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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 2003)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, December 10, 2003 By JOHN McLAUGHLIN Tawana. Teresa. Two beautiful names – two sisters in Christ – two women sentenced to lives of physical impris- onment. Tawana’s cell is made of flesh and blood. Teresa’s, the rock and steel of a prison cage. Tawana and I have shared a most special and precious relationship for many years. Teresa is a sister I have only recently been blessed to meet through reading the letter she wrote to Life Lines. The women do not know one another. Tawana lives a few miles down the road from me. Teresa resides thou- sands of miles away in Georgia. Both are locked away, and both are free in the truest definition. Tawana is wrapped in the chains of quadriplegia; the result of a terrible accident that, she freely admits, was in large part brought about by the wild manner in which she had been living her young life. One minute she was full of vim and vigor: the next she was lying in a ditch realizing that things would never again be the same. My dear sister was 20 years old the afternoon she lost it. She is now 35. Teresa, on the other hand, is weighed down by the chains of a prison system that has been her home for 21 years. Only 19 when she landed on Death Row, Teresa’s death sentence was commuted to life three years later. Now 40, she must do at least four more years before the possibility of her release is even brought up for considera- tion. No less than Tawana, Teresa – according to the way the secular world views things – is in a hopeless situation. According to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, both sisters have a great deal more than mere hope going for them. In Him they have the way, the truth and the life that this crazy world can’t touch. The hope that they and we have going for us is not of this world. This world is incapa- ble of lending hope, peace and joy amid true challenge. Tawana has long been a tremendous inspiration to me. When I am in her presence, I know a boundless joy and a mighty respect that is a direct result of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the life of a true believer. I do not pity sister Tawana: I admire and love her, and pray to God that I might one day attain an abode close to hers in His place of eternal peace. I have no pity for Tawana simply because there is nothing to pity in a believer who, when asked, didn’t hesi- tate to say her salvation came through the loss of her physi- cal being – and that she wouldn’t go back in time and trade in that salvation for anything. God has joined the two in my heart. It is the strength of Christ Jesus at work in Tawana and Teresa that I am most in awe of. At first, I found myself full of sorrow for the years Teresa has spent behind bars. After all, 15 years of freedom has not in the least seen me forget what 25 years of incarcerated deadness is all about. Teresa has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that I knew absolutely nothing about when doing that quar- ter of a century. Teresa has hope. I didn’t encounter hope until I heard the Lord speak to my heart 10 minutes after I left prison, while I was on my way to once again do the wrong thing. So I was struck by certain similarities in the lives of our two sisters. When I phoned Tawana to share a bit of what I found pouring forth from Teresa, and made some aside concerning the fact that she, Tawana, was imprisoned for life, not because of a crime but because of an accident, she told me pointblank that there is absolutely no differ- ence between what had taken place in their two lives. She said that Jesus Christ had simply employed different meth- ods for getting their attention. Tawana and Teresa have blessed me beyond measure and continue to do so. It is an honor to know them as my sisters. They both walk quite tall. (Editor’s Note: Life Lines is a Cave Junction- based prison ministry that each month sends hundreds of newsletters to prisoners nationwide. Life Lines can be reached at (541) 592-3643.) Sunday, Dec. 7 8:30 a.m. to noon ALL YOU CAN EAT Adults-$5 Children under 11- $2.50 Waffles, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy, Ham, Sausage, Eggs, Juice, Coffee, Tea or Milk THE FLEA MARKET IS BACK!!! $5 per table Phone 592-4478 for tables & reservations St. Patrick of the Forest Catholic Church Next Sunday we will light the third candle (rose) on the Advent Wreath, signifying joy. The Gospel reading from Luke will remind us of how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by telling the people, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Those words must have been somewhat con- fusing for the people. For us, they are more comfort- ing because we know the rest of the story -- that bap- tism brings us one giant step closer to oneness with the God who saves us. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Preparing for the birth of the Christ child. That is what our focus should be. JoCo’s Brock changes mind Josephine County Commissioner Jim Brock said he will not relocate to California. Brock, in Position 3, announced moving last month to be closer to fam- ily, but will serve the re- mainder of his term and wants to unseat Harold Haugen in Position 2 next year. Ages 8 & Up Carly Elmendorf 592-2940 IVHS School Menu - Sponsored by SISKIYOU COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 319 Caves Hwy. 592-4111 THURSDAY, DEC. 11 *Chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, hamburger, turkey & cheese or ham & cheese sandwich, chef, Mandarin chicken or garden salad, Hawaiian, cheese or pepperoni pizza, beef soft tacos FRIDAY, DEC. 12 *Chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, hamburger, turkey & cheese or Italian sandwich, chef, Mandarin chicken or chicken Caesar salad, vegetarian, supreme or sausage or pepperoni pizza, nachos supreme MONDAY, DEC. 15 *Chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, hamburger, turkey & cheese or ham & cheese sub, chef, Mandarin chicken or fiesta salad, vegetarian, sausage or pepperoni pizza, beef & bean burrito TUESDAY, DEC. 16 *Chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, hamburger, turkey & cheese or roast beef sub, chef, Mandarin chicken or garden salad, cheese, supreme or pepperoni pizza, Chicken fajita WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 *Chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, hamburger, turkey & cheese or veggie sub, chef, Mandarin chicken or Antipasto salad, sausage, supreme or pepperoni pizza, Taco salad It isn’t the gifts, the tree, the meals, or the fam- ily get-togethers that should be the center of our attention this time of year. Preparing for Jesus’ birth means preparing to accept Him as our Lord and Sav- ior -- not just now, but for- ever. Church activities in- clude: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m., potluck; 6:45 p.m., Bible study; Sunday, Dec. 14, 9 a.m., Sunday School Christmas Pro- gram; 10:15 a.m., Sunday School. Lovejoy ... Page 5 ‘WALK TO FREEDOM’ - Author John J. McLaughlin signed copies of his first book, ‘A Walk to Freedom,’ with friend Melanie Gayle at Treehouse Florist & Gifts in Cave Junction last week. His book covers his life ‘as a man of violence,’ who spent years in prison, and who was saved by the faith of Jesus Christ before disaster. (Continued from page 1) to Lovejoy -- which will go toward extending its hospice and bereavement services -- will be ac- cepted, but are not manda- tory. Those who wish to submit names to be read during the ceremony can phone the Lovejoy office at (888) 758-8569 ahead of time or submit them before the ceremony begins that evening. A Light Up A Life ceremony was held on Dec. 8 in Grants Pass. “It’s always good to remember the past,” Shiery said. Blood ... (Continued from page 1) allowed to donate every 56 days, about six times per ye a r , a c c o r d i n g t o Nicholls. “The average donor only donates 1.4 times a year,” she said. For more information and to schedule a blood donation, phone (800) 826- 5920. Deborah Murphy will be autographing her book for children at Child’s Play, 140 S. Redwood Hwy. during the 2nd Friday Art Walk, Dec. 12, in Downtown Cave Junction. For more information phone 592-2866