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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
March 16, 2020 - Why is there so much trouble in this world today? Why most do many suffer in despair? Why does God allow this to happen?
Let us look to the words of the Lord given all people through the teachings of the prophet Isaiah for our answer to this age-old question.
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness." (Isaiah 59:1-3)
Let us look at the basic commandments given all people by the Lord our God and see how we have performed in relationship to those.
1. "You shall have no other gods before me."
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
4. "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
5. "Honor your father and your mother."
6. "You shall not murder."
7. "And you shall not commit adultery."
8. "And you shall not steal."
9. "And you shall not bear false witness (lie)."
10. "And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or any of his possessions."
Ok, so let us look at the situation in our world today and see how well, as a people, we have followed God's Ten Commandments.
Have we in fact held other gods before the Lord our God, do we devote more time to others things than to God?
Do we have carved images, statues or people or games or things that we worship with our time instead of devoting more time to God?
Have we ever used the name of the Lord our God in vain, used his name in a trivial manner or as a part of a curse toward another person or thing?
Have we always honored the will of our earthly father and mother or have we often rebelled against them to do our own wicked desires?
How many innocent babies have we murdered as a society, torn apart, limb from limb, and sold their body parts for profit?
How often have we committed adultery with the wife or husband of another person?
How often have we stole from others, their possessions, their money, their time, their trust?
How often have we lied against our neighbor to gain an advantage over him, against another business to gain over it or against another country to gain over it?
How often have we looked at the possessions of another person, state or country and said, "Oh, I wish I had that ___________!"
Ok, so you tell me why is there so much trouble in this world around us? Why do so many suffer in despair?
How well do you follow the commandments of the Lord our God in your daily life?
I think we all have the answer don't we...
Might it be that we all should turn back to the Lord our God in humility, asking for forgiveness, repenting of our own sinful lives and seeking his face and his mercy?
I think so, cruel and evil world, repent of your sins and know the blessings of the Lord our God, or remain in your wickedness and know the wrath of God that is surely to come on the day of final judgment.
Seek God, seek his face and his forgiveness and know the joy and peace of living for him...
Trouble and Despair or Joy and Peace, the choice is yours to make, choose wisely!!!
March 16, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! On the Christian calendar, Sunday was the Third Sunday in Lent. It has certainly been a strange week on Planet Earth. Who would have thought a month ago that the whole world would be in lockdown! Who would have thought that a virus would cause a state of emergency to be declared in the United States! I always figure that out here in the sticks we wouldn’t be affected by things that trouble urban areas and other parts of our country and world—but who knows. We all have been or will soon be impacted by events. Area nursing homes have asked visitors to stay away, so our ministries to Holiday and Lakeside have been canceled. We will keep collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services during the month of March.
Liz has texted several times to keep Paxton Methodist updated on Lillie since her hip surgery. It sounds like Lillie is making good progress—always good to hear. Maybe by the time she is ready to run a race, things will be back to normal and baseball will start! Until then, we hope Lillie has plenty of ice cream. Fannie told the folks that Carlie and Derek are expecting their first youngster. I know there is excitement in the Watson family! Fannie also told us that Charlie had a horse riding fall: We hope he gets to feeling better soon.
Our Sunday School scripture came from Number, when God sent poisonous snakes to kill the complaining Israelites. If God wants my attention, sending snakes would certainly do it! I am fearful of snakes even though I know they do much more good than harm in the natural order of things. Still, I am a big fan of St. Patrick and the idea of chasing out the snakes. I wonder if St. Patrick would drive out the snakes from Texas! That would be a pretty big job.
The Gospel Lesson for Sunday was John 4: 5-42. This passage is the longest dialogue between Jesus and another person found in the Bible. I think it is important and intentional that the conversation is between Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, and an unnamed Samaritan woman. Once again, the scripture uses the “hated Samaritan” to illustrate a foundational story and idea of faith. I wish the woman had been named so I didn’t have to always refer to her as a Samaritan woman. There are many sermons that can be preached and many lessons learned from these 37 verses and this intense, personal, and meaningful discussion between Jesus and the woman at the well.
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.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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
March 12, 2020 - Mt. Zion Church is hosting their Family & Friends Day Program on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 3pm. Special guest speaker is Rev. David Avant, pastor of the New St. Matthew Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, TX. The theme is "Let's Be A Friend In The Family Of God" and Rev. Richard Edwards, Pastor; Anita Williams; and Tracy Garrett are Program Chairpersons.
March 12, 2020 - Please join us at First United Methodist Church, 211 Porter Street, Center, Texas on Sunday, March 15, 2020, 3rd Sunday in Lent. We welcome all to worship with us. We will celebrate Holy Communion and the Communion Rail offering will support the Shelby County Outreach Ministry. Our worship services are 8:30am and 11am with Methodist Men’s Breakfast at 9:30am followed by Sunday School beginning at 10am.
Our message will be offered by Portia Gaines who is a life-long member of First United Methodist Church of Center. Portia taught at Center High School for 40 years, was an adjunct professor at Panola College, taught Sunday School at First UMC for many years, and she was recently honored as one of the Shining Stars Over Shelby County. At the 11am worship service, the First UMC Chancel Choir will have a beautiful choral offering to bring. Also, at our 11am worship service, Faythe Abraham, Director of Children and Youth Ministry and Carol Newman, Chair of the Worship Committee, will install our two new acolytes, Wyatt Foster and Keilan Jackson. We look forward to seeing on Sunday.
March 11, 2020 - A laugh may be the sweetest or the most bitter sound that comes from the human voice, according to the sentiment it expresses.
Laughter is not an unimportant incident in a happy life, but a gift of God to serve a definite purpose, and is even more useful in less happy lives.
Laughter is one of life’s greatest shock absorbers. Many of the things at which we laugh would be very annoying if we did not think them funny, and laughter is nature’s device for taking up the jolt.
Laughter is a better response than anger to a horde of petty annoyances that dog our heels.
Laughter is also a source of strength. Men endure and achieve as they learn to break the monotony of routine work with laughter. The burdens of many lives are beyond the normal power and endurance of human beings. There are various sources of strength for such andone of them is laughter. It is a familiar fact that Lincoln said that laughter, relieving the strain of care, was what kept him from breaking beneath the load he had to bear.
Laughter is the magnet that draws. It may be a very quiet, unostentatious laugh, perhaps not more than a twinkle of the eye, but it is the key that unlocks the hearts of people.
Laughter is a fine art when it covers a heart that may be heavy but is undaunted, unafraid. Such laughter is a principle of life. It is an expression of a noble courage, a genuine love, and a deep and abiding faith in God.
It’s something to think about...tbp
Join us for worship this coming Lord’s day at the Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
March 11, 2020 - The Golden Harvest Ministries Club will meet Monday, March 16th, 2020 in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church at 11:30 AM. The program will be presented by Sherry Harding of Shelby County Outreach Ministries and Dee Mitchell of the Senior Nutrition Site.
Visitors are always welcome to join us for a delicious covered dish luncheon, an enjoyable program and time of fellowship.
March 10, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. On the Christian calendar, Sunday was the Second Sunday in Lent. This past week has seen heavy rains and storms, followed by warm days full of sunshine. I guess we can say we saw a typical East Texas winter week. I sure hope everybody remembered to “spring forward.” This is the time of year when I really don’t like Daylight Saving Time, even though I do appreciate that extra hour of light at the end of the day.
February went by in a flash and March marches on. Easter isn’t until April 12th this year. During this month we are collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services. Our next Nursing Home ministry will be at Holiday Nursing Center on St. Patrick’s Day. Christian folklore says that St. Patrick chased all the snakes out of Ireland. However, I read this week that people can import snakes into Ireland: Someone brought a venomous snake and was bitten this past week. This was the first case of snakebite in the history of Ireland—they had to send for the anti-venom from England. Why would someone want a snake—especially a poisonous one, and especially in a whole snake-free country? One of life’s little ironies, I guess.
Our Sunday School lesson dealt with the reality of suffering. Gene read the scripture lesson, Matthew 26: 36-46, which focused on Jesus and his time of desperation in the Garden of Gethsemane. Our writer says that to suffer means to bear, undergo, or endure. Suffering often comes on just an ordinary day, when everything is normal until it is not—when it becomes agonizing. We humans have all been there.
The Gospel lesson for Sunday was John 3: 1-8, about the secret meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus. Jesus speaks of being born again—being born from above—being born of the Spirit. Nicodemus seems not to know what Jesus could possibly mean by this, but I wonder. I took the idea that Nicodemus, a leader and well-versed individual, knew what Jesus was talking about but was uncomfortable with the changes such a “new life” would bring to his comfortable existence.
After the church service, the entire congregation went to Gene and Joy’s place. It’s a lovely spread—Gene’s family farm, with lots of outbuildings and even a cemetery. Recently Gene began building another house on the land, this one for a couple who agreed to be caretakers for the place. He wanted to give us a tour of the house, which is small but comfortable, with well-thought-out touches. Joy made lunch for all of us, an undertaking in its own right, and we had a pleasant gathering.
Last week, on Texas Independence Day, was our ministry to Focused Care Nursing Home. Our congregational singing was again accompanied by the faithful Minnie. So Hilda, along with Jo and Margie, was free to sing with the group. I emceed, telling about my gardening, Lenten sacrifice, and Nicodemus. Because it was also Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Sue read Gerald McBoing Boing, a lesser-known Seuss story. Pastor Sarah focused on Lent and a scripture about serving others. She talked a little about the Walk to Emmaus retreat, which both she and her husband had recently participated in. Nora led the joyful “(O Where Have You Been) Billy Boy” and then shared “Bless the Lord, O My Soul.”
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.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and 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
March 9, 2020 - Cornerstone Ministry Cowboy Church , Center Campus located at 113 Augustine Street in Center on the Square, will be hosting its first service on Thursday, March 12th at 7pm with Worship and the Word followed with a Gumbo fellowship. Everyone invited.
Regular services will be held every Thursday at 7pm. For more information, please contact Tonya Kyle at (318) 871-6292.
“Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever…” (Hebrew 13:8)
March 9, 2020 - For the first time in thirty years, I returned to Bill Buxton Slough last week. It’s a part of Louisiana’s Big Island, a six mile stretch of gorgeous swamps and bayous that parallel the Sabine River near Orange and Deweyville, Texas.
While revealing no human tracks, the soft mud identified the many animals that still make this their home. Walking through moss-covered cypress and tupelo gum trees, I crossed some of the same logs and slough beds that I crossed thirty years ago. I even ate possum grapes and musky dines from the vines that grew along the banks… just as I did thirty years go.
As I sat in the quiet woods, an overpowering thought flooded my heart: how incredibly happy I am that this place remains the same after all these years! And another truth also flooded my heart: when I’ve wandered from the Lord, I have always found Him where I left Him. He is the same…
"… yesterday, today… and forever.”
March 11, 2020 - Abundant Love Ministries will celebrate its 11th Annual Church Anniversary with a Building Musical on Saturday, March 21st at 6:30pm and Building Fund Drive on Sunday, March 22nd at 2:30 pm. Bishop Howard Cloudy, 3rd Episcopal Triumph, will be the guest speaker.
Sunday school and regularly scheduled noonday services are cancelled for the day.
All chuches, choirs, praise teams and praise dancers are welcomed and invited to join in the celebration and for any of the other scheduled weekly services.
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935. For more information, please contact Diania Calhoun (936) 591-7203.
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