Shelby County Today

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 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 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 - 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!