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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
May 22, 2017 - Logansport Missionary Baptist Church in Logansport will be having revival June 5-9, 7pm each night. Bro. Brant Lane will be the speaker. Specials are welcome.
For further information contact Bro. Joe Walker, Pastor, 936-269-3682 or 590-0836.
May 22, 2017 - Sunday was the Sixth Sunday in Easter. Today’s First Lesson came from Acts 17:23-32. Since it comes from the second half of Acts, we know the main focus will be Paul. The first half focuses on Peter. Paul has come to Mars Hill in Athens to speak. Mars Hill was the meeting place to discuss theology, religion, philosophy, and the law. It is still the place where Greek court is held for civil, criminal, and religious matters. Paul is very respectful to his audience made up of many learned people. He knows he will not get many converts, but he does get some who are interested in the outlandish story about a Jewish peasant God raises from the dead. The part that is unbelievable to them isn’t the resurrection but that it was a Jewish peasant who was raised to the status of God.
We still have many folks who are out sick or traveling. We had a very special guest today: Cynthia came from Joaquin to play the piano for Paxton Methodist! We sounded so much better with her accompaniment. We got a head start on Memorial Day by singing two patriotic songs that Joe selected. Cynthia also played a beautiful song for the offertory, but I forgot to ask her the name of it. During May we are collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. This week our ministry takes us to Lakeside Assisted Living. We are so thankful for all those who attend other churches but meet us and help make the nursing center ministries successful. We are very happy to hear that Hilda is now at home and getting stronger every day.
We did the Holiday program Tuesday, thanks to Minnie agreeing to play piano for us. We sang lots of songs, which Minnie and I chose from the list of ones we know. Sue read a new kids' book, The Nose That Knows--about a dog that follows his nose everywhere he smells food (even to the moon, which is made of peanut butter). Nora sang a “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” and passersby in the hallway paused to listen. Fannie read the funniest thing: a third grader's idea of who God is. Jo came too--not to present anything, but she definitely upped our singing talent. Even though we had to compete with two fire alarm tests, we had a nice program.
“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!
May 22, 2017 - “Study to show yourself approved unto God…rightly dividing the Word of Truth…”
In the 1960, I became pastor the Woodlawn Baptist Church of Portland, Oregon. When our youth attendance began to decline one spring, I learned that the Holcomb Avenue Baptist Church (a neighboring church) was offering them boat rides on the Columbia River as a reward for their church attendance. Churches commonly use attractions like Colorado skiing trips, beach parties, and other entertainment to attract youth to church services.
We were never offered this kind entertainment when I attended church as a youth. Instead, we enjoyed exercises like “Sword Drills” where the teacher called out a text and we competed to see who could find it first in our Bibles. We brought our Bibles to all services and after a weekly visitation program, we were served refreshments at the church.
Has entertainment overshadowed the spiritual thrust of the church and have we sold our youth to shallow loyalties? Are we teaching them how to serve… or just how to be served?
Good social activities for our youth are valuable tools but things like boat rides on the Columbia will only pay off…
….if it gets them on the Ship of Zion
May 18, 2017 (Order form) - New Life Church is having a Burger Fundraiser Friday, May 19, 2017 to benefit Missions trip to Guatemala. Plates include 1/4lb burger, chips, homemade dessert, and choice of drink (Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite or water) for $7 per meal. On the mission trip they will be building homes for widows and their children. Orders can be faxed to 936-598-5032.
Honoring our Pastor & Wife 10th Anniversary
May 18, 2017 - We the members of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church cordially invite you to come and celebrate the 10th Anniversary honoring our Pastor and wife, Rev. and Sister Winston Kibbles, Sr. at 2:30pm on Sunday, June 4, 2017.
Theme: “Celebrating the Laborer that dwells among us.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13: "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves."
Special guest speaker is Rev. Shan Glider who is the Pastor of Holy Temple COGIC, Silsbee, Texas.
St. John Missionary Baptist church is located at 2308 C.R. 2050 Center, Tx 75935.
May 17 - Conference 2017 presented by House of the Refuge Apostolic Ministries will be May 17 - 19, 2019 starting at 7:30pm nightly. The theme of the conference will be "The Lord Our Banner". Wednesday, May 17th will be Pastor Elgena Weaver, pastor of Mt. Zion CME Church; Thursday, May 18th will feature Prophetess Detries Morris, High Ground Ministries of Mansfiel, LA; and Friday, May 19th will be lead by Evangelist Karen Henderson, Compassion Community COGIC of Dallas, Texas.
Everyone is cordially invited to attend the conference.
May 16, 2017 - Why should I worry about tomorrow, for I am saved today?
"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) By grace I am saved, I have no worries for all man can do to me is take my physical life from me. I am saved by the one who can take away both physical life and spiritual life.
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) God who by the blood of his Son, shed on the cross saved me from the penalty of sin forever. God guides my steps through life and who can overcome Him?
"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:34-35)
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)
We who are saved by God's grace are his inheritance from this world. When this age ends and the final day of judgment comes this earth that we know will pass away. The earth and the heavens will be burned up and replaced with a new heaven and a new earth. The only remnant from this earth will be the words of God and the saved, His children who He will keep as His own forever and ever.
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any thing else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
You see, only one thing can separate us from the Lord. That is us, ourselves, through our own fault, our own worldly greed and passions we alone can remove us from God's protection.
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Take eternal comfort in knowing that God watched over us each day.
"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and and guard you against the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) Yes, the Lord is faithful to us as we must be faithful to him for He is our saving grace.
We have but one duty to carry out on earth as explained by the wisest man who ever lived, the great king Solomon. "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
Stop worrying! If you are saved all you have to do is to fear God, love God and keep his commandments, its that simple, don't make life complicated. Seek God and everything you need will be given to you. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you this day...
May 16, 2017 (Order form) - Patroon Baptist Church is having a Pulled Pork Sandwich Lunch Fundraiser on Friday, May 19, 2017. Deliveries only. For $6, lunches will include sandwich and trimmings, chips, cookies and bottled water. Lunches will be delivered to your business between 10:30am and 12:30pm on Friday, May 19th. Please return your order form via fax to (936) 598-2535 no later than 5pm Wednesday, May 17th. All proceeds will benefit our trip to Fort Rock Camp this summer. If you have any questions, you can call or text Debbie at 936-572-0556.
May 15, 2017 - In October of 2007 a trip was made to a remote village named Drouin (pronounced Dway) on the west side of the country of Haiti. Drouin is located in the Arbonite Region of Haiti. It is a 4 hour drive North West of the capital. It is the rice growing area of Haiti and is prone to flooding and extreme heat. The poverty, the lack of fresh water, the mundane diet of rice and maybe a few black beans and the lack of education opportunity made a dramatic impact. As Stepstones became a reality and incorporated in 2009, a new reality was dawning in Drouin as a school building was erected.
The school has been greatly impacted by Center, Texas. Metal for the roof was donated by a local business, desks, dry-erase boards, student and teacher desks, and filing cabinets were donated by CISD. There have been men who have traveled to work on, teach at and around the school from Center. Eight teachers are presently teaching an increasing number of students.
This six room school houses a little over 380 students. The class size averages around 50 students. The school day is divided into two sections to accommodate the older students in the afternoon so they can work in the rice fields early in the morning. We are well over capacity and are in a great need to expand the present rooms. The cost to expand the rooms and remodel with tile, paint, louvered windows and iron security bars will cost $21,000.
Stepstones is in need of businesses, individuals, foundations and churches to join us in continuing to provide an education for the children in Drouin. The only way a nation can rise out of poverty is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Education. Every mother and father desires to see their children have a better life than they have had. This is true in Drouin as well. Children attend school for free and every day they receive a hot meal. The students are testing very high on the national tests and have high expectations. The teachers are paid $125 per month which is above the national average.
Four more teachers could be hired if donations of $6,000 per year were given. This can be achieved through one time donations or through monthly installments. Anyone interested in helping meet these critical needs can contact Mike Brister at 936-591-8877, email at mike.stepstones@yahoo.com or send contributions made payable to Stepstones Ministry International to P.O. Box 1988 Center, Texas 75935. All donations are tax-deductible.
“A good friend knows all your stories. A best friend helped you write them.”
May 15, 2017 - When Pam and I attended The Peavy Family Reunion Saturday in Chireno, Texas, we saw friends we hadn’t seen for many years. I met Gordon Peavy’s family when I was a student at ETBU and pastor of Liberty Hill Baptist Church in San Augustine, Texas. Gordon was one of the last truck farmers in our area and was one of the best. I always enjoyed spending Saturdays with him on his farm in the Patroon Creek bottom and to ride with him to the Farmers Market in Houston. He taught me how to tie greens with “bear grass”, how to drive a tractor and to know when a watermelon was ripe.
Gordon’s son Hollis and I squirrel hunted in the woods near Bland Lake and fished often in Patroon Creek, Huxley’s Bayou Seipe and on the Sabine River. On a camp-out on the Sabine River one night, we gave up on fishing and started gigging frogs along the river banks. Those frogs that we cooked on that sand bar would have tasted better had we been able to wash the frog smell off our hands before we ate.
The Reunion at Betty Jean’s last week brought back memories of the ‘50s as if they happened yesterday. She and Ruby Carolyn are the only remaining members of Gordon and Emma’s family. Willis, Herbert and Hollis crossed the Jordan several years ago.
Pam and I (and the 50 others present) had a great time Saturday… and God willing we’ll be present at their Reunion next year to meet with friends and celebrate Betty Jean’s birthday anniversary again.
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