Shelby County Today

March 4, 2019 - In 1947 Daddy moved his family of eight children to the Jim Boothe rent house across the tracks in East Center, Texas. I was fourteen years old and had heard that revival services were being held in a “Blue-topped “tent across from the Grammar School downtown. We hadn’t been raised in church, but our parents read the Bible to us and taught us strict morality. So when we asked if we could “go to the revival,” Mother told us we could but to come right home. 

So the night came and my brother John and I hurriedly made our mile trip across the RR tracks and the Center square. We stopped for a few minutes to listen to Milton Wilkinson electioneering for State Representative, then rushed to the tent. To the pulpit walked 34 year-old old John Rawlings, pastor of Tyler’s Central Baptist Church ---handsome and dynamic. He preached as if he was preaching only to me and while the choir sang “Just As I Am,” I felt a tug in my heart that I’d never felt before. Since I was too timid to walk down the aisle, someone touched me on the shoulder and whispered, “Do you want to know Jesus?” I immediately stepped out, trembling and praying in my heart, “God be merciful to me a sinner—and save me.”

In 1951 I came home from Panola Junior College in Carthage, Texas one day and tearfully told Mother ---“Mother, I’m going to be a preacher”--- and we wept together. I later enrolled in the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. My first pastorate was the Patroon Baptist Church and since then I got a B.A. from ETBU in Marshall, Texas and later pastored churches both large and small in several states.

Last week Pam and I were converting some of our VCRs to DVDs and watched a four hour tape of my building her rifle---(I have built almost a hundred of them over the years) and am proud (in an humble way) of the reputation my custom rifles have received. But watching that tape left me with mixed emotions. I’m almost 86 now, have neuropathy in my hands and feet and can no longer build stocks, fit barrels, etc. But about the time I was lamenting to Pam about it, she played one of my sermons from yesteryear and I suddenly realized something. I am in my 27th year as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, I preach every week, still perform weddings and funerals, write for five newspapers and am completing my second book. I sit while preaching now, but “thank you, Lord…. for my calling …thank you for something more precious than all my guns, cameras and hobbies combined. Thanks for that night in Center. Thanks for the most wonderful night in my life….the night I found Jesus…..   

……..and Jesus found me.”

March 4, 2019 - When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary his death gave all who would come to him the venue by which anyone of us can come to the throne of God, at any time we choose. We come in prayer to speak with our Father, to ask him for help and sometime, just to offer thanks to him for what he has so graciously given us.

The prayer of Daniel when asked to interpret the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar;

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” (Daniel 2:20-22)

A blessed prayer for all seasons, all times. A prayer which gives God the praise and glory which only he deserves.

In these few words Daniel credits God with being Omniscient and Omnipotent, with the power of changing the seasons and controlling time. He acknowledges God’s Omnipresence as he does all things as one. And he acknowledges the presence of our Lord Jesus with him as well as he speaks of the “Light” dwelling with God as does our Lord today.

Jesus teaches us to pray in this manner;

“Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matt. 6:9-13) 

Jesus also describes how we are to pray to the Father, not as do the hypocrites who like to pray loudly in the streets to be heard by others, no, Jesus says; “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:6) 

Jesus is telling us to pray in confidence but also to pray with humility giving God the praise and glory for his deity, the honor and respect that only He deserves.

And Jesus also gives us this hope for our prayers to the Father as he says; “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21:22) 

Faith, that which unites us with Christ, the single requirement for a life with Christ, the common denominator in all who believe and follow God’s will in their lives.

Faith is the thing that determines success in one’s prayer life, for without faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, without belief that he died for the sins of all mankind, and without belief that the Father then raised him from the grave to live at his right hand forevermore, there is no relationship with the Father God.

The apostle Paul give us this instruction for living as Christians when he says; “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18)

And so, how is your prayer life? Do you pray in earnest each day to the Father? Do you pray without ceasing, meaning that you pray often each day, asking the Father for direction and guidance? The closer you come to God the more you will find yourself talking with him about all things, giving thanks for all things in all circumstances, both good and bad.

May we all pray without ceasing to our Heavenly Father each day…

February 26, 2019 - Ash Wednesday is the initiation of the season of Lent. Lent is a spiritual journey spanning 40 days from Ash Wednesday until Holy Saturday before Easter, Resurrection Sunday. During Lent, we are called to a season of self-reflection, some form of spiritual commitment, and special attention to scripture and repentance. For many, it is also a season in which we adopt various acts of kindness and compassion. At Center First United Methodist Church (UMC) located at 211 Porter Street, we begin this season with an Ash Wednesday service on March 6, 2019 beginning at 6pm in the church sanctuary. Our service this year will focus on dust, ashes and breath, which will incorporate all age levels in our church.
 
During the service, everyone attending our Ash Wednesday service will have the opportunity, if they choose, to receive the application of ashes in the form of the cross on their forehead. The ashes simply remind us not only of our limited time on earth, but also of the grace of God who extends life past death by means of the cross.    
 
Please join together with us on Ash Wednesday as the recipients of God’s grace and enjoy scripture enactment along with scripture reflection, hymns, praise and prayers.  

Come and expect to be moved by the breath of the Holy Spirit.  Everyone is welcome.  Additional information regarding our Ash Wednesday service can be obtained by contacting the church office at Center First UMC (936) 598-2707 or visiting www.fumccentertx.org.

February 26, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother, Jesus. Sunday was the 7th Sunday of Epiphany. Next Sunday will end the unusually long season of Epiphany. It will be Transformation Sunday as Jesus and three of his close friends go to the mountaintop. Last Sunday’s gospel included some very hard sayings of our brother Jesus. He tells us we must love those who are our enemies, those who curse us, and those who want to harm us. This certainly goes against our human grain, but in order to experience life abundantly as God wants us to, we must always make the first move of compassion and forgiveness. 

Our Sunday school lesson was the last one for this quarter. The new Sunday school books had a picture of the Garden of Gethsemane on the cover with the garden in full bloom. It reminds us that spring is just a month or two away—and already creeping up on us here in East Texas. Our lesson was based on Psalm 91, called “Living with God’s Loving Assurance.” This poetic psalm tells of camping in the shade of the Almighty, speaking strongly about God’s love and his steadfastness in times of trouble—a very reassuring and comforting idea. 

Last week was our Holiday Nursing Home ministry. Not only was Hilda playing the piano, but in their renovation they turned the piano around—so she was able to face her audience. A’leena, our friend from Focused Care, is the new Activity Director at Holiday, and she spent most of the program singing with the group. Pastor Matt handled the MC job as well as talking about the Ten Commandments— Charleton Heston’s portrayal in comparison to the Bible’s original version. Sallie not only sang “It Is Well with My Soul,” but she also shared the story behind it. Fannie read two Helen Steiner Rice poems. Nora multitasked with a Valentine from Jesus poem, the love commandment song, and an excerpt of “Roses Are Red, My Love.” Sue read some riddles from a book she got at the Center library book sale, which was originally Teacher Nora’s book for her class; she also read two poems from Food Hates You. Finishing up with “Amazing Grace,” Pastor Matt told the story of its author, to which Sallie added a later development in his life. All this and newly renovated decorations on the walls!

On Monday morning the dogs and I went to Community Christian Services to deliver the soap and shampoo we have been collecting in February. Ms. Dianne met me there and opened up, which I really appreciated. Our March donation will be cans of chili. Community Christian Services does such good work for our area, and we are grateful to be a small part of it. 

This Thursday we will head to Lakeside Assisted Living for our February ministry. I got a text from Pastor Robert that Joaquin Methodist will be serving grilled chicken dinners after church next Sunday. The money from the dinners will go toward their scholarship fund. Next Sunday is the first Sunday in March, so Paxton Methodist will celebrate Holy Communion during its 10:00 worship service. 

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.