Choice Books - A Message of Hope | March 2020

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Stories That Impact, Inspire, and Call to Action PUBLISHER

MARLIN MILLER KEVIN BILLE

GENERAL MANAGER

SUE WENGERD

SENIOR EDITOR

PHIL BARKMAN

COPY EDITOR

MATT YODER

ACCOUNT MANAGER GRAPHIC ARTIST

ISAAC HERSHBERGER SETH YODER

GRAPHIC ARTIST

BETHANY TROYER

CUSTOMER SERVICE

LANDON TROYER

PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ELAINE TOMSKI

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SHERRI ROMIG

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DR. ANDREW A. SNELLING FERREE HARDY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER CONTRIBUTING WRITER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

MARCUS A. YODER

TORRY MARTIN & DOUG PETERSON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

DR. TERESA HOXWORTH

APRIL AD SALES DEADLINE

MARCH 6, 2020

Plain Values is published monthly by Plain Target Marketing, LLC. Please contact us with any questions regarding Plain Values.

PO Box 201/2106 Main Street, Winesburg, OH 44690 Phone: (844) 260-4578 | Fax: (330) 601-4099 www.plainvalues.com | reachout@plainvalues.com

THE FORMALITIES This publication and its contents are © 2020, Plain Target Marketing, LLC. Individual copyrighted items, trademarks, etc. contained within are the property of their respective copyright holders. No part of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed by any means without authorization from the publisher. Publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ offers, products, or services, and publication neither expresses or implies an endorsement.

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CONTENTS OHIO

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ISSUE 81

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MARCH 2020

MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER PEEP CATAPULT

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Spring is finally upon us, and soon everyone's favorite marshmallow treat will be back on the shelves; but did you know they can fly?

CHALK IT UP TO A GLOBAL FLOOD

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When I was a boy, cringing at the occasional chalk squeak, I never realized these small white sticks actually came from a thick layer of rock...

THE TREASURE FROM WITHIN

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That oyster was a picture of what had happened to me and continues to repeat in countless women I’ve met since.

CHOICE BOOKS // 13 A Message of Hope

FUNDS AND BENEFITS

Choice Books is all about John, Nancy, Sue, and a young Muslim man. Broken people who are lost without the hope of Jesus Christ.

Every month we provide a listing of opportunities to help out those in need. Pray for them, and support them financially if you feel led to do so.

KELLIS EYE CENTER // 31

A RENEWAL MOVEMENT // 57

OF MOOSE AND MEN // 62

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PARVOVIRUS

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ON THE COVER

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

These books are displayed on Choice Books racks across the county; the other items shown harken back to the company's origins.

Every advertiser in this issue of Plain Values can be found here, along with the page their ad is on.

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MESSAGE from t he

PUBLISHER

words by: MARLIN MILLER Our feature story this month is about a favorite

books constitute the largest rare book collection in

topic of mine… books, and the concept of story.

North America. One of the three complete Gutenberg

Thinking about this over the last while, I became

Bibles remaining in the world is kept safely within

curious and did a bit of research. I am excited to

its walls.

share what I learned about the largest library in the

The Library of Congress functions as the

world: the United States Library of Congress.

research arm of Congress and the US Copyright

The Library was founded in 1800, making it the

Office with a staff of 3,096 and an annual budget

oldest federal cultural institution in the nation.

of $669.9 million. Someday I hope to visit, with

On August 24, 1814, British troops burned the

time to lose myself inside one of the Library’s three

Capitol building, where the Library was housed,

buildings of books. //

and destroyed the Library's core collection of 3,000 volumes. On January 30, 1815, Congress approved the purchase of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library of 6,487 books for $23,950.

Today, the Library houses more than 164 million items, including 25 million books and 72 million manuscripts. Its collection of 5 million maps is the largest in the world, and more than 700,000 rare

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FEATURE STORY

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

CHOICE BOOKS A MESSAGE OF HOPE

words by: ELAINE TOMSKI

You may think a company with the name Choice Books is all about books. Wrong. Choice Books (CB) is all about John, Nancy, Sue, and a young Muslim man. Broken people who are lost without the hope of Jesus Christ.

John was so lost, he didn’t want to live anymore. That is, until the message in a book made all the difference. John sent Choice Books this testimony: “I have to take this time to tell you my story.

This past Saturday I tried to kill myself; had it not been for divine intervention, I would have succeeded. While in the hospital, I asked my girlfriend to bring me Paul’s book [Hiking Through, by Paul M. Stutzman]. I had just purchased it from Walmart. I have always wanted to hike the AT [Appalachian Trail]. I was not a believer in

THE NORTH-EAST OHIO CHOICE BOOKS WAREHOUSE

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God until this last weekend. As I read Paul’s book, I felt like it was speaking to me. Towards the end, God and Paul sealed the deal with something along the lines of, ‘This book will end up in the hands of those who need it.’ Well, it certainly did. Paul, God, my wonderful girlfriend who had the knowledge to save me from myself… thank you all. I want you to know, Paul, that when I left the hospital, I gave my only copy of your book to a homeless man that was also depressed. He lost everything and was living in the woods… we started talking about camping, then hiking, and he told me he always wanted to hike the AT… It was at that moment I realized what God wanted me to do… I had to pass on the book to someone else.”

“I believe the printed page has the power to transform lives,” says Joe Bacher, Executive Director of CB of Northern Virginia. “Today, with fewer than 1,000 Christian bookstores across the nation, our opportunity to be in the general marketplace is truly a gift. As a culture, we are in a crisis of overwhelming emotions of despair, anxiety, and fear resulting in depression, divorce, and suicide.” Many people who desperately need hope will never consider walking into a Christian bookstore. For this reason, CB racks are placed anywhere people go. Joe says, “A title grabs their attention, the Holy Spirit moves, the book is purchased, and hope and encouragement is the result. We are grateful for the opportunity to offer hope and encouragement to the brokenness of the world around us.”

Have you noticed their book displays in places where you shop or visit? The books draw us in with colorful covers and promising titles. You may be one to spin the display to see all that Choice Books has to offer. Located across the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, we find their book displays in grocery stores, drug stores, hospitals, large department stores, travel centers, airports, and military bases. They are placed in hotels, campgrounds, general stores, gift shops, hardware stores, restaurants, and bakeries.

Displays are also found at tourist attractions, offices, car washes, bus and train depots, educational facilities, and newsstands. Whew!

A CHOICE BOOK DISPLAY SHOWCASING WHOLESOME BOOKS IN A PUBLIX SUPERMARKET

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PREPARING TO HIT THE ROAD TO RE-STOCK BOOK DISPLAYS

Choice Books’ mission is To share the “good news” of Jesus Christ in the general marketplace through inspiring and wholesome reading material. They’ve been enriching people’s lives, one book at a time, since 1962.

Organized To Reach People •

In 1962, fewer than a handful of men organized their efforts to sell inspirational books to various retail stores.

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By the 1970’s, the association called Life-Line Books grew to nearly 600 displays.

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In 1973, the organization registered under the new name “Choice Books” and expanded its distribution across the United States.

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In 1991, Choice Books reached record annual sales of one million books.

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In 1998, the not-for-profit organization defined seven regions set for distribution.

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Today Choice Books, LLC purchases its inventory from over 70 publishers. They sell books on more than 11,500 displays in retail locations, providing the opportunity to move over 5 million books per year into the hands of hurting people.

Simon Schrock has been involved in the ministry since 1968, so he’s no stranger to the history of Choice Books. He is also no stranger to turbulent U.S. history; he lived near Washington, D.C. while the Vietnam War was raging, Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered, and Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated. Simon says, “During a time of riots and destruction, I was handing out gospel tracts to hippies.” When a new acquaintance, Owen Yoder, approached Simon to ask, “Have you ever thought of book rack evangelism?” Simon’s response was, “Wow! Have I ever?!” Together, the two worked at Life-Line Books, utilizing the centralized book-buying services of the Mennonite Board of Mission’s multimedia subsidiary in Virginia.

Simon had his mind set on placing a display at the Washington National Airport (now Ronald Reagan WNA). Following several phone calls, Simon was directed 17

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to the airport newsstand and granted an appointment

at a Basic Youth Conflicts Seminar. What began as a

with the shop manager. Although Simon’s idea of

conversation between Kyle Davis and Simon Schrock

placing a 56-pocket book display was rejected, he was

developed into a friendship, then an invitation to speak

given the opportunity to put ten titles on the shelves.

with Christian men at the Pentagon about Book Rack

On November 22, 1968, Simon prayerfully delivered

Evangelism. Several men at the Pentagon were so

Christian books to the Aero Newsstand in Washington

excited about the opportunity to place inspirational

National Airport. It was a small beginning, but Simon

books in the Pentagon’s drug store and newsstand that

was aware of Jesus’ teaching, “He that is faithful in that

they drove to the Schrock house to pick up the books

which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is

and volunteered to keep the displays stocked. Much

unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

strife and terrorism have surrounded the Pentagon

Simon filled the car’s tank with 35-cents/gallon

since books of hope and encouragement were first

gasoline and regularly drove from his home in Virginia to

carried beyond its fortress walls. How fitting that Jesus

the airport to restock the shelves. In 28 days, 51 religious

Christ’s message of peace continues to be available

books sold. Before you know it, Simon was able to place

inside the Pentagon today.

the intended 56-pocket book display in the newsstand,

The Holy Spirit gave Simon a burden for the lost,

and responded to the invitation to put books in seven

and Choice Books gave him the means to reach the lost.

other small shops in the airport. Today, Choice Books

Simon says, “The idea was in place, and I tapped into

are sold in over 160 airports across the nation.

the vision.” He’s most grateful for the opportunity to

Since the 1970’s, Simon has been a “dove” among

display Bibles. Simon says, “We do sell a lot of Bibles,

the “hawks.” With God, all things are possible; He

particularly around New York City.”

arranged for Simon to meet a retired colonel from the

At the age of 82, Simon continues to work at CB of

Pentagon while standing in the coffee and cookies line

Northern Virginia. He has saved reader response letters,

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filling nearly 27 boxes. “If a letter indicates a reader’s life was changed,” says Simon, “I put those into a notebook, and I’m currently filling notebook number nine.” Nancy is one who experienced life change. She writes, “I just wanted to thank the people from Choice Books. I used to secretly look at Choice Books in the grocery store at a time when I would not have entered a Christian bookstore or church. Through reading a Choice Book, I came to see the beauty and truth of the gospel and eventually surrendered to Christ. Thank you.”

Expanding To Reach People Dave Hostetler has been serving through CB of Great Lakes since 2002. His ministry with Choice Books involves many people, but let’s begin with Dave’s story.

Imagine a young widower who has lost his wife to cancer. How can he raise three children while working to support his family? The answer is an auto body repair shop at home. Now imagine the happiness of finding a precious new bride named Joy. Then devastation arrives when, one day, the smell of gasoline turns into an explosion and the aroma changes to the scorch of burning flesh. Severe burns spread across the upper portion of Dave’s body. Following a lengthy recovery, how will Dave provide for his family once again?

Dave and Joy asked God to lead them down the right path to pay the bills. Joy recalls them praying, “If it could be a ministry, that would be wonderful.”

It never hurts to ask, right? God orchestrated every step, making connections from Dave’s mom to Simon Schrock to the Director of CB of Great Lakes, who hired Dave to develop the northern part of Michigan. Choice Books provided him with a vehicle and the product.

Dave went on the road and started selling books so fast he could hardly keep up. He says, “Everywhere we went, people wanted this Choice Books program. God opened doors we had never dreamt would open.”

Dave loved working with retailers. He enjoyed making friends with people in the stores everywhere he went. He says, “One of the highlights of my career with Choice Books is ending up with people at the back of my service vehicle, praying with them, and giving them books during their hard times.” Like the day a cleaning supplies vendor was stocking shelves at the same time Dave was stocking books. Dave says, “He was divorcing his wife, who was going into prostitution and

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taking custody of their young child.” The father was so

the right as she entered the store. Dave says, “One day,

worried; he didn’t know what to think or do. So, Dave

the display was just like a magnet to her eyes. A force

prayed with him and gave him a book to provide hope.

caused her to go over and take that book off the shelf.”

Dave says, “God ordained our meeting.”

Sue said, “Dave, that book completely changed my life

In 2010, Dave was called to serve as the District

around. I’m back with God, closer than ever before.”

Manager for the Northern Ohio office. The Hostetler

Sue also shared that same book with three friends. She

family moved near Joy’s childhood home in Holmes

says, “Now we have Bible study together every week,

County at the perfect time to care for her parents.

and we’re walking with Jesus.” Dave is happy to report,

Do you see God’s handprints on this story? But wait.

“Many lives are being changed through this ministry.”

There’s more. Two visits to the hospital separated by

Networking To Reach People

years show how God connects the dots in the lives

Seven Regional Distributors extend the reach of

of His people. One of Dave’s favorite stories is of the

Choice Books.

Christian nurse, Sue, whom he had befriended while severely burned. Many years later, he ran into Sue again when their seven-year-old son was receiving treatment in the same hospital ER following a bike accident. Sue asked, “Are you still doing the books?”

Sue had always loved visiting the Choice Books spinner display just inside the entrance, to the left, of her grocery store. Until, as Sue says, “My life got kind

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CB of Northern Virginia.

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CB of Great Lakes

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CB of Gulf States

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CB of Kansas

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CB of Midwest

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CB of Pennsylvania

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CB of West Coast.

All seven regions affiliate with an Anabaptist

of rough. I became angry with God and turned my

church/conference, including Mennonite, Amish, and

back on Him.” Then, Dave says, “She literally hated the

Brethren.

book display and began avoiding it,” always going to

The Choice Books LLC Board of Directors provides guidance.

Central Office Staff review books and manage the centralized buying.

CHOICE BOOKS DISTRIBUTORS

Ken Gonyer, CEO of Choice Books, has the big

and their Church/Conference Affiliations

picture view of the organization. He says, “Take a look

Choice Books of Great Lakes, Inc. Conservative Mennonite Conference

Choice Books of Gulf States, Inc.

CHOICE BOOKS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Good News Fellowship of Anabaptist Mennonite Churches and Gulf States Mennonite Conference

Choice Books of Kansas, Inc.

7 Choice Books Distributor Appointees and 2 Members-at-Large

Cedar Crest Center & Arlington Amish Mennonite Churches and Prairie Chapel Mennonite Church

Choice Books of Midwest, Inc. Pleasant Grove, Pleasant View, & Sunnyside Mennonite Churches and Calvary Chapel

Choice Books of Northern Virginia, Inc. Beachy Amish-Mennonite (Missions Interest Committee)

CHOICE BOOKS CENTRAL OFFICE

Choice Books of Pennsylvania, Inc. Atlantic Coast, Franklin and Lancaster Mennonite Conferences & Church of the Brethren

6 Staff

Choice Books of West Coast, Inc. Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference

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MAP of DISTRIBUTORS

CB of Great Lakes

CB of Northern Virginia

CB of Kansas

CB of Gulf States

CB of West Coast

Non-Distributor Region

CB of Pennsylvania

CB of Midwest

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hit in America, but we’ve had a travel center ask us to put a special display in just for Bible covers. And they sell really well!” By putting an inspirational message on the outside of the beautiful cover, with the Good News message inside, who knows what opportunities the Lord will use to share the hope of His peace?

As CEO, it’s Ken’s privilege to share the vision

"OUR RESOURCES ARE PLACED TO POINT PEOPLE TOWARD THE LORD. MANY PEOPLE ARE IN DESPAIR AND CONFUSION. WE DESIRE TO BRING LIGHT INTO A DARK WORLD..."

within the organization. “We have a new verse every year to encourage our workers.” Romans 12:12 was the verse for 2018. “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” He says, “This ministry is hard work, and when there are challenges, we go to the Word of God and seek His inspiration and encouragement. That’s what Romans 12:12 is all about.”

Because of growing anti-Christian sentiment in our culture, 2017 brought opposition from a growing number of retailers. Therefore, the organization made thankfulness to God and prayer a priority for 2018.

Ken reports, “Through this prayer time, God has done what only God can do by lifting up believers into buying positions. In three cases, the buyers who didn’t like Choice Books were moved out of those positions and replaced by buyers who are very positive and interested in us.” One of the new buyers wants to see

at a Choice Books display, and you see solutions to

a Bible in every one of their 10,000 locations. Ken says,

problems.” Sometimes a buyer has a spiritual problem.

“It’s been fun to be able to give God the glory for that.”

Sometimes the problem stems from family or is of a

God is in the business of multiplying, isn’t he? Fish.

physical nature. In any event, Ken says, “Our resources

Loaves. Books. Buyers. Locations. Ken adds, “Because of

are placed to point people toward the Lord. Many people

prayer, we are poised to take advantage of placing our

are in despair and confusion. We desire to bring light

materials at more locations. I’m very excited and feel

into a dark world by offering inspirational, wholesome,

very hopeful about the future.” The people at Choice

and sometimes fun reading material to them.” Fun

Books actively pray and prepare while remaining

items, such as word find books and inspirational

patient for God’s perfect timing.

coloring books for adults, bring attention to scripture

Ken has also approached CB’s publishing partners

and thus, hope. Ken also says, “Many types of books on

with this request, “Tell me what you have that’s a

the displays build sales so we can place Bibles.” Their

solid Christian message targeted toward millennials.”

Bible sales goal for 2018 was a whopping 200,000 copies.

Publishers responded with books to attract this younger

Not only is Choice Books a resource for the average

audience. Ken says, “We are trying to stay relevant to

person seeking hope, but their displays are also a

the folks who need to hear our message.” Because of

resource for believers in locations where Christian

CB’s Anabaptist background, Ken says, “We hold those

bookstores are closing. While continuing to provide

values before us and also engage with the culture using

devotional and scriptural materials, Ken says, “I’d like

all different kinds of tools.” The challenge is to take an

to see more Bible Study types of aids. The Rose Book

old-fashioned message into an ever-changing world.

of Bible Charts, Maps, and Timelines is our best seller

The CB organization is very aware of new forms of

in Walmart.” Another great seller is a surprise to Ken.

technology. Ken says, “We attempt to engage in those

“I never thought a zippered Bible cover would be a big

venues in such a way that we don’t compromise our 23

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values. We want to stay relevant to the people we want to reach. It’s just a tool.”

Finally, Ken encourages the readers of Plain Values, “As partners in the faith, do whatever you can to support this unique outreach, because there’s nothing else quite like it with the span and reach given to us.

We can’t do it alone. We need your prayers, support, and encouragement.”

Being A Link In The Chain To Reach People Another man of vision is the Executive Director of CB of Great Lakes, Nathan Miller. He says, “I believe authors have a God-directed burden to compose and write a message. Publishers partner with the authors, and we partner with the publishers. We are one link in the chain so that the original burden is shared with the reader.”

Nathan says, “Choice Books was born out of a vision to reach people who couldn’t be reached before.”

One person who might be considered hard to reach is the subject of yet another life change. Nathan says, “There was a young Muslim man, from New York state, who was traveling through a travel center in Columbus, Ohio. He picked up a book from the Choice Books display. This book was influential in this young man making a commitment to Christ as Messiah.”

Now a Christian, the young man is soundly rejected by his Muslim father. Nathan says, “Still, the Holy Spirit must have been orchestrating circumstances.” Phil, a Choice Books colleague in Virginia, connected with this young man. Phil mentors his new Christian friend and encourages his transformational journey.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

Reached, Touched, Changed Yes, Choice Books is about so much more than books. When the message of hope touches people’s hearts, their lives change forever. It’s the sole reason people at Choice Books reach out every day. They are people connecting people to the saving hope of Jesus Christ. He will ever be our highest choice. //

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FEATURE STORY

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

KELLIS EYE and LASER CENTER Our eyes open up worlds of opportunity for us.

From the very first time we see a cuddly puppy, read about interesting places and things, watch an exciting game, or see someone we love grow old, our eyes see all the wonderment and, unfortunately, the sorrow throughout our lifetime. Many times we take our eyes for granted until our vision is less than what it should be or something impairs our vision, causing discomfort and, frequently, pain.

Taking good care of our eyes can begin with annual eye exams. Kellis Eye & Laser Center offers complete eye care while specializing in ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery.

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I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Kellis, Dr. Ryder, and Dr. Johnson. This team of surgeons and doctors will take excellent care of you, from a routine eye exam to your first pair of glasses to a complicated eye or eyelid surgery. Rest assured that

THIS TEAM OF SURGEONS AND DOCTORS WILL TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF YOU, FROM A ROUTINE EYE EXAM TO YOUR FIRST PAIR OF GLASSES TO A COMPLICATED EYE OR EYELID SURGERY.

you will receive the best care possible. The surgeons are a board-certified ophthalmologists and fellowshiptrained in oculoplastic surgery. In addition, Dr. Dawn Barkan, the practice optometrist, has over twenty-five years of experience and specializes in preventive care, prescription glasses, and contact lenses.

This training provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to answer any vision questions or concerns you may have. It also enables them to give you the best possible care in any issues relating to cataracts, eyelids, tear ducts, fractures, or cancers regarding the eye socket. Dr. Kellis and the surgeons have performed over 100,000 eyelid surgeries and over 25,000 cataract procedures.

Kellis Eye & Laser Center cares for patients with retinal conditions, glaucoma, macular degeneration,

Dr. Kellis began his practice in a small room

and many other eye diseases. They also have an inhouse

located inside his brother’s established orthopedic

optical store with hundreds of frames available on site.

surgery practice. He largely attributes the growth of

Just one of the many positives of taking your eye

Kellis Eye & Laser Center over the past twenty-five

care needs to Dr. Kellis and his staff is the fact that all

years to satisfied patients sharing their good news of

surgeries are performed in-house and are out-patient

successful eye care to others in need.

so that you can go home the same day.

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If it’s cataract surgery that you need, you will be

as opposed to a hospital. Transportation discounts

able to see immediately afterward. A no-needle, no-

are also available. I was assured that they have never

stitch technique is employed—and no patch is required

turned a patient away for lack of ability to pay. There

after surgery—which results in no visual impairment

are programs to help those individuals. Kellis Eye &

afterward.

Laser Center is also on the Buckeye Plan.

Eyelid surgery and repair techniques provide

To become a patient, you need only to give them

their patients with the best possible outcome. These

a call. If you are unsure if they are in your area, give

techniques minimize bruising, swelling, and recovery

them a call; they have a number of satellite locations

time.

for your convenience. You can always call should the

I was informed that infection can ruin a perfect

unexpected happen. They will have no trouble getting

surgery. The doctors at the Kellis Eye & Laser Center

you in to see one of the doctors.

pride themselves in a nearly zero percent infection rate!

Kellis Eye & Laser Center is dedicated to providing

The Chardon Surgery Center has a cleaner environment

the highest quality vision and eye health care possible.

than the hospital, along with better equipment and

They offer a complete array of eye care: eye exams,

better staff. The surgical techniques they provide to

an on-site optical shop, contact lens fittings, cataract

their patients are trademark procedures of Dr. Kellis

surgery, eyelid surgery, glaucoma management, retinal

and are unavailable to other surgeons.

management, and aesthetic laser services. They accept

Kellis Eye & Laser Center provides unparalleled

both Amish Aid and Buckeye Plains Ministry. Let Kellis Eye & Laser Center improve your vision! //

quality care. Their track record is off the charts. For the past twenty-five years, they have had phenomenal results. Dr. Kellis told me that they treat their patients like family. There is someone there to take your call and

Kellis Eye & Laser Center

assist you six days a week. You will not see someone

150 7th Avenue, Suite 100, Chardon, Ohio 44024

else after surgery; the same surgeon will be with you

Phone: 440 - 285 - 2020

every step of the way.

Monday - Friday: 7:45am - 4:30pm

//

Fax: 440 - 285 - 8448

Saturday: Select Appointments Only

Because they offer Medicare levels and self-pay discounts, their patients save a tremendous amount

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CHALK IT UP TO A

GLOBAL FLOOD

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FEATURE STORY

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

words by: DR. ANDREW A. SNELLING At today’s rate of ocean-floor buildup, chalk layers would take millions of years to form. How do creationists explain them?

SC-RA-A-A-TCH! Skeep. Skri-i-itch.

Those sounds filled the classrooms when I was growing up in Australia, as teachers wrote with sticks of chalk on the chalkboards that lined the front of every classroom. It’s been a long time since teachers have regularly used those tools, but chalk has made a big comeback among craft-lovers, thanks to the spray paint that can turn any surface into a chalkboard.

When I was a boy, cringing at the occasional chalk squeak, I never realized these small white sticks actually came from a thick layer of rock made up of microscopic fossils.

That’s what chalk is: a soft, pure, fine-textured limestone that has a marine origin and is usually white. It consists primarily (90– 99%) of the mineral calcite, formed mainly by the shells of floating microorganisms, set in a very fine matrix.1 I learned that fact years later in my university geology class, where I was also taught about the famous White Cliffs of Dover

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along the coast of southern England. These cliffs are actually beds of chalk 350 feet (110 m) high. What a thrill it was when I later stood on the seashore looking up at these tall white cliffs!

The thrill was marred by one thought: university geology classes teach that these beds of chalk required millions of years to be deposited, as very tiny shells slowly sank and settled on the seafloor and mixed with lime to form an ooze.

Because of chalk beds fine-grained consistency and

voluminous

tiny

fossil

shells,

evolutionary

geologists have sought to explain their formation based on the limey ooze on today’s ocean floor. This ooze is widespread at depths shallower than 14,775 feet (4500 m). Evolutionary geologists claim that the ooze has accumulated one grain at a time, at a rate of between 0.008 and 0.08 inches (0.2–2 mm) per year.2 The ooze consists almost entirely of the tiny shells of singlecelled creatures, because fish and other large creatures get eaten or decay before they even reach the seafloor.

So it would take 100,000 to 1 million years to accumulate the 650-foot (200 m) thickness needed for the homogenous ooze to be converted into chalk.

Evolutionists claim the process of depositing chalk lasted for 40 million years.3 That’s the interpretation I USA, from Nebraska to Texas, and from Alabama to

heard in my university class, too.

However, since I’m a Christian who believes that

Colorado. They include the Niobrara Chalk in Kansas,

God’s Word provides the true account of the earth’s

which is famous for its astonishing variety of fossils.

history, and I don’t believe the earth is millions of years

Chalk beds are also found in the Perth Basin of southern

old, how could I respond?

Western Australia (the Gingin Chalk) and contain the

Let’s do some digging to resolve this apparent

same fossils as the English chalk beds, as well as the

enigma of the chalk beds.

same types of rock layers above and below them.

All these chalk beds are at the same relative level

The Extent Of The Chalk Beds

in the global geologic record. So they represent one

First, let’s take a look at where the main chalk

global sedimentary rock unit. This similarity explains

beds are located. The white chalk cliffs of Dover are an

why they have all been assigned to the Cretaceous

iconic English landmark, but similar chalk cliffs are also

geologic period. (The name itself is derived from creta,

found to the west along the southern English coast near

the Latin word for chalk.) Since they’re all at the same

Brighton, and to the north along part of the Yorkshire coast. The chalk beds that connect these areas are

level, we know all these chalk beds were deposited at

estimated to average over 1300 feet (400 m) in thickness.

the same time.

The same chalk beds also crop out along the Antrim

But did these chalk beds take 40 million years to

coast of Northern Ireland, and can be traced right across

accumulate? Absolutely not. The unusual, jumbled mix

Europe (France, Germany, Poland, and beyond) to Turkey,

of fossils dispels the evolutionary scenario of slow-and-

Egypt, Israel, and even Kazakhstan.

gradual accumulation of tiny grains in a placid sea over

Similar chalk beds are found in the Midwestern

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The Fossils In The Chalk The chalk fabric consists primarily of the tiny fossil remains of single-celled organisms called foraminifers, and of coccoliths (tiny plates which were the external skeletons of certain kinds of algae), set in a very finegrained calcite. Even more important is the existence of so many larger fossils found mixed in the chalk beds.

How did all these large, diverse creatures get buried in the ooze, unlike what we find on the ocean floor today?

The list of large fossils is huge. English chalk bed fossils include many big seafloor animals like sponges, corals, bryozoans (lace corals), brachiopods (lamp shells), bivalves (clams), gastropods (snails), ammonites, nautiloids, belemnites, arthropods (crabs and lobsters), and echinoderms (crinoids, starfish, and anemones).4 The chalk beds also contain a host of other creatures—the fossilized jaws and teeth of fish, and fossil remains of turtles, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, marine lizards, flying reptiles (pterosaurs), and even dinosaurs, which lived on land.

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The Niobrara Chalk in Kansas contains an even more impressive list of larger fossils—fish of various types up to 16 feet (5 m) long, sharks, turtles up to 13 feet (4 m) long; plesiosaurs up to 46 feet (14 m) long; mosasaurs up to 49 feet (15 m) long; pterosaurs with wingspans up to 30 feet (9 m); dinosaurs, such as ankylosaurs and hadrosaurs, up to 30 feet (9 m); and birds up to 6.5 feet (2 m) tall.5 How could so many large ocean-dwelling and landdwelling creatures get buried together in ooze on the ocean floor in the past, when this is not happening today?

The Biblical Flood Perspective Skeptics claim that it is impossible for the chalk beds to have been rapidly deposited during the yearlong biblical Flood. They say it would take a long time for the trillions of foraminifers and coccoliths to breed, grow, die, and be buried to produce these thick chalk beds all around the globe.

When they say this, they assume that ocean water conditions have always been like they are today. But during the global Flood cataclysm, water conditions were very different—hot volcanic waters and nutrients changed the water temperature and chemistry, which caused the rapid blooming of foraminifers and coccoliths in just hours, days, or weeks, not millions of years.6 These skeptics also ignore the fact that these chalk beds were deposited across the continents by ocean waters that rose high enough to completely flood the continents.

Meanwhile, the chalk beds are not found under the ocean floor where the limey ooze is today. And

THE CLIFFS OF DOVER IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND

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NEVER BE DISCOURAGED OR DISSUADED FROM BELIEVING WHAT GOD’S WORD TEACHES JUST BECAUSE A FEW SKEPTICS RAISE WHAT SEEM TO BE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS... today’s limey oozes are nowhere near as pure in calcium carbonate as the chalk beds formed in the past.

Where do we see limey ooze slowly accumulating on the continents today—and burying and fossilizing huge ocean dwellers (like the extinct plesiosaurs and mosasaurs) together with large land dwellers (like the extinct dinosaurs and pterosaurs)? Or what about the fossil found in the Kansas beds of the voracious predatory fish Xiphactinus audax, 13 feet (4 m) long with a nearly perfectly preserved 6-foot-long (1.8 m) fish Gillicus arcuatus inside of it?

Nowhere! We simply do not see such burial and fossilization happening today on such a massive and catastrophic scale.

To fossilize such large creatures, ginormous amounts of sediments had to bury them instantly before the creatures had time to escape. Fish are known to decompose quickly unless they are completely buried within a few days. Yet the fish found fossilized in the chalk beds show no signs of decay. So the claim that

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the chalk beds accumulated slowly—one grain at a time falling to the bottom of a placid sea—is demolished by the evidence of all these catastrophically buried fossils.

Now also remember that these chalk beds stretch around the globe. So a global distribution of the chalk beds required a global Flood cataclysm, just as the Bible describes.

Chalk It Up To Assumptions So what is the underlying message we have dug up?

Never be discouraged or dissuaded from believing what God’s Word teaches just because a few skeptics raise what seem to be difficult questions or insist they have evidence that contradicts the Bible. As in this case, closer examination reveals that what they claim as “evidence” is really their interpretation of the data based on their assumption that the Genesis Flood never occurred.

Like the scoffers Peter warned about in 2 Peter 3, they are willfully ignorant or deliberately rejecting God’s Word, and thus they refuse to consider any interpretation of the evidence that would point to the Genesis Flood having occurred. Instead, they are trying to prove what they have already assumed.

But for those of us who seek to know the Lord and understand His work, good answers can be found. Just look at common chalk. It offers phenomenal evidence for the veracity of the biblical Flood—yet another testimony that we can trust God and His Word. Chalk another one up to God’s Word. //

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS ARTICLE IS REPRINTED HERE BY PERMISSION OF ANSWERS IN GENESIS. (ANSWERS® AND ANSWERS IN GENESIS® ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF ANSWERS IN GENESIS, INC.) FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING ANSWERS IN GENESIS, GO TO WWW. ANSWERSINGENESIS.ORG,

WWW.CREATIONMUSEUM.ORG

AND

WWW.

ARKENCOUNTER.COM. FOOTNOTES 1) Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl, Jr., and J.A. Jackson. 2005. Glossary of Geology, fifth edition, p.107. Alexandria VA: American Geological Institute.

2) Blatt, H. 1992. Sedimentary Petrology, 2nd edition, p.259. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company 3) Smith, A.B. and D.J. Batten. 2002. Fossils of the Chalk, 2nd edition, p.1. London: The Palaeontological Association.

4) Smith, A.B. and D.J. Batten. 2002. Fossils of the Chalk, 2nd edition. London: The Palaeontological Association.

5) Everhart, M. J. 2005. Oceans of Kansas: A Natural History of the Western Interior Sea (Life of the Past). Bloomington IN: Indiana University Press.

6) Snelling, A.A. 1994. “Can Flood Geology Explain Thick Chalk Beds?” Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal 8.1:11-15. Accessible at: https://answersingenesis.org/ geology/sedimentation/can-flood-geology-explain-thick-chalk-beds/

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FEATURE STORY

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

the

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

TREASURE from WITHIN A Picture of Our Grief

words by: FERREE HARDY Sea creatures like clams and oysters lived far from rural Wisconsin, where I grew up. The closest I ever got to such creatures were the clams my brother and I found in the bottom muck of a lake. We’d greedily pry them open with a jackknife, hoping to find priceless pearls that would make us millionaires. We were just silly little kids, though. No pearls—just a slimy blob of flesh and mud. I quickly lost interest in both clams and pearls.

Imagine my surprise decades later when I took a part-time job in the fine-jewelry department of JCPenney and burst into tears over pearls. I experienced a “grief attack.” I quickly grabbed a tissue and shut the door to the room where I was watching a training video.

The video explained that pearls are the only gem created by a living creature. Sparkling diamonds, red rubies, blue sapphires, and all the other gems come from rocks and crystals. Most pearls are from oysters, but some are from clams, so at least my brother and I got that right. I also knew that they grew inside the oyster when a grain of sand gets stuck inside the shell.

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THAT OYSTER WAS A PICTURE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME AND CONTINUES TO REPEAT IN COUNTLESS WOMEN I’VE MET SINCE. What actually happens is that the grain of sand acts as an irritant, causing the oyster to secrete a milky, iridescent substance known as nacre. The nacre will smooth over and encase the irritant.

As more and more layers of nacre build up, a pearl is formed. The more layers of nacre, the more lustrous and beautiful the pearl. It’s as though bright light, sunsets, and crystal-clear water create a sheen between each layer. A good pearl almost glows. Compared to other gems, it’s obvious that the pearl came from life, not from rock. They’re the world’s most ancient of gems, too.

For over 100 years, man has been cultivating pearls by injecting oysters with irritants. Then the pearl farmer sits back and waits for the pearls to grow, much like a farmer waiting for his crop.

However, the salt-water pearl farmer will have to wait from five to twenty years for his “crop” to grow. The longer the pearl grows, the larger it gets. Pearls are harvested and sorted for size, quality, and color. When comparing pearls, you can actually see the faint blush of pink, blue, or green, or even black! And, of course, glimmering white and ivory. There is a shade of pearl to bring out the beauty of every woman.

The video was mildly interesting, certainly nothing for me to cry about. It described different types of irritants. For example, the pearl farmer may use different sizes of shell fragments to start his pearls. Out in the wild, an oyster is subject to grains of sand, bits of coral, or a microscopic corkscrew-shaped parasite. Suddenly, without any warning, the video showed this sharp corkscrewshaped worm zoom out of nowhere, pierce the defenseless oyster’s shell, and twist down deep into its soft body to suck the life out of it.

That’s when I lost it and began to weep.

That oyster was a picture of what had happened to me and continues to repeat in countless women I’ve met since. Our hearts have been pierced by widowhood. We have no defense. Our tears spill and flow to cover up our wound like the oyster’s beautiful, creamy nacre. Could God be creating something just as beautiful in us? That question never left me.

I enjoyed my job selling fine jewelry. I wasn’t very good at it, but it was fun to handle the colorful gems and gold chains. I loved to show them to customers and see their eyes gleam as though they were thinking of a better life.

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When holding precious gems in my hand, I could marvel at the verses in Revelation 21:19–21, which tell of the wall of God’s city—the New Jerusalem. It’s covered with precious stones, and the twelve gates are each made of a single pearl. This incredible wall drapes like a stunning necklace around the approximately 1,400-square-mile city! (That would be an area roughly the size of the continental USA, west of the Mississippi River.) The wall is 200 feet tall. How tall would the gates be? What size pearls would fit?

Would the pearls be ten feet tall? Twenty? Fifty?

Imagine with me how God would make them. Would He

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

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grow them in clams the size of Chicago? Or would He merely speak a word and have gigantic pearls at hand?

WOW! Like a popular Christian song about heaven says, “I can only imagine…”

Yet, as I think about God’s great love, kindness, and understanding, I wonder instead—might He use our tears for the nacre of His gates of pearl? There have been enough of them! “Put my tears in your bottle,” implores the psalmist in Psalm 56:8 (NASB).

What if layer upon layer of the tears of God’s people—generation after generation of His saints’ sufferings—all swelled up and melded together to create the amazing pearls for the gates of His city, each layered with the light of truth and hope shining through?

Nothing is ever wasted.

These are just my thoughts, but they’re because God has a wonderful way of making all things new. He’ll change death to eternal life, mourning to dancing, and our grief to His glory.

I will always see pearls where I once saw piercing: not only treasures from deep within little oysters, but treasures from deep within you and me, and from deep

REVELATION 21:19-21 KJV

within the heart of God.. // Until next month,

ferree l To learn more about widowhood, order a copy of Postcards from the Widows’ Path – Gleaning Hope and Purpose from the Book of Ruth, by Ferree Bowman Hardy. It’s a gentle, biblical guide for widows that has many saying, “This is the best I’ve ever read!” Please mail a check for $14.99/copy (paperback, 248 pgs.), along with your address to: Ferree Hardy, P.O. Box 5024, Florence, SC 29502. Allow 2 – 3 weeks for delivery. Free shipping for all JPV readers! www.WidowsChristianPlace.com

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FEATURE STORY

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GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

A RENEWAL MOVEMENT words by: MARCUS A. YODER In the years following the migration

of

Swiss

Anabaptists

north into the Rhine Valley, they settled

on

farms

and

estates

where they lived in a quiet but sometimes uneasy alliance with their neighbors and the noblemen who owned the estates. Forbidden to own land or build their own church houses, they met in small groups in their houses and barns.

Ministers and deacons were chosen from within the group. Their quiet worship was similar to what their parents

and

grandparents

had

experienced in Switzerland. Already these Anabaptists had a collective history of 175 years of martyrdom and pressure.

RHEINSTEIN CASTLE IN THE RHINE VALLEY (RHINE GORGE) IN GERMANY

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Here in the Rhine Valley, the Anabaptists, who were

practiced communion once a year, and those who

often known as Mennonists (after Menno Simmons),

could not attend often had to wait two years before

found many sympathetic supporters and even those

being able to partake in this special service. Again, with

who wished to attend their services but who did not

the freedom to worship (even though it was restricted)

formally break from the State Church. These quiet

came issues that had to be dealt with.

supporters, known as halb-taufer (half-Anabaptists) or

Some within the church, led by a fiery young

treuherzige (true-hearted), believed much of what the

minister named Jacob Amman, began to call for

Anabaptists taught but were not willing to separate

change and a return to the original vision of the early

from the State Church.

Anabaptists, with an emphasis on giving up one’s

These halb-taufer became an issue, as some within

life as a disciple of Christ. They reasoned that half-

the Anabaptists believed that the acceptance of these

hearted Christians could not be true to this vision,

people weakened their essential witness and their belief

and communion was a practice that should engage

that following Jesus required significant sacrifice. As

the life and suffering of Christ in the true believer’s

the Anabaptists experienced more freedom, issues

heart and life.

such as this became more evident. Freedom brought

Finally, in 1693–1700, after some debate, discussion,

much good, but it also created a challenging world that

and controversy, those who called for this renewal left

had to be navigated.

the larger group of Anabaptists. They were led by Jacob

Another issue during this time was the frequency

Amman and were soon known as Ammanischleut,

of communion. Most Anabaptist churches only

which later was shortened to the Amish we know today.

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THEY REASONED THAT...

COMMUNION WAS A PRACTICE THAT SHOULD ENGAGE THE LIFE AND SUFFERING OF CHRIST IN THE TRUE BELIEVER’S HEART AND LIFE. Whether we agree with Amman’s methods or even the issues that were present then, the issues are still before the Anabaptists today. What is true is that there was a genuine concern for the renewal of spirituality in the church. What should be the church’s response to the half-hearted Christianity that so much of the world believes in today? How should we deal with those who are not willing to give up all to follow Christ? How does renewal happen in our churches today? These are not new questions; rather, they are age-old questions that Christians of all eras have to wrestle with. Sometimes the answer to those questions is to take radical steps and engage a different way; at other times, it is a process wherein we bring about change by our own faithful lives and witness.

If you would like to learn more about Jacob Amman or other engaging stories from our history, please call or visit the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. We offer guided tours of "Behalt" - a 10 ft. x 265 ft. cyclorama oilon-canvas painting that illustrates the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people from their Anabaptist beginnings in Zurich, Switzerland, to the present day.

Behalt means “to keep” or “remember.” We are open Mon–Sat 9:00–5:00 and are located near Berlin; you can find us at 5798 County Road 77, Millersburg, OH 44654.

Please call (330) 893-3192 for more information or to schedule a day or evening group tour. //

MARCUS A. YODER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMISH & MENNONITE HERITAGE CENTER AND THE OHIO AMISH LIBRARY. HE IS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF CATHEDRALS, CASTLES, & CAVES: THE ORIGINS OF THE ANABAPTIST FAITH.

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FEATURE STORY

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GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

PT Part

One

I

OF MOOSE AND MEN

words by: TORRY MARTIN & DOUG PETERSON Early one morning, I had just trudged into the kitchen in search of coffee when I couldn’t help but notice a full-grown moose wandering only a few feet from our window. And I mean this moose was huge! Males can get as big as 800 pounds and eat more than 60 pounds of food a day—a pretty hefty amount for a plant eater. How many vegetarians do you know who put away 60 pounds of leafy greens every day? That’s a lot of trips to the salad bar.

I decided to help Mr. Moose in his pursuit of vegetation overload, so I tapped on the glass and slid our kitchen window open. After the Rudy the Reindeer incident, I had learned not to invite large mammals into my kitchen. I dangled a carrot in front of the moose’s nose, and he gobbled it down, kindly preserving my fingers in the process. That was fun, so I rummaged around in the refrigerator and brought out a second carrot, which he gobbled up in short order.

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CANINE CORNER

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...MOOSE ARE PERHAPS THE MOST DANGEROUS MAMMALS IN ALL OF ALASKA—RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE INJURIES THAN EVEN BEARS.

reached out with his ski pole and poked the moose from behind. The moose wheeled around and trampled him to death.

You may have heard the expression, “Don’t poke a bear.” Apparently, that applies to moose too.

In another case that made Alaska news, a moose stepped over a lady’s backyard fence in search of food.

Although moose are massive, they have long, spindly legs, so this guy could easily step over her fence.

I had lived in Alaska long enough to know that

The lady, realizing that her little dog was out in the

moose are perhaps the most dangerous mammals in

backyard with an uninvited moose, rushed out to save

all of Alaska—responsible for more injuries than even

her pet—and was trampled to death.

bears. People generally assume that moose, being slow

Rob and I had already learned firsthand how

moving (except when they’re charging at you), are as

touchy a moose can get, especially a female protecting

lovably dense as Bullwinkle of cartoon fame. They

her young. On an entirely different morning at the

don’t give the animal the respect it deserves.

cabin, I walked by the large picture window in our living room and thought, Is that a moose and her

For example, I heard about a cross-country skier

newborn calves?

who didn’t give a moose any respect—or distance.

While skiing along a path near the University of Alaska,

I moved closer to the glass and peered out. Yes, that

this fellow came upon a moose blocking his way, so he

definitely was a female moose, and she had just given

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birth to twins! It made for a heartwarming scene. The

right here, so you’re staying in there. Don’t even think

calves were incredibly cute as they struggled to rise up

about leaving.” A mother moose looks at everyone as

on their wobbly legs. They looked around in wonderment

someone who might potentially want to eat one of her

and nuzzled their mother, who was probably saying to

babies. One look at me, and she was probably thinking,

them, “It’s okay, this is the world. We own it.”

“That guy is going to eat both of them.”

The mother moose was only about six feet from our

Moose have sharp teeth, but you have to be

cabin, between our burn barrel and the picture window.

especially wary of their legs. They can kick with both

Moose often give birth to twins, although one of the

their rear and front legs, and they can even kick to the

pair inevitably doesn’t make it through the first winter.

side with them, which may explain why moose are

For the next two days, the mother remained close to

considered the Chuck Norris of the animal kingdom.

our house with her two calves because she didn’t want

So we weren’t going anywhere. For two whole days!

to journey far until her babies were strong enough. As

Finally, on the third day—a good biblical number—

a result, we were stuck in our cabin. Seriously.

mother moose left the scene with her two calves in tow,

Whenever Rob or I opened the door to the cabin,

and we could get on with our lives.

mama moose went on high alert. She stared in our

My only other direct encounter with a moose came

direction and began snorting a warning. She would

on a snowy afternoon when I was returning from the

lower her head, and her ears would flatten back, a sure

grocery store with bags of food. We kept our 200-yard

sign that she was preparing to do a tap dance on our

path to the cabin passable by packing the snow down

backs. Each time, we would quickly retreat into our

on a daily basis. When Rob left for work in the morning,

cabin. The mother moose was telling us, “My twins are

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suppose I was not being completely sane when I decided to toss my canned goods in the animal’s direction. I wasn’t going to throw the canned goods directly at the moose—that would be a sure way to end my life. I thought I would toss them to the side of the moose so he might see them in his peripheral vision and think, “Oh my, it’s raining canned goods. I should leave.”

Moose are easily fooled. With a brain the size of a grapefruit, they’re not the smartest animals on earth. I don’t know if you have ever tried talking to a grapefruit, but if you have, you know they’re not too bright.

Of course, I shouldn’t talk. Considering some of the things I had done in Alaska, most moose in my area were probably telling each other, “Don’t worry about the guy with the crazy hair. He has a brain the size of a peach pit.”

The moose on our path busily nibbled from a nearby tree. (The word “moose” comes from an Algonquin word that means “twig eater.”) So I hurled my can of tomato sauce, and it disappeared into the snow a little to his right. Oblivious, the moose just kept on eating, so I tossed my can of tomato paste in his direction. Still no success.

Then I tossed my can of tomatoes, and the moose just continued to nibble. By this time, he was probably beginning to think I was the dinner entertainment. This

the path, packing down the trail in the process. That

was the moose equivalent of eating while watching TV,

way, we always maintained a sled’s-width trail through

and I was his comedy show.

the snow from our cabin to our car.

Eventually, after I had used up all of my ammunition

On this particular day, I discovered that a male moose

except my box of pasta, the moose ambled away,

had stumbled across our trail and probably thought,

clearing my path. But there was still a problem. When I

“Oh look! Some friendly moose friends have created this

started hurling my groceries, I assumed I could retrieve

path just for me!” I spotted the moose blocking my path

everything once the moose was gone. I hadn’t considered

when I was about 30 feet from the animal. Because our

the six feet of snow on either side of the trail. I had just

path was barely the width of my sled, which was loaded

lost all my groceries in the six-foot drifts and wouldn’t

with groceries, I was stuck between a moose and a hard

see them again until the snow melted in spring.

place. To retreat to my Jeep, I would have had to step

That night we had buttered noodles for dinner. //

over the length of my sled, which would have been a challenge. The snow was too deep on both sides of the trail to go around the sled.

TO BE CONTINUED

My other option was to find a way to get the moose to leave. Folks in Alaska often carry bottle rockets in their pocket just for this type of situation. You wouldn’t dare shoot a bottle rocket directly at a moose, but you

TAKEN FROM: OF MOOSE AND MEN. COPYRIGHT © 2016 BY TORRY MARTIN

could shoot it near the animal to scare it off. On this day,

AND DOUG PETERSON. PUBLISHED BY HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS, EUGENE,

however, I did not have any rockets in my pockets, so I

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OREGON.

PERMISSION.

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WWW.HARVESTHOUSEPUBLISHERS.COM.

USED

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FEATURE STORY

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

GOD OF WONDERS

WIDOW'S PATH

OUR HERITAGE

GREAT OUTDOORS

CANINE CORNER

THE CANINE CORNER

PARVOVIRUS words by puppy expert: DR. THERESA HOXWORTH Canine parvovirus is a relatively common disease, and I have decided to do a quick overview of basic facts in this article. Canine parvovirus is most common in puppies from six weeks old to six months old. Older animals are rarely affected, especially if they are current on their vaccinations. Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, English Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers seem to be at higher risk for infection and develop a more severe form of the disease.

Signs of parvovirus include vomiting, not eating, depression, fever or low temperature, severe fluid to bloody diarrhea, and rapid weight loss. Some puppies can die suddenly and may have not even developed signs of diarrhea at the time of death. You may see one or two pups in a litter that have only slight symptoms, but other pups in the litter die later while the first ones survive. This is because

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the first pups were exposed to parvovirus and recovered but spread large amounts of the virus to the rest of their littermates, causing them to have more severe disease and death.

Parvovirus is spread by the fecal-oral route.

During the time that an animal is sick and for at least one to two weeks after they have recovered, the animal can shed large amounts of the virus in the feces. The virus is also very difficult to kill in the environment and can live outside the body and in the ground for a very long time, possibly for months. Signs of disease usually begin four to seven days after an animal has been exposed to

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the virus. Stress, overcrowded or unclean kennels

rare cases, this may be the only way to confirm the

or environment, and the amount and type of

diagnosis of parvo.

the virus to which the animal was exposed may

Since parvo is caused by a virus, there is no

increase the severity of the disease. The presence

treatment except supportive care and medications

of other diseases such as canine distemper,

to control the symptoms. A large volume of fluid is

coronavirus, salmonella, campylobacter, coccidia,

lost when the animal is vomiting and has diarrhea,

giardia, and other intestinal parasites can also

so the most important goal is to keep the animal

have an effect.

hydrated. This can be done by giving the animal

Testing for canine parvovirus is usually

fluids under the skin, or if the animal is very sick,

performed on the stool using an ELISA test. It can

they can be given intravenous fluids. Medications

usually be detected at the onset of symptoms and

should be administered to control the vomiting

for at least two to four days after symptoms have

and diarrhea, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic

developed. Occasionally, false-negative tests can

should be given to prevent secondary bacterial

occur—animals that are showing signs of parvo

infections and septicemia. These medications

but have had one negative test should be retested

should be given in the form of an injection since

forty-eight hours after the first negative test. If

oral medications will likely cause vomiting.

the test is still negative but the animal dies or if

Sometimes a blood transfusion will be required if

other animals have shown similar signs, it would

a lot of blood has been lost due to bloody diarrhea.

be beneficial to perform a necropsy and have

Other medications may be helpful in some

tissues sent to a laboratory for further analysis. In

instances: a human antiviral medication called

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Tamiflu and antiendotoxin hyperimmune serum

from vaccines, so it is not helpful to vaccinate

(Septi-serum) have been used with some success.

very young puppies with parvo vaccine. The age

Affected animals should not receive food or

at which each puppy responds to a vaccine is

water until vomiting has been absent for twelve

variable; therefore, it is essential to administer a

to twenty-four hours. Then, only water should be

series of vaccines to all pups.

provided first, followed by gradual introduction

Most veterinarians recommend beginning a

to a bland diet. Some animals may survive

vaccine series at six to eight weeks of age (I usually

parvovirus with aggressive support and nursing

recommend six weeks) with booster vaccines given

care. After recovery, animals develop an immunity

every three to four weeks until the puppy is at least

to parvovirus that usually lasts at least two years,

twelve weeks of age. If you are vaccinating a high-

or possibly even longer.

risk breed listed previously, the puppy should have

Vaccination and prevention of exposure

an extra booster at fifteen to sixteen weeks of age.

to the virus are key factors in developing a

Do not give booster vaccines closer than two weeks

parvovirus control program. Vaccinations should

apart because that can cause the second vaccine

be kept up-to-date on adult dogs that are used

not to work properly. In dogs older than sixteen

for breeding because immunity to parvovirus

weeks of age that have never been vaccinated, it is

is passed through the mother's milk to protect

recommended to give at least two vaccines three

young puppies until they are old enough to

to four weeks apart. After receiving the series of

vaccinate. The antibody that a pup receives from

vaccines, adult dogs should be vaccinated yearly.

the mother's milk interferes with antibodies

A somewhat controversial vaccine called Neopar

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may be recommended for puppies at four weeks of age and in certain high-risk situations.

The parvo vaccine has not been shown to cause disease after it has been administered. If an animal develops parvo within five days of vaccination, it was likely exposed to the virus around the time it was vaccinated. Any animal that has tested positive for parvovirus or is exhibiting signs of parvovirus needs to be kept separate from all other animals. A bleach solution diluted at a 1:30 ratio is effective at killing parvovirus on surfaces. Not all disinfectants will kill parvovirus, so it is important to determine if the disinfectant you are using is effective against parvovirus. It is next to impossible to eliminate parvovirus from the ground once it has been contaminated with the virus. Another important control method is to keep young puppies isolated from adult animals as much as possible for the first three months of their life.

With strict sanitation and vaccination, canine parvovirus can be controlled in an environment. The consequences of not developing a plan to control this disease can have devastating results.

Canine parvovirus is a very broad topic, and many people have differing views and opinions on treatment, spread, prevention, and so forth. I recommend discussing any concerns you might have with your veterinarian immediately if you suspect a parvo case. // IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR TO SUGGEST FUTURE TOPICS, DR. TERESA HOXWORTH CAN BE REACHED AT DANVILLE VETERINARY CLINIC (740) 599 - 5991.

A MICROSCOPIC VIEW OF A VIRUS SIMILAR TO PARVOVIRUS

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FUNDS an d BENEFITS //

SAMUEL KING JR. FUND

Samuel King Jr. is the son of Sam and Anna King. Sam, 18, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer and is receiving treatment in Mexico. He has a lot of ongoing expenses.

Thank you for your support. Make checks payable to Samuel King Jr. Fund. Send to Bank of Bird in Hand, 309 N. Ronks Rd., Bird in Hand, PA 17505. Attn: Sam and Anna King.

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RUDY AND LINDA YODER FUND

A fund has been set up for Rudy and Linda Yoder. Linda is sixty-nine years old and is fighting cancer. Expenses are high. Any donations would be greatly appreciated, and can be sent to Linda Yoder Benefit Fund, NBT Bank, 41 Canal St., Fort Plain, NY 13339.

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MILAN AND MARILYN RABER FUND

A fund has been set up for Milan and Marilyn Raber. Milan has been in the hospital for fourteen weeks with Guillain Barré Syndrome and the West Nile virus and needs a lot of rehab. Thank You, and God Bless. Make checks payable to Mt. Hope Charities, PO Box 19, Mt. Hope, OH 44660. Attn. Mt. Hope West Church.

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MARVIN ESH FUND

Marvin and Mary Esh of Reberburg, PA, are currently in Arizona—where they will stay for several months—obtaining medical care for Marvin’s health issues. They are a young couple and have a dairy farm. In the spring of 2018, Marvin had a plowing accident and is also dealing with a severe case of Lyme disease. They have also dealt with a bad case of mold and other infections.

The expenses are very high in Arizona, and income is low. Thank you for helping them. Make checks payable to First National Bank, PO Box 444, Millheim, PA 16854. Memo: Marvin Esh Fund.

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//

BARBARA KING FUND

A fund has been set up for Barbara King, 70, daughter of the late Aquilla and Mary King.

She has muscular dystrophy, and has no income. She is spending time with David & Clara Miller in Ohio, and has many ongoing expenses. Send deposits to First National Bank, PO Box 444, Millheim, PA 16854. Make checks payable to M. Barbara King Fund.

//

LARRY & DIANA WEAVER FUND

A fund has been set up for Larry and Diana Weaver. Diana is taking treatments for colon cancer. She has chemo for four months, then radiation five days a week for six weeks, followed by surgery in Columbus. Thank you and God bless you for sharing. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Mt. Hope Charities Inc., PO Box 19, Mt. Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Winesburg NW Church.

//

LEROY & ESTHER MILLER FUND

A fund has been set up for Leroy and Esther Miller. Esther had a bike accident and broke her leg in multiple places. She needed three surgeries and therapy afterward. Their son Eddie was in an accident in 2011 and still needs assistance and therapy. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Mount Hope Charities Inc., PO Box 19, Mount Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Mt. Hope Middle East Church #125.

//

SUSAN HOCHSTEDLER FUND

A fund has been set up for Mrs. Susan Hochstedler and her family of five children, ages one to thirteen years old. Her husband, Clemance, died in a farming accident on January 9.

All donations are appreciated. Make checks payable to Mt. Hope Charities Inc., PO Box 19, Mt. Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Salt Creek North Church.

//

ARLEN AND WANDA MULLET FUND

A fund has been set up for Arlen and Wanda Mullet. Arlen 31, fell at home and fractured several vertebrae in his neck. He is currently paralyzed from his chest down. They are facing large medical and rehab expenses. They have 2 children, ages 1 and 6. Thank you for your prayers and support. Make checks payable to Mt. Hope Charities, Inc., Po Box 19, Mt. Hope, OH 44660. Attn: Fairview West Church.

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If you are conducting a fundraiser to assist with medical or hardship expenses, please let us know and we will be happy to feature it for one month at no cost.

Funds must be payable to a bank, church, or charitable organization.

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INDEX of ADVERTISERS 207 Window & Doors page 28

Holmes Rental Services page 77

Oscar's Horse Minerals page 60

ABC Foundations page 14

Homestead Furniture page 50

Pomerene Hospital page 10

Akron Children's Hospital page 22

Immunity Therapy Center page 28

Precision Orthopaedic Specialties page 46

Arise Tents page 19

JPV Press page 26, 27

Premier 1 Supplies page 66

Backyard Herbs page 29

JW Promotions page 80

Quality SIPs page 39

Berlin Family Eyecare page 54

Killbuck Savings Bank page 47

R&K Enterprise page 17

Berlin Gravely Sales page 39

Luxis page 3

Skinner's Salve page 61

Boontown Sprayer page 29

Main Street Pharmacy page 61

Skyline Homes page 14

Brown's Furniture page 38

Maysville Elevator page 72

Sugar Valley Bicycle page 29

Charm Fabrics page 4

Maysville Harness page 69

Summit Valley Fabrics page 76

Charm Sweet Shop page 42

Mid-Ohio Sporting Goods page 65

Suppan Foot & Ankle Clinic page 34

Charm Wellness Center page 38

Miller Hardware page 76

Swiss Valley Tours page 68

Chestnut Ridge Sewing page 39

Miller Packaging page 77

Time and Optics page 28

Creative Holmes page 43

MotherCare Center page 38, 54

Troyer Websites page 73

Delta Mustad Hoofcare Center page 18

Mt. Eaton Greenhouse page 60

Trumbull Regional Medical Center page 59

Dry Point Solutions page 54

Mt. Eaton Care Center page 69

University Hospitals page 84

Dutchman Hospitality Group page 43

Mt. Healthy Hatchery page 38

Utility Pipeline page 80

E-Bikes of Holmes County page 2

Mt. Hope Harness & Shoe page 64

VISION 2020 page 16

Fairview Painting page 55

MWSB, Inc. page 35

Valley View Concrete page 55

First Choice Concrete page 72

My MedicalHUB page 60

Wooster Community Hospital page 34

First Choice Mattress page 50

Navarre Dentistry & Orthodontics page 34

Yoder Bargain Store page 68

First Federal Community Bank page 55

Network Radiology page 22

Yoder Drilling & Geothermal page 19

Forever Lawn page 61

Nexalin Technology page 82

Yoder Window page 76

Green Country Tours page 83

NutriSprout page 68

Holmes Power page 69

Nutrition Wellness Center page 5

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When contacting our advertisers, please mention that you saw their ads in Plain Values magazine.

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