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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
July 27, 2020 - When I was in college, I joined a “Preacher” Club called 'The J. B. Gambell Society.' We were a bunch of young preachers seeking advice from our elders. Our Club sent a letter to Dr. W. A. Criswell, the famous pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church. In the letter we asked him what was the last thing he did before going to the pulpit to preach. We were both shocked and amused to get an immediate reply - “I checked to see if my pants are zipped up.”
And guess what happened to me on the first Sunday as pastor of The First Baptist Church of Hemphill. I was seated in my chair on the platform with fifteen Choir members singing behind me when I glanced down and saw my pants unzipped wide open. At the end of the choir special, I asked everyone to close their eyes and asked Deacon Douglas Butler to pray. Meanwhile I slipped quietly into a room, zipped up returned while Douglas was still praying. No one said anything about it but after the service organist Freddie Cousins eased up and whispered, “Brother Doug, did you get sick this morning?” “Almost”, I replied… as we had a laugh together.
The experience that morning must have taught me a lesson. And I made a special prayer to God that day: Lord, with your help I’ll never let that happen again. And by the grace of God, it never has…
… and I’m an old feller now.
July 26, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. But these sure don’t seem like ordinary times right now! Our world is engulfed by a pandemic that is crippling economies, sickening millions, and killing tens of thousands. With many of us staying at home more, we need to carve out some time in our daily routines to look for the divine in the ordinary events of our lives. This is what the ancient Christian mystics called on people to do. Before there were dogmas, doctrines, and denominations, early Christians looked for God in their daily living. We have, for the most part, lost that focus and that part of our faith.
In our Gospel lesson for Sunday from Matthew 13, Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. He goes on to say that this Kingdom is like a mustard seed, yeast, fishing, finding a lost treasure, and acquiring a precious gem. These are certainly not ideas of kingdom that most people then or now have. When we think of kingdoms, we see images of crowns, robes, palaces, kings, queens, princesses, and princes. But Jesus saw the kingdom in ordinary daily life—right here, right now.
The great paradox of these parables is that Jesus says this kingdom is worth a great treasure and gems. And yet this kingdom is made of mustard bushes, nets and fishing, yeast and bread breaking. Really, though, this isn’t so much a paradox when you consider that all was created by God and is of God.
It was so nice having Carolyn back in our class and at worship. I know she had a great time visiting family in Pennsylvania, but we sure do miss her wisdom when she is gone. The scripture that was the focus of our Sunday School lesson was Nehemiah 9: 9-17 and 32-33. Nehemiah and Ezra are trying to bring back to life a people and a nation that had somehow survived generations of captivity and slavery. The conditions on the ground were dire and there seemed to be little hope. Our author said, “Reality has a way of challenging our faith, especially in times of grave need and tragedy.” Nehemiah’s starting point in this rebuilding was to remind the people what the God of Israel had done for their ancestors—and that he had never forgotten them. He describes God as ready to forgive, merciful and compassionate, very patient, and truly faithful.
It is hard to believe it is almost August. Our church has been collecting cans of ravioli and spaghetti for Community Christian Services. Sue and I will see that these cans and some checks get to CCS this week. It is always nice to see friends among the wonderful volunteers there. In August we will be collecting children’s underclothes and socks (the original “Undie Sundays”). We usually do this in coordination with the beginning of school, which is, of course, a big question mark right now for districts around our nation. But the need is there: greater this year as parents, families, and seniors worry about rent, mortgages, bills, jobs, and just getting food on the table. As retired educators, Sue’s and my hearts go out to school districts everywhere trying to balance safety, health, and instruction.
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 22, 2020 - I know this will come as a shock to many people, but I will confess that I have been fishing once or twice in my life. I will not go so far as to put it at the top of my list of “preferred recreational activities,” in fact, it probably would not make the top 100. But I have tried it. I remember using a cork and watching it float on the surface of the water. I know that even when the cork is submerged, it will float to the top. I have even done some reading on this subject and found that you can press a cork down 10 or 50 or even 100 feet below the surface of the water and release it and it will rise again. Yet, I also read if that same cork is pressed down 200 feet below the surface of the water, it cannot rise again. The reason being that the water pressure at that depth is too great. The cork will collapse. That made me stop and do a little thinking. That scares you doesn’t it?
You see, it’s that same way with sin. The lower a man or woman sinks in the depths of sin, the greater the difficulty and less the probability of his or her ever rising again. The pressure of persistent sin can so damage the conscience of an individual that they cannot hear the call of God through the Gospel and therefore cannot be lifted from the mire of sin.
May our hearts ever be tender and alive to the call of the gospel and the pleadings of our Savior. Let’s make sure we don’t get so deep in sin and neglect that we never rise again!
It’s something to think about…..tbp
Center Church of Christ
110 Hurst Street
Center, Texas
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
July 21, 2020 – The Center First United Methodist Church (UMC) Little Free Library located at 211 Porter Street is celebrating its second anniversary this month and is currently undergoing a design makeover! To help us celebrate this milestone, we need your help with new or gently used book donations. Accepted books include novels, magazines, Upper Room and other devotionals, crossword puzzle books, children and teen books, and large print books! Please deliver your books to the church office during the week Monday through Thursday 9am to 3pm and Fridays 9am until Noon. Donated books will be sanitized according to safety recommendations prior to being placed in our Little Free Library before reopening to the public. Plans are underway for the safe reopening and unveiling of the newly designed Little Free Library!
On behalf of Center First UMC, thank you for donating books and supporting the Little Free Library program over the past two years! For more information about the Little Free Library at Center First UMC or donating books, please contact Rev. Malcolm Monroe at (936) 598-2707 or Nancy Dickerson at (936) 332-7984.
About Little Free Library
Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. Recently, this small, front‐yard book exchange celebrated their 100,000th milestone with registered Little Free Libraries in all 50 states and 85 countries around the world. Little Free Libraries are hand-built boxes functioning as educational and outreach tools serving as a neighborhood book exchange. Inspired by the Little Free Library program “take a book, leave a book,” Nancy Dickerson, Center First UMC member and Little Free Library Steward, along with church member Carlos Gray, built a Little Free Library in 2018, a place for sharing good books and bringing our community together through the joy of reading at First UMC. The Little Free Library exchanges operate on the honor system; anyone visiting the Little Free Library may take a book or bring a book to share.
The Little Free Library mission is a non-profit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. The Little Free Library has been honored by the Library of Congress, the National Book Foundation, and the American Library Association, and Reader’s Digest named them one of the “50 Surprising Things We Love about America.” Little Free Library is also the recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize, Library Journal’s Movers and Shakers Award, the Women’s National Book Association’s Second Century Prize, the Force for Positive Change Award, and the Library of Congress Literacy Award. Each year, nearly 10 million books are shared in Little Free Libraries. To learn more, visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/.
July 21, 2020 - It's that time again and we will be having the North Jericho Homecoming dinner on the ground. Church is located off of FM 699. It will be August 2nd, the first Sunday in August. A popluck meal will be served around noon so bring your favorite dish and join us.
July 21, 2020 - Mark your calendar for the 2020 Smith Chapel Baptist Church annual programs and dates.
There will be no Homecoming Service on Sunday, August 2, 2020 nor Revival Services on August 3 through August 5, 2020 because of the COVID-19.
- Musicians Appreciation - Saturday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.
- Men and Women Day - Saturday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m.
- Harvest Day - Sunday, November 8 at 2:30 p.m.
I am Saved (Regeneration) Ephesians 2:8
I am being Saved (Sanctification) 2 Corinthians 4:16
I will be Saved (Glorification) 1 Peter 1:5
Smith Chapel Baptist Church is located at 919 County Road 4704, Timpson, Texas 75975 with Reverend Mario Osby, Pastor and Sister Teresa Osby, First Lady.
Past events:
- Pastor & Wife Appreciation - Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 p.m.
- 120th Church Anniversary - Sunday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m.
- Choir and Usher Annual - Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m.
- Family and Friends Day - Sunday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m.
- Church Homecoming - Cancelled
- Homecoming Revival - Cancelled
July 20, 2020 - The seven deadly sins, also known as cardinal sins, is a grouping and classification of vices within Christian teachings. According to the standard list, they are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. They are attitudes and devices that lead into many other sins. I am 87 years old and have been preaching since I was eighteen years old. I have preached many sermons on those deadly sins over the years and have heard many other preachers warn us about committing them.
But as I think over it, I wonder why I have preached mostly on only six of these sins. And I’m not alone… other preachers hardly ever preach on all seven of them, either. Maybe it’s because that “ignored sin” gets a little too close to home for most preachers to preach or for many church members to hear.
It’s the sin of gluttony.
July 20, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 7th Sunday after Pentecost. For us, ordinary time is the pattern we are in right now weather wise. It is hot and humid with very little rainfall coming our way. I have been watering my trees and plants every day just to keep them alive. I can’t imagine living like our great American farmers, knowing how cruel the weather can be. Both Sue and I had grandparents whose livelihoods depended on the whims of Mother Nature.
We are in the 5th month of isolation caused by the vicious coronavirus. Governor Abbot said that we actually already have that so-called “magic bullet” that could arrest the virus in as little as four weeks. He said that magic bullet is for everyone to wear a mask in public and practice social distancing. Could that really make a difference—science says a big YES!
Texas is in the midst of a terrible time with this pandemic. We are all perplexed: I know everyone wants to do what is right, but we are in uncharted territory. Reopening was, in retrospect, too much too soon. Let’s listen to our medical and scientific experts, working as one to defeat our common enemy, which a virus, not anything political.
I was saddened by the news that John Lewis died. He truly was the conscience of America. In our Sunday School lesson, Fannie pointed out that our author spoke of John Lewis and the fact that he won the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his bravery. Lewis said he always felt free and liberated in his heart when he did the right thing. Our scripture focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. Our author said that these men’s refusal to bow to the king’s statue was not arrogant and boisterous, but calm and unwavering. This is at least twice that this way of dealing with adversity was held up as a way we should respond to challenges.
Our Gospel Lesson from Matthew 13 was focused on yet another parable about the Kingdom. This Sunday’s parable featured wheat and weeds. Jesus’ disciples responded as if they understood what Jesus was teaching—but, as a retired teacher, I have witnessed my students saying they understood when they were lost as geese. In this case, the disciples continued to ask for clarification: They knew that Jesus had a special way of showing them how to experience God and live in his Kingdom even in the toughest of times. He was the ultimate teacher.
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 13, 2020 - Revival services are now being postponed until July 26-30
Revival at Lydia Missionary Baptist Church, FM 139 in Huxley with Bro. Harold Noble, Sunday, July 19 – Thurs., July 23.
- Sunday 11am and 6pm
- Monday – Thursday 7pm
Everyone welcome with Special music by The Howington’s
Contact: Bro. Michael McArthur-Pastor 936-368-2462
May 7, 2020- Latham Cemetery on FM 139 South of Shelbyville is in need of donations for upkeep. Donations may be mailed to Latham Cemetery, %Citizens Bank, P.O. Box 151, Center, Texas 75935 or to Latham Cemetery, %Jeri Dean, P.O. Box 1016, Timpson, Texas 75975. For more information call 936-254-4994.
Make checks payable to Latham Cemetery Fund. We thank you so much and God Bless!
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