October 16, 2017 - First Baptist Church of Center will be hosting a Blood Drive on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 from 10am until 2:30pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Contact Teresa at (936) 598–5605 to schedule an appointment. Eat, drink, and bring identification!

Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God…and the other prisoners heard them…” Acts 16:25

October 12, 2017 - This past month I’ve been photographing America’s most beautiful songbird, the male painted bunting. These gorgeous little birds arrive in the Sand Hills of East Texas every April to mate and raise a family. Their red, blue, green and yellow colors have given them the name, “nonpareil” (no equal) in French and “Mariposa pintada” (painted butterfly) in Spanish.

Their numbers have declined sharply in recent years because many are trapped for cage birds in Mexico every winter and sold on the European bird market. Buntings don’t sing loudly but they sing sweetly. And they sing their best when they’re in cages!

Unfortunately we Christians whine a lot when we’re in cages. And when we do, we’re not whining what we preach. Living for the Lord doesn’t mean we’ll never be in a cage. The most beautiful of God’s children wind up there sometimes, but by God’s grace they keep singing.

The world needs to sing the songs of Zion, too. But they never will….

…unless we do.

October 12, 2017 - Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley community, are holding a food pantry for the residents of Shelby County. It will be held Saturday, October 14, 2017. Identification and proof of residency will be required. Only (1) box per household will be given.

The October food pantry starts at 9am and lasts until food is gone. Pickup is at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 901 Southview Circle, Center Texas.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

October 11, 2017 - Can you answer this question without hesitation, without doubt, without fear; “Where will you be 200 years from today?”

Only by living in Christ can you truthfully, without hesitation answer the question. For only those who know Christ Jesus and have fully and completely accepted him as Lord and Savior have that peace, knowing that their future lies with the Lord forever.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) This word condemnation is the act of condemning, to condemn means; “To pronounce an unfavorable or adverse judgement on someone. For him to be found guilty and to be sentenced to punishment.” So when the scripture says the there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ, we should listen and consider that statement.

We should ask to know more, why are those in Christ released from judgement and punishment. We see the answer in the following scriptures.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) To be “in Christ Jesus” means that one has accepted him as Lord and Master and is living his life led by the Holy Spirit in the love of Christ Jesus. To be “in Christ” is to be redeemed, set free from the penalty of sin, forever.

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)

God issued his law to Moses as the law for the people of Israel to follow if they were to be saved from an eternity in hell. The law was a perfect vessel and man being imperfect could not possibly follow it. This was the beauty of the law of God, that no man could follow each and every law, but, in order to follow all laws, one had to follow each law, without blemish, without failure. NO man other than the Lord Jesus could do so.

For Jesus to be able to come to earth, live his life and pay for the sins of all mankind by his sacrifice on the cross he had to follow and live the law of Moses, perfectly, which he did, qualifying himself to become the sacrificial lamb of God that would pay for all sin, once for all.

You see, Jesus did what NO MAN could do. He qualified to be the vessel, approved by God, to remove the penalty of sin for all who would accept him as Lord and Master.

There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

For those who are saved there can be no more beautiful words in the Bible than that, the first verse of Romans chapter eight.

And so I ask you again, are you living your life in Christ? Do you know where you will be 200 years from today?

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Accept this free gift of eternal life today; “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him fro the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

God will not force you, you must take this step by yourself to be saved forever and to live forever in the arms of our Lord.

Take it today, accept him as Lord and know his joy forever. May you feel his blessings this day and forevermore...

October 9, 2017 - Old Salem Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 6pm to 8pm. Everyone is invited to come enjoy games, cupcake walk, prizes, good food, and a hayride at dark. All ages are welcome and bring a friend!

Directions to the church are: go Highway 7 West 5 miles out. Take a left on FM 711. Go 10 miles down FM 711 and take CR 1297 on left. Go 1/4 mile and you will see the church.

October 9, 2017 - St. John Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrating their 128th church anniversary Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 2:30pm.

Special Guest: Rev. Alvin Davis Pastor of Open Door Baptist Church, Center, Tx.

Theme: “A Strong Foundation, Built to Last” 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

Rev. Winston Kibbles - Pastor

October 9, 2017 - Sunday was the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are still waiting for autumn to make its appearance. I hope we don’t go straight from summer to winter. I love fall with the cool mornings and the pleasant days.  This morning felt good, but as we were leaving church it was obvious that it was going to be another summer day. At least the lovebugs have moved on!

Our lessons this quarter in Sunday school all deal with covenant. Today’s lesson presented God’s covenant with Israel. The lesson was based on Exodus 19:16-25; on this special day the tribes were called to the mountain, where they witnessed thunder, lightning, and smoke, causing them to shake with fear. The covenant with God is what has held the Jewish people together despite being a conquered people most of their existence. 

It was great to see Lily, Liz, and Mike this morning. They were up from Houston working at the farm.  Lily hasn’t been feeling well and has been in our thoughts and prayers. It was good to hear that they got through Hurricane Harvey with no damage.  We talked about the Astros and the Cubs—it is October! This month we are collecting peanut butter and jelly to donate to Community Christian Services. Our church is also going to help with the cost of snacks for the Tenaha 5th Quarter on October 20. Our program at Focused Care (AKA Green Acres) will be this Thursday at 10:15.

The Joaquin Senior Center shot clinic (flu and pneumonia) will be Thursday, October 19—and again on Thursday, November 16 if you miss October’s. They are also having their annual garage sale fundraiser on Saturday, October 14 to coincide with the Trail of Treasure. The “treasure” is 50 miles of sales, bargains, and special offers at restaurants, stores, and, yes, garage sales. The Seniors would be happy to see you, especially if you find some treasure to buy from them!

The Epistle Lesson for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time is Philippians 3:4b-14. Our lesson finds Paul in prison, looking back and remembering. Paul had a good Jewish pedigree, but we know that he found inner peace only when he became a Jesus follower. Many of the Pauline letters talk about life as a journey or a race. Paul also spoke of the need to strive for perfection—moving always toward living as Christ lived. We Methodists know that John Wesley really felt that life was a journey toward Christian Perfection: This idea become one of the major tenets of Methodism. 

“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

October 9, 2017 - The Golden Harvest Ministries Club will meet Monday, October 18th, 2017 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church at 11:30am. The program will presented by Andrea Webb of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
 
Visitors are always welcome to join us for a delicious covered dish luncheon, a good program and time of fellowship.

October 6, 2017 - Mark you calender for Short Homecoming set for Sunday, October 8, 2017. Lunch will be served at 12noon. Singing will take place after the meal. For more information, please contact John Monk at 936-598-4150.

October 4, 2017 - Several years ago I was involved in a serious automobile accident. It was devastating to my family and our friends. I remember laying in the hospital in ICU and asking God how will this all work out. I had lost my wife. I could not go back to work. I couldn't even care for myself. I had a daughter that had been planning a wedding that was to happen in just a few weeks and it was during the holiday season. 

I couldn't imagine how I was going to survive this tragedy. And then "IT" happened. People from all over the county and country, for that matter, began not to offer to help, but just jumped in, both feet, "cannon-balling " if you will, into my families lives. There were women who made the wedding happen, brought food everyday, helped with cleaning. Men showed up at my home and helped me with standing when I needed and daily hygiene. One friend took over paying my bills for me and managing my business while I was unable to do so. Then there were the other professionals who gave up their vacations and came from literally all over the country to work, so I wouldn't have to close my office or have my patients be left without care.

Many others cut grass, built wheelchair ramps, wrapped pipes for winter and on and on the list goes. It was the most amazing display of kindness that I had ever experienced and probably ever will. My family and I will never forget those who showed us such kindness at a time when we were so vulnerable. Kindness is contagious. 

I have noticed that people generally respond to you in the same way that you approach them. For example; If you start a conversation out with hurtful and confrontational language you can expect the person with whom you are speaking to respond to you with anger and resentment. However if you approach people with a kindness you will usually be responded to with kindness. Mark Twain is quoted as saying that "Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Kindness is a language that is spoken only from the heart. It cannot be faked. An act of kindness no matter what the intention, always produces a positive result, if only for a moment.

Kindness is included in the fruit of the Spirit because it to, is an out growth of the love that God has put in our hearts. Colossians 3:12 tells us " Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." This virtue is one that all Christians should posses. If we can't be anything else, we can be kind to others.
I have watched people leave church and go into restaurants and be rude and obnoxious to the waitress. Kindness is an action. We can't just say we have kindness, we have to act out kindness for it to be real. As the Holy Spirit works in our own lives, kindness grows out of that love that He puts in our hearts. In Titus 3:3-7 the writer tells us "

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior". Kindness is the fruit that regenerates itself. When it is given, all ways comes back to you. It truly is "the gift that keeps on giving".

You see God showed us kindness in "that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us". God loves us more than we deserve and we can demonstrate that same kind of love to others, through kindness. Gods kindness is extended to you through His love. You can receive it by just accepting it. Start today, living out kindness. It will change your whole perspective on life.

I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard

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