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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2025)
SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 16, 2025 Messages of Easter hope from local pastors Carried Along Acts 27:14-15, “But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Eu- raquilo; and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be carried along.” This is a snippet of the journey Luke records about Paul’s journey to Rome where he was to stand trial before Caesar. During that voyage, Paul and all those upon that ship encountered a storm. That tempest raged to the point of forcing the crew to stop fighting the storm, and instead be at the mercy of it, to let them- selves “be carried along.” Life in this fallen world has a knack for throwing us into storms such as these; to where we have not the wisdom, nor the strength, to fight it. We get thrown about, tossed to and fro, and battered by the harsh and unforgiving waves of this life—not in control, but rather, “carried along.” It may even get to the point where it seems as if all hope is lost and death is imminent. Such was the case for Paul and his companions. But there was something the crew did that saved their lives. Acts 27:17 tells us, “…they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship.” The “supporting ca- bles,” were literally called “helps.” They were cables that were passed around the ship’s hull to hold it together while it was be- ing ravished by merciless waves. The “helps” would literally hold the structure together. Without them, the ship would be ripped apart, and all would be lost. What is interesting about this word translated “supporting cables” in Acts, is that it is the same word translated as “helps” in Heb. 2:18 and 4:16. Con- sider how it is used in those two places. Heb. 2:18, “For since He Himself [speaking of Jesus] was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to help [there is that same word in the Greek] those who are tempted.” Heb. 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help [there it is again] in time of need.” I think it no accident the Holy Spirit inspired the author of Hebrews and Luke to use the same word in these three places. As “supporting cables” hold ships together in storms, so does Christ become the “help” to the Christian to hold him together during the storms of life. Jesus wraps Himself around us, so to speak, so that we might be saved in the most severe trials of life. But all this is possible because of what He “suf- fered” (Heb. 2:18). Jesus lived the perfect life, so that He might become the substitute for His people. Instead of them suffering the wrath of God, He did it in their place. Then He conquered death and rose the third day. He lived, died and rose again. And all those who turn from sin and place their faith in Him will also conquer death one day. How? Because He clothes them with His perfectly righteous life. He wraps them up in Himself. No longer can the wrath of God harm them. They become changed from those who have the bull’s eye of God’s righteous indignation on their backs, to targets of His love and mercy. Though there are se- vere storms in this life, none compare to what is on the horizon. Death awaits us all. The only way to pass through that storm unscathed is to have the “supporting cables” (“helps”) of Christ holding you together. Without Him, you will be torn apart as wave after wave of God’s wrath is brought against you. The choice is to be “carried along” by Christ or the wrath of God in hell. Choose Christ. Turn from sin and trust in Him, for He is your only true “help” in this life and the next. Eric Schonbachler Pastor, Lexington Re- formed Baptist Church www.lexrefbc.org Worship service: 10:45 a.m., 210 Water St., Lex- ington. ‘Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?’ It will be Easter this Sunday, a day celebrated by many as a welcoming of Spring, anticipated through long, cold winter months. But this day carries a joy infinitely beyond a season. It is Resurrection Day, the most joyful day of the year because it is the day that Jesus walked out of the tomb, overcoming death! We can celebrate this most wonderful day be- cause we see the harsh reality of the Good Friday before, the day that Jesus was nailed to a cross. More than 600 years before, the prophet Isaiah told us about this day: “Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed His powerful arm? My Servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, noth- ing to attract us to Him. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deep- est grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weak- nesses He carried, it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God. But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole” (Isaiah 53:1-5 NLT). Because we understand that a love beyond our un- derstanding compelled Je- sus to die in such a way for us, we can celebrate His victory over death with an infinite joy! This is the rebirth that is Easter – Res- urrection Day! God, “in His great mercy… has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” (I Peter 1:3 NIV) Come celebrate this love with us! Pastor Joann Dickson Hopeful Saints Min- istry Corner of Gale and Church St., 541-676-9970 Maundy Thursday 6 p.m.; Good Friday 6 p.m.; Son Rise Community Service 7 a.m. at the fair- grounds; Sunday Easter Service at Hopeful Saints And so, he came and 10 a.m. lived as one of the original inhabitants of the garden. He loved. He never did wrong to anyone or any- thing. And because of that, Are you one of those he should not have died. people who enjoy watching Why? Because he alone the previews before a mov- did not deserve death, but ie? Or, are you squirming in yet he chose death. And by your seat, trying to decide if choosing to die when he did you have enough time to go not have to die, his death grab a Coke and a bucket of was offered as a substitute butter-laden popcorn before death for anyone who was the movie you came to see willing to receive it as such. starts? And so he died. Previews are just that; But the story does not a preview of something yet end there, and this is where to come. Properly called the significance of the pre- trailers, these five-minute view of Lazarus’ death montages of clips give us comes into focus. When just a taste of what the full- Jesus raised Lazarus from length movie will be like, in the dead, that was just the the hopes we will return to foreshadowing of the ul- see their film. timate resurrection from I love movies. I love the dead. Because you see, going to the movies. There Jesus did not just die, he is nothing like the experi- came back from the dead ence of smelling the pop- three days later. corn and seeing the lights No one had ever raised darken as the screen pops themselves from the dead, and the story unfolds. and no one has ever done it As exciting as that may since. Jesus rose from the be, there is an even greater dead. It is a fact of history. story you must see. That Many people testified about story actually had a preview it. Hundreds of witnesses as well. A real-life trailer saw Jesus alive again. Some that began in black and of them were even willing white before shifting into to die to tell other people Technicolor. about it. Allow me to briefly What about you? Have tell you this story as you sit you seen the movie? Do back in your comfy velvet you believe it is true? Or are chair and adhere your shoes you stuck in the previews, to the sticky soda-stained watching the trailer, want- floor beneath you. ing more? But first, the preview. Come worship with us There was a man named on Easter morning at 10 L a z a r u s . J e s u s l o v e d a.m.! Lazarus. In fact, Jesus Tripp Finch was very close to Lazarus’ Pastor, Willow Creek whole family. But Lazarus Baptist Church got sick. He was so sick 560 Minor Street, Hep- that his sisters went to get pner, Jesus for help. But Jesus Also, streaming live at: delayed in coming to see https://www.facebook.com/ Lazarus, and Lazarus died. wcbcheppner & https:// Lazarus’ sisters were pretty www.youtube.com/@WC- upset with Jesus about this BCHeppner. and told him as much. The moment became so emo- Easter and the tional that Jesus, overcome Real Jesus: Hope with sorrow over the reality of death, wept. With tears Is Alive—and We steaking down his face, Need Each Other Jesus ordered others there to open Lazarus’ tomb. to Live It Out When the stone was rolled Let’s be real: the world away, Jesus shouted into the feels heavy. tomb, “Lazarus, come out!” Division is every- And at once, a man, once where—on our news feeds, dead, came walking from in our families, even inside the grave. our own hearts. War, heart- That’s the preview. The break, anger and anxiety taste of the real story. The have become part of the real story is not just a story daily background noise. about a regular guy, like People are exhausted, over- Lazarus, coming back to whelmed and silently won- life at the behest of Jesus. dering, “Is this all there The real story began in is?” a garden. A perfect place But it doesn’t have to named Eden, without dan- stay this way. ger or disease or death. Two Since the time of Jesus, people lived in this garden, there has always been an- made their home in this other path - a better one. A garden, and it was good. life full of purpose, peace, But something hap- and actual hope. And Eas- pened, something terrible. ter reminds us why that’s The man and woman in the possible: the tomb is empty. perfect garden walked away Jesus is alive. Hope is alive. from it all and chose a dif- At the Ione Community ferent life. They abandoned Church, we’re launching the garden because they a four-week sermon se- falsely believed they had a ries about Resurrecting better offer elsewhere than Hope. It’s all about how in the place the garden own- the resurrection of Jesus er had freely given them. So Christ still speaks directly they abandoned him and all into our struggles today. he had given them. For generations, followers For many, many, many of Jesus have faced grief, years they regretted their loss and injustice—and still choice. They and their de- held onto joy. Why? Be- scendants suffered the con- cause resurrection changes sequences of that choice everything. for generations. Theft In our darkest days, it happened. War happened. gives us light. Disease happened. Death In overwhelming happened. discouragement, it gives But the garden owner us faith. saw, and he was filled with In the midst of devas- great compassion. And so, tating loss, it gives us joy. he began his merciful plan In times of deep divi- to restore it all back to the sion, it offers something way it should be. To get powerful: unity. back to the beauty of the That kind of hope beginning, death had to doesn’t come from more be dealt with forever. And money, better habits or a the only way to face death really good self-help book. would be to die himself. And it definitely doesn’t The Feature Film come from the version of Jesus found in Cultural Christianity—where Jesus is more of a cosmic good luck charm than a risen Savior. You know that ver- sion—He’s “the big man upstairs,” the one who’s good for a quote here or there or a song at a funeral. A Jesus who’s admired but not followed. A Jesus who “takes the wheel” only when we’re skidding on ice. He’s sentimental, but He’s not transformative. And honestly, that Jesus can’t help us. But the real Jesus—the one who walked out of the tomb and invites us to fol- low Him? He can transform everything. Galatians 5 paints the contrast. We see what hap- pens when we try to run life on our own: hatred, division, jealousy, selfish- ness, fits of rage (sound like your last group text or post on Facebook?). But when we walk with the Spirit of God, something beautiful begins to grow: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gen- tleness and self-control. Here’s the thing—we weren’t meant to walk this road alone. That’s why it matters to show up. To gather. To worship. To grow. Whether it’s at the Ione Community Church or another local church, we need each other. Life by the Spirit is deeply personal—but it’s never meant to be private. Church is more than a building or a Sunday thing. It’s a group of real people learning to live with real hope, together. It’s where we remember who Jesus really is—and who He’s calling us to be. So this Easter, don’t just admire Jesus from a distance. Don’t settle for empty faith or cultural com- fort. Come meet the risen Christ. Come be part of a community where hope is alive—and growing. Because hope spreads faster when we walk in it together. Jeff Clabaugh Minister, Ione Commu- nity Church www.ionecommunity- church.org Peace be with You! After six weeks of spiritual renewal, we have reached the desired goal of Easter. I wish you all a “Happy Feast of Easter!” E a s t e r ’s t h e m e i s “Peace” (shalom), remind- ing us that peace isn’t some- thing we find on the outside; rather it is a blessing we can experience on the in- side. What we notice in all the post-resurrection scenes is that the first words when Jesus appears to His dis- ciples are “peace be with you”…Something we and the world are looking for and longing to have. As I was preparing my Easter message, something from the Bible struck me in- tensely from the Gospel of John, an apt message for the occasion: “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you believe now? The time is coming and is already here when all of you will be scattered, each of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone. But I am not really alone, because the father is with me. I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” (John 16:31-33). Easter reminds us that peace is available to us at any time, even in the most difficult of circumstances, because of Christ and His sacrifices made for each of us. We need to shout, “Alleluia, God is with us!” Much before His death, just as a movie director knows what is going to happen or how things should happen in the next scene, Jesus was able to predict what was going to take place after His death: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The evening vigil ser- vice has seven readings from the Old Testament. All of them describe the love of His fidelity to humanity: The creation of the world out of nothingness, and then the creation of human beings put in control of the whole world. Through disobedience and sin, hu- mans’ loss of friendship with God, but His not leav- ing mankind like that. How God protects His chosen people of Israel through various experiences, from the slavery in Egypt and His leading them through the mighty waters of the Red Sea. But man kept on ignoring God and continued the path of sin. In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, (6:3-11), Paul reminds us of an important element: We who were bap- tized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Through these six weeks of Lenten observances, we were preparing ourselves to be crucified with Christ so that our sinful bodies might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. Paul’s epistle constantly reminds each one of us that we should not fall into sinful situations but keep ourselves pure and holy. The Gospel of the day is from Luke (24:1-12). The Evangelist describes the Risen Lord’s encounter with one of His beloved fol- lowers, Mary Magdalene, and a few other women. Mary Magdalene loved Him, since He freed her from the clutches of sin. That is why, even after His death, these women contin- ued to show their fidelity and love towards the Lord. We need to examine our own consciences occasion- ally and realize what the Lord has done for you and me every day in our lives. Are we grateful to Him for all we receive daily from Him? Like Mary of Mag- dala, do we love Him with our whole hearts and do we look for Him daily in our troubled moments? The risen Lord also mentions, “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid” (John 14:27). This Easter season reminds us all to come closer to the Lord, who is caring for us, who continues to protect us from all threatening events. The Lord invites everyone to come closer to Him and trust Him more. Let the words of Christ resonate in our minds and hearts. I think that is the real message of Easter: “Be brave, I have conquered the world.” If you remain in Him and His words remain in you, surely we can con- quer with our faith anything and everything that chal- lenges us every day. The gift of peace is available to us because Christ is the Prince of Peace. Jesus Christ is the light that dis- pels darkness and ushers lasting peace and joy. Father Thankachan Joseph
