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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
June 21, 2021 - Grace and peace from our friend and brother Jesus. Today was the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (and also the real Father’s Day). I had been thinking it was Father’s Day all last week and ended up using some FD material in last week’s sermon. That didn’t make sermon writing any easier this week. But as we see in today’s scriptures, things are not always meant to be easy.
Sue is back operating the CD player and putting our songs together for worship like she did at First Methodist in Joaquin. We certainly miss our piano player, Ms. Hilda, and were so happy to hear that she is home. We hope she gets stronger each and every day. Today we used a couple of songs that we sang often at Joaquin but that are not on the Paxton standard list. The hymns for Father’s Day were “This is My Father’s World” and “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” Sue decided they were both “kinda father-ish.” (In case you’re wondering what happened to “Faith of Our Fathers,” that hymn is on a CD unfortunately missing from our set.)
Our Sunday School lesson once again focused on the Old Testament Joseph, who had become an important person in his adopted country of Egypt. What took him to the top was his ability to interpret dreams. Joseph didn’t take credit for what he saw but correctly predicted seven years of famine followed by seven years of woe. This last part would bring his family back together—but at what a cost!
For Father’s Day, I discussed my dad and my father-in-law, who would both have turned 100 this year. They certainly saw plenty in their years! The older I get the more I appreciate that I was able to internalize some of my dad’s best qualities. He introduced my brother and me to reading, playing hard to win (but not at any cost), thinking deeper than we realized we could, and treating everyone—regardless of station—with respect. I wish there was a way to say thanks, but I guess paying it forward does thank your mentor.
It was good to visit by phone with Hilda this week. Joy also talked to Carolyn, who thinks she may come back to Texas later this summer for some doctors’ appointments. We might have to ID her to make sure she is still a red, white, and blue Texan! It was nice to have Larry McNeil back this morning. Last weekend he went to northern Arkansas (almost to Missouri) for a family reunion and a memorial service for his wife Rose. Larry said traveling to this part of Arkansas really makes for a scenic but lengthy trip. Sue and I made a much shorter trip this week to Monroe to visit Uncle Eddie. He is a champion storyteller and always regales us with tales of family, friends, and adventures. Luckily this time, we had no such (mis)adventures through small-town Louisiana on our return—and this time we had a paper map just in case!
Sue and I ordered a copier from Amazon, and I was able to run off bulletins for this morning. I was proud of myself for getting it up and running... but don’t congratulate me yet: Somehow I was totally unable to call up my sermon and prayers on my trusty Kindle. I always need a script heavy with instructions and directions written down right in front of me, in English, as I often lose my place. This week I had to use prehistoric reminders—on paper.
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.
June 17, 2021 - Faith is a common denominator in all of our lives. We daily express faith in something. In fact, we cannot live a single day without exercising faith. To be sure, we have faith in the physical world.
When you woke up and went into the bathroom this morning, you flipped a switch and you had faith the light would come on. When you get in your car, you have faith that it will start. When you mail a letter, you have faith the postal system will get it to the right address. When you go to the pharmacy, you have faith that the pharmacist will give you the right drugs. When you get in an elevator in a high rise building, you have faith in the low bidder on the construction project.
In his first epistle, John writes of victory in overcoming the world. The world to which John refers are those things which are in the world. John writes in I John 5:4-5, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the word, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Our faith must be a faith that leads us to live Jesus’ kind of live, His way. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
Faith in Jesus that leads to victory must come from the Word of God. We must spend time letting God speak to us through His word an speaking to God through prayer. There can be victory in overcoming the world. This victory is the victory of faith.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
June 12, 2024 - The Wimberly Cemetery Homecoming will be held on Sunday, June 16 at noon. Everyone is encouraged to come, enjoy our beautiful cemetery, and fellowship with friends and family over lunch.
Also, if anyone would like to donate to the cemetery fund, that would be greatly appreciated either at the homecoming or by mail. Hope to see you there!
Donations may be mailed to:
Wimberly Cemetery
c/o Wanda O’Rear
11466 FM 2694
Shelbyville, TX 75973
June 14, 2021 - This Saturday, June 19, the Joaquin FUMC Youth Group will be hosting a car wash in the Joaquin, TX Brookside Brothers parking lot. They will be there from 9am-3pm. The money raised will go to sending the youth to Church Camp this summer. So, come on out and enjoy a great day!
June 10, 2021 - After Simon had denied Jesus for the third time, Jesus looked at Simon. He didn’t say a word. He just looked at him. When Simon saw Jesus, he went out and wept. He wept bitterly.
I remember times when I would do things that disappointed my earthly father. Times when he didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with disappointment in his eyes. It was worse than any whipping he ever gave me (and I got my share of those!).
Let’s be honest, all of us from time to time disappoint those we love. Worse, we often make mistakes and disappoint the Lord who loves us and died for us. That’s what Paul was talking about when he wrote, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
Some of our mistakes admittedly are quite trivial, even just plain dumb. Things like locking our keys in our car (sometimes with the motor running), forgetting to add sugar to the cranberry sauce (it does make it very tart) or walking into an electric fence.
However, there are other “mistakes” that are more significant. Things like heading down a path to addiction. Things like committing a crime or walking out on a spouse and children. However, all of our mistakes, from the momentarily annoying to the life altering can be washed away by the blood of Jesus.
The one fatal mistake we can make is to ignore the fact that one day we will die and that Jesus is the only way to shun Hell and enter Heaven. That is one thing we must get right.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Center Church of Christ
http://www.centerchurchofchrist.com
“You have no room for My Word...” John 8:37
June 7, 2021 - We finally replaced the large pecan tree that was blown down by the storm of ‘98 with a mulberry tree. The mulberry grows fast, provides shade, and supplies food for the birds. We were really surprised to see its limbs already loaded with berries the first year.
But we are also surprised that the birds (with the exception of two mockingbirds) have completely ignored the tree! Its berries are as sweet as sugar. I know… I’ve eaten a lot of them. And its beautiful limbs look perfect for the birds to perch on while they feed. I am so disappointed that more birds aren’t feeding in it after all the trouble we went to for them.
It’s also surprising that church members don’t feed more on the Word of God. I wonder how God feels when we ignore it.
I think I know.
June 7, 2021 - Grace and peace from our friend and brother Jesus. Today was the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost. This Sunday is sandwiched between two family holidays—Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. And yet the Gospel lesson for today deals with conflict in the family. Today was also D-Day. That date will always be remembered by people of my parent’s generation—just like later generations remember when President Kennedy was killed and when the twin towers came down.
Last week our internet went out, and we could only establish WiFi for a few minutes before it sputtered out: We would have to unplug and reboot over and over. This went on all last week, but on Saturday morning everything started working. We have been expecting it to go out each time we sit down at computer or phone, but so far Sue and I are connected. Maybe there was a little Divine intervention!
We got new Sunday School literature for the summer quarter. The first lesson was about Joseph and the trouble with his brothers. This seemed to mirror the Gospel lesson for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, with the dispute that developed in Jesus’ biological family and with his family of faith. Conflict rears its ugly head, and sometimes it becomes really hard to tamp down the growing problem.
Since we resumed in-person worship, our music had been on CD. And we are reminded yet again how much we miss Hilda being here. Last week I worked on the sound system at church, and I think we are ready for music and singing. Sue is operating the CD player and putting our songs together during worship. She did this at the Joaquin church when we didn’t have a piano player. Today we sang “Amazing Grace,” starting with an easy one! Later we listened to Hank Williams’ “I Saw the Light,” one of my all-time favorites. Maybe next week we’ll sing two songs, going for the gold!
The first Sunday of each month, we celebrate a Service of Communion and Remembrance. Pandemic Communion was disposable cups and Ziploc bags in the pews. But today, people could kneel or stand at the altar; if instead they wanted to remain in their seats, I would bring Communion to them. Another little bit of normalcy.
The Gospel lesson was from Mark 3: 20-35, where we see Jesus and his followers just returning from the success of their first tour of the Galilee. But what appeared to the Pharisees as Jesus and his disciples ignoring the Sabbath would cause all kinds of trouble. It is the only place in the New Testament where the writer said Jesus became angry. But his anger didn’t turn to hatred—he still had compassion, even for the Pharisees.
In June we will collect paper towels and toilet paper for Community Christian Services. Last Wednesday I took the cans of fruit, as well as some checks from the church folks, to First Baptist Haslam. They had a large, steady crowd receiving food supplies. It’s always inspiring to see them at work for the Kingdom of God.
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.
June 4, 2021 - Did you ever wake up early Sunday morning, the neighbors are all in bed, the streets are quiet and the yards are empty? The world is asleep as you prepare for worship on the Lord’s day. That’s what you get for being a Christian.
Did you ever leave dishes in the sink, a blouse un-ironed and the floors un-swept to visit a sick friend or run an errand for someone confined to home? That’s what you get for being a Christian.
Did you ever say no to a social gathering for all day on the Lord’s Day? That’s what you get for being a Christian.
Did you ever work with a group of people who use profanity, live loose lives morally who think you are strange because you are a Christian and not like they are?
All of that is what you get for being a Christian. Yet, think what is yours for being a Christian:
- You are a child of the King.
- You are loved and cared for.
- You have a peace and happiness the world does not know and cannot take away.
- You shall inherit eternal life.
- You have a Father to whom you can take all your unresolved problems. A Father who abolishes fear and doubt.
All of those things are yours when you become a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, living His kind of life, His way.
It’s something to think about…..TBP
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
June 3, 2021 - The annual New Hope Cemetery homecoming is Sunday, June 6, at 12 noon. Please bring your lawn chairs and favorite dishes and come enjoy a time of fellowship.
If you are unable to attend please send your donations for the upkeep of the cemetery to: New Hope Cemetery, 1597 FM 2974, Center, TX 75935.
June 3, 2021 - A Life Saving Community Blood Drive sponsored by First Baptist Church of Center is Thursday, June 3, at 10am until 2:30pm in the Fellowship Hall of FBC, 117 Cora Street, Center, TX.
To sign up, contact Teresa Crawford at (936) 598-5605 with sponsor code 7765. To sign up online please visit https://tinyurl.com/4fw2fx6t.
Free COVID-19 anti-body testing for all successful donations! For questions about Covid-19 antibody testing please visit https://tinyurl.com/2b97fv6k
Donors will Receive a FREE T-SHIRT!!
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