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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 17, 2022 - Sunday was the 5th Sunday of Easter. We finally got some much-needed rain, but that was followed by heat, humidity, and winds. The old earth is parched again in Shelby County. I am watering my container plants every day. I have become a small-time gardener with mostly raised beds planted in perennials. The first blooms from my roses were really pretty; now the gardenias and cape jasmine are flowering, looking and smelling wonderful.
Saturday, Sue’s brother and sister-in-law drove up from Houston to visit with their mom. We met at a Nacogdoches restaurant along with Sue’s sister’s family. It was a really nice little reunion and Dixie was happy to have her family gathered around.
We had everybody back at Sunday School this week, and the lesson for May 15 was particularly interesting. The title was “In Awesome Wonder,” about God’s beautiful creation. You would think the main scripture would come from Genesis, the Hebrew creation story. But no, it came from the end of the book of Job: As he created the whole wide world, God was wondering where Job was. Job of course had no good answer, and God really didn’t have a response to why suffering happens to good people. We humans sometimes think creation is all about us. It isn’t. We are quite entitled and think we deserve explanations for all our “why” questions. But God has concern for every part of his creation.
John Wesley often spoke of the essentials of Christianity. When reading the history of the Methodist Movement, you soon see that Wesley had just a handful of requirements. He would say “Hear, Hear” to our Gospel lesson today. The Final Discourse is found only in the John Gospel, occurring on Thursday evening of Holy Week. Jesus has a pretty good idea of what is ahead. He is preparing his closest friends for a time they will take the Good News to people without him. He tells them everything begins with love—compassion. When that is your starting point and where your spiritual compass points, then you are on the right track. Jesus said that is how people will know that they are his followers—the great compassion they have for everyone. Even today, we should take a lesson from that.
All the regulars were back this morning, putting us in double digits. Our Gathering Words were based on Psalm 148: As one reads through this beautiful hymn, we see where St. Francis got his inspiration. We recited the ancient creed of faith, The Apostles’ Creed. Our first song was “Marching to Zion.” We listened to one verse to get the rhythm and then sang two. Next was “Standing on the Promises,” a more familiar hymn to our congregation.
During May we have been collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. Schools in Joaquin finish up this Friday, with most schools going through the next week. I know the teachers and of course the students are looking forward to the break. Ah yes, I remember it well!
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
May 16, 2022 - Sunday was the 5th Sunday of Easter. We finally got some much-needed rain, but that was followed by heat, humidity, and winds. The old earth is parched again in Shelby County. I am watering my container plants every day. I have become a small-time gardener with mostly raised beds planted in perennials. The first blooms from my roses were really pretty; now the gardenias and cape jasmine are flowering, looking and smelling wonderful.
Saturday, Sue’s brother and sister-in-law drove up from Houston to visit with their mom. We met at a Nacogdoches restaurant along with Sue’s sister’s family. It was a really nice little reunion and Dixie was happy to have her family gathered around.
We had everybody back at Sunday School this week, and the lesson for May 15 was particularly interesting. The title was “In Awesome Wonder,” about God’s beautiful creation. You would think the main scripture would come from Genesis, the Hebrew creation story. But no, it came from the end of the book of Job: As he created the whole wide world, God was wondering where Job was. Job of course had no good answer, and God really didn’t have a response
about us. It isn’t. We are quite entitled and think we deserve explanations for all our “why” questions. But God has concern for every part of his creation.
John Wesley often spoke of the essentials of Christianity. When reading the history of the Methodist Movement, you soon see that Wesley had just a handful of requirements. He would say “Hear, Hear” to our Gospel lesson today. The Final Discourse is found only in the John Gospel, occurring on Thursday evening of Holy Week. Jesus has a pretty good idea of what is ahead. He is preparing his closest friends for a time they will take the Good News to people without him. He tells them everything begins with love—compassion. When that is your starting point and where your spiritual compass points, then you are on the right track. Jesus said that is how people will know that they are his followers—the great compassion they have for everyone. Even today, we should take a lesson from that.
All the regulars were back this morning, putting us in double digits. Our Gathering Words were based on Psalm 148: As one reads through this beautiful hymn, we see where St. Francis got his inspiration. We recited the ancient creed of faith, The Apostles’ Creed. Our first song was “Marching to Zion.” We listened to one verse to get the rhythm and then sang two. Next was “Standing on the Promises,” a more familiar hymn to our congregation.
During May we have been collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. Schools in Joaquin finish up this Friday, with most schools going through the next week. I know the teachers and of course the students are looking forward to the break. Ah yes, I remember it well!
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
May 16, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, May 16.
When we moved to our place just east of Tenaha, Texas, there was an old hummingbird feeder hanging on the back porch. I cleaned it out, filled it with sugar water, hung it back up, and sat back and waited for the hummingbirds. That was four years ago... and I'm still waiting.
Well, at least until two weeks ago. My sister and brother-in-law visited from San Antonio, and came bearing a gift, a deluxe hummingbird feeder from Walmart. And I guess that's what the birds were waiting for, because a few hours later we saw our first little green visitor, and now there are two.
I've enjoyed sitting on the porch and watching them. And even though there are five little flower feeders - and just two birds - they're constantly competing with each other, worrying about how much sweet nectar the other's getting - when there's plenty to go around!
When I drove to Oklahoma last week, I probably passed something like 200 churches. And I wonder how many of those churches are worried about how well the church down the street is doing, instead of focusing on the needy people all around them.
People who need encouragement. People who need prayer. People who need the love of Christ. God forgive us for competing with other churches, when there's plenty to go around.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
May 12, 2022 - Dr. Luke tells us in Acts chapter 3 that Peter and John went to the temple to pray. There was a lame man there and Peter healed this man. Well, it seems a crowd assembled to hear their preaching. This upset the “status quo” and so Peter and John were arrested and brought before the assembly of priests, elders and scribes. We are further told in Acts 4:13 that when the members of the “council” saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.
The effect of their association with Jesus is clearly seen in their lives. They had been intimately associated with Jesus for three years during his public ministry. They became partakers of His knowledge, His boldness, kindness, purity, zeal and love for God.
Just like Peter and John had been with Jesus, we also need to be with Jesus. We must become His friends by obeying His commandments and we must live His kind of life.
Jesus told His followers they were the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”. The great question for us is do others see in our lives the effect that we too have been with Jesus, or do they see a disconnect in what we say and how we live?
It’s something to think about. . .TBP
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day
Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
May 9, 2022 - Sunday was the 4th Sunday of Easter. We have had a couple of good rains and some humid summertime weather. Not to mention some middle 90s—in early May! It is Saturday evening, and as I proofread my sermon again, I finally think it is ready to go. I will see tomorrow if I put anyone to sleep. Just joking! This Sunday in the Season of Easter is sometimes referred to as The Shepherd’s Sunday. We began this day with the 23rd Psalm as our Gathering Words.
We had a small Sunday School class and congregation, as some members were sick and others out of town. The Sunday School lesson was to encourage good stewardship: Much of our discussion focused on what tithing meant to the agricultural folks of ancient Israel/Judea and to us in the 21st Century. The text was Deuteronomy 14: 22-29. The purpose of the tithing system in the ancient society was to make sure no one would be disadvantaged permanently or consigned to second-class status. It recognized the reality of poverty and hoped to alleviate it. With the tithe, one conferred worth, dignity, and belonging on those who had been less fortunate. That is still true today.
Sue read the Gospel from John 37-30, with Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Scholars and temple folks wanted Jesus to state plainly if he thought he was the promised messiah—trying to trip him up as usual. Jesus didn’t feel as if he owed these people anything. He said look at what I do—healing and trying to lessen people’s pain. He told his questioners that they were too preoccupied to hear the call of the Good Shepherd.
Our songs were two favorites of our church—“When We All Get to Heaven” and “Hymn of Promise.” The first one is a lively, toe-tapping hymn, and the second is a heartfelt poem set to beautiful music. The affirmation was The Apostles’ Creed, probably the best-known ancient creed. During the merry month of May, our church folks will be collecting cans of fruit so we can take them to Community Christian Services at the end of the month. Later this month will be Joy and Gene’s anniversary. This past weekend they celebrated their twins’ 50th birthday. We all gave thanks for our mothers—and mother figures—for the impact they had on our lives.
In my sermon, I spoke a little about each Scripture on today’s traditional lectionary. From the Old Testament, we had the story of Dorcas, devout servant to her church, and Psalm 23 about the shepherd. In earlier times, shepherds such as David were steadfastly guarding sheep for the family and tribe; by the time of Jesus, however, the flocks and most everything else were owned by absentee landlords, leading to many shepherds doing only a “good enough” job. In Revelation and in the Gospel of John, we again find the shepherd motif: Like Psalm 23, the shepherd symbolizes care and trustworthiness.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
May 9, 2022 - Drive thru food pantry, Saturday, May 14 at 9am at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Only (1) box per household and ID is required. Must be in line by 9:30am to receive a box.
May 9, 2022 - Good morning! Today is Monday, May 9.
I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day. At First Baptist Center, a “mother’s trio” sang a song called “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again.” We dedicated it to all those who were remembering mothers that have gone on to heaven. My mom passed in 2010 and nothing has been quite the same since.
Losing a parent is one of those milestone moments in life. It changes how we see ourselves. It redefines who we are. This past Thursday our pastor lost his dad, after a long and lingering illness. I'm driving up to Tulsa, Oklahoma early tomorrow for the funeral service. And so, I'll be reprinting a favorite devotion from the past. Hope you enjoy it.
And I hope you'll remember our pastor, Bobby Bressman, and his family in prayer during their time of loss.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
May 5, 2022 - In the event you are unaware of what is going on, this coming Sunday is the day set aside in our country as “Mother's Day.” It is that day where we honor our mothers. We honor those who are teachers and disciplinarians. They are cleaning ladies, gardeners and mowers of lawns. And, with all that, they understand that baking cookies is more important than washing windows.
Mothers are nurses and doctors. They are psychologists, counselors, chauffeurs and coaches. They are also developers of personalities, molders of vocabularies and shapers of attitudes.
God commands us in His word to honor our mothers. It is also the sensible and loving thing to do. There are many of us who wish we still had our mothers living so we could honor them. So that we could remember them and love them. You see, while the world is full of mothers, no one can take the place of our own mother.
So, this Sunday, there will be cards, flowers, candy and various gifts showered on mother's in honor of her "special day.” Here's an idea of what you can give your mother for Mother's Day. Go and sit beside her in church this coming Sunday. I know she would like that. You see, all too soon the day will come that you can't sit beside her in church, so do it while you can.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord's Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
May 5, 2022 - The annual Powdrill Cemetery Homecoming will be Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 12 noon. The event will be held the Grant barn, located 1 mile north of Arcadia. A short business meeting will follow. Bring your favorite dish and enjoy fellowship and visiting the cemetery grounds.
If you are unable to attend, donations may be mailed to Powdrill Cemetery Fund, c/o 549 Lakewood Dr., Center, Texas 75935.
May 5, 2022 - At noon today there will be a National Day of Prayer event in front of our historic courthouse.
The half-hour ceremony will include -
*National Anthem - Mayor Pro Tem, Leigh Porterfield
*Prayer for America - Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian
*Prayer for Schools - Elementary School Principal LeeAnn Masterson
*Prayer for Soldiers - VFW Quartermaster Larry Hume
*Prayer for First Responders - County Sheriff Kevin Windham
*Prayer for Churches - First Methodist Pastor Malcolm Monroe
*Prayer for Families - Shelby County Outreach Director Sherry Harding
And we’ll close the event by forming a prayer chain and singing “Amazing Grace”.
Join us today at noon for the National Day of Prayer!
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