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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 25, 2016 - Friendship Missionary Baptist in Tenaha, Bobo, Texas is celebrating their church anniversary on February 14, 2016 at 2:30pm. Pastor bringing the message is Carlos Johnson from Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Timpson, Texas.
Pastor Jeremy Moore invites everyone to attend.
"Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.” Lamentations 5:21
January 25, 2016 - This 1939 picture of my brother, Bill (Travis William) was taken when he was 8 years old….and I was 6. He is armed with our weapon of choice, a sling shot with a “2- stock” cut from a forked tree branch, a flap from the tongue of a leather shoe and rubber bands cut from a genuine rubber pre WWII inner-tube. Mother took the picture with her Kodak 620 camera in a time that few pictures were taken because folks were still trying to survive The Depression. We lived near the Elementary School in Mr. Manor’s rent house in Center, Texas. Buttermilk biscuits cooked in our wood stove with syrup and fresh cow butter made our breakfasts something we looked forward to every morning.
We were too young to realize that a world war was brewing but Mother explained it to us one day after a soldier had burst into our outhouse while Bill was in it. When he fled to the house with his overalls half-up, Mother assured him that it was a practice battle between the Army Reds and Blues and that they weren’t shooting real bullets. “They’re practicing how to fight Hitler”, she said.
Eventually our family grew to five boys and five girls, but in the late thirties, it was just Bill and me. We caught “mud cats” under the Iron Bridge on Arcadia Road and weren’t afraid to swim with water moccasins because we were told they couldn’t bite us in the water. Our sling shots and overalls filled with rocks were all we needed for a day of fun in the woods along the banks of Sandy Creek.
Bill crossed The Jordan ten years ago and I was left with so many good memories of him and our way of life back then. It’s hard to imagine that few people ever locked their cars or homes and no one talked about rape, drugs, same sex marriages, abortion or Muslim terrorists. And even though those were hard times, we had a sense of safety and security.
I love my country and miss the days we were honorable and strong….
…and pray that we’ll see those days again.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15
January 18, 2016 - My friend Claude Lucas grows watermelons in the Sand Hills near Center, Texas. He grew almost a hundred acres this year at The One Gallus Ranch.(once owned by San Augustine Pharmacist, Harold Lee) Each box of his melons is stamped “What-A- Melon” and what melons they are! I got directions to the ranch from his wife Bonnie…take 711 from San Augustine, turn right on 1017, go two miles and turn left on 1011…
When I’d gotten about a mile from the ranch, I met an elderly man on the road and asked for further directions. “You’re almost there”, he said. “Just hang to the right and whatever you do, “stay with the woods”. (I was to stay on the road with the woods to my right.) As I drove away, he shouted back at me again, “Remember now… stay with the woods!”
I ignored all the roads that intersected mine and faithfully “stayed with the woods”. Finally, I entered a beautiful gate on a hilltop that led me into a breath-taking mixture of winding roads, pastures of grazing cattle and endless fields of watermelons. An old barn surrounded by a wood fence and large cedar trees revealed where an old home place had been. Claude and his workers were busily boxing and loading watermelons into the trailer of an eighteen wheeler.
Mother wrote “Stay with the Word” in every letter she sent me while I was in college and seminary and I’d been better off if I had always followed her advice. There are a lot of attractive roads along life’s journey, but we’ll wind up on the wrong one…
….if we don’t “stay with the Word.”
Sunday was the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. The Old Testament Lesson was Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10. Ezra brought out a scroll of the Torah and read words of hope to a defeated, beaten, subjected, hungry people. The words of hope were not only welcomed but vitally necessary. When Ezra finished he stepped down from the makeshift pulpit and walked among the people carrying the scroll. The people reached out to touch the Holy Book of Israel and no longer felt as hopeless. No, their multitude of problems still existed but they were once again given hope.
In today’s Gospel Lesson from Luke 4: 14-21 we see Jesus reading from the holy scroll that contained the words of the prophet Isaiah. It too was a hopeful message heard by Jesus’ friends and neighbors. We know that Jesus’ message wasn’t always accepted with joy by his neighbors but on that Sabbath Day so long ago the people were impressed by the young Rabbi’s words.
Our crowd was not great but we had a really good Sunday school Lesson from the Gospel of John. Our lesson was about the first of many signs that pointed to Jesus’ special nature. We see Jesus performing a miracle—a sign as he changes water into wine at the Wedding at Cana. Joe and Hilda worked together to bring us our music. Ms. Lillie has a birthday this week so we sang “Happy Birthday” to her even though she is in Houston. Maybe she felt a warming of the heart. We sure miss Lillie and one Sunday soon we know that Lillie, Liz, and Mike will venture to the wilds of East Texas. We all wondered how Carolyn is dealing with all the snow. She is visiting her sister and other family in Pennsylvania.
This Thursday will be our ministry to Lakeside Assisted Living. Hilda said we had a good number of volunteers at Holiday last Tuesday. She thought that Pastor Matt was going to be able to join the volunteers. This month is almost over. We have been collecting cans of tuna this month but in February we will be collecting rice and dried beans for Community Christian Services.
“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 9:15 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 25, 2016 - The prophet writes, “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” (Hag. 1:6). And, “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it....” (Hag. 1:9).
As the Jews return from their Babylonian captivity they are struggling in their daily lives with prosperity. They work, but for all practical purposes they are not getting a good return from their efforts.
The Lord asked them why? And then notice the Lord's answer to His own question, “...Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house” (Hag. 1:9). Their struggles was because they paid more attention to their own personal lives than their service to the Lord. So as a result the Lord held back the full measure of their labors.
To remedy this the Lords says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD” (Hag. 1:7-8).
For people that seem to never “get ahead” or life is always a struggle, maybe the advice from the Lord is in order, consider your ways. Consider how one is living. Consider how much time is given to the Lord. Consider our service to the Lord.
When life isn't all that we would have it to be whether it is emotionally, physically, internally, externally or spiritually. Maybe we need to stop and consider our ways. Our ways could be the wall. Church email: northsidecoccenter@gmail.com
If you would like to receive our weekly bulletin via email, just send us an email with your request and we will happy to put you on the list!
December 28, 2015 - During the days of His resurrection Jesus and Peter had a conversation. “So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep” (Jn. 21:15-17).
As Jesus and Peter stood on the beach Peter was forced to look deep inside of himself as to his love for Jesus. Not too long prior to this conversation Peter had said he would never desert Jesus, even to the point of death. Remember when he said, “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. ...31 But he spake exceedingly vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all” (Mk. 14:29,31).
As Jesus asked this question the other disciples were around and those fish that they had just miraculously caught (Jn. 21:3-11). So Peter was being asked did he love Jesus more than the other disciples, but also the things of this life. Was fishing and friendships more important to him than Jesus. The same goes for us. We must ask ourselves each day, do I love this or that or them more than Jesus?
A simple answer to this question is this; does this, that or them take my time, devotion or service away from Jesus? Or is there anything or anyone that I would rather have than Jesus? Just like Peter a superficial answer will not suffice, that is why Jesus asked him three times.
Going to church does not answer the question. Putting something in the plate does not answer the question. Just like Peter was told, it comes down to service, “feed” and “tend”. Peter's love was going to be seen by his service to the Lord and I believe it would be so with us.
Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37). A powerful and strong statement by the Lord. A superficial service or commitment will not do for the Lord.
Abraham proved to be the picture of the love that Peter was asked about. When he was told to cast out Hagar and Ishmael his love for the Lord was on the line. So he rose early and obeyed the Lord by casting out his wife and son. (Gen. 21:14).
Abraham loved the Lord “more than these”. And only each individual can answer this question. But our answer may not be what the Lord knows, so our answer must be an honest one.
Church email: northsidecoccenter@gmail.com
If you would like to receive our free weekly bulletin via email, just send us your request by email and we will put you on the list!
January 25, 2016 - St. John's Episcopal Church will have a Pancake Supper on Fat Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 5-7.
This is a community tradition and has been celebrated for over 40 years. All are invited.
We are located Hwy 96 South Please come and enjoy a great treat before the Lenten Season begins.
January 24, 2016 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church 5th Sunday Missionary Program will be held Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 3:00p.m. Special guest is Dr. Kelvin Lynch, Growing Valley Baptist Church, Longview, TX. Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church is located at 921 MLK Drive, Center, Texas 75935.
Sis. Joyce Johnson – President
Sis. Sandra Latham – Vice President
Rev. Robert Gipson – Pastor
Rt. Rev. Lawrence L. Reddick, III – Presiding Bishop
Rev Trever Barnett – Presiding Elder
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 28:19
January 21, 2016 - Join us on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at White Rock MBC on Nacogdoches Hwy for an afternoon of music presented by the Seminary Choir from the Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary.
Performance starts at 1:00 p.m. Meal will be provided after the concert. For more information, please contact Bro. Greg Sutis at 318-773-8933.
January 22, 2016 - Commitment, "to pledge or promise, to be engaged or to become involved".
Commitment to Paul meant much more than words, it called for his continued service to the Lord, no matter the conditions or hardships he might face each day. The book of Philippians was written by Paul during the time of his bondage in Rome. He sat, literally, in chains as he wrote the scriptures.
Verses 12 through 14 of our text tell of the results of his faithfulness within the palace prison where he was imprisoned. "But, I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." (Phil. 1:12) By his faith the palace guards had been converted and were speaking of the gospel of Christ, even within the prison."and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear." (Phil.1:14)
Paul says that some preach Christ from envy and strife, hoping to make his imprisonment even worse, while others preach Christ out of love for the Word. Either way says Paul, calls for rejoicing; "and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."
Paul rejoiced that Christ was preached, regardless of the motive of some of trying to add to his bonds. Their efforts were off set by those who preached Christ through love, knowing that Paul was set for the defense of the gospel. "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill."(Phil. 1:15)
We see many people today who merely exist, having no real purpose in their lives, like a ship with a broken rudder they drift through life without ever seeming to realize that there is an eternal objective. Others live strictly for the riches of this world, giving no thought of eternity or of a coming judgment. Much of what we see today can be attributed to the lack of the gospel being taught to children at home and much of it can be attributed to the "feel good" preachers who teach only the love of God. By leaving out the justness of God they lead people to believe that God is only the God of love and that they have nothing to fear from God if they live in sin. The fool says in his heart that there is no God. Even some believers fail to serve the Lord, they believe in Him but are unwilling to step up in service.
Let me tell you of the difference between forgiveness and consequences, God does forgive our sins when we ask Him for forgiveness and repent of those sins, but, while forgiven, we are not released from the consequences of those same sins and are held accountable for them. That is why some people will say; "well, I prayed for forgiveness but God didn't hear me and I still had to suffer. Wrong, God certainly heard them and if they asked in earnest He forgave their sin, but they still had to pay the consequences for their actions.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel for he knew that with boldness Christ would be magnified in his body, whether in life or in death.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for he knew that it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. If any person is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away and all things have become new.
For the believer to live is Christ. Christ is both the source and the purpose of the believers life. Live begins in regeneration and is sustained by the power of God. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21)
The believer should be about his Father's business as he awaits either death or Christ's coming.
"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you are am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you may stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." (Phil.1:27) "and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God." (Phil.1:28)
We should work together for the cause of the gospel, presenting the light of Christ for the darkness of this world to see, all the while looking up for the time of redemption draws near...
Please feel free to join us any Wednesday evening at 6:00PM for Bible Study at Spring Hill Baptist Church. For more info, call 936-615-1427. May God bless and keep you...
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