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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
October 18, 2016 - Sardis Pentecostal Church is hosting a Fall Festival October 29th at 4:30pm. Come and bring your whole family for a time of fun, food and great fall activities for all ages! Children are welcome to dress up and get some treats at our trunk-or-treat. We will eat some great food at 5:30, at 6:30 we will have cake walks, and come dark there will be a hay ride for the little and big kids! We will also have a jump house and a blow up obstacle course for the kids to enjoy. Hope to see you there!
October 18, 2016 - FBC Timpson will be hosting a Timpson Community Fall Festival. All the activities will take place from 6:00pm - 8:00pm on Monday, October 31, 2016 in the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church.
This will be a great time of food, fun, and fellowship. Your kids won’t have to go from house to house asking for candy or to have a good time. There will be more Free candy, Free food, and Free prizes than they will know what to do with!! There will also be some games for the adults as well.
Come and be a part of this great community event!
October 18, 2016 - "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Revelation 14:13
While my brothers and I were growing up in East Center (Texas), Weaver's Pond was our swimming and fishing hole. It was located a half mile down the railroad tracks from our house and since Mr. Weaver rarely came there, it became our private place to fish and swim. My brothers, Royce Mills, Pug Yarborough and I went there to swim one day after school.
We'd dive off the dam…then swim to a shallow side to walk out of the water. The water depth increased gradually toward the middle until it got around neck-deep, then dropped to a bottomless hole. We called this spot "the step-off" and none of us were ever able to touch bottom there. We heard it was an old well and were careful not to swim past it. But I did swim past it that day and when I tried to touch bottom, my lungs filled with water. I was drowning …and well remember my explosion of panic.
Afterwards I remember lying on the clay bank and coughing up water. When I fully regained my senses, I was looking up into a clear blue sky and into the eyes of Pug Yarborough….(who was blind from childhood in one eye)…. with Royce and my brothers kneeling around him. Bill's voice broke as he sobbed, "Hen Doug… Pug almost drowned getting you to the bank….he saved your life".
When Pam and I moved back to East Texas in 1991, I was at the First Baptist Church in Shelbyville one night when Pug and his wife walked in. I rushed up and thanked him again for rescuing me at Weaver's Pond. His response surprised me: "Aw, Doug…I don't remember doing that", he laughed…"but I'm sure glad you made it".
When I recently asked my brother John what he knew about Pug's present whereabouts, he said that Pug had crossed the Jordan several years ago. And I thought, "Thanks again, Pug".
"I'm glad you made it, too".
October 18, 2016 - Sunday was the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost. We are nearing the end of the Christian year, and a new year will soon begin. On October 30th, we Protestants will celebrate Reformation Sunday and the next day, All Hallowed Saints Eve. Then the first day of the new month is the wonderful Christian holy day—All Saints Day. Christians around the world will remember the saints that died during this past year and also all the saints that have kept the faith alive throughout the years. So, weeks have gone by since the last Christian Holy Day—Pentecost-- and suddenly there is furry of celebrations that were so important to our Christian forefathers and mothers. One is a holy day that answers Walter Bruggerman’s question, “Will the faith have children?” All Saints Day is a strong and emphatic YES!
Our scripture for our Sunday school lesson was Hebrews 4:14-5:10, where Paul speaks about an obscure figure from Genesis—Melchizedek. This warrior-king, priest, and prophet showed kindness as Abraham and his family were on their long trek to the land that God promised them. Paul says that Jesus is our High Priest in the tradition of Melchizedek. Fannie, as always, kept us on point and did a wonderful job with a sometimes puzzling scripture.
The Gospel Lesson that served as one of my two sermon scriptures is also a puzzling one. Luke 18:1-8 is the short parable Jesus told about the unjust bullying judge and the persistent widow. There could not be a greater contrast in story characters. The judge had power and wealth and the widow had nothing—no husband, no inheritance, no future. And yet through her refusal to live in the status quo and her continued call for justice, she overcame the mean judge whose job was to uphold the status quo. Even though life had been tough for the widow, she lived in the Kingdom of God . Jesus said this about the Kingdom: “The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For in fact, the Kingdom of God is among you—within you.” The Kingdom resided within the widow and that made all the difference in her life.
Larry was back from a family reunion in Arkansas and said that Rose and he had a great time. But since Arkansas hasn’t had a frost, the trees hadn’t changed yet. I agree with Larry that once autumn comes to Arkansas , the changing color of the leaves rivals New England .
I head back to the doctor Monday to have my other eye worked on. Carolyn will also have her second eye worked on Monday, and I hope all goes well with her. Having the cataract removed from my right eye and a new lens implanted has made a world of difference. I hope my left eye is as successful.
Each year Methodist pastors have to fill out a self-evaluation. I have filled out the same evaluation for the last seventeen years, so it is hard to come up with something new. It really reminds me of school. I served as a teacher and principal and was on both sides of the evaluation process. I remember a dear, sweet High School teacher who was nearing the end of her career. She told the principal, “I’m no better or worse than I was last year.” Everyone who taught with her knew that wasn’t true—she was an inspiration to us all, but evaluations year after year do get tedious. The church members also fill out a yearly evaluation, and I appreciate their hard work.
This Tuesday is our ministry at Holiday Nursing Center . Then a week from this Thursday will be our ministry at Lakeside Village . Both are at 2:00 and everyone is welcome. Our little congregation is so thankful for the many volunteers from other churches who come to visit, tell stories, share ideas, and sing.
“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!
October 14, 2016 - "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8)
One verse, which cannot be understood without reading the 3 verses preceding it.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him". (5) "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." (6) "For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord." (7) "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (8)
James is trying to explain how one is to approach the Lord in prayer. He is explaining how we should be persistent and powerful in our prayers. God hears each and every prayer by His children, but He may wait to answer, allowing us to grow in grace through patience as we wait on His answer.
James is telling us to be persistent and to not give up if God doesn't move as quickly as we would hope. He has His own time, His own calendar and we must stand still if we are to see His glory.
You see, the double-minded man wavers between belief and non-belief, being inclined to the latter. God knows He cannot count on such a man or woman.
While the single-minded man is focused, he has a definite goal in mind and moves toward it with persistence and a resolute spirit.
If we set our heart and mind upon the goal we are trying to reach and we pray for God's help with persistence, then He will answer it as we would like, if our prayer is such that He can.
When He sometimes doesn't seem to hear, we must remember, God is looking out for our best interests, not our wishes. We may be asking for something for ourselves or even for someone else that God knows is not in our or their best interests, in that case He makes His decision for our good, even if we don't understand.
Non-answered prayers should always bring knowledge and wisdom.
Both Christians and non-christians learn by our experiences, but, once the Christian has asked God for knowledge in understanding the pattern God has for his life; God then gives him the wisdom to understand, through grace, how to pursue that life.
But, there is much danger to the person who thinks he is his own master. Let that man take heed, lest he fall, for only God can supply the knowledge and wisdom which is needed in life.
As James said in verse 6; "let him ask in faith, with no doubting."
It is useless to pray without faith for we cannot please God without faith.
Prayer for guidance and grace should be offered daily with a true heart and unwavering faith, with the full assurance of God's power and mercy, knowing we can have absolute confidence in God's ability to answer.
May our Lord bless you and keep you each day...
October 17, 2016 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. Usher Program will be held Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 3:00p.m. Special guests will be Rev. Brandon Owens, Sr. and the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Usher President Anita Williams. Pastor Elgena Weaver.
October 14, 2016 - Rev. Winston Kibbles and the members of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Center, Texas will be hosting their Annual Choir Anniversary Service. The program will be Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 2:30pm. A special guest will be Rev. Marlin Cloudy, Pastor of Abundant Love Ministry, Center, Texas. Your attendance will be greatly appreciated.
October 12, 2016 - The Master's Men will be in concert at Good Hope Baptist Church on Lake Timpson Road (FM 2667) on Saturday, October 22 at 6:00pm in the Family Life Center. A love offering will be taken. Everyone welcome.
October 12, 2016 - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church is holding Fall Mulligan Revival services beginning at 6:30 each evening from October 19th through October 21st.
Wednesday, October 19th Pastor JC Lewis will be delivering the message. Thursday, October 20th Brother Levi Cohorst will be the guest speaker, he is pastor of Timpson Missionary Baptist Church of Timpson, TX. Friday, October 21st Brother Justin Coburn will speak on the last night of revival. He will be visiting from De Kalb, TX, where he is pastor of Austin Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
Dinner will follow each service, each evening. The church is located at 140 CR 3569 Joaquin, TX. If you show up seeking revival, you may miss God. Show up seeking God, and you will have revival.
October 11, 2016 - As I drove down the highway my mind wandered. It was a beautiful afternoon, but my mind was filled with prioritizing all the things I had yet to do that day.
I was taking in the scenery of the beautiful East Texas countryside when out of the corner of my eye I looked into the rearview mirror and seen the flashing lights. I was being pulled over by a DPS officer.
I looked down at my speedometer and realized that I was going over the speed limit. I had no excuse. I was at the mercy of the officer. He walked over to the car and asked “where you going?” A thousand excuses came to mind but I knew all of them would be lame. I told him where I was going and that I had no excuse for breaking the law. We talked casually for a moment. He went to his car, came back, smiled and said “I’m just giving you a warning today. Slow down and have a nice day.”
As I drove off I realized that he had not given me a ticket although I did deserve one. That is what mercy is. Not being punished when you deserve punishment.
We serve a God that is so merciful to us. “But God demonstrates His own love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
You see God loves us so much that He was willing to die for you even while you were in the midst of your sin. God loves you more than you could ever imagine. He loves the sinner as much as he loves the saint.
You see there is nothing that you can do to make God love you more or less. He desires that “all would be saved” but give us the freewill to choose. Choose Him. You will never regret it. His mercy is there - seek it, ask for it, receive it. “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalms 100:5)
Just saying,
Bro. Mike Belgard
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