of water. We will be selling plates at Huxley Fire station and Lasting Impressions in Center on Foster Street. Deliver is available for orders of 10 plates or more. Please call 936-332-0052 to reserve yours.

"Consider how the wild flowers grow...”  Luke 12:27

April 12, 2021 - Back in the seventies, I had an appointment to preach a morning service at The Old Salem Baptist Church near Newton, Texas. When Amber, my youngest daughter, said she’d like to go with me, I told her that my old pickup was not air conditioned and that all my tires were treadless “may-pops.” It was during one of the “leanest” days of my life and I warned Amber that it would be an exceptionally hot summer drive.

After the service, we were returning home on that hot afternoon when a booming blowout pulled me off the highway. There was not a house in sight, cell phones not yet invented, and I didn’t have a spare tire. I was not only concerned about a tire, but was especially worried about how Amber was going to do in the hot sun. As I stood at the roadside thumbing a ride, Amber called out, “Look, Daddy,” and as she held a bouquet of flowers in her hand, smiled, “Aren’t they beautiful!”

I have thought of that day many times since then. We all experience stressful blow-outs during our lives, and when we do, we often don’t see the flowers growing along the roadside. It would be good if we’d forget our problem for a moment and pick some of these beautiful flowers ... just like Amber did.

April 12, 2021 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus. Last week was pretty typical as far as spring weather was concerned. We had sunshine, and we had rain. The weather folks say that we’ve seen our last really cold temperatures. I heard from my uncle Kent, who lives in Maine, that they have had several “warm” days that reached the 50s. That still sounds pretty cold to me!

This was “low Sunday,” so-called because the Sunday after Easter traditionally sees churches’ lowest attendance. This was true of small Paxton—but not because of lack of interest. Several in our congregation have been hit hard by illness; our hearts and prayers go out to them with compassion.

Since we resumed in-person worship, our music has been on CD. We can hum the song under our masks but no vigorous singing! Both of today’s hymns were sung by Elvis. He was the king of rock and roll, but he always loved gospel music. We first listened to “He Touched Me,” a Gaither tune in the Methodist hymnal. Later we rocked and rolled with “Put Your Hand in the Hand.” We appreciate Sue DeFee bringing the CD music this morning. One day we will surprise everyone and sing away. I hope we don’t scare too many people when we do!

Our Sunday School lesson this morning reminded us that Sabbath rest is a great gift from God. The author mentioned sacred rhythms: The older I get, the more I realize that setting aside time in our week is important. The main scripture came from 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21, where we hear Paul reminding the faithful that being part of the reconciliation among people is our Christian responsibility. We can sure use a little of this in the 21st century as well!

The Gospel lesson for the second Sunday of Easter came from John 20: 19-31. The disciple Thomas is mentioned in all four gospels—but his importance to the Easter story is really seen in the John narrative. “Doubting” Thomas in John becomes vital to the unfolding story because of his disbelief. It wasn’t that Thomas doubted Jesus and his Kingdom; he was a faithful follower but questioned the stories about the resurrection.

Paxton Methodist is having in-person worship; we respect each other by wearing masks and keeping socially distant. Scientists and medical professionals, who know more than politicians about this subject, say that we can do three simple things to curtail the spread of Covid-19: wash our hands regularly, stay at least six feet apart—social distancing, and yes, wear a mask—or maybe two masks—mask-wearing is the patriotic thing to do. It is also the Christian thing to do, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. And get that vaccine! How has simple science—wearing a mask or getting a vaccine—become a political hot button issue? Let’s all use our common sense and defeat Covid-19 together!

Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.