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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
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15
January 18, 2016 - My friend Claude Lucas grows watermelons in the Sand Hills near Center, Texas. He grew almost a hundred acres this year at The One Gallus Ranch.(once owned by San Augustine Pharmacist, Harold Lee) Each box of his melons is stamped “What-A- Melon” and what melons they are! I got directions to the ranch from his wife Bonnie…take 711 from San Augustine, turn right on 1017, go two miles and turn left on 1011…
When I’d gotten about a mile from the ranch, I met an elderly man on the road and asked for further directions. “You’re almost there”, he said. “Just hang to the right and whatever you do, “stay with the woods”. (I was to stay on the road with the woods to my right.) As I drove away, he shouted back at me again, “Remember now… stay with the woods!”
I ignored all the roads that intersected mine and faithfully “stayed with the woods”. Finally, I entered a beautiful gate on a hilltop that led me into a breath-taking mixture of winding roads, pastures of grazing cattle and endless fields of watermelons. An old barn surrounded by a wood fence and large cedar trees revealed where an old home place had been. Claude and his workers were busily boxing and loading watermelons into the trailer of an eighteen wheeler.
Mother wrote “Stay with the Word” in every letter she sent me while I was in college and seminary and I’d been better off if I had always followed her advice. There are a lot of attractive roads along life’s journey, but we’ll wind up on the wrong one…
….if we don’t “stay with the Word.”
Sunday was the Third Sunday after the Epiphany. The Old Testament Lesson was Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10. Ezra brought out a scroll of the Torah and read words of hope to a defeated, beaten, subjected, hungry people. The words of hope were not only welcomed but vitally necessary. When Ezra finished he stepped down from the makeshift pulpit and walked among the people carrying the scroll. The people reached out to touch the Holy Book of Israel and no longer felt as hopeless. No, their multitude of problems still existed but they were once again given hope.
In today’s Gospel Lesson from Luke 4: 14-21 we see Jesus reading from the holy scroll that contained the words of the prophet Isaiah. It too was a hopeful message heard by Jesus’ friends and neighbors. We know that Jesus’ message wasn’t always accepted with joy by his neighbors but on that Sabbath Day so long ago the people were impressed by the young Rabbi’s words.
Our crowd was not great but we had a really good Sunday school Lesson from the Gospel of John. Our lesson was about the first of many signs that pointed to Jesus’ special nature. We see Jesus performing a miracle—a sign as he changes water into wine at the Wedding at Cana. Joe and Hilda worked together to bring us our music. Ms. Lillie has a birthday this week so we sang “Happy Birthday” to her even though she is in Houston. Maybe she felt a warming of the heart. We sure miss Lillie and one Sunday soon we know that Lillie, Liz, and Mike will venture to the wilds of East Texas. We all wondered how Carolyn is dealing with all the snow. She is visiting her sister and other family in Pennsylvania.
This Thursday will be our ministry to Lakeside Assisted Living. Hilda said we had a good number of volunteers at Holiday last Tuesday. She thought that Pastor Matt was going to be able to join the volunteers. This month is almost over. We have been collecting cans of tuna this month but in February we will be collecting rice and dried 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 9:15 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!
January 25, 2016 - The prophet writes, “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” (Hag. 1:6). And, “Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it....” (Hag. 1:9).
As the Jews return from their Babylonian captivity they are struggling in their daily lives with prosperity. They work, but for all practical purposes they are not getting a good return from their efforts.
The Lord asked them why? And then notice the Lord's answer to His own question, “...Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house” (Hag. 1:9). Their struggles was because they paid more attention to their own personal lives than their service to the Lord. So as a result the Lord held back the full measure of their labors.
To remedy this the Lords says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD” (Hag. 1:7-8).
For people that seem to never “get ahead” or life is always a struggle, maybe the advice from the Lord is in order, consider your ways. Consider how one is living. Consider how much time is given to the Lord. Consider our service to the Lord.
When life isn't all that we would have it to be whether it is emotionally, physically, internally, externally or spiritually. Maybe we need to stop and consider our ways. Our ways could be the wall. Church email: northsidecoccenter@gmail.com
If you would like to receive our weekly bulletin via email, just send us an email with your request and we will happy to put you on the list!
December 28, 2015 - During the days of His resurrection Jesus and Peter had a conversation. “So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep” (Jn. 21:15-17).
As Jesus and Peter stood on the beach Peter was forced to look deep inside of himself as to his love for Jesus. Not too long prior to this conversation Peter had said he would never desert Jesus, even to the point of death. Remember when he said, “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. ...31 But he spake exceedingly vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all” (Mk. 14:29,31).
As Jesus asked this question the other disciples were around and those fish that they had just miraculously caught (Jn. 21:3-11). So Peter was being asked did he love Jesus more than the other disciples, but also the things of this life. Was fishing and friendships more important to him than Jesus. The same goes for us. We must ask ourselves each day, do I love this or that or them more than Jesus?
A simple answer to this question is this; does this, that or them take my time, devotion or service away from Jesus? Or is there anything or anyone that I would rather have than Jesus? Just like Peter a superficial answer will not suffice, that is why Jesus asked him three times.
Going to church does not answer the question. Putting something in the plate does not answer the question. Just like Peter was told, it comes down to service, “feed” and “tend”. Peter's love was going to be seen by his service to the Lord and I believe it would be so with us.
Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37). A powerful and strong statement by the Lord. A superficial service or commitment will not do for the Lord.
Abraham proved to be the picture of the love that Peter was asked about. When he was told to cast out Hagar and Ishmael his love for the Lord was on the line. So he rose early and obeyed the Lord by casting out his wife and son. (Gen. 21:14).
Abraham loved the Lord “more than these”. And only each individual can answer this question. But our answer may not be what the Lord knows, so our answer must be an honest one.
Church email: northsidecoccenter@gmail.com
If you would like to receive our free weekly bulletin via email, just send us your request by email and we will put you on the list!
January 25, 2016 - St. John's Episcopal Church will have a Pancake Supper on Fat Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 5-7.
This is a community tradition and has been celebrated for over 40 years. All are invited.
We are located Hwy 96 South Please come and enjoy a great treat before the Lenten Season begins.
January 24, 2016 - Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church 5th Sunday Missionary Program will be held Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 3:00p.m. Special guest is Dr. Kelvin Lynch, Growing Valley Baptist Church, Longview, TX. Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church is located at 921 MLK Drive, Center, Texas 75935.
Sis. Joyce Johnson – President
Sis. Sandra Latham – Vice President
Rev. Robert Gipson – Pastor
Rt. Rev. Lawrence L. Reddick, III – Presiding Bishop
Rev Trever Barnett – Presiding Elder
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 28:19
January 21, 2016 - Join us on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at White Rock MBC on Nacogdoches Hwy for an afternoon of music presented by the Seminary Choir from the Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary.
Performance starts at 1:00 p.m. Meal will be provided after the concert. For more information, please contact Bro. Greg Sutis at 318-773-8933.
January 22, 2016 - Commitment, "to pledge or promise, to be engaged or to become involved".
Commitment to Paul meant much more than words, it called for his continued service to the Lord, no matter the conditions or hardships he might face each day. The book of Philippians was written by Paul during the time of his bondage in Rome. He sat, literally, in chains as he wrote the scriptures.
Verses 12 through 14 of our text tell of the results of his faithfulness within the palace prison where he was imprisoned. "But, I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." (Phil. 1:12) By his faith the palace guards had been converted and were speaking of the gospel of Christ, even within the prison."and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear." (Phil.1:14)
Paul says that some preach Christ from envy and strife, hoping to make his imprisonment even worse, while others preach Christ out of love for the Word. Either way says Paul, calls for rejoicing; "and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."
Paul rejoiced that Christ was preached, regardless of the motive of some of trying to add to his bonds. Their efforts were off set by those who preached Christ through love, knowing that Paul was set for the defense of the gospel. "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill."(Phil. 1:15)
We see many people today who merely exist, having no real purpose in their lives, like a ship with a broken rudder they drift through life without ever seeming to realize that there is an eternal objective. Others live strictly for the riches of this world, giving no thought of eternity or of a coming judgment. Much of what we see today can be attributed to the lack of the gospel being taught to children at home and much of it can be attributed to the "feel good" preachers who teach only the love of God. By leaving out the justness of God they lead people to believe that God is only the God of love and that they have nothing to fear from God if they live in sin. The fool says in his heart that there is no God. Even some believers fail to serve the Lord, they believe in Him but are unwilling to step up in service.
Let me tell you of the difference between forgiveness and consequences, God does forgive our sins when we ask Him for forgiveness and repent of those sins, but, while forgiven, we are not released from the consequences of those same sins and are held accountable for them. That is why some people will say; "well, I prayed for forgiveness but God didn't hear me and I still had to suffer. Wrong, God certainly heard them and if they asked in earnest He forgave their sin, but they still had to pay the consequences for their actions.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel for he knew that with boldness Christ would be magnified in his body, whether in life or in death.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for he knew that it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. If any person is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away and all things have become new.
For the believer to live is Christ. Christ is both the source and the purpose of the believers life. Live begins in regeneration and is sustained by the power of God. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21)
The believer should be about his Father's business as he awaits either death or Christ's coming.
"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you are am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you may stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." (Phil.1:27) "and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God." (Phil.1:28)
We should work together for the cause of the gospel, presenting the light of Christ for the darkness of this world to see, all the while looking up for the time of redemption draws near...
Please feel free to join us any Wednesday evening at 6:00PM for Bible Study at Spring Hill Baptist Church. For more info, call 936-615-1427. May God bless and keep you...
Isaiah 41:10-13
January 14, 2016 - Our text for today predicts the coming of the Persian conqueror, Cyrus, whose victories and rapid growth in power are ascribed to the providence of God. Cyrus is also the Persian Emperor who financed the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah and helped the Israelite people return to their homeland. It also assures us that God will watch over us and protect us if are His children.
While God predicts Cyrus' coming, He also comforts His people as in verse 10; "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God." (Isaiah 41:10)
Fear is a common trait in all people, every one of us will face some type of fear in our lives. Adam feared God's face in the garden of Eden, when he realized that he had sinned against God.
There are many degrees of fear from uneasiness to dread to terror to panic. Fear in a believer causes him to look to God in times of need. However, we should look to Him for all things and not just when we are having problems.
Here, we see Israel surrounded by her enemies, hopelessly outnumbered by the Persian forces, yet their extreme peril was God's opportunity. He told her not to fear, for He was with her. Not to be sorry nor dismayed, for God was watching over her.
If God be for us, who can be against us. He is always near to us and in times of trouble He is always able to help. He possesses all power, both in heaven and on earth and He invites us to cast all of our cares upon Him, His mercy endures forever.
In verse 11 He tells the people; "Behold, all those who were incensed against you, shall be ashamed and disgraced," (incensed - to inflame with wrath) "Isaiah 41:11) He is our "Heavenly Father" the Creator and Supreme Power of the universe, nothing nor no one can prevail against Him. He has promised never to leave nor forsake His own and He is able to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory.
Once saved, the Holy Spirit has sealed our souls unto the day of redemption. Even if the enemy comes upon us like a flood, the Holy Spirit lifts up a wall against him, He leads, guides and protects us against all enemies each day. Verse 12 says; "Those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing," (contend - to struggle in opposition) (Isaiah 41:12)
While we are no match for Satan and the world on our own, no matter, for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The life we live today in the flesh, we live through faith in the Lord Jesus, who loved us and gave His life for us.
God has promised to help us. That means that we are to do what we can for ourselves, and God will then supply what is lacking. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure, but once we are saved, we are then, forever under God's protective cover.
God has promised to take care of our enemies, to watch over and to protect us and help us, to uphold us with His strong right hand.
Verse 13; "For I, the Lord, your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not, I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)
The eternal God is our refuge, though we fall, we shall not be utterly cast down and shall be lifted up in the end.
God holds us by His right hand. He asked us not to fear, for He will help us. He holds us by our right hand as proof that we belong to Him; that He protects us; that He will lead us; that nothing can separate us; and that He provides for us.
As we face this new year, let us face it with strength and faith, knowing that our Heavenly Father is in control of all things and though the world may indeed persecute us, God holds our hand and will walk us through the valley of fear and will deliver us into His kingdom, forever.
Please feel welcome to join us any Wednesday evening at 6:00PM for our Bible Study at Spring Hill Baptist Church. For more info call 936-615-1427 May God bless and keep you...
January 18, 2016 - Sunday was the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. Our Gospel Lesson moved from Luke to the John Gospel. We find Jesus at the wedding at Cana. This story is only found in the John Gospel. John is different than the other three Gospels found in the New Testament. The writer of John spends much of his gospel speaking of signs pointing to the unique and wonderful character of Jesus. The sign of turning water into wine speaks of the abundance in the Kingdom. Even for the poor and the marginalized—Jesus’ audience, there will be plenty—more than plenty. The lesson begins with “On the third day…” which is a reminder of the three days and resurrection.
We had a small crowd even by Paxton UMC standards. Joe and Hilda teamed up and we had good music this morning. Sue is our liturgist and read our Psalter Lesson and the Gospel Lesson. She also led us in reading the Apostles’ Creed which is the one most Protestants know the best.
Our Sunday school lesson came from Hosea. Fannie did a great job even with a difficult scripture. We are so removed by thousands of years that it is sometimes hard for us to really grasp the situation. Even though the scripture is a hard one, Hosea intended to show how disappointed God was and is in his great creation—us humans! Reading through our lesson it is like God’s feelings have been hurt. But as in all the words of the prophets God always finds a way to bring us back into the fold.
This Tuesday is our church’s ministry to Holiday Nursing Center. Actually it is more than just our church’s ministry as many others join us to bring songs and stories to the residents at Holiday. Since I retired I understand the kind of traveling seniors do—going to the doctor. I have an appointment on Tuesday in Nacogdoches and a Longview doctor visit on Thursday.
“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 9:15 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!
Randall Smith, Pastor
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