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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
February 1, 2017 - Last week we celebrated the baptism of Jesus. This Sunday, the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Jesus has called his disciples. In our Gospel lesson from Matthew, Jesus begins to describe the people of the Kingdom. His “Sermon on the Mount” is Jesus’ manifesto to kingdom living. There is a similar story in Luke called the “Sermon on the Plains.” Matthew’s telling is more difficult to understand because it is so Jewish. Jesus, like the Prophet Micah and John the Baptizer, has a problem with the Temple and those who run it.
Seven hundred years before Jesus spoke from the mount, Micah warned the people of Judah that they were not living righteously as God requires. The emphasis of Micah and later, of Jesus was on righteous living. Is righteous living fulfilled by temple worship and sacrifices? Is righteousness attained by tithing or attending religious festivals and holy days? These might be outward signs of righteousness, but one is actually righteous who is just, full of mercy and love, and walking humbly with God. These are not suggestions—this is what is required to live in God today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.
Our Sunday school lesson once again was a hymn of praise from the hymnbook of the Jewish people—The Psalms. The lesson title was All Creation Praises God. Ms. Fannie divided up the hymn so we read the hymn responsively. The week before Fannie divided up the lesson and Joe and I added our thoughts to one section of the lesson. The writer had a great love of music and related praise to music. My section of the lesson dealt with jazz. Before a jazz musician can improvise on the music he must first master the fundamentals. This is also true in faith. Joe said he wasn’t as knowledgeable as the author about music so he related his section of the lesson to science. All in all our time in Sunday school went by very quickly. As Sunday school was coming to an end people started coming in for worship. It was so nice to have Susan Whiddon worship with us Sunday. We had a good crowd for Paxton this morning and our worship attendance so far in 2017 is higher than 2016!
I went to Lufkin last Tuesday for my yearly interview with our District Superintendent. This was my first time to the new District Office. It was very nice and certainly a step up from their old digs. It was so nice to see Vetta and Vonnie who run the office. It was like seeing old friends that you don’t see that often. This was my first official meeting with Rev. Tony Vinson who has been our DS since summer. I had met him at the Charge Conference in Center but this was the first chance to have a real conversation. We discussed the strength of Paxton in mission and in finances and if the church is agreeable Rev. Vinson is going to appoint me to another year at Paxton.
Last week, the crew went to Lakeside to present the monthly program. I was sick all day, so Maggie Casto was “anointed” Mistress of Ceremonies, a task she’s quite good at. The singing was led by Nora and Laura, who also joined Gene Casto for a couple of specials. Nora and Laura read—Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” and poems from the Bible and Wordsworth. Fannie read and told a joke. Sue, who forgot to bring her reading material, ended up adlibbing her Name Report from her English 2 teaching days. Spoiler alert: She wasn’t named Gloria, didn’t have long blond hair and big blue eyes—instead getting stuck with curly brown hair, brown eyes, and “Susan.”
“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!
January 31, 2017 - The blessed man of the Psalm-
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the council 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 steams of water that yields its fruit in it's season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3)
The Psalmist tells us not to; walk with the wicked, nor stand with the sinner, not sit with the scoffer. In other words, pick your friends carefully, choices made today determine your life tomorrow and eventually, possibly even your eternity.
I think this is a reason some are reluctant to accept the free gift of salvation from the Lord Jesus. They are afraid they may have to change their habits, friends or sometime maybe their jobs.
And this may be true, except, once truly saved it is not something you "have to do", it is something you will "want to do". Your life is then changed for the good.
The blessed instead delights in the commandments of the Lord and meditates day and night. (Meditate - to engage in devout religious contemplations; a quite, spiritual introspection, or look within oneself)
It says the blessed man is like a tree that yields fruit, that does not wither; he then prospers in all that he does.
So, let's break this down and see what it means to us as born-again Christians.
Yes, it is true that once one is born-again that his life does change. Old things of the world no longer tempt him, old haunts no longer draw him, and old habits are left and not revisited. This is all good though and helps in a closer walk with the Lord each day.
Let's look at the results of the born-again life.
By giving up the things of the world in which we once delighted, we now delight in the Lord. Our time is spent with Him and not in the pursuit of worldly things.
The scriptures say the benefits are; we then become like a tree planted by flowing water. Our roots run deep keeping us grounded in the laws of the Lord and we no longer drift around in darkness but now walk in the light. We now yield fruit for the Lord which is the reason for our being here, and everything we do will prosper.
To meditate daily gives us the roots we need, by transcendental meditation we go way beyond simply studying the Bible, we take study to a supernatural level and we find ourselves becoming of a quiescent mind, a restful and peaceful mind.
To take full advantage of our daily walk with the Lord we need to take a particular scripture or passage or even a single attribute of God and spend time in meditation just contemplating the meaning of it. Letting God talk to us as we listen to Him.
In this way we become more deeply rooted, more steadfast in our relationship with our Lord God. By spending this time, transcending the normal study of the Word we become much more useful to the Lord and much harder for the evil one to deceive.
May God bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you today...
Janaury 30, 2017 - First Baptist Church in Center is hosting their annual Joy Seeker’s Women's Conference on February 25, 2017.
Peggy Pedroza will be bringing the message. She is the author of 'Walking on High Heels' which is her life threatening story and how the wisdom of the Bible brought her back from a sudden tragedy to living beyond a devastating medical diagnosis.
Early registration ($20 fee) deadline is February 11, 2017. After February 11th registration fee is $30. Free childcare (ages infant to 10 years) available for early registrations only. Click here for event flyer and registration form.
We would like to invite all women to come and be part of a wonderful time of fellowship and hearing God's Word. Breakfast & Lunch will be served. Conference Begins at 8:30.
“If any man hears my voice, I will come in and sup with him...” Rev. 3:20
“Come and dine...” John 21:12
January 30, 2017 - While in Nacogdoches yesterday, I noticed a sign at The Burger King Drive-Thru window that read: “Thank you for Cruising by”.
And I began thinking how eating habits have changed in my lifetime. Instead of eating out, we ten children had all our meals around a large table with benches on each side and a nail keg at each end. We all sat around the table at supper time and enjoyed talking with Daddy at the end of his work day.
And in Jesus’ day, morning and noon meals were light and often eaten “on the go”, but the evening meal was different. Supper was a time of food and fellowship for all the family.
Dining with Our Father through prayer, meditation, and His Word, is available to all His children. But many never receive this food....
…Because it’s not served in the Drive Thru Lane.
January 26, 2017 - I once had a friend who had this habit of clearing their throat every time they heard someone else clear theirs. Needless to say that as teenagers when we realized this was a habit, so we would take turns during a conversation with this person clearing our throats so that instead of talking this poor friend would spend all of his time trying to keep up with all those who were doing the throat clearing in the group just to torment him. Kids can be cruel. Some people have the habit of making the same bad choices over and over. They never realize that you can't make the same choice and expect a different result.
Do you have any habits? Before you say no, carefully examine your whole life. Is there something that you seem to keep doing over and over. As hard as you seem to try, you keep coming back to the same place. Sometimes we make a habit of making the same bad choices that affect our friends, relationships and even our health. I was once counseling a person on smoking, when the person said, "You don't have to tell me how to quit. I am an expert at it. I've quit four times!" I had to explain to them that if they were truly an expert at it, it should have only taken once. It is human nature for us to believe that we can change anytime we want. But its usually harder than we think. Portia Nelson wrote a five step process for success, I think that if you read carefully it will help you see yourself and how you might make real change in your life.
1) I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find my way out.
2) I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in. I can't believe that I am in the same place, but it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
3) I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in. It's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.
4) I walk down the street. there is a hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
5) I walk down a different street.
Sometimes to affect real change in our lives we have to first open our eyes to the real problem and if necessary take a completely different street.
The good news is that God has provided a way for us to make a new start and a counselor in the Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey for a new beginning. When we seek God, He will give us a new perspective. In Romans 12:2 Paul gives us a solution to change when he says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is good and acceptable and perfect." We don't have to keep falling in the same hole. Let Jesus guide your walk and you will find a new street to joy.
I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
January 25, 2017 - And Jesus answered her; "but, whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)
As God made water flow from the rock in the wilderness when the Israelites had no water to drink, so to does the water of life flow today. For not only is one saved for eternity when he accepts Jesus as Lord, "drinks of the water that I will give him", but once saved that person wants to see others experience the same joy and peace that he has received. So the water of life flows forth from each.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
To receive the water of life, one must first believe and receive the word of God. He must believe and accept God's Word as truth as he accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master. No other way can one receive eternal life in heaven.
Peter tells us; "but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:25)
The same "good news" preached by Jesus and His Apostles is still true and being preached today.
As Jesus said; "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." "Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
These rivers of living water that will flow from the hearts of the redeemed is the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
When one is truly born-again, that person is inclined to want to share the joy and good news that he has received with others. In this way the living water flows from each Christian into the world as it has from the original twelve disciples.
The reward for accepting Jesus as Lord; "Then the angel showed me the river of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city, also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. "
"And night will be no more. They will need no kind of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever." ( Revelation 22:1,2,5)
The scene in heaven as described by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation.
Is this not where you wish to spend your eternity, a place where you drink from the river of life and eat from the tree of life year-round.
The alternative is to be cast out into darkness, separated from the Lord forever, tormented day and night for eternity.
Jesus says; "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." (John 7:37)
Answer His call, come to Him and drink from the living water and thirst no more.
May God's blessings fall upon you each day...
January 23, 2017 - Bro. T.A. “Tracy” Lane of Pineland has recently been elected to serve as 2017 moderator of the Original Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Association. This association includes several churches throughout the Deep East Texas area. Bro. Lane serves as the bi-vocational pastor of Yellowpine-Macedonia Baptist Church in Yellowpine.
Original Bethlehem’s first meeting of 2017 will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 27, 2017, at Bishop Chapel Baptist Church, located on Highway 63, east of Jasper. Bishop Chapel’s pastor, Bro. Wes Wright, is serving the association as treasurer and his wife, Susan Wright, is the association’s clerk.
Bro. Lane and Bro. Wright jointly welcome everyone to this quarterly meeting on January 27. “We are excited to present special guests who will be sharing about an awesome work planned for Peru,” according to Bro. Lane.
At this meeting, the Sookraj family will sharing plans to establish and orphanage ministry for the abandoned children of Peru.
BMA of America approved and commissioned the Sookraj family in 2016 for this mission project. This has opened many doors for the family to visit churches to discuss the work and gain support.
Central Church of Southaven, Missisippi, is the sponoring church for this mission.
Friday’s meeting is open for anyone from the local churches as well as visitors to the Original Bethlehem Association. Interested persons may contact Bro. Wright or Bro. Lane, 409-382-8765, for more information.
January 23, 2017 - Last week Pam and I made our bi-monthly Sam’s Wal-Mart-Ralph & Kakoo’s trip to Lufkin. Since we’d be shopping in some large stores, I took my walking cane in the car just in case I needed it. Since I have neuropathy in my feet, the cane helps me keep my balance while walking. We parked at Sam’s and had taken few steps towards the store when an elderly lady came wheeling toward me in an electric shopping cart. “Here, Sir..Here” ”Let me help you”, she said. I told her I was fine and thanked her as she walked away.
The following Sunday, church member Brooksie Sanders walked in with a walking cane. Since we’d never seen her use it, we began talking about it and the experience I’d recently had at Sam’s. As we were all laughing together, Brooksie said a lady recently saw her with the cane for the first time and asked her, “Brooksie, are you alright?” “Have you been sick?” Brooksie replied, “No, but I am 90 years old, you know!” All of us here at Calvary Baptist Church are amazed at how she looks, thinks and maintains her special, sense of humor. Brooksie and I are two of around ten million Americans who have discovered what great friends canes can be.
When Pam and I got home that Sunday, she said, “In time everyone will get used to your cane. “I know”, I laughed.
“I probably will, too”.
January 23, 2017 - Last week we celebrated the baptism of Jesus. This Sunday, the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to become his first disciples. John the Baptizer is in prison; Jesus picks up the mantle, calling upon people to prepare for the coming Kingdom of Heaven. The radical call and the radical response by the four fishermen served as the Gospel for this Sunday. The response by the four was radical in that they immediately answered the call. They walked away from the way they made a living. They also walked away from their comfort zone—their families and their community. Few people are willing to make that kind of sacrifice to become disciples.
I read an article where the writer says he is not a “fan” of Jesus, which really grabbed my attention. The writer is astounded that 75% percent of Americans—some 223,000,000 people—say they are Christians. If this is indeed the case, then how can so many people go to bed hungry every night? Why are so many children ignored? The writer decides that most people who call themselves Christians are really just “fans of Jesus.” They like the story of Jesus. They certainly want their tickets punched for Heaven. But to be a disciple—that simply requires too much. I think between disciples and fans are the vast majority of Christians who try to be followers. We try to follow in the footsteps of the master, but we find such an adventure very difficult.
Our Sunday School was special in many ways. First, Pat Pate came this morning, and we were all so happy to see her. Pat taught with Sue and me for a long, long time and remains one of our best friends. Secondly, Ms. Fannie sang the beginning of Psalm 104. Joe sang the next part, and then the entire class sang the last of the Psalm that was printed in our lesson. It was a great way to rejoice at God’s goodness, although singing isn’t the greatest talent of so many of us.
We were in double digits this morning—always something to celebrate with such a small congregation as Paxton. Joe and Laura, our “newbies,” as my sister-in-law said upon meeting them, came to church this morning. Pat knew most of the folks at Paxton already and was introduced to those she didn’t know. We received a letter from First Baptist Joaquin thanking the Paxton church for our financial and personal support in providing Christmas gifts to young folks in the community.
Our Paxton ministry served Holiday Nursing Center last week. Hilda, Fannie, Sue, Nora, and the preacher visited friends, shared stories, and sang songs. The weather had been steady rain for several days, but Thursday afternoon the rains slowed and the sun came out. We are looking forward to our outreach at Lakeside Village this coming Thursday at 2:00. Many of our volunteers are Paxton members, but others just have that desire to bring cheer to our friends and neighbors.
In November there was a wreck out in front of our house. It was rainy weather and a car hydroplaned, leaving the road and taking out two large bushes, our street sign, the State’s “55mph sign,” hitting our culvert and flipping over. Luckily, all were safely buckled in, so no one was hurt. This past week I went to a sign shop in Center to order a new street sign. The gentleman who waited on me and I got into a long conversation about people we both know. Ms. Margie Dorner, who we all know from our visits to Lakeside, came in. Turns out she is his mother, and we had one of those “small world” visits.
“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!
January 19, 2017 - Jackson's Annual Chili Cook-Off is Sunday, January 22nd and everyone is invited to attend.
The Chili Cook-Off will take place after the 10:50am Worship Service. Also, special music during the 10:50am Worship Service will be provided by the Stephens of Northport, Alabama. Everyone is invited to join us for an afternoon of Worship with the Stephens at 1:30pm on Sunday, January 22nd.
Jackson Baptist Church is located at 11120 State Hwy 7 East, Joaquin, TX 75954.
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