Dhs Newsletter 8.doc

Douglas High Alumni News Letter

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Publisher Ed Grensky

Volume No. I

Issue No. 8

Date 8/15/09

Paula Meredith Bennet Aug. 17

Dienna Parret Gervasi This is a reminder for those that are able; Dienna will be at the Sutherlin Blackberry Festival Saturday & Sunday the 15th & 16th of Aug. She has a booth selling jewelry.

Newsletter Information If anyone would like to write a column for this newsletter or submit a periodic post to this newsletter, contact Ed at [email protected] The only restriction is it must be rated as suitable for family reading.

Web Page Information On the main page of the web site, there are three areas you can go to, to check your classmates. I find the best place to go is “View Class Directory” under the world glob on the right. Why? Its easy to find, and it give you at a glance who is missing and the city they live in right off the bat. Our web site has had 1,537 hits so far, approximately 100 since our reunion last Saturday. The classes for Douglas High start in 1950 on this site and go through 2009, there is no site but ours that has more than 83 hits, and the only DHS web site with a BEST SITE AWARD.

Just For Laughs A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid.. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem. The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss. Here's what you do," said the Doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversation speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?" No response. So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

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Still no response. Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again he gets no response. So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again there is no response. So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?" (I just love this) "Ralph, for the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!"

Reunion Photo’s Fifty of the many photo’s taken at the reunion are now posted on the web site. Go to the following link to view. http://www.classreport.org/usa/or/ winston/dhs/1969/ For those of you that may not know, you can save the web site link above in your favorites. This way you won’t forget it nor do you have to type it in each time you want to go to the site. There are a lot of photos out there not being shared with your classmates, please send them to me via email, and I will post them for everyone to see. [email protected]

Reunion Committee Reported by Ed Grensky Many thank you emails are still coming in for the job well done by the reunion committee, also emails asking for reunion photos to be posted for those that were not able to attend, I’m sure we

all appreciated those classmates that came such a distance to be with us. I hope everybody will use the email addresses in the reunion booklet to stay in touch, and also use the web site’s Class Message Board, like Kathy Wagner (Story) did; check it out. By the emails I have received, there is an interest in having our next reunion in 5 years, and a picnic during each summer in between. As I said I would get together with members of the reunion committee between the last newsletter and this one, and report on what the plans were for the future. It was decided to add a poll to the web site to find out how much interest there was for the different plans. To place your vote go to the web site’s main page, scroll down and on the right side you will find the pole titled Next Reunion Interest Pole, make your choice known. Also be sure to keep your web page up to date as to your contact information, the reunion committee will need this to inform you of upcoming events or notices. We are still looking for missing classmates, which you can find a list of in your current reunion booklet. As reported in the last newsletter, Buddy Sullivan is diseased. Be sure to change the code from “M” to “D” in your reunion booklet on the email address page.

Future Reunion Suggestions The reunion committee members that were contacted, agreed there should be a pole taken as to the interest of classmates for the proposed reunion suggestions below. 1. A picnic held on Aug. 1st every year for the next 9 years, with a big 50th reunion in 10 years. OR

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2. A picnic on Aug. 1st for the next 4 years, a jet boat dinner cruse from Grants Pass in 5 years, picnics on years 6-9 and a big 50th. Please go to the web site and place your vote, I will run the poll for 2 weeks and give the results in the Aug. 29th newsletter.

Newsletter Name Change Note the name change of this newsletter from “Douglas High School News Letter” Too “Douglas High Alumni News Letter”. After all, this newsletter does not represent Douglas High School, only the 69 alumni. If your not interested in reading the Christian information below, I hope you will at least go to the next segment, and read A lesson of Life, a great story. If you have put on the whole armor of God or read the last newsletter, you will understand this statement: "...there are few who find it." - Mt 7:14

Just when it seemed to have cooled off, the topic of hell is back on the front burner—at least for pastors learning to preach about a topic most Americans would rather not talk about. Only 59 percent of Americans believe in hell, compared with 74 percent who believe in heaven, according to the recent surveys from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. “I think it’s such a difficult and important biblical topic,” said Kurt Selles, director of the Global Center at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School. “There’s a big change that’s taken place as far as evangelicals not wanting to be as

exclusive.” At the recent annual Beeson Pastors School, Selles led two workshops to discuss “Whatever happened to hell?” He asked how many of the pastors had ever preached a sermon on hell. Nobody had, he said. “I think it’s something people want to avoid,” he said. “I understand why. It’s a difficult topic.” The Rev. Fred Johns, pastor of Brookview Wesleyan Church in Irondale, Ala., said after a workshop discussion of hell that pastors do shy away from the topic of everlasting damnation. “It’s out of fear we’ll not appear relevant,” he said. “It’s pressure from the culture to not speak anything negative. I think we’ve begun to deny hell. There’s an assumption that everybody’s going to make it to heaven somehow.” The soft sell on hell reflects an increasingly market-conscious approach, Selles said. “When you’re trying to market Jesus, sometimes there’s a tendency to mute traditional Christian symbols,” he said. “Difficult doctrines are left by the wayside. Hell is a morally repugnant doctrine. People wonder why God would send people to eternal punishment.” Speakers said the seriousness of Jesus dying for man’s sins relates to the gravity of salvation vs. damnation, according to Johns. “If you don’t mention God’s judgment, you are missing a big part of the Christian gospel,” Selles said. “Without wrath, there’s no grace.” Pope John Paul II stirred up a debate in 1999 by describing hell as “the state of those who freely and definitely separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy.” Although the pope was reflecting official Roman Catholic teaching, some U.S. evangelicals expressed misgivings about

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the implication that hell is an abstract separation from God rather than a literal lake of fire as described in the Book of Revelation. The pope’s comments on hell stirred up the ancient debate about whether hell is a real place of burning fire or a state of mind reflecting a dark, cold emptiness and distance from God. Evangelical Christians have traditionally offered a sterner view of salvation and damnation. A Southern Baptist Home Mission Board study in 1993 estimated that 70 percent of all Americans are going to hell, based on projected numbers of those who have not had a born-again experience. In translating the Bible from Hebrew to Greek, the Greeks used the terms Tartarus, Hades and Gehenna. In Greek thought, Hades is not a place of punishment; it’s where the dead are separated from the living. The term Gehenna referred to a ravine outside Jerusalem that was used as a garbage dump. It had once been a place of child sacrifice and became a symbol of pain and suffering, Selles said. As a garbage dump, it was probably often a place of fire as trash was burned, emphasizing the symbolism of the flames of eternal damnation, he said. Jesus never soft-pedaled the concept of hell, Selles said. “It’s not metaphorical in Jesus’ mind; it’s a real place,” he said. In 410 A.D., St. Augustine defined four states of afterlife: those so good they go to heaven; those so bad they go to hell; those who deserve some relief in their eternal torment; and those who deserve to be lifted out of torment after repenting for their sins. That set the stage for the doctrine of purgatory in 1237 A.D. The Bible contains a litany of colorful images of hell as both fire and darkness, as in the Gospel of Matthew, which refers to “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” and “the outer darkness”

where “men will weep and gnash their teeth.” Either way, Selles said, pretending that hell doesn’t exist, or trying to preach around it, short-circuits the Bible. “This is a doctrine, a teaching, that’s being neglected in churches,” Selles said. “It needs to be preached. It’s part of the Gospel.”

I’m going to tell you a personal true story about my Dad’s death. I could barely tell this story at my dad’s funeral service. In the last few weeks of my dad’s life I spent up to 12 hours a day by his side, it was during the last couple of days he was laying in bed, eyes closed, and out of nowhere he said “Jesus can I walk with you” as clear as a bell, you just knew he was looking at Jesus when he asked the question. On Feb 12, 2009 at about 10 am I leaned over and told my dad not to be afraid, that he could go. My dad opened his eyes for the first time that morning; he smiled, closed his eyes and passed on. You might ask why I shared this story with you? I consider all my classmates family, and therefore I’m motivated to see that you understand time is short; its possible you may not live through the day. The decision or choice you make in accepting Jesus as your personal savior is sealed at your death; your decision making is over, you will find yourself in Heaven or hell, its as simple as that. You say but I’ve been a good person all my life, in some ways, yes, but we are all sinners. Revelation 3:14-22 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with

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me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

The Bible might seem like a bunch of stories that are disjointed, but I assure you they are all tied together. The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, and the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.

Don’t wait any longer; you have a decision to make.

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller. 'Here 'tis.. She's a dandy.'

A lesson of life Friends, Take the time and effort to read to the end. Read the following and have a GREAT day! I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 'Fine.. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' th em peas.' 'Would you like to take some

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.' Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there

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learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

In Closing I would like to say how much it meant to me to see a few of my old friends from High School, it’s a time and feeling we will never recapture. The reunion was far too short in my opinion; I look forward to our annual picnics. Please help me keep this newsletter alive and interesting; you can do this by submitting stories about yourself or others during our high school years, favorite poems, books, etc. So until next weekend may God bless you and your family. Ed

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..' With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles. The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not

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