/
4
•
P age B4
J uly 10, 1996 • T he P ortland O bserver
A
L T E R
N
A
T I V
E S
The Word Of God
by
M argaret I saacs
The Word of our God endures
forever! The Bible is the combat
manuel of the Saints of this world.
We are at war and the bible is our
two edged sword. The Word of God
takes the pain out death and gives
hope to the hopeless. It is indestruc­
tible and gives authority to cast out
demons, to heal the sick, feed the
poor, clothe the naked and defeat
satan on every hand.
The Church must stop whining,
and step forth on the Word of God.
There is no need for depression,
for greed, for covetousness, for we
are already victorious through God,
the Father; through God, the Son
and through God, the Holy Ghost.
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
The Lord gives joy and peace and
contentment. If you know that you
shall overcome, there is no need for
the face of defeat and Lamentation;
no need for the sour, heavy scowl,
the distrust, the tears, the lack of
faith, the sackcloth and ashes; God
is greater that your sorrow therefore,
dwell not on death, for this is not the
end for anyone who believes. Let no
man take your joy! A joyless Chris­
tian is a defeated Christian. A Luke­
warm Christian is a bad taste in the
mouth of God...and he will "spew
thee out”. If you stand for nothing;
you will Lie down for anything. God
did not create us unhappy, unloved,
unsure, unwanted, joy less, hopeless,
greedy, without direction, without a
place to go and without the means to
get there. We are created in the im ­
age of God, like unto him, sustained
by his Word, fed by his Word, led by
his Word and saved eternally by his
Word. In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was God and
the Word was with God; and the
Word of God is the Bible; free food
for those who will eat of it; digest it
and live by it.
Happy is the man that knows God,
beloved is the man that calls God
Savior and Master; confident and
steadfast in his pursuit of righteous­
ness is the man who relies on God ;
Bold, strong, unmovable is he who
places his trust in God; for his home
is not here, therefore, his heart is not
here; he cannot be swayed or bought
or detoured from the path of the
by:
-distributing an "action alert" to ali neighborhood block watch cap­
tains;
-contacting active fo o t patrols and request their routes include neigh­
borhood churches;
-encouraging all residents to keep their outside lights on;
-disseminating information prepared by the Police Bureau and Fire
Bureau;
-calling on all neighbors to become more alert and observant in areas
o f where churches are located;
-offering to assist in organizing more block watches where churches
exist;
-offering to provide training to citizens interested in forming foot
patrols;
-working with the Police Bureau's Information and Referral on rumor
control.
The Episcopal Diocese o f Ore­
gon. under the leadership o f the
Right Reverend Robert L. Ladehoff
and the Diocesan Council, m eet­
ing in June 21, unanimously adopt­
ed a resolution regarding the trag­
ic burning o f churches.
The Episcopal Diocese o f East­
ern Oregon and the Rt. Rev. Rust in
Kimsey jo in in this public state­
ment.
Churches are burning. We can­
not be silent.
It is time to say NO. We reject
the torching o f houses o f worship
as outrages against the human
community. We decry these ac­
tions o f apparent racism and big­
otry. It is time to say Yes. To our
brothers and sisters under attack,
to the values o f freedom and ju s ­
tice. to respecting the dignity o f
every person.
The people o f the Episcopal
Church o f Oregon publicly stand
against these violent acts.
We pledge ourselves to address
in our own congregations the is­
sues o f racism and o f enhancing
ways to promote respect fo r the
dignity and worth o f all people.
The Episcopal Diocese
of Oregon
The Episcopal Diocese
of Eastern Oregon
B erm i I, PovvEi.i. J ackson
I recently received a letter from
Rodney Slater, the Administrator of
the Federal Highway Administration,
who wrote o f visiting the grave of
Alex Haley, the author o f Roots. Mr.
Slater recalled that on Alex Haley’s
tombstone are the words, “Find the
good and praise it.”
It’s been a difficult summer al­
ready and we’re only at the begin­
ning o f it. Churches burning across
this land. More Supreme Court deci­
sions setting back voting rights for
African Americans in the South and
affirmative actions for students in
Texas.
But there have also been some
good things which have happened
and we need to praise them. There
have been some moments when hu­
man decency and love won out. We
must celebrate those signs o f hope in
io
order to go on.
There were few reports about her.
NBC Evening News did a focus on
her, but I didn’t see or hear or read any
othermentionsofKeisha Thomas. But
Keisha Thomas is an example o f the
good.
Maybe you saw a few seconds of
footage on television news showing
a sc u ffle betw een M ichigan
Klansmen and anti-Kian marchers a
few weeks ago. It happened in Ann
Arbor and the marchers soon were
battling on the streets. And when the
anti-Kian marchers began to pum­
mel and kick a man who had tripped
and fallen in the melee and who was
dressed in a Confederate flag tee-
shirt, Keisha Thomas, an 18-year-
old African American woman, threw
herself over him to stop the crowd.
“ He was just a man,” was all Keisha
could say, in explaining why she
won
BY
N ita J. R oleinson
A recent tabulation concluded that
there are ten main religions and 10,000
sects. O f these, 1200 exist in the US.
Did you know that Jesus Christ and his
faithful disciples were viewed as a
sect? (Acts chapter 28, verse 22). Many
factors have contributed to the devel­
opment of new religious groups. Some
have said that the various religions all
represent different ways of presenting
religious truth. But a comparison of
their teaching and practices with the
BIBLE indicate rather that the diversi­
ty of religion is because people have
become followers of men rather than
God. So the question is, are all reli­
gions acceptable to God, and how can
we identify the true religion?
Jesus gave us the identifying marks
of a true Christian:
1. Love for God and one onother.
True worship emphasizes not ritual
and outward show but genuine love for
God, shown by obedience to his com­
mandments and by love for one’s fel-
lowman. (Matthew 15:8,9; 1 John5:3;
I John 3:10 to 18; John 4:21; John
13:34,35)
2. True Christians would have
faith in the value of Jesus shed blood
and eternal life that it makes possi­
1021 NE Grand
6th Floor, Ballroom 4
Sundays at 11:30 AM
(503)282-3780
J
ble. (John 3:16) Appreciation is shown
by obeying Jesus and sharing person­
ally and zealously in the works he
assigned to his followers. (Matthew
24:14; Matthew 28:19,20)
protected him. He didn’t deserve to
be beaten for his beliefs, even those
she disagreed strongly with, she im­
plied.
The picture of this young woman
called to mind a similar picture o f
Archbishop Desmond Tutu a few
years ago throwing himself over a
man believed to be an informer by an
angry crowd of black South Afri­
cans. It was only Bishop Tutu's ac­
tion which stopped this man from
being killed.
I doubt whether the Ann Arbor
crowd would have killed this Kian
supporter, but they certainly could have
done great injury to him. My prayer is
that this man will be changed by that
day and come to see African Ameri­
cans in a new light and that he will
never again wear a shirt with aConfed-
erate flag on it.
SHOOTOUT
FOR CHRIST!
THREE-POINT SHOOT-OUT CONTEST
128 NE Russell,
Saturday, July 6, 1996
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3. True Christians would be sep­
arate from the world. (John 15:19)
True Christians have faith that Gods
Kingdom under Christ will replace all
human governments and will become
the one government over all human­
kind. (Daniel 7:13,14; Daniel 2:44;
Revelation 16:14,16: Isaiah 34:2;
Isaiah 9:6,7).
4. There is no clergy-Laity dis­
tinction among true Christians.
(Matthew 20:25 to 27: Matthew 23:8
to 12).
5. Christians must conform To
Bible standards regarding blood as
well as sexual morality. (Acts
15 :28.29). Christians are to be morally
clean; fornication, adultery, and ho­
mosexuality must have No place in
their lives, neither should drunkenness
or drug abuse. (1 Corinthians 6:9 to 11:
2Corinthians 7:1)
Speaker: J.W. Friday
6. Acceptable worship of God
requires that we love him above all
else. (Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 5:9)
Love of God requires of true Chris­
tians not only that obey his command­
ments to love their neighbor but also
that they NOT love the immoral and
materialistic way of life. True Chris­
tians are NO part of the world and so
refrain from joining in activities that
would identify them as sharing its spir­
it. (Romans 13:8,9; I John 2 :15 to 17;
John 15:19; James 4:4).
If our religion is lacking in anyone
of these areas, we are in grave danger,
for Revelation Chapter 18, verse 4
tells us to GET OUT of her (false
religion) If we do not want to receive
part of her sins and her fate. ALL
FALSE RELIGION AND THEIR
SU PPO R T E R S W ILL BE D E ­
STROYED. To learn more about the
fate of false religion join us free of
charge without delay at 6836 N.E. 7th
comer of Dekum Sundays 10 A M. to
12. Tuesdays 7:30 to 9:15 p.m .orask
any of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Summer Day Camp
A christ-centered camp where children will be involved in weekly
themes and child-centered activities.
Do you need a place for your children this summer? Mt. Olivet has the
camp for you. This is an excellent licensed program with certified teachers.
O n ly 5 0 sp a c e s available.
C ontact: Melissa White/Lisa Parks, SummerCamp Dircctor(503)240-
0326. Call Mt. Olivet SummerCamp at 240-0326 for registration informa­
tion.
J ourney
SUNDAY 6 P.M.
PHONE: 503-323-2406
BISHOP GRACE C. OSBORNE, PASTOR
St. Stephen’s - Corner S. W. 13th & Clay - Portland, OR
Trophies and Prizes
W IN a walkman, basketball,
or music cassette!
Come for a fun time:
ages 9 - 20 plus
For Information, Call Danny at 249-3750
all participants must stay for complete program for food
Sponsored by Grace Collins Memorial Community Center
LOSE 20 POUNDS
IN TWO WEEKS!
F am pus U.S. W om en's A lp in e S ki Team Diet
During the non-snow off season the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team
members used the "Ski Team" diet to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. That's
right - 20 pounds in 14 days! The basis of the diet is chemical food
action and was devised by a famous Colorado physician especially for
the U.S. Ski Team. Normal energy is m aintained/very important!) while
reducing. You keep “fu ir - no starvation - because the diet is designed
that way. It s a diet that is easy to follow whether you work, travel or stay
at home. (For men, too!)
This is, honestly, a fantastically successful diet. If it weren't, the U.S.
Women's Alpine Ski learn wouldn't be permitted to use it! Right? So,
give yourself the same break the U.S. Ski Team gets. Lose weight the
scientific, proven way. Even if you've tried all the other diets, you owe it to
yourself to try the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team Diet. That is, if you
really do want to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. Order today! Tear this out
as a reminder.
M t Olivet
Baptist Church
8501 N. Chautauqua Blvd.,
at Willis Blvd.
CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY
"Where the Best is Yet to Be! ”
Morning Star Baptist Church
Send only $8.95 ($9.60 in Calif.)-add .50 cents RUSH service to:
American Institute, 7343 El Camino Real, Suite 206, Atascadero, CA
93422. Don't order unless you expect to lose 20 pounds In two weeks!
Because that’s what the Ski Team Diet will do.
June 24 - August 16
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Children can attend fu ll days or halfdays.
Location: Mr. Olivet Church, 8501 N. Chautauqua
$50.00per week, (AFS.CSD.AMA payments accepted/
Age: 5 years - 12 years
Worship Services 8:00am & 11:00am.
Church School 9:30 to 10:30am,
Bible Study, Wednesdays, 10:30am & 7:00pm
Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00am on KBMS
Searching? So Are We.
COME AND SEE!
F
save us from sin; he died himself,
and he raised himself, a perfect sac­
rifice, and he sent him self and he
sent him self into the world, that we
might not be alone to face the fallen
angel; whom he has given authority
in this world for a time. He sits
beside him self on his Holy Throne
and places him self in the hearts of
men that they might worship him in
spirit and in truth He Is God Jeho­
vah; He Is God, The Son and God ,
the Holy Spirit. “I am" in one per­
son, yet separate. Alpha and Omega,
The beginning and the end of all
things, above and under, and around
about are his. The Power and the
Glory and the Kingdom are his, even,
he himself, infinite, beyond eternal.
Amen.
FREE Fried Chicken & Grilled Hamburgers
Cjrace Covenant ‘J ettowship
f
and love him and worship and serve
him according to that which God has
given him. A man that is great in his
own eyes, and demands service of
the people, and boasts of himself,
and sets his name on high, has no
part in God, but serves another mas­
ter. This man shun, for he gives
ungodly counsel, and leads away the
unwary, the innocent and the un­
learned. Study (the Word of God) to
show thyself a workman that needeth
not be ashamed, rightly dividing the
Word of truth.
Be happy, for God is in his heaven
and all is well with those who be­
lieve his Word, whose name is Jesus
the Christ, Savior and Lord of his
Created kingdom. He made us out
of himself, and was born himself to
FINDING THE GOOD AND PRAISING IT
NCN CONDEMNS ARSON
In solidarity with the entire City o f Portland, the Northeast Coalition o f
Neighborhoods is disturbed with the fact that the crime o f arson was
committed, and that the arsonist’s target was a place o f worship. The
northeast community has a long history o f coming together in tim esof crisis.
Today we stand ready to support our faith community.
Therefore, the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is responding
God, whose Creation he is. Man Is
Not God, why then do you serve
man? No man is greater, in the eyes
of God, than any other man; for we
all have gifts; We all have a place in
“the True V ine” and we are all re­
sponsible forourow n beliefs and for
the use of our own God given gifts.
Let no man deter you from the use of
your gifts for the glory of God.
Study the word of God, and his
will for your life will be revealed
unto you. How can you become a
vessel and a tool for God to use, if
you are being used already by some
man who calls him self a servant of
God, but shows no characteristics of
his Creator?
Everyone who seeks him shall
find him, and they shall know him
A Teaching Church With A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
(503) 240-PRAY
i