Shelby County Today

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 - 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

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 - Sunday was the Fourth Sunday in Lent. We are more than halfway through Lent’s forty days. The Ides of March and St. Patrick’s Day just blew on by. On Sunday, April 16th the western half of the Christian world will celebrate Easter. Paxton Methodist and the Watson family invite everyone to the Watson home for Easter Sunrise Service. The service will begin at 7:00 AM; following the service, breakfast will be served. One of Dock’s cousins, Ron Hilton, will bring the Easter message. The Watson family is busy putting together another great Easter program. We are all hoping for a beautiful Easter morning, but whatever the weather may be, we will celebrate the victory of life over death, new beginnings, and Christ’s resurrection.

This Sunday, I used last week’s Old Testament Lesson from Exodus 17:1-7. The wandering tribes are already very unhappy in their long trek to the Promised Land. The uncertainty frightens them, and their thirst in the desert is very real. They begin to wonder if this Moses knows what he is doing, or if they would have been better off remaining in slavery back in Egypt.

We often long for the “good old days,” but the truth is all days, all ages, and all generations are full of challenges. Nonetheless, in our long journey toward God and the Kingdom, we are to be hopeful people.

We have been collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services all month. In April—no fooling!—it will be toothpaste and toothbrushes. Next week we will discuss purchasing a portable speaker/sound system to be used by the church but also by family reunions and cemetery homecomings.

We got an update from the SFA students at the Wesley Foundation and will discuss sending them an additional check next Sunday. Next Sunday, the first Sunday of the month, we will celebrate Holy Communion. The following Monday is our ministry at Green Acres starting at 2:00 PM. We sure hope that Rose McNeil, Keith Knight, and Carolyn Hooker are feeling better soon.

Our nursing home ministries for Holiday and Lakeside are on the third Tuesday and fourth Thursday. In March, that meant they occurred in the same week. I was under the weather last week, but I got a full report from those who attended. At Holiday, Larry Terry fiddled some lively specials and also joined Mrs. Hilda’s piano accompaniments to group singing. Nora and Sue read kids’ books: There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly and Yertle the Turtle, both full of silliness. Jo shared a song from her mother: “Mairzey doats and doazy doats and liddle lamzy divey,” which of course translates to “Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.”

At Lakeside, Maggie agreed to be “anointed” as emcee. She and Mrs. Hilda, on the electronic baby grand piano, kept things moving. Ollie, Laura, and Sue read poems: “I’m drinking from my saucer ‘cause my cup has overflowed,” “The Highwayman,” and Calvin Trillin’s No Fair! No Fair! poems of childhood. It was goose bump time with Nora’s a capella version of “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” Gene sang several songs that he invited others to join in, including “Blessed Assurance” and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Jo started the group on “Roses Are Red, My Love,” and Karen shared the oath on her Special Olympics shirt: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

“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!