Shelby County Today

March 27, 2019 - 'No Greater Love' will be presented Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7pm at the Windham Civic Center in Center, Texas.

The play will take the audience on a journey through Jesus' arrest, crucifixion and resurrection.

'No Greater Love' is an orginal play written and directed by Kimberly Phillips of San Augustine MBC and features a cast and crew which comes from all the way north in Texarkana down to nearby San Augustine. The cast is made up of members of churches associating with the Churches of the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas.

There is no admission fee. Church and Youth Groups are welcome to attend.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends." ~ John 15:13

March 26, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the Third Sunday in Lent. We had such a nice week, and spring has officially sprung. It was really good to get out into the yard and garden, but I couldn’t help thinking about those hot summer days that are sure to come. I should just be satisfied with the now, but I am not always that mindful. We had a small group at church this morning. Fannie shared that she had a good, newsy visit with Keith. We certainly do miss Keith and Vera and hope Keith is feeling better. All this month we have been collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services. In April we will collect toothpaste and toothbrushes. 

Fannie had a really good lesson for Sunday school, as always. We heard the familiar story of Zacchaeus but with a few new twists. The crowd certainly wasn’t pleased when Jesus singled out Zacchaeus and went to his house for dinner. Too often, religious folks become convinced of their righteousness and look down on others. The scripture from Luke said the people saw and they grumbled. In my sermon I mentioned that of the many faults Paul was highlighting to his readers and listeners, the biggest fault was grumbling. Uh oh! Guilty!

In my sermon I carried on the Lenten idea of life being a journey and pointed out that like our spiritual forefathers and foremothers, the Jewish people, we too are wanderers. Paul spoke of falls—spiritual falls. Falls, whether physical or spiritual, are unplanned and unexpected events. And we know that our human condition tells us we will have falls along the way on our journey toward God.

Last week was our program at Holiday Nursing Home. I was the first one there, my wife second, and Pastor Matt third; we hung around outside the building, desperately hoping for a piano player. Even our musical Nora said she couldn’t help us out. And then…up drove Minnie and Hilda—not one piano player but two! We trooped into the dining room to crank up our program. Minnie played so Hilda could sing. I emceed and shared some surprising details of St. Patrick’s story from last week’s sermon. Pastor Matt read two contradictory passages about the death of Saul, concluding that they had self-serving politicos in that day just like we have today. Sue read a funny book called The Day the Goose Got Loose, in which pandemonium ensued. Nora did a “serious” song about Jesus and then flung us into a hand-clapping rendition of “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” This week we head to Lakeside Assisted Living on Thursday at 2:00. 

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.

March 25, 2019 - There are many questions concerning the Christian way of living, questions of what should I do, or, what should I not do if I am to follow Jesus Christ and he is to be my Lord and Master.

The prophet Micah gave answer to a young man that came before him asking the question, “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?” (Micah 6:6)

Now this young man is assuming that he will have to bring gifts or sacrifices to the Lord in order to be accepted as a child of the Most High God.
But, the prophet says no, there is nothing that you must bring before him but yourself as he answers with these words.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Sounds so simple, so easy, we have only to treat others equally, with justice, to show mercy and kindness to all less fortunate than ourselves, and lastly, to walk humbly with God.

Oh, but therein lies the problem. 

For humility is not an attribute of the natural man, no, man looks to his own selfish wishes and seeks to satisfy his own will and not to submit to the will of God each day.

Humility is a hard taskmaster for the natural man and gives so many so much trouble in following Gods will through life.

Micah has told us what God requires of all who would follow him and we can look to the Proverbs for the things which are best left alone in the life of the Christian.

Proverbs chapter six says this about the things that God does not like, the things that one is to refrain from in order to live as God wishes for his child.

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him” (Proverbs 6:16) 

Let us look first at the  six things that God hates.

“Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” (Proverbs 6:17)

Haughty eyes - haughty is to have or to show contempt or superiority for all considered inferior to oneself. To look down on others and to exalt oneself.

Lying tongue - See Commandment #9 - Thou shall not lie!

Shedding innocent blood - See ‘Commandment #6 - Thou shalt not murder.

“A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil. A false witness who breathes out lies” (Proverbs 6:18-19) 

Wicked plans - a wicked heart cannot serve God

Run to evil - if saved one must run from evil and to the Lord.

False witness - See Commandment #9 - Thou shalt not lie!

And lastly, the things which God abhors - 

“And one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:19)

Discord - to cause active quarreling and conflict among others.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.” (James 2:8)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10)

And there we have an understanding of the do’s and don’ts of being Christian. May you be blessed by the Lord this day and forever…  

March 21, 2019 - Youth Sunday & Fundraiser March 31st Sunday school 10am church services 11am lunch 12pm.

Dinner, a show and auction
After the morning service, the youth will be selling plates including a stuffed baked potato (with beef or pork), cookies for dessert and a drink for $8.

You can eat it there or get it to go.

But you don't want to miss the show. The littlest preacher & his wife will be there.

Then there will be a homemade auction of items donated by church members & the community.

We will not have an evening service!

If you have any questions please call Haley Parks (936-369-2838) or Bro. Michael McArthur (368-2462)