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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
"I was built for this" ~ Haggai 1:8
May 15, 2019 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries is presenting Conference 2019 - Stop the Traffic, Close the Road from May 16th to May 18th. Shift times for the conference is May 16-17 at 7pm and May 18 at 10am. The project host and keynote speaker for Saturday is Lady Pearl Nash.
Crew workers:
- Thursday - Pastor LaToy Harris of Tyler, Texas
- Friday - Prophetess Ronda Coleman of Athens, Texas
- Saturday - Evangelist Evette Netherly of Center, Texas and Evangelist Zorano Skinner of Marshall, Texas.
House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries is located at 215 Church Street, Center, Texas 75935. Apostle W.E. Nash, Jr., Pastor.
May 14, 2019 - On Sunday, May 19, 2019 Joaquin First United Methodist Church is celebrating its 143rd year! It was formed in 1876 and was located near the site of Brookland Cemetery. It existed a number of years before Joaquin was established.
Our Methodist church’s East District Superintendent, Dr. Dick White, will be the guest speaker. You are invited to the service starting at 10:30 a. m. followed by a brisket meal and an afternoon of gospel singing!
May 14, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The first lesson, the one I chose for my sermon, came from the second part of the Luke Gospel called The Acts of the Apostles. It is the strange story about Dorcas or Tabitha who was a faithful disciple of Jesus. She tended to those in need all around her and was deeply loved. When she became ill, Peter was sent for. Dorcas had died, but Peter called upon her to rise: She did. This story reminds us that the post-Easter world is different from the pre-Easter world, in that death does not have the same dominion.
We knew we were going to have a small Sunday school class Sunday morning. Our very able teacher Fannie was going to be busy being a great-grandmother, so I filled in to do the lesson. Joy’s daughter came in from Houston and took her mom to Dallas for a fun Mother’s Day. We did have a wonderful surprise, though. Carolyn is back from her three- month stay in Pennsylvania! It was so nice to see her and hear her adventure in getting back to Texas.
Our lesson once again came from Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he tried to explain what it meant to “live in the Spirit.” I shared a remembrance of a Paxton/Joaquin pastor from back in the 70s who believed that all sin came from selfishness. I have remembered that all these years, and I think he was right! Paul says there are two kinds of people—people who are selfish and people who live in the Spirit.
We have two more nursing home ministries this month—but both dates fall week after next. One will be at Holiday and the other at Lakeside Assisted Living. Several of our regulars went to the funeral service for Morris Downey. We had been to Focused Care that Monday and Morris, one of the residents who loved southern gospel, helped run the program right along with us. We also heard that a friend, Tommie Methvin from Holiday, had died. We will certainly miss her big smile and kind ways.
During the month of May we are collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. Each month our church selects a “staple” that people will need and spend the month collecting whatever that item is. Then we take it to our friends at CCS. The folks there do such a wonderful service for the surrounding community.
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.
May 13, 2019 - “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
For all that are blessed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and to have God as their sword and their shield in times of trouble, rest assured in the security of his promise of eternal life with him.
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)
As such we look forward to that day when we will stand, each one, before the judgement seat of Christ and be accepted into the kingdom of God in heaven.
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
What a glory awaits all who wait upon the Lord and do his will on earth…
“The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1: 4-6)
For all who have rejected the gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, a much different day is coming, a day of eternal punishment, a day of continual torment and suffering.
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:7)
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God does not condemn anyone to hell, no, they condemn themselves by their non-belief in Jesus Christ as Lord of all. God wishes that all should come and repent of their sin and accept Jesus as Lord, but, God will not force his love on anyone, that is for each to decide by his own free will, life or death, heaven of hell, all must decide one or the other.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:10)
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)
Only the names of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are written in the book of life! Is your name there? It can be if you simply turn from your wicked ways, and call upon him for forgiveness.
Come, accept Jesus as your Lord today, come and wait with us who have given ourselves to the Lord and have become children of the Most High God, come today.
“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)
Blessed be the name of our Lord…
May 13, 2019 - The Golden Harvest Ministries Club will meet Monday, May 20th, 2019 in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church at 11:30am. Center Mayor David Chadwick will present the program about “The State of the City”.
Visitors are always welcome to join us for a delicious covered dish luncheon, a good program and time of fellowship.
May 7, 2019 - Everyone come sit on "The Porch" at Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley on Monday, May 13, 2019. Guest speaker is Billy Weatherall, owner of Christ Fit Gym in Bossier City, Louisiana. Come hear his special message about how God moved a veteran from a place so dark he had a gun to his head to commit suicide to the place where today he ministers to children, teens and adults at the gym. Refreshments served at 6:30pm, and worship begins at 7pm. Awesome music leaders are Paul, Brittany, Bryan and Abigail. Everyone is invited to come and receive a blessing... Bring someone... Jesus loves you.
May 13, 2019 - “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...” James 4:8
The combination of sandy roads, spring branches and a plentiful food supply has made Center, Texas’ Sand Hill Community an ideal nesting place for exotic birds from Mexico and Central America. Located about six miles south of Center, Texas, it remains one of the most beautiful parts of Shelby County Texas. My Dad explored these sandy roads when he was a youngster and took all ten of us there many times as we were growing up. Instead of vacations to The Grand Canyon or Yellowstone, we made ours to The Sand Hills…to Big Ditch and Gunnel’s Cave… which were only a short drive from of our house in Center. After becoming adults, we all made frequent trips home to see Mother and to re-explore the Sand Hill roads with her.
Back in the 70’s I asked my sister Jeri in Texarkana to meet me at Mother’s and spend a day in the Sand Hills with her. We left her house early one August morning and after a drive through the Snow Hill, Short and Jericho communities, we wound up taking pictures and picking Sand Hill grapes along a sandy road near Gunnel’s Cave.
Suddenly, I spotted a handsome lizard basking in the sun about fifteen feet off the road. As I complained to Mother about the lizard being too far away to photograph, Sis quietly touched my shoulder and whispered, “Let me talk to the lizard.” I nervously looked all around to see if anyone was watching us. Then as we walked toward him, she began: “Don’t be afraid.” “We won’t hurt you.” “Hen Doug just wants to take your picture.” After telling the lizard how pretty he was, we got close enough to see his eyes twinkle and after getting several close-ups, we backed away leaving him undisturbed.
As we were discussing my sister’s “way with lizards” on the way home, Mother said, “You know, God lets us come close and talk to Him, too.” “I know, Mother,” I replied. “And not only do we talk to Him.” “Through prayer and His Word…..
“He talks to us, too.”
May 11, 2019 - Campti Methodist Church Homecoming Sunday May 19, 2019. Business meeting 11:30. Dinner at 12-noon. For information call 936-598-8250
May 9, 2019 - Come and join friends and family as they celebrate Homecoming on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at First Assembly of God in Timpson, Texas. Service starts at 10am.
Come hear an anointed message from Rev. Sidney Brandon as well as having God inspired praise and worship and special singing. Afterwards, there will be a time of fellowship and food.
The church is located at 652 Houston Street, Timpson, Texas 75975.
May 9, 2019 - When a man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost, he reduced altitude and spotted a man below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me sir? Can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You are obviously a technical person," said the balloonist. "I am," replied the man. "But how did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct. But I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me at all."
The man below responded, "You must be a politician." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep. And you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is, you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
Well, we all tend to judge others more harshly than we do ourselves or our families for doing similar things. Paul addresses this in Romans Chapter 2. The Jews in Rome were judging the roman Christians for things that they thought were inappropriate, when they were guilty of the same sins. We are going to look at some things Paul points out about judging others.
Remember that when you point a finger at someone else there are four more fingers pointing back at you. Paul says that "we are without excuse," for the things we judge others for are the things we do ourselves. Romans 3:23 says "For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," There is no one who can stand in judgement of someone else. We need to stop judging people by our standards and what the world says is right. The only example worthy of comparison is Jesus.
When you judge others it brings the judgement of God onto you. And by the standard that you judge others you will be held accountable. Luke 6:37-38 says, "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” There is the law of reciprocity at work. "You always reap what you sow, and you always reap more than you sow."
God does not show partiality. If you sin or if you don't you will be judged by God. If you practice righteousness you will be blessed by God. It does not matter what church you go to, if your daddy was the head deacon or your mother was the matriarch of the church. God sees you for who you are and he judges you by your heart without partiality.
What is important in the end is that we don't judge, fear God, and embrace Gods grace not only for ourselves but for others. We must remember that Gods grace extends to everyone without partiality as well.
Mother Theresa wrote the poem, 'Anyway,' to chronicle how that love might change our lives. I leave it with you today to reflect and to pray:
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
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