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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
January 19, 2017 - Jackson's Annual Chili Cook-Off is Sunday, January 22nd and everyone is invited to attend.
The Chili Cook-Off will take place after the 10:50am Worship Service. Also, special music during the 10:50am Worship Service will be provided by the Stephens of Northport, Alabama. Everyone is invited to join us for an afternoon of Worship with the Stephens at 1:30pm on Sunday, January 22nd.
Jackson Baptist Church is located at 11120 State Hwy 7 East, Joaquin, TX 75954.
January 17, 2017 - Last week we celebrated the Epiphany, which put off to this Sunday the scriptures about the baptism of Jesus. All four of the canonical gospels have a baptism story, so we know how important this event is. Jesus comes to the Jordan, where John is urging people to be baptized and transformed. Jesus is baptized, which marks the beginning of his ministry.
Water is the most valuable resource—all living things need water to survive. Water is a source of life and has great importance in almost all world religions. The Hebrew Scriptures begin in Genesis speaking of water covering the face of the earth. Revelation in the Christian scriptures has a vision of water flowing from the throne of God.
Baptism joins us with God and a community of God. Stanley Hauerwas writes that we are called upon to be a community “capable of forming people with virtues sufficient to witness to God’s truth in the world.” Our baptism calls us into the Kingdom—a Kingdom of tolerance, love, and bravery. Our baptism is joined with Jesus’ and from that union living water must flow from our lives into the lives of all we meet.
The scripture for our Sunday school lesson continues to be the Psalms. Psalm 65 praises and blesses God for abundant grain and rain. The poet says that even the deserts drip with God’s goodness. All the little things that we often take for granted make life good. We often forget that.
We had a good crowd by Paxton standards. We have been in double digits every Sunday this year! Sam came with his grandmother, Mrs. Fannie: We at Paxton have enjoyed seeing Sam grow up, and now he is all grown up! He is getting ready for a new semester at Panola. Our End-of-Year Reports and other required paperwork were sent via the mail and the Internet. It is always nice to get this business completed so we can concentrate on the important things. I have a meeting with the District Superintendent next week in Lufkin.
This Tuesday we go to Holiday Nursing Home for our monthly program. A week from this Thursday, we head to Lakeside Village. Both programs begin at 2:00.
“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!
January 17, 2017 - Repelling is fun. The feeling of walking off a 50 ft. tower or large cliff with just a rope between you and the ground is exhilarating!
I will never forget the first time that I was challenged to do it. I have to say this right off, I have always had a "fear" of heights. So for me to do this, in my mind, was truly a feat. As I began to climb the tower and think that what I was about to do feeds one of my biggest fears, my chest began to tighten, hands sweating, breathing labored, and my knees got weak. That's right I was in full anxiety mode. My fear was so strong I didn't know if I could make it to the top of the tower, let alone jump off it with nothing more between me and the ground but a rope and one of my Army buddies holding the line at the bottom.
Once I got to the top I was "rigged up" and walked to the edge of the platform. The instructor could tell I was nervous, so he comforted me with the words, "Don't worry if you fall, we can slow your descent so you probably won't die, just break a couple bones." Then he laughed. I was given instructions on how to stop or slow myself on the way down and told to step over the edge. As I looked back over the edge and seen how far it was to the ground, all those fears rushed through my head, "What if the rope breaks?, What if I forget how to stop?, What if the guy on the ground is not paying attention as I plunge to the earth?" Then the instructor gave me some wise advice. He said, Just step over the edge and hold for a few seconds until you get used to being over the edge." Then he told me that the guy on the ground end of the rope could stop me if I started to free fall. You see the "anchor man" at the other end of the rope could actually be your salvation if you began to fall. With this realization, my fears were relieved and my anxiety began to subside. I made the repel without incident and couldn't wait to get back and try it again. I almost let fear and anxiety keep me from experiencing something that could give me enjoyment.
In life we let our fears lead us to anxiety and worry. When we allow these to take control of our lives it can paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. Did you know that about 90 percent of the things we worry about daily never materialize. So we spend a lot of our days being afraid to step out of our comfort zones to be all that God wants us to be. We can use fear and anxiety as justification for our inaction, but in reality it comes down to not trusting our "anchor man." Who we put our trust in if we start to "free fall."
Hebrews 6:19-20 says, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus." When we are convinced that we can trust Jesus as the anchor of our soul we can live life head on, without fear. Paul tells us that if we, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4: 6-7)
So don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Its time for you to stop letting fear and anxiety hold you back. Step out, and put your faith and trust in the "anchor" that never fails, Jesus Christ. When anxiety enters faith leaves, but when faith takes over anxiety disappears.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
― Theodore Roosevelt.
Trust God and stop worrying. You won't succeed if you never try.
I'm Just sayin,
Mike Belgard
January 17, 2017 - The St John Baptist Church of Tenaha, Texas would like to invite everyone to our Winter Musical featuring the Chariots of Fire from Shreveport, Louisiana on February 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
We would be delighted to see you there.
January 16, 2017 - "Arise and go down to the potters house, and there I will let you hear my words." So I went down to the potters house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potters hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done?" Declares the Lord. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:2-6)
This story of the potter's wheel truly is the story of the relationship of mankind on earth with the Lord.
Just as with the clay of the potters wheel, all men are "spoiled" as we are all born into this world with the sin nature inherited from our forefather, Adam.
From birth we are molded by our parents, our siblings, our school and our church, yet we are still spoiled by our sin nature and for us to be complete and be useful vessels we too must be reworked into a useful vessel, a new creation.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"If anyone is in Christ", meaning, once we have accepted Christ as Lord and Master we are then a "new creation". Once saved you will be changed, the old things of this world will no longer control you as you learn the true joy of living in Christ. You will grow in faith to realize that nothing of this world matters, only God's Word and your relationship with God is important. It is your future, your place in eternity that matters.
"Arise and go down to the potters house, and there I will let you hear my words." Is God not the potter, is the potters house not the church? Isn't God telling us here that if we are to become useful vessels then we must go to where we can hear His words? "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
Absolutely, we see here from the scripture that to be saved; we must "hear the word" for "faith comes from hearing". God is telling us that we must be told as were the 1st century Christians, they did not know "the Word" until John the Baptist and Jesus Christ came preaching repentance of sins. Without this preaching, not one person would be saved today.
"Because, 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." (Romans 10:9)
"For with heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:10)
There it is, we must be reworked by God's grace into new creations, useful vessels for the work He put us here to do.
If you don't know Him, find a church today be there tonight and begin the process of being reworked by God into a useful vessel.
May God's blessings be upon you...
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..” Psalms 107:2
January 16, 2017 - I was a college sophomore when I bought my first car. It was a black twelve-year old ‘41 Ford. Jones Chevrolet in Center, Texas stored it for me eight months while I paid for it. It cost me $495 and I couldn’t wait to drive it home.
I painted the dash tomato red and put a wheel cover and steering knob on it before driving it to ETBC to show it off. Parking it every day in front of the dining hall assured me that everyone saw it. I was proud of that car!!
When I was converted to the Lord, I was so proud of the Lord Jesus. I apologized to people I had offended, returned the fifty cents I’d stolen from Barney Bridges’ Café , and showed my new faith to everyone.
Many people don’t show off their cars like they used to. I’ve also noticed that many Christians don’t show the Lord off like they once did.
I wonder why.
January 11, 2017 - As we look upon the light of a new day, a new year, let us have hope for a better time in 2017. Let us look forward to a closer walk with our Lord each day, let us do as the Lord instructs us in Psalm 27. "You have said, "seek my face." My heart says to You, "Your face, Lord do I seek." (Psalm 27:8)
We must seek His face daily if we are to walk closer with Him who is our refuge, our strength.
But, how do I seek His face and walk closer with God each day? God set in motion the link we have to Him, He inspired the writings of the Old Testament Prophets, then He sent His only Son, to open the door to the throne of God and to start the gospel of Christ. Through the Apostles and disciples that Jesus called to Him we have the New Testament, more inspired writings of God, we must seek His face through His word.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) When man has rejected us, when the world looks upon us with scorn for our faith, let us know that the answers to life's problems are within our reach, within God's Word.
"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)
God told the Israelites at the Red Sea when Moses said; "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today." (Exodus 14:13) God is telling us the same today, when we are troubled we must turn to Him for strength and guidance. Know that He is God, that He is all powerful, that all glory is His and that we have our Lord to carry us.
Jesus tells us; "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Study in God's Word gives us the most powerful weapon on earth, no enemy can overcome the message of the Word.
As the Word says; "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord and you are exalted as head above all." (1Chronicles 29:11) NOTHING of this world can overcome our Lord.
Study His Word daily so you too have the weapons to overcome the world. And remember this each day, no matter the situation or circumstances; "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (Psalm 46:11)
Seek His face daily, if you know Him seek His face so you can walk closer with Him. If you do not know Him, please, seek His face, pray to Him, today, for forgiveness for your sins, for if you do, He is good and just and will forgive you and save you from the fires of hell.
May God bless you each day...
January 11, 2017 - I was riding my bicycle down a country road when I noticed a house with two large German Shepard dogs lying on the porch. They began to bark so I just stepped up my peddling and went past without incidence. It helped that when I passed I was going down hill. I made my bike ride and had really pushed myself pretty hard and was tired. As I came up the last hill I was exhausted and struggling just to keep the wheels moving forward.
When all of a sudden off the front porch came those two large dogs. I was so focused on making it up the hill that I forgot where I was at. As they ran toward me with teeth bared, I tried to pedal the bike faster but was so tired and out of breath I couldn't make it move any faster. I realized I couldn't out run them.
My "flight or fight" response had kicked in and since my "flight" was exhausted, I did the only thing left to do, I jumped off the bike, grabbed it with both hands and put it between me and the dogs. From somewhere deep inside of me came this bellow like a charging bull, and I stood my ground! I am sure I had this crazy look in my eye and those dogs figured out by my look, that I had poised to fight. When the dogs became aware that I wasn't going to run they just turned to one another and looked as if to say this guy is crazy. There was a brief standoff and then they left and I continued on my way. Those dogs never chased me again. Sometimes they would bark but they never got off the porch again.
Things we have done, or have been done to us in the past, can be like those dogs. We can peddle right past them without hardly giving them a second thought when we are fresh and feeling good about life. But when we get tired, worn out from what life is throwing at us today, looking back and feeling sorry for ourselves for what has already happened that we can't change, that's when those sleeping dogs from our past wake up and try to bite us. The devils main tool he uses against us is our past mistakes and circumstances. When the devil brings those things back up to us we have only two responses; we can run or we can fight and stand our ground against the attack.
God is not a god who brings up our past mistakes or hurtful circumstances but he is the God who delivers us from those things and separates them from us "as far as the east is from the west." He gives us a blessing for today and a hope for a future. He wants us to "Let sleeping dogs lye." God knows that we can't move forward if we constantly look back to our past. Those thoughts and circumstances will "chase you" the rest of your life and steal your peace and joy. Jesus wants you to put Him between you and your past. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who labor and heavy laden and I will give you rest."
If you put your faith in Him, those dogs from your past may raise up and bark at you but they will never get off the porch to chase you again. Jesus died so that you can let your past be just that, your past. He wants you to trust Him, put Him between you and your past. He will give you peace and rest.
I'm just Sayin
Mike Belgard
January 11, 2017 - Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley Community, are holding a food pantry for the residents of Shelby County on Saturday, January 14, 2017. All recipients must show identification, proof of residency and income. Only one (1) box per household.
Sign-in starts at 9am at Hillcrest Baptist Church until food is gone. Hillcrest is located at 901 Southview Circle, Center, Texas 75935.
“I’ll be back…” John 14:3
January 9, 2017 - Last spring I spent several weeks photographing a painted bunting in the Brady Community near Center, Texas. He was a beautiful bird…blue, green, red, yellow…and in time this timid little gem became so comfortable in my presence that he allowed me to photograph him from only ten feet away! The distinguishing white spot on his red breast earned him his name, “Spot”. He raised two clutches of young, molted in August, grew new feathers, and in October returned to Central America to winter.
On this cold December day I drove out to the little sandy road where I’d found him last spring. All the leaves had fallen, the vegetation he’d fed on was dead and the large number of happy birds in love was conspicuously missing. But next spring when the seedy patches of rumex grass reappear along the sand hill roadsides, the air will awake again with the singing of these sweet avians …and Spot will be back!
Two thousand cold winters and hot summers have passed since Jesus left his disciples and returned to heaven. Many look at our decaying society and say “where is the promise of his coming”. But at a time when nations are at loggerheads with each other and the world rocks and reels in sin, the Eastern sky will suddenly split open, the trumpet of God will sound… and our hearts will burst with joy…
…and He’ll be back!
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