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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
November 21, 2016 - It happened at 3:00 this morning. I suddenly woke up and for two hours lay recalling the prayers of friends I have known. When I was four years old, I heard Daddy pray for the first time. Before Bill and I ate our oatmeal, he prayed, “Dear God, make us thankful for these and other blessings. Amen.” He prayed the same identical prayer at every meal as we were growing up.
When I was pastor of The First Baptist Church of Starks, La., 90-year-old Mrs. Ada Berwick always included the words, “Dear Lord, bless the ‘cold and indefinite’ in her prayers. I thought she meant “cold and indifferent”, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that middle-of-the-road “indefinites” need our prayers, too.
Deacon/Music Director T. O. Ellington of FBC, Shelbyville, Texas included the word “desire” in all his prayers. At the conclusion, he’d say, “Dear God we thank you for the ‘desire’ to be here today.” And T.O. was right. It’d really boring to sit in a church service without a desire to be there.
When our twin granddaughters (Zoe and Lundyn) were five years old, Pam and I taught them to pray, “God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food. Amen.” When they were spending a week with us one summer, Zoe said, “Meme, can we pray another prayer today? It is different, but it is still to God.“ Then we all held hands and the girls prayed in perfect unison, "But give honor to Christ in your hearts as your Lord; and be ready at any time when you are questioned about the hope which is in you.." 1 Peter 3:15. "We learned it in Bible School last summer", they said. It was difficult for Pam and me to hide the tears of joy in our eyes.
Before going back to sleep, I thanked God for the memory of those prayers…
...And thanked Him for remembering them, too.
November 21, 2016 - Sunday was Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday. This final Sunday on the Christian calendar has been celebrated for over 1500 years. At one time this festival time was just that—festive—but today it’s more of just a remembrance. Next Sunday begins a new year and is the First Sunday in Advent. This New Year will be the Year of Matthew, so most of the Gospel Lessons will come from there. Regardless of what year the Gospel reading is, though, it’s always about Jesus dying on the cross on Christ the King Sunday.
The lesson certainly isn’t upbeat and doesn’t seem to fit with many happy merry festivals that are just around the corner. Since this has been the Year of Luke in the Revised Common Lectionary used by most Christian churches, today’s reading comes from Luke 23:33-43. Jesus and one of the thieves strike up a conversation. Jesus assures the thief that he will be with Jesus in paradise. Christian tradition says this thief is named Dismas. In the Good as New translation, Jesus’ promise says, “We will keep one another company today, in God’s garden.” That sounds really cool!
In England , this festival day is sometimes called “Stir Up Sunday.” One of the first prayers in The Common Book of Prayer begins, “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people.” I don’t know anyone who doesn’t need his/her “will” stirred up from time to time.
We have one more Sunday in this quarter. I think all that attend Sunday school have really enjoyed this writer. Once again the scripture lesson comes from Revelation. We all have become accustomed to the wording, full of metaphor and flowery language. But the images of life-giving water and tree leaves that will be used to heal are certainly nice to hear. Fannie has a hard time keeping us on topic, but I don’t think she really minds. We had a very good discussion this morning.
We were in double digits at Paxton Sunday morning. Our dear friend Susan Whiddon and her niece Laura and husband Joe came and worshipped with us this morning. We really felt honored by their coming this morning. Of course Susan and Fannie taught many years together in Center, and many former basketball players remember Coach Whiddon fondly. Laura and Joe recently moved to Joaquin from Dallas, and I am sure it will take some time to get used to the slow pace here!
We had two Nursing Home ministries this week. On Tuesday we went to Holiday and had a wonderful time with the residents. On Thursday we went to Lakeside Village Assisted Living and had a great time seeing old friends. We had special music provided by Tori and Joyce. The residents really enjoyed their singing and playing. Some of us only wish we could make such a beautiful sound—it’s more of a “joyful noise” for me!
Paxton Methodist is busily planning (or finding out plans from Mrs. Fannie) our Christmas program on December 6, followed by finger foods. Friends of Paxton are certainly welcome to join us, starting at 6PM. We’re also happy to be included in Joaquin First Baptist’s plans for kids’ Christmas gifts. We are doing both money and gifts: If you’re interested in helping with either, talk to Beverly Jousan or Lynn Silvey. This is the first year of Community Christian Services, and we’re all hoping for a merry Christmas like those supervised for the past 30 years by Joaquin Christian Services, thanks to Gayle Samford, Harold and Judy Irish, and Leah Madden.
“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 16, 2016 - "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)
In the 5th chapter of Ephesians the great Apostle Paul is telling us just how we should walk or live as God's children.
He makes no bones about it, telling us bluntly that as we are now blessed to be walking in the light of the Lord, we must act like it. In other words if we are going to talk the talk then we must walk the walk.
In the 4th chapter he tells us; "and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) Having the blessing of redemption from God we are not to grieve, or cause mental stress, on the Holy Spirit.
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
There is the formula for Christian living, loving God and loving our neighbor as ourself. We must remember, we are saved from God's wrath by God's grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. We are so richly blessed being heirs of the throne of God, members of the Holy Family of God, no manner of earthly fortunes can compare to the riches we have stored up for us. Praise God daily for this blessing, amen...
But, this great fortune carries with it responsibility. Each of us Christians may be the only face of Jesus many of the people we encounter each day will ever see. The image we project is going to be the vision they will forever have of the Lord Jesus.
It is the responsibility of each and every Christian to project a Godly image. If we are going to talk the talk, then, we must walk the walk, or, we do Jesus a great disservice.
As Paul tells us; "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:1-2)
We must project that Godly image if we are to serve God as He wishes each day.
As I write this column it is the eave of the Presidential election and I can't help but think of all the hate and disrespect I see between the final two candidates but also among the public. Never have I seen so much hate spewed out at others just because they are for the other parties candidate.
Not much of a Godly image being projected there is it.
It just shows me the growing need for all Christians to step up and spread the "good news" of the Christ each day.
As we come again to the National Day of Thanksgiving, let every Christian project the image of Jesus Christ as we go about our daily lives, meeting and interacting with others. Let us leave those who do not know Christ with a deep longing to know more about Him. Be imitators of God each day...
May God bless you and keep you each day..
November 15, 2016 - Take Heed: During the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, time after time God brought various hardships on them trying to get them to heed His warnings.
Examples of God's warnings of the perils of giving in to temptations are recorded in (1 Corinthians 10:5-11).
While these many warnings were done as examples for them, they are recorded in God's Word for our admonition as well.
Even though the believer is freed from the penalty of sin by God's grace, he is still living around the power of sin. Only when we are removed from this world and are with the Lord in heaven will we be freed from the very presence of sin.
So all Christians need to "take heed" of the lessons taught to the Israelites in the wilderness. Being God's "chosen people" did not remove temptations from them. Being the Lords chosen ones even gave many a false sense of security, an attitude of being too good to fall. That is true today in our world, many Christians have that attitude of being too good to fall.
An attitude of maybe thinking; "well, I go to church and I believe in Jesus so unlike those who don't go to church I have nothing to fear".
The people Paul was talking to here also were in church, the church at Corinth. They too believed in Jesus, but Paul is still trying to keep them from falling into the same trap the Old Testament Jews had fallen into as he cautions the Corinthians; "therefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12)
This scripture is trying to warn us that if any person does not stay dependent upon God, he will grow callous and indifferent to the presence of sin. We may think we are so safe from sin that we begin to take no precautions against it.
Just think many things that were once off limits and would have shamed us a few years ago are now welcome in our homes by means of the internet. Some may say they can go into immoral, polluted places and not be affected, no, if you roll in dirt, you become dirty. The old saying; "if you play with fire, you will get burned" is very true.
So, what can we do to assure that we do not fall into these same traps?
We can become so involved in the things of the Lord that we have no time nor inclination to fall.
Take heed to what the prophet Micah said: "what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
Treat others as you want to be treated, help your fellow man when you see him in need, and do God's will each day and not the wishes of mankind. Take heed of the temptations of this world and lean on the Lord every day.
May God bless you and keep you each day...
November 14, 2016 - Sunday was Remembering Our Veterans Sunday at Paxton. Friday was a national holiday set aside to remember our veterans and all the sacrifices they endured when called upon by our nation’s leaders. As we memorialize those who have died and honor those still living, it is vital to remember how important it is that we as a nation only call upon our young men and women during true national emergencies. The Sunday before last was All Saints Sunday, and next Sunday is the last Sunday of this Christian year. Next Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. The idea of kings is outdated, but I think we all understand what we mean when we say Christ is King. The Gospel Lesson changes drastically next Sunday and takes us to that final horrible week in the life of Jesus. After that, the season of Advent begins a new Christian Year when we prepare for the birth of Jesus.
This past week we went to Green Acres Nursing Center for singing, stories, and visits. It was great to see Pastor Matt from Tenaha and Timpson Methodist. Also Sylvia played the piano and sang. Nora, Fannie, and Sue told stories. Nora, Hilda, and Sylvia made us sound pretty good as we sang patriotic songs and some of the residents’ favorite hymns. This coming week we head to Holiday Nursing Center on Tuesday and Lakeside Village Assisted Living on Thursday (changing Lakeside ’s day because of Thanksgiving). Both ministries are at 2:00.
The Old Testament Lesson for Sunday was Isaiah 65: 17-25. Theologians and scholars refer to this later part of Isaiah as the 3rd Isaiah. The last part of this large book was written to the people after some returned to their ancestral homeland. God is speaking for the entire lesson and describes the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem will be a place of joy, and its people will be a source of gladness. The hopeful nature of this lesson reminded me of our Sunday school lesson from Revelation the last two Sundays. Last week the Sunday school lesson was titled Everything Is Brand New and this Sunday the title was I See a New Jerusalem.
Even though the exiles were given permission to return to their homeland, most had already made a life in their adopted countries and stayed put. We, of course, are not planning a trip to Jerusalem —well, at least I am not! So I look upon the Old Testament Lesson and see a description not of a city but of a new direction—a way to live a new, hopeful life. We certainly need to hear hopeful words—now more than ever!
The members present this morning had a church meeting between Sunday school and worship. It was decided that the Paxton Community Christmas Party would be on Tuesday, December 6, at 6:00 PM. Everyone in the Paxton Community and all the many friends of Paxton Methodist are invited. It was decided that for the meal, finger foods would be served. Also, the church decided to send $200 to Community Christian Services for children’s clothing and Christmas gifts, which this year is headed up by Joaquin First Baptist. Some members also expressed the desire to get angels from the Angel Tree as individuals, buying clothes and presents. If you are interested in helping with this worthy project, contact someone from First Baptist; Beverly Jousan and Lynn Silvey are in charge of the community and school aspects of Angel Tree Christmas.
“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 14, 2016 - When I was a teenager, we lived in an old house across the tracks on the East side of Center, Texas. My brothers (Bill, John and Joe) and I laid claim to an area just outside the city limits and called it “Our Paradise”. It covered about a half mile area and was owned by locale businessman, Horace Weaver. Included in Paradise were two stock ponds, a small creek and some scattered woods. We could cross Dellinger’s pasture and be at our hunting, fishing, swimming, blackberry and plum -picking, pecan-gathering paradise in moments. A slingshot, a pocket of smooth rocks and some perch hooks was all we needed for a great day in Paradise. Since our family was poor, (like many were in the 40’s) every fish, rabbit and squirrel that we took from Our Paradise wound up on our dining table.
Our Paradise also sported a persimmon tree (that the ‘possums shared with us) and a mulberry tree. A wild cherry tree, a plum orchard and old water well was all that was left of an old house place. While Bill and I were picking plums one day, we heard gunshots and then saw our dog Trigger racing toward us with bullets hitting all around him. The two boys doing the shooting pursued Trigger up the hill near us and when Trigger ran into the orchard, David Weaver and Richard McKee ran in after him and came face to face with Bill and me. Sensing the inevitable, David handed his .22 rifle to Richard and the battle with Bill was on. The fight resulted with two bloody and torn shirts …not torn by Bill and David… but by the sharp thorns of the orchard. No one won the fight and we were all friends when we went home that day.
We lived in several rent houses as we grew up in Center. The sagging wall paper and rotting porch at our house in East Center were of little consequence to our happy family. And “Our Paradise” would have been a tame, non-descript place to most people. But this old house and plain scope of woods and ponds bequeathed to me and my brothers some of the best memories of our lives. They were good days…
......good days indeed.
November 10, 2016 - Saturday, November 12 at 6 PM the Calvary Boys will be in concert at Jackson Baptist Church in Joaquin. Everyone is invited to attend!
November 13-16 Jackson Baptist Church in Joaquin will host their Fall Revival with Evangelist Bro. Danny Long. Sunday morning at 10:50am and Sunday evening through Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited to attend!
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.
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