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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2019)
6A FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019 Real stairway to heaven starts with obedience to creator A few years ago, while talking with a friend about temptation and the constant struggles within the Christian life, he shared about how often he wilts under the power of negative infl uences and, like most of us, usually ends up being disappointed with his choices. After going back and forth confessing our weaknesses and failures, out of frustration he asked me a pointed question: “Why do we continue avoiding our responsibility to do what is right?” Hmmm… I tried to fi nd an intelligent response or some spiritual way to justify our disobe- dience, but all I could come up with is the sobering fact that we just do not want to. We realize this is a strong state- ment and one we would rather not think about, but the Bible also never promised the Christian life would be easy. George Orwell is quoted as saying, “The further a LIVING ON PURPOSE BILLY HOLLAND society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” Nonetheless, I would rather be known as someone who confronts our problems than ignores them. We will never change the rebel- lious cycle of defeat until we allow Christ to renew our mind and help us develop self-discipline. It’s true, we can live as close to God as we desire. I remember watching Flip Wilson back in the early 1970s and one of his more popular comedy routines was called “The Devil Made Me Do It.” Many could relate to the clever idea of accusing the dark side for our bad decisions. We understand how easy it is to blame someone else for our mistakes, but as most of us know, this is just hid- ing behind more excuses. Anytime we intentionally deny the truth, we are heading down a danger- ous road and will eventually pay a great price whether it be in this life or the next. The reality is that the devil can attack us within the parameters of God’s approval, but he mostly plays the role of a tempter and persuader. Our own carnality is also a strong infl uence and might suggest a second piece of chocolate pie, but no one is making us eat it. I’m not trying to tell anyone about what God wants to change in them. I’m only presenting some things to consider so that we can all think a little more clearly about what is really important. We know there are many different levels of seriousness with our spiritual lives, especially when it comes to know- ing why we are here and what are we called to do. In order to follow God’s purpose, it’s wise to develop discernment to recognize the voice of the shepherd among the voices of distraction. When we agree that knowing and obeying our creator is the meaning of life, only then can we begin to climb the real stairway to heaven. A couple of the fi rst steps include being sincerely prepared to submit our will to God and giving him complete control over our decisions. You see, there is a throne in the heart of every person and there can be only one king who rules upon this throne. If God is not sitting upon the throne of our life, some- one else is. For Christ to be our Lord, we literally become possessed by him. This may sound rather extreme, but he cannot lead us if we are always making our own plans. Most of us love the idea of going to heaven but are not really inter- ested in all the details of taking a holy vow and coming into covenant with God. Romans 6 reminds us that we are “servants to whom we obey,” and since our actions reveal our intentions, it would be good to examine our hearts and make sure Jesus is occupying our throne. You see, where we spend our time and what we think about reveals our allegiance to our true master. The core of the gospel is that Jesus came to rescue us, but he did not save us so that we can do whatever we desire. He saved us so that he could ac- complish his desires through us. Dr. Billy Holland lives in Central Kentucky with his wife, Cheryl, where he is a Christian author, outreach minister and community chaplain. H IGHLIGHTS Morning Prayer offered Sunday Submissions LA GRANDE — St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of La Grande will celebrate Morning Prayer at 11 a.m. Sunday. Coffee and Fellow- ship Hour will follow in the Parish Hall. Center open for family history research LA GRANDE — The “Come Follow Me” lesson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the week of Oct. 21-27, based on First and Second Thessalo- nians, will focus on prepar- ing for the second coming of Christ. Members of the congrega- tion will be the speakers for the Sacrament Service. Sunday school meetings will be held during the second hour. The Columbia River Tem- ple in Richland, Washington, will reopen Oct. 22. For those Churches and faith-based groups are encouraged to submit Highlights for the Spiritual Life page by 4 p.m. Tuesday for publication Friday. Submit by email to news@lagrandeobserver.com (with Highlights in the subject line), by fax to 541-963-7804, or by hand to the offi ce. interested in researching fam- ily history, the Genealogy Li- brary at 1802 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, is open to the pub- lic on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. resurrection. The service will begin at 10 a.m. First Christian will celebrate Pastor Apprecia- tion Sunday with a potluck luncheon after worship. Pastor Ray and Wendy are just completing fi ve years of ministry with the church. Pastor Appreciation celebrated with potluck Faith Lutheran prepares for 2020 LA GRANDE — Pastor Ray Smith’s message Sun- day will be “Liberation” at La Grande’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He will refer to Luke 24:36- 49, in which Jesus speaks to his disciples after his LA GRANDE — The sermon at Faith Lutheran Church in La Grande Sun- day will expound on Luke 18:1-8, in which Jesus uses a parable to teach believers to pray and not lose heart. The Divine Service will begin at 10 a.m. There will be a church council meeting following the service. A Budget Committee and Nominating Commit- tee will be established to prepare for 2020. aries Fred and Sheryl Ted- der who will talk about the exciting work being done through the Life Tree Com- munity Church in Johan- nesburg, South Africa. South African missionaries speak Sunday evening Bluegrass gospel ministry leads worship services LA GRANDE — At the La Grande Church of the Nazarene, Sunday school is held at 9:15 a.m., followed by a worship service at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Kevin Goss will continue the “Upside Down Kingdom” sermon series from Matthew 6:1-18 with a message titled “The Heart of Worship.” Worship is fi rst and foremost about inward orientation rather than per- formance, which means that at the heart of worship is the condition of the worshippers heart. At 5 p.m. Sunday eve- ning, the community is welcome to a presentation by South African mission- SUMMERVILLE — The Rochester Family Bluegrass Gospel Music Ministry will be ministering at the Sum- merville Baptist Church’s worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Led by the this musically talented family and fi lled with music and scripture, the services will “lift your heart toward the Lord.” — Observer staff Grande Ronde Mennonite Church Cove Hymn Sing Ascension School on Church St. Place: Date: Sunday, October 27, 2019 Time: 6:00 p.m. Refreshments following • Everyone Welcome 541-786-1289 ✣✣✣✣ Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 lgdisciples@gmail.com Worship 10:00 a.m. Services This Week ~Join us at The Lord’s Table~ I MBLER C HRISTIAN C HURCH 440 R UCKMAN , I MBLER 534-2201 www.imblerchristianchurch.org Sunday Services 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Worship Service C OVE U NITED M ETHODIST C HURCH ROMAN CATHOLIC 1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR N ORTH P OWDER U NITED M ETHODIST C HURCH 390 E. St., North Powder, OR JOIN US... Catch the Spirit! Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church A Place where hope is found in Jesus Join us in Fellowship & Worship Every Saturday 9:30 a.m. - Bible Study/Fellowship 10:45 a.m. - Worship Service 2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande • 963-4018 Pastor: Mike Armayor www.lagrande22adventistchurchconnect.org Learning for Today and Eternity Little Friends Christian Preschool/Childcare 963-6390 La Grande Adventist Christian School Christian Education K-8th Grade 963-6203 LA GRANDE UNITED GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICES METHODIST CHURCH LUTHERAN CHURCH La Grande - Our Lady of the Valley “OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS” 1002 L Avenue Saturday 5:30 pm Mass Sunday 10:00 am Mass Weekdays 8:00 am Mass Union - Sacred Heart 340 South 10th Avenue Sunday 8:00 am Mass No Weekdays Worship 10:00 am Sunday 12:30 pm Mass No Weekdays Fellowship Coffee Hour 11:00 am - Nursery provided - FIRST LANDMARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Zion Lutheran Church 1812 1st St. La Grande Pastor Dave Tierce • 541-605-0215 We use the King James Version Bible Sunday School - 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Sunday Evening Bible Study - 3:00 pm (Effective June 10) Wednesday Evening - 6:30 pm “Where you can find TRUTH according to the scriptures” www.flmbclagrande.com (an ELCA church) 902 Fourth Street, La Grande, OR (541) 963-5998 9:00 am - Worship 10:00 am - Fellowship & Refreshments 10:30 am - Classes Pastor: Roberta Smythe www.zionlagrande.org “We are called to Serve” Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Pastor Carl Seelhoff Phone: 541-786-0447 963-5884 109 18th Street • 963-3402 Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. 1316 T St., La Grande, OR 541-568-4567 Sunday S Su u nday 1 10:30 a.m. 2 Cor r 12:9 1 My Grace is sufficient for you. suf ffi grace.lutherancove@gmail.com I 40:31 IS First Baptist Church 1531 S. Main Street, Union 541-562-5531 www.UnionBaptistOregon.org Sunday School 9:45 am Morning Worship 11:00 am Thursday AWANA 6:30 pm Birthing, Building and Being the Body of Christ St. Katherine’s Catholic Church Contemporary Worship Expositional Teaching Tune in to Calvary Radio 88.1 CSN Pastor Taylor Gould lgumc@eoni.com www.lgumchurch.org Office Hours: Mon-Thur 9am-Noon Elgin - Saint Mary’s 12th and Alder CALVARY CHAPEL 1433 Jefferson Ave. Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m. Studying The Book of Second Corinthians Wednesday Service - 7:00 p.m. Studying The Book of Joshua Wednesday Night Youth - 6:00 p.m. The Place 1612 4th Street – 963-2498 62848 Philynda Loop in Island City Amazing Grace Fellowship Fr. Thomas Puduppulliparamban (*DUÀHOG(QWHUSULVH Mass Schedule Sundays: 6W3LXV;:DOORZD²DP 6W.DWKHULQHRI6LHQD(QWHUSULVH²DP Saturdays 6W.DWKHULQHRI6LHQD(QWHUSULVH²SP Weekdays 6W.DWKHULQHRI6LHQD(QWHUSULVH²DP 0RQGD\²7KXUVGD\DQG)LUVW)ULGD\ $OODUHZHOFRPH SIXTH & SPRING, LA GRANDE 541-963-3911 Sun. 10:00 AM - Worship Sun. 8:45 AM - Exploring the Bible Wed. 6:15 PM - AWANA SUMMERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Services: Sunday School & Adult Bible Classes 9:45AM Children's Church & Worship Service 11:00AM Family Worship Service 6:00PM Wednesday: Prayer Mtg, Children's Bible Club, Youth Group 7:00PM A church for your whole family Visit us at summervillebaptistchurch.org
