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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 9, 2017 - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church would like to invite everyone to attend their 78th Annual Homecoming celebrating 178 years of continuous service.
The event will be held Sunday, April 23, 2017. Service begins 10:30am with lunch to follow in Fellowship Hall. Bro. Charles Williams will be bringing the morning message.
Afternoon singing begins at 1:30pm.
Located just off FM 139 and CR 2787 on CR 3569 in Joaquin, Texas.
Established in 1839, Fellowship is the oldest Baptist Church in Shelby County and the oldest living Baptist Church in Texas in association with the American Baptist Association.
Come and hear God's word and enjoy the fellowship.
April 7, 2017 - The Shelbyville First United Methodist Church will observe Easter Services as follows:
- Palm Sunday – April 9th with worship service beginning at 11:00 am.
- Maundy Thursday Service April 13th beginning at 6:00 pm.
- Easter Sunrise Service April 16, beginning at 6:30 am. There will be breakfast following the worship service.
We invite all to come worship with us and join us for Easter Brunch.
April 7, 2017 - Patroon Baptist Church is currently accepting donations for their indoor garage sale which will be held on April 28 and 29. Please contact Debbie at 598-9253, Katie at 488-9773 or Jessica at 201-1614 to arrange drop-off or pick-up.
The garage sale will benefit a summer trip to camp. All donations are greatly appreciated.
April 6, 2017 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries invites everyone to their Usher Program this Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 3:30pm. The guest speaker is Elder Richard McCowin of Lone Star Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas.
House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries is located at 215 Church Street, Center, Texas 75935.
April 5, 2017 - Bennett Chapel Baptist Church Annual Easter Bake Sale Good Friday – April 14, 2017 9:00a.m. until sold out H&S Discount Foods.
Pies ($15): Coconut, Egg, Pecan, Potato.
Cakes - layered or pound ($20-$30): Chocolate, Strawberry, Coconut, Italian Cream Cheese, Honey Bun, 7-Up, Sour Cream, Red Velvet, Caramel, Caramel with Pineapple, Pineapple, German Chocolate, Cookies, Cupcakes, Tea Cakes.
Special Orders call Annie M. Garrett - 936-598-7141 or Gladys Garrett - 936-368-7137. If no answer leave a message and phone number.
April 5, 2017 - Breaking News: Jesus is Alive Easter Celebration will be held at New Life Church on Saturday, April 15th from 11am until 1pm. Come and enjoy free food, egg hunt, and free photos. Also enjoy music and an exciting drama - Jesus is Alive!
April 5, 2017 - The Dock Watson family and the members of Paxton United Methodist Church wish to invite everyone to celebrate Easter Sunrise Service at their home in Paxton on Sunday, April 16 at 7am. Ron Hilton of Houston will deliver the Easter message.
The address is 3295 US Hwy 84 East, Tenaha, Texas 75974.
April 4, 2017 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent. It was a stormy day Sunday and many folks didn’t venture out. We received almost three inches Sunday and were without electricity for about four hours. It was a great time to take a nap. Our big old hound dog Abner is terrified of storms and fireworks. He is a much happier dog today (Monday) with sunshine and blue skies. Easter is fast approaching. Next Sunday’s lections (scriptures) focus on Jesus’ triumphal entry while other readings focus on Jesus’ passion. Each year Roy and Judy at Sunshine Flowers provide palms for us to use in our worship service. This I completely forgot but thankfully Roy remembered and called to see how many palm fronds we would need.
This past Sunday, the 5th Sunday in Lent focused on death and rebirth. Every Sunday in Lent is to be looked at as a “little Easter” and this was certainly the case this Sunday. Ezekiel is taken to a valley of death—dry bones. The bones are Israel and God promises that Israel will once again be a nation. For the last several Sundays the Gospels have been long narratives from the John Gospel. This past Sunday the John story was of Lazarus and Jesus bringing him back from the grave.
Even though most paintings portray Lazarus as an older man I think he was a young boy. Because there is not an adult male Martha is considered the head of the household. It is also possible that Mary and Martha were widows living together and raising their younger brother. In the King James version of this story we have the shortest verse—“Jesus wept.” Our story is a sad story that becomes a miraculous one when Lazarus is raised from the dead.
Our Sunday school lesson used the 23rd Psalm as its text. The author reminds us all that sometimes faith is greatly challenged especially when we are languishing in the valley of death. It was great to see everyone at worship. Larry says that Rose is feeling better and we have three birthdays this week. Evie Ideker had her second birthday Sunday. Carolyn Umbrell and Fannie Watson also celebrate a birthday this week. Gene and Joy announced that the Hutto Cemetery on their land will be dedicated next Saturday. Gene is expecting a good crowd coming from all over. Easter Sunrise Service will be April 16th starting at 7:00 AM at the Watson home in downtown Paxton.
April 3, 2017 - What an awesome way to start your Easter Sunday? Come have breakfast at New Life Church April 16, 2017 9am to 10:30am $5 a plate.
Pancakes, sausage, drink and fellowship. Meet and take a free 8X10 picture with Rory the Rabbit Reporter and listen to his account of the Resurrection.
Church starts at 10:30. We would love you to stay and worship with us if you don't have a church of your own.
All proceeds go toward our Guatamala Missions trip this summer.
April 3, 2017 - Peace, or the lack of it, is a word that we have been hearing a lot about in the news lately. It seems that everyone in the world is angry with one another. We desperately seek peace. We have diplomats that are trained in trying to broker "peace treaties" between warring countries, and we personally, just want peace in our lives. So if everybody wants it, and we are constantly seeking it, why does it allude us so? Where can we find peace ? That is the question we are going to answer today.
First we have to answer the question; What is peace? Peace is the third listed fruit of the Spirit after love and joy. Its the overwhelming sense of security that no matter what's happening around you, you are safe. There is a painting titled "Peace". It depicts a terrible storm with waves crashing against jagged rocks. You can just feel the winds howling in the scene. It is anything but peaceful. But down in the corner of the painting, tucked away in the rocks is a small bird sitting on her nest totally oblivious to the storm around her . That's real peace. Security in the face of adversity.
OK, so where do we find the peace that everyone is so desperately looking for and needs? It can only be found one place. The One whom God sent ;" Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be on His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9: 6). You see peace , the kind that sustains, comforts, and lasts is a gift from God. Until we seek peace from the only one who can give it we will be in constant turmoil.
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Therefore it is a product of the relationship we have with the Lord. The deeper the relationship, the greater the peace. I spent a lot of time at sea when I was a young man. One thing I learned about the ocean; the deeper you go the calmer it is. There can be a hurricane on the surface but when you go down a few feet below the surface you can hardly tell whats happening on top of the water. The deeper you go the more peaceful it gets. The same is true with life. The deeper your relationship with God the less the storms of life bother you. You rest assured that He is going to take care of you. Jesus promised in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;".
You can have that peace. Trust Jesus when he says: " These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace." (Jn. 16:33). Jesus loves you and wants to give you that "Peace that passes all understanding". Ask and it can be yours.
I'm Just Sayin
Mike Belgard
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