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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2021)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 13, 2021 -- THREE Spiritually Speaking Authority as Service By Fr. Thankachan Joseph Most people see authority as a chance to promote their own honor and glory, but Christ saw it as an opportunity to serve others, which is not that easy. Humans naturally think of themselves first. Even the apostles did, as we shall see in today’s Gospel. The servant leadership of Jesus pinpoints service and sacrifice as the criteria of greatness in Christ’s kingdom. In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (53: Fr. Thankachan 10-11), the “Suffering Servant” prepares Joseph us to hear today’s Gospel (Mark 10: 35- 45), teaching on desire versus humility. The Servant of the first reading intercedes with God for the people, taking upon himself their wrongdoings and accepting retributions for their sins. This passage speaks of the servant giving “his life as an offering for sin.” The prophecy, “Through his suffering, many servants shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear” (53:11), was realized in Jesus, Who lived and died for others. This passage also gives us assurance that if we stand for righteousness and justice, we need to go through all that the prophet experienced; later we will receive the loving care of our Father, God, Who will never abandon us. That is what the Prophet Isaiah is trying to convey. The concluding words of Jesus in today’s gospel, about giv- ing His life as a ransom for many, refer to the messianic prophecy from the prophet Isaiah. The second reading, from the letter to the Hebrews (4:14-16), notes that Jesus responded to the call from His Father to be the mediator or priest for the people. As high priest, He is able to sympathize with us in our weakness because He has been tested in every way, though sinless, so we can confidently hope for God’s mercy. Jesus ac- complished His mission of saving mankind by becoming the “Suffering Servant” and challenging His followers to become great by serving others: “Whoever wishes to be great must be a servant.” In the time of Jesus, ransom was the price paid to free someone from slavery. Sometimes another offered himself as substitute for the slave. Jesus’s offering was just such a liberating offering for mankind. This second reading ends with an invitation to every one of us to “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (4:16). The Gospel reading is another classic response from Christ on the question of ambition and expectations. For the third time, Jesus predicts His own death (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:32), but James and John still could not under- stand Him and His style as leader. They thought of Him as a revolutionary freedom fighter and shared the Jewish belief that the Messiah would be a political king, sitting on David’s throne and ruling over a re-united Israel. Jesus’s idea of discipleship they could not grasp well. They were sure that the purpose of Jesus’s final trip to Jerusalem was to overthrow the Roman rulers. Hence, they wanted assurance from Jesus that He would make them His first- and second-in-command in His messianic kingdom. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus wants us to understand the following for our daily living: 1) A challenge to give our lives in loving service to others. The best place to begin the process of “self-giving” is in our own homes and in the workplace. We have to look upon our education, training, and experience as preparation for service to others. What- ever may be our place in society -- whether “important” or “unimportant” -- we can serve. “Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.” —Albert Schweitzer. 2) We serve by suf- fering. Misery and service go hand in hand. First, service always involves suffering because you can’t help another without some sacrifice on your own part. Secondly, we must learn to be sensitive to the suffering of those around us. One way to cultivate this sensitivity is by focusing on the needs of others, rather than on our own needs. 3) We accept the invitation to drink from the cup of Christ’s suffering. A best example can be found in our families: A happy family is the result of true sacrifice and humble service. The husband or wife, father or mother is ready to sacrifice convenience, comfort, and time for the good of other members in the family. We are challenged to drink the cup of Jesus by laying down our lives in humble and sacrificial service for others, just as Jesus did. Church harvest festival scheduled Heppner Christian Church will hold their an- nual Harvest Festival and 125 th year celebration on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24. There will be an open house from 3-5 p.m. Sat- urday, October 23 with a hosted dinner to follow from 5-7:30 p.m. as well as guest speakers Bob Woods and Roger Scharen. Free child care will be provid- ed. RSVPs are required for the dinner and also the need for child care. Please contact Sam Bellamy at 541-561-8881 to RSVP or for additional information.. A continental breakfast will be held at 9 a.m. Sun- day, October 24. Following breakfast, session one will begin at 9:45 a.m. with Don Shelton and Quentin Byers. Session two will begin at 11 a.m. with David Archer, Andrew Johnson and Ray DeLoe. ~ 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. Forced vaccination Peoples voice being silenced To the editor; “Once the government is committed to the princi- ple of silencing the voice of the opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increas- ingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where ev- eryone lives in fear.” (Harry Truman) I think some need to read this again. Whether you are a member of social media, have friends that oppose your belief, or you watch the news; the peoples voice is being silenced and censored. Why? What are you afraid of if we speak our minds, or have our own opinions? Are you scared that maybe you will have to realize the government and scientists are not here for you, but to work a bigger plan? Bill Gates, whose hand is well into this, (2011 and 2017) said if we could get a vaccine out to the public, we could control the world’s population. Well, 2020 here it showed up. Really, how is he a scien- tist? How did he predict this pandemic? Planned? Aren’t we the nation that was based on “land of the free, because of the brave” or are we a nation that is willing to roll over and let the government (that works, elected and paid by us) or a millionaire, control every movement we make? I am finding it harder and harder to stand by and do nothing for the ones who want Freedom of Choice, over strong-arm control. I do feel that not wanting a vaccine or not wanting to wear a mask does not warrant the title “domestic terrorist” as people are being called. That the heart of America is now to fear all those who don’t follow your idea of a perfect so- ciety. I feel as a citizen of the United States of America we have a right to choose what we do with our bod- ies. It is not “your body, their choice,” and after 19 months of this pandemic, the science is not there. They have continually changed the guidelines on a continual basis. Yes, sci- ence is not exact, yes there are a lot of hypotheses in science, but that does not mean our world should stop and wait for the correct an- swer, if there really is one, nor does this give the gov- ernment an uncontrollable grasp around our necks. We need to stop looking at this moment in time and start doing our own “hypothesis” to where this is all heading. Take a strong look into their “deadly virus.” Don’t brow beat us with, don’t kill grandpa and grandma, do it for your neighbor, here let’s bribe you with cash, alcohol, whatever appeals to you, don’t kill our kids. Now we get, do what we say, or we will take everything from you, jobs, medical, basic human right essentials. I, for one, have had enough, so now I stand and fight back. I have started a Freedom of Choice group and we can, and we must, stand together to protect ourselves from the tyranny of this government. We will be having an- other meeting at Two Old Hags Pizza on October 17 at 12 p.m. Everyone who is ready to make things happen, find ways of chang- ing this, please join us. We are cordially inviting Rep. Greg Smith, Mayor Kindle (Heppner), Mayor Kennedy (Lexington), Mayor Taylor (Ione), Morrow County Sheriff’s Office and Super- intendent Dirksen. Come listen to the concerns of your citizens. Staying Loud, and Standing Proud next to you and for you Dawn Brosnan Ladies Night Dinner Thursday, October 14 6:00 pm Spaghetti Garlic Bread - Salad Dessert your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own.” (I Cor. 6:19,20). The Ameri- can government has no con- stitutional authority to force a Christian that has com- mitted their body to God to yield authority of their body to the government against their will. Indeed, the word of God requires a Christian “to present your body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God” (Roman’s 12:1). Jesus warned “no man can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24). When a government attempts to force a Chris- tian against their will and Christian faith then the Christian response must be “to obey God rather than man.” (Acts 5:29). When a person com- mits their life, heart and body to Jesus Christ they belong to God not the gov- ernments of the world. “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” We have a choice my beloved friends. We can submit to the yoke of slavery, or we can live forever as free men. Do not allow any government or principality take that God ordained liberty and freedom away from you. Stuart Dick, Irrigon Chamber Chatter Wednesday, October 13 at 6 p.m., Adult crafting will be held at the library. Register at www.otld.org. Saturday, October 16 at 4 p.m., Flood Town Books will host a book signing and meet and greet with Scott McEwen, New York Times bestselling author of American Sniper. Re- freshments, door prizes and more. Contact Flood Town Books at 541-236-2940 for additional information. Saturday, October 16 from 6-8 p.m. a silent auc- tion will be held to bene- fit Birthright of Morrow County at St. Patrick’s Par- ish Hall. Refreshments will be served. Saturday, October 16 the 7 th annual Octoberfest will be presented by the Woolery Project at the Ione American Legion Hall. Tri tip or barbecue chicken dinner tickets are $35 at the door. Social hour starts at 4 p.m. with dinner at 6, provided by Prairie Rose Chuckwagon. Music will be provided by Frank Carl- son and Dan Robinson. Additional information is available at www.thewool- eryprojectinc.com. October 23 and 26 at the Wilkinson Arena will be a two-day ranch roping clinic focusing on safe- ty, horsemanship, stock- manship and roping. The participant fee is $100. Additional information is available by contacting Chris Schachtschneider at 541-278-5403. Free haircuts offered at NC Hosted by the Golden & Bailey families Members and guests HEPPNER ELKS 358 "WHERE FRIENDS MEET" 541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5PM To the editor: I write this letter on behalf of all who deserve a religious accommodation against a forced ‘vaccina- tion’. Vaccination in pa- rentheses because mRNA spike protein has never in history been considered a vaccination before the cur- rent big pharma-controlled FDA moved the goal posts. Never before in the histo- ry of our Republic have the American people been forced against their will to allow the government to in- ject an experimental serum, with unknown long-term effects, into their bodies. The American people, here before free men, have nev- er before been subjects of unconstitutional edicts, all in the name of protecting the greater good. Neverthe- less, the government, our forefathers have warned us about, has decreed only medical and religious ex- ceptions will be allowed and they (the government or designated principalities no longer of the people, by the people and for the peo- ple) will exercise the final decision. As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I will present in detail the religious requirement in the Bible that necessitates a religious exception to a forced (against your sover- eign will) injection in your body. “Know ye not that Joseph Kindle will be providing free haircuts for boys and men at the Neigh- borhood Center on Satur- day, October 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:30-1:30 p.m.). Call 541-676-5024 to schedule an appointment (walk-ins are also welcome). Joseph Kindle is cur- rently a student at Paul Mitchell The School in Richland, WA and is set to graduate in November. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Rare 14+ Acre Gem 4 bd, 2bth, remodel down to the studs, creek, garden, pasture, fenced, barn, shop. Minutes to Blue Mtns., OHV park & town. $465,000 MLS 21566001. Sheryl Newton, Broker, ABR,CRS,GRI American West Properties 541-571-4141
