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
