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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1988)
Page 6, Portland Observer, January 20, 1988 RELIGION Scripture of the Week: HEBREWS Chapter 11 What Are You Doing With Your Freedom? Ours For Free So many things in life are far Beyond our meager means, A long hoped for vacation, Just for a change of scenes. A penthouse with a terrace That boasts a lovely view, A cottage by the sea side, ...Justdreamsformeand you. by Mattie Ann Callier Spears -1 "a. <’ •• • /, •’4 1 •A'»- "Free at last! Free at last!" — the Immortal words taken from Mar tin Luther King's speech, "I Have a Dream." January 18, 1988 has passed, and all the celebrating of the day and its themes are ringing in our ears, our hearts and our minds There are 364 days until next year's celebration — or are there? As Dr. Hosea Williams said, "Use this time to rededicate yourselves to the dream" - the full meaning of the dream. Freedom — is liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power; liberty; in dependence. I now ask the ques tion — "W hat are you doing with your freedom?" King says, "God is interested in the freedom of the entire human race.” Do you know that you can lose this wonderful freedom that you have because of ignorance and apathy? Yes! You can continue to go on through life with a false euphoric sense of gratification — doing nothing — saying nothing. You get a great big nothing out of life. So . . . if there is nothing being done when you stick your head outside, don't complain. In stead, ask yourself, "W hat did I do?" You can lose your freedom when you don't care. You surren der leadership to other forces; you let others call the shots. You can lose freedom when you have no self confidence. If we want Jesus as a friend, we must first see in us what Jesus sees in us. Freedom! Oh! Freedom! What are you doing with it? Are you abusing it? The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and the gift of God is eternal life. Are you abusing your freedom with sinful ways and deeds? Are you lying, cheating, stealing, physically and mentally hurting others,-and still expecting to be free? If your answer is "Y es", then you need spiritual help. Are you giving excuses for ans wers that sound like: "Yes! After I . . . " ; "Yes! When I . . . " ; "Yes! As soon as . . . and/or "Yes! B u t. . . "? God has given us a gift to choose when making a decision on "Free dom ." We are free to win. We re, also, free to go to hell — if we choose to. We must accept the re- sponsibility to think and to live. God has given us marvelous free dom. I am free to make my world that which I choose it to be. Today, consider carefully the effect of youi thoughts, words, and actions on your life, your world, and the people in it. Choose to help make your world the one that God created it to be. Ask God for guidance and strength in making decisions, know ing that God never fails us. Yes, right choices are ours to make. We must choose to listen to divine guidance; choose to act as a peacemaker, showing compassion and understanding to those in need of a friend. We must choose to share a portion of our abundance with others and to deal honestly with all people - no matter what race they may be. Then, we must choose to help make this world the one God creat ed it to be Choose the Kingdom of God and divine righteousness. Divinely guided in making right choices, we become a blessing to our world, and we re blessed in re turn. "Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the re newing of your mind, that ye may provewhat is that good and accep table, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2) You must say to yourselves, "I will not be controlled or mesmerized by fads of the day," - especially the teenagers. We can allow our selves to become trapped by cul tures and fads. You choose your values. Yet the question lingers — "H ow can I be assured that the world will be a little better when I'm gone?" How? Use your freedom wisely. Don't abuse it. We have been saved by Jesus' unselfish death; and, when He rose again, He sent the comforter that we might not go through life con fused and distressed, lost or in tur moil. We will never lose what we al ways use. You can lose an invest ment, but never a gift. Everyone has the freedom to be a Christian, to go to hell, to be a good person, to go to heaven, or just sit out life and do nothing. What are you doing with your freedom? Carney New GPAE President Rev. Glandion Carney was elec ted president, and Dr. Leo Thorn ton was elected vice president, of the Greater Portland Association of Evangelicals which met Thursday at Warner Pacific College. Former President Randy Roth has accepted a pastorate in California. The Association includes more than 100 churches and ministries. It is affiliated with the Oregon Association of Evangelicals, and with the National Association of Evangelicals which was organized in 1942 and includes 43,000 chur ches from 70 denominations. Carney is senior pastor of Mara- natha Community Church in Port land. He succeeds the late Dr. John Garlington. He is also chair man of Leadership '88, working with author Rebecca Pippert to or ganize what they say will be "an historic conference to energize emerging Christian leaders for the next four decades." Before he came to Maranatha, Carney was director of Christian Leadership De velopment for World Vision, U.S. He also has directed inner-city work for Youth for Christ International, and pastored an Illinois church. He is the author of a book on urban ministry. Thornton is the retired president of Western Evangelical Seminary. And every bit as beautiful, Within each passing day, That only costs us something, ...If we let it slip away. Very much within our reach, And meant for us to share, Once-in-a-lifetime moments, Encountered everywhere. BATH TISSUE M A R IN A fi $4 D 1)011 ISAVI I 30« 39 I w PACK PACK ZEE NAPKINS EARTHTONES PKG. OF 300 NAPKINS v . ' .9 v -4 S^ï* Í • * ' < K ■M v, *•« A • „H The Ark of Safety Churc h of God in Christ r. O-k. . U.9.W. .i- .1 A— .-, “ *r.- fo llo u ’ peace with all men. f. holiness u'itboul which no man shall see Ihe T uesdav Bible Band Thursday Choir Rehearsal • Burial Allen Temple CME Church 4236 N.E. Eighth Avenue 7 30 p m (comer of 8th & Skidmore) 7 00p m Sunday 9 15am Sunday School Morning 11 15a m Worship 6 30 p m Y P W W Evangelistic 8 00pm Worship Tuesday Friday Noon Day Prayer Portland, Oregon 97211 (5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 -0 2 6 1 Psalm 34:3 P h illip S. Nelson, Pastor Friday The Pastor Speaks 7 30 p m. Saturday M orning Prayer 01 Ò -tMtWS .' i4 9 00 a m Albina Ministerial Alliance ,285 0493 srv i aar or . irmnwyj '(J H I A M Swoon« AAR H8U A M O M A Public Service of the P o rtla n d Observer • H la-aka-« « O l.t a a Did you know that for almost 30 years you could have bought some of vour qroceries at wholesale prices? The Bee Company, for over 30 .............. the public ■ - weekly “ smp----- --------------- - years, has offered sffipments of name-brand groceries at genuine wholesale prices. You'll find canned and packaged goods, pet foods, as well as frozen and close-dated deli products on the shelves. The best feature is that you do not have to buy by the case. You buy just what you want to buy, just the amount you need. Located at 800 N. Killingsworth, just east of 1-5, they are open Monday through Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Isn't it about time you save on your grocery bill? Quality Copies - B R A M O S y « u I i r « w V A R IK T IIS y o u M b« SIZES y o u w a n t • I 11a« » M I 24 hr. Emergency Service ^O®/« Off Most Toys DELIVERED! • JJrJ A M l Maar ark J««h I I I I N v IM « « • ) ) r « A Wa»r turn*)«« • lak* • C a la ‘ «A M ill, a ia » « O . - « « a «O • • IC ]« 4 r l l O r . l t l a a a M in « C ity • O a k « -a » » a , a t , . or x M „ a , a r x , t t 284*2129 en W«ni t o «sk M a ll Linko 1 Wf X K O I M YTH OPEN 7 DAYS 1001 * .» JtkkUtON OPEN HOURS 24 •As Toys & Gifts for Small & Big Kids 5429 NE 42nd Portland, OR 97218 284-8970 Mon-Frl • lo t an Ifl c ~ . W *»» "4”« wiib-aii The Neighborhood Toy & Gift Shoppe - 223-2056 .!«»»>* » t «Aa.H»ar» • « They’ll Tell You Alt About It FOR. •arati«« Wholesale Pricing On Groceries Gone Public 533 N.E. K illingsw orth 503-288-6338 PHONE 283-3171 IENOWS • 91«l< • 59 79‘ SHOP • M u l l Wllwauk,« Th« k r « « 41 ra il | $<ara> In Y aw n Srrrt« 1W M S1 Bo« of 175 TISSUES FA C IA L TISSUES •' r Cremation Walnut Park Lock & Key EACH ? • Jesus Loves You! 288-0033 the Bike 4094- '•Ì.- ■ Shipping 2736 N.E. Rodney • (503)281 4891 Portland, Oregon 97212 FIRST TW O ROLLS »V 1 ;-/;î & & time of need? The Eyes and Ears of the Community .■ fit » * Z>r.: Cox PORTLAND OBSERVER ZEE J U M B O ROLL ■■ r • Why do more families call Send notice o f yo u r church activities and events to. Religion Editor, P ortland Observer P O Box 3137 P ortland OR 9720ft 84 N E K illin g s w o r t h • 281 0499 "A warm spirit of fellowship always” TOW ELS have also been received from in mates at the Oregon State Peni tentiary, who have expressed their thanks for the programming receiv ed. "The gospel message cannot be confined to a specific church buiding or by a specific medium," says Rev. Houston. Rev. Houston is completing work on his bachelor's degree in Theo logy at the United Theological Se minary and serves as the adminl: strative assistant to Rev. Johnny Pack, IV, at the Fellowship Mis sionary Baptist Church. He is also a nationally-known preacher. He has preached throughout Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Loui siana and Mississippi. Rev. Hou ston held positions within the Na tional Baptist Convention of Ameri ca Youth Department. J.W . Friday and the Rev. Robert E. Houston, Sr., wish to encourage the community to listen and support the KBOO "A ltar Call" program (at 91.7 on your FM radio dial). KBOO radio station has begun a new program, "A ltar Call", featur ing Rev. Robert E. Houston, Sr., to be heard every Saturday night. This portion of the program is a part of "Black Rock '88" program ming hosted by J.W . Friday. During the 11:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. portion, contemporary gospel music is played, and then from 11:30 to midnight, the Rev. Hou ston preaches for the remainder of the hour. "A ltar Call" was originally con ceived by J.W . Friday after his own commitment to Jesus Christ. In the past few months, he has played strictly gospel music during that time frame. Beginning on 12-19-87, the Rev. Houston was added to give the pro gram a totally spiritual outreach and ministry. Since Rev. Houston be gan his radio ministry, telephone calls (over 100 per program) have been received from the Portland area, Washington State, and as far south as Salem, Oregon. Letters Cox Funeral Home has a staff dedicated to the families in their hour of need with low cost funerals. YOU ARE W ELC O M E TO W O R S H IP AT PAPER SALE by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears A tender smile, a gentle touch. Night wind through the trees, Sunrise, sunset, autumn leaves, What can compare with these? Flowers by a roadside, A treasured memory, I think the very best in life, Is what God gives for free. by Grace E. Easley fr.jt.C ff ■ ’r Akv -r. : Arr.r*»' Bisher lu R-k-sjr UL .«..».I •» • ’■ *>- ’A. î..M *■• ». • . •Sí- •-.1 » ‘ .V’ And yet there is so much within This world we can afford, We all should welcome each new day. And no one should be bored. For while it's true we might not get To see a foreign land, Or sail across the ocean, There's something just as grand, Altar Call • pd, up «tir imtinih ind drliwt , rup 1 la r . up« nghi 10 vmir dnrx - «thin hrurC KlflKO Quelib (opie--E,nko 1 rtrliwn' •aeeeaui» 10-6 p.m. Sun 9-4 p.m. 1-5 p.m. Off Killingsworth on 72 & 75 Bus Unes Greeting Cards & Gift Certificates & More " <4 . '» » I f ■' . V ?