First United Methodist Church News - May 10, 2013
Submitted by Mary Lynn Tinkle

Rev. McMahon began his sermon series on The Foundations For A Good Marriage with his sermon "The Heart of a Good Marriage." He said God's prescription for a good marriage is to live life trying to please God. We can please God in our marriage by walking in love so that we desire the good for our spouse. We can also have a Godly marriage by understanding the basic needs of man and women. We can do this by finding out what your spouse feels that they need from their standpoint and then to the best of your ability try to meet that need instead of just deciding what they need and force it on them whether they want it or not. We should also pray "Lord, help me to be a blessing to my spouse. Finally, we should ask questions, listen, observe, explore and talk to make sure you really know you spouse.

Rev. McMahon concluded the sermon by telling us that God has entrusted this person into your care expecting you to help Him provide your spouse with the best life possible.

Happy Birthday: 06-Barbara Pinkston, 08-Don Sinclair, and 11-Connie Wilkinson

Bingo Time!!! Please join us for our monthly Bingo in the Fellowship Hall May 14th at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is invited for the fun, fellowship and great prizes.

If you do not have a church home, please bring your mother and other family members to our worship services at 8:30 or 11:00. We will honor our mothers for their love, dedication and caring. The members of the First United Methodist Church pray you have a blesses week and a Happy Mother's Day.

Northside Church of Christ - May 21, 2013
Submitted by George Parsley, Evangelist

Why?

Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” This is truly a challenging question isn’t it? Why do people that “call themselves Christians” do not do what Jesus says? I suppose that folks think that truth is relative to them and however they see themselves then that is Jesus sees them. Sadly this is not true.

To call Jesus Lord is the same as declaring Him your King and Ruler. So if we make such a claim why do folks not do what their proclaimed King and Lord has said? Such as…

1. Believe and be baptized to be saved (Mk. 16:16).
2. Forgive one another (Matt. 18:21-35).
3. Control anger (Matt. 5:21,22).
4. Control lust (Matt. 5:27-29).
5. Divorce for any reason (Matt. 5:31,32).
6. Revenge (Matt. 5:38-42).
7. Trust in God not riches (Matt. 6:19-34)
8. Golden rule (Matt. 7:12)
9. In the church seek bread of life not bread from the kitchen (Jn. 6:26,27)
10. Will be where Jesus is Sunday morning (Jn. 12:26).

Many, many more examples could be given. But the point remains, why call Jesus Lord and then do not the things which he says. A challenging question indeed.

Pull Up a Chair - April 5, 2013
Submitted by Michael Hale, Pastor Center First Baptist Church

Ark –La- Tex Go Tell Crusade is well under way with a number of folks and churches involved. It’s never too late to get involved. This weekend is crucial to the crusade. We have counselor training at 9:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Baptist Church and Sunday is “Each One Reach One Sunday.”

If you have dreamed of singing in a large choir, the first practice will be Monday evening , April 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church. At 7:30 p.m. we will have a Rally at the First Baptist Church, with Judge Rick Campbell sharing his vision for the crusade. Then we will break into various committees. If you want to be involved or learn more about the Ark- La- Tex Go Tell Crusade then it’s time to “Check It Out.”

Happenings at FUMC of Joaquin & Paxton - May 20, 2013
Submitted by Randy Smith, Pastor

Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus. Today was the Day of Pentecost on the church calendar. This day coincides with the Jewish Festival of Weeks. Almost always verses from the second chapter of Acts are read on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter and the Jewish festival day comes 50 days after Passover. In my sermon I spoke of the need to reclaim the fervor of the early church. Those followers filled with the Spirit wanted to live and act like Jesus. There were no Gospels or Epistles or Revelations—these would come later. There were no creeds or dogmas or checklists of things one has to believe. But there was a burning desire to bring compassion and God’s peace to all that they met.

It was great to see Liz and Mike at Paxton this morning. Joe and Hilda selected some of our favorite hymns. At Joaquin we had many guests worship with us. Many of the Joaquin seniors who received local Methodist scholarships came with their families. It was so great to see these young people. I taught these kids in fourth grade. I will post pictures on the church website.

Receiving scholarships from Joaquin Methodist were Bailee McSwain, Micah Atkinson, Steven Evans, Whitney Vaughn and Zac McDaniel. Jordan Welch, Carsen Jones, and Brigitte Raymond also were awarded scholarships. It was great to see Neva Foshee this morning. It was also great to have Teresa’s grandchildren and friend and Gayle’s little guy—Carter. Dianne , PA ’s daughter is in from California and sure was great to see her. It was also her birthday—so happy birthday! Thursday morning at 8:00 we will have prayers and a short devotional and then head to the Café for breakfast. This Saturday will be a workday at the Joaquin Church from 9:00-11:00.

“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.” Both churches are very open and inviting churches that take to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds.” Services at Paxton United Methodist Church begin at 9:30 with Sunday School at 10:30. Spanish language services are at 11:00 with the Rev. Carmelo Dominquez delivering the message. Sunday School at Joaquin Methodist is 10:00 and worship service begins at 11:00. Our website is at joaquinumc.com. Our web master is Jason Gill. Our email address is at joaquinumc@hotmail.com and prayer requests can be sent there and we will post them on our website. Take care and God’s Speed.

A Church For The Birds - May 20, 2013
By Doug Fincher

“Eutychus fell out the window because of Paul’s long sermon…”Acts 20:9

In the late fifties while I was a student at ETBC I was asked to preach at The Bonaldo Baptist Church in Nacogdoches County. The church was composed of the descendants of the early Spanish settlers.…the Acostas, Molandes, Ariolas…The Bonaldo Creek and The Loco Creek ran near this community and into the Angelina River.. The church decided to name their church after one them and wisely chose The Bonaldo.

Both the log parsonage and the outhouse were inhabited by large wood rats and long chicken snakes. And the ancient well was partially filled with an accumulation of armadillo hulls, tin cans and years of dinner- on- the- ground left-overs.
When I arrived for my appointment that first Sunday, deacon Vick Ariola introduced me to his Molandes cousins and their families who made up the majority of the membership. He advised me, “Now preacher, we got a bird nesting under the pulpit…and we don’t want them eggs to git cold”.

Sure enough, as I approached the pulpit, a wren fluttered from her nest under the pulpit and sailed out through a missing window pane. I don’t remember what my sermon subject was that day, but I do remember that I didn’t let those bird eggs get cold!!

I was pastor of the church two years and they never replaced the window pane. I figured keeping out the elements was not as important as keeping the birds happy…. and keeping long-winded preachers out!

From the Pastor's Study - March 27, 2013
By Pastor J. A. Meeks

Seek and Ye Shall Find...

Are you in union with Christ? (I Cor 6:17)

When we become a Christian, we found a close and loving relationship in Christ Jesus. We became one in feeling, spirit, intention and temperament. It was Jesus who said to the apostle Peter, "...Lovest thou me more than these?" (John 21: 15) We came to understand that our soul is far more important than our bodies. Our spiritual relationship is much more dear, lasting and enduring than any human union, for it is pure and holy. Therefore, we must regard it as sacred and unprofaned.

There are a number of bonds that unite us unto the Lord. First, we must have a personal relationship with Christ, we must know Jesus as our Savior. A mere external association as with a person is not enough, we need a vital and spiritual union with Christ. Note what The apostle Peter stated,"...Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" (I Peter1:8). We must humbly receive the gospel concerning Christ, "...Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16).

Secondly, we must have a true bond of love. As children of God we are united to Christ as the bride to the bridegroom; we must enjoy a spiritual affection, "...For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee" Isaiah 62:5.

Thirdly, there must be a bond of affinity. Each person is drawn to Jesus as sinners to our Savior, not just drawn, but we remain with Christ as our true and eternal friend, congenial in character, in disposition and aims.

Let us note the consequent unity between us and the Lord. We must be in a spirit of obedience to the father whose will and law is powerful and supreme. Paul stated "...But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit". It was Jesus who stated, "...Not my will, but thine will". The Lord's prayer is, "...Thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven..." (Matt. 6:10).

Yet we must be one in love of all that is holy and morally right. If you have the Holy Spirit in your soul, you have a praying spirit, a mourning spirit, a sanctifying spirit, a purifying spirit, a crucifying spirit, a new head, a new heart, new lips, and a new life. We must be one in our aim of an immortal relationship with Christ. Jesus' prayer was, "...That where I an there ye may be also" (John 14:3). It was Stephen in the book of Acts that declared "...Jesus receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). It was the Lord that said to John in the book of Revelation, "...Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter" (Rev.4:1).

We need practical proof of our unity in Christ. If there is life in the heart, it is identically the same life that is in the head, and so in the whole church the life and spirit of Christ is the life and spirit of his people. "...Christ in you the hope of Glory" (Col.1:27). To be one in spirit with Jesus, much more is needed than, to bear the Christian name, you may call a lemon a rose and you will not thereby give it perfume. We are known by the fruit we bear.

We need more than an outward profession, you may be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, but unless you are baptized into the Holy Ghost, you know not what union with Christ is. You cannot call Christ 'Lord' but by the Holy Ghost. The superficial, the nominal and the outward will not suffice, we must be consumed with the fire as the bush at Horeb was. Let us have the same tastes, will, aim, fervours, resolutes, and tranquility.

"...Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" Ephesians 4:13.

*** Pastor J.A. Meeks is the minister of the Calvary Abundant Life Tabernacle in Logansport, LA. - for over forty six years.