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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
May 6, 2021 - It was Mark Twain who said, “They did not know it was impossible, so they did it”. When you think about it, that is a very inspirational thought. It conjures up thoughts of perseverance, courage and accomplishment. It is amazing to think how many interesting and worthwhile things most of us could do, if we did not put mental handcuffs on ourselves.
When we are young, we are filled with dreams of the future, and of the idea of attaining great things in this life. Sometimes, failures are made, and after a number of failures, we become permanently discouraged, we become cynical and decide that we cannot really do anything worthwhile after all. And so it is, as we grow older, the lives of the vast majority are filled with “it can’t be dones”. Along with the statement of impossibility is a myriad of excuses for why it cannot be done.
How long has it been since you took stock of yourself? Are you bound down by the idea that you cannot accomplish those things you need to accomplish?
It is time for us to realize that with the help of the Lord, anything can be done! It was Paul who wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) We need to eliminate from our vocabulary the expression “It can’t be done”!
It’s something to think about… tbp
Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28
May 3, 2021 - My brother Bill enlisted in the Navy when we graduated from High School in 1950 and soon afterwards, I hitch-hiked to Springfield, Missouri and enrolled in the Baptist Bible Seminary. I got there with three dollars in my pocket and joined a number of other "pore" young preachers. My parents didn't have a phone, so Mother often wrote letters to keep me in touch with the family.
Even though postage stamps were only 3 cents back then, eight children were still at home and even a stamp was hard to come by at times. Each of Mother's letters were enclosed in a small "lick to seal" envelope and she faithfully wrote on the back of them, "All things work together for good to them who love the Lord...” "Romans 8:28." "Hen Doug, all things that happen to us won't be good," she used to say ... "but they will all work together for our good."
On February 25, 1999, our saddened family gathered around Mother's casket for her burial in the cemetery at Center, Texas. As I stood reminiscing, I envisioned Mother's hands, her letters, and her special left-handed handwriting. And I recalled her saying to me, "Remember, Hen Doug ...All things.'" And under my breath I whispered, "I know, Mother." "I do remember."
"I always will."
May 3, 2021 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the 5th Sunday of Easter. Springtime has come to East Texas! The temperatures have warmed into the 80s, and we have had plenty of spring rain. My garden looks so good. I notice when I am driving around how pretty people’s roses are this year. My roses have been fantastic. I don’t know if it is really true, but it seems that the best-smelling roses have the most and meanest thorns (should be a life lesson in there somewhere).
Since we resumed in-person worship, our music has been on CD. We can hum under our masks, but no vigorous singing! This week our songs were related to each other. We started with “Song of Joy,” by Julio Iglesias. I heard it for the first time while in the car heading to Louisiana, Missouri, many summers ago and liked it so much my daughter found a CD for me. As you can tell from the title, Iglesias’ song is based on “Ode to Joy,” AKA “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” that is in the Methodist Hymnal. The words were written by Henry Van Dyke and put to the music of Beethoven. The two songs made nice “bookends” in our service.
Our Sunday School lesson was from Exodus 33 & 34, where we are treated to conversations between God and Moses. We see that Moses feels comfortable speaking to God about his questions, doubts, and fears. Our author says that one of the key themes in the Bible is God’s faithful presence. The risen Christ of Easter assures us that God will always be at our side in our living as well as our dying.
We are marching toward the Day of Pentecost. This religious holy day comes to us from our spiritual foremothers and forefathers of Judaism. These fifty days leading to Pentecost, referred to as Eastertide, give us a chance to explore the meaning, not only of death and resurrection, but also of God that we see in Jesus. When we sense God in Christ, we realize that God has everything to do with compassion and empathy. In my sermon I continued to focus on John’s first letter, Chapter 4: 7-21. Last week I tried to speak to what God is like. John the Elder refers to God as unknowable, certainly the eternal mystery. And John says if we can perfect the love that flows from God by loving others with great compassion, then we will know who God is.
Compassion, empathy, and love are what Joaquin Christian Services is all about. Last week, when I took our April donations—toothpaste and toothbrushes—they were busy handing out much-needed and -appreciated boxes from the Farmers to Families program. It is always such a pleasure to see these volunteers doing God’s work! In May, we will be collecting cans of fruit.
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.
April 29, 2021 - Have you ever seen items on sale at a greatly reduced price and in the fine print you read “slight imperfections?” Have you ever thought about how that describes us? The church is composed of folks that have imperfections. There are members, preachers, bible class teachers, song-leaders and others with “slight imperfections.” Amazingly, God has over the years been able to work wonders through imperfect people. In fact, God has never had a chance with any other kind.
If a preacher ever finds a congregation with no faults, he will have found a place where no teaching, preaching or training is necessary. If a congregation finds a perfect preacher, he will seem unreal, completely without understanding of the difficulties and burdens and sorrows people with slight imperfections struggle with.
It is imperfect Christians, working together, forgiving one another’s faults, who come nearest to presenting Christ the “perfect” church.
If you know of someone who stays away from the church, away from the worship because there are people there with imperfections, invite them in. There is always room for one more imperfect person. Also, just how perfect does it make you when you refuse to forgive the imperfections of another? How perfect does it make you, when you try to destroy the usefulness of another in the kingdom of Christ because they might be “slightly imperfect?”
I don’t guess we should take a personal inventory. We might find that we have “slight imperfections.”
It’s something to think about… tbp
Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com
April 28, 2021 - The annual Sardis Cemetery Homecoming and Fish Fry will be held Saturday, May 1, 2021 beginning at 11 AM. Catfish plates with all the trimmings will be available for $10 per plate. All proceeds will benefit the upkeep of the cemetery and grounds. We are encouraging our young folks to get involved.
The annual business meeting will follow the fish fry about 1:30pm. The CHURCH building has had some structural damage inside that was caused from foundational issues. To restore it will require funds that we do not have at this time, therefore, we are asking for your help in the form of donations from the community or anyone interested in preserving the building. Additional donations are also necessary and appreciated to help with the up-keep of the cemetery.
Any donations can be mailed to Sardis Cemetery, 6034 FM 414, and Center, TX 75935.
April 27, 2021 - Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church is back in full swing. Sunday night gospel singings are every 5th Sunday of the month. The next Gospel Singing will be held on Sunday, May 30, 2021 starting at 6pm. There won't be one in the month of April. All musicians and vocalists invited. Bring a friend and enjoy some good gospel music!
Musicians setup time is 5:30pm. Refreshments will be finger foods after the singing.
Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church is located at 417 East, Shelbyville, Texas 75973. For more information call 936-275-1662 or 936-591-8500. All are welcome.
Church service schedule:
- Sunday Morning Class 10:00 am
- Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am
- Sunday Children's Church and Youth Church 11:00 am
- Sunday Evening Bible Study 6:00 pm
- Wednesday Night Bible Study 6:30 pm
April 27, 2021 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries presents Conference 2021 with the theme "It's Time to Bounce Back."
The conference runs May 5 through May 7 starting at 7pm nightly. Guest speakers are Wednesday, Sis. Stephanie Hicks; Thursday, Evangelist Zorana Skinner; and Friday, Prophetess Rhonda Coleman.
Conference host is Lady Pearl Nash. Everyone is invited!
April 26, 2021 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the 4th Sunday of Easter. Springtime and Easter certainly go together like peas and carrots! With the rain and the warmer temperatures, we see rebirth and renewal all throughout nature—a vital and sacred part of God’s Kingdom. With our brutal cold snap earlier this year, I thought I lost many different plants in my garden. Thankfully that wasn’t the case. One set of bushes that I slated for the chainsaw has budded out—a wonderful sight.
Since we resumed in-person worship, our music has been on CD. We can hum the song under our masks but no vigorous singing! Both pieces I selected were found in the Methodist hymnal so we could follow the words if we wanted to. The first hymn, by Charles Wesley and considered the anthem of the Methodist movement, was “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” It has a multitude of verses, but the singer thankfully chose just three. Our second selection, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” also from the 1700s, is one of my wife’s favorite hymns.
Our Sunday School lesson continued to stress the importance of Sabbath rest as a spiritual practice. The main purpose of the lesson was to remind us that we need to have a faithful spirit all the time. The scriptural focus was 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18: Paul reminds us that we live in an imperfect world, where no one is immune from suffering and hardship. Along with that truth, he says that death is at work in all living things—but that there must also be life at work in us. Paul links the words grace, gratitude, and glory together in his letter.
In my sermon I focused on John’s first letter, 3: 17-18, 31. John the Elder’s epistle explains to a Jesus community how one comes to experience the great love expressed and shown by Jesus. In several of the other scriptures for this Sunday, Jesus is depicted as the good shepherd. That image is certainly one we find comforting. Our Psalter lesson was the 23rd Psalm, probably the best-known psalm among Christian folk.
On Sunday afternoon we met again to celebrate the life of Rose McNeill. Our little church was packed with family and friends. Afterward Larry hosted a reception at his and Rose’s lovely home.
Paxton Methodist is having in-person worship; we respect each other by wearing masks and keeping socially distant. Scientists and medical professionals, who know more than politicians about this subject, say that we can do three simple things to curtail the spread of Covid-19: wash our hands regularly, stay at least six feet apart—social distancing, and yes, wear a mask—or maybe two masks—mask-wearing is the patriotic thing to do. It is also the Christian thing to do, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. And get that vaccine! How has simple science—wearing a mask or getting a vaccine—become a political hot button issue? Let’s all use our common sense and defeat Covid-19 together!
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.
April 26, 2021 - Pam and I have fed the birds at our house in San Augustine for twenty-seven years now. It is unbelievable that we have around fifteen species that live at our house---only a few blocks from town. We always look forward to the Spring and Fall migrations that stop by on their annual trips north and south. And the Spring birds are here! And every good rain sends them down at our house for a few more days.
As of today, we have seen Catbirds, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, Summer Tanagers, and several others. We also have several White-winged Doves and five species of local Woodpeckers that are enjoying eating with our visitors. We hope to see some Painted Buntings before the migration is over.
Lots of people ask how we have so many birds. And the answer is simple: Feed them, not occasionally, but every day. The birds, like all living things, love to eat.
April 26, 2021 - The Antioch Homecoming will be held Sunday, May 2, 2021. Church service and business meeting will begin at 11:00. Dinner on the grounds will begin at 12:00 noon.
All donations to the Cemetery Fund May be mailed to Lenora Walton 237 CR 3129 Center, TX 75935.
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