+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
April 27, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the third Sunday of Easter. We certainly had plenty of rain at our house this week. Last Sunday we had 4 inches in our rain gauge; on Wednesday we had 6 inches! Needless to say, that was way too much in a short time. Sue and I live just a couple of houses from downtown Joaquin on Highway 84, where the highway flooded. The road behind town was washed away, so the city crews have to reinstall the huge culverts. Until then that road is closed. Of course, this summer we are going to wish we had some of this rain.
Sue showed me on Facebook that the Joaquin City Park is going to reopen on Monday. The dogs and I certainly have missed getting our exercise at the park and have substituted walks around town for the last month and a half. Sue has started joining us for our morning and evening walks. I am not sure whether we are trying to normalize in general too soon. I will continue to avoid contact with others as I keep safe distance and wear my mask and gloves. I think we are all anxious for things to get back to the way they were, but I am not sure that is possible this soon. The number of Covid-19 cases is still on the rise in our county and state; the White House says there should be 14 days of no increases before things start reopening.
The bishop of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church sent out an email urging churches in our area not to have in-person worship during the month of May. Paxton Methodist has such a small membership that we could easily practice “safe distancing” if we decided to head back. But we are also an older—oops, “more mature”--congregation, and some have health issues that could make them more susceptible to the virus.
The Gospel Lesson for the 3rd Sunday of Easter comes from Luke 24: 13-35. We moved to Luke because it is the only gospel that has the story of the walk to Emmaus. The two Jesus followers are heading to Emmaus and are joined by a stranger who turns out to be the Christ. The post-resurrection appearances of the Christ during the forty days between Easter and the Ascension are always wrapped in mystery and confusion before there is recognition. In these stories, the Christ seems to vanish as soon as the disciples’ eyes are open. What the disciples discover is that the “Holy Presence” remains as the Spirit makes itself felt, seen, and known.
The most important and eye-opening part of this wonderful story in Luke is the friendship that develops along the way between the two disciples and the stranger. The sharing of a meal replaces isolation and loneliness with community. This sharing of a meal—communion—became a major part of true Christian worship.
Paxton Methodist has been collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste for Community Christian Services. Sue and I will go by church this week to pick these items up and get them to CCS. In the month of May we will be collecting cans of fruit. We have an anniversary in May—Joy and Gene will celebrate their wedding day on the 17th. Our nursing home ministries are on hold until we get an “all clear” notice from the various facilities. The volunteers who go each month got a really nice card from Focused Care in Center.
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.” Normally Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. But during the Pandemic our usually “open doors” are closed. 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 23, 2020 - It is sometime in the future. (It could be fifty years from now, yet, based on the Draconian measures of some of our politicians during the “present distress” it could be later this year or perhaps next year). You are huddled with a small group, having met in a secret place so the authorities will not find out. Heads are bowed and someone is whispering a prayer. You are at a worship service. Earlier you had sung a few hymns, softly, so no one outside could hear. Several prayers had been uttered, you had partaken of the communion, served out of a kitchen dish and sour grape juice in a coffee cup. You had gathered one by one so no one would suspect that a worship service was going on and call the authorities. You can vividly remember, in earlier years and happier times when you had heard men pray, “We thank Thee, Father, that we live in this free country where we can worship together without fear of molestation.” Oh, how you wish those prayers could be prayed now.
How did it happen? Over the years, leaders had been elected who had no respect for God. Then, one day, a horrific virus threatened the land and there were some in authority who saw their opportunity. Public worship services were banned in the name of public safety. We must not gather in groups of more than 10 we were told. We could not even gather in groups of 10 in some places. You can gather at the liquor store, but not for worship. People were arrested and fined for even attending outdoor services and remaining in their automobiles.
No shots were fired, no bombs fell, but that’s how practicing Christianity in America became a crime.
It’s something to think about ... tbp
April 23, 2020 - SAKS of Love is a combined community organization. It was started by Christina Leary 3 years ago. The goal was to help one family per month with a month’s supply of household items and other needs. This month our mission was call Mission COVID and we were able to bless 21 families this weekend with a month supply of household items and two meals. This is a privately funded group combined of Nacogdoches, Angelina, and Shelby County members.
Our boxes went to Polk, Angelina, Nacogdoches, Shelby, and Panola county.
April 21, 2020 - Due to the Coronavirus, the Jackson Homecoming for 2020 has been canceled. Donations for cemetery upkeep are still needed. You may mail your contributions to:
Jackson Cemetery Fund
PO Box 15
Joaquin, TX 75954
“… be temperate and self-controlled… ” Titus 2:2
April 20, 2020 - Pam and I photographed and dined in Louisiana's Cajun country in the fall of 2019. The New Iberia “Shoney’s” breakfast sign read: “All You Care to Eat… $5.95” instead of the usual “All You Can Eat.” And I thought, “how clever… and how appropriate!”
Three weeks later we saw posted in front of the Cedar Tree Restaurant in Jasper, Texas the same sign, “All you care to eat.” Hey, it’s catching on!
I always feel a little ill at ease when I eat in one of those “All You Can Eat” places. I feel like I would if I entered a bar to buy a coke or a porn store to buy a Reader’s Digest. It would look like everyone was there for the same purpose.
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins but many neither consider it deadly nor sinful. Since that Cajun sign reminded me to eat modestly instead of all I could, it not only profited me…
…it profited the Shoney owners, too.
April 20, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 2nd Sunday of Easter. Weatherwise, this has been a typical East Texas week. We had some cooler than usual temperatures, which really isn’t that uncommon for Eastertime in East Texas. We also had temperatures flirting with the eighties—not to mention rain this weekend. I hope that everyone is being safe and staying home as much as possible. Working in my gardens and yard has helped me keep my sanity. My gardens in the front and back are so pretty right now. But they are ready for some rain! I hope we don’t have a repeat of the strong storms of last weekend. My dogs and I just got back from our morning walk. We usually walk at the park, but these are not usual times—so the park is closed. We walked by the Joaquin Methodist Church and found Gayle busy cleaning brush and burning it. We had a nice, safe-distance talk.
Paxton Methodist is not having services right now, determined to stay safe. We are a small congregation of senior citizens and don’t want to take any chances. Being so small, though, we are able to keep in touch with each other. I am still preparing a weekly sermon that I send out along with the weekly newsletter and newspaper article. During May we are collecting toothpaste and toothbrushes for Community Christian Services. I will go up to church at the end of the month and collect what people have brought, delivering them to CCS. We have suspended our nursing home ministries until we get the “all clear” from them. We miss our friends at the various nursing homes and hope they remain safe and healthy.
The Gospel story Sunday is about doubting Thomas. I like Thomas because his doubting is such a real reaction to the events that occurred the previous week. But despite Thomas’ uncertainty, we see hope reborn in him. We all know that trying to live in Kingdom moments will not magically vanquish our fears or take away our doubts. But by hoping, leaning on others, and trusting our own experiences, we are able to touch that which our soul longs for—the Divine—in moments of suffering.
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.” Normally Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. But during the Pandemic our usually “open doors” are closed. 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
April 20, 2020 - Fear is a common thread throughout the world today.
Fear of the unknown and fear of the known. Fear of man and fear of disease, fear of all things that may cause harm.
However, for those who love the Lord there is no need for fear, in fact we are instructed not to fear.
Does this mean that for those who love God that nothing will ever happen or that they will never experience harm? No, it means that no matter what does happen that all who do love the Lord are to be safe and secure in his house forever.
Even if the world takes our lives, it does not matter for the Lord has saved our souls, our physical bodies do not matter, what matters is that our souls, our spirits are to be forever with the Lord.
In the Bible we find what is known as the "Greatest Commandment," and on this all other commandments depend.
When asked by the Pharisees which was the greatest in the law of Moses Jesus answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)
"On These two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:40)
The Law and the Prophets that Jesus is speaking is the Scriptures that we know today as the Old Testament, so to love the Lord your God is the most important thing one can do in this world today.
And to love your neighbor as yourself is what keeps conflict and strife to a minimum, a much needed attribute in this world we live in.
As for the importance of your love for him, to God, listen to what he tells all who would love him about his love for us.
"Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
What does he say? He plainly tells us, those who love him, "FEAR NOT."
Now why would he say this? For he is with us, no matter the place nor the situation, GOD is with those who love him.
He says, "BE NOT DISMAYED," why would he say this? For he is not only with us, he is our GOD. OUR GOD, not some unknown or strange god but our GOD.
How wonderful can it be to know that one has his very own GOD that watches over him and protects him and cares for him every day?
As a child of the MOST HIGH GOD I can tell you that the joy and the peace that I received when I accepted him as my GOD is like nothing of this world. There is no joy or peace like that one experiences while living in the Lord.
God made us so he knows just how weak we humans are and he offers, "I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU," he gives us the strength we need to face the world and its evils.
"I WILL HELP YOU," yes, he helps us through the struggles of this life, by his Holy Spirit, whom he has called our "HELPER" he leads us through the minefields of the world around us.
And his greatest promise for help, "I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND".
How one may ask do you know these things for certain?
Because when I was lost, drifting through the world on my own, or so I thought, the Lord called me to him, I answered his call and he answered my plea for help, for salvation.
"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4)
Yes, the Lord my GOD delivered me from all fear.
I do not expect him to protect me from all evils, no, but I do know that he has assured me that I will dwell in his house forever and so I need not fear anything this world may do to me.
For the most it can do is to kill my mortal body which will send my soul, my spirit, directly to my home in heaven.
May the name of my GOD be forever blessed and may all people come to know him as I know him. Blessed be the name of my LORD, my GOD...
April 19, 2020 - We were optimistic that there was a path forward; but with events surrounding COVID-19 developing rapidly along with the obvious need for urgent steps to contain its spread, we simply cannot move forward with the homecoming as scheduled on May 16th. This has been a tough decision. These are difficult times. We urge you to stay healthy and do whatever you can to help one another. We’re counting on seeing you next year.
This cemetery is maintained by donations and memorials. We have loved them in life, let us not forget them after death. In loving memory of your loved one.
Donations may be mailed to:
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
P.O. Box 91
Shelbyville, TX 75973
April 17, 2020 - Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic and Gov. Abbott's order for continued Social Distancing we will NOT be able to gather for our Annual Homecoming and Fish Fry on Saturday, May 2, 2020.
The Cemetery is still in need of your donations for upkeep. Please mail your donation to Sardis Cemetery, 6034 FM 414, Center, Texas 75935.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
April 15 2020 - One day, Jesus was preaching and teaching his disciples on a certain mountain, and Matthew records the things he talked about that day in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. One of the things Jesus told them that day is in Matthew 5:14 and he said, “Ye are the light of the world.” Friends, though we do not question the validity of that statement, it should cause us to stop and think.
Jesus did not tell them in that far off day and he does not tell us today we are to be one of the lights in the world, but the light of the world. Our influence should light up a dark world for good just as lighting a candle or flipping a light switch chases the darkness from a room.
He also says in that same lesson that we are the salt of the earth. Salt is something that cannot be ignored when it is present. You know when it is present and you also know when it is absent.
The question is, how are we doing at this? How are we doing in illuminating the world around us as Jesus would have us do? How are we doing at providing seasoning for those we come in contact with?
You see, because of our influence, none of us will go to heaven alone and none of us will go to hell alone either. We will take someone with us. We must make sure we are living our lives so that others see Jesus living in us. Let’s be certain we are doing what Jesus called us to do. We must be sure that we are truly the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
It’s something to think about ... tbp
Pages
