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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2015)
in other words Things To Ponder: The Heart Matters By Grant Williams Indian folklore relates a story about a mouse that had a heart problem. It seems like he was very happy until he encountered a cat. He went to the local medicine man and expressed his fear of cats. The medicine man gladly changed him into a cat. Everything went great until he ran into a dog. He went back to the medicine man and explained his problem and once again the medicine man changed him from a cat into a dog. He was fine until he came across a tiger and his fears exploded. Back to the medicine man he ran and complained of his fear of tigers. Finally, he felt like he had arrived (once he became a tiger) and had nothing left to fear until he saw a man with a gun. This time the medicine man refused to help him. The problem was revealed. It didn’t matter what kind of creature he became he still had the heart of a mouse. We are all afraid of something. Some people are afraid of everything. Billy Graham once revealed his greatest fear. That he might dishonor God by doing something that would tarnish the glory and beauty of his Savior. He made it a point to never be unaccompanied when he traveled. He would not stay in a hotel without his wife or a male chaperone. You might think that is going overboard, but Billy thought it was the right thing to do because he knew his own heart and how easy it is to fall into sin. He didn’t want to ever be in a situation where he could stumble in his walk with the Lord. His life has had an unparalleled impact on this planet for Christ. Few people can come anywhere near having the powerful testimony of Billy Graham. But the good news is that anyone can be just as forgiven, because Billy knew he was a sinner saved by grace. He has never seen himself as a hero. As a matter of fact he believes all of God’s promises apply to anyone who comes to Christ in faith. One of Billy’s favorite verses is found in Revelation 3:20- 21, “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” The heart of a man is most revealing. It shows the world what is most important in the very soul of his being. Is reputation king? Is ambition the top priority? Is acquiring power, respect and wealth at the head of the list? Remember the Mouse? He was paralyzed by fear! What he lacked was faith. Give your fears to God and trust Him for the future. may7 2015 17 Opinion: Vote YES continued from page 3 Whether those claims are true or not, I do know that without some sort of dedicated funding more cuts will be made to CCRider, drivers there will lose their jobs, and county residents will lose some of their transportation options. While increasing a fee on one particular industry may not seem fair to some, the County Commissioners owe it to the hundreds of people who use CCRider every day to provide stable and dedicated funding to keep this important local transportation system fully operational. This fee increase will provide needed revenue and is currently the only option on the table. Election Day is Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Ballots may be dropped at the Vernonia Public Library, 701 Weed Avenue by 8:00 PM. Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be out May 21st. Bridge Street Bits BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET, the newly renamed thrift shop, is doing well in its new location at 939 Bridge Street. Manager Pam and many volunteers keep the place open from 9:00 to 3:00, weekdays and 10:00 to 3:00 on Saturdays. Come in and browse to find your best bargains! Donations may be dropped off inside during regular business hours; please do not leave items outside. Call Pam 503-429-0835 or Pauline 503-429- 5810 to pre-arrange any after-hours drop offs. Additional shop volunteers are always welcome; ask Pam for an application. The Senior’s new business office is also located at this spot (formerly called The Learning Center). program. This service is located within the American Legion Building, 627 Adams Avenue, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon. Lunch is available to not only seniors but any age. Cook Wendy asks patrons to call by 11:00 to reserve a meal (503-429-1414), which is a catered entrée from St. Helens with special additional items, gleaned from Wendy’s creative recipes. The cost is a reasonable $5 for those under 60 years of age and a suggested donation of $4 for senior citizens. It includes a beverage, side dish and dessert. Be sure to let Wendy know if you want your “to-go” meal heated or kept frozen. What a deal! SENIOR SERVICES. Assistance for any senior may be accessed on Mondays at 939 Bridge Street. Karen Miller is not available during May but the local assistance office is being staffed by others. Call 503-366-6584 with your questions. HOME DELIVERED MEALS. This service is also available to those seniors who cannot travel to the site for their lunch meal. It starts by calling Juliann Davis at 503-366-6584. Once a registration is completed and approved, the meals will be delivered by local Vernonia volunteers. MEAL PROGRAM. Enjoying its new location, as well, is the meal MEMBERS. The more the merrier! Anyone 55 and older is welcome to join the Vernonia Senior Citizens. The reasonable $15 membership helps support this valuable service organization and it’s a tax-deductible organization so that’s beneficial to you at tax time. Questions? Call the office (503-429-3912). Don’t be afraid to leave a message. BEHIND THE SCENES. As with any healthy organization, there’s always planning and work done behind the scenes. The Senior Citizen Board meets regularly to discuss and decide the best way to keep the organization alive and well. Recently a consultant was hired to help clarify the mission and vision, planning goals and objectives to complete those decisions. This also prepares the seniors to apply for grants and plan for the new building. Great strides forward have happened and will continue to do so. General board meetings, open to members and to the public, are the second Friday of each month, at 10:00 AM, and are now occurring in the American Legion Building. Come for the meeting and stay for lunch! There is one open board position, for any member, and the board would appreciate the help. Ask President Jack Harvey for an application. Many hands make for light work. SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. Friday afternoon, at the Legion Building, features many well- experienced card and game players. This group is not limited to seniors, and all adults are welcome to join. Pinochle is the favorite game, currently, but bring your favorite game and these lovely people will learn. It’s a fun way to spend your afternoon. There are usually snacks available, too. Join the fun! TOMMY’S TURNTABLE TUNES. DJ Tommy Sherman provides recorded musical selections on the last Wednesday of the month around lunchtime. Come bring your favorite musical memories and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. This activity is also at the American Legion Building. Vernonia Senior Center • 939 Bridge Street • 503-429-3912 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 Tues. Ladies Bible Study: 9:30 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
