Page 11 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - July 2019 - 26-07
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WE ARE CHOSEN
Mom and CHOSEN again by my adop- tive parents. So I am blessed beyond anything I ever could have imagined. Not everyone has been so blessed. As a pastor I am acutely aware of this truth.
It was May 29, 1946. The world was no longer at war, prosperity and a bright future for America were not far off.
But wait – I’ve been chosen three times! Before I was born, I was chosen by God and adopted into His family.
Prosperity and a bright future were not far off for me either; because that was the day I was brought home from Community Hospital by my parents, Mike and Evelyn Gysel.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ~ Ephesians 1:5 NLT
I was now five days old. My Dad was an employed brick mason and an active member of the Elks club. Mom was a telephone operator, soon to be a stay-at-home Mom. They both sang in the choir of First Baptist Church. My story all happened because they wanted so badly to have children and re-start their life after Dad’s term of service in the US Army during the D-Day assault off the Normandy coast of France; being wounded twice and then recov- ering; and then serving in Europe as an MP till the end of the War. He reunited when he returned home to Battle Creek to the love of his life, and now in the 11th year of their marriage, an attorney friend of theirs arranged for them to adopt a little boy.
Today I look back at the blessings of my life that all started with parents who loved me unconditionally, who provid- ed opportunities for me to grow and develop into a man, a husband, a dad, a granddad, and now a great-grandfather. Who wouldda thunk?
I’m so glad my parents adopted
me (!), because I had a great home in which to grow up. BUT I’m also grate- ful to my birth-Mom (June Portner) who chose to give up her first child to adoption for very good reasons, rather than abort the baby.
“‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
I was chosen TO LIVE by my birth
Those words give me hope. And as you are reading this, know that he choose you too.
Faith
Senior Times - July 2019
Page 11
SENIOR CITIZENS
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MATTERS
Rev. Dr. James Gysel, Special to Senior Times
My birth Mom is now is heaven (Yes- I met her, and that’s another
long story.) and my parents are also in heaven and I long to be with them all again someday when my time to depart comes. But through it all, my faith is secure because of the original adoption by the Holy One of heaven who chose me and said:
Faithfully yours, ~ Jim Gysel
Updates On Your
SOCIAL SECURITY
Vonda VanTil, Special to Senior Times
SCAMS COME IN MANY DIFFERENT FORMS
*FREE Gate admission all day for Veterans on MONDAY August 12, Veteran’s Day at the Fair!
Calhoun County Fair
Senior Day
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
9:00am-1:00pm Community Tent
FREE Gate Admission to the Calhoun County Fair for Seniors all day. You must RSVP for a LUNCH, call 269-979-1412 x308 by August 5th.
BINGO, MUSIC, AND LUNCH
1:00pm crowning of Senior King and Queen Sponsored by: Calhoun County Senior Services, CareWell Services and Senior Times
Social Security is at the forefront of keeping your online data secure, but you play a vital role in safeguarding your personal information too.
may not be who they say they are: • A mismatch between their name and the name embedded in their
Social Security scammers common- ly target people who are looking for Social Security program and benefit information.
email address.
• There are obvious spelling and gram-
You might receive an advertisement in the mail, but it could be from a private company or even a scammer. U.S. law prohibits people and busi- nesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising can’t lead people to believe that they represent, are somehow affiliated with, or endorsed or approved by Social Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare).
else’s behalf.
• They need money right away due to
If you receive misleading informa- tion about Social Security, send the complete advertisement, including the envelope it came in, to:
If anyone asks for your Social Security number, never give it to them. And if they are specifically pretend- ing to be from Social Security, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269- 0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline
Social Security Administration
P.O. Box 17768
Scams can also hap- pen online. A growing tactic for scammers is to use online dating sites. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service’s recent messag- ing, before starting an internet-based relation- ship, we should always keep our personal details to ourselves until you meet face-to-face. Next, do an internet search of the other person’s name
Vonda VanTil is the Public Affairs Specialist for West Michigan. You
can write her c/o Social Security Administration, 3045 Knapp NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525 or via email at vonda.vantil@ssa.gov.
and the town they claim to be living in. Here are indications that someone
mar errors.
• They asked if you would send or
receive money/packages on someone
a medical emergency, or they need a visa or air tickets. Or, a business opportunity arose that was too good to turn down. Can you wire a loan?
Baltimore, MD 21235


































































































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