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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
June 5, 2017 - Pastor Freddie Wilson and members of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church would like to invite you to our annual Family and Friends Day Celebration on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Our special guest will be Evangelist Drayton Garner and the Sand Hill Baptist Church of Nacogdoches, Texas.
June 5, 2017 - Sunday is the beginning of a new quarter and new study books for our Sunday school class. Our lesson came from early in the Hebrew Scriptures, which put us non-Jews at a disadvantage. We don’t know the national history of Israel very well, and some of the events and people sound so foreign. But taking that into consideration, there is wisdom to be gained from these ancient words. We are introduced to a hero of the Jewish nation, the prophet Deborah, respected and loved by the many tribes. She goes with General Barak into battle, and the enemy is defeated. Although women were held in low status at the time, Deborah was—and is—an inspiration to all.
Traditionally, June is when Methodist ministers who are changing churches move. I think now they wait until closer to July. I came to Paxton on the first Sunday in June in 2010. I was also the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Joaquin. I have really enjoyed my years at Paxton just as I did serving the other churches I preached at.
Summer will officially be here in a few short weeks. Living in East Texas means that we will have high temperatures and high humidity. At least the rain has been nice. In the month of June, Paxton Methodist will collect paper towels and toilet paper for Community Christian Services. On Monday we will venture to Focused Care of Center, AKA Green Acres. Our ministry there starts at 2PM; everyone is invited to visit, share stories, and sing a few songs.
It was great to see Keith this morning. Congratulations to Vera for another successful school year! We were in double digits this morning, making it a red-letter day. Cynthia came once again to play the piano for us—so nice of her to add us to her already crowded schedule. Plus, we sound lots better! Joy talked to Hilda this week. It was lovely to have Mrs. Hilda with us last week, but she knows her first priority should be to rest and recover.
“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.
“A good friend knows all your stories. A best friend helped you write them.”
June 5, 2017 - Last week Pam and I attended The Peavy Family Reunion in Chireno, Texas. As we drove up Loop 34 near town, a large white house suddenly exploded into my view. “Stop…back up, Pam”, I said….and pull off the road.” “I know that house.” “I spent a week in it in 1951...I was 19 years old… and the house looks exactly like it did back then!” And for half an hour I told Pam my story.
In the summer of ’51 my church Pastor (Dr. Carroll Chadwick) invited me to attend Revival services he’d be preaching at The Baptist Church in Chireno, Texas. “I’ll be driving back to Center every night but have arranged for you to stay with one of the church families during the week.” Monday night I stayed with School Supt. Melvin Miller and his wife, Joy.
The next night I went home with Bank-President H. V. Hall, his wife Laura and “Aunt Lou”, H. V’s grandmother. Their house had three floors…and my room was on the top one. As I entered the room, I spotted a pair of military dress boots, a bed, and an unidentifiable “something” on a nearby table. “Know what this is, Junior?” “It’s a television…watch this”, H. V. said. When he turned it on, the screen turned to snow, buzzed a while and then I noticed movements in the snow. “That’s Roy Rogers!” I exclaimed. “Hey, that’s Trigger!” “We had to erect a 50 foot antenna to get signals from Shreveport”, H. V. said.
The next morning H.V. told me to walk down to the bank and “Laura and I will show you around”. “Don’t let the cats get you”, he said. When I asked him what he meant, he just laughed and said, “You’ll see.”
And I did see. About half way to town, scores of cats suddenly swarmed all around me. All colors, sizes…they were in the trees, along the road… and all around an old house. There must have been forty of them. When I walked in the bank, H. V. laughed, “Well, did the cats get you?” “Every time we pass that house, there’s twenty cats digging and twenty covering up,” he laughed. Then Laura handed me a silver dollar. “Junior, don’t ever lose this and you’ll never be broke”, she mused. “And before you go home, walk down the street and see Dewey Ennis’s new Studebaker.” I kept Laura’s dollar in my pockets for many years before it finally went missing. But I have never lost the many rich memories of H. V., Laura and sweet “Aunt Lou”. They are stored in my heart.
I continued to attend revivals with Brother Chadwick all that summer and was amazed at his large treasure chest of friends. In Chireno his friends (like the Millers, Rev. Roy Monzingo and The Halls), became my friends, too….
…. some of my very best.
June 1, 2017 - The Joaquin Community Cemetery Homecoming will be held on Saturday, June 10th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church. We will have a business meeting, singing, and a Woodmen of the World tribute. Lunch will be picnic style in the Fellowship Hall along with an extensive slide show of donated photos. Please join us as we honor those buried in the cemetery.
June 1, 2017 - Bluegrass Trio from First Baptist Church will be playing and singing at 11am on Thursday, June 1st at the Senior Nutrition Site on Loop 500, 124 Haley Drive. Come enjoy Wayne Holt on the guitar, David Mathis on the mandolin, and Alayna Scull on the fiddle.
May 31, 2017 - When my mother decided to remarry after my father passed away, I was not necessarily on board with it. My future step-father was about to take on a lady who had five sons, none of which were angels. I remember on several occasions playing "tricks" on my prospective step father to get him to "go away". I once ran up to him when he came up to pick my mom up in his freshly starched white shirt, and gave him a big hug. However, I had just happened to be playing in the "burn pile" outside just prior and left two little black hand prints on his shirt. But what changed my attitude toward him forever was when I finally came out one day and told him how I really felt.
I said some pretty mean things that he took without wavering. As he left I instantly felt convicted. It was like I had been locked in a prison cell and I had to get free. I remembered the times he had shown me love when I didn't deserve it. How he was always quick to forgive and defend me when I had obviously done wrong. I couldn't stand it any longer. I new that he was going to a friends house about a mile away. I began to run to where I new he was. I had to tell him I was sorry for what I had said. When he saw me running up the road he ran up to meet me. I was crying and asked for his forgiveness. He hugged me and told me he already had. He said he knew that I didn't mean what I had said but even if I did he would love me anyway. Our relationship was never the same after that. At the age of 11 a learned a valuable lesson in love and forgiveness. When I was asked to speak at his funeral four years ago, It was my honor to stand and say my step father was the kindest, gentlest, most forgiving man I had ever known. He taught me that sin locks you in prison but forgiveness sets you free.
Forgiveness is a vital part of any relationship. Ask any couple who has been married for any length of time and they will tell you that you have to learn how to forgive to have a successful marriage. As a matter of fact any relationship whether it be business, social, or family is affected by our willingness to forgive other people. As a Christian, to forgive is not requested of us but commanded of us. We are required to forgive others to receive forgiveness ourselves. Jesus said " For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours." (Matt 6:14-15) Its not a choice. You can't be a Christian and have an attitude of unforgiveness toward anyone. In Gods eyes forgiveness equals love. God shows His love for us by forgiving us of all our sins. The good news is that no matter what you have done in your life God promises to forgive you and make you His child. All you have to do is ask for it, repent, and receive it .
I'm just Saying
Mike Belgard
May 30, 2017 - Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church "Gone Fishing" VBS June 12-16 6pm-8:30
For a ride text (936)205-0970 or comment on the fb event
Sealed by the Spirit, Saved by Grace
"And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
May 30, 2017 - Peter made this statement on the day of Pentecost to the thousands of people who had gathered and who witnessed the miracles of the coming of the Holy Spirit over the apostles that day.
Realizing from the preaching that day that they were responsible for the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, they began to ask what they could do to be saved.
This verse, (Acts 2:38) was Peter's response to their request for salvation.
Paul then gives us a much clearer picture of salvation and meaning of the gift of the Holy Spirit for all who believe and accept Christ as Lord.
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:11-12)
Paul explains that the apostles were chosen by God and he goes on to explain what happens to us when we are called by the Word of God.
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14) Wow!
There we see the beauty of the salvation of the Lord. Just as with the original apostles and disciples of Christ Jesus, we too are sealed with the Holy Spirit, saved from the penalty of sin as we wait for the day when we can take possession of our inheritance, that glorious day when we join with the Lord.
God saves us from sin through the blood of his Son, he gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, sealing us from evil. That is what salvation truly means, to be sat aside from the world, sealed by the Holy Spirit, destined to be in the glory of the Lord in heaven. As long as we follow the Holy Spirit each day, nothing can separate us from the Lord.
Let me ask you, what of this world, what worldly pleasure or treasure can be as valuable as the salvation of the Lord?
Why then do you wait? Why then do you resist the Spirit's call? If you have not accepted Christ as Lord, then please, do so today.
Just stop what you are doing and submit to the Lord. Bow your head and bend your knee to him and say to him in prayer.
"Jesus, I am a sinner who wishes to be saved from my sins. I believe in you Lord Jesus, I believe that you came from heaven to earth to live and die, for me. I believe that the Heavenly Father raised you from the dead. I believe that you then ascended back to heaven where you live and reign today. I ask you Lord Jesus this day. Please Lord, save me!"
If you pray that prayer, in earnest, having faith and believing in your heart the words you are speaking, you will be saved.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you this day...
May 30, 2017 - Ramah Cemetery's annual meeting is Saturday, June 3rd at 11:00 AM with a covered dish dinner at 12:00 noon.
May 29, 2017 - VBS at Old Home Baptist Church will be Monday, June 5 thru Thursday, June 8th from 6:00 - 7:30. Come out and learn about the Super Heroes of the bible at "Hero Central". There will be Story Time, Snacks, Science Projects and Fun and Games. Classes start at Age 3. Call or text for more details 936-332-9293.
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