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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2012)
community news Church News and Events By Mark Brown Why is There So Much Suffering in the World? Insight from Pastor Greg Allen Pastor Greg Allen is the senior pastor at the Bethany Bible Church, a small, non-denominational church located just west of beautiful Portland, Oregon. This will be a two, maybe three part series. I believe you will enjoy both the insight and Biblical teaching. I have included the link to the church so you can visit. http://bethanybible.org/new/ Dear friend, First of all, thanks for writing. And I appreciate that you’re a believer with questions. It’s probably not surprising to you that you’re not the first sincere Christian with questions like these. I deeply respect you for asking them. What’s more, I respect the sincerity with which they’re asked. It’s easy to detect the frustration you feel in the way you ask them; and I suspect that-- to some degree--they involve some personal pain. But perhaps it may help if I share the things I have learned to do to keep my bearings in this world of suffering. (1) KEEP IN MIND THE BIBLICAL REALITY OF THE FALL. People often ask, “If there is a God, then why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?” And although folks don’t always like to admit it, the reason there’s so much suffering and evil in the world is because we fell in sin, and brought 2012 ruin on the perfect creation that God made (see Genesis 3:1-19). All creation was affected when Adam and Eve sinned (see Romans 8:18-22); and we were all in them when they fell. I remember someone once asking Billy Graham, “If God is all powerful, then why couldn’t He create a perfect world?” And Dr. Graham wisely answered, “He DID create a perfect world. But we brought ruin upon it by our sin.” I believe that if we always remember that this is a fallen world, we won’t be caught by surprise by the reality of suffering and evil that is in it. (With this, though, we also need to remember that God has done something about it through the cross!) (2) KEEP THE STORIES OF THE BIBLE IN PROPER BALANCE. Sometimes people say, “I thought the Bible teaches that only good happens to God’s people.” And when they say this, they’re mistaken. Some preachers and Bible teachers have given this false impression; but the Bible doesn’t teach that only good things will happen to God’s people. And when Christians hold to the expectation that only good things should happen to them, they expect something from God that He never promised--and thus set themselves up for a disappointment. Taken as a whole, the Bible tells quite a mix of stories. Good things and blessings DO often come upon godly people. But so does suffering. Naboth got murdered and his vineyard got stolen (1 Kings 21:1-16). Uriah’s wife was stolen from him and he was left to die (2 Samuel 11:1-27). The apostle Paul asked God Senior Center Activities 5-Area Luncheon: There are no luncheons scheduled for Novem- ber and December. Connie’s Fabulous Breakfasts: Fabulous breakfasts are available to the public on Fridays for a cost of only $3.50. The event happens at the Senior Center (446 Bridge Street) from 7:30 to 9:00 AM each Friday. Meal price includes a bev- erage, too. Enter through the side, parking lot door. What a deal! Week Day Lunches: The Verno- nia Senior Center offers nutritious and tasty lunches each weekday for a $4 donation for seniors over 60; cost is $5 for anyone under 60. To-go meals are available for $5. These are available to the public, not just Senior Citizens. (Meal- time is noon; late arrivals may not be served.) You can reserve your lunch by calling by 11:15 AM, or further in advance if possible, to assist the cooks as they prepare the day’s meals. Meals on Wheels are available for a $4 donations for seniors over 60. Please con- tact the Senior Center for an ap- plication. Maple Bars available locally! Connie King, the cook at the Se- nior Center, is making maple bars each day. The maple bars are available to the public, too, and only cost $1 each. Availability is subject to quantity on hand. You can assure yourself of a good sup- ply by pre-ordering them directly from Connie by calling the Senior Center (503-429-3912) any week day, from 7:00 AM-3:00 PM. Please allow one day lead time for larger orders. The Center’s front door opens at 9:00, but the side parking lot door opens at 7:00. Ah, sweet treats! Thrift Store: Bargain prices can be found in Vernonia’s Se- nior Center in their Thrift Store. The retail store is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The Thrift Store provides funds for the Senior Center’s facility and its many activities. Donations can also be october23 dropped off during those same hours, and donated clothes need to be clean and in good condition so they are “sales ready”. We are offering half off during the first week of each month. Buy local- ly and support your local Senior Center. For after hours drop-offs please contact Pauline 503-429-5810. Special Days: On the last Wednesday of the month Wauna Credit Union will be serving ice cream. On the last Friday of the month we will serve birthday cake and ice cream to celebrate that month’s birthdays. Membership Dues: Another way to support Vernonia’s Senior Center is to pay the $15 annual membership dues. Checks may be mailed or dropped off at the Se- nior Center. Anyone 50 and older may join. Questions? 3912 Call: (503) 429- 17 to remove his physical ailment three times, and God said no (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). We’re not treating the Bible right when we only emphasize the blessings of its saints--and not also accept the reality of their trials. Stay tuned, more to come…Thank you again Pastor Greg. Vernonia Community Church: New Web-site: vernoniacommunitychurch.org Annual Harvest Hot Dog Feed: We will feed hotdogs to the kids and families going out around the neigh- borhoods again this year. Join us starts at 5:00 PM on October 31, 2012. The Nehalem Valley Bible Church will hold a Bible Conference on November 9-11 with Dr. Roy Sprague and his wife from the Tacoma area ministering. Dr. Sprague has preached and taught for over 50 years and has a wealth of Bible knowledge. His texts will be the books of 1&2 Peter. Following is the schedule and top- ics for the meetings: Friday 7:00 PM: “God’s Call To Salvation” Sat Men’s Breakfast 8:00 AM: “God’s Call To Growth” Saturday Ladies Luncheon with Elvia Sprague at Noon Sat 7:00 PM: “God’s Call To Separation” Sun 11:00 AM: “God’s Call To Service” Sun 6:00 PM: “God’s Call To Satisfaction” All meetings are at the church. We would like to invite everyone to attend a new Bible study begun this year entitled “Putting on the Armor” which explores the book of Ephesians, especially the passage from 6:10-20. It is held at the church on Sunday evenings (except for the 3rd Sun- day) at 6:00 PM Pastor Taylor has begun a study of the books of 1&2 Thessalonians for the morning service held at 11:00 AM For further information on any of these events, you may call Pastor Taylor at the church office at 503- 429-5378. Contact us: www.christiannews.com or saltn_light@ hotmail.com with any faith based news . Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Look for our next issue November 13th. Church Directory (in alphabetical order) Assembly of God Sunday School: 9:45 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Wayne Marr, Pastor 662 Jefferson Avenue 503-429-0373 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sunday Schedule: Sacrament Meeting: 10:00 AM Sunday School & Primary: 11:20 AM Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women: 12:10 PM Marc Farmer, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street 503-429-7151 Covenant Church Vernonia Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 7:00 PM John D, Murray, Pastor 359 “A” Street 503-860-3860 Nehalem Valley Bible Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service: 10:45 AM Wed. Ladies Bible Study: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 7:00 PM Sat. Men’s Prayer Meeting: 6:30 AM Gary Taylor, Pastor Grant & North Streets 503-429-5378 Pioneer Baptist Fellowship Worship Service: 6:00 PM www.pbfalive.com John Cahill, Pastor 850 Madison Ave. 503-429-1161 St. Mary’s Catholic Church Wednesday Religious Education: 3:15- 4:30 PM Sunday Mass: 12:00 PM Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator 960 Missouri Avenue 503-429-8841 Vernonia Christian Church Sunday School: 9:45 AM Worship Service in Youth & Family Center: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaChristianChurch.org Sam Hough, Pastor 410 North Street 503-429-6522 Vernonia Community Church Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Wednesday Prayer: 6:30 PM Ralph Young, Interim Pastor 957 State Avenue 503-429-6790 Vernonia Foursquare Church Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 AM Children’s Sunday School Carl Pense, Pastor 850 Madison Avenue 503-429-1103 Vernonia Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath (Saturday) Services Sabbath School: 9:30 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM www.VernoniaSDAC.org Larry Gibson, Pastor 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St. 503-429-8301