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Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
February 10, 2022 - Huxley helping hands drive thru food pantry will be Saturday, February 12 at 9am at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Must have identification and only box per household will be given.
Must be in line by 9:30am to receive a box.
February 10, 2022 - I remember in elementary school, in the school office we had a cardboard box that was the “lost and found” collection. In that box you were likely to find notebooks, gloves, sweaters, jackets and various other articles. They were things that had been left on the playground, on benches, in the cafeteria and in classrooms. At the end of the year, most of those articles had gone unclaimed. However, occasionally, someone would have “lost” something and the teacher would tell them to go to the office and look through the “lost and found box.”
The idea of looking for something that is lost is something that Jesus talked about in Luke chapter 15. He said in verse 4, “Which of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until he finds it.” Jesus said in another place, recorded in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Aren’t those comforting thoughts for us? There is one who is actively seeking those people who have been cast off or lost. One who is actively seeking those who are lost in sin. Ordinary people like us. When we obey his will and live his kind of life, we are no longer in the “lost and found box” we are His children, part of God’s family.
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
February 7, 2022 - I am starting the Paxton Methodist News article on Saturday afternoon. What a pretty day! After the last few days, including experiencing Friday’s sleet and snow in Shreveport, it almost feels balmy outside. I am setting up a new 3’ x 12’ raised garden bed in which I am hoping to raise a different kind of watermelon—without vines — that grows on a low bush. Weird. I came back in and called our dear friends Keith and Vera. It was Keith’s birthday on Saturday. On Sunday we wished happy birthday to Sue DeFee, who will reach the milestone 90 on Monday.
Sunday is the 5th Sunday of the Epiphany. Most years, the season of the Epiphany is four Sundays, but this year—because of Easter’s date on the calendar—there are seven Epiphany Sundays. Transfiguration Sunday, which marks the end of this particular season, isn’t until February 27.
I delivered checks and canned tuna to Community Christian Services this last week and got to visit with some of my all-time favorite students and friends. My understanding is that CCS has applied for a large grant to expand its space and services. Wow, that is so great for the community! We’ll be collecting soap and shampoo this month for CCS.
Our Sunday School was an exceptionally good one. There were two scriptures that served as the basis for the lesson—one from Deuteronomy and one from Matthew. The purpose of the lesson was to renew our commitment to the Great Commandments: to love God and to love neighbor. Our author told us that deeds of love are what the earliest Christians were noted for. He went on to say that the best way to express our love for God is to love our neighbor. We of the Christian faith are convinced that is exactly what Jesus’ life and teaching showed us. Echoing this idea was our bulletin quote from Maria Robinson, a U.S. Representative: “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
The Gospel Lesson for Sunday was Luke 5: 1-11. This wonderful story is centered on fishing. When Jesus intervenes, the fishermen—Simon, James, and John—are overwhelmed by the catch, with nets nearly breaking and the boat almost sinking under the weight. Fish was as vital to these people as was their daily bread. This story says that in Jesus’ Kingdom there will always be plenty for all, no one excluded.
Our songs this morning were “Rescue the Perishing” and “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” The second hymn, by Charles Wesley, is considered the anthem of Methodism. It is the first hymn in the Methodist Hymnal, but we don’t use it much at Paxton Methodist. We listened, sang, and hummed along with all six verses of a Bluetooth version. Kind of reminded me of my growing up years in the Lutheran Church when we would sing every verse of every hymn. There was none of this “first, second, and last,” in my boyhood church.
We celebrated Holy Communion this morning. Holy Communion is sometimes call The Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. Methodists, like most Protestants, believe there are two sacraments of the church: baptism and communion. In my studies this week, I read that the story of the overwhelming catch on Simon’s boat was a eucharistic miracle because it showed how following Jesus was a most fruitful avenue.
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.
February 7, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Monday, February 7.
Today we begin a devotion series that will take us to Valentine's Day - a series on the subject of love.
I've been a worship leader for over 40 years. In that time, I've been involved in many, many weddings. This usually included having meetings with the couple to discuss their song choices for the ceremony. Most churches are particular about what songs are used in weddings. After all, a church wedding is, in reality, a worship service. So, many of these meetings would have uncomfortable moments when I would have to tell the bride and groom that they couldn't use that song that was playing on the jukebox the night they first met!
One choice, however, that was never a problem, was the choice to include a scripture reading in the ceremony. Often, it would be the passage that we'll look at later this week, I Corinthians 13. But, in the old days - not so much anymore - it was often Ruth 1:16.
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
That's one of those passages that just doesn't sound right unless we read it from the King James version. Beautiful words. And these words weren't spoken by a husband to a wife, or by a wife to a husband. They were spoken by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law, by Ruth to Naomi. Sometimes the Valentine's holiday can be a painful experience for those who are not in a romantic relationship, to those who have gone through a divorce, to those who have lost a spouse. But there are all kinds of "love" relationships - friends, siblings, even in-laws! And they can all be a blessing and they should all be celebrated.
Meet you back here tomorrow as we continue our series on love.
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
February 5, 2022 - It’s Saturday, February 5.
In 1922, the New York Herald newspaper published an article titled “What the World Will Look Like in One Hundred Years.” They chose novelist W. L. George to write it. Never heard of him? Few have. And even fewer have read one of his novels. But you have to admit, the man knew a thing or two about predicting the future.
In the article, about life in 2022, George predicts wireless phones, commercial air travel, working women, and nuclear power. To be fair, he also predicts glass domed cities and flying cars. But hey, nobody’s perfect. Telling the future is hard work.
Want to take a crack at predicting what life will be like a hundred years from now? No? Well, how about fifty years? Ten? Let’s make it easy. Tell me what’s going to happen... tomorrow.
The truth is we cannot know what the future holds. But, thank heaven, we can know who holds the future. The gospel songwriters Bill & Gloria Gaither put it like this -
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
My life is worth the living just because He lives!
Meet you back here on Monday, as we begin a series - leading to Valentine’s Day - on the subject of love.
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
February 4, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Friday, February 4.
Our lives are filled with all kinds of prayers. There's the prayer we learn as children - "now I lay me down to sleep." And the prayer we learn as adults - "our Father, who art in heaven." There's nothing wrong with memorized prayers. They can be a comfort to us, a touchstone, just as memorized scriptures can be.
But when we consider the true definition of prayer - talking to God - we see the need to improvise, to express our feelings, to share our heart. Imagine what the relationship with your spouse or friend would be like, if your only communication was a series of memorized, rehearsed phrases! Sometimes our communication with God isn't as personal as it should be.
There's a kind of prayer that's been nicknamed "The 911 Prayer." That's the one we pray when we're in trouble, in crisis, at the end of our rope. Those prayers are always very personal. We definitely speak to God from our heart during challenging times. But what kind of relationship would we have with a friend or loved one, if we only spoke from the heart when we needed help?
God just wants to talk. For reasons beyond our comprehension, the Creator of the Universe is interested in hearing from you. And not just in times of crisis, but every day. That's the kind of prayer life that builds a relationship with God, a relationship that, when troubles come, will give a firm foundation and "a peace that passes understanding."
So, talk to God today. He's waiting. He's listening.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
February 3, 2022 - It’s probably a good thing you cannot really see what’s “across the preacher’s desk”! There are a couple of coffee cups, various file folders, several stacks of books, yellow legal pads with sermons and Bible class lessons in various stages of completion (or incompletion, depending on your point of view) and then assorted papers, trinkets, numerous pens, well, you get the idea. The “preacher’s desk is messy and cluttered. Truth be told, I have always said that a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind in my attempt to justify my mess.
Occasionally, I have a spell where I clean my desk and put everything away and everything looks neat and orderly. However, it is never a permanent solution. Sometimes my desk reminds me of Kudzu the way the “mess” seems to grow, multiply and just take over.
The mess on my desk does remind me that I don’t have it all together and that if we are honest, we will admit that none of us has it all together. Our lives are not neatly ordered. Our lives get messy and cluttered. All of us carry baggage. Paul would write that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” in Romans 3:23. When we realize our lives are messy, when we realize we have sinned, we can come to Jesus for forgiveness and he will clean up our lives. We must make Him Lord and Master of our lives and live life His way.
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.
February 2, 2022 - Hello! It's Wednesday, February 2.
Tell me if this has ever happened to you. I'm driving to work one day last week and I find myself behind two 18-wheelers who are driving side by side. That's right... the dreaded "rolling roadblock"! I was a few minutes late for work, so I was, of course, "mildly" concerned about this obstruction. I remember certain phrases coming to mind. Phrases like - "What the heck?", "C'mon slowpoke!", and "Get the lead out!" Well, finally the road parted, I made up time by driving over the speed limit, and I was only a little late for work.
At the end of that same work day I was driving home along that very same stretch of road. Since I didn't have to get to my house on time, and because I am a careful, conscientious, law-abiding person, I was driving under the speed limit. And then I noticed that another driver had pulled alongside me and was, like me, also carefully obeying the speed laws. I looked over at him and we shared a neighborly nod. Then suddenly I looked in my rear view and saw an 18-wheeler right on my back bumper! Certain phrases came to mind - "What the heck?", "C'mon speed demon!", and "Slow down!"
Later that evening I reflected on the fact that, within an 8 hour period, in two identical scenarios, I had played opposite parts. I had been both the "slowpoke" AND the "speed demon". It reminded me that we humans are changeable beings. We often adjust our behavior, and even our character and personality, according to the situation. We're different with strangers than we are with our family. We're different when we're calm than we are when we're stressed. We're different at church than we are in the community.
Perhaps that's why we humans are so attracted to God... who does... not... change.
Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ - the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
February 1, 2022 - Wallace Chapel Baptist Church will honor Sis. Brenda Moore and Bro. Devonte Thompson on February 6, 2022 at the 11am hour with guest Pastor Charlston Johnson from Smyrna Baptist Church in Timpson. Family and friends are invited. Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord!!
Pastor Derrick Rhodes and the Wallace Chapel Church Family
February 1, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday, February 1.
February 1st fell on a Saturday in 2003. That morning, at about 8:00, people in the Dallas area looked up in the sky... and they saw the space shuttle Columbia breaking apart. A few minutes later debris began to fall in East Texas. It fell in our streets, in our fields, all around us. It was a day that many of you will never forget.
And in the months following that day, many of you were part of the search teams - the largest search effort in the history of the world. Or maybe you helped feed the searchers, or did their laundry, or a hundred other little things. Everyone just wanted to help, to do something, to do what they could do. Because, not only had this terrible tragedy happened - it had happened here, where we live.
We live in a community where neighbors help neighbors. It's no big thing, really. It's expected. It's part of our way of life. But, if you've lived in other places, you know that it's not like that everywhere. We are blessed. And in the winter of 2003, we had the opportunity to be a blessing to our nation, to NASA, and to the families of the seven brave astronauts.
So, the next time a neighbor helps you. Or, better yet, the next time you have the chance to help a neighbor. Whisper a prayer of thanksgiving. Because you are blessed.
Galatians 5:14 - The whole law of God is fulfilled in this one command - You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
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