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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 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
November 4, 2019 - Jesus tells us that if we follow him in this life that we will have problems due to the hate that the world has for him and for anyone who would dare follow him.
"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
And then he tells us not to worry about those of this world who would harm us, but that we should fear only the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
"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)
There is but One who can condemn one's soul to the fires of hell, our heavenly Father, Almighty God.
Proverbs tells us that fear of God is a good thing and the beginning of much more in life was it says; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)
And so since we know that we will face persecutions, maybe even to the point of death, we also know we have nothing to fear from them as long as we remain steadfast in our worship of the Lord as our Sovereign Lord and Master. So, how do we handle things when persecutions come upon us?
We lean on our God for his help to get us through the hard times.
"Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love." (Psalm 109:1-5)
Yes, in this world we will face tribulations and persecutions, but take heart Christians for our Lord has already overcome the world and through him we too shall overcome it.
"I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads." (Psalm 109:25)
It is exactly as Jesus described, that the more we work to serve him, to spread his gospel, the more we are ridiculed and persecuted by those of the world. But, be of good courage for through the strength of Jesus Christ we too will overcome them.
"Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it! Let them curse but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!" (Psalm 109:26-28)
We can count on the steadfastness of our Lord Jesus Christ to always be there for us when we are in need, we can know that through him, we will overcome!
"With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death." (Psalm 109:30-31)
No fear, no fear shall we have of this world or the evil in it for we know without doubt that the one who controls all things stands with those who remain true to him and his love for us.
"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Blessed and hallowed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...
November 1, 2019 - Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley is presenting, "The Porch Under the Stars" at Boles Field, November 11, at 7pm. Our guest speaker will be Rick Gage of Go Tell Ministries.
We will also have live worship music led by Paul, Brittany, Abigail and Hunter. We will have something warm to drink and sweets to eat.
Come and bring someone with you to hear God's word told in a mighty way.
Rusty Hall - Pastor
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