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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
November 9, 2016 - Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ of Strong cordially invites the community to our Annual Christmas Program which will take place on December 17, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. The theme is: “The Joy of Christmas”
We are inviting all soloists, choirs, praise teams, etc. to join us as we celebrate the reason for the season. For more information, please contact Elder Faye Dell Allen at 936-368-2611/936-572-5810 or Sis. Sylvia Hubbard at 936-332-3103.
November 8, 2016 - A wonderful truth, that if we only believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior then we are saved and enter into the family of God. So simple, yet so difficult for so many to accept as the truth.
"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)
God created all things, all souls belong to Him, but so many do not believe in Him enough to gain salvation through grace. What a shame for so many to be so close to salvation and to then turn away into eternal darkness without the Lord God.
The Father loved all people so much that He sent His only begotten son to die in their stead that they too might have eternal life in heaven. Yet, they rejected Him, did not know Him and even called for His execution on the cross. God loves all people but He doesn't just issue blanket salvation, no, it must be received as the scripture says, "But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God"
Salvation is available for all, but first Jesus Christ must be received, accepted as who He truly is, Son of the living God.
Paul tells us in the book of Romans; "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED." (Romans 10:9) "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:10)
So simple and yet so hard for so many. Sonship does not come by inheritance, nor by uniting with some church, no, only through belief in Jesus can anyone have the father-child relationship with God.
Once one believes that God is real and accepts Jesus as the Son of God, that person is then born again, becoming a new creature and sonship begins, no waiting period required. Those who are then led by the Holy Spirit are the sons of God from that day forth.
Their relationship with God is rooted in His love and they are adopted into His family, made heirs of God's kingdom, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, all believers being brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him"(1 john 3:1)
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is." (1 John 3:2)
November 7, 2016 - I received a surprising 2-page hand-written (!) letter from my “blood brother” Jack Fontaine last week…. It was the first handwritten letter I’ve received in years and was extra special because it was from my friend Jack. It’s almost unbelievable that it has been over 60 years since I’ve seen him ….and you’d never guess his age by his picture or by reading his letter.
Jack and I became high school friends in the late forties and he, his twin brother Jerry and I worked part time at the Rio Theater in Center, Texas. We did it all. We took up tickets, ushered, popped popcorn and cleaned the theater on weekends. Nearby Adkinson’s Grocery was our favorite place to “stoke up”. “Stoking up” meant drinking as many nickle “sodie waters” as we could (especially the little Grapettes) and seeing who could drink down a whole bottle of 7-Up non-stop. We often hitch hiked to Shelbyville, Texas to fish and hunt on Teneha Creek and it was during an overnight camp-out on the creek that I drank my first (and last) cup of coffee. I also caught my first gasper ghoul (fresh water drum) on a set hook the next morning.
Jack’s engineer-father encouraged his boys to get a college education and even though he never knew it, he helped me to get one, too. “Henry, get a college education”, he’d say. ”It might be difficult, but you can do it” Even Jack’s older brother Tom (an A & M student at the time) came to our house to explain college life to me. All four of the Fontaine brothers got degrees from Texas A & M ….and I attended Seminary in Missouri and received a B.A. from ETBU in Marshall, Texas. So Jack’s Dad was right: It wasn’t easy, but by God’s grace, I did it.
Jack and I pulled on the same rope in numerous ways as we were growing up and now that we are older fellows, I see something else we have in common. We both have an unusual ability to remember….and I’m now recalling some of the best memories of my youth …..
….. because of my letter from Jack.
November 7, 2016 - Joaquin United Methodist Church would like to invite everyone to a special Sunday service on November 13th at Joaquin United Methodist Church. Kenneth Harvey is an awesome man of God. You will be inspired and challenged. This story will touch all age groups. We will receive a love offering to help fund the documentary that is being made.
If you can't come and would like to contribute to this very important project, you can send a check to Joaquin methodist church, PO Box 278, Joaquin, TX 75954. 100% of the offering will go to the making of "The Gamechanger". You can hear a portion of the story on YouTube "The game changer The Kenneth Harvey story," a 4 minute video by Rick Rowe.
November 7, 2016 - Sunday was All Saints Sunday. Since the fourth century November 1st has been a high holy day in the Christian faith set aside to remember the saints of our church and saints of our lives. It is certainly important to remember, and it is important to continue the ancient traditions of our faith. In days gone past the church paid a more central role in people’s lives, so celebrations during the week were not unusual. But today, for our convenience we have moved many of our most sacred celebrations of life to Sunday.
Tuesday is Election Day and like most Americans I will be so happy for this race to be over! My sister-in-law sent some wisdom of John Wesley, founder of Methodism about an upcoming election in his day.
“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them,
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy.
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against.
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
Not bad advice in the 1700s or today.
Ms. Fannie’s Sunday school lesson was titled “Everything Is Brand New.” The scripture came from Revelation 21: 1-8 which also speaks of promise and renewal. The one sitting on the throne declares that he is going to make all things new. The writer goes on to say that God will dwell with humans—he will pitch his tent among his people. The Greek word for dwell means to live in—God chooses to live in us.
The Pastor-Parish Relations Committee’s report on the Pastor is completed. Church members reviewed the various questions, answered, and signed. In a church as small as ours everyone is on the PPR Committee. Church members will look at dates for the Paxton Community Christmas Party. Next week we will also decide how many angels from the Community Christian Services’ Angel Trees we will take this year.
Sue and I played hooky from church last Sunday. We were in Dallas helping our daughter move into her new home. She bought an older home and had it gutted and then redone to suit her taste. It was a three-month project that took 11 months. The house is beautiful and I know she is happy to finally be in. I always feel like something is missing when I am not at Paxton Methodist on Sunday morning. This Sunday is not only All Saints Sunday but is the first Sunday when we celebrate Holy Communion.
Ms. Hilda emailed Sue and me to tell us that the Lakeside ministry was a great success. Hilda always works so hard to put together wonderful programs at the area nursing centers. In November our Green Acres ministry is tomorrow. Our Holiday ministry is November 15th and Lakeside is November 17th. All the ministries start at 2:00. We moved up Lakeside a week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday . During the month of November Paxton Methodist will be collecting rice and beans for Community Christian Services.
“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!
November 3, 2016 - The Pastor and Members of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church invites you to our 107th Church Anniversary. This event will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
November 2, 2016 - The Abundant Love Ministries Men’s Ministry, Men’s Revival, scheduled for November 3-5, 2016, is cancelled, because of an unexpected illness of the guest evangelist.
We apologize for any scheduling inconveniences, and will reschedule this event as the earliest available date of Pastor John Russell. Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville Street, Center, TX.
November 1, 2016 - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. " (1 Peter 5:8)
God's creations were pure, never having been corrupted until Satan entered the Garden of Eden, masquerading as a serpent.
His first act that we are aware of here on earth was to enter the garden and deceive Eve by telling half-truths and outright lies.
He first created doubt in her mind as to what God had actually said about the fruit of the garden. He appealed to her ego by telling her that she would be "like God" knowing good from evil if she would only eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
He uses the same doubts and denials today to deceive people and draw them away from God.
God allowed him to torment Job, even taking his family and all his possessions, but Job never gave in to his deceptions.
Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness, but He overcame every temptation by using God's Word; as He would quote scripture to rebuke Satan's lies.
Today we must be sober and vigilant for we are at war; not with the flesh, but with the spirit. Satan is called; the prince and power of the air and he does rule this world. Our fight is against this evilness in all forms.
As Christians our duty is to answer the call to arms against evil and fight against it wherever and whenever we encounter it.
Thankfully, we have the most powerful weapon on earth, God's Holy Word, as our offense and defense against this evil. We may be weak, but the Holy Spirit that resides within every Christian is stronger than any power of earth.
We know Satan goes about the earth seeking whom he may devour. The lost are already shackled to him so he turns his efforts upon those he does not have, the children of God.
Satan enters the church today, not to worship, but to accuse and discredit others.
How do we recognize his efforts; if anything causes the peace, tranquility and unity of the church to be broken or interrupted, it is from Satan. The person who is facilitating this distraction may have no idea that it being done through he or she, no matter, it has it's origins in Satan.
He would create even greater havoc if the Holy Spirit did not restrain him for he seeks to devour the life, testimony, witness, fellowship, love, joy, and peace of every believer.
Unlike Eve, we must learn to recognize and overcome the lies and deceptions of Satan and his Minions. We must do as Jesus instructs us; "Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:4)
We must choose to live close to Jesus if we are to win this battle, it is His battle to fight for us, for we are too weak by ourselves.
May the Lord God bless and keep you this day.
November 1, 2016 - “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly…” Proverbs 18:24
I met the late Fred Smith when I was a student at ETBU in Marshall, Texas. He was one of our best (and biggest) basketball players and his size earned him the name “Big Fred”. Our paths crossed again when I met him in his pickup on the hill at Geneva, Texas back in the seventies. “Hey, Fincher”, he hollered. “Hey, Fred,"…"Whatcha doing nowadays?”.... “Fox huntin’”, he laughed.
Fred and I often bragged about how poor we grew up and often sat on his “gallery” (a.k.a. “porch”) and compared our stories of poverty.
“Fred, were y'all rich enough to take ‘lightening bread’ in your school lunch?” “Not very often...but when we did, we didn’t hold it down low. We held it up high where everybody could see it!” “My school lunch was usually a hammer and two “hiccer nuts”, he laughed. “Hey, Fincher…. if you want to hunt doves in the back pasture, you’re as welcome as the flowers in May.”
When I asked Fred what he played in High School football, he laughed, “Mainly the bench. My coach never learned my name. He just called me ‘Boy’”. “When we played Center one year, they almost killed us. Finally the coach told me to go in. The next thing I remember I was being hauled off the field in a wheel barrow and they parked me on the sideline in a bunch of goat weeds”.
It’s no wonder that I so enjoyed visiting Fred “on his gallery.” He was a fun man to be around and never failed to lift my spirits with his wit and sense of humor.
When he crossed the Jordan years ago, he left me (and his world of friends) many wonderful memories. And he was what many men never are.
He was a good man.
October 31, 2016 - A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a pack of root beer, and started his journey.
When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips. He gratefully accepted It and smiled at him.
His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word...
As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; But before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever...
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?”
He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!* Have lunch with God.....bring chips.
Let's continue to pray for one another.
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