Shelby County Today

"Don’t carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them" (Proverbs 14:16 TEV)

March 1, 2021 - Today was another sunny day in San Augustine, a perfect day to do much-needed things around our yard. But instead of working in the yard, we went to Nacogdoches and had my blood thickness checked. After a quick visit with the nurse, we drove to Staples and then to Wal-Mart. I decided to wait in the car while Pam went in and while I listened to Fox News, I began watching two ladies in the car parked next to me. Both of them were even more over-weight than I am and the number of chocolate-covered donuts they were consuming was just unbelievable.

After one lady choked down three of them, she stepped outside to smoke. In a few moments, she got back in the car and ate two more. About this time, Pam walked up and I began telling her what I had just witnessed. After a discussion about fattening foods and how thoughtless people are who eat them, we went back into the store to buy some low-calorie groceries. We bought lettuce, carrots, asparagus and some stir-and-fry things. As we approached the check-out, I spotted some beautiful bananas and asked Pam if she’d like to buy just one to divide on the way home. “Oh, a half banana won’t hurt us much,” she giggled as we loaded six large ones into the plastic bag.

Suddenly she burst out, “Have you ever seen a chocolate covered doughnut shaped like a football?” And there they were scores of them, large, covered in heavy chocolate and decorated on top with a white-football-lace-shaped icing. We bought two of them and after eyeing a 4-pack of Blueberry Muffins, bought them, too.

While eating the doughnuts on the way home, Pam shouted, “Hey look! They’re cream filled!! This is just too much!” That night we ate a baked chicken breast, sliced cucumbers, and a huge Blueberry Muffin.

We’ve still got to lose the pounds we gained while on vacation and we have every intention of doing it ... just as soon as the bananas and muffins are gone.

February 21, 2021 - The Third Appreciation Service for Pastor Gary Suell, Sr. and First Lady Pam Suell of Mt. Gillion Baptist Church will be held at the John D Windham Civic Center, 146 Express Blvd., Center, TX 75935 on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 3pm. Masks and/or face coverings mandatory. The speaker is Rev. James Ervin, the Pastor of Iron Wheel Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, TX. We would love to see you there. Dinner is catered and you may get it to go.

Mt. Gillion Baptist Church is located on Hwy 87 North in Center, TX.

February 22, 2021 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the First Sunday of Lent. We sure had a winter storm last week—missing Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Time flies, whether you’re having fun or not! We called off church last Sunday before the snow and ice made it to East Texas but decided to try church today. It turned out to be a beautiful warm day, with snow and ice melting everywhere. Our prayers are for all those still without power, water, and other necessities of life.

Paxton Methodist is having in-person worship; we respect each other by wearing masks and keeping socially distant. Scientists and medical professionals say that we can do three simple things before the vaccines are generally available: To curtail the spread of Covid-19, we should wash our hands regularly, stay at least six feet apart—social distancing, and yes, wear a mask—or maybe two masks—at least for the next hundred days. Things are so dire that mask-wearing is the patriotic thing to do. It is also the Christian thing to do, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. As soon as you can, get vaccinated against this scourge—twice. Sue and I got our first dose of the Covid vaccine the first of February. We were so happy to get that needed shot in the arm that it was a day of celebration for us.

We had a really small crowd this morning—even for Paxton Methodist. But it was great to get out. We shared stories of the past week and also learned much about fasting in our Sunday School lesson. Most of the lesson, though, dealt with God’s justice. In the Kingdom that Jesus spoke of—God’s Kingdom—people are set free: They share bread with the hungry, provide shelter and clothing for those in need, and generally love their neighbors. In our scripture reading this morning, the Prophet Isaiah tells us we are to fast from oppressing workers, quarreling, and brawling—and to fast from destructive economic practices. Without God’s justice there will never be peace. 

We want to be as safe as we can. 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 hymns today were sung by Alan Jackson. The first was “Standing on the Promises” and the second, “I’ll Fly Away.” He only sang a couple of verses of each, but he had our toes tapping!

The main scripture for this Sunday came from the first chapter of the Mark Gospel. In verses 40-45 Jesus once again is looking for a quiet place to pray. His disciples catch up with him, as does a man suffering from leprosy. This unnamed man is looking to be made physically, mentally, and socially whole. Jesus heals this man and then sends him to see a priest who will confirm that he is now free of the disease. Jesus asks only one thing of the man—not to tell anyone what occurred. Of course the healed—and once again whole—man cannot stay silent, and soon everyone knows. We humans just are not very good at keeping secrets!

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.

Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church

February 15, 2021 - Although James Cannon and I were both from the Shelbyville, Texas area, I first met him in 1970 when I became pastor of Fletcher Emanuel Baptist Church in Lumberton, Texas. James was our Youth Sunday School teacher, a member of the Lumberton tax equalization Board, and was highly respected resident in the fastest growing town in Texas. We became close friends and often hunted together.

A hunt we made in the winter of 1970, I’ll never forget. Our favorite woods were located on The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation near Woodville Texas. On this particular day, we were extra excited when we woke up with a surprise snow on the ground. After stopping at the Pitt Grill Café at Woodville for breakfast, we drove to the woods where we built a fire and waited for daylight.

“You take the high woods and I’ll take the low,” James said. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was not an ordinary day. These woods that were usually alive with vibrant sounds of wildlife were unbelievably silent, not a bird, not a squirrel, not even the usually cawing of a noisy crow did I hear. It was as if all nature had agreed to silence and the only sound I heard was a slow flow of wind sneaking through the trees. A day like this is described by hunters in different ways, but my brother and I always called it “a day of the ill wind.”

After three hours of hearing and seeing nothing, I was returning to meet James when I heard a loud “boom” from his shotgun and when I reached the car, he was waiting for me. In a low, almost whispering voice, he said, “Brother Doug, I’ve done something that I don’t want you mixed up with.” “I’ve shot an illegal deer,” he said. When I said, “Let’s go get him,” James mumbled, “It ain't no him." “A doe shot across the road, and I pulled the trigger on her before I knew it.” I assured him that he could count on my silence and we loaded her into the car. He put the meat in his freezer and his wife and three children ate a lot of venison the next year.

I later moved to a pastorate in Louisiana and didn’t see James again until I became the pastor of The First Baptist Church of Shelbyville, Texas. Our church was located only a half mile from his homeplace next to the Shelbyville High School. One Sunday morning as I made announcements, it brought tears of joy to my eyes when I saw James walk in the door. He told me afterwards that he came up to see his mother and that he would be going back home the next day.

That was the first time I hsd seen him in 25 year and it would be my last. His daughter Cynthia called me one day saying James was ill and gave me his phone number. We talked a while, but his voice was very weak. Two months later, Cynthia called saying her dad had crossed the Jordan and would be brought back to Shelbyville for burial.

Someone anonymously wrote: A good friend knows all your stories, and your best friends helped you write them. When I awoke at three this morning, I decided to write about James and a story he helped me write that happened 45 years ago. James was not just a man: he was a godly man and a good man.

His rewards are stored in heaven.