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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 2020)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, September 30, 2020 -- SEVEN Spiritually Speaking ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. A working sheriff To the editor: I started my law en- forcement career in 1969 and was hired by the Mor- row County Sheriff’s Office in 1987. I held the positions of Patrol Deputy, Detective, Detective Sergeant and retired as Undersheriff in 2005. With my law enforce- ment experience, I know what it takes to run a sher- iff’s office when it comes to budgeting and supervising employees. I personally think Sheriff Matlack is doing a fine job as Mor- row County Sheriff. I also know he is one of the few sheriffs that actually goes out and works the streets. I’ve seen Ken work traffic, take complaints and work calls. Ken actually listens and cares about what people have to say. Sheriff Matlack has my full support for election 2020. Larry Sample, Board- man Retired Morrow Coun- ty Undersheriff 2005 Vote to re-elect Matlack To the editor: To Ken Matlack, up- holding the Constitution of the United States of Amer- ica and the Bill of Rights is a way of life. Ken has a history of upholding the Constitution and defending the rights of all people. Ken is not afraid to take a stand on difficult issues, even if it’s not popular at the time. Ken always tries to do what is right by the people and is an ethical man with integrity. Sheriff Matlack ex- pects the best out of his staff and leads the way by serving with sympathy, empathy and compassion. He promotes the concept of Succession Planning to make sure he always has a well-trained staff and will mentor, train and cultivate that growth. Sheriff Matlack has the knowledge, experience, integrity and a proven track record of serving the citi- zens of Morrow County at a high level. He has emplaced a command staff that has taken his lead and goes the extra mile to serve and protect the public. Sheriff Matlack continually raises the bar of excellence, to insure his staff is providing the best service possible. In this election race, Ken Matlack is the quali- fied and proven candidate for sheriff. Sheriff Matlack has my full support and in November 2020, please join me in re-electing Kenneth W. Matlack for Morrow County Sheriff. John A. Bowles, Hep- pner, Morrow County Undersheriff/Emergency Manager Windows and Patio Doors! BUY ONE GET ONE % 40 Doherty has proven leadership ability To the editor; I confidently endorse Jim Doherty for reelection as Morrow County Com- missioner. During his first term serving Morrow Coun- ty, Commissioner Doherty has proven his leadership ability not only for Morrow County, but as serving as President of Association of Oregon Counties. The last time a first term commis- sioner served in that role was 1905. The ability to lead his peers shows Com- missioner Doherty’s assets in areas critical to that role; organization, mediator and strength of character. Commissioner Doherty serves Morrow County from the viewpoint of care- taker. He was born and raised in the south end of the county. Jim and Kelly have raised their family and built a life in the north end. Morrow County holds their family history, memories and hearts. Their lives re- volve around this beautiful corner of Oregon that we all call home. If something impacts Morrow County, it impacts Commissioner Doherty. Commissioner Doherty has demonstrated his deep love and concern for our citizens by seeking out those among us who need help. He assisted the Board- man Food Pantry in the beginning stages of its es- AN D OFF 1 $0 Money Down $0 Interest $0 Monthly Payments for 12 months 1 Minimum purchase of 4. Interest accrues from the date of purchase but is waived if paid in full within 12 months. 4.7 out of 5 BASED ON 95,000+ REVIEWS “ My overall experience was great. I love the window, and from sales to scheduling, the experience was very good. 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In May, when the windstorm ripped through Boardman, Com- missioner Doherty stepped up to the plate when resi- dents needed help, not only getting out from under the chaos that ensued, but also a voice. My family and I have lived down the road from the Doherty family for about 10 years. We have done business with them and admire the ethics that Jim Doherty has exhibited. As neighbors, we have called on them when we needed help. Jim has al- ways shown up when we needed him. He was also a 4-H leader when our oldest son first ventured into the show arena at fair. Through our experiences with Jim Doherty over the years, we have seen compassion, responsibility and a strong belief that each of us needs to do our part to make Morrow County the best it can be. Morrow County is ex- periencing rapid growth and change. Decisions are being made that will impact every single one of us for many years. Jim Doherty has the vision and integrity to carry Morrow County through the growth and changes while preserving the honor of our county. His commitment to our way of life and the insight he brings to the development of our county is worthy of our vote in November. Please join me in vot- ing for Jim Doherty in November. Thank you, Mary A. Killion Support Peterson for com- missioner Bear the fruits of love and service By Fr. Thankachan Jo- seph SDB, St. Patrick Church Day-to-day we measure the worth of so much by its results or by the fruit it produces. For example, anyone who plants any- thing always expects the best result from that plant. Fr. Thankachan Joseph Similarly, we can evaluate our lives by looking at the fruits we produce. If God has blessed us with many gifts and talents and capabilities, what has been the output of our lives? Can we say that we have made the best use of all that we have received, for ourselves and for others? Are we bearing the fruits of loving and serving God and one another? Are we grateful for His bountiful gifts? May His words challenge us: Composed during the early years of his ministry, the prophet Isaiah (5:1-7) sings a ballad about his friend who has a vineyard and does everything possible that it might bear good fruit. He compares Israel to the well-cared-for vineyard that fails to produce fruit, in spite of the fact that the owner (God) has lavished the utmost care and attention on it. Only the best is good enough for his vineyard; he spares no time or effort to give it the best. Yet all that it produces is sour grapes. God’s grief and disappointment rather than the people’s tragedy is the theme of Isaiah’s song. “What more could I have done for my vineyard?” asks God. The fault definitely lies with His people; they must own responsibility for yielding poor fruit. The re- sponse psalm re-emphasizes the theme, “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.” In St Paul’s letter to Philippians (Philippians 4:6-9) he offers a good picture of the kind of fruit we should produce in the vineyard of the Christian community. Paul does not simply tell the Philippians to stop worrying, he gives the antidote for anxiety: prayer. In any and every situation we can bring our requests, our needs and our problems to God in prayer and leave them, with gratitude, in his capable hands. God cares for you and he cares about you. Peter understood this when he wrote, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” The pandemic that we face is a good time to test our trust in the Lord. Do you trust God completely to always do what is in your best interest? Do you trust that God has the power to lovingly guide your life and intervene in every situation? Do you trust that God can take care of you in this pandemic time? In Matthew 21:33-43, the stage is set for further confrontation between the religious leaders of His time and Jesus. The Jews had to make a choice between Jesus and His kingdom or rejection by God. The parable in this Gospel is of the vineyard, clearly referring to the ballad of Isaiah and the vineyard that is Israel. The Jews knew Isaiah’s ballad and were familiar with the symbolism of the vineyard standing for Israel. But the parable as told by Jesus contains a further point not mentioned by Isaiah: the sending of the son, presented by the phrase, “They will respect my son.” The parable is known as the parable of the murderous tenants, because of the slaying of the tenant’s son. What are the fruits that are predictable of the vine- yard? In the song of the vineyard to which the parable refers, Isaiah tells us that the Lord “expected justice but saw violence, righteousness but heard a cry.” The es- tablishment of justice and righteousness is one of God’s major directives in the Old Testament. This was the way the chosen people would express fidelity to the covenant between God and His people. God wanted justice to rule in the midst of His people and He wanted the rights of everyone, especially the poor, to be appreciated. These are the fruits that the vineyard should have produced, but, alas, the tenants failed to live just and righteous lives. The tenants not only did not produce fruits but did worse, by killing the prophets and the son of God Himself. In the Bible oppression of the poor is often presented as homi- cide. Thus, the tenants are not only murderers because they killed the messengers, or even the son, but because they oppress the poor and violate their rights. In the eyes of God, we too become murderers when we do not live just lives and we destroy the poor and deprive people of their rights and human dignity. In the parable, the mur- derous tenants are warned that they will be punished for their crimes and the vineyard will be taken away from them and given to others. In the history of Israel, the chosen people rejected and put Jesus to death, yet God had mercy on them and continued to give them another chance because of His unconditional love. Through the parable of today’s Gospel, we are con- fronted with the questions: How do we carry out the obligations God has given to each of us? Do we bear the fruits of loving and serving God and one another - the fruits God expects of us? Let us bear these fruits. To the editor; I am writing in support of Joel Peterson for Mor- row County Commission- er. Joel Peterson has been an involved member of the Morrow county com- munity his entire life and has seen serving in public service as the right thing to do rather than something to pursue for his own wants. In an upside-down world having leadership dedicat- ed to doing the right thing is needed more than ever, even on a local level. I know that he will continue his spirit of service as a commissioner and would always put the needs and concerns of the community and folks involved in any particular issue first. I highly encourage voters to consider their vote for this outstanding individual. William J. “Bill” Brehaut – William J. “Bill” Bre- Debbie Radie, Irrigon haut was born on February 25, 1932 in Fossil, OR. He died on September 27, 2020 at his home in Condon, OR at the age of 88 years. Arrangements are pending. Please share memories of Bill with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements. Death Notice Nazarene church to host event A celebration of the life of the Church of the Naza- rene in Heppner will be held October 4 at the church lo- cated at 335 Gilmore Street. The District Superintendent for the Northwest Nazarene District will also be at- tending to celebrate Pastor Norman Lee’s retirement. Everyone is invited to attend. Service will start at 10 a.m.
