Pugs 4
Portland Observer • November 2, 1989
S c rip tu re O f The Ttâeiç:
RELIGION
How Safe Is Downtown
Portland At Night
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Recently, in the news, both local
and national, we heard and read about
the rave reviews that Portland received
for its city planning, transportation sys­
tem and for its beauty. What was missed
were the acts of violence that takes place
at night in downtown Portland.
How ironic, that amidst so much
beauty and surface order, there lies so
much vice and corruption. In downtown
Portland, more than in any other pan of
the city, heinous crimes are commited
nightly. The police's Justice Center hovers
above it all as though its tryingto keep its
proverbial skirts from being soiled.
Children, homeless children, our
children, your children and rejected
children - go into the downtown area at
night. They witness and sometimes par­
ticipate in perverted acts in the open and
behind closed doors. Crimes appear as a
painted lady with her pockets filled with
assorted candies and other temptations.
Her oody is bedecked with fine clothes
and jewelry of gold, silver, emeralds,
diamonds, rubies and pearls.
Red children, yellow children, black
children, and white children are all lured
downtown to see what they can see. To
do what they can do. To have fun is the
main theme. When you ask the young
people, "Why do you run around down­
town at all hours of the night?" They
flaunt the same impetuous response,
"There's nothing else to do in this town.
What do you expect us to do?"
Week-before-last, one of the youth
of our city was killed. Shoot down! It
doesn't matter whether he was white,
black, yellow, red or brown. He was one
of our children.
The evening began perfectly. He
and his friend, of many years, had just
come from another place; now, they
decided to go downtown to get some
Chinese food. Little did they know that
they would run into this other group of
young people, get shot, shot at, and
killed.
.«♦
Let's stop for a second. What are
we, as adults, teaching our young people?
Have we become so territorial that NO
one can come into, step into, or drive
into our self-proclaimed space?
David and Raymond, two Black
youth, pulled into a parking lot. Another
car, containing five to six Asian youth,
also pulled into the same parking lot.
Then, it began. "Hey man! Youj trying
to block the whole parking lot," asks the
Asian youth. "Yo! There's other places
to park.," responds the Black youth. By
this time, everybody is outside of their
vehicles and ready to "throw-down"
(fight). You must remember that this
was not the original intentions of Ray­
mond and David; but, everything has
changed. They were clearly out num­
bered but a good fight never REALLY
hurt anyone.
David yells, "C'mon Ray! Don't try
to fight those duds. Run, man! Run!"
Both David andRay began running away
from the group of Asian youth. Why?
Because, the Asian youth had fire power.
David and Ray were unarmed.
Why is it that when I read the Ore­
gonian it sounded like the action taken
by the Asian youth was justified and it
was Raymond's fault that he got himself
shot?
Shots rang out in the night striking
both David and Raymond. David got hit
in the leg. Ray was struck in the shoul­
der. The bullet hit the bone and rico-
chetted. The bullet enteied Raymond's
heart and killed him instantly. The Asian
youth got into their and fled the scene.
Have you ever just sat down to
think about this whole crazy situation?
The North, side of town, belongs to the
CRIPS. The Northeast belongs to the
BLOODS. The Southeast belongs to the
SKINHEADS. The Downtown belongs
to the Asians. The Northwest belongs to
the GAYS. The Southwest belongs to all
those who feel that they are above what's
happening in the other areas. So they
strive for untouchability and blinders
have become a basic part of their ward­
robe.
On Saturday night, twenty-four after
the tragedy, about 20-30 young black
males got together, went downtown to
avenge their friend's and buddy's death.
You heard persons quoting, incomplete,
sertipture. Persons who didn't darken the
entrace to a church with their presence.
Its really too bad that we can't ALL
get along with one another. We sing
songs: The Greatest Love Of All, Love
Is A Many Splendid Things. No Greater
Love, Love Makes The World Go Around.
and I Want To Know What Love Is.
Love. A word that has been miscon­
strued for centuries.l A feeling that has
held the most powerful spell-bound. An
emotion that has been violated by too
many. The love that our Lord has for us
is much greater than the defined word in
Webster's dictionary.
Last week’s issue, of the Portland
Observer, bore witness to the tragedy.
The obituary of Raymond Bell: bom
November 1,*1968, basketball player,
attending college, loving and kind, had
set goals. All these points leaped from
the page. There were so many "What
ifs" in my mind. Questions, I know,
shall never be answered.
"The Last Days." Yes, people! We are
presently in the final chapter of this
world's history. We've witnessed storms,
earthquakes, murders, clergy under fire,
children killing their parents, parents
killing their children, suicide, lying,
cheating, stealing, and carnage unre­
strained. The Scripture speaks very clearly
about this time period.
I admonish you to read the Scrip­
ture; but, more than any other, read the
small book of JUDE. The book of Jude
warns us of the dangers of false doctrine
and the need for constant vigilance by
the church. It, also, tells us to examine
what people say and the kinds of lives
(C ontin ued Next W eek . . . )
E cclesiastes C hapter 1 & 2
Worthy Is The Lamb!
by Kev. Michael Lindsey, Dean of North Portland Bible College
The opening words of Revelation
tell us that it is preeminently "The reve­
lation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
him to show his servants what must soon
take place . . . (Rev. 1:1) It was first
revealed to the Apostle John; but, the
book in every chapter reveals the Person
of Jesus Christ. Truly, many symbols
and visions in Revelation can cuase debate
and uncertainty - but most of the sym­
bols are clear enough, in light of earlier
passages of Scripture, so that we can
know and feel the original message.
In the fifth chapter of Revelation,
the scene is set in heaven, in the very
presence of the Ancient of Days. In
many details, John’s vision parallels that
of Daniel in Daniel 7:9-10,13-14. There
is a court around the throne of God, and
"thousands upon thousands, and ten
thousand times ten thousand" angels are
attending him (compare Rev. 5:11). Daniel
saw the books of judgment opened, but
John sees one book (actually a scroll)
unopened. This is clearly the final book
of judgment, containing the plagues and
awesome disasters recounted later in
Revelation. It is sealed until the time of
the end, like Danaiel's last prophecies.
Not just anyone can break the seals of
the scroll. A mighty angel proclaims the
challenge (Rev. 5:2): "Who is worthy to
break the seals and open the scroll?"
None of God's angels are worthy, none
of God’s people are worthy, none in all
God's creation is worthy. In the midst of
this vision, the tension builds as the
whole universe searches for someone
who is worthy (deserving and qualified),
to approach the throne of God, receive
the scroll and break its seals.
The spotlight suddenly shines on
One near the throne - One who is wor­
thy to take charge of this scroll of judg­
ment. An elder has identified him as "the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of
David’ (verse 5), and these descriptions
of power and royalty do explain part of
his worthiness: he has fulfilled prohe-
cies concerning the Messiah in his human
ancestry. Christ Jesus is not called "Lion,"
again, in the entire book. Only "Lamb".
But this Lamb is no longer a symbol of
weakness, but a symbol of triumph over
sin and death.
John says that he sees "a Iamb,
looking as if it had been slain__ having
seven horns and seven eyes" (verse 6).
We shouldn't even try to picture what
exactly John saw - our weak, limited
minds would likely just create a gro­
tesque cartoon instead of a majestic vi­
sion of glory. However, John saw these
things; one point is repeatedly empha­
sized: The Lamb of God is worthy to rule
over all the earth, because he was slain,
and his blood was shed to redeem hu­
manity (verse 9). Christ is all-powerful,
as symbolized by the seven horns (see
Psalm 18:2), but that power alone does
not make him worthy. Christ is all-wise,
andall-knowing, as symbolized by the
seven eyes, but that alone does not make
him worthy. Christ is worthy because of
his obedient sacrifice on the cross.
What does the cross of Christ mean
to you? Do you marvel in his love and
mercy for you? Do you rejoice in Christ's
victory over death, in which victory you
can claim a share by faith? Do you
worship him as Savior, Lord and King?
Or, do you ignore his suffering - does it
make you uncomfortable? Would you
really rather not think about it at all?
In glory, the heavenly hosts break
out in new songs of praise to honor the
glorious Lamb of God. Not onloy do
they honor the Father as Creator and
Preserver of all (4:11), but, they glorify
of his death on the cross for our sins, you
need to read the accounts of Christ's
passion and meditate on his LOVE for
you. You may yet need to receive the
free gift of eternal life which he pur­
chased for you on the cross. Don't put it
off.
Child
"Unity in the Community for
our Children" Banquet
Saturday, November 18,1989 is the
date of the One Church, One Child "Unity
in the Community for our Children"
banquet celebrating one year of service
to Oregon's black children who await
adoption. The banquet will be held at the
Lloyd Center Red Lion on November
18th at 6:30 p.m.; tickets are $25.00.
Everyone is invited to come out and
support this event.
Reverend Dr. Shelvin Hall, Presi­
dent of the national One Church, One
Child program will be the guest speaker
for the banquet program which will be
conducted by emcee Sharon Mitchell of
KGW Channel 8.
Leaders in the Black community
representing churches, state offices,
businesses and community groups will
be present. Other guests who will be
present include:
Martin Luther King Choir
State Representative Margaret Car­
ter
Kevin Concannon, Director of the
Department of Human Resources
Michael Harper, former player and
Director of the Trailblazers Speakers
Bureau
Gina Wood, Regional Coordinator
of the Oregon Children and Youth Serv­
ices Commission
Proceeds from the event will be
used to provide operative support for the
One Church, One Child adoption re­
cruitment program. At present ten chil­
dren have been placed through One
Church, One Child.
Tickets can be purchased at: Mrs.
C's Wigs, Hartley Oil, Inc., JaBell's, and
Tondalayera Designers Salon.
For more information, contact the
One Church, One Child office at 285-
7634.
lHappy
‘Birthday!!!
Pastor• Rev. Mary Smith
The Power bouse Tew pie Church,
codially invites the friends and
m U withers of Pastor- Rev. Mary
Smith to attend her annual Birth­
day Celebration. The dates are
November I through the 3rd.
T he location ¡«4S2SN. W illiam s
Ave. Services w ill conviene
nightly at 7:36 pan. Come and
enjoy the L o rd with us. Dinner
will be served Frid ay evening
after service.
★ Best Cash Prices ★
Speedy
Service
Hope of Glory
Radio Ministry
DAD’S OIL SERVICE
Heating Oils
104 N.E. Russell St.
Portland, OR 97212
(503) 282-5111
KPDQ 8 0 0 A.M.
SUNDAY
10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Motto: “There Is Hope"
‘Christ In fo n , ‘The Mope o f Qlory' Col. 1:27
Dial-A-Praycr . . . (503) 286-HOPE
JURISDICTION #1
HEADQUARTER’S CHURCH
GREATER SOLID ROCK C.O.G.I.C.
1705 N.E. DEKUM • PORTLAND, OR 97211
Phone: (503) 283-1524
PAS TOR & BISHOP
The REV. A.R. HOPKINS
(4673)
24-Hour Prayer Request Line
Jesus Loves You!
Allen Temóle CME Church
The Albina Church of God
5522 N.AIbina/283-1635
4236 N.E. Eighth Avenue
(comer of 8 th & Skidmore)
Portland, Oregon 97211
Maranatha Church
(503) 287-0261
Phillip S. Nelson, Pastor
With A Bold New Vision
Reaching out until He conies
Going Back when He comes
Sunday School
Sunday Service
Psalm 34:3
4222 N.E. 12th Ave.
"A TEACHING CHURCH
WITH A REACHING MINISTRY."
Rev. Wendell H. WAllace
Senior Pastor
MT OLIVET BAPTIST
CHURCH
9:45 a.m.
morning
11:00 a.m.
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
Sunday Service
evening
6:00 p.m.
116 NE. Schuyler
Tuesday Teaching
Thursday
Moments of Deliverance 7:30
The Friendliest Church in the city
Senior Pastor Rev. Samuel M. Irving.
jr-< •
J ''
* .* * * ’
*fc'.
7:45 A.M. - Worship Service
9:30 A.M. - Sunday School
10:45 A.M. - Worship Service
6:30 P.M. - Worship Service
Bible Study:
10:30 A.M. • 12 Noon - Wednesday
6:30 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. - Wednesday
7:30 p.m.
Sunday Servcices
Sunday School 9:00 A.M.
Morning Workshop 10:30 A.M.
Radio Ministry each Sun. 8am KBMS
284-1954
Maranatha School of Ministry 6:30P.M.
Mid- week services - Wednesday 7:30 P.M.
*r