Page 10 - Sanger Herald 3-1-18 E-edition

Sanger
SANGER HERALD
Lifestyles
• 2B • THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Pastor Sam Estes, center, participates in the blessing of one of the big motorcycles.
Blessing the bikes and riders
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Maybe 100 bikes rumbled up to the Screamin’ Demons’ clubhouse on Academy Avenue in Sanger.
The riders wore layers to ward off an early morning chill Feb. 24. Their jackets proudly bore their club affiliations on their backs. Some brought cans of food for HOPE Sanger and others simply words of faith to attend what has become an annual ride with a message of peace and goodwill.
“It’s going to be a great year,” said Rhonda Miller, Screamin’ Demons’ secretary. “We’re blessed.”
Most bikers parked outside the perimeter fencing and gathered near the club. Pastor Sam Estes led the group in an initial prayer and described the ride’s route, which was to end with pancakes, ham and coffee at Sanger High.
“Ninth year, 10th year,” Estes had said just minutes earlier, referring to the stretch of time he’s been involved with the Screamin’ Demons and the Blessing of the Bikes. “I forget. It’s way too much fun every year.”
The blessing brings together a somewhat tough-looking crowd for a bit of prayer. The message follows the words of Jesus Christ, who in Matthew said that to be a leader, one must serve; that to enter the kingdom of Heaven, one must be humble; that to be rich in heaven, one must give wealth to the poor on earth.
After everyone had eaten and those who wanted more got seconds, Roger Bailey gave the formal prayer. Bailey is
How to Study the Bible
The Bible is the most read book in history. It’s the bestselling book in history. And it is the most translated book in history.
This book is unlike any other book. It has a supernatural power that no other book has, to change lives. The key to Bible study is asking good questions. The more you ask, the more you’ll get out of what you are studying.
Here are four ways to study a passage of the Bible by asking questions based on observation (what does it
chapter president of the Christian Motorcyclists Association and had just had hip surgery a couple days earlier. He preached his 4-minute sermon on crutches.
“Wish I was riding with you,” Bailey said. “I want to talk to you about people this morning, about Jesus, about his followers, about us. Jesus was rejected by many of the quote unquote educated people, holy people, the Pharisees and such.
“Because even though he talked the talk and walked the walk, they didn’t want to believe his claims about who he was or about the truth he taught. That he is the very son of God and has the authority to take away the pain of man and forgive sins.
“That he came so that the thickness between God and men could be paid for by his blood, a sacrifice that covers all of us. And his followers, they were called names. Many caught heat or were even killed because they believed Jesus, because they didn’t go with the flow of society of the time.
“But they were men of substance. They knew how to obey and stand for what they believed. It occurred to me that bikers also are rejected by many in society today. They’re also called names, misunderstood. But somehow they demonstrate love, brotherhood and family. Things that are missed on many of the regular folks.”
Bailey said in Hanford his 3-year-old grandson got his Big Wheel blessed by members of the Screamin’ Demons. “That day, they made my grandson their grandson,” he said.
say?), interpretation (what does it mean?), correlation (what other verses explain what I’m reading?) and application (what will I do about it?).
Here is a passage of scripture to apply these four ways. 2 Timothy 3:12- 17 says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the
And Bailey said members of the motorcycle club may not realize it, but he now prays for them. Bailey identified himself earlier as “just another sinner saved by Christ.”
Milt Gilbert, who turns 75 in April, was among the older people in the group. He said he’s been riding with the Christian Motorcyclists Association a couple years. Gilbert originally hailed from Illinois but said the Navy brought him all over the world, including to Lemoore where he said back in the 1960s he could see the “white caps of Mount Whitney.”
Gilbert said his bike, a 2015, has 37,000 miles on it and that he drove it all the way to the Pacific Northwest.
But Gilbert also said he’s been blessed. He was diagnosed with cancer a decade ago and has undergone radiation and chemotherapy. “They just cut a piece out in December,” he said.
Gilbert, like the others, didn’t let personal tragedy stand in the way of sharing a little of the word from the good book. He was among a group going from bike to bike and rider to rider after Bailey’s formal message.
At each bike his group and others blessed the riders, the bikes and those around them. Then, singularly or in groups, the riders disappeared. And made a lot of noise.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
A new $3.8 million helicopter that's more powerful and can climb to greater altitudes than its predecessors was unveiled by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office at a hangar near the Fresno Yosemite International Airport this week. Eagle 1 was manufactured by Mesa, Ariz.-based MD Helicopters Inc. especially for the department with high-grade digital avionics. Deputy Ryan Walker, one of the pilots, said the county's high elevations of 12,000 feet or more now won't be a problem during search and rescue operations, which account for about half of summertime dispatches. "It gives us capabilities the old helicopter can't," he said. More than half the cost of the craft was paid for through asset forfiture funds by way of drug busts, said Sheriff Margaret Mims.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
Sanger Comedy Club plans a show at 8 p.m. March 3 at Sofia's in Sanger, 1028 N St. Tickets are $10. Dining starts at 6:30 p.m. Entertainment includes Ryan Reaves, Ben Gonzalez, Rick Martinez, Dana Turner and T.K. The event host is Ty Martin.
Fresno County district attorney Lisa Smittcamp is scheduled to speak before the Sanger Woman’s Club at noon March 6 at 1602 Seventh St. Cost for lunch is $8. Details, 559-779-5740.
AMVETS will have its fish fry from 5 to 8 p.m. every Friday for most of the month, March 2, 9, 16 and 23. Cost is $10 and includes rice, chowder, slaw, vegetable and bread. The club also has brought back its chili dogs from 5 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month. So that will be March 7 and 21. Everybody who’s anybody will be there. Come early. It’s popular. There will also be kraut dogs, mustard dogs and Frito boats. Details, George 559-286-5667.
The Sanger Community Task Force meets at 8:30 a.m. March 6 at the Sanger Chamber Annex, 1789 Jensen Ave. Details, 559- 250-6433.
Proteus Inc., which provides job training, education and various community services, plans a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. March 15 at its new location, 2570 Jensen Ave. Suite 108. The new site provides more space for operations. Old site was on Academy Avenue. Details, 559-875-7146.
BOOK SALE is planned from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. March 2and3and10a.m.to5 p.m. March 5 at the Sanger Branch of the Fresno County Library, 1812 Seventh St.
St. Mary’s Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. March 11 at St. Mary’s Hall at North and Bethel avenues. The meal include chicken, all-you-can-eat spaghetti, salad, rolls, peas, beverages and dessert. Cost is $18. Details, Beth Musgrave 559-876-3936.
The Sanger Eagles’ taco nights have resumed. Taco nights are the first and third Mondays of the month. Fish fry starts at 5 p.m. March 3. Cost is $12 and reservations required.
St. Patrick’s corn beef dinner is 5 p.m. March 17. Second crab feed is April 7. Breakfasts will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. The location is 225 J St. Details, Jim Batten 559- 875-6820 or Denny Noller 559-392-1936.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Public Library will be closing March 10 for interior renovations, especially to the bathrooms to make them compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, said Terrance McArthur, an official with the library. The library should reopen sometime in the summer for the summer reading program, he said. An alternative is the Sunnyside branch at 5566 E. Kings Canyon Road.
Teams wanted. Epic Adventure Quest, which is fashioned after the CBS TV show “The Amazing Race,” is staging an event like a scavenger hunt from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 in downtown Sanger to go along with the Blossom Trail Festival — after the morning’s races. This is a partnership between the Sanger Chamber and the
organization Healthy Epic Living. Teams of four will go from checkpoint to checkpoint to uncover clues that will lead them to the next station. Participants will need to use brain and brawn to figure out how to move forward, just like the show. Cost is $20 per team. Sign up at healthyepicliving.com. Details, healthyepicliving@ gmail.com.
The 11th annual Plant Give & Take will be held from 9 am to noon March 10 at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 8900 picnic area, 3585 N. Blythe Ave. west of Highway 99 in Fresno. The event is sponsored by the nonprofit Community Volunteers Central Valley. Plant Give & Take is free to the public, and organizers say all types of plants, seeds and cuttings for the home garden will be exchanged. The idea is to give what you have and take what you need. Local gardening experts will also be on hand to answer questions. Details, Margie Reisz at 559-227-9947.
For the Blossom Days Festival on March 3, the Sanger Chamber plans to announce the first- ever Blossom Queen.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
PASTOR’S CORNER
Holy Scriptures,
which are able to
make you wise
for salvation through faith in
Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God- breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The first step is: 1) observation: What does it say? Simply determine what it says and don’t worry about what it says. Write down your observations.
2) Interpretation: What does it mean? Read from many translations to help expand your knowledge. Make a list of what God is showing you based on your
you learn about the people, events, words, concepts and characteristics of this passage?
4) And application: What will I do about it? Here we are going to figure out how to apply this scripture in our lives, using the acrostic: S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. These are nine useful questions to ask yourself about a passage, given in this acrostic: S – Is there a sin to confess? P – Is there a promise to claim? A – Is there an attitude to change? C – Is there a command to obey? E – Is there an example to follow? P – Is there a prayer to pray? E – Is there an error to avoid? T – Is
there a truth to believe? S – Is there something to praise God for?
If you use these four ways: observation, interpretation, correlation and application and utilize SPACEPETS to your study, you will be on your way to understanding what the Bible really means.
Next Week: How to Understand the Bible
Pastor Sam Estes is city advance director and facilitates the Sanger Community Task Force that meets the first and third Tuesdays every month. He can be reached at pastorsam51@gmail.com.
Pastor Sam Estes
reading.
3) Next is correlation:
Increase your clarity by looking at what other Scriptures say about this passage. Look at a concordance, or a key- word search on a site like biblegateway.com. Make a list of what God is showing based on your reading. What more do
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