September 11, 2018 - Sunday was the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This past weekend saw some much-needed rain and today (Monday) the temperatures remained in the 70s. It is a nice taste of fall. Our congregation was in double digits this past Sunday, putting smiles on the faces of Paxton Methodists. We sure enjoyed having Teresa and Larry worshiping with us again this morning. 

Our Sunday School lesson was once more on the creation. The author and Ms. Fannie are trying to help us see the beauty and orderliness of creation in the every day. The scripture for the lesson was Genesis 1: 14-25, talking about God fashioning plants and animals. Between Sunday School and worship, we all got a chance to visit and catch up. 

Sue, our liturgist, got us started with the Gathering Words based on Psalm 125. The Affirmation of Faith was Romans 8: 35, 37-39. Joe and Hilda teamed up and led the congregation in singing. During the announcements, our treasurer Gene gave an up-to-date financial report: For such a small church, we are in pretty good shape. Our Charge Conference is on November 25th and after that, I will be preparing the End-of-Year reports. These newest financial numbers will really come in handy for both. 

All the lectionary readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time were really good. I used the Gospel Lesson, Mark 7: 24-30—one of my favorite stories in the Christian Testament. Jesus is in an area where Greco-Roman influence is very strong and Jewish people are looked upon as backward. Jesus is trying to get some R and R but finds that impossible. A Syrophoenician woman comes to Jesus to beg him to help her daughter who is quite ill. Jesus tries to dismiss her by telling her that the children (Jews) must be fed first. He tells her it would be wrong to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs (her people). She reminds Jesus that even the dogs eat the children’s crumbs. Jesus is impressed by her answer and tells her that her daughter has already been healed.

On Thursday we will head to Focused Care for our monthly ministry. Folks from several churches join us, and we always have a good time. At an invitation from Activity Director A’lenna, Sue went to the memory ward at Focused Care last Thursday for Read a Book Day. With Gerald McBoing Boing, a poem, and The Cafeteria Lady from the Black Lagoon, she helped them celebrate—and also sparked some spirited conversations about churning butter and other old-time reminiscences.

“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.

September 10, 2018 - The annual Mt. Herman Cemetery homecoming is Sunday, September 16 at noon.

All are invited to bring dinner to share and donations for the upkeep of the cemetery.

You can also send donations to:
Mt. Herman Cemetery Fund
670 CR 1190
Center, TX 75935

September 8, 2018 - Revival at Spann’s Chapel is September 9th - 12th. Starts at 5:30 Sunday evening with services following nightly through Wednesday at 7:00. Bro Jim Moss is the evangelist. Spann's Chapel is located approximately 9 miles south of Center off Hwy 96S.

 

September 6, 2018 - Logansport Missionary Baptist Church will be having revival services Sept. 17-21, 7pm, with Evangelist Bro, Dale Walker. 

Please come join us in a time of great fellowship through God's Word. Specials are welcome. 

We are located at 1109 Main Street, Hwy 84, Logansport LA

September 5, 2018 - Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting Revival Services with Evangelist Bro. Wes Veazey on September 10 through 14th. Please come and join us for some good preaching. Bethlehem MBC is located at 13127 Hwy 7 East in Joaquin, Texas.


Youth acknowledged and honored for service to church. Front Row: A.J. Hubble, James Parrish, Jake Nicosia, Katie Parrish, Bryce Parrish, Melanie Parrish, Autumn Hubble, and Emily Nicosia. Back Row: Ms. Kate Davis

September 5, 2018 - Shelbyville United Methodist Church celebrated the “Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday” in our Sunday Service August 12, 2018.

During the service we acknowledged our students and educators by praying over each of them and presenting them with a gift bag. Our prayer is for all to have a safe and productive school year.

Pastor Sherry Harding would like to say a special thank you to A. J. Hubble who faithfully serves as our acolyte, and our youth praise and worship group Katie, Bryce, and James Parrish. Also leading in worship is Ms. Kate Davis, who shares her gift of worship through signing.


A. J. Hubble recognized for his faithful service as a Acolyte and receives a pin of honor by his father Kenneth Hubble. From left: Kenneth Hubble, A.J. Hubble, and Pastor Sherry Harding.

Starting Sunday, September 16th at 4:00 pm we invite all youth to come and enjoy food, fun, and fellowship.

We at Shelbyville United Methodist Church welcome all to come and worship. Sunday School begins at 10:00 and Worship service starts at 11:00.

September 4, 2018 - Smith Chapel Baptist Church will be honoring their musicians on Saturday, September 8th at 7:30 everyone is invited. Guest speaker is Minister Michael Cloudy.

September 4, 2018 - Born-again, this is the term Jesus used when he was speaking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews as he said; “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

Nicodemus could not understand this as he was thinking in the flesh and not in the spirit, Jesus was probably referring to the scripture in Ezekiel Thirty Eight where the Lord God says; “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

The true definition of being born-again into the kingdom of God.

So how does God accomplish this feat of cleansing and rebirth of his children?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)

Pretty clear there isn’t it, one must first believe and then obey if one is to enter the kingdom of God for eternity. 

Jesus also gave us this concerning spiritual life and worship.

“But the hour is coming and is here now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

All who come to Jesus accepting him as Lord will receive the spirit and truth through him for he is both the bread of life and the water of life, freely given to all who will accept it.

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

The Spirit of life, the Holy Spirit is given by the Father to all who believe in the Son of God as Lord but what about the truth, for we are to worship both in spirit and in truth.

Jesus answers this question as well when he says; “If you abide in my word, you truly are my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:5)

And so where do we find this bread of life and water of life for eternity? John gives us insight into this in his vision of heaven.

“Then the angel showed me the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.” (Revelation 22:1-2) 

For all who believe in the Lord and obey him the future is certain for they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, drinking from the river of life and eating from the tree of life, worshiping the Lord in Spirit and in truth… Will you be there, the choice is yours to make, choose wisely for it is a permanent decision…

September 3, 2018 - Sunday was the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time; as we ordinarily do, we gathered at Paxton United Methodist around 9:15 for Sunday School. We started a new quarter with new materials and a new author. The first unit deals with creation: What beautiful creation stories are found in the two chapters of Genesis! Here you find order created from chaos as well as the beginning of the earth and sky. Ms. Fannie kept us on task while we all contributed our ideas, wonder, and puzzlement about creation and that great mystery we call God. 

My computer also remains a great mystery to me, but luckily there are people who can make sense of technology. I took my ailing computer to David Worsham, who has always had great success in cleaning it up, ridding me of nasty viruses, and getting me up and running. Last week I didn’t send an article to the newspapers and online newspapers, and I didn’t write my weekly news article that I send to church members and friends. But now I am back online and writing this article Labor Day afternoon. Walking the dogs was a joy as the clouds were thick with a temperature in the 70s. We Texans have learned to appreciate any break in the heat and humidity during these sizzling summer days. 

We had three visitors Sunday that shot us into double digits—something we celebrate at little Paxton Methodist. We are small in number but big in heart. My son Jacob came to visit and attended church. It is always wonderful to see my kids. My daughter Megan is in New York City at the U.S. Open (tennis). She had a marvelous time, meeting some celebrities and seeing some really fine tennis.

It was great to have Teresa and Larry visiting Paxton Methodist. They are friends of Gene and Joy, and we sure hope they will come again. We celebrated Labor Day, the Rodney Dangerfield of American holidays because it doesn’t get much respect. There will be few fireworks and no pastel eggs to hunt. But this holiday, which is a little over a hundred years old, celebrates American workers and the importance of the Labor movement in our nation. 

The Old Testament Lesson for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time was from The Song of Songs, chapter 2: 8-13. The poetry of the Songs is about love—romantic love. The authors of the various books of the Bible often speak of love since God is love, and the ground being of all existence. The Epistle Lesson comes from James 1: 17-27. Tradition tells us this book was written by Jesus’ brother James, who became the leader of the Jerusalem church and was a fierce opponent of Paul. Yes, even then there were disagreements in the church.

We had two nursing home ministries week before last, but as I said earlier in this article, my computer wasn’t up to reporting. Minnie played for Holiday’s program, and Hilda for Lakeside. At both, Pastor Matt spoke of Biblical dreams. Nora read a going-to-school book in honor of kids and teachers, and she also sang. Fannie treated us to wit and wisdom, astounding us with some of her facts. Jo, Maggie, Gene, Ollie, Margie, and Sallie joined us, with Sallie and Gene doing specials. Gene sang “Morning Has Broken” as a birthday treat to me. Sue read different children’s poems at each place; she also followed Pastor Matt’s Biblical dreams with some more modern inspirations coming from dreams: the periodic table, the song “Yesterday,” and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, to name a few. I emceed both programs, giving my wife and Maggie a break from that job.

“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.

August 28, 2018 - Today we have many religions which proclaim their god to be the god, the one we must worship if we are to prosper. Others say there is no god, that we ourselves are god and that whatever we desire should be ours to have and to hold.

And yet, for those of us who follow the Living God, the God of heaven, we see in our Bibles a different story than the ones told by those other than Christians.

For the one who says there is no god, that he is his own god the Bible says; “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Of these the Bible also says; “They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1)

As Christians we certainly do not wish to fall into that group and be considered abominations by the Lord God, for abominations are anything that God despises and will not look upon, a very bad place for one to place himself indeed.

For those others who would say, there are many gods, all of which are fine if you worship in earnest. For those God says; “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)

For me, that is pretty clear, those “other gods” that we are told are just fine if we worship them in earnest, according to the one true living God are not so fine, they are in fact not gods but idols, manmade forms, worshiped by foolish men who do not know God.

I beg you today to pay attention to the words of the Bible that we are writing down here today and meet the one true God. The God of life eternal, the creator of all things and the Lord of all.

Let us look at a few more examples of what God says about himself and his deity so we all understand just who God is.

“I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

Which of the idols of the foolish can do these things? Which one can create light and darkness or help you in times of trouble or cause trouble for you when you begin to stumble and turn away from him? Which one I ask can do such things, none for all of these false gods are dead and cannot even help themselves.

God says; I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” (Isaiah 45:12)

“For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): I am the Lord and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:18)

And so I ask you today, would you serve a lifeless idol who cannot help you in your times of need, or, would you call on the Most High God of heaven to lift you from the darkness and into the light of the Christ?

When the Son of God was asked by a disciple how one could come to the Lord, he said; “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) 

Will you call upon the Lord Jesus today for salvation of your soul? Tell him, “Lord Jesus,  I am a sinner, lost in darkness, please Lord Jesus help me to turn from wickedness and save me from my sin.” Do this and he will save you this day…

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