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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
March 2, 2020 - All men are born under sin, with what is referred to as the "sin nature," disobedience to the will of God.
Inherited from the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, as they sinned against God in the Garden of Eden.
That lost or sin nature is what the apostle Paul is referring to in the book of Romans when he says,
"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; not one seeks for God. All have returned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:11-12)
"There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:18)
Having lost the fear of God is a major problem in the lives and futures of man for without repentance of sin and redemption from sin, all are lost and forever apart from God.
As the Bible says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)
"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)
With the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth and with his death and resurrection and return back to the Father in heaven we are relieved of the Law of Moses and can come into the righteousness God simply through faith in Jesus as Lord and Master of all.
"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it - the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." (Romans 3:21-25)
Only through the blood of Jesus Christ shed out on the cross of Calvary is one saved from the penalty of his sin which is the death of one's spirit and eternity spent away from God, in darkness.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11-14)
These "good works" are explained in Matthew as it says. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
The Christian's duty, his "good works," to shine the light of faith in Christ Jesus before others that they too may come to know and accept him as Lord and receive the salvation of the Lord through the blood of Jesus Christ.
All glory and blessings to our Lord God Jesus Christ...
March 2, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. On the Christian calendar, Sunday was the first Sunday in Lent. Each Sunday during the Lenten Season is to be seen as a “little Easter.” A great portion of the Gospels is spent on the weeks leading up to Good Friday and Easter. Traditionally, Lent is a time for reflection, perhaps a period to give something up or to add something, like more time spent in prayer. I used to give something up, but this year I didn’t even consider it—maybe I am not as religious as I once was. Maybe I will give up liver!
Monday is Texas Independence Day and my mother’s birthday. My English teacher wife always reminds me it is also Dr. Seuss's birthday. We had a reprieve from all the rain we have had so far in 2020. Yes, the rain we wish we would have in July and August. In the dog days of summer, we will bemoan the fact that we are facing a drought and it is so hot! One morning this week it was 26 degrees on my back porch. My dogs don’t seem to care and don’t give me a break as they follow me around the house, pestering me until I start getting all of us ready for a walk.
Sunday was the first Sunday in March, so the Paxton Church celebrated Holy Communion. During the month of March we are collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services. I delivered February’s soap and shampoo and two checks from church folks to CCS last Monday. The volunteers at CCS and Haslam Baptist Church do such a great job getting food to those who have a need.
I had a hard time this week dealing with the Lenten theme of temptation. The Gospel lesson was about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness after his baptism. I chose to write my sermon on the first temptation spoken of in the Jewish book of Genesis. In the first few chapters of Genesis we have two creation stories. To hear the slight differences, one needs to read the beginning of Genesis, keeping in mind the two versions. Neither story is to be seen as historical but as a spiritual telling of creation and the separation experienced between creator and created.
Both our Sunday School lesson and the Old Testament lesson for the First Sunday in Lent deal with the Jewish story of creation, often referred to as the “fall of man.” It always takes the class a little while to get used to the new writer and the new focus. Our lesson centered on Genesis 3: 1-24 and really reinforced the idea that the one unchanging thing over the centuries is human nature. The creation story reminds us that there is a constant push and pull between what is right and good and what isn’t. It also reminds us as we read and reread the first part of Genesis that we were created to dream, to aspire and to imagine.
The Old Testament lesson for Sunday was Genesis 2: 15-17. In this part of the Jewish creation story, God takes the humans into the Garden of Eden—Paradise—the Kingdom of God. In my sermon I compared the “fall” to when in the human family, children grow up, rebel, and move out of the comforts of home. God is often seen as a loving parent who, like all loving parents, wants what is best for the children.
Last week was our program at Lakeside Assisted Living. Although Hilda was in attendance, her friend Minnie played piano for us, freeing Hilda to enjoy singing. Also with us were our faithful regulars, Margie and Jo. As emcee, I talked a little about Ash Wednesday and the Creation story. Nora and Jo had to leave early for a meeting at their church, but Nora was able to share “(Oh, Where Have You Been) Billy Boy” and the haunting “Bless the Lord, O My Soul.” Fannie talked about the blackbirds filling her yard and then read a series of nonsense questions; for example, why does the sun bleach our hair but tan our skin? Ollie read a touching piece titled “Grandpa’s Hands.” Sue multitasked The Awful Aardvarks Go to School, an alphabet book, reading while illustrating with the American Sign Language alphabet.
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.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
February 28, 2020 - (Flier) - The Joy Seekers Annual Conference for Women keynote speaker will be Debbie Stuart.
Program title is "Sonshine In My Soul!" Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The event will be held Saturday, February 29, 2020, 8:30am - 12:45pm at First Baptist Church, 117 Cora Street Center, Texas.
There is no registration fee, but donations are gratefully accepted. Lunch is provided by the conference.
The form is online at www.fbccenter.org/joyseekers or call 936-598-5605
February 27, 2020 - Strong Triumph Church cordially invites everyone to attend a musical on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 6pm. All music groups, choirs, praise and worship teams, etc. are invited to participate in the program. For more information, please contact Lacharah Robinson at (936) 590-2407 or Elder Faye Dell Allen at (936) 368-2611 or (936) 572-5810.
February 27, 2020 - To have a good friend is one of the highest delights of life. To be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings. Friendship does not depend on fancy imagination or sentiment, but upon character. There is no man so poor that he is not rich if he has a friend.
But friendship is a word made to cover many kindly impermanent relationships. Real friendship is abiding. Like charity, it suffereth long and is kind. Like love, it vaunteth not itself, but pursues the even tenor of its way, unaffected by ill report. Friendship is loyal in adversity and the shining jewel of happy days. Friendship does not have the iridescent joys of love, though it is closer than is often known to the highest and truest love. It’s heights are ever serene and its valleys know few clouds.
To aspire to friendship one must cultivate a capacity for faithful affection, a beautiful disinterestedness, and a clear discernment. Friendship is a gift, but it is also an acquirement. It is like the rope which climbers in the high mountains bind themselves together with for safety, and only a coward cuts the rope when a comrade is in danger.
From Cicero to Emerson, and long before Cicero, and forever after Emerson, the praises of Friendship have been set forth. Even fragments of friendship are precious and to be treasured. But to have a whole, real friend is a worthy, high endeavor; for faith, truth, courage and loyalty bring one close to the kingdom of God.
It’s something to think about…..tbp
Join us for worship this coming Lord’s day at the Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
February 27, 2020 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries Presents Founders Day honoring Apostle William E. Nash, Jr.
This special event will be held Sunday, March 8, 2020, starting at 3pm.
Guest speaker will be Apostle Ronnie Morris of Higher Ground Ministries, Mansfield, LA.
Everyone is invited and lunch will be served.
February 27, 2020 - A Women's Conference, "Open the Eyes of my Heart, Lord!" will be held April 18, 2020 starting at 10am.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts." (Psalm 159:23).
Hosted by the Open Door Women's Ministry 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas, Pastor Alvin Davis.
1st Lady Pearl Nash; Sister Stephanie Hicks; Sister Rockie Williams; and Sister Sharon Hamilton. Special Keynote Speaker: Prophetess Ronda Coleman.
Vendors: My Find Accessories by the Clark's Melody's Paparazzi.
February 24, 2020 - The congregation of St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church in Center took it upon themselves to offer sustainance to many in the community Saturday, January 25, 2020.
Members cooked vegetable soup and passed it out in the community to anybody interested in a meal.
Dwight Preston, a member of the church, stated the day had been busy but everyone had smiles on their faces as they reached out to people in the community, some of which were shocked to be handed their lunch. Preston explained the idea was a vision of Pastor Freddie Wilson.
"We're a Missionary Baptist Church and God is not confined to these walls in our church," said Preston. "We wanted to make for sure that we wanted to benefit our community. We want to take the message that we have here that we have on Sundays, that joy, and give it back to the community."
A group of the church is tasked with culinary decisions and chooses the potential items for the mission. All church members are always looking for places in the community where they might focus their efforts.
Church members traveled to different areas to hand out soup. Some may have been just walking down the sidewalk and were thrilled to be handed a meal. Meals were otherwise handed out door-to-door. Over 100 meals were passed out and the church is looking forward to potentially handing out meals once a month.
February 24, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. On the Christian calendar, Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday of the Epiphany. Wednesday will be Ash Wednesday, and next Sunday will be the First Sunday in Lent. All that has theological importance, but I guess the big question is how modern people and the modern church remember these significant signposts in our world.
Next Sunday will also be the first day of March. Paxton Methodist celebrates communion on the first Sunday of each month. During February we have been collecting soap and shampoo for Community Christian Services, which I will deliver this week. In March we will collect cans of chili.
This summer we will be wondering where the rain is. Our yards and gardens will be parched, and it will be miserably hot outside. We won’t remember those weeks in February when we complained about so much rain and cold weather. As I start writing my article, it is Saturday morning. The sun is shining, but it was really cold outside as I took the puppies for our walk in the park. We had extra excitement when the Old Spanish Trail Riders went by; the dogs were intrigued but a little fearful.
I got my computer back, and I am a more contented person. I have my sermon completed and started writing the email I send out to church folks each week. There are some things that are different on my computer now, but I am slowly adjusting. I really don’t like change even though I know this one is progress—certainly improved over the old manual typewriters we were reminiscing about on Sunday.
Our Sunday School lesson, the last one in the winter edition, continued with the idea of holiness. Gene read the scripture lesson from Isaiah 61: 1-11, which reinforced the idea of God’s desire for justice. The prophets of the Old Testament stressed that God will tip the scales in favor of the powerless. The big question for those who call themselves Christians is what our class struggled with: As a people of faith, what are we to do about injustice that we see all around us?
The Gospel Lesson from Matthew is about Jesus being transfigured on the mountain, which all three Synoptic Gospels relate. Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John, journeys up the mountain. None of the Gospel stories name the mountain, so we assume where this transfiguration happens isn’t important but what happens still speaks to us today. For the three disciples and later the early Jesus followers, having Jesus appear with the big two of Judaism—Moses and Elijah—was very important. To us Christians today, the voice in the clouds telling us to listen to Jesus is the main significance of the story.
This week, we will have our monthly program at Lakeside Assisted Living; last week, we were at Holiday Nursing Center. Sue and I slid in a couple of minutes late to find Pastor Sarah and Hilda already singing with the group. Hilda continued as the accompanist, but Sarah decided to cede to me the emcee job. Pastor Sarah’s devotional linked Valentine’s Day to the Christian love we are commanded to share with all. Fannie promoted patriotism with the poem “God Bless America.” Sue introduced Shel Silverstein with partial lyrics from his songs “A Boy Named Sue,” “Hey, Loretta,” “Put Another Log on the Fire,” and “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” followed by his children’s poem, “The Ball Game.” Nora had us rollicking along to “Billy Boy” and then favored us with my favorite hymn, “Morning Has Broken.”
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.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
February 21, 2020 - Bright Morning Star Baptist Church is hosting the 1st Anniversary of Pastor and People on Sunday, March 8th, 2020 at 3pm. You and your church are invited to come and share in a Celebration Service honoring Pastor Anthony Jackson and wife Sis. Aretha Jackson. My Father in the Ministry, Pastor George McCain and New Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana will be special guests. Please make plans to attend. Your presence will be greatly appreciated.
Pastor Jackson and Bright Morning Star Baptist Church
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