Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2018)
2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MARCH 21, 2018 I often teach on a variety of subjects, but I believe my primary calling is to help Christians grow up and mature in Christ and really begin to enjoy the great life He has in store for them. As a young woman, I went to church for years, but I really didn’t know much about spiritual maturity. I loved God with all of my heart, but I wasn’t changing—I was still as critical, judgmental and rebellious as ever. And even though I knew my life should be getting better, I was still miserable from dealing with all of the same problems. I believe this is one of Satan’s greatest strategies. If he can’t keep people from hearing the Gospel and accepting Christ, he will do everything he can to make sure they never grow spiritually and experience the peace and joy that’s promised to them in the Bible. You see, when we’re born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our heart—God plants a seed of everything He is in our spir- it. He instantaneously deposits inside of us everything we need to live a great life. For instance, Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPC) says, “The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accom- plishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, pa- tience (an even temper, forbearance), kind- ness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-con- trol....” Did you know all of these things already exist on the inside of you? You may wonder, Well, if that’s the case, then why aren’t I ex- periencing any of it in my life? Well, when it comes to the maturity pro- cess, we have a part to play. Our part is to cooperate with God to cultivate and develop His character in our lives so we can grow and become more like Him. How do we do that? It all begins by spending regular time in God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energiz- ing, and effective]....” When we spend time in God’s Word, we are spending time with God. His Word changes us—it changes how we think and how we act. It changes how we see God, ourselves and the world around us. Romans 12:2 is a great scripture that shows us how we grow spiritually: “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superfi cial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God....” God has a “good and acceptable and per- fect” plan for our lives, but we must renew our minds with His Word before we can ex- perience it. It’s important to remember that growing spiritually is a process. When I fi rst began to read and study God’s Word, I immediately saw things I needed to change. For a while, I felt guilty and condemned that I wasn’t “measuring up.” However, God helped me to understand that He never shows us these things to con- demn us and make us feel guilty. He con- victs us of our behavior in order to help us grow and come up higher in that area. For example, I was extremely rebellious in the early years of my marriage. Because my father sexually abused me when I was growing up, I had developed a distrust of men. I vowed that no man would ever again push me around. But as I learned God’s Word, I saw that my behavior toward my husband, Dave, was wrong. The Lord was asking me to walk in love with Dave in my speech, atti- tudes and actions. This was easier said than done! But God always gives us the grace to do what He is asking us to do. He doesn’t ex- pect us to do it all on our own. So, little by little, by God’s grace, I began to change. The Lord transformed me from being rude, critical, harsh and rebellious into someone who has real peace, love and joy. But it was a process—it didn’t happen overnight. Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18. It says we “are constantly being transfi gured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another.” The Lord changes us a little at a time. None of us will ever be perfect until we get to Heaven, and that’s okay. But as long as we’re here on this earth, God desires for us to continually cooperate with Him to learn and grow. As we do—as we continue to grow spir- itually and change “from glory to glory”— we will experience the incredible peace, joy and fulfi llment that only God can give us. And we will show the world around us what God is really like. For more on this topic, order Joyce’s three-teaching CD series The Beauty of Spiritual Maturity. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Ev- eryday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best- selling author and founder of Joyce Mey- er Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefi eld of the Mind and Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy of Trusting God at All Times (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org. Please note: The views and opinions ex- pressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily refl ect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries. IN MEMORIAM CGSENTINEL.COM NEW: Digital X-Rays (use less radiation) Implants •Teeth Whitening • Extractions Lumineers (no prep veneers as seen on TV) Cottage Grove Dental Dr. Brent Bitner, DDS 350 Washington, Cottage Grove (behind Better Bodies) 541.942.7934 z Funeral & Memorial Planning Cremation Options e Monuments & Memorials & e Memorials Cemetery Options e Monuments Cemetery Options e Funeral & Memorial Planning e Cremation Options e Please Celebrate the 4th of July Safely! William Babuck 1935-2018 William Anthony Billman Babuck, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away March 8, 2018, at Eastern Idaho Medical Center. William was born April 12, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to William A. Babuck and Margaret Fiore Billman. The family of 10 siblings, of which he took on the role of father fi gure, moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon. He bought a three-bedroom home, putting a roof over their heads and even gave them all allowances. He was the best brother ever. Bill served in the Army Reserves and worked at Riniki Lumber in Saginaw. William is survived by sister, Margaret Billman (Bruce) Phillips of Springfi eld, OR, brother, Edward (Patty) Billman of Coos Bay OR, brother, David Billman of Cottage Grove, OR, brother, Richard (Caro- lyn) Billman of Coos Bay, OR, sister, Kathy Billman of Boise, ID, sister, Alice Cramer of Boise, ID. He was preceded in death by his father, William A. Babuck; mother, Margaret Billman; step- father, Glen Billman; two sisters, Betty Anne Barnes and Frances Billman; and one brother, Larry Billman. Funeral services were held Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Idaho Falls. Condolences/fl owers may be sent to the family at 1410 T St., Springfi eld, OR, 97477 Solesbee — Harold Eugene Solesbee, 75, of Creswell, died March 16. A celebration of life is planned for a later date. Ar- rangements by Smith-Lund- Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove. Tom and Stella Richardson Stella Anne Conway-Richardson, 84, of Cottage Grove, OR, passed away on January 21, 2018 and Stella’s husband, Th omas Dar- rell Richardson, 81, of Cottage Grove, OR passed away on August 21, 2017. Stella was born March 8, 1933 in Portsmouth, England. A grad- uate of Oxford University, Stella was also a founding member of the New Archangel Dancers in Sitka, a business owner, a painter, and a published poet. Stella is survived by her fi ve children; Kerri Silver of Olympia, WA; John Conway and wife Cindy of Anchorage, AK; Chris Conway and wife Lisa of Wasilla, AK; Mark Conway and wife Kelly of Bel- levue, WA and Shelagh Conway of Austin, TX; Ten grandchildren; Cole, Chase, Sean, Patrick, Raichael, Dawson, Denali, Brieann, Mad- ison, and Kennedy; and one great grandchild, Quinn. Tom was born January 21, 1936 in San Diego, CA. Tom was an Air Force veteran, honorably providing service to our country and an accomplished private pilot and outdoorsman. Tom retired aft er a long career with AMSCO/Steris and he and Stella moved to his 80 acre tree farm in Cottage Grove, OR. Tom is survived by his two children Th omas Jr. Richardson of Palm City, FL, and Deanne Richardson of Portland, OR. Tom and Stella worked the tree farm, traveled, loved to fl y and volunteer their time in their community. Th ey were both very active until their fi nal years. Services for both and Military honors for Tom will be conducted at 2:30 PM on April 27, 2018 at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Th ey will be laid to rest together. At 4pm, a celebration of life will follow at the Marriott Courtyard South Clackamas located at 9300 SE Sunnybrook Blvd, Clackamas Oregon 97015. Please RSVP to stoafamily@gmail.com if you are planning on attending. å 123 South 7th, Cottage Grove, Oregon th 123 South 7 , Cottage Grove, Oregon 541-942-0185 •www.smithlundmills.com z www.smithlundmills.com Please join us for our annual EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION April 1, 2018 Delight Valley Church of Christ 33087 Saginaw Road East, Cottage Grove 541-942-7711 9am - Building 1 f & Vic’s Photo Booth” “Breakfast 10am - Building 2 “Donuts and Coff ee and Cupcakes, Oh My!” 10:30am - Building 2 Worship & Message “Forgiveness: Hard to Get, Hard to Give!” A Th ree Week Series Starting April 1 “Youth Program & Party” NOON OR SO - IN THE BACK FIELD “10,000 Candy or Small Toy Filled Easter Egg Hunt” å
