Shelby County Today

September 10, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother, Jesus.  We are still in the midst of Ordinary Time; we here in East Texas are eagerly looking forward to autumn. Football season is here, but the fall-like temperatures have yet to arrive. Hopefully, it won’t be too much longer. We actually had a brief respite Monday evening in the form of a thunderstorm; unfortunately, some of us also experienced a power outage along with the cooling rain.

I got a call from Don Dial representing the Gideon Society. The Gideons will send a speaker to Paxton Methodist on November 10th. Several past members of our church were Gideons, and our church continues to support their global mission.

Our Sunday school lesson carried on with the creation story. The focus of this lesson was on the second creation story found in the second chapter of Genesis. This story is more familiar to us: Adam falling into a deep sleep while God takes a rib and forms woman. The main idea of our lesson was God’s saying it is not good for the human to be alone. We are social animals, needing human interaction and friendships. Our author also suggests that it isn’t good for God’s purposes either if the human is alone.

Our son was in this past weekend, and next weekend our daughter is coming for a visit. Jacob came with Sue to worship time at Paxton. Most everyone at church mentioned the start of professional football—I know Larry Hume was pleased with the Chiefs’ game yesterday. The Texans play tonight, and I hope they have a good game. 

The scripture for my sermon came from the Old Testament Lesson for Sunday—Jeremiah 18: 1-11. The vision that Jeremiah has in this scripture is of God as a potter and his chosen people as the clay. The young prophet is not full of good news once you get past the vision of the potter retooling and reworking his creation. In fact Jeremiah sees God as so disappointed that he contemplates walking away from the creation that he had declared “very good.” As with other the prophets in the Old Testament, Jeremiah provides a path—a way for the people to turn back to God. 

This Wednesday will be September 11, which those of a certain age remember with sadness. But it has become Patriots Day, a more positive designation. I will join the VFW and other guests at this week’s commemoration at the historic Shelby County Courthouse.

Our worship time is 10:00 AM; we would love to have you come to worship with us. I know how very busy everyone is: Our early meeting time enables you to move on to family get-togethers or jobs afterward. Not to mention naps, which my wife says are best on Sunday afternoon. 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.

September 9, 2019 - Clever Creek Baptist Church at 199 CR 1042 just off FM 417 W will have their annual Homecoming and Cemetery Celebration on Sunday, September 29th. The Church Sunday School will be at 10 am and the special worship and Homecoming/Cemetery Celebration will be at 10:55 am.

Bro. Doug Fincher, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Augustine and a native of Center and Shelby County, will preach for the Homecoming. Bro. Doug grew up in Shelby County. He was called to preach and served in many area churches for many years.

The Moon Family (Shannon, Jeanie and daughter Bethany) from Ragley, LA, will lead the music and give special music. Maureen Kennon will also present special music for the service. The Moon Family have been leading worship together for more than 15 years. They currently live in Ragley. They have led worshp in many area churches and are currently attending and serving The Family Place Church in Reeves, LA, where Bethany is the worship leader. It is their desire to serve the Lord using the gift of music to praise His name. “I tell you, if these stones should keep silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 9:40).

After worship there will be a “dinner on the ground” for all who would like to stay for food and fellowship. A special offering will be taken for the maintenance of the Clever Creek Cemetery and for the special guests working with this event. The church is seeking to build an endowment to assure the maintenance and care of the cemetery. We hope that you will join us for this exceptional program of worship and witness.

September 9, 2019 - To trust in someone or something is ; “to rely on the truthfulness and accuracy of - to place confidence in - to believe in, to trust”. We know that if we are to believe in Jesus Christ as the eternal living God then we must trust in his words, we must trust in the words of the Bible. For if we cannot trust in the Bible as the inspired word of God, how then can we believe in what we cannot see, trust what we cannot touch and eventually, receive what we have hoped for and believed in? One day as Jesus was teaching the gospel people began to bring little children to him, asking for him to just touch them that they might receive a blessing from him.

Some of his disciples rebuked those who were bringing the children as if they were being a bother to the Lord. But when Jesus saw this he was upset and said to them. “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14) And then he said something that may reveal the level of trust, of belief in him, he that is required of all who would seek to inherit the kingdom of God. “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Mark 10:15) 

Now, we understand that there is but one way to the Father and his kingdom and that way is the same today as it was on the day when Jesus made this statement; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  First, Jesus tells us that one must receive the kingdom of God like a child. What could this mean, “like a child”? We know the trust a child places in his parents, he knows that he is dependent upon them for everything in his young life and he trusts in them to deliver what he needs.
 
There is no trust like the trust of a child In his father or his mother and to me, that is what Jesus is speaking of, that childlike trust that overcomes all doubt. And since we know from Jesus’ own mouth that there is no way to the Father except through him then this childlike trust must be in him. We must trust completely in his promise that he will return for us as he said.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? I will come again and will take you to myself, that were I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3) This is the blessed hope that all who believe in him as Lord have (Titus 2:13), the knowledge that his word is true, that he will do what he says, that he will, one day, return for all who have believed in him as Lord and Master. For all who have truly accepted Jesus as Lord have an advantage in trust, we have the Spirit of truth dwelling within us and guiding us through this life, as Jesus tells us; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17)

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) That is the trust that is required of all who enter the kingdom of God, complete trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and God. Trust without doubt, without reservation, trust insured by the Holy Spirit within all who have truly accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. Oh, I pray that you too will know this joy this day and forever trust him for he will deliver his promise of eternal life…

September 4, 2019 - The Open Door Church will be hosting a Men and Women Day Program on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 3pm. Special Guest will be the Pastor Marlin Cloudy and the Abundant Love  Ministries. Open Door Church invites you to come out and worship with us. Open Door Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935.