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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
April 17, 2020 - Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic and Gov. Abbott's order for continued Social Distancing we will NOT be able to gather for our Annual Homecoming and Fish Fry on Saturday, May 2, 2020.
The Cemetery is still in need of your donations for upkeep. Please mail your donation to Sardis Cemetery, 6034 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
April 15 2020 - One day, Jesus was preaching and teaching his disciples on a certain mountain, and Matthew records the things he talked about that day in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. One of the things Jesus told them that day is in Matthew 5:14 and he said, “Ye are the light of the world.” Friends, though we do not question the validity of that statement, it should cause us to stop and think.
Jesus did not tell them in that far off day and he does not tell us today we are to be one of the lights in the world, but the light of the world. Our influence should light up a dark world for good just as lighting a candle or flipping a light switch chases the darkness from a room.
He also says in that same lesson that we are the salt of the earth. Salt is something that cannot be ignored when it is present. You know when it is present and you also know when it is absent.
The question is, how are we doing at this? How are we doing in illuminating the world around us as Jesus would have us do? How are we doing at providing seasoning for those we come in contact with?
You see, because of our influence, none of us will go to heaven alone and none of us will go to hell alone either. We will take someone with us. We must make sure we are living our lives so that others see Jesus living in us. Let’s be certain we are doing what Jesus called us to do. We must be sure that we are truly the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
It’s something to think about ... tbp
April 15, 2020 - If you have family buried at Carroll Cemetery, now would be a great time to volunteer a couple of hours to help with cleaning. Plenty of room for social distancing. Bring your own tools, and come out to the cemetery. We need leaves racked and burned, downed limbs cleaned up, bushes around entrance trimmed and lower branches on the trees removed for easier mowing.
Also the cemetery has a big armadillo problem, if someone likes to do so trapping, or just help us fill in the holes that they have dug. We would appreciate any and all help.
For information, contact Danny Green 590-1245.
April 15, 2020 - The Antioch Cemetery Homecoming, Center, Texas is scheduled for May 3, 2020 has been cancelled due to COVID-19. The cemetery will still need donations for its upkeep. Please make donations to Antioch Church Cemetery, Center, TX and mail to Shelby Savings Bank, 111 Selma Street, Center, Texas 75935. Bank phone number is 936-598-5688.
April 14, 2020 - For about 400 years the Jewish people were enslaved in Egypt but then the Lord God brought them out of slavery led by a man named Moses. For 40 years the Lord led them around in the wilderness until the older rebellious ones had died off and then he led their children out and into the Promised Land that he had promised to the fathers.
"All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
And when he had removes him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, "I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do my work."
Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised." (Acts 13:20-23)
Jesus the only Son of God, born of a woman and of the Holy Spirit of God to come and make a path for mankind to return to God through repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord of all. For since the original sin of Adam in the garden man had separated himself from God by his disobedience and rejection of God's will.
God sent a cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist, to clear a path for the Christ as he preached the gospel of repentance to the people of Israel, preparing them for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"And as John was finishing his course, he said, "What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie." (Acts 13:25)
The apostle Paul then preached about the Lord's coming;
"For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb." (Acts 13:27-29)
"But God raised him from the dead." (Acts 13:30)
Glory, glory glory to the Lamb of God for he lives, he is risen and he lives forever.
"And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you." (Acts 13:32-33)
"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything." (Acts 13:38-39)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)
Free at last, free at last, once I have been born-again I am free at last. Free from sin and the death of the spirit, from the penalty of sin. Blessed be the name of the Lamb of God, blessed be the name of Jesus Christ our Lord...
April 13, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Happy Easter—Resurrection Sunday. Today is the most important and mysterious day of our faith. If you were like the majority of people, you found a different way to celebrate Easter and to be with family. Sue and I stayed home; the storms that blew through Sunday left us without power for several hours. So it is Monday morning, and I am finishing up my article and weekly newsletter.
A good friend sent some remarks found on church marques about yesterday. One said, “Services canceled. God making house calls.” Another said, “Folks, it’s okay that the church is empty on Easter. The tomb was empty too.”
All four gospels speak of this special morning. I used as the text for my sermon the story from John 20: 1-18. His narrative has Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb. In the ancient world, the word of a woman was not considered binding or trustworthy, so Mary runs back to tell the men. The disciples discover the empty tomb, but John makes it quite clear that the disciples do not understand that Jesus has been raised from the dead. The other disciples return to where they are staying; however, Mary stays and sees two men—angels—in the tomb. Mary asks them if they know where her master’s body has been taken. Mary must feel someone behind her because she turns to see a man standing there. As soon as the man speaks the word “Mary,” she knows that he is Jesus.
I was reminded as I was reading and studying this week that some denominations and sects do not call Sunday Easter but Resurrection Sunday. The term Easter does not have Christian roots, instead referring to a festival honoring Eastre, the Teutonic goddess of light and spring, whose symbol is an egg. Most/all Christian holidays, though, have elements from earlier pagan celebrations; our Christian forefathers looked for ways to make the “new” religion more palatable to those who found it strange.
I spoke to most Paxton Methodists in the last week or so, and everyone seems to be following doctors’ orders, staying home and safe as much as possible. I know we all miss visiting with friends and family, but we are doing what we have to do. Sue and I often ate out, which we really miss. The Joaquin Senior Center remains closed: Sue was on the phone plenty this week, checking up on the Senior folks.
My daughter sent me some humorous quips about these strange times in quarantine. Here are a few:
I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
I don’t think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks, we’d go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone.
I am so excited—it’s time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?
We humans find ourselves living in the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter morning. We live between the terrible violence of Good Friday and that sweet Easter freshness of dawn on a spring day. We live with our strengths and weaknesses. We live with our doubts and our frustrations. But we can and must also live with promise and hope. Even in these most trying times, we must remember that other generations have lived through difficult times and had their own doubts and frustrations. Today, Easter Sunday, is a day of great hope, great promise, and great expectations of a better day.
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.” Normally Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. But during the Pandemic our usually “open doors” are closed. 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.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
April 13, 2020 - My brother who lives in Orange, Texas called yesterday, and we got in a discussion about “how to make children mind in church.” Things were different when I started preaching in 1950. Most of the churches didn’t even have a nursery… much less a Children’s Church. Parents brought their babies and young ones to church and sometimes the parents put a pallet on the floor for the children. It was hard to preach when several babies were bawling during the sermon. It was hard for the mothers… and the Preachers.
So adding Nurseries and Children Churches was definitely a good idea. But what did parents do before nurseries and Children Churches? “Some parents used to take young children out and spank them,” I said, “and all the members church listened and watched intensely as they re-entered the building. “Yeah,” Joe said, “I’ve seen parents slap them, pinch them, twist their ears or tell them “what was gonna happen when you get home.” “And for some children, a stern look is all it took.”
Then Joe told me the way he calmed his children down in church. “I stared straight ahead at the Preacher, slipped my hand down and quietly grasped Mike’s leg and started squeezing.” “I could tell when right pressure was reached when his eyes looked like egg yolks.”
When I look back to 1950 to my first churches, I am not overcome with sadness… but overwhelming joy. At the Neuville Baptist Church, I can just see Tommy Conway’s family coming down the clay hill and gathering around the old wood heater in the middle of the building. Then the Baileys and Inez Sullivan crossed over the railroad tracks to join the rest of us around the heater. Seeing the whole family lined up in the pews --- the babies out-preaching my sermon and the parents correcting the children --- still brings tears to my eyes. Families coming to church together --- sitting together --- learning about Jesus together --- is there anything more beautiful?
Thank you, Lord… for beautiful memories.
April 8, 2020 - Perhaps an unintended benefit of this “current distress” is that we are learning that we didn’t need to live life in the mad rush we had been living in. We felt there was so much to be done and so little time! However, all of us have been forced to slow down just a little and hopefully we have learned a little patience in the process. Maybe, just maybe, we have learned the truth of that old saying “Rome was not built in a day."
If you remember, Jesus had the burden of the sins of the world on His shoulders, yet we find Him saying to His disciples, “Come ye apart into a desert place, to rest awhile.” He knew they could not crowd every day and every moment to the brim, without losing some of the peace and relaxation they needed for their real goal in life.
When Jesus and the disciples passed through Samaria, Jesus was weary, so He sat down by the well to rest, while His disciples went away into the city to buy bread. He could have gone with them, and no doubt found an opportunity to preach in the city. But He needed to relax, to spend some time in quiet meditation. Jesus even took time to take little children into His arms and bless them and he took time to raise an only son from the dead and give him back to his mother.
To a group of disciples with the most stupendous task before them any group of men ever had – evangelizing the whole world - Jesus said, “consider the lilies.” Take time out to notice the beauties of nature and draw some conclusions about God from them.
When we are out of quarantine, let’s learn to not live in too much of a hurry.
It’s something to think about...tbp
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
April 6, 2020 - Please allow me to ask you a most important question this morning a question to which the answer will be the most important answer you will ever give. For it will be your answer that shows your personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
I ask you, "Please tell me, where will you be 200 years from now?"
You may say, "I can't answer that, how can anyone know that?"
Well, it's simple, if, you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Master, as God Almighty then you would certainly know where you will be 200 years from now. You will be at home with God in heaven, for none of us of today live to be anywhere close to 200 years of age.
I can say, without reservation, without doubt, that I do know where I will be 200 years from now, I will be at home in the house of my Lord.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
Jesus Christ, my God, takes care of me, he is my shepherd, he leads me as a shepherd leads his flock, he protects me, he places my in the most comfortable places. He restores my soul in righteousness. Yes, I know him and he knows me and I know that I will be with him always. That nothing of this world can separate me from his love.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows," (Psalm 23:4-5)
Why should I fear anything of this world, for I have the most powerful weapon of all, the love of God to protect me from the world.
It is as God tells me, "Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
There I have God's own personal promise that he will watch over me, he will be right there beside me in all things. He will be my strength when I am weak, he alone will help me, he will lift me up and keep me in his care forever.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)
Only our Lord Jesus Christ has the power to destroy one's soul, fear him only and not other people but, the Lord God of heaven.
Because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, my God, my Savior I can be totally assured of my future and yes, I can know where I will be 200 years from now. Do you? You can!
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)
Because I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and have accepted him as my Lord I have the assurance of his promise to me, that I will indeed dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I have no doubt as to my future, my destination when my life on earth is done, I will go home to be forever with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my God.
So too, can you know this truth, so too, can you be saved from the penalty of your sin, the death of your spirit in hell.
"Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified (cleaned), and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:9-11)
Please, don't wait, humble yourself today, ask Jesus to save you from your sins and he will gladly do so.
Acknowledge him as your Lord to others that they too might come to know him as Lord and know the true joy of being a born-again child of the Most High God, our Lord Jesus Christ... May his love, grace, and mercy flow over you this day and forever and may you too dwell in the house of the Lord forever...
April 5, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Sue and I continue to stay at home. Paxton United Methodist Church has canceled Sunday School and Worship Services through April and will reevaluate once again at the end of the month. The coronavirus appears to be getting worse, and we are told it will continue to spread for quite awhile. Sue has been busy cleaning out closets, clearing out files, and cleaning out her desk. She has also been cooking up a storm. The Senior Center, where Sue volunteers, is not only closed, but the Community Building is also off-limits to renters. We always enjoyed eating out, but that is no longer an option—takeout, if that, is the new normal. I have been doing yard work and working in my garden, very therapeutic for me. I still walk the dogs twice a day but not at the city park, which has been closed.
I took the cans of chili that Paxton Methodist Church collected in March and dropped them off at Community Christian Services. Those wonderful volunteers have always worked so hard getting food to those who often run short at the end of the month. But now their efforts are really herculean, as more and more people find themselves in food danger; in addition, working with the public brings extra very real dangers. Those at CCS are true heroes during this time of crisis.
I read on Shelby County Today last night that the number of coronavirus-infected people in Shelby County has doubled. Rural areas around the United States have not been affected like our nation’s large urban areas, but that is going to change. Unfortunately, rural areas have fewer medical options as there are fewer doctors and hospitals. In Shelby County we don’t even have a hospital, although we have an excellent ER. The best thing we are told that we can do is to stay home and avoid contact with others. It is time we all listen to the medical experts and scientists and do as they say to stay safe and flatten the curve of new infections.
Our nursing home ministries are on hold as nursing homes and assisted living facilities are in lockdown. We certainly miss seeing our friends there; my mother-in-law is one of those people in assisted-living lockdown. Each day, the nursing and medical staffs at these places are continuing their work to help our seniors face a deadly enemy. Once this present crisis has waned, we Texans need to look at how we can aid the medical and nursing staffs at our state nursing homes and how we can improve the care we provide our seniors. There are things we can do as a state to help improve elder care in Texas.
I have continued to email out a weekly Paxton Methodist Church newsletter that includes this article and a weekly sermon. For those members who don’t have or use the Internet, I have been copying parts of the newsletter and mailing it to them. Our little congregation has been really good about keeping in touch with each other through texts, emails, and phone calls.
Sunday was Passion/Palm Sunday. In the ancient church, believers came to church each day during Holy Week to remember and to celebrate the passion of the Christ. On this particular Sunday, palms were waved as Christians celebrated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of that fateful week. I have almost always used the readings of Palm Sunday as the scripture for my sermon. But during these difficult times, I found that the Old Testament Lesson, Isaiah 50: 4-9, really spoke to our current predicament. The short reading is part of the Third Song of the Suffering Servant. Isaiah never identifies who this servant is—whether it is a person or the nation of Israel. But from early on in the faith, Christians have come to see Jesus as the suffering servant. In the reading, Isaiah speaks of God as comforter and companion in our life’s journey. For me, the most comforting words in the lesson are, “The LORD God will help me.” We can be assured during these difficult and trying times that these words are as true today as they were in the time of Isaiah. Remember them as you work on staying safe and healthy.
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.” Normally Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. But during the Pandemic our usually “open doors” are closed. 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.
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