Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2021)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 3, 2021 -- THREE 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. Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Art of distraction diverts attention To the editor: The art of distraction is the process of diverting the attention of individuals and groups from immi- nent danger and therein blocking or diminishing the reception of necessary and essential information. Thomas Jefferson warned, “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be in- formed.” Americans and the world have been deceived by the universal need for lockdowns, masks, school closures and COVID vac- cines to the point they are distracted and ignorant of the real threats to our way of life and liberty. The rich and powerful have pros- pered with the compulsory lockdowns of businesses and services which has caused 150 million citizens on planet earth to suffer starvation and extreme pov- erty. Sixty percent of restau- rants will not reopen. One in four of America’s youth have considered suicide. Fifteen thousand doctors and scientists in the Bar- rington Declaration have warned these lockdowns are the greatest threat to human health in history and masks do not thwart the spread of Wuhan Flu. The COVID Wuhan flu is a Trojan horse, a dangerous, deadly distraction. Every oppressive, ty- rannical, ruthless dicta- torship in history has one essential principle in order to succeed, disarm the pop- ulace. Lenin, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Hitler, Pot Pol, Castro, Hugo Chavez and fellow comrades murdered hundreds of millions of innocent citizens all be- cause they were defenseless against their brutal tyranny. The Chinese dictator Xi Jin- ping has murdered and put in concentration camps mil- lions of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China. They have no defense, and the world is distracted and has been bribed or blackmailed to turn a blind eye. This ruth- less malignant empire will soon spread their cancer upon every nation on earth and the world is distracted, appeasing, and/or a willing accomplice. More on China later, but first the greater threat. While America and the world are distracted by Wuhan flu fear mongering, the last free nation on earth is about to learn what every other disarmed nation in the world learned. Joe Biden and the Democrat/Socialist Congress are about to begin the greatest assault on the Second Amendment in the history of the Republic. On Feb. 14 Biden called for “commonsense gun law reforms.” In the beginning ‘commonsense’ means, 1) background checks for all gun sales, 2) a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, 3) end of immunity for gun manufactures, 4) heavy taxation of all gun sales and ammunition. The distraction be- gins in Oregon because the Democrat/Socialists’ control the government, the congress, the courts, the news media and the voting machines. Oregonians are so consumed with Wuhan COVID lockdowns that only the diligent sense the threat of tyranny that would become the template for the rest of America. Presently in Oregon there are six house and senate bills that would erode and eventually destroy the “right to keep and bear arms” in Oregon, then America. 1) Senate Bill 554: This bill would allow the local government (schools, city, county, port, etc.) to adopt ordinances or policies lim- iting or precluding affirma- tive defense for possession of firearms in public build- ings by concealed handgun licensees. 2) Senate Bill 585: This bill repeals Oregonians pre-emption law allowing any locality to create and enforce any gun law they chose. If this bill passes all Oregonians would be at the mercy of each county or city they travel through carrying a firearm. 3) House Bill 2543: This bill prohibits transfer of firearms by gun dealers or private parties if OSP in unable to determine wheth- er recipient is qualified to receive firearm. 4) House Bill 2510: Requires the owner or pos- sessor of firearm to secure the firearm with a trigger or cable lock, in a locked container or in a gun room except in specified circum- stances. Otherwise known as “Mandatory Lockup.” 5) Senate Bill 604: This bill would require a per- mit to purchase firearms. The bill requires manda- tory training, background checks and fees and the bill requires safety training from the National Firearms Association. The permit must be renewed every five years. All of these bills pro- posed in the Democrat/So- cialist controlled congress in Oregon are unconstitu- tional. The constitution is the enemy for these oli- garchs. While Oregonians Times Change… People Change… Laws Change Often Veterans & their families put off inquiring about their VA benefits, yet processes move more smoothly when you have a relationship established with your VSO and it’s easy to enroll with your local representative. We help you navigate a confusing system of benefits saving time and frustration. Even if you’ve been de- nied benefits in the past we’ll be pleased to review your claim to determine the reason for denial, if laws are now more favorable to your claim. • VA Health Care • Service Connected & Non-Service Connected claims • Burial benefits • Survivors benefits, and more. We work with you to bridge gaps in services, assist with local resources and problem solve a variety of VA issues- including billing, overpayments, accessing . Don’t wait till there is a crisis- call today! 541-922-6420 are distracted, are fearful of a virus and discouraged; tyranny lurks in the shad- ows. In 2008 the Supreme Court considered a similar attack on the ‘right to keep and bear arms.’ The Dis- trict of Columbia passed a law “requiring residents to keep their lawfully owned, registered guns unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock or simi- lar device unless the guns were located in a place of business or in use for a lawful recreational activi- ty.” Justice Antonin Scalia (who conveniently died in a suspicious manner) wrote the Supreme Court decision confirming a law prohibit- ing the possession of hand- guns was unconstitutional. “The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is not contingent in service in a well-regulated militia.” Scalia, in addition wrote, “The handgun ban amounts to a prohibition of an entire class of arms that is over- whelmingly the choice by American society for the lawful purpose of the inher- ent right of self-defense.” Do not be distracted my fellow Oregonian/Ameri- cans. We must remain dil- igent and on guard against every attempt to destroy our birthright of liberty and freedom. We must fight, re- sist, counter and overcome every seed of tyranny, at every level including city, county, school, church, state and national level. We must never be goaded into using force or violence, such as the capital takeover Jan. 6, to achieve justice. There is a “Move Oregon’s Border” petition circulating in 15 Oregon counties to redistrict under Idaho by August 5 to make the Nov. ballot. Eastern Oregon will continue to be taxed with- out representation and our needs ignored by the cur- rent dictatorship in Salem/ Portland. For instance, a 3000 percent tax hike on beer and wine (HB3296) has been proposed. God is for those with courage and integrity to overcome those that would usurp our constitution, our liberty to protect our family and nation and our freedom to worship God according to our conscience. Stuart Dick, Irrigon Obituaries William “Bill” Mabe William Elmer “Bill” Mabe,, of Heppner, died Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Kadlec Reginal Medical Center in Rich- land, WA. He was born June 25, 1955 in Heppner, the son of Harold and Ruby Mabe. He spent his growing up years in Fossil, graduat- ing from Wheeler Co. High School in 1973. Bill worked on ranch- es a big share of his life, before working at the Wal- Mart Distribution Center in Hermiston. At the time of his death, he was working for Morrow County Grain Growers in Lexington. He loved spending time with family, camping, hunt- ing and fishing. Survivors include his loving companion, Linda Harper; a brother, Marvin Mabe; a sister, Mildred Nelson and a host of nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ruby; brothers, Harold, Dean and Rod and a sister, Shirley. Memorial contributions may be made to the Na- tional Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33 rd St., New York, NY 10016 Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in care of ar- rangements. The online condolence book is avail- able at www.sweeneymor- tuary.com. Death Notices Michael R. Meligan – Michael R. Meligan, 64, of Heppner, died Saturday, February 27, 2021 at his home. He was born February 6, 1957. Arrangements are pending at Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner. Toby D. Rodriguez – Toby D. Rodriguez, 49, of North Powder, OR, died Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at a hospital in Baker City. He was born March 2, 1971 at Hermiston. A service is scheduled for March 13 at 1 p.m. in Irrigon. Arrangements are pending at Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner. Amber J. Rollis – Amber J. Rollis, 42, of Heppner, died Sunday, February 28, 2021 at a hospital in Portland. She was born November 19, 1978 at Heppner. A service will be held March 12 at 11 a.m. at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery. Arrangements are pending at Sweeney Mor- tuary of Heppner. Full obituaries will follow in a future issue of the Heppner Gazette-Times. Valby Lutheran Church Valby Road Ione Oregon. 97843 Church Services 1st & 3rd Sundays 10:00 AM Available for: Weddings • Funerals Family Events 541-422-7300 Old Country Church All Are Welcome ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Destroy and Rebuild By Fr. Thankachan Joseph SDB, St. Patrick Church The theme that runs through the third week of our Lenten observances is “destroy and rebuild again.” The third Sunday of Lent is an invitation to destroy the worldly and bodily passions through Lenten practices of mortification, sacrifices, prayer and fasting to rebuild oneself as the model of Christ, who overcame the passion and death and was Fr. Thankachan Joseph resurrected. The scripture asks us, “Do you not realize that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you?” Or again it says, “Do you not realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you and whom you received from God?” (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19). The Lenten observances should help us all to get rid of our bodily passions and be reborn in Christ as a new creation. St. Paul teaches us like this: “You have stripped off your old behavior with your old self, and you have put on a new self which will progress towards true knowledge the more it is renewed in the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10). Through the three readings of the day, the church invites us all to re-dedicate ourselves to Christ. This is because He is the fulfilment of God’s Commandment and, following His teachings, we will be able to relive in Him. In the book of Exodus (20: 1-17), God gives the Ten Commandments to Moses for the people of Israel. The Law was given to Israel to help them become wiser and holier. It was also given to them in order to strengthen their relationship with God and to help them organize their social and religious life. Hence, the Commandments of God are meant to form us into a sacred community. The Ten Commandments portray the relationship with God and among one another. The first three deal with the supreme God and how He should be honored; seven of the ten laws deal with the need for justice and peace among fellow beings. While the old law was given through Moses, the new law (covenant) given through and in Christ fulfills it. Hence, as the fullness of God’s Commandments, Christ is the channel through which God receives and loves us. St. Paul’s letter to the First Corinthians (1:22-25), reminds us that Christ is “The fullness of God’s wisdom.” The Greeks searched for this wisdom. Unfortunately, they obliviously excluded Him. So, instead of benefiting from Him, they were misled by the wisdom of this world. Ac- cording to Paul, Christ is the fullness of the law and the wisdom of God. So, whoever finds and receives Him will be filled with wisdom and “will never walk-in darkness again” (Jn 8, 12). Darkness is opposed to wisdom. So, whoever has not received Christ, even though he walks according to the wisdom of this world, lives in darkness and ignorance. Our Lenten observance and practices may help everyone of us to come out this ignorance and darkness and know the true person of Christ in scriptures. The third Sunday’s Gospel from St. John (2: 13-22) narrates Jesus’s encounter with those profaning God’s Sanctuary. Jesus gets upset by the people who made the sanctuary of God a den of businesspeople and market- place. He makes a whip out of cords and drives them all away from the temple. Before the Lord takes a whip against each one of us for our atrocities, covetousness, avariciousness, lust, fornication, sexual vices, etc., in our bodies burrowing into evil practices, it is a time to destroy all our bodily passions with all their inclinations and decide to relive in Christ. What do we learn from the episode that is mentioned in today’s gospel? First, we are not supposed keep quiet or remain indifferent while things go wrong in the house of God, our homes, offices or any place at all. Also, we must not destroy the sanctity of our church - the house of God and a place of worship, family, state or country. Also, it reminds us that our bodies and the body of Christ are the Temple of God, so we must not defile them in any way. Christ prophesied about his own death and resurrec- tion: “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days.” This prophecy will be fulfilled during the paschal mystery. Therefore, today’s gospel keeps the events of this season in perspective. It reminds us of where we are heading this season: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God promised to rebuild what had been destroyed and to replant what had been plucked up. He proved Him- self to be righteous, powerful and just. And He promised to prove Himself to be an equally patient, compassionate and merciful rebuilder. So, as we march forward this season, let us continue to abide by the Commandments of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the perfect wisdom. Let us follow the Lenten practices of fasting, sacrifices and mortifications, to die to our bodily passions and relive as a new creation with help of the Spirit of the Lord. O ld T imers ’ N ighT Thursday, March 4th Dinner at 6:00pm Lodge at 8:00pm Steak Asparagus Roasted Potatoes Caesar Salad Garlic Bread Dessert Members Only
