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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
April 17, 2019 - (Flier) - A Spring Lectureship will be held April 28-30 at Joaquin Church of Christ.
Theme: Living Upright in An Upside Down World.
- April 28 Jay Taylor - Sunday Bible class 9am "Whoever Walks in Integrity," Sunday morning worship 10am "Christians in An Upside Down World."
- April 28 Nathan Cox - Sunday evening worship 6pm "Christians and Social Media."
- April 29 Reagan McClenny - Monday evening worship 7pm "Overcoming Worldliness."
- April 30 Jonathan Glaesemann - Tuesday evening worship 7pm "Abortion: What Has God Said?"
Joaquin Church of Christ is located at 10674 US Hwy. 84 East, Joaquin Tx. 75954. Please Join us.
April 8, 2019 - The community is invited to a Block Party at Portacool Park on Saturday, April 20, 2019 hosted by First Baptist Church of Center. The event is from 12noon until 2pm with food, games, and an Easter Egg Hunt!
April 16, 2019 - Shelbyville First United Methodist Church Easter Services:
We will observe Maundy Thursday service this week on Thursday, April 18th. The service will begin at 6pm.
Sunday, April 21, Our Easter Sunrise Service will begin at 6:30am. Breakfast brunch will follow after worship service.
For more information you may call Merle Howard at 936-591-6543
April 16, 2019 - First Baptist Church of Center, 117 Cora, will host a Good Friday service, April 19 at 6pm. The service will feature music of the cross, personal and interactive worship experiences, and the Lord’s Supper.
The community is welcome. Call 936-598-5605 for more information.
April 15, 2019 - In response to those who would say that any god is ok to worship just as long as their worship is sincere.
To that thinking the Bible says;
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts;
“I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
“Who is like me?” “Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a god besides me? There is no Rock. I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6-8)
Does God say there are other gods like him? Does he say it is ok to worship them as long as one is sincere? NO!
For there is no god other than Almighty God, the first and the last.
Ten Commandment number one: “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Deut. 5:7)
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)
“And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of earth; you have made heaven and earth.” (Isaiah 37:15-16)
According to the words of the Bible their claims of other gods are false claims, claims made of false gods which do not live and cannot save one from the fires of hell, only the God of heaven, our heavenly Father can do so.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:1-7)
Yes one God, one Spirit, one faith and one salvation by grace for all who will come with humility, accepting the free gift of salvation through the shed blood of the Christ.
Do you know him today? Have you given of yourself, a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, then please do so today for each day we grow closer to that fateful day when this age is up and the opportunity for salvation is no more. When the time is passed, it is gone and will not come again and for all who have not accepted him as Lord, there will be no more opportunity…
Come today and be saved from the penalties of your sins…
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Philippians 2:4
April 15, 2019 - In 1984, I was called to conduct a funeral service for one of my best friends, Gordon Reynolds. A witness to the Gordon's car accident said he was trying to hold down a stack of insurance papers in his convertible when he lost control of the car.
I met Gordon when I became Pastor of the Fletcher Emmanuel Baptist Church of Lumberton Texas. He'd taught High School English for several years before joining the Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Company. For six years we attended church together, hunted and fished together, and enjoyed many hours of innocent hilarity.
In his eulogy I spoke of his remarkable personality, his unusual memory…and his interest in others that earned him his many friends. He seemed to remember everyone… and everything… and rarely forgot a name.
After the funeral in Lumberton, we drove to a Nederland, Texas cemetery for the interment. As the hearse driver was instructing the pallbearers, he suddenly fell to the ground with a heart attack. Susie, Gordon's widow (a registered nurse) performed oral resuscitation but was unable to revive him.
On the hour-long trip back to Lumberton, I rode in the car with three other men. As we drove away, one of them immediately began a long discourse about himself, his family, his education…hobbies...his everything. He rambled on and on for one long, boring hour while the rest of us sat… and suffered.
As I was driving back to Louisiana, I began thinking: What if Gordon had been riding with us on the way home that day? What would it have been like? I knew the answer. He would have asked us a thousand questions and by the time we got home, he would have known all about us. After all these years have passed, I still miss Gordon.
He left me a lot of good memories.
Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was Palm and Passion Sunday. I usually like to celebrate Palm Sunday because it is festive, whereas Passion Sunday is full of betrayal, torture, and death. Either way, this week is the most important week of the Christian faith. Our Sunday school lesson was appropriately named “Called to Remember.” The main scripture was Matthew 26: 1-13. We are told that the priests are plotting against Jesus. In this heated atmosphere, an unnamed woman anoints Jesus’ head with expensive perfume, igniting outrage among the disciples, who regret the money it would have fetched to help the poor.
The scripture for Passion Sunday was Luke 22: 14-23: 56. It was a very long scripture because Luke describes in detail all the events of this week: the Last Supper, the agony in the garden, betrayal, arrest, the flight of the apostles, denial by Peter, torment by the Sanhedrin, trials before Pilate and Herod, and then back to Pilate where Jesus is humiliated and tortured. We see Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross, the crucifixion, his prayer for forgiveness, salvation of the thief, the death, and then Jesus’ hasty burial. We must wait until Easter Sunday to finally experience the joy.
We celebrated Holy Communion this morning, among the palm fronds we carried up front while listening to “Lord of the Dance.” Roy and Judy Welch of Sunshine Florist are so nice to provide the palms every year. To further decorate the church, I got Easter lilies from them.
My daughter and I were in Ohio last Sunday for my aunt’s 90th birthday and a family reunion. We had a good time traveling together and seeing so many cousins. Larry McNeil filled in for me; Sue told me what he spoke on—a retrospective of Leon Hale, the long-time Houston columnist, including some stories about our old friend, Richard Wharton.
Fannie read a nice letter from Mrs. Ruby at Community Christian Services. The strange thing was that Ruby mailed the card before Christmas 2018, and Fannie received it this week! We collected cans of chili last month, and I delivered them to Community Christian Services last Wednesday. This week Joy heard from Carolyn, who is enjoying her time with her sister. We need to send Carolyn long-distance Happy Birthday wishes. Fannie, Evie, and Margaret also have birthdays in April. Fannie reported that her grandson, Jake, successfully completed Ranger training in the army. That is really some accomplishment!
Last Thursday Mrs. Hilda and folks went to Focused Care for the monthly ministry. Since coming home, though, I was busy catching up with doctors’ appointments. This Tuesday at 2:00 we will head to Holiday Nursing Center. In Joaquin Saturday’s Spring Fling got washed out: They may try it again this coming Saturday.
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.
Update: The fish fry at Dreka Pentecostal Church has been cancelled until further notice due to weather for Saturday April 13th, sorry for any inconveniences this this may have caused.
April 12, 2019 - Dreka Pentecostal Church is having a fish fry fundraiser Saturday, April 13. Plates are $8 and this includes fish, french fries, coleslaw, piece of bread and a dessert.
Plates are pick up only and are limited, first come first serve. Plates will be ready to start picking up at 11. For more information you can call Mildred at 9365984433. Thank you and God bless.
April 12, 2019 - There will be an Easter Sunrise Service at Joaquin First United Methodist Church beginning at 7:00 a.m. April 21. Breakfast will be served afterward in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
April 19, 2019 - Youth Easter Play. Mount Calvary Full Gospel Church Our youth will Present "He Lives" Sunday Evening at 6pm April 14th. In the church sanctuary. come and enjoy a wonderful presentation.
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