in other words
may21
2015
Things to Ponder: The Lord is Your Friend
By Grant Williams
What happens when we turn our
back to the Lord? The future can cer-
tainly become a frightening thing when
He is no longer the center of our life.
When I was eighteen years old I turned
my back to the Lord for fifteen long
years. It took some amazing circum-
stances to draw me back into the fold.
God is very good at getting our attention.
One of the ways He got a hold of
me was the absolute sense He would pull
away from me if I didn’t surrender my
life back into His care. I really felt like
the protection He had given me through
years of foolish living would be with-
drawn and I would be on my own. That
was pretty scary!
There is a man in the Old Tes-
tament who tried to do things his own
way also. His name was Jonah. God
had told him to go preach to the people
of Ninevah because they had turned their
back on God. But Jonah had a will of
his own and decided he would rather run
than obey.
His disobedience put him on a
ship headed as far away as he could get.
He was able to pay his own way, which
probably made him feel pretty good.
When a horrible storm came up he man-
aged to sleep right through it until he was
awakened by other fellow travelers who
were scared to death. The trip contin-
ued to get worse. He was finally thrown
overboard by his angry fellow travelers.
Before Jonah could drown a
huge fish swallowed him. Sounds out-
rageous, I know, but I believe it really
happened. He was in the belly of that
fish for three days. I think that time gave
Jonah the opportunity to rethink his im-
mediate plans. He was finally thrown
up on the beach like a bleached out old
man. But God had his attention now.
I don’t know anyone who has
ever experienced anything quite as dra-
matic as Jonah, but whoever you are and
wherever you are when the Lord does
get your attention, don’t turn your back
to Him. His plans for your life are much
more exciting than anything you could
imagine. Your future might be uncertain
right now, but there is something good
awaiting everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord.
Today my challenge to you is
very simple. Consider the possibility of
the future being your friend if Christ is
your Lord. It seems reasonable to think
the creator of the universe would know
more about what makes us tick than we
do. Remember “Peanuts?” One day
Lucy challenged Charlie Brown by tell-
ing him, “We learn more from our mis-
takes than we do from our successes.”
Charley responded, “Then I must be the
smartest man in the world!”
17
Here is something to ponder. Is
it possible that Jesus is what is missing
in your life? He loves you, mistakes and
all.
Columbia Humane Society
Featured Pet
Meet Mabel. This sweet two year old lab
mig is ready to find a home where she can
run and play. She is a big girl, coming in
right around 80 lbs. She likes other dogs
and loves every person that she meets.
She loves her toys and would love to have
a fenced yard that she could run and play
in. Her adoption fee is $165.00. If you
have any questions please don't hesitate to
call 503-397-4353 or email:
animalwelfare@columbiahumane.org
2084 Oregon Street
St. Helens, OR 97051
Web: www.columbiahumane.org
Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the
1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be out June 4th.
Bridge Street Bits
ages on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday at noon. To reserve a meal,
please call Wendy by 11:00 a.m. at
503.429.1414. Daily home-delivered
VISION: To work collaboratively to
meals are still available to qualifying
enable all older adult citizens to live in
persons. For more information on
a self-directed and rewarding life in a
home-delivered meals, please contact
senior-friendly community.
Community Action Team’s office on
MISSION: The Vernonia Senior Center Mondays at 503-366-6584.
strives to be the focal point for senior
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: Currently, music
services by promoting health, well-
is available at the American Legion
being, and independence through
Hall during and after lunch on the last
recreation, creative activity, support
Wednesday of each month. DJ Tommy
services and information.
Sherman, of Tommy’s Turntable Tunes,
THE SENIOR CENTER HAS RELOCATED provides the musical selections. Card
TO TWO NEW SITES! The Senior Center games such as Pinochle, Cribbage,
Office and the Thrift Shop have
etc. take place on Friday afternoons,
relocated to the Vernonia Community now at the Legion Hall, too. There’s
Learning Center (939 Bridge Street).
always a friendly group who would
The Thrift Shop is now rebranded
welcome new game players.
as “Bargains on Bridge Street.” The
BUSINESS: The eleven Board
Meal Program has relocated to the
Members are working behind the
American Legion Hall (627 Adams
scenes overseeing the daily running
Avenue) and is serving meals to all
The Vernonia Senior Center recently
worked to clarify our vision and our
mission.
of our services. They are also working
with a consultant to update the
Business Plan for the organization
as we prepare to apply for grants.
Good business planning is extremely
important to the health of any
organization, whether non-profit (like
the Senior Center is) or a for-profit
business. If you are a member and
interested in running for a board
position, there is one position open.
Please contact President Jack Harvey
(503.429.4080) for information and an
application.
Bargains on Bridge Street (939
Bridge St) is accepting donations.
Please bring them inside during
regular business hours (Mon- Fri
9-3 and Sat 10-3). This thrift shop
has been a long-time main source
of revenue for the Senior Center,
so any support the community can
give to it is happily accepted. As
always, we need volunteers to help
staff it, so if you are interested in
volunteering, please call manager
Pam at 503.429.3912 and ask for an
application.
Vernonia Senior Center
Address: 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia,
Oregon 97064 Phone: 503.429.3912 ~
Non profit ID#23-7422295
UPDATES ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS:
We now have three Partners that are
providing new services to the Senior
Center: the City of Vernonia has
provided the Learning Center at very
low cost for our Thrift Shop; Vernonia
Cares Food Bank is now providing
free bread and produce at the meal
site, and the American Legion Post
119 is providing the site for the meals
at minimal cost. During a transition
period like this, help from our
community is crucial and these three
organizations have come through
for us in very big ways. THANK YOU
PARTNERS!
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
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
