Shelby County Today

August 22, 2016 - Sunday was the 14th Sunday after Pentecost. The Gospel story is found only in Luke, but similar controversies dealing with the Sabbath are found elsewhere in Luke and in the other Gospels. Once again we must transport ourselves into a foreign time, a foreign place, and a foreign culture. Jesus is asked to reach from the scrolls at a synagogue and to teach. But as often happens with Jesus other events alter his plans and he has a chance to teach by example. The “good church folks” at the synagogue, as was often the case, didn’t like what Jesus did or said. Unfortunately the words and teachings of Jesus sometimes seem out of place in our success-oriented world, where people may think wealth or fame is a sign of God’s favor.

What a strange month August has been! It started out as a typical hot and humid August but then morphed into a rainy, cooler month. Our prayers and thoughts are with those in Louisiana who have suffered greatly from the floods and to those in California suffering from one fire after another. In my weekly email newsletter I put a letter from the bishop about the disaster and what we can do to help. United Methodist Relief has been on the ground since this disaster started helping out. Our local giving to the District and Conference helps pay salaries to UMCOR so that all donations can go directly to flood relief. Looking and listening to the weather this weekend, it seems that our traditional August weather will return later this week.

Our ministry to Holiday Nursing Center was postponed because of Gloria Fiedler’s funeral. Visitation and the funeral were held last Tuesday at Mangum’s and burial was at the cemetery behind Timpson Missionary Baptist Church. Paxton Methodist provided a meal for family and friends afterwards. We really appreciate the use of Timpson Missionary Baptist’s fellowship hall and the help that church members and Delta Gamma gave after the funeral.

United Methodists hold yearly meeting called Charge or Church Conference. Our Charge Conference will be at First Methodist in Center, where many of the smaller churches will come together to hold one area-wide conference. Our church will do much of the work of budget writing and planning for the Charge Conference ahead of time. All that means is the pastor needs to get busy and start filling out the necessary paperwork for 2017. As the name indicates, we Methodists tend to be very methodical and believe in planning ahead.

Monday is the first day of school for some Texas students and teachers. We wish them all the very best as they begin another year. Vera is ready to welcome fourth graders to their first day. Paxton Methodist has been collecting new children’s socks and underwear to donate to Community Christian Services. In September we will be collecting macaroni and cheese. This Thursday is our ministry at Lakeside Assisted Living that starts at 2:00. Clarrisa, Hannah, and Josiah Menefee plan to perform for the residents of Lakeside. We hope you will be able to join us.

“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!

August 18, 2016 - Fun in the Son scheduled for Saturday, August 20 at First Baptist Church in Center has been cancelled.

The event has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m.

August 16, 2016 - Open Gate Cowboy Fellowship, come as you are.

Services are 9:30am Sundays at the Center Sale barn located on State Highway 87 North just outside of Center.

For more information ontact JP Mills, pastor at 903-694-5472 or Roy Bailey at 936-332-0891.

August 9, 2016 - "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased (to reduce or lower); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (raised or elevated)." (Matt. 23:11-12)

Is there even such a thing as "humble pride"? Paul gives us an example of humble pride when he says; "By the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Paul gives God the glory for all he did and said, as we should today. God's grace was not bestowed on Paul in vain and it should not be bestowed on us in vain either.

"I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

 Jesus came down hard on people who tried to exalt themselves at the expense of others. As with the Pharisees; Jesus condemned their spirits and yet, those same haughty spirits live on today.

In earlier verses to our text, Jesus spoke of those who loved to sit in Moses' seat, flaunting their positions of authority. They refused to do what they required of others, reminds me of the Congress and the Senate.

Everything they did was done to win the praise of others. They loved the uppermost seats. They wanted to be called by their "titles" of which they were not worthy. They prayed to be seen by others.

Even James and John asked for the seats of most prominence in the Lords Kingdom. I think maybe the reaction of indignation by the others might indicate that their hearts were not totally clean and innocent either.

Jesus taught that the way up is down. That to be great, you must first be humble and serve others, that true greatness consists of serving, rather than being served. Jesus came to minister, not to be ministered unto, He went about doing good, teaching, healing and forgiving others.

We also should not try to exalt ourselves, if we have done righteously, then others will praise us, and we, in turn must render all praises and glory to the Lord. God will not share his glory with anyone.

We also should be quick to praise the work our fellow Christians do for the Lord as encouragement for them to continue and even increase their daily work for Jesus.

We should walk humbly before the Lord each day, striving to do His will and not our own earthly wishes and desires, for if we remain faithful we will reap in due season.

The Pharisee's boasting in the temple was all in vain while the publicans' confession that he was a sinner in need of mercy brought him salvation.  

Let us each one; live justly, do unto others as we would have them do unto us, show mercy, help those in need, and submit to God's will each day and not the wishes of this world. May God's blessings be upon you today.