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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
March 26, 2018 - "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name." Psalms 111:9
J.W. and I were students at ETBC in Marshall, Texas back in the fifties. We had several things in common: We were both ministerial students, drove '55 Fords, were both English majors and were both student pastors.
One Sunday he invited me to visit with him at his church in Weaver, Texas, (a small town in northeast Texas.) The building resembled many of the country churches of that time…a small sanctuary with two Sunday School rooms. As he walked me through the building, I called out, '"J", what is the seating capacity of the building?" He immediately grabbed me by the arm, pulled me to the side and whispered, "Doug, don't call me "J." "Call me "Rev. Baker"…"I want the people to respect me here." And since members were now arriving, I choked down my rebuttal for the time being.
As we drove home, I asked if he knew that Billy Graham never liked being called "Reverend." "'When Reverend" appears in the Bible," I said…" it is referring to God…not man". "People respect us by what we are", I insisted..
I haven't seen J.W. since we graduated from ETBC in the summer of '58. I heard he married a girl named Patricia that he called "the world's sweetest girl".
J. W. Baker was a good man and I have no doubt that he was respected wherever he went…..
…..Even by those who called him "J."
March 22, 2018 - (Flyer) - Come out for an afternoon of fun and games in the parking lot and field behind the church. The event will be held at First United Methodist Church of Center on Sunday, March 25, 2018 from 1pm - 3pm.
There will be a fuzzy bunny jump, floating ducks, horse shoes, cotton candy, popcorn, egg toss, photo booth, pool noodle ring toss, bouncy horse race, bouncy house, ball roll, yard bowling, and much more fun.
March 21, 2018 - The Allen Family Singers will be live in concert Sunday, March 25, at 6pm. They will be at First Baptist Church of Center at 117 Cora Street.
Admission is free.
March 21, 2018 - We all know of the apostle Paul, how he had been the worst of the worst when it came to persecuting Christians or anyone who was even suspected of following the Lord Jesus in his new Way.
Paul was handpicked to sit at the feet of Gamaliel the high priest of the Jews, to train under him for the future. He was well known the Hebrew of the hebrews, a leader-in-waiting for Judaism. And yet, he became the leader of the Way, the apostle of apostles after meeting Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, while on his way to arrest and persecute more Christians.
Paul, maybe more than any other apostle understood the magnitude of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross and in his preaching he used utmost care not to overshadow, in any way, the power of the cross of Christ.
That is what I want to talk about with you today, the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice and that all must be careful not to dilute that sacrifice with the message they preach today.
In all that Paul did, he tried hardest to unify the church by bringing a uniform message of Jesus Christ and him crucified for the sins of all people. He speaks to the Corinthians in his first letter to them about that importance when he writes.
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Paul goes on to explain that it has been brought to his attention that there has been quarreling among them about who had baptized whom. Whether it was Paul or maybe Apollos or even Crispus or Cephus. This silly argument brought Paul to then say; "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.” (1 Corinthians 1:14-15)
Paul then gives great emphasis to this when he says; “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)
Wow, what a statement, what a testimony for the power of the sacrifice of Christ which culminated in the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus.
As Paul goes on in the letter he makes this observation that Jesus Christ is the wisdom and the power of God on earth.
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
For those who are being held from the penalty of sin by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of all people, the power of the cross is the power of God and must not be diluted in any way.
This is why Paul says; “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23)
Paul goes even farther to impress the importance of the cross when he says; “And I when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)
“So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5)
For all who do believe; no one has seen or can imagine what God is preparing.
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Have you shown your love for God by accepting him as Lord, if not, would you do so today.
Would you show your love by asking him to save you, to lift you out of the pit of destruction, by hereby dedicating your life, body and soul to him, forever more.
May his blessings find you this day.
March 20, 2018 - Mark your calendar for the Mt. Zion C.M.E. Men's Day Program on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 3p.m. Special guest speaker is Rev. James Redwine, pastor of Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Church, Henderson, TX. Bro. C. W. Garrett is the Chairperson and Rev. Elgena Weaver is the Pastor.
March 20, 2018 - The Shelbyville First United Methodist Church will have an Easter Sunrise service on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018. Worship service will begin at 6:30am. After worship, we will have brunch and all are invited to attend.
March 20, 2018 - When I was just a little boy I lived with my grandmother. Everyday we would walk up the road to my great-grandmothers house. I so enjoyed walking with "Ma." We would discuss life and she would answer any question I asked (and I asked a lot of them.) One day I asked her, "Why do people talk about being saved so much at church? What do we need to be saved from?" She looked at me and with a smile and said "sin." I didn't quite understand but I acknowledged her and went on.
Once I became a pastor and I listened to people talk about being saved, I realized that most people, even older Christians don't completely understand what they are saved from when they accept Christ. We can all use our Sunday school answer and say, "sin." So what is sin? The translated word for sin from the original Hebrew text means to "miss the mark." We miss the mark established by God for righteousness. Well, how do I know I have sinned? The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So none of us are free from guilt. Is there anyone, other than Jesus who didn't sin? Well, no, but there have been people who claim they are better than others even to the point of saying their sins aren't as bad as others. John in his first letter says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." So we can safely say that everyone needs saving.
Lets look at it in regards to sin, what we are "saved from." First, Jesus' death saved us from the penalty of sin. What is the penalty of sin? Romans 6:23 states "the wages of sin is death." This may not be a physical death but spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God. Jesus was the gift of God to the world so that through Him we could spend eternity in the presence of God and not separated from Him. Romans 6:23 goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life."
Second, we are saved from the power of sin. When you become a Christian, God gives you power over the sin in your life. You are no longer bound by the chains that sin has on you. Romans 8:31 says "if God is for us, who can stand against us?" Because of the love that God had for us by sending His son Jesus you can overcome anything that is thrown at you.
Third, we are saved from the presence of sin. Revelation 21:3-4 says, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." God has prepared a place for all who accept His free gift of grace through faith to live with Him in a place where, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." You see, God loves you so much that He has went to great lengths to give you a way to be saved from the things that are hurting you.
Jesus died on the cross for you! Only He can save you. Trust Him and He will set you free from the penalty, power and presence of sin in your life.
I'm just sayin,
Mike Belgard
March 20, 2018 - Pastor Marlin Cloudy, Sr., and the Abundant Love Ministries family, will celebrate their 9th Annual Church Anniversary, Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 2:30 pm. Bishop W.C. Martin, Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, will be our guest speaker.
Sunday school and regular noonday services are canceled.
Everyone is welcomed and invited to celebrate with us!
Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville Street, Center, TX.
March 19, 2018 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent, with the promise of spring in the air. Next week is Palm Sunday—yes, already! This weekend I went by and visited with Roy and Judy at Sunshine Flowers. Roy always orders palm fronds for our Palm Sunday worship service. I also ordered some Easter lilies since we will be having Easter Sunday services at the church this year. Fannie and family had 30 glorious years of sunrise services, but they decided 30 was a good number to end on.
The Old Testament Lesson for this Sunday was Jeremiah 31:31-35. This short passage is a promise to Judah and Israel that a new covenant will be made after the nation, Jerusalem, and the Temple are destroyed. This covenant will not be centered on sacrifice and Temple worship but will be portable—written on the hearts of the people.
Both the Old and New Testaments are about covenant making and covenant breaking. The relationship between Jesus and his followers is intended as the newest covenant spoken about by Jeremiah, one for the here and now. This is not a last will and testament that promises us unwarranted rewards in Heaven but is a living covenant to govern us as we stumble, fall, walk, or run down life’s ways.
Our Sunday school lesson was based on 2 Chronicles 7:1-9, describing a scene of worship and sacrifice during the time of King Solomon. Worship is something that has also changed and evolved from the Temple worship with sacrifices to the home churches of the early Jesus movement to the imperial church of Constantine. Even today, worship has changed or been added to in order to reach a new generation of people. I guess the secret is holding to some of the traditions but adding new ways that enlarge our understanding.
We have two nursing home ministries this week. On Tuesday we head to Holiday Nursing Center and on Thursday, Lakeside Assisted Living. Both programs are at 2:00 PM. Because of so much sickness earlier this year, we missed the January and February programs. But here it is, springtime, and we’re rarin’ to go once again!
“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.
Randy & Sue Smith
Paxton Methodist Church
March 15, 2018 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Center, Texas, Rev. Winston Kibbles - Pastor Celebrating Friends and Family Day.
The event will be held Sunday, April 15, at 2:30pm. Special guest, Rev. Cedric Grace, Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church San Augustine, Tx.
Theme: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity." Psalm: 133.
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