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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
August 30, 2019 - There are those people who believe that something they have done in their lives would forever prevent them from being saved, from being accepted as his own by the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is not what the Bible teaches and for all who have this feeling, “I have been too bad for Jesus to ever love me, there is just no use for me to even ask him to forgive me for I am lost forever.”
Let me tell you about a man whom I assure you was much worse that you, a man who lived to persecute and execute Christians every day.
This man was known as Saul of Tarsus, he was a son of a Pharisee and was raised in strict orthodox Judaism. When he was thirteen he was sent to Jerusalem and completed his studies under the famous Gamaliel.
Saul was the most fanatical of the Jewish scholars and became the natural leader of the persecutions of the Christians, the followers of the man Jesus Christ.
Saul even presided over the stoning of Stephen. He was convinced that Christians were heretics and that the honor of the Lord demanded their extermination, and he was dedicated and vigorous in this mission.
On the last of his missions to exterminate those who followed the man, Jesus Christ, as Saul and the men who were traveling with him to Damascus were stopped by a brilliant light coming down from heaven.
Blinded by the intensity of this light Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:4-5)
Here we have the foremost persecutor of the followers of Christ being stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus on another of his missions to arrest and imprison Christians, by the leader of those Christians, the man known as Jesus, the Lord we know as Jesus Christ. And then Jesus our Lord tells Saul what he is to do next.
“But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:6)
For three days Saul sat in Damascus, unable to see as he waited for word from the Lord. Saul then saw a vision of a man called Ananias that would come and lay his hands on him that he might see again.
As Jesus called on Ananias to go to Saul, he resists saying to the Lord, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” (Acts 9:13-14)
Ananias knew very well of Saul and he certainly did not want to go to him for the Lord, but Jesus assured him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)
And so the Lord changed his name to Paul and he became the greatest of the apostles bringing the gospel to all who would listen.
Paul established the seven churches in Asia Minor, converted thousands of Gentiles to Christianity, proclaimed the gospel, even to the Romans and wrote thirteen books of the New Testament.
And so now I ask you, “Is anything you have done so bad, so evil as to compare to Saul of Tarsus?”
Don’t you think that if God could use a man so vile as Saul, making him into the apostle Paul, that he can also use you? Do you really think that you are “Too Bad” for Jesus to accept?
Call upon him and he will accept you today and save you from the penalties of your sin forever. May his blessings be upon you forevermore…
August 29, 2019 - Spann Reunion will be held on Saturday, August 31 2019 at Spann Chapel Missionary Church.
Bring your favorite covered dish, your old pictures, and family stories. We will be there around 10:00am.
August 28, 2019 - Believe it or not, there have been times I have been accused of being too “narrow-minded” when it comes to spiritual matters. Yet, Jesus said in Matthew 7:14, “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it.” There are actually other areas of life where you find narrow-mindedness.
There is no room for being broadminded in the chemical laboratory. Water is composed of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. The slightest deviation from this formula means you don’t have water.
There is no broadmindedness in the garage. The mechanic says the piston rings must fit the cylinder walls within one thousandth of an inch if the motor is to run smoothly, there cannot be any variation.
Broadmindedness cannot exist on the athletic field. The game is played according to the rules and there are no favors shown for “charity’s sake”.
Why then do folks expect broadmindedness in the realm of religion and the plan of salvation? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me” (John 14:6) Jesus Christ expects us to follow His plan and live His kind of life if we want to go to heaven. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16). Well, neither am I.
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
August 26, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother, Jesus. Much of our part of East Texas got some needed rain last week. Sue and I were luckier than most, totaling around an inch. The rain cooled things down for awhile, but the sun came out, bringing the heat and humidity! We are supposed to have a more than decent chance of rain and a couple of cool mornings in the coming days. Those cool mornings will be a foretaste of the fall days to come. August sure is zooming by. Most kids had their first full week already, and others are schoolbound now.
Our Sunday school lesson was the last one of the quarter. The material we use is changing its size and format. I guess we will get used to the change, although print keeps getting smaller, doesn’t it? The lesson continued with the idea of the marriage vows being a way of looking at the covenant between people and the Divine. We had a special guest at Sunday school. Reverend Mike Lauxman is filling in for Pastor Sarah at Tenaha and Timpson and came to our class after services at Tenaha. It was so nice to meet him, and we all enjoyed what he had to add to the lesson. Ms. Carolyn is still in Pennsylvania—having a great time I’m sure, we miss her and what she shares with us at Sunday school.
We had a short business meeting to look at the 2019 church budget, discussing what areas we needed to add. Our Sunday literature and utilities cost more, so we are going to increase the budget there. We are not sure if our building insurance will go up, so we will keep that part of the budget open. We haven’t got any word yet about District or Conference Apportionments. Last year we added two yearly budget items—Children’s Christmas by Community Christian Services and the Joaquin Senior Center. We will propose at Charge Conference to add the Tenaha Youth Center and the Methodist Home as yearly budget items. The “Paxton United Against Waste Facility have had several meetings at Paxton Methodist Church. At their last meeting they took up an offering for the church and we certainly didn’t expect it but appreciate their generosity.
The Gospel Lesson came from Luke 13: 10-17, dealing with a question of “work” on the Sabbath. Jesus was criticized for healing a woman on the Sabbath, but he quickly took the Synagogue leaders to task. The Luke story was much more than just about working on the Sabbath. Luke’s Gospel really stressed the importance of women in Jesus’ movement and of course the early church. In today’s story Jesus goes out of his way to heal this woman and shows great compassion. I also think that this lesson makes us more careful to separate the wonderful spiritual teachings from the cultural norms and mores of ancient Israel and its world.
All month we have collected children’s socks and underwear for Community Christian Services. I will deliver those and two checks this week to Haslam Baptist. In September we will be collecting mac & cheese. Our Focused Care ministry will be on Labor Day—Monday September 2nd at 10:00. Hope you can join us there.
Last week, because of the way the month fell, we had programs at both Holiday Nursing Home and Lakeside Assisted Living. Some presenters were at one but not the other; some were at both. I’m going to stir them all together to tell you the goings-on. Hilda was our loyal and spirited piano player. I emceed, keeping the program moving with small anecdotes and lively song choices. Sallie sang a lovely rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” Gene did his favorite hymn, “Blessed Assurance,” and my favorite, “Morning Has Broken.” Nora, after watching the Judy Garland movie of the same name, sang “In the Good Old Summertime.” Fannie read “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and a devotional, both from the same book. Jo shared the moving lyrics of a song called “Follow Me.” Pastor Sarah talked about the importance of sleep (second the motion!). Sue presented There’s a Cow in the Road and a Dr. Seuss story, “The Sneetches.” A special thank-you to Margie, who comes to help us with the congregational singing, and to Maggie, who acts as assistant emcee.
Our worship time is 10:00 AM; we would love to have you come to worship with us. I know how very busy everyone is: Our early meeting time enables you to move on to family get-togethers or jobs afterward. Not to mention naps, which my wife says are best on Sunday afternoon. 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.
August 26, 2019 - When I looked out our "Bird Window" this morning, a war was going on between the adult birds and their young fledglings. Every time the young birds tried to get fed by their Mother, they were violently pecked and chased away… sometimes with loss of a few feathers. At first, I sympathized with the terrified little fledglings, but then I understood that the adults were just saying to them: "You’ve been shown how to feed yourselves, now go do it." Then I started feeling for the adults.
The Apostle Paul taught us to "earn more so we can give more," but that means give to those who CAN’T work... not to those who WON’T work. Lazy people are given a special charge: "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) Even the birds know that fledglings won’t ever feed themselves as long as you do it for them. Work is good for us and Jesus was a worker: "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (John 5:17)
So are we teaching our children to serve… or to be served? Maybe we should show our little ones some TOUGH LOVE like the birds do. That’s what we will do…
… if we really love them.
August 26, 2019 - Pastor Byron Coutee, Jr. and the members of the Blount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church invites everyone to our Family and Friends Day on Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 3:00pm. Guest speaker is Pastor Darrell Cranford of the Wells United Christian Fellowship Church in Wells, Texas. Dinner will be served.
Sis. April N. Moore, Church Clerk
August 23, 2019 - The Pastor and Members of Carroll Chapel CME Church in Shelbyville would like to invite you to their Annual Homecoming and three nights revival. Sunday, September 8, 2019 at 3pm.
Their Guest Speaker for Sunday will be: Elder Archie Thompson of
Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ of the Todd Spring Community. Shelbyville, TX.
September 9th. Monday night 7pm. Rev. Lashan Hayter. Pastor of St. Mark CME Church in Shelbyville, TX.
September 10th. Tuesday night at 7pm. Rev. Mario Osby Pastor of Smith Chapel B.C., Timpson TX.
September 11th. Wednesday night at 7pm. Elder Lakendrick Bluford of Carthage TX.
Everyone is invited!
August 22, 2019 – Recently, the Center First United Methodist Church (UMC) presented grant awards totaling $3,250 from their 2019 Dollar-A-Week Campaign to recipients representing community organizations and ongoing Center First UMC ministries. Those receiving grant awards included:
- $500: F.L. Moffett for their Reading Recovery Program
- $500: Center Elementary for their Reading Recovery Program
- $500: Excelsior ISD for a Little Free Library to serve the school and the Akin Community
- $500: Edi Miller, Center High School Health Science Teacher to purchase an EKG machine
- $250: Janell Gibson, Elementary Reading Teacher for books for the Dyslexia program
- $250: Tracy Galindo, Center High School Teacher for classroom presentation materials
- $250: Ashley Wulf, Center High School to assist with student needs
- $250: Center First UMC Nursing Home Ministry for gifts for the nursing home residents
- $250: Center First UMC BINGO Ministry to purchase prizes for the participants
About Center First UMC Dollar-A-Week Campaign
The Center First UMC Dollar-A-Week Campaign began in February 2017 with donations earmarked for awarding grants assisting our community in significant ways and allowing reachable goals for church ministries and organizations. Have a passion for what hurts God’s heart in our community? Want seed money to kick-off a ministry that addresses that need? Know of an area non-profit organization in need? Know of a teacher that has a creative project that exceeds beyond the school budget? Donations are collected throughout the year from $1 dollar bills placed in the church’s offering plate, and then individuals and groups in the church and in our community can apply to receive grants to be used to meet specific needs for their projects. To date, approximately $4,000 has been collected and awarded in grants to community organizations and church ministries. Dollar-A-Week grant submission guidelines and applications are available by contacting Rev. Karen Jones at Center First UMC (936) 598-2707 or visiting www.fumccentertx.org
August 22, 2019 - Jackson Missionary Baptist Church kicks off Awana for 2019-2020. Come join us for a Luau on August 28th.
Meal and registration at 6pm Fellowship Hall. Lots of fun and activities! Be prepared to get wet!
Parents please plan to stay and enjoy meal and festivities as we share our vision and goals for this new year.
Jackson Missionary Baptist Church is located at 11120 Highway 7 E, Joaquin, TX 75954.
August 22, 2019 - Often we feel the church is not what it ought to be. We feel it just doesn’t quite meet “our expectations” In his inaugural address in1961, President John F. Kennedy stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”. At the Republican National convention in 1916, Warren G. Harding said, “we must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.”
The challenge issued by these two presidents suggests a like principle that should guide every Christian toward the church. We need to be less concerned about our “needs” being met, less concerned about “being served”, and more concerned about serving.
Maybe we have been asking the wrong question. Instead of asking “is this a good congregation to be a member of” perhaps we should ask, “am I a good member of the congregation”.
It is not important how many get well cards I receive, but how many cards I sent to others. It is not how much I get out of worship or bible class but how much do I contribute toward making the worship and bible class meaningful for others. It is not how much I am loved, but how much love do I show to others.
A life of service, is a life lived within the will of God. To be pleasing to God, we must be obedient to his will and surrender our stubborn will to His will.
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.
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