Spiritual Life
6A
Thursday, May 13, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Submissions
LA GRANDE — The La Grande
Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints will hold a virtual
conference Saturday and Sunday, May
15-16, for members in the John Day,
Baker City, Pine Valley, La Grande,
Elgin, Union and Enterprise wards
and branches. Elder Jeremy Jaggi, a
General Authority Seventy, will be
presiding remotely.
The Saturday evening adult session
will start at 6 p.m. and the Sunday
session is at 10 a.m. Members who
have not received an email from Pres-
ident Chadwick with links to the con-
ference may contact their local leader-
Churches and faith-based groups are encouraged to submit Highlights for the Spiritual Life page
by 4 p.m. Tuesday for publication Thursday. Submit by email to news@lagrandeobserver.com (with
Highlights in the subject line).
ship or Chris Panike at chrispanike@
gmail.com for access information.
The “Come, Follow Me” lesson
for the week of May 17 will be on
Doctrine & Covenants sections
51-57, which are revelations given
to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1831
regarding church organization, along
with instructions for some individ-
uals and families to settle in Inde-
pendence, Missouri, rather than
Kirtland, Ohio.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
LA GRANDE — La Grande’s First
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
will welcome the congregation’s new
pastor, Archie Hook, and his wife,
Vicqui, into ministry with them on
Sunday, May 16. Pastor Archie’s mes-
sage, “Let’s Take on the Work of
Christ,” will refl ect on Matthew 11:28-
30. Worship begins at 10 a.m. Masks
are required and social distancing is
practiced.
Being content never grows old
remember as a kid how
the days seemed so
long. I recall in the
summertime after break-
fast, I would shoot baskets
until the sun became too
hot, and then I would ride
my bike to cool off . Our
that had the same idea. I
would pick cherries and
my mother would bake
pies that were so deli-
cious. I cannot recall being
stressed or anxious about
the future. I just believed
everything would always
stay this way and
be alright.
Well, we all
BILLY
grow up and dis-
HOLLAND
cover that our
LIVING ON PURPOSE
journey has sea-
sons and is always
neighbors had fi ve children moving forward. I’ve had
and we would play kickball a blessed life and I’m
until it was too dark to see. learning that living in the
Life was fun, and I was
awareness of God’s glo-
always excited to do it all
rious presence will pro-
over again the next day.
vide the courage and faith
I can still recall the
we need to endure what-
simple joys of running
ever may come. As we
through clover as fast
grow older, it seems that
as I could for no reason
time passes more quickly.
except to feel the wind
Maybe this is because we
on my face. I loved to lie
are spending too much of
down on our picnic table
it watching others instead
in the backyard and watch
of focusing on what we
the clouds pass by. It was
need to do. When we
interesting to see them
allow ourselves to become
transform into amazing
overly absorbed and entan-
images that looked so real, gled with problems we
and I always wondered if
cannot change, it can over-
anyone else was noticing
whelm us with sadness and
this awesome display.
discouragement.
On those lazy humid
However, learning
days when the temperature to live a productive yet
would soar, I would turn
uncomplicated lifestyle
on the garden hose and run can help us rediscover the
through the water sprin-
simplicity and content-
kler and then play with
ment we enjoyed when we
my trucks and bulldozers
were young. When is the
under the cool shade of the last time you went hiking
trees. I remember climbing and enjoyed the beauty of
our cherry trees and sit-
God’s creation? It would be
ting high in the branches
fun to play in the snow and
sharing the delicious fruit
feel the rain on our faces
with the numerous birds
and maybe in the evenings
I
we could turn off the tele-
vision and take a quiet
walk, as talking with the
Lord always brings peace
and calm into our soul.
Maybe if we realize that
age has more to do with
attitude than years, we
could experience life on a
higher level and have more
joy and contentment. It is
said that we are as young
as our faith and as old as
our despair.
I was in a restaurant
the other day and noticed
an elderly couple sit-
ting together in a booth.
The woman’s hands
were shaking and her
food would not stay
on the fork. After sev-
eral attempts, she put
the fork down. Her hus-
band quietly reached over
and took her fork, cut
the pancake and gently
started toward her mouth
with a bite. She opened
her mouth and accepted
without even changing
facial expressions. He
returned to his plate and
then began the compas-
sionate process of taking
turns.
This scene touched me
deeply and reminded me
of how life seems to return
full circle. Choosing to live
in a disposition of child-
like trust and hope in God
allows us to remain happy
and in his favor. Matthew
chapter 18 talks about obe-
dience and humility as a
result of being spiritually
converted and restored to
the way we observed and
contemplated life through
our conscience as a young
child. The innocence of
children is precious in
God’s sight and he desires
that we maintain this atti-
tude and perspective of
purity and a character of
forgiveness, sincerity, and
love no matter what age we
are.
———
Dr. Holland lives in
Central Kentucky with his
wife, Cheryl, where he is a
Christian minister, author
and community chaplain.
To learn more visit billyhol-
landministries.com.
Law Enforcement
Memorial Day — Honor
those who have earned it
he month of May is known for Memorial Day
when graves of loved ones are decorated and those
who have served our nation and given the ultimate
sacrifi ce of service are to be remembered. Unfortunately,
we are living in a generation that is not being taught much
of the accuracy of our nation’s history, and we are losing
appreciation for our heritage as a nation. We live in a cul-
ture where many
young people
do not know the
FRANKLIN
basis of how
HUMBER
or even why
FROM THE PULPIT
our nation was
founded, much
less the Constitution upon which it was built.
Saturday, May 15, is another signifi cant day of memo-
rial and remembrance that is being forgotten by many
who live in our nation: Law Enforcement Memorial Day
has been set aside to remember those who gave the ulti-
mate sacrifi ce and were killed in the line of duty. Sadly,
we are living in a day that we are seeing the numbers of
offi cers killed in the line of duty on the rise. Recently, two
offi cers in our nation were shot and killed coming out of
their homes on their way to go to work.
In the past decade, we have seen a dramatic deterio-
ration of respect for those who serve to protect us and an
increase of hostility against those who serve with honor.
Some want to focus on the small percentage of bad offi -
cers at the expense of the vast majority who serve with
honor. Initial news reports infl ame the public but the
results of thorough investigation are rarely given as much
press because it is not nearly as sensational. It is not sur-
prising to most individuals that the result of much of
the defunding of police in many metropolitan areas has
resulted in a sharp increase in violent crimes and a long
delay in response times to crime.
We all need to realize there are bad representatives of
every fi eld of work. There is isolated corruption in every
line of work. Sadly, this is true in my line of work as a
pastor and whatever line of work you do as well, even in
politicians as we all know full well. The Bible still says to
show honor to whom honor is due (Roman 13:7) and that
there is no greater love to show than to lay down your life
for your friend (John 15:13).
Those who serve honorably and lay their life down
every time they go to work should be given the honor
they are due. Those who sacrifi ce their very life in ser-
vice should be remembered with honor. Join with me this
week to pray for and express appreciation to those who
serve to protect us from the evil around us so we can
enjoy a peaceful life.
———
Franklin Humber is the pastor of the Summerville
Baptist Church.
T
Words of the Buddha
Generosity, kind words, doing a good turn for
others, and treating all people alike: these bonds of
sympathy are to the world what the linchpin is to the
chariot wheel.
— Jataka 20
Diffi cult to detect and very subtle, the mind seizes
whatever it wants; so let a wise one guard one’s mind,
for a guarded mind brings happiness.
— Dhammapada 3.36
In every virtue all-accomplished, with wisdom full
and mind composed, looking within and ever mindful
— thus one crosses the raging fl ood.
— Sutta Nipata 1.176
— Source: www.pariyatti.org
Northeast Oregon Directory of Churches
Cove United
Methodist Church
1708 Jasper St., Cove, OR
North Powder
United
Methodist Church
390 E. St., North Powder, OR
JOIN US... Catch the Spirit!
Worship: 9:00 a.m. Cove
Worship: 10:00 a.m. N. Powder
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
First Christian
Church
(Disciples of Christ)
GRACE COMMUNITY
LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Place
62848 Philynda Loop in Island City
901 Penn Avenue 963-2623 “We are called to Serve”
lgdisciples@gmail.com
Worship
10:00 a.m.
~Join us at The Lord’s Table~
Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 am
Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Phone: 541-568-4230
grace.lutherancove@gmail.com
LA GRANDE UNITED FIRST LANDMARK
BAPTIST
METHODIST CHURCH MISSIONARY
CHURCH
“OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS”
1612 4th Street – 963-2498
Pastor Taylor Gould
For service information go to
www.lagrandeumc.org
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
Imbler
Christian
Church
440 Ruckman, Imbler 534-2201
www.imblercc@gmail.com
Sunday Services
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Worship Service
La Grande Seventh-day
Adventist Church
A Place where hope is found in Jesus
Join us in Fellowship & Worship
Saturday all age classes 9:30 am
Saturday Worship 11:00 am
2702 Adams Avenue, La Grande
963-4018
lagrandeor.adventistchurch.org
Learning for Today and Eternity
Little Friends
Christian Preschool/Childcare 963-6390
La Grande Adventist Christian School
K-8th Grade 963-6203
109 18th Street • 963-3402
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Services
This
Week