Page B6 c‘!‘ ^Jortlanh (©bseruer August 18. 2004 z z z 'z R eligion « Y O u r R ig h t Oregon Oept. of Corrections. If you are In «ny other part of the criminal M ichael E. Harper, Sr. Agent Changing Lives A 9045 SWButxr, Suite 109 Ridanti OR97219 (503)221-3050 FAX: (503) 227-8757 from Metro erty it so desperately sought. The building was paid for in full by the end o f 1996, although the road ahead still rem ained a tedious journey. M ore than eight years and $1.5 m illion later, the ch u rch b u ild in g p ro jec t rests com pleted. "W e'v e com e this far by faith. It’s been due to the faithfulness o f G od that w e’ve com e to the place w e’re at now. T hrough our residency and renovation w e’ve seen trem endous change in our neighborhood,” said Strong. “It’s our desire to be a blessing to the com m unity, not ju st a nice look ing building. In all the battles w e’ve had to face along the w ay, w e’ve learned it’s not the build ing that makes the church, it’s the people.” Life Change Christian Center has created an array of outreach minis tries to help fulfill their mission o f “building a strong local church by building families, leaders and ser vants to advance the kingdom of God by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the peoples in the com munity, city and the nations to the glory o f G od.” g justice system, such as a county Jail, you have not lost your voting privilege. Touching People continued r o « i n vote. Even convicted felons cen vote If not cu m n tly In custody of the STATE EARM INSURANCECOMPANIES HOME OFFICES: BLOOMINGTON. ILLINO IS 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service® Build Credit with Easy Payment Arrangements Upon Approval Call: 1-866-308-0532 Mortgages • Consolidation Loans • Bad Credit Low Income • Bankruptcy Countrywide Financial Martin Cleaning Service Senior Pastor Mark Strong welcomes his congregation and guests to the new Life Change Chris tian Center, 3635 N. Williams. The church reaches out into the com m unity with program s such as free bread and clothing giveaw ays on S aturday m o rn ings, m onthly visits to the eld erly, daily prayer m eetings, a strong youth m inistry and sm all- indiv id u alized support groups. “It’s Jesus C hrist, not religion that has the pow er to change and transform individual liv es,” said Strong. “ W e’re not perfect, far from it in fact, but w e’re striving to be authentic w itnesses o f what it really m eans to be C hristian; like C hrist.” Sunday services are held at 10 a.m. and include w orship and the w ord o f G od. For m ore in fo rm a tion call, 503-288-0479 or visit online at: w w w .Iifechangecc.org. Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning immerciai & Residential Services l'J=W ?KIC23 =?FSCri!/5 M E S ? 2ÜÎW !“ ' carpet coupon 1 ' 1 CLEANING AREA Pre-Spray Traffic Area $40.00 Small Hall Included ■ M M M n M H M M M N N CARPET COUPON Wash that Dirty Laundry! 1 CLEANING AREA Pre-Spray Traffic Area $40.00 Small Hall Included Our serious issues require a national wake-up call bv R ev . M ark K ellev I am not sure whether he is a Chris posed the failures o f our recog Legendary entertainer Bill Cosby tian or not or what his political party nized leadership’s strategy o f por stirred up the black establishment affiliation is, to hear the truth from tray ing our people as perpetual vic with his critical com ments on the the lips o f someone of the stature of tims o f endless, white conspiracies low educational attainm ent and Bill Cosby in our community is ab to oppress us, in order to get more speech (including the use o f the solutely exhilarating! Yes, it makes from them these past 40 years. “n” word) with some o f today's us look bad; yes, it airs our dirty We have dirty laundry such as it black youth. He has also railed laundry. But our dirty laundry rep is today because the relative few in against the elevation of blacks that resents some very serious issues in the black establishment who have com mit crimes and go to prison to our community that required the profited from the victim strategy the status of celebrity political pris kind o f national wake-up call that are disconnected from the God of oners. Moreover, he objects to the Mr. Cosby has brought by break the Bible. It was He who opened violence o f embittered black men ing the unspoken commandment. the doors for our advancem ent against their female partners. Cosby believes these and other We have dirty black shortcomings are sadly in laundry...because the dicative of a lack o f appreciation for relative few in the black the sacrifices o f the civil rights movement. establishment who have The black detractors o f Mr. profited from the victim Cosby know the criticisms he makes are valid, but are only angry with strategy are disconnected him for saying it where white folks from the God o f the Bible. could hear it. He broke the first of Rev. Mark Kelley the unspoken commandments of Incredibly, in far too many in through the civil rights movement; black Americans: "Thou shalt not stances, it is not the protection of it is He who is now quite displeased criticize thy people in the earshot of unity that motivates this com mand we pushed Him to the back-ground w hites.” Are we really so naive as ment today. It is not embarrassing even as we corrupt His Word to lay to believe that not only whites, but sham e that o u r problem s exist false moral grounds for our self- the whole world are unaware of our either. If it were truly shame for this serving strategy of deceit. shortcom ings? reason, all levels o f black society We have dirty laundry such as it Well, frankly, I am very glad would pull together and labor in is today because the relative few in somebody other than those o f us tensively to wash our dirty laun the black establishment who have relegated to the lunatic biblically dry. H owever.embarrassing shame profited from the victim strategy conservative, “right wing” fringe is involved as it concerns how Bill are disconnected from the God of has had the gall to speak up! While C osby’s public criticisms have ex- the Bible. ■ Jefferson Grad Remembered D riven by covetousness and greed, many o f the movers and shakers o f the black establishment nationwide have focused on politi cal clout, economic empowerment, educational achievement and so cial acceptance. Black religion has been a v ery v o c a l team player. H ow ever, the w eightier matters o f the spirit, morality and character o f the race have been largely left for personal tastes or addressed superficially as self-evi dent in our survival as victims. The result is that now, in every facet o f black society, we view all of life through the deceitful prism of victimization. So children under achieve in school and it’s not their fault because white run govern ments have not provided enough resources. O ur teens degrade each other in speech and have low self esteem because of racism. Those found gui Ity of crimes are celebrated because bully w hite authorities conspired against them. Black on black violence is an outcome of poverty and hopelessness created by w hite indifference. And on and on. Rev. Robert Kelley is the founder and president o f Open Door Com munication Ministries, Inc. and pastor o f St. Mark Baptist Church, 103 N.E. Morris. STAIRS $7.50 EACH UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa (under 6 ft.) $69.00 Loveseat $40.00 Sectional $99.00 and up Chair or Recliner $25.00 and up Throw Pillows $5.00 each CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS f503J 281-3949 Living Faith Ministries 4434 N.E. 131 Place (Sandy Blvd.) Service Times Sunday 10:00 am Wednesday 7:00 pm Everyone Welcome! P.O Box 11648 Portland, OR 97211 503-284-8527 David & Sherrie Littleton Pastors Highland Presents "The Just Shall Live By Faith Romans 1:17 CongrAtwlAtions! Celebrati ng 50 Years Together Terrol R. Johnson Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 16, 2004, in Life Change Christian Center, 3624 N. Vancouver Ave., forTetrol R. Johnson, who died Aug. 10 at age 56. Mr. Johnson was bom May 14, 1948, in Shreveport, La. He moved to Portland in 1955 and graduated from Jefferson High School. He served in the Army. He was a program administrator for Life works NW for several years. In 1989, he married Molly Sheafe. Survivors include his wife; daughter. Demetria Peterson; son, Terrol R. Jr.; stepsons. M ichael D enton, M atthew Denton and G eoffrey Denton; sister. Debra Battle. C’hantina Johnson and Char lotte Johnson; brothers, Lorenzo and Kelvin; and eight grandchildren. Arrangements by Caldw ell’sColonial Chapel. (WITH SERVICE) James (J.D.) and Lonzella Lambert IN AC T I O N Saturday,August21,2004 llam-5pm Alberta Park (Com er o f /V* & Killingsworth) Join Us For FREE food, fun and entertainment (503) 287-9567 I > I Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad With AU Our Love Zenobia (Kathy) Noble Janice Lambert-Gordon Brenda Lambert-Smith James (J.T.) Lambert Dwayne Lambert Loretta Lambert Jennifer Lambert