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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2017)
Page A-6 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, May 24, 2017 The string dangling in the darkness: by Dr. Glenn Mollette The only way to get out of the darkness is to follow the light. Sometimes it’s just a very faint light. Often you have to be in the darkness long enough to refocus your eyes so that you can look for a glimmer of light to fol- low out of the darkness. Darkness is never enjoyable. Often it’s a long valley that seems hopeless and inescap- able. There are different forms of darkness such as poverty, failing health, family diffi- culties, work dissatisfaction, discord in your relationships, failures of all kinds and the list goes on. You may have been there or you may be there now. You may not see any way out and may have given up to just try to survive the darkness of your life and existence. The worst feeling of all is the feeling of hopelessness. Hopelessness is when we see no way out or no chance of things getting better. We go to the doctor with hopes of medical treatment. We go to work in hopes of finan- cially caring for our selves and the people we love. Sometimes we seek other kinds of help in hopes that an addiction or other life alter- ing habit might be solved so that we might be freed to be at peace with life. I read this a long time ago and claim it every day in different ways. Walk in the light while you have the light before darkness overtakes you. Throughout life I’ve learned if I walked in the light that I had then I usually would receive more light. When I was a kid we had a light bulb in the ceiling of most every room. There would be a long string attached to the little silver chain that would pull the switch and turn on the light. Throughout my childhood I often would go into a dark bedroom at night and search for that dangling string. Finding that string was a relief because it turned on the light. A room with light was much easier to navigate than a dark room. Often we look for the dangling string for a long time to turn on the light. Sometimes we eventually find it and sometimes people never do. Some people live in desperation of trying to find the dangling string while others simply gave up a long time ago. I tried for years to break through in publishing a book. I was about ready to give up when one morning I was reading the daily newspaper and read one sentence in that newspaper that turned on the light. I now have twelve books and have helped numerous oth- ers. Following that one sentence of light gave way to more light that enabled me to see the way to numerous other endeavors and projects. Following that light showed me the way that I needed at that time. There is something to this old saying that is true, “Let us not grow weary in doing good. We will reap a harvest if we don’t quit.” Another truth that I have heard is, “Believe in the light while you have the light so that you may become children of light.” I don’t know what you are dealing with today but don’t quit. It’s easier said than done, I know. However, maybe, if you hang in there and keep your head up and your hand stretch- ing out in front of you, then just maybe, you will feel the sting dangling in the darkness. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated columnist and author of 11 books. He is read in all 50 states. Enjoy books by Glenn Mollette. Contact him at GMollette@aol.com and like his acebook page at www.facebook. Church News Community Bible Church Poison Oak Hebrews 12:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. In the area where we used to live, we had poison oak in abundance. At that time, I had no experience with poison oak, but learned quickly that it was to be avoided. There was an area north of our house where I wanted to plant a garden, but it was covered with poison oak. My youngest son and I went out and pulled up all that poison oak, and neither one of us seemed to be bothered by it. The problem occurred when we brought our clothes in to be washed, and my wife handled them and broke out in the poison oak rash. I was amazed at the root system of those plants. I pulled one root up that must have been 15 feet long, and every few feet it had a little plant sprouting up along it. At one point I tried to kill it off with round-up and found it resistant to that form of control. I have found that a bitter spirit is a lot like poison oak. A bitter, unhappy person carries that bitter spirit with them, and it affects those around them. The bitter person’s husband or wife, their children, their acquaintances, those they work with are affected negatively. Years ago I had a very bitter person stop by the church. They wanted to talk, so I sat down and listened as they poured out their extreme unhappiness with their life, how they knew they were bitter and had a caustic spirit. They asked what they could do to help themselves. I took them to I Thessalonians 5:16-18, and told them, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks…” Thirty seconds can be a long time when someone is silently staring at you! I can still remember their expression as they said, “I can’t,” and turned and walked out of the office. My heart is still grieved when I think of the horrible weight they carried. There is freedom in Christ even when you can’t, because Jesus can! I’ve seen it happen. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him. Hope to see you this Sunday. In Christ, Pastor Dave Ministry at CBC Sunday, May 28 Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Praise and Prayer 6 p.m. Vacation Bible School is coming! June 19-23, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Age 3 to grade 6 Community Christian Academy Preschool – High School Applications available for 2017-18 school year 541-592-3896 Senior Exercise Class Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9-10 a.m. in Dining Room Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Be Brave We spend a lot of time being afraid. We turn on the news and hear about the tur- moil in the world, and we’re afraid. We see crime flourishing in our communities, with no chance in sight that it’s going to get any better, and we’re afraid. We hear the doctor’s report, or open that official letter from the IRS, or the threatening one from that intimi- dating law firm, and we’re afraid. But Jesus tells us not to be. And with good reason. Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness. We start to wonder if there really is a God in heaven; or if he is there, does he really care about us at all? Fear unleashes a swarm of angry doubts. It also keeps us from remembering the things we should never forget. Fear dulls our memory and creates a kind of spiritual amnesia that makes us forget what Jesus has done and how good God is. God sent his only Son to save us, and Jesus suffered and died on the cross to free us from sin and give us eternal life. That’s pretty impactful stuff, but fear can make us forget all of that. When fear shapes our lives, safety be- comes our God, and we worship the risk-free life. That’s when fear truly shackles us. It binds us up until we can no longer accom- plish anything; not for ourselves, and cer- tainly not for others. We can’t give to the poor, because there are no guarantees for benevolence. After all, are the people and causes we give to really going to use the money the way we think they should? Will the money ever get to the people that need it most? Are the founda- tions really on the up and up, or are they just a bunch of Pharisees taking the last Widow’s Mite? No guarantees. Fear also keeps us from dreaming, because what if our dreams fail? How can we start anything of value, when starting means we might fail? No wonder Jesus keeps warn- ing us against fear. Jesus says not to fear, but how do we do that? By trusting in God and trusting in his Son, Jesus Christ. The Old Testament people of God knew peace because of their faith in the promises of God. Psalm 27:3 of the King James version says: “Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this I will be con- fident.” We may have good days and bad days. And things might get worse before they get better, but we can rest assured that above all the chaos, God is still in control. We can trust in the ultimate victory, and that gives ulti- mate courage. Because of God’s promises, we can choose to be brave. Places of Worship BRIDGEVIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH 5181 Holland Loop Rd., CJ 541-592-3923 “Come Join the Worship!” Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Pastor Sonny Moore www.bridgeviewcc.org * * * 7th DAY ADVENTIST 265 S. Old Stage Rd., CJ Sabbath School - 9:30 a.m. Saturday Worship 11 a.m. Pastor Christian Martin Church (541) 592-3218 Madrone Adventist School 541-592-3330 * * * IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 200 Watkins St., CJ Phone 541-592-3876 Pastor Charles Chase Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship - 9:15 a.m. Child-care for small children * * * ST. PATRICK OF THE FOREST CATHOLIC CHURCH 407 W. River St., CJ 541-592-3658 Fr. William Holtzinger, Pastor Mass - Sunday 11 a.m.. Sacrament of Reconciliation Sunday - 10:30 a.m. Holy Days TBA * * * TAKILMA BIBLE CHURCH 10343 Takilma Road, Takilma Pastor Dan Robinson Bible Study / Prayer Time 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m * * * First Baptist Church of Selma 18285 Redwood Hwy., Selma 541-597-4169 Pastor Monty Pope Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Worship - 11 a.m. GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH East River Street & Lewis Court, CJ Annemarie Richardson Lay Pastor. Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship - 10 a.m. Church Phone: 541-592-2290 www.goodshepherdlutheraniv.net * * * VALLEY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 498 Laurel Road, CJ P.O. Box 1248 Pastor Marvin Porter Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Worship Service - 11 a.m. evfree@frontiernet.net 541-592-6160 * * * FOUNTAIN OF LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD 451 S. Junction Ave., CJ 541-592-3956 Pastor Mark McLean Morning Worship 9:30 & 11 a.m. Wednesday - 7 p.m. Adult Bible Study * * * ST. MATTHIAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 25904 Redwood Hwy., CJ 541-592-2006 Rev. Bryant Bechtold Sunday Worship Service 10:30 a.m. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 209 S. Junction Ave., CJ Sacrament Meet - 10 a.m. Sunday School - 11:20 a.m. Priesthood, Relief Soc. - 12:10 p.m. Bishop Larry Hammersmith 541-592-3919 * * * Illinois Valley Baptist Church 541-592-6149 102 S. Redwood Hwy. (in the County Building) Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Wednesday Bible Study, Prayer & Youth Program 7:00 PM Friday Ladies Bible Study 11:00 AM * * * Wonder Bible Chapel 11911 Redwood Hwy. Wonder, Ore. Sunday worship 10 a.m. Non-denominational Bible believing Church Sunday School Nursery Youth group meets Sunday 6:30 p.m. 6WDUWLQJRU*URZLQJD%XVLQHVVLQ,OOLQRLV9DOOH\" 1HHGPRQH\" 0LFUR%XVLQHVV/RDQ)XQGLQJ$OZD\V$YDLODEOH 6WDUWXSH[LVWLQJKRPHEDVHGRURWKHU EXVLQHVVHQWHUSULVHV PLQLPXP WR PD[LPXP $SSO\DWWKH,9&'2RIILFH&DYHV+Z\ 4XHVWLRQV"3KRQH 0108 *** Illinois Valley Praise Center 28569 Redwood Hwy. CJ Non-denominational Bible-believing Church Sunday school - 9:30 a..m. Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. Thursday Seekers 7 p.m. Youth group Thursday - 7 p.m. www.ivpraisecenter.com COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH Pastor Dave Gordon 113 S. Caves Ave., CJ Office: 541-592-3896 Email: cbccca@gmail.com Sunday Worship - 10:30 a.m. Christian Academy Pre-K to 12th grade Awana - Wednesdays - 6 p.m.
