Oregon

When Freedom Feels Like a Void

I read this article yesterday. It’s sad, really.

Years ago, I was a Sunday school teacher. Attended church every week. Read the King James Bible for fun. Believed as much as I could, as sincerely as I could.

Then I moved to Portland, an unchurched city in one of the nation’s least religious states, and joined the ranks of people who don’t regularly attend services and barely know where to start. I don’t miss it much…

Suddenly, the blessed freedom of living in an unchurched city feels more like a void.Read it all

Mennonite Businesses in Madras

I don’t know how many Mennonite-run businesses have “set up shop” in Madras, Oregon. At least five, I suspect. Be that as it may, this post is about two owned by preachers.

First, because it’s older, is Eagle Bakery. I’ve been to their store in town…and enjoyed the mighty fine eating and atmosphere. Rob may be a conservative Mennonite but I notice in the archives of the local paper that he and his wife Faye have helped an Adventist school. And despite being non-resistant, they’ve also helped in a nice project for some war veterans. I heartily commend them for their generous spirit.

Then there’s the more-recently launched bent-and-dent store, Miller’s Discount Groceries. I’ve never been in their store but I’m looking forward to doing so the next time I’m in town. (I like that kind of store.)

Next time you’re in Madras, how about you do me a favor and stop by both places? You could even tell them, “Mark Roth said to give you his greetings.” I would like that very much. And they might as well. In fact, you might, too. 🙂

If you go to the grocery store (map) first, you’ll be within four blocks from the bakery. (I suspect it works out to the same distance the other way around also.)

Shed My Beliefs?

Yesterday I read this in a story about the trial of the Woodburn bombers:

When they entered deliberations for the death penalty, jurors knew they had to shed any personal or religious beliefs about possible redemption and follow the judge’s instructions and the legal process that requires answering four questions affirmatively to deliver the death penalty, including the future danger of a defendant.

And there is a secondary reason why I could not serve on a jury.

I do not want “to shed any personal or religious beliefs” — not about possible redemption, not about right and wrong, not about justice, not about returning good for evil.

Asking vs Demanding

Which will get you farther in life?

The American Center for Law and Justice has sent a letter to Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., demanding that it rehire Barry Sommer and reinstate his course “What is Islam?” or face legal action.

The noncredit course was cleared by LCC officials and had been posted for registration on Dec. 1. Using the Quran as one of its textbooks, the course was designed to help students better understand the Islamic doctrine so they could be better informed to grasp the issues in news on Islam, Muslims and the Middle East.

But shortly after Sommer appeared on a local news broadcast promoting the course, CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations e-mailed LCC and asked for the course to be cut. The group questioned Sommer’s qualifications to teach the course, saying he is president of the local chapter of Act! for America, which it has accused of being anti-Islamic.

Source: Legal Group Demands Community College Reinstate Canceled Islam Class

ACLJ “demanded” (I count four uses of the term or derivatives in the entire piece).

CAIR “asked.”

Lesson: You get farther by asking than by demanding.

Disclaimer: The lesson has plenty of exceptions and exemptions.

Fall Apples, Roadside

Yesterday morning, early, I rolled the garbage can out to the side of the road.

And decided to take a few early-morning, sun-rising fall photos. Of the maple trees. And the fog.

Then I looked west down the road.

And saw the fallen apples.

Fall apples near Hubbard, Oregon
outside the fog line
Fallen apples -- Hubbard
casting shadows near the bridge
blurred beauty
on Whiskey Hill Road’s shoulder
going to waste
fall apples, wasting away

I’m thankful I could see those apples at that time of day in that kind of lighting with that kind of background.

The Grocery Depot

The Grocery Depot picture
The Grocery Depot — Albany, Oregon

We shopped there yesterday afternoon. We are thankful for the good deals we got there.

Here’s a little blurb from their Web site, which I found just this morning:

We are a growing business that is here to serve the community by providing the quality grocery items your family needs at prices that won’t break your bank account. When you shop at The Grocery Depot, you will find the best deals around, friendly service and prices that you can afford.

We hope they eventually grow a third store…and put it in Woodburn or Molalla.

We would be thrilled to shop there.

In fact, we would even consider working there. Hey, maybe we could manage it! 😯

For now, I’m offering to do some needed proofreading on their Web site. 😉

If you think any of the above are good ideas, go to their site and let them know. 🙄

Or you could tell them in person the next time you shop at their Lebanon or Albany stores. 😆 For sure, tell them “Hi!” from Mark Roth. Thanks.

Above all, love God!