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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 22, 2019 - The night of June 3, 2005 was hot, humid, and dry. The drought conditions in deep East Texas had continued unabated all year. Both man and beast were in search of cool air and wet water.
As deputies for the Shelby County, Texas Sheriff Department, my partner and I patroled the county, checking the security of businesses, churches, residences, and schools. On this particular night, we were driving through Blair, a community on the far western side of Shelby County. We pulled into the parking lot of a small Baptist church located right off the Farm-to-Market highway. As we drove up to the church, suddenly an animal ran from under the church into the trees beyond.
Although we had gotten only a fast look, we identified the animal as a female fox. She gave a glance back at her intruders as she disappeared into the pine trees behind the church.
Larry and I mused that the fox was probably hot and was using the church crawl space to rest and cool off. Then, suddenly, a young fox peered at us from the church crawl space opening. He seemed not to be very afraid of us as he ventured outside the entrance and stared at us.
The little fox probably was hot, hungry, and thirsty. Larry had brought along a sandwich to eat later on during our shift. He eased out of the patrol car, opened the back door, and got half of his sandwich. He moved toward the small fox, talking to him gently. The fox retreated back into the safety of the church while Larry placed the sandwich on the ground at the entrance.
Then Larry found an old bowl, and filled it with water from a nearby water hose, and set it beside the sandwich.
After retreating to our patrol car, we sat and watched as the young fox came out of hiding, gulped down the food, and lapped up the water, ignoring his audience only a few feet away. Then he just stood there watching us intently long enough for us to take several pictures of him.
I left a note on the front door of the church advising them that they had a family of foxes living under their church.
Each time we were in the Blair community, be would stop and check on our fox family. We saw the mother a few more times, and the young fox began to run from us. His mother probably gave him some lessons about the dangers of humans and how to avoid them. Eventually, they were both gone, but they served as an interesting break for us while on patrol.
A church member jested that the two fox were baptized, and were never seen at church again. Seems I have heard that before.
April 22, 2019 - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Joaquin will be having their 80th annual homecoming service in celebration of the 180th anniversary of the church on Sunday, April 28th. The church was established in 1839!
Services begin at 10:30am. The morning message will be brought by Bro. Joe Walker. Come out and help us celebrate and join us for lunch following in the fellowship hall. Bring a covered dish if you like, and as the old saying goes, bring enough for you and the preacher, and there will be plenty! An old fashioned singing will follow lunch at 1:30. God's Word, food, and old friends! Great combination!
"I remember the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother …" 2 Timothy 1:5
April 22 , 2019 - When I conducted a funeral last week in Center, Texas I visited with Brother Ed McCrae who works part time at Mangum & Sons Funeral Home. When the name "Sister Richards" came up, I asked if he remembered her. “I sure do," he smiled. "She brought me into this world." Then I recalled that Mother had once told me that my grandmother was a mid-wife and had brought many babies into the world.
Most folks called her Sister Richards but she was "Mama" to all of her grandchildren. She preached from the age of 18 until shortly before her death at 84. We lived a field and two barbed wire fences from her in East Center for several years and we visited Mama often. She would meet us at the door and immediately ask, "Are you children hungry?" She always had food on the table (covered by a table cloth) and some cold biscuits for Uncle Billy Gean to make his onion sandwich when he got home from school.
When Mama and I worked in her garden she'd whisper, "Thank you, Jesus… Thank y0u, Jesus...” Mother called one day to tell me that Mama was in the Center Hospital seriously ill. When I got to her room, she was in a coma and Mother was kneeling by her bed. I tearfully whispered, "Mama, thank you for helping us all these years." "I love you, Mama".
She crossed the Jordan a few days later. I don't know if she heard what I told her that day… but she knows now… and she knows I meant it…
… with all my heart.
April 22, 2019 - Oh dear Lord Jesus, let me thank you once again for the sacrifice that you made of your own physical life, by death on the cross that I and all others might have eternal life with you.
Let me ask you this day Lord, what can I do for you, what do you require of all who would come and follow you?
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Is that all one might ask? yes, for you see, Jesus has done it all, there is nothing more that man can do under the sun but to accept Jesus as Lord and to obey the will and wishes of the Father God.
Billy Sunday was a major league baseball player in the early 1900’s who gave up his career and began an evangelistic ministry, preaching all over the country for many years, becoming a great preacher of God’s Word.
At a camp meeting one time at the end of the message a young man came forward much as the young man did with the prophet Micah in our opening scripture (Micah 6:8).
He came down to see Billy and asked him this, “Brother Sunday, I wanted so badly to come forward and accept Jesus but I was afraid and just couldn’t walk forward. But, I know I must be saved. What must I now do to be saved?”
Billy answered him, “Son, there is nothing you can do to be saved!” With that answer I would suspect the young man almost fainted as he cried out, “But Brother Sunday, I must be saved, what must I do?”
Billy Sunday calmly answered him, “Son, there is nothing that you can do for you see, Jesus has already done it all. All you can do is accept him as Lord and obey his will for the rest of your days.”
That’s the message, Jesus has done it all, all we can do is accept him as Lord and do his will in our lives.
But wait, before you begin to rejoice at the simplicity of salvation let me caution you, yes, it is simple, but it is not easy for the devil lies in wait for you. At every turn as you try to live the Christian life he is there waiting to pounce on you to draw you away from Christ and back into his lair where we were all born.
For all who do believe and accept Jesus as their Lord the scripture says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17)
To suffer with him is to follow him, remaining true to him through all the hardships and persecutions that we may face as Christians in a sinful and hateful world of non-believers who hate us just as they hated him.
But take heart Christians for what we may face today is nothing compared to what we will see in the end.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
April 18, 2019 (Article originally run November 16, 2016, "Amazing Sacrifice") - A young girl who had cancer was in dire need of a blood transfusion. Because of the rare nature of her blood type, donors were few and far between.
However, she had a little brother who was seven years old who had the same blood type. His parents explained to him that if his sister didn't get the blood she needed, she would die. They also told him it was his choice if he wanted to give her his blood. The boy thought for a while, then with a big grin on his face said he would do it if it meant saving his sisters life.
So the big day came for the transfusion and the boy jumped up on the table with a big smile on his face. The nurse asked him why he was doing this and he proudly stated that he was giving so his sister could live. The transfusion started and the boy kept smiling and joking with his parents and the staff of the hospital. A few minutes into transfusion the nurse went to reassure him that it would only be a little while longer.
The boys facial expression changed as she spoke and she could tell he was concerned. Then with a timid voice the boy asked the nurse, " When am I going to start dying?" It wasn't until then that everyone realized he thought he had to give her ALL of his blood. They realized that this seven year old boy had made the commitment in his mind, that he was willing to die so that his sister could live.
Its one thing to give your life for someone you love but to give your life for someone who doesn't know you takes an even more extraordinary person. When Jesus went to the cross for us two thousand years ago you may not have been born yet but he knew who you were. He died for you that day because He loved you even then. "A greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13) You see whats so good about Jesus sacrifice, is that death for you and I died that day. That sounds kind of strange but Jesus actually "killed" the power that death had over us by dieing in our place. Paul quotes the prophet Hosea in 1 Cor. 15:55 describing what Jesus did that day when he said, "O death where is your victory? O death where is your sting?"
Another thing that makes the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for us so amazing, is that the veil that separated man from God was torn open and now we no longer have to offer blood sacrifices for our sins because the perfect "Lamb of God" was sacrificed in our place. No longer does one have to worry if he has done enough to get into heaven. Romans 10: 9-10 reveals to us the truth that "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, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Just like the boy in the story was willing to do for his sister, Jesus willing did when he went to the cross and died for you. That's what makes Jesus sacrifice so amazing. All you have to do to experience the fullness of the grace He gave us that day is to confess, believe, and accept Him. He loves you that much.
I'm just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
April 17, 2019 - (Flier) - A Spring Lectureship will be held April 28-30 at Joaquin Church of Christ.
Theme: Living Upright in An Upside Down World.
- April 28 Jay Taylor - Sunday Bible class 9am "Whoever Walks in Integrity," Sunday morning worship 10am "Christians in An Upside Down World."
- April 28 Nathan Cox - Sunday evening worship 6pm "Christians and Social Media."
- April 29 Reagan McClenny - Monday evening worship 7pm "Overcoming Worldliness."
- April 30 Jonathan Glaesemann - Tuesday evening worship 7pm "Abortion: What Has God Said?"
Joaquin Church of Christ is located at 10674 US Hwy. 84 East, Joaquin Tx. 75954. Please Join us.
April 8, 2019 - The community is invited to a Block Party at Portacool Park on Saturday, April 20, 2019 hosted by First Baptist Church of Center. The event is from 12noon until 2pm with food, games, and an Easter Egg Hunt!
April 16, 2019 - Shelbyville First United Methodist Church Easter Services:
We will observe Maundy Thursday service this week on Thursday, April 18th. The service will begin at 6pm.
Sunday, April 21, Our Easter Sunrise Service will begin at 6:30am. Breakfast brunch will follow after worship service.
For more information you may call Merle Howard at 936-591-6543
April 16, 2019 - First Baptist Church of Center, 117 Cora, will host a Good Friday service, April 19 at 6pm. The service will feature music of the cross, personal and interactive worship experiences, and the Lord’s Supper.
The community is welcome. Call 936-598-5605 for more information.
April 15, 2019 - In response to those who would say that any god is ok to worship just as long as their worship is sincere.
To that thinking the Bible says;
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts;
“I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
“Who is like me?” “Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a god besides me? There is no Rock. I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6-8)
Does God say there are other gods like him? Does he say it is ok to worship them as long as one is sincere? NO!
For there is no god other than Almighty God, the first and the last.
Ten Commandment number one: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Deut. 5:7)
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)
“And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of earth; you have made heaven and earth.” (Isaiah 37:15-16)
According to the words of the Bible their claims of other gods are false claims, claims made of false gods which do not live and cannot save one from the fires of hell, only the God of heaven, our heavenly Father can do so.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:1-7)
Yes one God, one Spirit, one faith and one salvation by grace for all who will come with humility, accepting the free gift of salvation through the shed blood of the Christ.
Do you know him today? Have you given of yourself, a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, then please do so today for each day we grow closer to that fateful day when this age is up and the opportunity for salvation is no more. When the time is passed, it is gone and will not come again and for all who have not accepted him as Lord, there will be no more opportunity…
Come today and be saved from the penalties of your sins…
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