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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
October 8, 2019 - “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
The verse, Matthew 28:19 speaks directly to the three aspects of the Triune God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, being the Holy Trinity of God.
While the three parts of the God head are often mentioned in the Bible there is yet today much discussion or debate about the existence of such. There are those who deny the existence of the three parts of what others call the Holy Trinity, the three aspects of God.
The debate continues even though the three are mentioned together again in Luke Chapter three as it says, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22)
Let us look first at what the words; triune, aspect and Trinity mean or represent: First the word (triune) which the dictionary characterizes as being, (three in one). Second the word (aspects) to which it says, (a particular status or phase). And, third the word (Trinity) of which it says, (The unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the three persons in one Godhead).
It is often said in sermons that God is, “Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent, meaning he is, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-encompassing, or having no bounds.
If we use these three aspects of God to further describe him, then maybe we can develop a better explanation of the three aspects or phases of the beings of God.
Let us then say in order to better describe what is called the “Godhead.”
God the Father sits on his throne in heaven as the Bible says. Being Omnipotent, all power comes from the Father for he is all-powerful, the creator of the universe and all things in it.
God the Son sits at the right hand of the Father and is Omniscient. Being all-knowing all power is transmitted through him just as all salvation must come through him. As the Father produces the power of the universe it is transmitted out from the throne of God by the Son.
God the Holy Spirit is here, with us on earth and he is Omnipresent. Being all-encompassing of the universe he has no bounds, no place he cannot be so all power is distributed by him. He is the administrator of the power of God to all people.
So we have God the Father, the source of all power on earth, God the Son, the transmitter of all power to earth, and God the Holy Spirit, the administrator of all the power of God on earth.
Almighty God, our Father in heaven, being three aspects or phases, being triune (being of one) and being the Holy Trinity, (the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead).
May all give praise to the holy name of God. May we worship him as the one true living God that he is and know that no matter the conditions around us, he is there for us and will care for us and deliver us into his kingdom when he so chooses.
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God in the highest for He alone is worthy!!!
October 8, 2019 - Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley and Bro. Rusty Hall invites you to 'The Porch' on Monday, October 14th at 7pm. Refreshments served at 6:30pm. Austin Rabalais will have a special message on how hard it is as a young adult to be a Christian in today's world. Praise singers are Paul, Brittney, Abigail and Hunter.
Come worship the Lord and receive a wonderful blessing.
October 7, 2019 - A new day comes -
The prophet, Isaiah, gives all people of faith a vision of hope, a look into the future when the Lord Jesus Christ will come.
Both in his first coming as the gospel is brought into being and when he returns a second time and the gospel is made complete in every detail.
The time when all will bow and profess that Christ Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings.
Isaiah speaks of this world as a dry place, a world void of God’s blessings, a wilderness which will be renewed and made holy by the coming of the Lord.
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.” (Isaiah 35:1-2)
A time which we all wait for with patience, a time when the Lord Jesus Christ will rule over the earth and the persecutions of his people will be no more.
Let all people know that while we may struggle now, when the Lord returns we will struggle no more but will be with him forever.
So we ask, as does Isaiah, for the Lord to give us strength and patience that we may persevere until the end when our Savior returns.
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong, fear not!” Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)
Jesus gives us these words of confidence as he says, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” (Isaiah 35:5-6)
At last, all people will see the Lord for who he truly is, the Lord God Almighty who has come to rule and reign over the earth and all people will bow and confess him as Lord. But, for those who have not already accepted him as their own, the time will have passed and they will be lost, forever doomed to the fires of hell.
“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there, nor shall any revenues beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:8-10)
All the redeemed, those who have fully accepted Jesus Christ as Lord will gather there in Zion.
Oh, what a blessing is in store for all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Will you join with us today and know forever the joy of living in the Lord?
The Bible says, “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)
Won’t you take that step of faith today and make your eternity secure in the Lord, it’s time, don’t allow this opportunity to pass you by, accept him today!!!
“… be temperate and self-controlled… ” Titus 2:2
October 7, 2019 - Pam and I photographed and dined in Louisiana's Cajun country last week. The New Iberia “Shoney’s” breakfast sign read: “All You Care to Eat… $5.95” instead of the usual “All You Can Eat.” And I thought, “how clever… and how appropriate!”
Three weeks later we saw posted in front of the Cedar Tree Restaurant in Jasper, Texas the same sign, “All you care to eat.” Hey, it’s catching on!
I always feel a little ill at ease when I eat in one of those “All You Can Eat” places. I feel like I would if I entered a bar to buy a coke or a porn store to buy a Reader’s Digest. It would look like everyone was there for the same purpose.
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins but many neither consider it deadly nor sinful. Since that Cajun sign reminded me to eat modestly instead of all I could, it not only profited me…
…it profited the Shoney owners, too.
October 7, 2019 – First United Methodist Church will host their annual Halloween Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 26 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m at 211 Porter Street, Center, Texas. The free family-friendly event is open to the community and will include activities, food, cake walk fun and trick-or-treating in the church parking lot.
“Our annual Trunk-or-Treat is completely free to anyone who wants to attend,” said Pastor Karen Jones. “Church members donate everything from their time to sponsoring the food and we look forward to this every year. It’s part of our church’s community outreach and our foundation to share God’s love.”
Church members will decorate their car trunks and hand out candy and other goodies. Hot dogs, chips and drinks are free while supplies last.
For information about our annual Trunk-or-Treat event or the First United Methodist Church, please contact Rev. Karen Jones at (936) 598-2707 or visit www.fumccentertx.org.
October 7, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. Could it be? Is it possible that cooler fall weather is just around the corner? We are called to be a hopeful people, so I am going to believe that yes, autumn is almost here!
The Old Testament Lesson was from the first chapter of Lamentations, and my sermon spoke about the need to know how to lament—to express our feelings of despair—from time to time. It is one of the ways—a time of prayer to get in touch with the Mystery that we call God. The great theologian, Paul Tillich, last century referred to this Mystery as the God above God. No matter how we try to understand, we will always fall short in comprehending and certainly in explaining this Infinite God!
Fannie, Sue, Larry McNeil, and I met with our District Superintendent, Dr. Dick White, Saturday. It was such a busy weekend for folks as Tenaha was celebrating their homecoming, and Shelby County was in the midst of the Poultry Festival. The church had a meeting last Sunday to approve all the reports, a 2020 budget, and payment of all our conference and district apportionments. The church also decided to continue with me as their pastor in 2020. So the actual Charge Conference went smoothly. Dr. White has strong ties to Shelby County, even though his family has long roots in the eastern part of Nacogdoches County. Dr. White, Larry, and Fannie knew many of the same folks, and all have a great love of history in this area of East Texas. Sue had cookies and bottled water for the visit after the conference: Dr. White had another Charge Conference with the good folks at Tenaha and Timpson Methodist Churches after ours.
Our Sunday school lesson was an obscure story from Joshua about Achan who betrays God and the Israelites by taking some of the gold and silver that was set aside for God when Jericho was captured. This disrespect would be costly to everyone, not just Achan. The author really stressed the importance of confession, which often is followed by forgiveness.
The Gospel Lesson today was a parable of Jesus that didn’t have a hero like the Good Samaritan or a heart-warming conclusion like the Prodigal Son. The disciples wanted Jesus to give them a bigger portion of faith so they would be able to do notable things for the Kingdom. Jesus assured them that their faith was greater than they imagined, that they only needed a faith the size of a mustard seed to do wonderful deeds. This is one of five times in the Gospels that Jesus spoke of the tiny mustard seed.
Today was World Communion Sunday, when a billion Christians in churches around the world celebrated communion. I reminded our small group that when we went to the altar, we would be going forward with hundreds of millions who believe in hope over fear and goodness over hate.
I delivered checks and macaroni and cheese to Community Christian Services last week. This month we are collecting peanut butter and jelly. On Monday we head to Focused Care for our ministry there. Ms. Hilda is so dedicated to the nursing home ministries; she keeps us informed and often plays the piano for us when we get there.
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 3, 2019 - Open Door Baptist Church is hosting Musician Appreciation Services on October 12, 2019 at 3pm. The event is honoring Sis. Katherine Randle and Bro. Tobias Gossett.
The theme is 'May the work I’ve done speak for me!' with special guests Pastor Faye Dell Allen and the Triumph Church of Shelbyville, Texas.
But now bring me a musician. And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him. - 2 Kings 3:15
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935 with Pastor Alvin Davis.
October 3, 2019 - The story is told of a Chinese farmer from a little village in the hills who was blind with cataracts on both eyes. With the help of neighbors, he found his way to a missionary hospital. The physician who examined him said he was not sure, but he thought he could help him see.
The operation was performed, and, after the bandages were taken off, the patient gazed around the ward and was in high hopes that he could see. But the doctor was not pleased. He had hoped to do better. He told the man to come back in six months, and he would try for better results.
The farmer returned to his native village telling everyone about his new sight, and how the doctor had helped him. Six months later he began the long trek back to the hospital. At last he arrived and the doctor welcomed him. Tied to his wrist was a long string, and hanging to the string were 70 other blind men who had followed him to the place where blind eyes were made to see.
Something similar happens when we have a spiritual renewal in our lives. We are made to see and we lead others from spiritual blindness to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what living the Christian life is all about.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Join us for worship this coming Lord’s day at the Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
October 2, 2019 - Open Door Baptist Church is hosting their Annual Usher Day on October 13, 2019 at 3pm. Special guests are Pastor Roy Scott and Impact Outreach Ministries of Lufkin, Tx.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935 and led by Pastor Alvin Davis.
October 2, 2019 - Short Community Church is hosting their 2019 Homecoming and Singing on Sunday, October 13, 2019. Potluck dinner is at 12 noon and singing begins at 1:30pm. Featured singer is Christina Smith. There will also be an open mic for all who want to sing. Come enjoy good food and fellowship. For more information, contact Sherry Harding at 936-288-2382 or Kenny Harris at 936-427-7083.
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