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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
May 3, 2019 - Sometimes first aid is not a bandage, or CPR or calling 911. Sometimes first aid is YOU. A person you know could be experiencing a mental health or substance use problem. Be prepared to help.
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Center is hosting a Mental Health First Aid class on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 8:30am until 5:00pm.
The Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course that will teach you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course helps anyone who wants to learn how to provide initial help to someone who may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness or is in crisis.
If you are an educator/school administrator, nurse, primary care giver, public safety personnel, member of a faith community, social services staff and volunteer, substance abuse professional, social workers or any member of the community interested in becoming trained, this course will give you the tools to help those in need.
The course is delivered by Certified Mental Health First Aid USA instructors.
The cost is FREE and lunch will be served. If you are interested in attending this training please go online to register at http://www/episcopalhealth.org/mhfa/.
St. John’s Episcopal Church is located at 1063 Southview Circle, right across the highway from High Roller Wells.
May 2, 2019 - I will never forget the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia. History was made in the sport of wrestling. Alexander Kareli the giant strongman Russian who had dominated the ultra heavyweight division for 13 years was defeated. He had not only been undefeated for thirteen years but had not allowed his opponents to score a single point against him in over six years. But in the 2000 Olympics he was defeated by the young American Roulon Gardner who was smaller and less experienced. The wrestling world was shocked by this surprise upset. Although Roulon was strong he could not out muscle Alexander, so he used form, intelligence, and technique to score the winning point against his opponent.
Our spiritual life is a lot like that. We are in a constant wrestling match with the devil. We are not stronger than he is but we have the ultimate coach, who gives us the tools that we need to take on the devil and defeat him.
Ephesians 6: 10-13 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
To be successful in wrestling there are three things that you must posses: strength, (intelligence) wisdom, and endurance. Paul tells us in these passages that spiritual wrestling is no different. So let us look at these three in closer detail, so that we might utilize these principles to help us in our daily struggles with the enemy in our lives.
1. Strength. The emphasis here is on where we get our strength. When we gain our strength from God, we are tapping into a strength that far exceeds our human abilities. God tells Joshua and the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” We need to realize when we are in the midst of a battle and we feel like we cannot go on any longer, or we feel like our strength is failing, that we do have a strength that comes from God that is unfailing. Just as physical strength is required to succeed at Olympic wrestling, so spiritual strength is required to succeed at spiritual wrestling. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (or gives me strength)."
2. Wisdom. If you are going to beat your opponent you need to study him so that you know his every move. You must use wisdom to defeat Him. In Matthew 10:16 Jesus sends out His disciple with this command: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Jesus knew that His disciples were going to face some serious resistance from the devil so he warned them to be wise in the way of knowing who their enemy was and what he was capable of. We need to ask God everyday for wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5-8 has always been my "life" scripture. It keeps me grounded and reminds me where I need to get wisdom from. It says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones."
3. Endurance. We must understand that we are in this fight to win it. We have to be prepared to stay in until the end. When you give up you lose. In Hebrews 12:1-2 the writer tells us that "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Life is tough there are many things that can trip us up, and make us stumble. But we have to get up, brush ourselves off, and continue to run this race we call life. You can't quit just because you stumble and fall. God knows that is going to happen to us from time to time. You see its not about how you start the race, or how hard the race is with all the obstacles, its how you finish, and that you finish that counts. If we keep these principle we will be able to say what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
Just like Roulon Gardner received that Gold medal, we too are going to receive a crown because God loves fighters, finishers, and keepers (standers).
I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
May 2, 2019 - Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, sent by God into this world, not to judge the world, but to save the world. For only by faith in Jesus as Lord can one come to the Father God for salvation.
“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
For I have not spoken of my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment - what to say and what to speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (John 12:44-50)
Words of the truth of the gospel given all by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. It is by Jesus’ own words that we know the truth of him.
“I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
As Jesus said, he has come not to judge the world but to save the world and for all who believe in him salvation has come, they are judged to be not-guilty of their own sins and are forever freed from the penalties of their sinful ways.
And to those he gives a new commandment, a commandment of love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
And for all who do love the Lord Jesus and strive to keep his commandments he promised and delivers a most precious gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit of God come to indwell each one, to be a Helper through life, a guide and comforter all the way home to be with the Lord forever.
“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. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18)
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send you in my name, he will teach you all things and bring you to remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8) May his rich blessings be upon you today and forever...
Submitted by aerial photo of human prayer chain around the historic courthouse at National Day of Prayer 2018!
May 2, 2019 - In 1952 the United States Congress voted that the first Thursday in May each year would be the National Day of Prayer. Again this year, citizens and leaders of Shelby County will be meeting in front of our historic courthouse on Thursday, May 2nd from noon until 12:30pm to pray for our community and to make a statement that we are a community that believes in the power of prayer!
The brief half hour event will feature a color guard from Barksdate Air Force Base and prayers for our country, our military, our first responders, our churches, our elected officials, and our schools. We will end, as we did last May, with a human prayer chain around the historic courthouse.
We invite community leaders, church members, and anyone who believes in the power of prayer to join us! Contact David Mathis at dmathis@fbccenter.org or 979-533-1575 for more information.
April 29, 2019 - Spring is here and the birds are singing and busy building their nests. The dogwoods and redbuds are in full bloom. After such a rainy winter and early spring, the chickens are excited for a dry summer so they won't be walking on a wet ground. Trees are budding out to a million shades of green. This, in all of God's glory, reminds us too of the ones we love.
At the Willow Grove Cemetery Homecoming we remember, honor, and show respect for our loved ones who have gone on ahead of us. This year, the Homecoming will be Saturday, May 4, 2019. We thank Willow Grove Community Church for allowing us to use the Fellowship Hall for our annual 11am business meeting and potluck dinner that follows. Donations will be taken at the gate. All donations are used for maintaining and improving our Willow Grove Cemetery. If you'd like to donate but will be unable to attend, please send donations to:
Willow Grove Cemetery
% Mr. Willie Edwards
P.O. Box 71
Joaquin, Texas 75954
For more information, call 936-269-3236. We look forward to seeing you there. Encourage others to attend.
"This is the day the Lord hath made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalms 118:24
April 29, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was Second Sunday of Easter. Traditionally, the Sunday after Easter is called “Low Sunday” because it is the one with the lowest attendance. This isn’t always true at Paxton Methodist, but it was this time. We have members out of town and under the weather. I also had problems getting from Joaquin to Paxton, as the fire department had Highway 84 E blocked. I had to detour along the FM road to Willow Grove and then onto a dirt road to FM 699 and back to Highway 84, arriving late for Sunday school. We had a really good lesson on our need to answer Jesus’ call and commission to make disciples. The stated mission of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Unfortunately, we as a denomination have sometimes done a poor job being a church with open hearts, open minds, and open doors.
The Epistle Lesson for the 2nd Sunday of Easter was Revelation 1: 4-8: We see John living a harsh life imprisoned on an island but at the same time inhabiting the glorious Kingdom of God. I think our scripture provided a road map to dwell in the reality of the moment and the promise of the Kingdom. Joe and Hilda got us moving with our music this morning—we appreciate both of them. We received a certificate for 2018 from the Bishop thanking Paxton Methodist for paying 100% of our apportionments. Apportionments are a “Methodist thing,” a church’s share in the worldwide ministry of our denomination.
During the month of April, Paxton Methodist has been collecting toothpaste and toothbrushes for Community Christian Services. In the month of May we will be collecting cans of fruit. Our monthly ministry to Focused Care has changed to 10am on the first Monday of each month.
Last week was our regular program at Lakeside. I emceed, choosing mostly Easter-ish hymns and filling in between songs with various anecdotes. Hilda, as usual, was our lively accompanist on the electronic baby grand. Fannie read a piece about aging gracefully (may we all listen and learn). Sue read There’s Something in My Attic, and uncharacteristically for her, led us singing “In Your Easter Bonnet.” The real singers, Nora and Gene, chose Easter songs: “Up from the Grave He Arose,” and “Because He Lives,” respectively. Also adding to the program were Maggie, Jo, and Margie—cheerfully, needless to say. Maggie was between stints at the library book sale; after the program, Nora and Sue hastened over there to find bargains.
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.
Randy & Sue Smith Paxton Methodist Church
“They that come to the Lord must believe that He is... ” Heb. 11:6
April 29, 2019 - When I was in the eighth grade, the Curtis Publishing Company came to our school to get the students to sell popular magazines for them: Saturday Evening Post, Reader’s Digest, etc.. And we could win special prizes if we sold enough subscriptions.
I knocked at Mrs. Munnerlyn’s door and said, “You don’t want to buy any magazines, do you?” “Come in, Henry,” she smiled. “I need to talk to you.”
She stood me over a hot heater grate in the floor and gave me one more pep talk. “You’ll never sell anything with that negative approach. To be a good salesman, you’ve got to believe in what you sell.”
Hey, I took her advice and became the number one seller in our class. I won a brand new Schaeffer fountain pen!
One reason some church members never sell anyone on Jesus is because they don’t act like they believe in Him…
… and some of them probably don’t!
April 29, 2019 - What do you fear this day? Do you fear the snares and traps of life on earth, or is it those who would do you harm, who would take from you your possessions, even your life for no reason other than their own greed and selfishness?
Let me tell you of whom you should fear, the one of whom the fear of, is even the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
Don’t be a foolish one who fears only those who can do him fleshly harm, fear the one who controls the flesh and the spirit for he controls your destiny and your eternity.
“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)
For all who raise their children in the house of the Lord prepare them for a lifetime of hope and service, knowing the joy of being with the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27)
Fear, when placed properly is a valuable tool, a tool that helps one to become wiser, to have more knowledge of the important things of life. Fear of the Lord gives one, along with his family, a refuge, a safe haven of rest from the world for as the parent goes so too goes the family.
“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33)
Humble yourself today and every day before the Lord and in the presence of your family that they too know the Lord. Humble yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ into eternal life.
“For God who has said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
When one humbles oneself and commits his own life to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ the light that is the Lord then shines forth through us being the glory of God and his Son to all the world around us.
The power of God working through the dust of the earth that he used to form mankind, each of us being only a jar of clay, used by the Lord for his own glory.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Cor. 4:7)
“Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:13-16)
Fear the Lord and know his love, his grace and his mercy for all time…
April 26, 2019 - Mt Zion CME Church Men’s Day Program will be held on Sunday, April 28th at 3pm. Special guest is Rev. Larry Thorn, Sr. and the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church of Carthage, TX. Bro. C.W. Garrett Chairperson. Rev. Richard Edwards, Pastor.
April 26, 2019 - Sardis Cemetery Homecoming and Fish Fry fundraiser will be Saturday, May 4, 2019. Catfish plates will be sold for $8.00 each. Fish Fry begins at 11:00 AM until we are out. Annual Business meeting and Gospel Singing will immediately follow the Fish Fry. Donations are welcomed. The upkeep of the cemetery is done with these donations. If you are unable to attend the fish fry please mail your donation to Sardis Cemetery, 6034 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935. Please make plans to come and pay tribute to all the loved ones that are buried here.
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