in other words
august6
2015
Things To Ponder: What is Life Anyway?
By Grant Williams
Sometimes life appears to be
a complex mystery with few definite
answers. We all experience highs and
lows along the way. It seems like much
of the time there are more questions than
answers. Is there really a purpose for all
the things we go through, or does it all
boil down to a series of unrelated chance
incidents?
Frequently I encounter individuals
going through trials. No matter what their
world view the death of a loved one or
the pain of a disease causes the same
initial feelings: anger, loss, fear, doubt,
etc. However, your world view makes a
huge difference when it comes to how you
handle those problems. For a Christian
there is the certainty that God is there to
comfort and encourage.
It breaks my heart to watch
people struggle carrying the weight of
their problems. God never intended it
to be that way. Quite the contrary, God
intended life to be good. He put a perfect
man and a perfect woman in a perfect
environment with only one rule, don’t eat
from the tree of the “Knowledge of Good
and Evil.”
The Bible tells us in Genesis
1:27-28, “So God created man in His own
image, in the image of God He created him;
male and female he created them. God
blessed them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in
number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule
over the fish of the sea and the birds of
the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground.’” God wanted the
human race to be happy and blessed, but
apparently that wasn’t good enough for
Adam and Eve.
They traded a life with no fear
or death, no hunger or want, permanent
vacation and a great tan for Satan’s empty
promise of being like God. There can
only be one God! If there is more than
one God, which one would be in control
of this universe? Can you even image the
battle there would be over the number of
days in a week or the color of an orange
if there was more than one God? A far
worse possibility is, if you can imagine it,
no God.
God did not leave us without the
answer to what is Life. Galatians 4:4-7
says, “But when the time had fully come,
God sent His Son, born of a woman, born
under the Law, to redeem those under the
Law, that we might receive the full rights
of sons. Because you are sons, God sent
the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the
Spirit who calls out Abba, Father. So you
are no longer a slave, but a son; and since
you are a son, God has made you also an
heir.”
LIFE? John 5:24, “I tell you
the truth, whoever hears My word and
believes Him who sent Me has eternal
life and will not be condemned; he has
crossed over from death to life.” Physical
life + faith in Christ = ETERNAL LIFE!
13
Health Center
continued from page 3
funding this dream. You can make
a tax-deductible donation to:
The Vernonia Health Center Board
P.O. Box 357
Vernonia, OR 97064
If you want to specifically
support x-ray capacity, mark that
in the memo. If not specifically
earmarked,
any
donations
go to supporting the facility
operations for the healthcare
providers. Through donations
from Providence, the Vernonia
Health Center already owns much
of the equipment currently in
use. If you have questions about
donations or ideas for services
needed here, contact Brett Costley
at 503-307-3343 or bcostley@
vernoniahealthcenter.org.
Bridge Street Bits
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF
SENIOR CENTER OPERATIONS. We
seek additional Meals-On-Wheels
drivers to help us get lunches to
homebound citizens Monday,
Wednesday and Friday mornings.
The Senior Center has insurance
that covers volunteers who deliver
meals. Schedules can be set up to
match yours. A small stipend helps
cover your gas expense, and all meal
deliveries are in or close to town. We
also need more volunteers to help
our BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET
store team. Please call Pam at 503-
429-3912 to request an application.
Even one day per month would be a
big help. Thanks in advance for your
willingness to help!
THE SENIOR PICNIC is Friday, August
14, at noon at Anderson Park. Hot
dogs and hamburgers will be
provided. The band will be there,
too! Contact the Senior Center
for more details. Because of the
picnic, the Vernonia Senior Citizens
Board meeting will be Thursday,
August 6, from 3 to 5 pm at the
American Legion Hall. Members are
encouraged to attend.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, brings
two additional opportunities for
Vernonians to see friends and
classmates from long ago. If you
went to Vernonia High School, by
now you should have received an
invitation to attend the 2 nd Biggest
Class Reunion hosted by the Vernonia
Education Foundation. The 1 st
Biggest Reunion was held in 2010
just before Washington Grade School
was taken down. All classes of VHS
are invited to the new K-12 school
on O-A hill from 10 to 2 pm. Music,
food vendors, auction, and school
tours. $5 (cash only) admission. The
long-standing OLD TIMERS - OLD
GRADS - O-A ALUMNI - VERNONIA
SOCIETY annual picnic at Anderson
Park will continue as usual this year,
same day, same time, Sunday, August
16th. Registration begins at 10 am All
former and current Vernonians and
their families are welcome. Coffee
provided. Bring a picnic lunch or
purchase one from our local vendor,
Dog Park. The cart will be on site - hot
dogs $2, chips or drinks $1.
August date. Please call Tobie at 503-
705-2173 or email tobief@aol.com
to schedule an appointment. Our
provider, Joyce Jossi, RN, is certified
in senior and diabetic foot care. Cost
is $25 payable directly to Joyce by
check or cash at the time of service.
You may bring nail polish if you’d like
to have Joyce give your toes a real
finishing touch.
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.
AUGUST FOOT CARE will be
Wednesday, September 2, from 9:30
am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 3:30 pm
at the Vernonia Health Center. Please
BARGAINS ON BRIDGE STREET at
note that this has been rescheduled
939 Bridge Street accepts donations
from the previously announced late
during its regular business hours:
Monday – Friday 9:00 am -3:00
pm and Saturday 10:00 am -3:00
pm. Please bring donations inside.
The thrift store welcomes you as
a shopper, too. All donations and
purchases support senior services in
Vernonia.
WALKING WEDNESDAY is an
opportunity for gentle exercise for
seniors and anyone in the community
who’d like to join 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
one or more circuits around the lake.
TONING THURSDAYS are currently on
hiatus.
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.
VERNONIA SENIOR CITIZENS, INC.
939 Bridge Street, Vernonia OR 97064
Phone: 503-429-3912
Non-Profit Tax ID #23-7422295
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
