The Voice of Franklin, in Warren County, Ohio

My Friend Part 2...by Joe Marinich

2011-07-11T08:46:00.001-07:00

To bring us back to Matthew 18:2-3, I am pretty sure the previous situation explains what that verse really means. I was the one who was confused, sad, and broken hearted. I was the one putting God into a box of my rationale and understanding. I was the one confused on prayer and the way things work. It was my developed complicated adult mind that missed the Kingdom of God in this situation because I was making it into something it wasn't.

My child simply believes God, she thinks He is nice, helpful, loving, and she still thinks He answers prayer. I learned a lot from my child that day, and after my conversation with her this verse popped into my head. I understood what being childlike was like, and even though it was simple it was also powerful. People always associate children as being weak, and that is an unfair assessment. We compensate our weakness with manipulation, power, and false confidence, children are simply strong. They are strong in their minds, hearts, and will...I mean anyone that is a parent knows the strength of a child's will.

There is all kinds of hurting going on right now within the walls of Gods Kingdom. There are real hurtful situations happening to people I know personally. Many of my friends have lost their ministry job, some have been hurt by betrayals, and others are burnt out and tired. Maybe, just maybe we could all use a lesson in childlikeness. I mean how awesome would it be if us adults stopped questioning and doubting God and instead put that sort of effort into prayer?

Lets never question Gods position in the world, lets question our own. Lets not question Gods love for us, lets question our own love. Lets not question why God doesn't work in peoples lives, lets question why we wont help people with their lives. Lets not question whether or not God answers prayer, lets question our own resolve to pray. Its my opinion that this is the deep stuff of Matthew 18, yet the reason we don't live like this is still reduced down to a shallow canned retort. You know we would say something like this “we are the problem not God.” I mean how does that help anything? I know Gods is ok and secure and I know that I am messed up. I especially don't need somebody else telling me I am messed up.

Finally lets stop looking at children as annoyances, or being too simple minded to understand real life situations. I have learned a lot about God and relationships simply by watching my children. Life is complicated, messy, beautiful, and awful all at once, but it can be something profound when viewed with eyes of a child. That my friends is how we embrace Gods Kingdom. Its something that can only be understood with a childlike mind, faith, and heart.

Stop making it hard, and do a little more feeling and trusting. Shut down the mind, believe, and pray a little more. We need to try and use our hearts a little more and our minds a little less. After all this is how we are made, we were made to have a relationship with God, yet our minds make it so much more complicated that what it ever should have become.

The fact that my friend Kevin had died, is difficult and hard to understand. The cool thing is that praying for his families comfort has brought me comfort. Like so many other things its in the serving and the giving that we ourselves find answers and peace. I want to challenge everyone to take time to connect with God in prayer and worship. Stop making it difficult and just do it. Let me close by quoting the great philosopher Yoda. When it comes to embracing Gods Kingdom and thinking like a child, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

The Franklin Voice
Franklin, Ohio 45005
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Sloan Henderson Meet -n- Greet Luncheon...

2011-06-25T13:56:00.001-07:00

Tues., June 28, 1 p.m., Sloan Henderson Meet -n- Greet Luncheon at Pisanello's Pizza. The event includes a moderated Q&A with Sloan and a documentary production team. Sloan's dad Steve says, "Footage will be shot at this event that will be used to show how Franklin supports 'Its own winning female NASCAR driver.' This will be viewed by Fortune 1000 companies and CEOs around the world. This is one of the tools Sloan needs to acquire the $1.4M- 2.4M needed to race in ARCA and/or NASCAR Truck series in 2012."

Beck Applauds Passage of Sunset Review Legislation

2011-06-23T17:05:00.001-07:00

Bill would reduce government waste, make spending more efficient

COLUMBUS—State Representative Peter Beck (R-Mason) has announced that in an effort to streamline state spending and save tax dollars, the Ohio House of Representatives today passed Senate Bill 171 to implement the recommendations of the Sunset Review Committee by terminating, transferring or renewing various boards, commissions or committees.

The Sunset Review Committee, after a two-year review of more than 275 such boards and commissions, has recommended the termination of more than 80 commissions based on criteria including cost effectiveness, transparency and redundancy.

“Senate Bill 171 will be a cost-saving measure to the taxpayers of Ohio, so I am pleased to see its passage from the Ohio House of Representatives,” said Rep. Beck. “This bill shows responsible government and brings transparency to the state of Ohio.”

Senate Bill 171 passed from the House with wide bipartisan support. Having passed consideration by both the House and Senate, it will now move to Governor Kasich for his signature.

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Beck Announces House Concurrence on Criminal Sentencing Reform Bill

2011-06-23T15:41:00.001-07:00

COLUMBUS—State Representative Peter Beck(R-Mason) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today concurred on Senate amendments to House Bill 86, a comprehensive set of reforms that strive to overhaul Ohio’s criminal sentencing laws.

House Bill 86 aims to more successfully address prison population growth and streamline court, jail, and prison operations. It also includes the recommendations of the Council of State Governments Justice Reinvestment Project to help address skyrocketing corrections costs and high recidivism rates.

“House Bill 86 will achieve a number of positive outcomes while reducing state costs,” said Rep. Beck. “The bill, among other things, expands eligibility for treatment in lieu of conviction to persons who mental illness or developmental disability contributed to their offense. In addition, House Bill 86 gives preference to sentencing persons who fail to pay child support to alternative community sanctions.”

According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio’s prison population is projected to increase to more than 40 percent over capacity by 2015. Currently, state prisons are filled to 33 percent over capacity, holding nearly 13,000 more individuals than they were designed to hold.

House Bill 86 would address this burgeoning problem through community programs that more effectively rehabilitate low-level offenders and reduce recidivism rates at a more affordable cost to the taxpayers. It will also improve probation supervision and reduce duplication of resources.

House Bill 86 will now move to the Governor’s Office, where it awaits the signature of Governor John Kasich.

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Life is a Cabernet...

2011-06-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Contributed by Bleached Blonde Mind:

In a perfect world, my daily dinner would be bread, wine and cheese. What a well balanced meal, right? Ok, throw in a few pieces of oh, lettuce, to make it food pyramid-worthy.

So, for some reason, my friends’ think that I may obsessed with these perfect foods. A lot. I mean just because I have a bumper sticker that says “life is gouda”, or an apron that says “life is bleu-tiful” doesn’t mean I would go through withdrawals if I couldn’t eat it – as far as I know. Even though my beach towel shows a picture of three bottles of wine and says “group therapy” doesn’t mean I actually need the therapy does it?

When asked if man could live on bread alone, I would venture to say “heck yes!” But only if it’s served with olive oil, fresh Parmesan cheese, and – oh yes, vino.

Bread is the food of the gods. Especially San Francisco sour dough. And rosemary Focaccia with sea salt. Let’s not forget warm salted rye and French bread with roasted garlic.

See what I mean? How could one not love a life of bread? Along with a little Gorgonzola. And Zinfandel. And maybe a few apples and red grapes. This way of eating gets a little difficult when one is trying to cut down on carbs, fat, dairy and sugar. At times it’s a decision: eat healthy or eat what I want. I do know that balance it the key – it’s just that sometimes I ignore that logical tidbit of information.

I have a flag that I bought on a recent trip that my husband refuses to hang outside our home. It says “Wine a bit – you’ll feel better.” Well, yeah! It works! He doesn’t think it’s funny. Or maybe it’s the wine tote I have that says “Will trade husband for wine.” No sense of humor.

A loaf of bread, a chunk of cheese, a bottle of wine and thou. Isn’t that how the famous saying goes? Life is too short to not enjoy your favorite things. Julie Andrews has her “raindrops on roses and whispers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.” My song goes more like this: “Swiss cheese on rye bread and brie that is gooey, bright chardonnay wine and French bread that’s chewy…” Well you get the picture. So I fully to intend to embrace my love for all things Mediterranean. After all, “Life IS a Cabernet, old chums”.