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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
October 8, 2019 - Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley and Bro. Rusty Hall invites you to 'The Porch' on Monday, October 14th at 7pm. Refreshments served at 6:30pm. Austin Rabalais will have a special message on how hard it is as a young adult to be a Christian in today's world. Praise singers are Paul, Brittney, Abigail and Hunter.
Come worship the Lord and receive a wonderful blessing.
October 7, 2019 - A new day comes -
The prophet, Isaiah, gives all people of faith a vision of hope, a look into the future when the Lord Jesus Christ will come.
Both in his first coming as the gospel is brought into being and when he returns a second time and the gospel is made complete in every detail.
The time when all will bow and profess that Christ Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings.
Isaiah speaks of this world as a dry place, a world void of God’s blessings, a wilderness which will be renewed and made holy by the coming of the Lord.
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.” (Isaiah 35:1-2)
A time which we all wait for with patience, a time when the Lord Jesus Christ will rule over the earth and the persecutions of his people will be no more.
Let all people know that while we may struggle now, when the Lord returns we will struggle no more but will be with him forever.
So we ask, as does Isaiah, for the Lord to give us strength and patience that we may persevere until the end when our Savior returns.
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong, fear not!” Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)
Jesus gives us these words of confidence as he says, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” (Isaiah 35:5-6)
At last, all people will see the Lord for who he truly is, the Lord God Almighty who has come to rule and reign over the earth and all people will bow and confess him as Lord. But, for those who have not already accepted him as their own, the time will have passed and they will be lost, forever doomed to the fires of hell.
“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it.
It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if fools, they shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there, nor shall any revenues beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:8-10)
All the redeemed, those who have fully accepted Jesus Christ as Lord will gather there in Zion.
Oh, what a blessing is in store for all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Will you join with us today and know forever the joy of living in the Lord?
The Bible says, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Won’t you take that step of faith today and make your eternity secure in the Lord, it’s time, don’t allow this opportunity to pass you by, accept him today!!!
“… be temperate and self-controlled… ” Titus 2:2
October 7, 2019 - Pam and I photographed and dined in Louisiana's Cajun country last week. 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.
October 7, 2019 – First United Methodist Church will host their annual Halloween Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 26 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m at 211 Porter Street, Center, Texas. The free family-friendly event is open to the community and will include activities, food, cake walk fun and trick-or-treating in the church parking lot.
“Our annual Trunk-or-Treat is completely free to anyone who wants to attend,” said Pastor Karen Jones. “Church members donate everything from their time to sponsoring the food and we look forward to this every year. It’s part of our church’s community outreach and our foundation to share God’s love.”
Church members will decorate their car trunks and hand out candy and other goodies. Hot dogs, chips and drinks are free while supplies last.
For information about our annual Trunk-or-Treat event or the First United Methodist Church, please contact Rev. Karen Jones at (936) 598-2707 or visit www.fumccentertx.org.
October 7, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother and savior, Jesus, Amen. Could it be? Is it possible that cooler fall weather is just around the corner? We are called to be a hopeful people, so I am going to believe that yes, autumn is almost here!
The Old Testament Lesson was from the first chapter of Lamentations, and my sermon spoke about the need to know how to lament—to express our feelings of despair—from time to time. It is one of the ways—a time of prayer to get in touch with the Mystery that we call God. The great theologian, Paul Tillich, last century referred to this Mystery as the God above God. No matter how we try to understand, we will always fall short in comprehending and certainly in explaining this Infinite God!
Fannie, Sue, Larry McNeil, and I met with our District Superintendent, Dr. Dick White, Saturday. It was such a busy weekend for folks as Tenaha was celebrating their homecoming, and Shelby County was in the midst of the Poultry Festival. The church had a meeting last Sunday to approve all the reports, a 2020 budget, and payment of all our conference and district apportionments. The church also decided to continue with me as their pastor in 2020. So the actual Charge Conference went smoothly. Dr. White has strong ties to Shelby County, even though his family has long roots in the eastern part of Nacogdoches County. Dr. White, Larry, and Fannie knew many of the same folks, and all have a great love of history in this area of East Texas. Sue had cookies and bottled water for the visit after the conference: Dr. White had another Charge Conference with the good folks at Tenaha and Timpson Methodist Churches after ours.
Our Sunday school lesson was an obscure story from Joshua about Achan who betrays God and the Israelites by taking some of the gold and silver that was set aside for God when Jericho was captured. This disrespect would be costly to everyone, not just Achan. The author really stressed the importance of confession, which often is followed by forgiveness.
The Gospel Lesson today was a parable of Jesus that didn’t have a hero like the Good Samaritan or a heart-warming conclusion like the Prodigal Son. The disciples wanted Jesus to give them a bigger portion of faith so they would be able to do notable things for the Kingdom. Jesus assured them that their faith was greater than they imagined, that they only needed a faith the size of a mustard seed to do wonderful deeds. This is one of five times in the Gospels that Jesus spoke of the tiny mustard seed.
Today was World Communion Sunday, when a billion Christians in churches around the world celebrated communion. I reminded our small group that when we went to the altar, we would be going forward with hundreds of millions who believe in hope over fear and goodness over hate.
I delivered checks and macaroni and cheese to Community Christian Services last week. This month we are collecting peanut butter and jelly. On Monday we head to Focused Care for our ministry there. Ms. Hilda is so dedicated to the nursing home ministries; she keeps us informed and often plays the piano for us when we get there.
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.
October 3, 2019 - Open Door Baptist Church is hosting Musician Appreciation Services on October 12, 2019 at 3pm. The event is honoring Sis. Katherine Randle and Bro. Tobias Gossett.
The theme is 'May the work I’ve done speak for me!' with special guests Pastor Faye Dell Allen and the Triumph Church of Shelbyville, Texas.
But now bring me a musician. And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him. - 2 Kings 3:15
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935 with Pastor Alvin Davis.
October 3, 2019 - The story is told of a Chinese farmer from a little village in the hills who was blind with cataracts on both eyes. With the help of neighbors, he found his way to a missionary hospital. The physician who examined him said he was not sure, but he thought he could help him see.
The operation was performed, and, after the bandages were taken off, the patient gazed around the ward and was in high hopes that he could see. But the doctor was not pleased. He had hoped to do better. He told the man to come back in six months, and he would try for better results.
The farmer returned to his native village telling everyone about his new sight, and how the doctor had helped him. Six months later he began the long trek back to the hospital. At last he arrived and the doctor welcomed him. Tied to his wrist was a long string, and hanging to the string were 70 other blind men who had followed him to the place where blind eyes were made to see.
Something similar happens when we have a spiritual renewal in our lives. We are made to see and we lead others from spiritual blindness to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what living the Christian life is all about.
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
October 2, 2019 - Open Door Baptist Church is hosting their Annual Usher Day on October 13, 2019 at 3pm. Special guests are Pastor Roy Scott and Impact Outreach Ministries of Lufkin, Tx.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10
Open Door Baptist Worship Center is located at 900 Cotton Ford Road, Center, Texas 75935 and led by Pastor Alvin Davis.
October 2, 2019 - Short Community Church is hosting their 2019 Homecoming and Singing on Sunday, October 13, 2019. Potluck dinner is at 12 noon and singing begins at 1:30pm. Featured singer is Christina Smith. There will also be an open mic for all who want to sing. Come enjoy good food and fellowship. For more information, contact Sherry Harding at 936-288-2382 or Kenny Harris at 936-427-7083.
October 1, 2019 - I have almost completely stopped watching anything considered to be “news channels” today for all I see from them is turmoil, lies, hate and discontent by peoples all over the world.
I get so upset at these scenes of immorality and ungodliness that I choose just not to watch, not to subject myself to the witness of such evil works.
And so I look to the words of Isaiah for direction and explanation of what I see in todays world around me.
“Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.” (Isaiah 59:9)
I know that these are my feelings as I hope for a better relationship between all peoples around the world. As I seek for light but behold only gloom and darkness around me. I am sure that this is true of most Christian people as we are taught by God’s Holy Word that we are to love God first and our neighbor second, even as we love ourself.
That we are to love others as much as we love our own selves, and yet, how can this be if we are surrounded by the turmoil that we all see every day in this evil crooked world that we all live in.
“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.” (Isaiah 59:14-15)
So do we not see the truth; that justice has been turned away and righteousness has been removed from from the public squares of this world.
The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ sees it and that he is displeased because there is no justice but only lies and deceit in the public squares.
Yes, the Lord sees all and he cannot like what he witnesses in the world of today for most of what he is seeing is in direct conflict to the teachings of his Word, for instance in the book of Micah we see this instruction for godly living.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
I ask you, where do you see these things, justice and kindness and people humbly walking with God.
And so, yes, God is displeased by what he is seeing in this world, but he is not hindered in any way except by our own iniquities.
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to the law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.” (Isaiah 59:1-4)
Around the globe, in the halls of governments, everywhere, this is all I see when I watch the “news”, lies, hate, discontent and deception meant to deceive the masses and keep power in the hands of evil.
And then I remember the words of Job as he sat in torment, covered with sores, in pain with no knowledge of why he was being persecuted so,
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
Yes, I know that my Redeemer lives and that one day he will once again stand upon this earth and all will bow to him and call him Lord of lords and King of kings and all who believe in him and wait upon him will be victorious over death with him.
Are you ready for his return, if he returns today will you run with joy to meet him or will you run and hide, hoping that he cannot see your iniquities?
Don’t let the iniquities of this world hold you in their trap, kick off the bonds of evil and wickedness and join the ranks of those who wait patiently for the coming of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and know the joy and peace that only comes through him and him alone.
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
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