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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 2017)
Page A-6 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Sutherland Springs, church is not safe anymore: by Dr. Glenn Mollette Our hearts go out to the people of Suther- land Springs, Texas. The First Baptist Church of this town and the entire community was ambushed in what resulted as the worst mass shooting in Texas history. Twenty-six people are dead and many others are currently fighting for their lives in intensive care. This is heart crushing for this Texas community and all of America as we must conclude no place is safe in America anymore. My hometown church in Inez, Kentucky kept the backdoor of the church unlocked dur- ing most of my high school years. The church was a place where anyone could enter and pray, and seek refuge from the problems of the world. A little Catholic church around the cor- ner from where I once lived in Louisa, Ken- tucky kept the front door unlocked the entire time I lived there. My sons and I went in there a couple of times to just be quiet, think and pray. While growing up as a kid my family at- tended different churches and there was never a thought of anything being unsafe about our worship. Times have changed. Sutherland Springs, Texas again reminds us that evil is everywhere and no place is perfectly safe. Worshippers in this quiet Texas town gathered to sing, pray and hear a good sermon Sunday. They never dreamed their lives would end in church at the hands of a sick and evil gunman. We don’t know his motive for sure but it seems to me based on various reports that Devin Patrick Kelley was there to kill his in-laws. Kelley’s past was filled with troubles that included domestic abuse and a dishonourable discharge from the military. Unfortunately Kel- ley needed mental help that might have saved 26 lives and carnage that this Texas commu- nity will never overcome. Too bad a good deacon in the foyer or vestibule area of the church did not shoot Patrick Kelley dead. I know my good moderate Christian friends frown on me for this line of thinking. However, maybe several lives could have been saved if the church had a game plan for reacting to terrorism. This has been a hard concept for my religious friends to embrace. Many have ignored the times of this world and simply sloughed it off. Some have said, “God will take care of us.” Others want to brush off today’s crisis with, “Something like that would never happen here.” Wake up reader. Bad stuff happens everywhere. This is our world. Walkers on a bike path in New York City are not safe. Concertgoers in Las Vegas are not safe. People shopping in Colorado are not safe. Moviegoers and schoolchildren are not safe. Quaint café wine drinkers on sidewalks in peaceful neigh- borhoods in Paris, France are not safe. Busy people trying to earn a living in prestigious skyscrapers are not safe. We are all vulnerable. If we do not take a position of defense we are more vulnerable. People sitting in churches, concerts, movies and many other places are in danger of be- ing attacked by surprise. It’s very difficult to survive an ambush. This is why there must be a defense plan in place for all churches, civic groups, businesses, factory work places, of- fices and families. When I was child I remember when my mother started locking the front door. We had not always locked the front door but my mother had heard about people walking our road late at night and decided it was time to do so. We also had shotguns. Today, of course, people with common sense lock their doors. America has changed. We still have a great country. I love America. America mostly has good and decent people. Sadly, there are Devin Patrick Kelley’s scattered throughout our country. There may be one in your state or even your community. You have to be ready to confront him or them. By the way, Kelley was denied a gun permit. He still managed to obtain guns. Evil people will find ways to rent trucks, obtain guns, knives or make bombs. Please think about this and live and sadly now worship defensively. Even church is not safe anymore. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated colum- nist and author of 12 books. He is read in all 50 states. Read his new book “Uncommon Sense.” Contact him at GMollette@aol.com. Learn more at www.glennmollette.com Like his facebook page at www.facebook.com/glen- nmollette. Church News Seventh-day Adventist Church Lost and Found You wouldn’t think that Jesus would address the issue of lost and found, but He did. People of all ages loved to hear His stories. His first story on this subject was about a shepherd who had one hundred sheep. One evening as he was bring- ing his flock into the sheep fold, he noticed that one of his sheep was missing. Now he was tired and hungry, but he wouldn’t rest or eat until he had found his one lost sheep. Taking a torch to light the way, he began retracing the path his sheep had been on. His search was urgent because wolves and other predators would be hunting at night. He must find his sheep before they did. As he walked along he called the sheep’s name, hoping against hope that he could find her before it was too late. Finally he thought he heard a faint answer. Following the sound of her voice he was able to locate his lost sheep caught in a thorny thicket. Carefully he rescued her from the bush that had held her captive and putting her on his shoulders with rejoicing, he turned his steps toward home. When He got home, he called his friends and neighbors saying “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Jesus ended this story by saying, “There shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than 99 people who need no repentance.” The second lost story was about a lady that had 10 pieces of silver. She had probably gotten them as a wedding gift and so they were spe- cial to her. One day she noticed one of these special coins was missing. Taking a light she swept the house and searched everywhere for the coin. Finally she was overjoyed to find the missing coin. “I say to you, there is joy in the presence of God over one sinner that repents.” Jesus saved the best story for last. A father had 2 sons and the younger son rudely asked his father to give him his inheritance before his father died. Kindly the father divided his living between his two sons. A few days later the younger son gathered his money and started on a journey into a country far way. Now, he thought, “I can do what I want to do.” He wasted his money in wild living. It didn’t take him long to come to the end of his money. About that time there was a famine in the land, and he was in need. He finally found a job taking care of a herd of pigs. By this time he was so hungry that he thought about eat- ing the husks the pigs were eating. Finally he remembered home and the thought came to him that his father’s servants had plenty to eat and here I am hungry! I’ll get up and go home and say to father, “I have sinned against heaven and before you and I’m not worthy to be your son. Please just give me a servants’ job. As he walked along, he thought about home and how good his life had been there. When he was a long way off his father spotted him, and ran to meet him. Reaching his son he hugged him with joy. The boy said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be your son.” It seemed his father hadn’t heard him as he called for the best robe and put it on him and the family ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. They prepared a big party and began to make merry. The father joyfully told his servants, “My son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.” That’s how our father God welcomes us when we return to Him after wandering away. What a Won- derful God we have, He loves us more than we can imagine. He is still looking down the road for His lost children. Do you think He is looking for you? Community Bible Church Gratefulness “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) There is a story about a pastor who was visiting a psychiatric hospital. He was approached by one of the patients there. “Sir,” asked the patient, “have you ever thanked God for your reason?” The preacher had never done so, but he vowed that he would be unthankful no longer. Several years ago, I de- veloped some physical problems. One of the struggles was very little saliva. Now, all of my life I took my saliva for granted until it was no longer readily available. It affected my sleep in a major fashion. Every 30 minutes to an hour I would wake up and have to consume water because my mouth was so dry. I had special toothpaste and moisturizing solutions for my mouth. There were other unpleasant effects from my lack of saliva that I will long remember. When I regained having saliva, boy was I thankful! I still thank God for having saliva (I did today!). We have so much we take for granted. We just think that it will always be there – until it’s not! We often take the people around us for granted – thinking they will always be there. This life is fragile and we should not think that family and friends will remain forever. The point is that we should be thankful, and that should affect how we treat those around us. Even more, we should be grateful for all we have in every realm; it may not al- ways be there. For me, I believe God is the giver of every good gift; to whom are you thankful? In Christ, Pastor Dave Ministry at CBC Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Praise and Prayer 6 p.m. Wednesday Prayer 11 a.m. A.W.A.N.A. 6:15-8 p.m. PK to Grade 6 Community Christian Academy Preschool – 12th grade Senior Exercise Class Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9-10 a.m. in Dining Room 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 *** 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. * * * 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 Ladies Bible Study Call for info * * * 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. A LL you cAn eAt breAkfAst or order off tHe menu At tHe IV GrAnGe FIRST THREE SUNDAYS OF THE MONTH: 8 AM - 12 PM 3763 Holland Loop 541-659-3781 or 541-415-1819
