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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
November 11, 2019 - One day as Jesus passed through Samaria he stopped near the town of Sychar at the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jesus sat by Jacob's well which was also there and rested for he was tired from his travels.
As he sat there by the well a woman came to draw water and since Jesus had no means by which he could draw water he asked the woman of Samaria for a drink of water from Jacob's well.
The Samaritan woman then said to him; "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with samaritans.) John 4:9)
And Jesus answered her, saying; "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink", you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." (John 4:10)
What, one might ask, is this (gift of God) that Jesus is speaking of and what is the (living water) that he would have given her?
"Repent and be baptized every one if you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
The gift of God is the indwelling of the one who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord with the Holy Spirit of God.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the promise that Jesus made to us before he ascended back to heaven.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)
The living water is the guidance and teaching by the Helper that satisfies the longing within everyone. That longing for spiritual enlightenment, that emptiness, which is within every human being from birth until it is filled by the Holy Spirit of God.
As Jesus made clear, there is no other way to the kingdom of God but through him.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Only by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord does one receive salvation from the penalties of sin and only by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord can one receive the Holy Spirit to guide one through life.
As the woman of Samaria bragged on the well which Jacob had dug and given to the Samaritans for water Jesus said to her; "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)
"The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water!" (John 14:15)
How about you, do you thirst for more, do you seek for joy and happiness in your daily life?
There is but one place to find them, in the Holy Spirit which one receives only when one accepts Jesus Christ as Lord. Accept him today and know forever the joy and peace that comes by living in the Lord Jesus Christ.
November 9, 2019 - St John Missionary Baptist Church – Center will be celebrating our choir anniversary on Sunday November 17, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Special guest will be Rev Anthony Jackson and the Bright Morning Star Church of Center Texas.
Everyone is invited to come worship and celebrate this joyous occasion.
November 7, 2019 - The First United Methodist Church of Joaquin will celebrate “Camo” Sunday, on Sunday, November 10 honoring all who love and celebrate the natural world, and find God in the midst of His Creation. If you are one of these, you are invited to join us for Worship Service at 10:30 and for a Wild Game Feast to follow.
From time immoral, hunters have been among those who see the Hand of God in the world He created and gave to Mankind. Hunters, who value nature greatly, have led the way in efforts to conserve and preserve our forests and wildlife. In recent years, psychologists and neuroscientists have “discovered” what hunters always know — there is Peace and Healing to be found in God’s natural world, among the trees, birds, and animals. Medical Doctors are now prescribing “walks in the woods” as medical treatments. But God’s Word has always shown us that the healing presence of Faith can be found among the trees of God’s “Garden.”
Therefore, on this Fall Sunday, preceding the Celebration of Thanksgiving, the FUMC of Joaquin honors our Hunters, and all those wearing “Camo” (the colors of God’s natural world). On this day, we remember the words in Genesis 1:20-31 detailing God’s creation of living creatures and His declaration of Man’s responsibility for all that crawls, walks, swims, and flies.
We will also remember Proverbs 12:27, which tells us, “The lazy do not roast any game; but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” Thanks to the hunters among us, we will feast on the fruits of the hunt, enjoying a wide variety of wild game. Prizes $500 will be awarded by people’s choice to “pairs” of cooks, whose dishes are deemed best. Cooking teams, must each include one youth and one adult, working together. In addition to the cooking prizes, there will be door prizes, games, and music. All are welcome. Come by and join the celebration and taste and experience God’s bounty.
November 7, 2019 - Smith Chapel Baptist Church in Timpson will be having their Harvest Day Program November 10 at 2:30.
Guest Speaker will be Rev. Charleston Johnson & Smyrna church family. Everyone is invited.
Smith Chapel Baptist Church is located at 919 County Road 4704, Timpson, Texas.
November 7, 2019 - Oftentimes we wonder why the church is weak, and why that in a recent nationwide poll, almost 70% of those who claim membership in church never attend services.
We could blame it on our secular-progressive society, and we often do. We could blame it on the godless politics of our nation, organizations like the ACLU and Freedom From Religion Foundation, and they too are often our “whipping boy.” We could even blame it on churches, hypocritical members and uncaring preachers and there are numerous Christians who are doing that also.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for church members to look in the mirror, really take a good look at what they see. Perhaps congregations across America are weak because many church members have lost the biblical understanding of what it means to be a part of the local church, the body of Christ.
People come to the church expecting to be served, fed and cared for. God did not give us the local church for it to be a “Country Club” where membership means there are privileges and perks. The church is where we are to serve, care for others, pray for leaders, learn, teach and give.
Perhaps churches are weak because we have turned the meaning of membership upside down. We were saved to serve, not saved to be served.
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 www.centerchurchofchrist.com
"Praise him with stringed instruments and organs." Psalms 150:4
"They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ." Job 21:12
November 6, 2019 - When our church decided to sell one of our organs recently, we were in for a big surprise. Our $20,000 Baldwin Classical is now worth a mere $2,000… and is in excellent condition. As I began studying the history of organs, I found some reasons for their depreciation. Many churches are ditching them and replacing them with a multi-instrument orchestra. "Since we are interested in getting the young and middle agers to church, the organ had to go," one pastor lamented. "Can you imagine a young person nowadays listening to organ music on his Ipod?" "If you want to keep the churches open, you'll have to dump the antiquated organs," he said.
Organs are expensive… heavy…and hard to move… Few people are trained to play one and today's music students are influenced by popular culture, media, etc., in which the organ is totally foreign. It’s not “cool” to learn to play the organ and in efforts to reach unbelievers, churches shun that which isn't popular with the younger people. Contemporary music is rhythm-based and the organ doesn’t fit that style very well. And like it or not, people want to be entertained.
The church organ is barely breathing nowadays… and might die. But like many other things, the dynamic range of the church organ… (and the calm of sweet reasonableness it brings)… could come back in all its glory some day. And for some of us, that day couldn't come too soon.
“In my eyes and ears the organ will forever be the King of Instruments." ~ W.A. Mozart
November 6, 2019 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Center, Tx and Pastor Rev. Winston Kibbles Sr. are celebrating Deacon Brothers - Bro. Keith Byndom, Bro. Milton Evans, and Bro. Edmond Moore on Sunday, December 1st at 3pm.
Special guest for the celebration is Rev. Billy Gardner who is Pastor of Sweet Union Baptist Church, Garrison, Tx.
The theme is “Working together in Christian Love, to build up the Kingdom of God.”
Called to Serve - 1 Timothy 3:2-7
Everyone is welcome to worship with us as we express Love and Appreciation to our Deacons.
November 5, 2019 - Come join us for our Gospel Meeting with our new preacher, Joseph Lachausse on November 10th - 13th. Sunday night our service starts at 6pm and Monday through Wednesday services will be at 7pm. We welcome and encourage all to come hear the Word of God!
We are located in Stanley, the road before the school.
Stanley Church of Christ
109 Stanley Church Road
Logansport, Louisiana
November 4, 2019 - Bennett Chapel Mission Department is preparing to serve a Thanksgiving Dinner for the folks in Center and Shelby County who may not be able to have Thanksgiving. We will be serving dinner on Monday, November 25th at Bennett Chapel Church in Possum Trot. We plan to serve 300 people including shut-ins who are unable to leave their home.
We are asking for donations of Turkey, plus additional items such as potatoes, dressing, greens and drinks. Members of the church will donate items that are needed, including dessert.
If your organizatio can help in any way it would be most appreciated and you would benefit many folk who may not be able to have a Thanksgiving Dinner.
The annual combined Thanksgiving Service will be at Gates Chapel Baptist Church in Shelbyville on Tuesday, November 26th at 7pm. Everyone is invited and all churches are invited.
For more information, contact Brenda Carrillo at 936-244-0477 or the Bennett Chapel at 936-368-7137.
Missionary: Brenda Carrillo
Pastor: Bishop W.C. Martin
November 4, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. Last Tuesday my puppies, Gunter and Sam, joined me in going to Haslam Baptist to see if Community Christian Services was open. They were open and busy, serving folks in our part of East Texas. I delivered the peanut butter and jelly that Paxton Methodists have been collecting during October. A young man (young being relative) came out to my truck to help me and asked if I remembered him. I did indeed—a fine young man who was a student at Joaquin when I was High School principal. He said that the other day he and another former student were driving on Highway 84: His friend said, “Is that Mr. Smith walking some dogs?” The answer was, “No—that’s some old man.” Well, it happens to the best of us if we hang around long enough!
Halloween morning was a cold walk in the park! Gunter and Sam didn’t seem to mind, but I made it through my laps quicker than usual. Sue was cooking for the Seniors, so we three stopped in to say hello at the Senior Center. The weather on TV said it was colder here than in Maine Thursday morning!
Friday morning was colder than Thursday morning, but the winds were calm so it didn’t feel as bad. Friday was All Saints Day, when Christians around the world remember the saints in their communities that have died in the past year, as well as all the saints who were so important in their lives.
Sunday was All Saints Sunday; the morning was cool but not as cold as the previous mornings. Our Sunday school lesson focus has shifted to “Objects of Worship.” The text for today’s lesson was Deuteronomy 5: 1-10 and 6: 1-9. The purpose of today’s lesson was “to understand what it means to love God.” We are reminded in the ancient text not to have any other gods above the God of creation—God of the universe. We were also told that God is often revealed to us in creation and that God’s faithfulness is as dependable as the cycle of day/night and springtime/harvest.
The Gospel Lesson for Sunday was Luke 9: 1-10, the story of Zacchaeus. My favorite Quaker minister, Philip Gulley, wrote an article in the Indianapolis paper that explained the cornerstone of the Quaker faith: seeing “God in all people.” Our Gospel story certainly reinforced that idea, as Jesus not only saw God in Zacchaeus but honored him by going to his house for a meal. Such an honor left many in Jericho speechless.
On Monday we head to Focused Care in Center for our monthly ministry. All month we will be collecting rice and beans for Community Christian Services. Next Sunday we will have a Gideon speaker at our church. Gideon International is one of the ministries that Paxton Methodist supports in prayer and financially.
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, 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 me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
Randy and Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church
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