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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
July 13, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 6th Sunday after Pentecost. This past Friday I got up early to walk my dogs and myself at the city park. We are in those “dog days” of summer when I have to get things done early in the morning or after the sun begins to fall in the evening. I am putting the final touches on my sermon, which has Jesus explaining the first of seven Kingdom parables. This one should be called the parable of the sower. Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor wrote a sermon several years ago that did just that—focused on the sower (God) instead of the soil and the way he with wild, joyful abandon strewed seeds.
In the last week or so, we have had around nine inches of rain in downtown Joaquin. That has helped keep the temperatures more moderate and has certainly helped my garden. I made salsa this week with the last of the tomatoes. Sue said I looked like a mad scientist when I was cutting, mixing, and pureeing.
Sue and I are still hunkered down for the most part. I ventured out early Friday morning to Brookshire’s to get a few things, and I go daily to the Post Office to check the mail around noon. Other than that I stay close to home. The Joaquin Senior Center will remain closed as Covid 19 is spiking in Texas. Sue and I taught for 30-plus years, and we certainly don’t envy the school folks with the decisions they are facing about reopening schools. There just are no easy answers.
We had a nice crowd at church—for Paxton Methodist, that is. Our Sunday School lesson was so interesting. Our scripture came from the first chapter of Daniel, where we find in Daniel someone who is principled and determined not to give up on who he is or his understanding of God. Though he has been taken to Babylon in captivity, because of his social standing and intelligence, he has a chance to learn—and to become for all practical purposes a Babylonian. But Daniel will have none of this and works hard to understand and absorb God’s wisdom. I loved it when our author said, “Commitment and dedication in doing the right thing does not have to be loud and animated. Daniel exemplified quiet strength in the midst of a challenging time.” Good advice for us!
It was so good to see Theresa and Larry this morning. Gene was out with a bad back, and we missed him. We are hoping that Carolyn will be back with us next week. Paxton Methodist is collecting cans of ravioli and spaghetti in July for Community Christian Services. Our regular crew certainly misses going to the nursing homes and hope that everyone there is staying safe and healthy.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church
July 9, 2020 - Huxley Helping Hands will have a Drive Thru Food Pantry, Saturday, July 11 at 9am at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Center, TX. Please park in the order you arrive. One box per household and Identification is required. There will be a devotional at 9am in the parking lot.
July 9, 2020 - In Psalm 100:1-2 we find these words: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.”
Then we read these words in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Here is another passage in Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus ate the Passover with the disciples, and we read, Matthew 26:30, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.”
Yet, during our “present distress” some government officials have banned singing in church. What do Christians do when confronted with that type of situation?
When Peter and John were imprisoned and commanded to not teach in the name of Jesus, they continued teaching of Jesus. When they were again brought before the council and asked why they disobeyed they answered, Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
It’s something to think about . . . tbp
July 7, 2020 - Sunday morning Bible class at the Center Church of Christ resumes Sunday, July 12 at 9:45 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Regular Sunday morning worship in one service resumed May 17 at 10:45 a.m. and mid-week Bible study resumed Wednesday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Social distancing practices per state guidelines remain in effect for the safety of everyone in attendance and will continue to be followed allowing everyone who desires the opportunity to worship as New Testament Christians did in Acts chapter 20 to participate. The Center Church of Christ is located at 110 Hurst Street in Center. Tim Perkins is the minister. For more information call 936-598-2945.
July 7, 2020 - Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church is hosting Revival on Monday, July 20th through Friday, July 24th at 7pm nightly. The message will be brought by Evangelist Lamar Denby. Enjoy Friday night with New Day Spirituals. Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church is located at 2257 FM 417 East, Shelbyville, TX 75973.
July 6, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Hope everyone had a great but safe July 4th. Sunday was the 5th Sunday after Pentecost, but the two main ideas of my sermon were citizenship and Jesus’ call to us to come and rest with him. Both of these are important themes, especially right now.
Sunday morning I woke up to rain—I guess we all did. By 8:00 AM we’d gotten about an inch and a half in downtown Joaquin. My puppies were ready for a walk around town, which they got—but in the rain. It has been so hot that my usual morning walk with the dogs has turned into a shorter one just around town. I am trying to transition to using my treadmill. My son gave me a subscription to Audible for Father’s Day: With it I can download books to my phone. I am listening to a biography of Huey Long right now, which makes walking on the treadmill a little easier.
We had a small crowd for Sunday School and church and hope everyone is doing OK. Our Sunday School lesson started the second unit of the summer, titled “A New People.” Our lesson was “Promised Restoration.” Gene read our scripture from Jeremiah 23: 1-8. Ms. Fannie kept bringing threads of this ancient story to our modern day. I guess the one constant between then and now is humans. We must remember that we Christians are hopeful people, having God’s promise of restoration and comfort.
I really like the paraphrase of Sunday’s Gospel from The Message. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.” Jesus doesn’t promise that our troubles or problems will magically disappear. But he provides a pathway full of family, friends, neighbors, and church family to help us on our life journey. He is the guide showing us the way to live in God’s Kingdom.
My sermon spoke about our great national holiday that we celebrated Saturday. America’s ideals are the envy of the world. Our country is a beautiful, unfinished canvas that we are still perfecting to this very day! I spoke about my parents—part of the Greatest Generation—and how both of them answered the call to serve in the Navy during WWII. I also spoke about my grandfather, who as a teenager took a dangerous journey to freedom from Imperial Russia to North Dakota.
Sue and I had a quiet July 4th. Well, every day is quiet now! I grilled hamburgers and Sue fixed the rest. (I got off easy.) Some of our neighbors shot off fireworks; our dogs are not fond of the noise, so typical old folks, we did nothing. On Wednesday Sue had a doctor’s appointment in Nacogdoches, and I went with her. She went by to visit with her mother (on cell phones through the glass hallway door). I took the recycling to the center and did a little shopping. Before we left Joaquin, we took a back seat full of toilet paper and paper towels to Community Christian Services. I also had two checks to deliver. CCS does a wonderful job, and they have such great people volunteering—really caring folks.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
July 1, 2020 - There was a man once who had been a church member little more than a year. He was heard to say, “I must be losing my power of perception. I can’t find any of the hypocrites I used to see, looking in from the outside. Certainly, I see some with shortcomings and weaknesses, even like I have, but I cannot point out one person who is not serious and honest in his or her Christian endeavors. Could it be that I have acquired rose colored glasses?”
Our answer is, “No, your eyesight is really better than before. You are having an experience that is common to people who learn from inside that Christians are wonderful people. True, they are also human, but you can be sure that the percentage of sincerity and honesty is decidedly higher in the church than among the best of people outside.”
Which reminds us: Can each of us be sure that his or her behavior sets a good example to outsiders? Is my light shining in such a way as to draw people into the church, or is it a stoplight that keeps them away? Let’s ask ourselves, “If all the members of the church were like me, what would those outside the church think of the church?”
It’s something to think about… tbp
Join us for worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
June 29, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. I was a no-show for church on Father’s Day. It is pretty bad when the preacher does not show up on Sunday. I got sick and was sicker on Sunday. I have felt bad all this past week, but my headaches have abated some. Last Sunday was Father’s Day, which was the theme of my sermon. So even though this was the Sunday after Father’s Day, I gave the sermon I had prepared for that special Sunday. Next Sunday will be July 5th and part of that sermon will be a celebration of our nation’s Independence Day.
I usually use one of the scriptures selected for the Common Lectionary, but I went off script and used John 53: 19-23. “Jesus said, ‘I tell you most emphatically that the Son can do nothing of himself, but only what he sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner. The Father loves the Son and shows him all the things that He himself is doing; and He will show him greater works than these, may marvel.’” We know that the way Jesus understand God was much different from most of the Jews and pagans of his day. He saw God as love and compassion. I think that his earthly father Joseph greatly influenced Jesus and how he viewed others, the world, and the Divine.
We had a thought-provoking Sunday School Lesson with the story of Hosea, Gomer, and their children serving as the scripture lesson. The title of the lesson was “Forever Love,” which certainly describes God. Ms. Fannie has been teaching us in fine rabbinic fashion. The ancient rabbis looked to what those in the story or scripture could learn from what is said. Then the teacher would explore what those who first read Hosea 1: 2-11 could glean from the scripture. And then, and I think most important, what can we take for today from what was written. Fannie wants us to explore that ancient wisdom and apply it to our modern day living and problems.
We are still in the grips of this terrible deadly virus. Just pretending it doesn’t exist and acting as if all is well has led to spikes of the virus, hospitalizations, and death. Texas is one of the 21 states to see staggering increases in Covid 19 cases. Because of the polarized feelings in parts of our country I don’t see any credible response to the Coronavirus any time soon. Our leaders are really between a rock and a hard place with few good options. The Joaquin Senior Center had planned a modified re-opening July 6, but the board has looked at the facts and postponed the re-opening.
We had a visit from our daughter and her wonder dog Stella this week. She has been isolated at home for months, fortunately being able to work from there. The company she works for had started having employees return to the office, but with the massive increase of virus cases has put off the next stage. So our daughter will continue working at home, which greatly relieves her.
Sue and I have pretty much stayed at home and have been mostly quarantined. During this time of isolation, I have read some historical books and have also spent time thinking about my parents and grandparents. Much of my sermon spoke to the influence that my Dad had on my brother and me and the influence my father-in-law had on my wife and her siblings. Both men were from that “greatest generation,” and both had a strong sense of decency and compassion that they passed on to us.
During the month of June, Paxton Methodists have been collecting toilet paper and paper towels for Community Christian Services. Sue and I will deliver the goods and some checks from members to Community Christian Services this week. In July we will be collecting cans of ravioli and spaghetti.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church
June 25, 2020 - The body is made up largely of bones, about 200 of them, classified as to shape. The church is also made up of bones, classified according to use. There are three kinds. First, wishbones. You know this kind. They wish for greater things in the church. They wish for larger attendance. They wish for more souls to be saved. Wishbones? They are languid and they are listless. The only thing they deny themselves is work and effort to make their wishes come true. They are sometimes referred to as “rocking chair” Christians.
Then there are the jawbones. Nothing slow or listless about this kind. They work up and down at great speed. They can criticize. They can gossip. They pick flaws. They tell how it should be done. They tell how it would be done if they were in charge. In their wake, follows dissension and discouragement. Verily, it takes a Samson to handle this class and turn them to some good use.
But the third class is the one we like to think of. They are the backbones. There is work to be done; the backbones do it. There are meetings to attend; the backbones are there. When the Saints assemble in their home congregation, the backbones are there to support their brothers and sisters and have fellowship with the saints. There is giving so the work might be carried on; the backbones are willing to sacrifice. Oh backbones! If we were poets, we would write about you! If we were singers, we would chant your praises! If we were artists, we would paint your lovely likeness! Being merely ordinary humans, we can only love and appreciate you. And we do!
It’s something to think about ... tbp
June 23, 2020 - Mt. Herman Missionary Baptist Church will be in revival beginning Monday night, June 29th through Wednesday night, July 1st. Services will start at 7:00 each evening. Bro. Levi Cohorst will be the evangelist. Bro. R. B. Elumbaugh is the pastor. The church is located at 9181 State Highway 7 West.
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