2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL April 13, 2016
Facing the truth
that matters most
W
e all face challenges in
life, and there are times
when we need to confront them.
It could be something in your
past that you’ve been avoiding.
Or maybe it’s a person you need
to forgive. No matter what the
issue may be, we need to under-
stand how important it is to deal
with it, because if we don’t, we
will miss out on the wonderful
life Jesus died to give us. We
won’t experience the freedom
of a peaceful, joyful life (Ro-
mans 14:17).
Now, I realize that there are
things we can’t go back and fi x.
But sometimes God asks us to
make restitution. When He does,
confrontation is necessary. This
means we need to face the truth
about our circumstances, other
people and ourselves.
I’ve had to confront a lot of dif-
fi cult, hurtful things in my life,
and it wasn’t easy. But I know
from personal experience that
if you will face the truth about
yourself and let God change
you enough, you can learn to be
happy no matter what anybody
else chooses to do or what your
circumstances may be.
Maybe it’s me…
I remember a time many
years ago when I thought all of
my problems were caused by
other people or circumstances I
couldn’t control. One day I was
praying aggressively for God
to change my husband, Dave. I
was giving it everything I had,
crying out for God to “fi x” him,
and in my heart I heard Him say,
“Excuse Me, Joyce, but Dave is
not the problem.”
My next thought was, “Well,
then who is? It’s just me and
him in this relationship.” For
the next two days, God showed
me what it was like to live with
me…and I cried for two days. It
was so hard! I had a long way to
go to be free of the hurt in my
heart and the wrong behavior I
had lived with for so long. But
it was the beginning of my jour-
ney to experiencing the freedom
I enjoy today.
One of the fi rst things I had
to understand was I had to stop
blaming everybody else, stop
looking at what was wrong with
other people and start taking re-
sponsibility for my attitudes and
behavior. It’s amazing how easy
it is for us to point out what’s
wrong with others while we to-
tally ignore the issue in our own
lives.
The truth is, no matter what’s
wrong with everybody else, you
can’t change them. Only God
can do that. You can choose to
cooperate with the Holy Spirit
and let Him change the things
in your heart that need to be
changed. But you have to be
willing to face the truth about
yourself and deal with the issues
He reveals that are causing your
problems.
It’s a choice we make
We need to make a deter-
mined decision to be Christlike
in our behavior and be so com-
mitted to God that we won’t go
back.
A good place to start is to ask
yourself: Do I want to know God
or just know what He can do for
It’s not like him.
I found Dad’s remote
in the fridge again.
…I’m beginning to
get worried.
We can help.
Call us with questions
about aging
and Alzheimers.
1-855-ORE-ADRC
HelpForAlz.org
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM
me? In Philippians 3:10, the
apostle Paul says, “[For my de-
termined purpose is] that I may
know Him [that I may progres-
sively become more deeply and
intimately acquainted with Him,
perceiving and recognizing and
understanding the wonders of
His Person more strongly and
more clearly], and that I may
in that same way come to know
the power outfl owing from Him
resurrection…and that I may
so share His sufferings as to be
continually transformed [in spir-
it into His likeness...” (AMPC).
Paul wanted to know God – to
know Him more deeply…more
intimately. He wanted a deeper
revelation of who God really is
and how he was nothing with-
out Him. That’s true for us too:
We’re nothing without Jesus and
we have everything when we’re
in Him.
We need to live deeper lives in
Christ. I’m talking about know-
ing God intimately, personally
and walking in the Spirit, not
our fl esh, or what we want,
think and feel outside of our re-
lationship with Him. When we
seek God’s face – not just His
hand or what He can do for us
– that’s when we grow in our
faith and become what He cre-
ated us to be.
Ephesians 4:15 (AMPC) says,
“Let our lives lovingly express
truth [in all things, speaking
truly, dealing truly, living truly].
Enfolded in love, let us grow up
in every way and in all things
into Him Who is the Head,
[even] Christ (the Messiah, the
Anointed One).”
God wants to reveal the truth
about us, to us. It’s time to stop
running and start facing the
things that are coming between
us and Him…the things that are
holding us back from His good
plan and purpose for our lives.
I want to encourage you to sin-
cerely repent of your mistakes
and trust God’s love for you,
that He will forgive you and help
you move past them. You don’t
have to live under the burden of
your mistakes and regrets.
Turn to God. Serve Him with
your whole heart. Believe His
Word and walk in His ways and
you will reap the rewards of liv-
ing His wonderful plan for your
life!
z
Gowing,
Cornilsen
announce
plans to
wed
T
iffany Gowing and Nick
Cornilsen, of Milwaukie,
Oregon announce their engage-
ment and plan to marry June 18,
2016 in Oakland, Oregon.
The bride-to-be is the daugh-
ter of Jeff and Celia Gowing of
Cottage Grove and Sheila and
Joe Morgan of Eugene. Gowing
is a 2006 graduate of Creswell
High School and of Lane Com-
munity
College’s hospitality
business program. She is em-
å
Funeral & Memorial Planning
Cremation Options
e Monuments
& Memorials & e Memorials
Cemetery Options e
Monuments
Cemetery Options
e Funeral & Memorial Planning e Cremation Options e
ployed as assistant to the vice
president at First Response, Inc.
in Beaverton, Oregon.
The groom-to-be is the son
of Mark and Shelly Cornilsen
of Oakland, Oregon. He is a
2005 graduate of Oakland High
School and of Oregon State
University in mechanical engi-
neering. He is employed as the
facilities engineer at Precision
Cast Parts in Portland, Oregon.
Please Celebrate the 4th of July Safely!
123 South 7th,
Cottage Grove, Oregon
th
123
South
7
,
Cottage
Grove, Oregon
541-942-0185 •www.smithlundmills.com
z
www.smithlundmills.com
å
IN MEMORIAM
Michael Kevin Ward
1948-2016
Michael Kevin Ward, 68, of
Cottage Grove passed away
March 27,
2016
of
lung can-
cer.
He was
born March
22,
1948
at St. Fran-
cis in San
Francisco,
Calif. to William and Catherine
(Greene) Ward.
On May 28, 1983 in Cottage
Grove, he and Irma Gutierrez
were married. They separated
in 1999.
He spent many years work-
ing in carpentry and worked as
a head cook for Lost Creek Lake
Marina for 13 seasons.
Michael loved
crossword
puzzles and was a huge San
Francisco 49ers fan and also
was a fan of the Giants.
Survivors include his mother
of Sacramento, Calif., four sons,
A.J. Ward of Oregon, Adam
Ward and Aylan Ward, both
of Rogue Valley, Oregon and
Aazul Ward of Cottage Grove,
a daughter, Shawna Gutier-
rez-Sansburn of Creswell, two
brothers, Joe Ward and Rob
Ward, both of Cottage Grove,
a sister, Kathie Ward of Sacra-
mento, Calif., and four grand-
children.
A celebration of life will be
held Tuesday, May 3 from 1-
3:30 p.m. at The Riverhouse in
Shady Cove, Oregon.
Arrangements under the care
of Buell Funeral Chapel/An-
dreason’s, Springfi eld.
Grant Gording, BC-HIS
Jenna Buetow
Board Certifi ed in
Hearing Instrument Sciences
Hearing Consultant
FREE Hearing Screenings
FREE Hearing Aid Checks & Cleanings
Just call to schedule an appointment!
Grant's Hearing Centers
1498 E. Main St., CG
www.grantshearing.com
541-942-8444
Cremation & Burial Services
Affordable Funeral
“Compare Our Prices & Services”
F a m n i l e y d
Ow
Hoyer talks accident
reconstruction at Rotary
V
ern Hoyer, who was born
and raised in Cottage
Grove and is the grandson of
V.B. Hoyer, a founding member
of Cottage Grove’s Rotary Club
in 1960, presented an educa-
tional program on accident re-
construction at the club’s Thurs-
day meeting.
Today’s accident investiga-
tion is very sophisticated, and
in today’s standards, almost
fool-proof. This is an effort to
determine liability and the cause
of the accident and to satisfy the
ever-rising insurance premiums,
Hoyer said.
After graduation from CGHS,
Hoyer started his public service
career as a volunteer fi reman in
South Lane County, then went
to the Sheriff’s offi ce. He spent
several years as a deputy sher-
iff under Lane County Sheriff
Dave Burks. Hoyer has over
4,000 hours of structured ad-
vanced training. An injury in
1989 forced an early retirement
from EPD. At this time, Hoyer
took additional training for ac-
cident reconstruction.
He has also spent 12 years on
the National Speakers Circuit
talking about alcohol and sub-
stance abuse. He has also been
a private investigator, investigat-
ing insurance issues and fraud.
We Want Your News!
$ PUUBHF ( SPWF 4 FOUJOFM
In person: 116 N. Sixth Street, Cottage Grove
Email: cgnews@cgsentinel.com
Office phone: 942-3325
Randall Gregory Fox
5/13/1986 – 3/27/2016
Randall Fox passed away
March 27, 2016, surrounded by
his wife and family, following
an accident while racing with
the Oregon State Cycling Club
in Washington. Randall was a
registered organ donor and was
able to git his organs following
his death.
Randall was born on May
13 th , 1986, in Cottage Grove, OR
to Gregory and Judy Fox. He grew
up in Cottage Grove with his siblings, Jana and Brian. Randall was
a bright, inquisitive, and tenacious child who loved spending time
outdoors and learning about the world around him.
Randall graduated from Cottage Grove High School in
2004, then moved to Klamath Falls to attend Oregon Institute of
Technology. He thrived in the college environment and made
many lifelong friends at OIT. Randall was a natural competitor,
and was a cross country and track athlete in addition to his pursuit
of two bachelor’s degrees, in Mechanical Engineering and Applied
Mathematics.
At er graduation, Randall worked as an engineer for Bulk
Handling Systems in Eugene before returning to school to pursue
a PhD in mechanical engineering – thermal l uid science at Oregon
State University in fall 2010.
Randall met Leslie Minner, his future wife, shortly at er moving
to Corvallis. h ey met on Halloween standing in line for a bar –
an ironic place for two such hardworking, focused students to
meet, and something they ot en laughed about later on. Randall
introduced Leslie to his favorite food – h ai – on their i rst date, and
they proceeded to share many adventures over the next few years.
Randall and Leslie married on July 26, 2014 in a beautiful outdoor
ceremony in Corvallis.
Randall enjoyed a variety of pursuits, including home brewing,
gardening, and photography. He was an avid cyclist, commuting to
OSU on his bike every day, and joining the cycling club in fall 2015.
Randall was an amazing, kindhearted, smart, hardworking
young man who made a lasting impression on everyone he met.
At er completing his PhD, Randall hoped to teach at a university and
spend his free time cycling, gardening, and spending time with his
wife, family and friends.
Randall is survived by his beloved wife, Leslie Fox, parents, Greg
and Judy Fox, siblings, Jana and Brian Fox, in-laws, Lee, Rosemary,
and Paul Minner, and many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. He
leaves an enormous hole in our hearts and will be missed dearly.
A celebration of life will be held on April 16 th , 2016 in Corvallis.
Donations may be made to a scholarship fund being established at
OSU in Randall’s honor.
Great Care in
a Great Place.
Right here in Cottage Grove.
At PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center,
we care for every body, every day, in every way that we can.
personalized primary care digital imaging
physical therapy laboratory services outpatient services
emergency department open 24/7
1515 Village Drive, Cottage Grove
PeaceHealth Medical Group 541-767-5200
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
541-767-5500
peacehealth.org/cottage-grove