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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 14, 2023 -- THREE ~ 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. Love is not love Perhaps the most laud- ed phrase in the month of June is, “Love is love.” I have often wondered how the mantra of that saying helps anyone understand what “love” is. To say, “A brick is a brick,” or, “joy is joy,” is not helpful. Us- ing a word to define itself brings no clarity. So, what does it mean? The Urban Dictionary proves helpful, “’Love is love,’ is a phrase meaning that the love ex- pressed by an individual or couple is valid regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of their lover or partner.” This is the LGBTQ+ perversion that the western world is being commanded to accept. And not just accept, but promote and proclaim. The phrase “Love is love” is meant to be the trump card to every argument made against the deviant ideologies being promoted by those within the LGBTQ+ community. -Christian: “God says sex is good, but only when it is had within the con- fines of the marriage bed between one man and one woman.” -Opponent: “Love is love.” -Christian: God says sexual relationships be- tween two men or two women are an abomination. God hates it. -Opponent: “Love is love.” -Christian: Just because you change the name from pedophile to “minor attract- ed people,” does not change the sinfulness of that act. It is wicked. -Opponent: “Love is love.” Love is not love. Paul says in Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocri- sy—by abhorring what is evil, and clinging to what is good.” Other translations say, “Let love be genuine.” Point being, there is a type of love that is not genuine; it is pretend. What kind is that? The kind which does not abhor evil and cling to that which is good. “God is love” and the definition of it (1 Jn. 4:8). “Love is neither self-exis- tent nor self-defined. God alone is self-existent and all true love comes from Him and is determined by Him” (Tom Ascol, Founders Min- istries). God has not given mankind the authority to re- define love, marriage, male, female, etc. To define those terms in a way contrary to what God has declared is to call Him a liar, abhor what is good, cling to what is evil, and thus love hypo- critically. The greatest display of love ever observed on planet earth was seen in the person of Jesus Christ. The one who is love (God), became man. And what do we see in His life? We see a man who loved perfectly. How was that love demon- strated? Speaking truth. The one that was truth, spoke truth. Men hated Him for it. So much so, that they murdered Him by nailing Him to a cross. For doing what? Loving people with a genuine love. He loved them enough to tell them the truth. He loved sinners to the extent that He sacri- ficed Himself for them. His disciples are called to do the same. The most loving thing any Christian can do during Pride Month, is to speak the truth in love. “Let love be without hypocri- sy—by abhorring what is evil, and clinging to what is good” (Rom. 12:9). When someone tries to convince you that you are unloving because you will not participate in what God says is evil, take the opportunity to explain to them what genuine love is. This will mean defining and condemning sin as God does. This will mean agree- ing with Paul when he says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not in- herit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homo- sexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). But do not stop there. Christians must also share the good news of the gos- pel, for the forgiveness of Whopper! Mike Procter holds up a fish his grandson caught during the fishing derby at Cutsforth Park. Duke Baker caught the biggest fish of the day. - Contributed photo. all those sins can be found in Jesus Christ. Our culture has determined to define love in terms of sex. God defines love in terms of sacrifice, “But God demon- strates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Love is not love. God is love. God is truth. And God commands you to genuinely love your neigh- bor by speaking truth. It is high time for Christians to come out of the closet and “let [their] love be without hypocrisy” (Rom. 12:9a). Eric Schonbachler Pastor, Lexington Re- formed Baptist Church Lexington, OR Unethical behavior is deeply concerning Dear Editor, I am writing to bring attention to a matter of significant concern regard- ing the recent violation admitted by Greg Sweek, and to express my deep concern about the unethical behavior exhibited by both Sweek and the Columbia Enterprise Zones. The recent revelation of Greg Sweek’s admitted vio- lation in statement earnings and income reporting is deeply troubling. As a com- munity member, I believe it is imperative that we hold our elected officials and or- ganizations accountable for their actions, particularly when they involve uneth- ical behavior. This viola- tion calls into question the integrity and transparency of the Columbia Enterprise Zones, an organization that Spiritually Speaking should be promoting ethical practices. It is essential that such behavior is thoroughly ex- amined and addressed. This matter raises serious con- cerns about the organiza- tion’s practices as a whole. The public deserves an explanation, and corrective action must be taken to ensure that such unethical behavior does not continue. I urge our community leaders, as well as rele- vant regulatory bodies, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into these matters. It is crucial that we have a system in place that promotes ethical con- duct, transparency, and fairness, particularly in organizations that are meant to benefit our community. This investigation should not only focus on the vio- lation committed by Greg Sweek but also review the practices and operations of the Columbia Enterprise Zones. I believe that our com- munity deserves better, and it is our responsibility as concerned citizens to demand accountability and strive for a more ethical and transparent society. By addressing and rectifying these issues, we can rebuild trust in our local institutions and ensure a more just and equitable future. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope that the Gazette-Times will continue to provide a platform for community members to raise their con- cerns and hold our leaders accountable. Sincerely, Jonathan Tallman Boardman, OR Doherty Clan -Continued from PAGE TWO rived for the second time ine, and shortly after their meeting, Sarah Doherty and Charles Cunningham were married. With Sarah Doherty Cunningham’s and Cath- erine Nelson’s encour- agement, Catherine Grant Doherty gathered her three remaining children and towed them off to Ore- gon. Soon, after Sarah’s marriage, Catherine Grant Doherty and James, Barney and Mary Doherty arrived at the Nelson’s on Butter Creek. Sadly, in February 1885, Sarah passed away in childbirth. James and Barney quickly signed on to work for Cunningham’s outfit and continued to do so until 1887, when they purchased a ranch and ran their own sheep for a few years. In the early 1890s, Catherine Grant Doherty, James and Barney bought a place and moved to Blackhorse Can- yon in Morrow County. Catherine was, by that time, considered to be the family matriarch by virtually all. Another Catherine Doherty, the oldest child of Big Paddy Doherty of Bal- lylosky, one of 11 children and great-granddaughter of John of the Isle of Doagh, struck out for Oregon. This Catherine, however, went to the door of Catherine Doherty Mullaly in Pend- leton. Catherine Mullaly is another of these giant Doherty women. She was the daughter of Philip Doherty and granddaughter of John of the Isle of Doagh. This Catherine had actually come first to California to help Catherine Doherty Nelson run a boarding- house. She returned once to Ireland, and then came back. Catherine Mullaly ar- in 1879 and ran a boarding house in California, after which she came to Uma- tilla County. She met and married John Mullaly in 1894. Mullaly was a former Indian fighter who farmed on Butter Creek. He moved to Pendleton after the Ban- nock war in 1878. There are some samples of strong Doherty women: Catherine Doherty Nel- son; Sarah Doherty Cun- ningham; Catherine Grant Doherty; and Catherine Doherty Mullaly. It seems if you are wondering about a name for an expected child, you might do worse than to consider the name “Catherine.” A gathering of the Doherty Clan in Pendle- ton June 30 to July 2 will celebrate these women and dozens of other Dohertys who pioneered here. The event includes bus tours of Vinson-Gurdane; Black- horse-upper Sandhollow; and the Sands. All those interested in Doherty and Eastern Oregon settlement history are invited to call 303-350- 8226 or visit http://www. dohertyreunion2023.com for information. Father Thankachan Joseph St. Patrick Catholic Church Heppner Go and proclaim the Good News of Christ This coming Sunday we are going to reflect on Jesus’s selecting of His close associates to be with Him and to be sent out to proclaim the good news. The first reading of the day is from the Old Testament book of Exodus (19:2-6), comforting words of the Lord: “You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle wings and I brought you here to myself. Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine.” He enters into a covenantal relationship with His chosen people, asking them to be faithful and obedient. God is telling them to adhere to His voice and mold their lives accordingly. He is constantly reminding the people of Israel to see how He brought them out from the land of Egypt and led them to the Promised Land and made their lives easy and comfortable instead of full of agony and suffering in Egypt. We need to keep on calling on Him in times of joys and sorrows. He is always close enough to us to reach out to us. This week’s Gospel passage is from Matthew (9:36-10:8). Chapter 10 is a very special and important teaching of Jesus that is addressed by Matthew the Evan- gelist. Jesus is admonishing His followers, and if we are members of the kingdom of heaven, we need to learn how and to strive to recruit members to His kingdom. We notice something important in the person of Christ. We can say it is the summary of Jesus’s public ministry. He is moved with empathy and compassion for the universe at large. Matthew describes it as “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity….” He felt empathy towards the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd. We know from this ex- pression what Christ meant by those words—the people had nobody to lead or guide them to their destination. So, Jesus appoints the 12 disciples as apostles to lead and guide His flock. The Gospel reports that Jesus commissions 12 disciples, and many scholars believe that the 12 disciples symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel. It desig- nates, therefore, continuity between Israel and the Church. Matthew lists the names of the 12 disciples, as do Mark and Luke. Matthew also uses the word apos- tle when referring to the Twelve. The word apostle would mean “one who is sent.” In this context, Mat- thew is calling attention to the mission that the 12 disciples are being given. They are sent by Jesus to proclaim the kingdom of heaven in word and deed. There is a slight difference between the Evan- gelists of Matthew and Mark. Mark’s explains that before sending them out, Jesus summoned the 12 to be with Him and learn from Him all that He acquired from the Heavenly Father. Like any electronic gadget plugged into a power plug-in gets charged, similarly, Jesus calls His close associates to be with Him for the rest of the final three years to get to know and do all that Christ has done for His suffering contemporaries. As Jesus sends His disciples to continue His work and mission, so, too, the Church is sent by Jesus. The Church is His continuing presence on earth. Every member of the Church is sent by Jesus to contribute to this mission. In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares His mission to proclaim the kingdom of heaven with His disciples. The signs of the kingdom’s presence consist of the work that Jesus has already been doing: those physically ill are cured, lepers are cleansed, demons are driven out, and the dead are raised to life. The disciples are sent to continue doing the work that Jesus has begun. This is a moment of transition in Matthew’s Gospel. The focus has shifted from the ministry of Jesus to the work of the community that He has inaugurated. More than any other Gospel, Matthew’s Gospel elaborates on the work of the Church, which is to continue after Jesus’s death and resurrection. We are members of this large community: the Church. It is our prime duty and responsibility to proclaim the Word of God to our fellow beings through our kind gestures and deeds. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Please join us at Cutsforth park Sunday June 18th at 1PM for the annual Elks Father's Day picnic. Some of the events scheduled are; Corn hole - Kids treasure hunt, egg toss & water Balloons The Annual Kenny Turner Memorial Horseshoe Tournament Beverages, Hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided. Side dishes are welcomed. Open to all Elks members and their families. HEPPNER ELKS 358 "WHERE FRIENDS MEET" 541-676-9181 142 N MAIN ST
