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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2015)
in other words Things To Ponder: The Purpose of Life By Grant Williams Does life have a meaning- ful purpose? Is life more than a series of random cause and effect events? For many people life ap- pears to be an unending string of harsh and painful experiences re- sulting in separation and loneli- ness. It seems like everywhere I go I see people wandering around with no apparent purpose or reason to live other than survival. Re- cently a friend of mine and I went to town for an outing. While we were eating our lunch on a park bench three different people went through the same trash can looking for food and cans. Is it possible to break out of this cycle of despair? I believe it is, but it isn’t easy. It is much more difficult than simply finding a job and turning your life around by picking yourself up by the boot straps. Meaningful life is more than work and accumulation of possessions. Without purpose a person will find life a drudgery of emptiness and misery. Jesus said He came to find the lost and hurt- ing and give them hope. Somehow His message has been turned into a religion that has caused many to reject Him and His church. Unfortunately many peo- ple have used Jesus for their own self-promotion. Instead of offer- ing people a message of release from suffering and despair Jesus’ message has been turned into fire insurance from hell. In his book “Forgotten God” Francis Chan said, “When people give their lives to God in exchange for a ticket out of hell, there is often no turning or change of direction, which is the definition of repentance. If all you want is a little Jesus to “spiritual- ize” your life, a little extra God to keep you out of hell, you are miss- ing out on the fullness of life you were created for.” Whether you are rich or poor is irrelevant when it comes to needing God’s direction in your life. Jesus told His disciples that not very many rich or famous peo- ple would find their hope in Him. Jesus knew the rich would use Him to raise their status in society, but they wouldn’t truly humble them- selves before Him because of their pride. It is easy to throw money at projects, but it is very difficult to take on the role of a servant and personally make a difference. Jesus came not to estab- lish a religion, but to show us how we can reach the lost. He set the example by washing their feet. In John 13:14-15 Jesus said, ”If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” The world is not looking for piety. The world is seeking genuine examples of Christ’s humility to help show the way. Lord, give us the humil- ity necessary to show the hurting that you are the answer they are seeking! july2 Salem Update 2015 13 continued from page 3 passed recently, having to do with food and alcohol. The first one, SB 320A exempts certain food establishments from having to obtain a domestic kitchen license if, in addition to other requirements, they are located in a residential dwelling, prepare baked or confectionery goods and their annual gross sales do not exceed $20,000. This meets a need in rural areas that do not have bakeries, and allows for small, direct-sales. These folks must have a food handler’s license, and the food cannot be potentially hazardous. The other bill is SB 937, which prohibits the sale of granulated alcohol. Called “Palcohol,” this product was approved by the U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April, 2014, and it can be added to water to make an alcoholic beverage. Little more than a year later, 39 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico have introduced a total of 80 bills to address the sale of this product. Concern regarding the ability to keep it out of the hands of minors, internet sales and proportion overdose caused both the Oregon House and Senate to support this bill by large margins. Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be out July 16th. Bridge vtreet Bits SUMMER’S HERE IN FULL FORCE. Remember to drink LOTS of water, stay out of the midday sun and enjoy the excuse to not have to work so hard outside….or inside, for that matter! SENIOR DAY AT THE COLUMBIA COUNTY FAIR IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 15. There will be a bus leaving from the American Legion Hall at 9:00 am to take us to the fair with a return trip in the afternoon following the My Fair Lady pageant. This year’s Vernonia My Fair Lady Princess is Carol Cline Davis. Come enjoy the fair, free to seniors that day, and cheer for Carol. PLEASE CALL the Senior Center, 503-429-3912 as soon as possible to reserve a seat and let us know what size bus will be needed. It’s the Columbia County Fair’s 100 th Anniversary. JULY FOOT CARE will be Wednesday, July 29, from 9:30 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 3:30. Please call Tobie at 503-705- 2173 or email tobief@aol.com to schedule an appointment. Those who came in June were very pleased with our new provider, Joyce Jossi, RN, who is certified in senior and diabetic foot care. Cost is $25. RUSS CLARK, COLUMBIA COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER, IS AVAILABLE to meet with clients in Vernonia. Russ will be at the Senior Center (former VCLC) in the office at the end of the hallway on the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. DR. THIRINGER WILL AGAIN BE AT THE SENIOR LUNCH at noon on Wednesday, July 29, to talk with seniors about their concerns regarding Alzheimer’s and recommendations regarding nutrition in relation to this disease and other challenges of aging. Tommy Disco will provide music during this Last Wednesday special lunch. THE VERNONIA SENIOR CENTER OPERATES IN TWO LOCATIONS. The Senior Center Office and the Thrift Store, “Bargains on Bridge Street,” reside in the former VCLC building at 939 Bridge Street. The senior meal program has relocated to the American Legion Hall at 627 Adams Avenue. Meals are served Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at noon. To reserve a meal, please call Wendy by 11:00 am at 503-429-1414. Suggested donation for seniors over 60 is $4.00; under 60, the cost is $5.00. Daily home-delivered meals are still available to qualifying persons; contact Community Action Team office on Mondays at 503-366-6584 for more information or to register. BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET at 939 Bridge Street accepts donations during its regular business hours: Monday – Friday 9-3 and Saturday 10-3. Please bring donations inside. The thrift store welcomes you as a shopper, too. All purchases support senior services in Vernonia. We are always pleased to add to our store volunteer team, so please call Pam at 503-429-3912 to request an application. us. Walking Wednesdays happen at Vernonia Lake at 9:30 am each Wednesday, rain or shine. Walk at your own pace with a friend or solo. No fee and no pre-registration – just come and walk around our lovely lake for one or more circuits. TONING THURSDAYS (with the exception of July 2 when there will be no class) are held at the Vernonia Grange Hall, 375 North Street, at 9:45 am. Led by Certified Jazzercise Instructor, Penny Costley, these exercise routines set to music are intended to gently strengthen and tone arms, legs and core. Cost for each session is $5 payable at the door. Exercises can be done with or without small weights (bring your own) and most can be done sitting or standing. For a Friday option, Dr. Carol McIntyre’s Qi Gong classes continue most Fridays at 9:30 am at the Grange by donation. VERNONIA SENIOR CITIZENS, INC. 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia OR 97064 WALKING WEDNESDAYS AND TONING Phone: 503-429-3912 THURSDAYS are opportunities for Non-Profit Tax ID #23-7422295 gentle exercise for seniors and anyone in the community who’d like to join Vernonia venior Center • 939 Bridge vtreet • 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
