C4 - THE JOURNAL, Thursday, February 16, 2012
Seniors
Stay Moving and Keep Warm at Senior Center
The City of Stillwater
Senior Activity Center offers
a variety of fun activities for
seniors age 50 and over. A
free income tax service is
being provided by AARP
trained representatives. This
Service is Monday through
Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:
00 p.m. This service will
run through April 17 'h. No
appointment is needed.
Bring your last year's tax
return and all income infor-
mation. Make a note coming
next month on March 12 th
the popular defensive driv-
ing class will be held from
9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Call
or come by to sign up now.
Center hours are: Monday
through Friday, 9:30 am
to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday,
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for
music night. The facility is
closed on weekends. Stop
by 1015 E. 12thor call 747-
8080 for more information
and make sure to pick up a
February calendar of events.
**Reminder if the Stillwater
Public Schools are closed,
the Senior Activity Center
is closed.
Monday, February 20 -
Women's pool time starts at
9:30 a.m. They practice their
pool shots and enjoy some
games of friendly competi-
tion. Come and share the fun
with them. Pool sticks are
available for use. A paint-
ing class also takes place
at the same time. Bring
your painting supplies and
get creative with the group.
Also, the tax aid preparers
will be busy from 9:30 to
12 noon. In the afternoon at
1:00 p.m. games of; rubber
bridge, canasta, dominoes,
pool, and Mexican train
dominoes, are played.
Tuesday, February 21
- Get your body moving
with a free Sirn Be Fit
exercise class that is offered
at 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday
and Thursday. This class is
a 45-minute workout where
chairs are provided for each
person. Some exercises are
done while sitting and some
are done while standing by
your chair. Bouncing balls,
hand weights, and stretch
bands are incorporated in to
the exercises for an exten-
sive workout. Wii games
and ping pong are always
available for a fun time,
too. The free tax help con-
tinues from 9:30 a.m. to 12:
00 noon. Afternoon activi-
ties include games such as;
duplicate bridge, Mexican
Train dominoeS, canasta,
pitch, Skipbo, puzzle solv-
ing, snooker, pool and domi-
noes. A representative from
Veteran's Affairs comes in
on Tuesdays, from 1:00-3:00
p.m. to help with any ques-
tions or paperwork you may
have pertaining to veteran's
assistance. Hearing Checks
will be performed at lpm
by Integrity Hearing Aid
Center.
Wednesday, February 22
- The pool sticks come out
again as the women circle
the tables beginning at 9:
30 a.m. Also, the AARP
tax preparers will be here
during the morning. Wii
interactive games and ping
pong are also available for
participation. Afternoon
games that usually begin
at 1:00 p.m. include;
canasta, dominoes, pool,
Texas Hold'em, pitch, and
puzzle solving. The movie,
"The Greening of Whitney
Brown", will be shown at 2:
00 p.m.
Thursday, February 23
- The free Sit'n Be Fit
exercise class meets again
at 9:30 a.m. Along with the
income tax aid group. After-
wards, Wii Fit is available
to use. This is an interactive
game system that challenges
and can help improve your
balance. At l:00 p.m. you
can join in games of canasta,
dominoes, social bridge,
pitch, pool, snooker, and
puzzle solving. Also at 1:
00p.m. a women's pool
tournament will be held.
Come check your skills at
pool. At 2:00 p.m. bingo is
called. Thursday evenings
the Center's doors reopen at
5:30 p.m. for Music Night.
The musicians tune up their
instruments and start some
good o1' country tunes at 6:
00 p.m.
Friday, February 24
- Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
and the women start racking
up the pool balls. The paint-
ing class participants get Out
their brushes and paints and
discuss their ideas. There
is exercise equipment, Wii
games, and a ping pong table
all available for use, too. In
the afternoon, games are
played that include: canasta,
pool, snooker, pitch, Texas
Hold'em, dominoes, and a
puzzle is out waiting for
someone to find the miss-
ing pieces.
Social bridge winners:
Joanne Barrick, 1 't, and
Pauline Poe, 2 nd. Duplicate
bridge winning partners
were: Terry Miller and
Camille Johnston, lst;
Norma Burk and Treca
Baer, 2nd.
For more information, call
City of Stillwater Senior
Activity Center, 747-8080.
CHURCH
continued from page C3
that date, it would force Jewish students and fans to make a
difficult choice. They said it wasn't fair, and they petitioned
school authorities to change the date for the game. Their
request was denied. In Texas, football is King ..
The Bible is full of stories about faithful servants of God
who made some astoundingly difficult choices at their own
peril. Daniel, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon and
of course, Jesus, come to mind. Life is easy when we go
along with popular ideas and decide to follow the crowd
down the spacious worldly road to hell, but it takes great
faith and courage to stay close to Jesus and have to make
unpopular, even dangerous, decisions that anger others as
we walk up that narrow trail that leads to heaven.
Jesus told us what to expect if we decide to follow him. In
John 15:18-20, Jesus tells his disciplesthat by going against
worldly thinking, they will be persecuted by those of the
world, and in Matthew 10:34, he warns them that, if they
choose to follow him, their own family members and friends
can be expected to view them as enemies.
Back to my first question, one of the hardest choices I've
ever made might have been about who to marry. When I
was twenty years old, I arrogantly thought any of the half
dozen girls I had narrowed my search down to would agree
to the proposition. God is good, and he led me to the most
amazingly best choice, and she said, "Yes." That's what God
promises to do if we always choose to follow him.
We invite you t o join us on Lover's Lane as we try to
learn how to make the right choices and please our Heav-
enly Father.
Christian Church of Perkins
By Charles Wall
Sunday, our minister David Pock, brought a message, "That
You May Believe - Part 14" from John 10.
Christ is our Good Shepherd; he is our Senior Pastor.
' He fulfills the Old Testament teaching that the Lord is our
Shepherd as found is Psalm 23. That psalm was composed
by David who as a youth was a shepherd, but later he became
King of Israel.
The people of God make up the flock of the Good Shep-
herd. Christ is the gate for the sheep and the protector off
the sheep. He knows his sheep and his sheep know him.
An easy choice.
He laid down his life for the sheep. Three days later he took
his life up again.
The Good Shepherd is the provider for the sheep. He will
come back for them and take them to a place where there
will be no sickness, no weariness, and no death. Those who
accept the invitation of the Good Shepherd will begin the
greatest adventure - an adventure that will last forever.
We are located at 121 E Stumbo in Perkins. 405-547-2004
christianchurchperkins@yahoo.com Sunday School 9:45
a.m. Worship 10:45 a.m. Bible Study 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Nursery available. Visitors welcome, members expected.
Mehan Union Church
Love, what does that mean to you? Is it that you have
someone to love, that someone loves you, or being able to
love all those around and in your world near or far, good
or bad? God is love - John 3:16 - He says be mine, I will
show you true love. Ask a child what love is. We can be
"Victorious" With God's love.
Steve thanks for the great new song. Bill German celebrat-
ing 75 years. Verlin and Donna Curtis had a anniversary
on Valentines Day. Wish they could be here - you are
loved by us.
Next Sunday evening, Feb. 19, from 4:30-6:30 in Ripley
we are having a "Blessing Banquet" in the stone building on
Main Street for all who can come. We will have a free meal
and be giving away coats, blankets, warm socks to all who
attend. We will have prayer teams, singing, praises reports,
where ever the Spirit leads. So come into His presence in
Ripley and be blessed.
For more information about this and all other activities of
Mehan Union Church come by 8300 E. 68th or call 743-
2097.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
By Fr. Ken Harder
The ministry of Jesus (preaching and exorcising), inau-
gurated in last week's passage, Of the Gospel of Mark,
continues today.
Jesus encounters a leper. A leper was the most miserable
of outcasts. He is shunned from the community. He has no
portion anymore among the people of God; his own identity
simply becomes that of a leper. Even now, we use the term
leper to indicate a person is a hapless outcast. As a matter of
accuracy, leprosy had a much wider connotation in Jesus'
time than ours. In our times, leprosy refers to a specific ail-
ment (Hansen's disease). In ancient times, leprosy was more
of a generic word referring to any disease of the skin that
cause blemishes that would ooze, slough off etc. The word
leprosy is derived from the Greek verb leptein, which means
'to peel off'. Perhaps common eczema, from which I suffer
from time to time, would make a person a leper.
So a leper comes to Jesus. A leper was supposed to keep his
distance but he showed courage in coming to Jesus. Kneeling
before Jesus, he begs for a cure, starting with the words, 'If
you wish... ' The cleansing from a leprous condition was
possible only through the divine will. By acknowledging
that by his own will he can cure, the leper recognizes divine
power in Christ. It is because of his recognition of the divine
An Interview With Jesus
In a debate between presidential candidates who want to lead
this country, Newt Gingrich was asked what we should do
about our enemies. He answered with this quote from Andrew
Jackson. 'Kill them!'.
He received thunderous applause from those in the audience
of what some would call a "Christian Nation."
At the risk of impious impertinence, let's envision an inter-
view with the King of the only Christian Nation and see how
he would answer some related questions. Remember prophets
predicted that he would be The Prince of Peace, and his loyal
subjects would "Beat their swords into plow shares and their
spears into pruning hooks and not engage in earthly wars
anymore. (Isaiah 9: 1-7)
Question: Jesus, what should we do about our enemies?
Jesus: "You have heard it said that you should love your
neighbors and hate our enemies, but I tell you to love your
enemies and bless those who hate and curse you. Treat them
well and pray for those who despitefully use you so that you
may be children of your Father in heaven." Q: WOW! That's
not going to be easy. Shouldn't your followers be allowed to
defend themselves when they are attacked by evil people?
Jesus: "You don't know what kind of spirit my disciples have.
I did not come to kill people, but to save them. You have heard
it said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth', but I tell you
not to resist evil people, and if someone punches you on your
right cheek, let him hit you on the other side also. If anyone
does not have my spirit in him, he does not belong to me."
Q: But, one time you told your disciples to get some swords.
What were they to do with them? Jesus: "I used them to teach
a lesson. When soldiers came to arrest me in the garden, and
Peter drew his sword to defend me, I told him to put it up and
that those who use swords will be killed by swords." (Matthew
5: 39-45; Luke 9: 55-56; Matthew 2652)
let's ask two of Jesus' evangelists about this. Q. Paul, how
do you teach Christians to respond to evil people? Paul: "Bless
those who are druel to you. Do not pay them back in kind or
try to avenge yourself." (Romans 12: 14-17) Q: Peter, how
about weighing in on this subject. Peter: "Jesus left us an
example to follow, so to be pleasing to God, we must endure
unjust pain and suffering as he did even if we are doing what
is right." (I Peter 2:19-21) Q: That's really a tall order. Back to
you, Paul. What should Jesus' disciples do when their country
goes to war? Shouldn't they do their patriotic duty and go
help in the fight? Paul: "That is the way some people think,
but although Christians live as people in the world, they do
not engage in worldly wars or fight with man made weapons.
They use powerful spiritual weapons and fight spiritual wars
against rulers of d.arkness and spiritual wickedness. We pres-
ent ourselves as living sacrifices to GOd and do not conform
to worldly standards." (II Corinthians 10:3-4 & Ephesians 6:
11-12 &Romans 12: 1-2)
Until Constantine began to expand his empire under a flag
bearing across, early Christians had no trouble understanding
what Jesus taught on this subject, and they suffered as aliens
and pilgrims in a strange land. (I Peter 2:11)
When Mahatma-Gandhi, another non-violence advocate,
was asked about the feasibility of sending several "Chris-
tian" missionaries to India, he said, "Just send us one REAL
Christian."
What do you think would happen if, instead of retaliating
against our enemies and trying to kill all of them, we just
endured their attacks and sent them whatever humanitarian
aid they needed to live better more pleasant lives? Well... it's
just a thought.
present in the ordinary that this leper has a courage born of
faith that brings him to Jesus and risk stoning by doing so.
How dare he, a leper approach a clean person. Jesus is moved
deeply. He is not just moved by pity but by the faith of this
man, so he wills the man to be cured. The man's faith is seen
in his courage to approach Jesus. Because Jesus came not
to abolish but to fulfill the law, he tells the man to do what
Moses prescribed (see the first reading). Finally, Jesus.orders
him to remain quiet about the affair. In many of his works
with people in this gospel, Jesus orders people to remain
quiet about the marvels they have witnessed from Jesus.
This is one area were Jesus is totally unsuccessful. Everyone
he tells to be quiet does the opposite. Some people are quite
enthusiastic about proclaiming Jesus' work. Perhaps Jesus
wanted to keep things quiet until after his death and resur-
rection. He didn't want people to misunderstand what his
mission was really about.
What we can take from this is that the works of Jesus
simply cannot remain in the dark. When we witness the
work of Christ in our lives (or those around us), we can't
help but be 'enthused', which literally means to have GOd
within you. All of us have those blemishes, not of the skin but
the spirit that, like a leper, cause us separation from others.
Our sins and our failures can cause us, like a leper, to lose
our sense of identity. Just as the leper could approach Jesus
through faith, so it is with us. Like the leper, we appeal to
the love of God to make us whole and he does so, in a far
greater way than the physical healing the leper received.
Our faith gives us courage to approach what we know we
don't deserve. Having received the great gift of faith and the
mighty works that go with it in our lives, we can't help but
proclaim it to others.
The Rehab Center
at Stillwater Medical Center
Caring for loved ones who have suffered from
strokes, motor vehicle accidents, traumatic
brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and
fractures, and much more.
Call 405.742.5798
for more information.
Hattie's Main Place
3071/2 N. Main St., Perkins
e Prather
• Custom Sewing & Alterations
• Dry Cleaning/Laundry
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday 10 a.mM p.m.
(405) 547-5429
Harris 66
