in other words
january1
2015
Things To Ponder: A New Start
By Grant Williams
Every one loves the
beginning of a “New Year.” The
start of a “New Year” gives us all
the opportunity to make needed
changes in our lives. It also helps
us to reflect on the previous year
and determine if we are headed
in the right direction with our
life. Sometimes it becomes quite
obvious that we need to make
radical changes or we could end up
in big trouble, maybe even a certain
disaster. Every year people make
resolutions with great intentions,
but they usually don’t last very long
because we lose our will power.
Fortunately for the Christian
they are not left to sheer will power.
When you become a child of God,
by asking for forgiveness for your
sins and putting your faith in
Christ’s redeeming power, some
amazing things start to happen. The
Bible tells us that we are no longer
left to our own devices, but have
God’s power available to help us.
The Apostle Paul, in II Corinthians
5:17 said, “Therefore, if any man is
in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone, the new has come.”
Another translation renders the last
phrase, “all things are becoming
new.” Doesn’t that sound like
great news? The thought of being
able to start over with a clean slate
should be the most wonderful news
a person could hear. Sadly, many
people are content to stay the same
year after year with no thought of
improving themselves or their life.
It is conceivable that many
people don’t realize that God offers
a new life to anyone who discovers
the path they have been on is leading
nowhere. The seriousness of our
flaws makes no difference to God.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “for
all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.” The verse continues
with the best news of all, “and are
justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that came by
Christ.” In other words God does
not hold the pardoned sinner guilty
of their failed past. As a matter of
fact God loves to give people a new
start. There aren’t many things a
person can do that He is not willing
to forgive. The one exception is,
if a person refuses to accept God’s
promise of forgiveness and a new
life, He will allow that person to go
their own way.
Have you taken an honest
inventory of your life lately?
Whether you are a Christian or not
there is certainly something you
are sorry about or some bad habit
you need to unload. Whatever your
situation might be ask God to help
you see how He can help you move
toward a better life. God loves
to help people realize a full and
exciting life free from the burden of
guilt and shame. Maybe you have
never considered that you need
God’s help and don’t know where
to begin. It’s easy, just ask Him!
Happy New Year 2015
from the Vernonia Senior Center
Senior Sign Off: Many of the senior population don’t celebrate the arrival of the New
Year... they celebrate the survival of the old one! Hope to see you around with our new
happenings in 2015. Thanks to one and all for your support.
Vernonia Senior Center • 446 Bridge Street
503-429-3912
continued from page 12
have been arguing over it ever since. As some critics
have pointed out, this is an issue with bipartisan sup-
port. Congress should step up and pass a federal law
regulating data.
One of the more emotional moments that came
up during legislative hearings on the subject of privacy
was when a young woman testified about her stepfather
secretly taking nude photos of her. Her two best friends
were also photographed while undressing in private.
These photos can live on indefinitely through the Inter-
net. Currently, this crime is only a misdemeanor.
These young women rightfully believe it
Vernonia Ridge Riders
Annual Banquet
The Vernonia Ridge Riders Annual
Banquet will be held January 17, 2015 at the
Grace Family Fellowship Church Gym on State
Avenue. Social hour starts at 5:00 PM, dinner is
at 6:00 PM.
All members and those who would like
to become members are invited as Banquet night
is also the first meeting of the year. New officers
will be elected at this meeting for the year 2015.
The spaghetti and bread for the Banquet
will be provided; anyone attending the dinner is
asked to bring a salad, dessert, or veggies. Also,
bring your own drinks (no alcohol), coffee
provided. Dinner is free for members and non
members who bring a side dish; $5.00 for all
others.
Membership dues can be paid for 2015:
Single-$15.00 Couple-$20.00 Family-$25.00
(Family includes any child who is living with
you.)
After the Banquet dinner and club
meeting, the silent auction will be held. You can
view auction items during the social hour.
An Insider’s Look
at Robotics Program
continued from page 9
Bridge Street Bits
Legislative Update
13
should be a felony. While they received a sympathetic
hearing, the reality is they are up against a continuing
effort to cut sentencing and push for early release of
convicted felons.
In 2013, the legislature passed a law (HB 3194)
reducing sentences for certain crimes, including iden-
tity theft and robbery. Some lawmakers are hoping to
expand early release to high-risk offenders.
It does no good to enact new legislation to cre-
ate new offenders – whether for Big Data thieves or
legal gun owners – if we are unwilling to attach appro-
priate penalties.
display of the values FIRST stands for. Those val-
ues are: Building and sustaining a team, helping
others, spreading the message of FIRST, mentor-
ing, ‘Gracious Professionalism’ and ‘Coopeti-
tion.’ “Coopetition” is simply a combination of
the terms “cooperation” and “competition.” “Gra-
cious Professionalism” is in essence the idea of
sportsmanship, the idea of winning with grace
and losing with poise. The team that earns the
Chairman’s award gets to go to the world cham-
pionship. I like this idea as it encourages people
to stand for FIRST’s values, and not for personal
values.
All in all, the school robotics programs
are great ways to both learn about engineering,
and how to respect other teams. I wanted to give
the community a reason to help the team, as this
class of seniors enter our last season with 4127. I
think I speak for all of the members of the team
when I say the experience has been one of the
best, and I will never forget doing this.
So, please consider helping us so we can
have a season to remember. I thank you ahead of
time for anything you do to help.
I leave you this final thought, which is
what is always said before we are set free to think
on what to do for the season: “Good luck, and we
hope to see you at the competition.”
Garrett Mullikin is a student at Vernonia High
School who is exploring writing for his Senior
Project.
Church Directory (in alphabetical order)
Assembly of God
Sunday School: 9:45 AM
Morning Worship: 11:00 AM
Sunday Evening Prayer: 6:00 PM
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
Roger Cook, Branch President
1350 E. Knott Street
503-429-7151
Grace Family Fellowship
Sunday School: 9:00 AM
Worship Service: 10:30 AM
Thursday Prayer: 6:00 PM
Greg “Mac” McCallum, Pastor
957 State Avenue
503-429-6790
www.GraceFamilyFellowship.org
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
Open Door Gathering Place
Service: Sunday 6:00 PM
Grant Williams, Pastor
375 North Street
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 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
