April 6, 2017 - House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries invites everyone to their Usher Program this Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 3:30pm. The guest speaker is Elder Richard McCowin of Lone Star Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas.

House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries is located at 215 Church Street, Center, Texas 75935.

April 5, 2017 - Bennett Chapel Baptist Church Annual Easter Bake Sale Good Friday – April 14, 2017 9:00a.m. until sold out H&S Discount Foods.

Pies ($15): Coconut, Egg, Pecan, Potato.

Cakes - layered or pound ($20-$30): Chocolate, Strawberry, Coconut, Italian Cream Cheese, Honey Bun, 7-Up, Sour Cream, Red Velvet, Caramel, Caramel with Pineapple, Pineapple, German Chocolate, Cookies, Cupcakes, Tea Cakes.

Special Orders call Annie M. Garrett - 936-598-7141 or Gladys Garrett - 936-368-7137. If no answer leave a message and phone number.

April 5, 2017 - Breaking News: Jesus is Alive Easter Celebration will be held at New Life Church on Saturday, April 15th from 11am until 1pm. Come and enjoy free food, egg hunt, and free photos. Also enjoy music and an exciting drama - Jesus is Alive!

April 5, 2017 - The Dock Watson family and the members of Paxton United Methodist Church wish to invite everyone to celebrate Easter Sunrise Service at their home in Paxton on Sunday, April 16 at 7am. Ron Hilton of Houston will deliver the Easter message.  

The address is 3295 US Hwy 84 East, Tenaha, Texas 75974.

April 4, 2017 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent. It was a stormy day Sunday and many folks didn’t venture out. We received almost three inches Sunday and were without electricity for about four hours. It was a great time to take a nap. Our big old hound dog Abner is terrified of storms and fireworks. He is a much happier dog today (Monday) with sunshine and blue skies. Easter is fast approaching. Next Sunday’s lections (scriptures) focus on Jesus’ triumphal entry while other readings focus on Jesus’ passion. Each year Roy and Judy at Sunshine Flowers provide palms for us to use in our worship service. This I completely forgot but thankfully Roy remembered and called to see how many palm fronds we would need.

This past Sunday, the 5th Sunday in Lent focused on death and rebirth. Every Sunday in Lent is to be looked at as a “little Easter” and this was certainly the case this Sunday. Ezekiel is taken to a valley of death—dry bones. The bones are Israel and God promises that Israel will once again be a nation. For the last several Sundays the Gospels have been long narratives from the John Gospel. This past Sunday the John story was of Lazarus and Jesus bringing him back from the grave.

Even though most paintings portray Lazarus as an older man I think he was a young boy. Because there is not an adult male Martha is considered the head of the household. It is also possible that Mary and Martha were widows living together and raising their younger brother. In the King James version of this story we have the shortest verse—“Jesus wept.” Our story is a sad story that becomes a miraculous one when Lazarus is raised from the dead.

Our Sunday school lesson used the 23rd Psalm as its text. The author reminds us all that sometimes faith is greatly challenged especially when we are languishing in the valley of death. It was great to see everyone at worship. Larry says that Rose is feeling better and we have three birthdays this week. Evie Ideker had her second birthday Sunday. Carolyn Umbrell and Fannie Watson also celebrate a birthday this week. Gene and Joy announced that the Hutto Cemetery on their land will be dedicated next Saturday. Gene is expecting a good crowd coming from all over. Easter Sunrise Service will be April 16th starting at 7:00 AM at the Watson home in downtown Paxton.

April 3, 2017 - What an awesome way to start your Easter Sunday? Come have breakfast at New Life Church April 16, 2017 9am to 10:30am $5 a plate.

Pancakes, sausage, drink and fellowship. Meet and take a free 8X10 picture with Rory the Rabbit Reporter and listen to his account of the Resurrection.

Church starts at 10:30. We would love you to stay and worship with us if you don't have a church of your own.

All proceeds go toward our Guatamala Missions trip this summer.

April 3, 2017 - Peace, or the lack of it, is a word that we have been hearing a lot about in the news lately. It seems that everyone in the world is angry with one another.  We desperately seek peace. We have diplomats that are trained in trying to broker "peace treaties" between warring countries, and we personally, just want peace in our lives.  So if everybody wants it, and we are constantly seeking it, why does it allude us so?  Where  can we find peace ? That is the question we are going to answer today.

First we have to answer the question; What is peace?  Peace is the third listed fruit of the Spirit after love and joy. Its the overwhelming sense of security that no matter what's happening around you, you are safe. There is a painting titled "Peace". It depicts a terrible storm with waves crashing against jagged rocks. You can just feel the winds howling in the scene. It is anything but peaceful. But down in the corner of the painting, tucked away in the rocks is a small bird sitting on her nest totally oblivious to the storm around her .   That's real peace. Security in the face of adversity.

OK, so where do we find the peace that everyone is so desperately looking for and needs? It can only be found one place. The One whom God sent ;" Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be on His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9: 6).  You see peace , the kind that sustains, comforts, and lasts is a gift from God. Until we seek peace from the only one who can give it we will be in constant turmoil.

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Therefore it is a product of the relationship we have with the Lord. The deeper the relationship, the greater the peace. I spent a lot of time at sea when I  was a young man. One thing I learned about the ocean; the deeper you go the calmer it is. There can be a hurricane on the surface but when you go down a few feet below the surface you can hardly tell whats happening on top of the water. The deeper you go the more peaceful it gets. The same is true with life. The deeper your relationship with God the less the storms of life bother you. You rest assured that He is going to take care of you. Jesus promised in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;". 

You can have that peace. Trust Jesus when he says: " These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace." (Jn. 16:33).  Jesus loves you and wants to give you that "Peace that passes all understanding". Ask and it can be yours.

I'm Just Sayin
Mike Belgard

February 21, 2017 - One Hundred Men in Black to be featured at Tenaha High School in the cafeteria on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 3pm.

Guest speaker for the event will be Dr. Antonio K. Eakins, Sr., Pastor of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church out of Houston, Texas.

Everyone is invited, churches, business' and individuals.

 

March 28, 2017 - New Life Church would like to express their appreciation to everyone who came out and supported the Chicken Sandwich plate fundraiser held last week. Thank you for those who pre-ordered meals. We apologize for the delay in delivery. God blessed us with good weather and blessed the fundraiser turnout. Unfortunately the main cook for the event had a flat tire that morning which delayed the food cooking. The devil may make things difficult but God will get us through.

Thank you again to all who supported the fundraiser. 

March 27, 2017 - The year of 1949 was an especially hard year for our large family and I’m sure that none of our neighbors were aware of it. I hitch-hiked several times to Center, Texas  and got food from my grandparents. At one of our most “desperate” times that year, my brothers and I decided  to fish for a much-needed meal. After catching our bait, (“potbelly” minnows from Tenaha Creek), we went to our little pond. This old Mill Pond was poor for fishing because it was too deep for the fish to spawn. In our year at Shelbyville, we only caught a few crappie there and they were all underfed or under-sized.

We spaced ourselves out across the dam, baited our hooks and had just sat down when Bill yelled out, “I’ve got one!” Then Joe hollered, “I’ve got one, too!” Suddenly a large school of crappie was flashing in the water before our eyes.

We began pulling them in one by one and were soon at home showing Mother our fourteen- perch supper. 

Mother built a fire in the fireplace while we scaled the fish. She laid them on a large pan, poured Worcestershire Sauce on them and placed them on the hot coals.  Since the fish stuck to the pan, we picked off the meat with them still in the pan. It was a one-course meal that we all enjoyed. 

Today I asked my brother Joe if he remembered that day at the pond. “Vividly”, he said, “and do you recall the smell of those roasted perch?” “I sure do”, I answered….

“……as if it were yesterday.”

Pages