Church news

Huntington United

Methodist Church News:

The United Methodist Church and March 9th was the fifth Sunday of Lent.

Thought: We most truly show our love for God whom we have not seen when we love our brother whom we have seen. I Cor. 13:1

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie visited Nacogdoches First UMC as part of her conference wide teaching tour examining the book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. Program participants, including Debra Bashaw from Huntington UMC, got a sneak preview of the DVD being produced to complement the teaching tour The preview segment featured Rev. Derrick Noble of Abundant Life UMC in Lufkin. Rev. Noble sent best wishes to his friend, Martin, in Huntington.

Copies of the book are available from the district office for a limited time. After that they will be available from Cokesbury. The book is a fast, interesting read. It offers specific examples of churches that implemented techniques from the books. The author, Bishop Robert Schnase of the Missouri Annual Conference, takes a scriptural foundation and Wesleyan theology; then applies powerful adjectives that will build fruitful congregations. Bishop Huie hopes the text will be used by congregations, Sunday School classes, youth groups, and administrative boards across the conference.

Huntington UMC is one of 106 churches out of 111 churches in the East District ot pay 100% of our Conference Apportionments. The United Methodist Church is a Connectional church. We are proud that our local church keeps its commitment to the

World church.

The "Prayer Chain" has been completed and may be picked up in the Narthex.

Next Sunday begins Holy Week beginning with Palm/Passion Sunday. On March 20th the congregation will come together for Holy Thursday services. This "Maundy Thursday" service will begin at 6:30.

Carolyn Black has been traveling some with the Eastern Star. She went to Plano the first weekend of March and again on the third weekend of March.

Carolyn Black and our Pastor, Martin Dorin, attended the funeral of the sister of Woody Wood in Houston, March 11th. Our sympathy is with this family, Sue and Woody Wood.

Debra Bashaw, Jelaine Miller, Kathy Claunch, and Barbara Ivy hosted a bridal shower at the beautiful home of Angie Whitley on March 1 for Shelby Ivy, bride-elect of Casey Bryan. Debra and Shelby's mother, Shirley Davis, are life long friends. Many friends and family attended to gift Shelby with square plates and all the other things necessary to start a household. Shirley is a nervous wreck as the wedding approaches.

A Fourth Sunday Easter luncheon is planned at the church. Please make plans to sign up for chicken and dressing, ham or one of the side dishes and then plan to stay and eat in your new or old Easter outfits as we celebrate this very sacred day together.

Bob Bashaw served as Democratic election judge at Huntington on March 4. Carolyn Black, Marie Belk, Rena Brock, Debbie Dhone, and Ernest Langford worked with him. It was a great turnout. He was proud to carry on in the footsteps of Uncle Bud Jones who served in that position for so many years. Afterwards, Mayor Herman Woolbright and Joe Don Holland chaired precinct conventions, while Ben Wilroy assisted the mayor as precinct secretary.

March Birthdays: Kelly Darby the 24th; Kyle Davis and Ted Cheavens the 28th, Jack Yokem and Beth Helton the 30th.

Anniversary Blessings to Elsie and Bill Simpson; Chuck and Lynda Zimmerman.

Jubilee Report

I have a lot of folks tell me they read and read the Bible but they just can't understand it. Many will even go buy a different translation, the "latest easy to understand" translation of the Bible that may not be a very good translation of what God really said. When I have asked if they really understand their new translation any better, the vast majority of the time the reply is something like, "Well, not really. But I want to."

REJOICE, REJOICE, God has an answer. It may take a little longer than we want it to but God has an answer. First, God did not give the Bible to be understood. He gave it to be obeyed. There is no command in the Bible to the effect of, "thou shall understand the Holy Scriptures." There are many commands to obey it. We are not held accountable for understanding everything we read. We are held accountable for obedience. So, let's forget about understanding the Word for just a minute and we will return to it in a moment.

Here is how it works in the simplest form. God says in His Word, "thou shall not" and you are obedient and do not. One of the first blessings for obeying thou shall not's in the Word is a financial blessing. Disobedience to the law is expensive. Check out the fees of criminal lawyers. Sin is eternally expensive but sin is financially expensive too and sin not done is money saved and not wasted. God then adds a blessing of His choice that you need in your heart and another somewhere else in your life.

God then gives a "thou shall" command in print or in your heart. You are obedient and do what God has commanded in your life. He then adds great blessings in your life for doing the "dos" of the Word. That is one of His commands also. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. James 1:22. God blesses obedience of the dos with a confident heart that knows I have honored God.

Your response to this is, "Lord, I now understand (GLORY, we found the understanding) I understand that you bless obedience because I have seen it in my life." Lord, it is you that "gave Solomon understanding" in 1st Kings 4:29 and you have done me the same way. Lord Jesus, when the disciples were with you in Luke 24:45 you "opened their understanding" and when I am with you on the straight and narrow path described in the Sermon on the Mount, you open my understanding just like you did theirs. Lord, you bless me with understanding just like you did the people in the Bible who were obedient. Understanding the Word is a blessing given for obeying the Word. The more I obey the more I am blessed with understanding and now I understand that.

If you do not have a church home and want to be a part of church that is obedient first & then understands second we invite you to Jubilee Baptist Church.

Jubilee Baptist Church is located on FM 1818 right at the city limit sign. We are a country church with a heart for ministry. If you do not have a church home Jubilee will welcome you to our worship services. If you have some trouble of life that is so big only God can help you with it, we invite you to Jubilee & we will ask the Father in Heaven to give you an answer.

Sunday School is at 10 a.m. Worship is at 11 a.m. Midweek worship is Wednesday at p.m. We welcome you.