April 20, 2018 - Mark your calendar to attend the Grand Slam Conference 2018 from May 9 through May 11th at 7pm nightly at the House of Refuge.

Guest speakers are:

  • Wednesday Night - Min. Amanda Ashton, Center, Tx
  • Thursday Night - Min. Stephanie Hicks, Center, Tx
  • Friday Night - Pastor Gina Cutright, Zwolla, La

Everyone is invited. The conference host is Lady Pearl Nash.

April 20, 2018 - First Baptist Church, Texas will host a Senior Adult Game Day on Friday, April 27 from 10am until 1pm in the Fellowship Hall. All area senior adults are invited! Bring a favorite game, a friend or friends, your favorite pot-luck dish and come enjoy the fellowship and a pot-luck lunch. Call David Mathis at 936-598-5605 for more information.

April 17, 2018 - Mankind has long thought about God, many gods.

The Greeks, who had over 100 gods/idols that they worshiped. The American Indian thought of a being they called the “Great Spirit”, a being which they gave all credit for their good fortune in life.

Moses too had such questions, even though he truly believed in and knew God, he was worried that he could not explain to his people just who God is.

“Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you”, and they ask me, “What is his name?” What shall I say to them?
“God said to Moses, “I AM Who I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, “I AM as sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

God is known by so many names throughout the Bible, but, in his own words he called himself, (I AM).

We also see many instances where the God of Israel is referred to as “Lord”, being an English word for the Hebrew term for God’s name which is Yahweh.

As one reads the Bible one will see many, many words used to designate God as being our Lord God, our Creator and our Redeemer. Nevertheless, let us look more closely at this name given us by God himself, “I AM”.

In the book of Revelation God says this about himself.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8)

Meaning, God has always been, before time began, God was, God now is, and God will be forever, God is eternal.

God told Isaiah, “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:18) in further explanation he also said to Isaiah, “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)

There are many instances in which God tells us more of himself.

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35) “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)  “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11) “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Are you now beginning to understand what the Great I AM means?

As you can see by the excerpts from various scriptures, God is so many things to so many people, but to his own, to those who have fully accepted him as Lord and Master, he is “I AM”.

He is everything, he is anything you need him to be.

He is our, banker, our physician, our teacher, our Father, our Redeemer. He is all things to all who know him. We have only to call on him in times of need, only to call upon him for help in times of trouble, only to call upon him in times of grief or sorrow.
Call on him, call on the one who created all things, call on the Great I AM and he will hear you and answer your needs as he sees fit for you.

How fortunate we are to have such an awesome God to watch over us, to lead us and guide us through life and to redeem our souls from the fires of hell, forever.

Blessed be the name of the Lord God, blessed be I AM…

April 16, 2018 - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” (Luke 4:18 KJV)

No one decides to be a minister. They are chosen and “called out.” For this reason, Cameron Cloudy, has accepted his calling into the ministry of Jesus Christ, as a Minister of the Word.

Elder Marlin Cloudy, Sr., founder and senior Pastor of Abundant Love Ministries and the entire church family would like to extend to you, an invitation to share in the “Initial Sermon” service of Aspiring Minister Cameron Cloudy, Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 3:00 pm at Abundant Love Ministries, 1426 Shelbyville St. Center, TX. 

Cameron, age 24, is a 2012 graduate of Center High School. He attended East Texas Baptist University, in Marshall Texas, as an ETBU Tiger football player and completed coursework in Kinesiology. After two successful years of college, plans and long term goals changed and with many discussions and guidance of a close knit family, Cameron decided to leave ETBU, to enter the work force. 

Cameron is the youngest son of Elder Marlin Cloudy and First Lady Felicia Cloudy. Being raised in the church by parents he describes as “two of the best parents ever," he was both baptized with water, in Jesus name and baptized in the baptism of the Holy Ghost at the early age of ten (10) years old. Feeling the pull of the true calling on his life and rejecting the false purpose of living a life outside of Christ, Cameron returned, repented, and committed his life to Jesus at the age of twenty one (21). His desires are to live a life dedicated to being a positive influence across the generations, to encourage men and women of all ages to walk in the fulfillment of their purpose; and most expressly, to remain steadfast in preaching and teaching boldly, the gospel truth of Jesus Christ. 

Brother Cameron’s favorite scripture can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Please join us for this momentous occasion.

April 16, 2018 - Yellowpine-Macedonia Baptist Church members are excited to be hosting the Quarterly Meeting of the Original Bethlehem Association at 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2018, according to Pastor T. A. Lane.

Bro. David Boyd will be the speaker for this service. Bro. Boyd will be bringing a message but will also be discussing our Christianity and the relationship of serving Christ in the world of criminal justice and public service.

Bro. Boyd is pastor of the Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church in San Augustine County, Texas. He has served for a number of years as a state correctional officer as well as a county deputy sheriff. He is slated to soon take office as a constable in Sabine County, Texas.

There will be a time of fellowship to follow this service, Bro. Lane adds.

Yellowpine Macedonia Baptist Church is located at the intersection of State Hwy. 87 South and FM 2343 in Sabine County’s Yellowpine Community.  

For information, interested persons may contact Pastor Lane at  409-584-1144 or 409-382-8765.

April 16, 2018 - Sunday was the Third Sunday of Easter. The Gospel for Sunday was Luke 24: 36b-48. The story was about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who have an encounter with the resurrected Lord. This wonderful story is only found in the Luke gospel and the sharing of a meal was what triggered the experience. These two frightened disciples have fled Jerusalem and met up with a stranger. To their surprise the stranger knew nothing of the last few days, so they fill him on the events surrounding Jesus. After the resurrection encounter, the two disciples realize that the Spirit had warmed their hearts: Their despair has changed once again to hope.

Our Sunday school lesson was titled “Follow Me.” The story from John 21: 15-23 sees Jesus quizzing Peter on whether Peter truly loves him. Three times Peter answers in the affirmative. Ms. Fannie pointed out that our author tends to point out things that we wouldn’t normally explore. 

We were so pleased as we were finishing up Sunday school to see Lillie, Liz, and Mike come in. It is always such a treat when they venture up from Houston. We of course talked a little baseball. Fannie told us that the Hispanic congregation that met at Paxton Methodist for many years will dedicate their own church next Saturday. It has been great to watch the progress of the building (on Hwy. 96 between Tenaha and Center). Our church also extended Steven Evans’ scholarship for this year; he graduates after this semester. 

Last Thursday a group of us met at Focused Care for singing and stories. When I got there, Hilda was already playing the piano and had everybody singing. The residents at Focused Care really enjoy the old church songs. Fannie shared some stories full of wisdom and Nora sang a special. Nora’s sister Jo also helped out with the singing—nice to have her back after her recovery. This Tuesday we head to Holiday Nursing Center for a program. 

“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. Godspeed.

He that believes in me shall never die…” John 11:26

April 16, 2018 - In 1995 Pam and I gave music boxes to our children and close relatives for Christmas presents. We were kinda proud of our little projects. They were made of walnut, fitted with exotic wood inlays, lined with velvet, and installed with music movements. And we designed them to play when the lids were lifted.

Mother was thrilled that her box played her favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace”. And when she passed away in 1999, we put her box on the mantle of our home. Her box has done a very unusual thing over the years: it intermittently plays on its own. This morning at 2:00 we were again awakened by it and I sang in my heart along with the music:

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise 
Than when we first begun. 

We’ve never wound Mother’s box in the years that we’ve had it. The lid stays closed…. but it still plays at times. And this morning it didn’t play as if it were about wound down, but played for a brief time at regular speed!

Pam and I concluded again today that it doesn’t matter whether Mother’s box is “miraculously” playing or not. Maybe a combination of atmospheric changes and odd coincidences makes it play. The overwhelming thought that matters to us is not that Mother’s music lives on.

It’s knowing that Mother does.

April 16, 2018 - Tenaha Church of Christ will be hosting an open house celebrating God's blessing of our new building. Please join us in worship and praise on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 2:00 pm for Devotional, refreshments, fellowship. Tenaha Church of Christ is located at the corner of US Hwy 84 East and FM 2669, one mile east of Tenaha on Hwy 84 East. For more information, contact Margaret King Freeman  936-248-3811.

April 16, 2018 - Fellowship MBC of Joaquin Texas will be hosting their annual Homecoming April 22nd. Services will begin at 10:30 AM with food and fellowship to follow. All are invited to attend. Guest Speaker will be R.B. Elumbaugh Pastor of Mt. Herman MBC.

April 11, 2018 - House of Refuge Ministries cordially invites everyone to the First Sermon of Sister Tammy Johnson, Apostle W.E. Nash Jr. pastor, on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 3pm.

Romans 10:15 - And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

House of Refuge Ministries is located at 215 Church Street, Center, Texas 75935. For more information, call 936-590-5888.

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