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PLAIN VALUES
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Cultivating Anchored Community MARLIN MILLER
Publisher
KEVIN BILLE
General Manager
MATT YODER
Sales Advisor // Ohio
AARON STUTZMAN ELAM STOLTZFUS
Sales Advisor // Indiana Sales Advisor // Penn.
NIC STOLTZFUS
Editorial Director
JAN SCHLABACH
Customer Service
BETHANY TROYER
Bookkeeping
ISAAC HERSHBERGER
Graphic Artist
SETH YODER
Graphic Artist
LANDON TROYER
Photographer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sgt. David Swanson
Marcus A. Yoder
Nic Stoltzfus
Jim Zumbo
Merissa A. Alink
W.H. "Chip" Gross
Ferree Hardy
MAY AD SALES DEADLINE
//
April 6, 2021
Plain Values is published monthly by Room to Bloom. Room to Bloom is a nonprofit, tax-exempt Section 501(c)(3) organization. Please contact us with any questions regarding Plain Values.
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THE FORMALITIES This publication and its contents are © 2021, Room to Bloom. 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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ISSUE 94
CONT OPERATION 6:12
// 19
Their facilities are open to people dealing with drug addictions, sexual addictions, depression, and anxiety.
THINK ABOUT IT: THE DANGER OF ALCOHOL
HELP BEYOND FAMILY
// 11
The United States has less than five percent of the world's population, but uses two-thirds of the world’s illegal drugs. Add to that alcohol, which of course is legal, and it is obvious that our country has a major problem.
MINUTE WITH MARLIN
PLAIN VALUES
Thoughts and ramblings from Marlin Miller, publisher of Plain Values. // page 9
GOOD STUFF WITH KEVIN
This month, Kevin discusses the importance of accountability. // page 51
FUNDS AND BENEFITS
Every month we provide a listing of opportunities to help out those in need. // page 50
ON THE COVER
"Alcohol is the most abused drug, and it is also a gateway into other drug use. " 4
// 31
This Easter season, the words of Christ on the cross captured me, especially what he spoke to his mother, Mary.
ENTS VISION DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF LANCASTER
ARMENIA // 22
A trusted source for solving vision problems.
THE WORD IN PRINT //
37
The first book he printed for sale was the Bible in Latin, which became known as the Gutenberg Bible.
// 26
APRIL 202 1
CHOCOLATE PUDDING
// 29
Discover the nations of the world in our new "Prayers for the Nations" section– featuring one country each month.
This old-fashioned chocolate pudding is so good that I could eat it instead of ice cream.
SO... YOU WANT TO HUNT A TURKEY! // 41
FINDING FORGIVENESS IN THE TURKEY WOODS
Jim Zumbo is our newest columnist, introducing “All Things Outdoors."
It was then that my mind registered the terrifying and unbelievable fact...
// 46
This section of Plain Values is devoted to showcasing local goods and services to our readers. Each reader will enjoy one of four editions, depending on where they live. Our hope is that the "Plain Pages” can be a resource in finding local businesses to assist you in your needs as well as in your wants. // pages 34
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ONE MINUTE WITH MARLIN Fanny Crosby was born in 1820 and died in 1915. In between, she wrote more than 9,000 hymns and many lines of poetry. She also memorized the Bible — an amazing amount of the Bible! She could quote the Pentateuch (Genesis all the way to Deuteronomy), the Gospels, Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and many chapters and verses from Psalms. She did all these things in the dark. She became ill at two months of age and, with the family doctor away, another man who pretended to be a doctor treated her eyes with a hot mustard concoction. She eventually recovered, but her sight was gone. It is a wonderful joy to know, deep down, and to watch God use the happenings of our daily lives to mold us and accomplish things that can only be attributed to Him, to the Praise of His glory! Had Fanny not lost her ability to see, we may not have many classic hymns teaching us simple yet profound biblical truths. Among them are “Blessed Assurance,” “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” “To God Be the Glory,” “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior,” “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Rescue To our new friend Mike who will be celebrating his 26th birthday on the 17th of April, all of us from Plain Values shout a Happy Birthday in your direction!
the Perishing,” and “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.” In what way is He using things in your past to teach you? Are we even paying attention? I hope so, and I look forward to meeting her someday. Fanny continued to write her poetry up to her death, a month shy of her ninety-fifth birthday. “You will reach the river brink, some sweet day, bye and bye,” was her last stanza. What a wonderful poem the Lord is writing with the lives of those who love him! As always, may you find joy in the simple things. //
MARLIN MILLER publisher of Plain Values // always looking for more friends
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THINK ABOUT IT
the danger
of alcohol
words by: RET. SGT. DAVID SWANSON
Ashley's Story Ashley was a beautiful high school senior. It was a few days before graduation, and Ashley’s grandparents had just arrived from Boston to be with her on graduation day. Ashley was an honor student and was looking forward to a bright future: she had just been accepted to the University of Michigan’s Nursing School. With her love for helping other people, Ashley was going to become a nurse. That evening, Ashley went out for coffee with two of her classmates, Michael and Andrew. They were graduating with Ashley in a few days, as well. The three students had a good time at the coffee shop, reminiscing about their senior year and chatting about their summer plans. When they were finished with their coffee, they quickly ran out to Michael’s car so as not to get wet from the rain. It was a drizzly ride back to Ashley’s house, and Michael was trying to drive with extra care. At the light only a few miles from Ashley’s house, Michael slowed down and stopped when it turned red. The light changed from red to green, and he pulled out into the intersection.
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A vehicle before a drunk driver took the wheel. PHOTO BY RET. SGT. DAVID SWANSON
could injure or kill me and another one of my friends. It scares me to DEATH! Literally! If something were to happen, and I can’t say how I feel, please make sure my
The three teenagers had no idea what hit them. A
parents know that I love them and Adam with all my
drunk driver ran the red light at the intersection and
heart, even though I don’t always show it I do.”
t-boned Michael’s car.
In the blink of an eye, four families were changed
The intoxicated driver was a wife and mother of an
forever.
eleven-year-old child. Her softball game that afternoon
As a member of our police department’s fatal crash
had been rained out. Instead of going home to her
reconstruction team, I responded to many serious car
family, she went to a bar. She ran the red light at 86 miles
crashes. In nearly half of the fatal crashes someone was
an hour, so drunk that she didn’t even consider touching
under the influence of a mind-altering drug, usually
her brakes.
alcohol.
It looked like a bomb went off in the center of the street. Everyone in this car crash was killed. I was the
Biblical teaching on Alcohol
police officer who went to Ashley’s home to deliver the
As a police officer, parents would share with me
horrible news to her family: her parents, grandparents,
about how worried they were about their children
and brother Adam.
potentially using illicit drugs. As a Christian I became
On the morning of Ashley’s funeral, her parents
interested, above all else, in what God has to say
found a diary in her bedroom. The diary was Ashley’s
to parents. In the Bible, there is a formula that–if
secret book. Sitting on her bed, Mother and Father
followed–will decrease the use of mind-altering drugs
opened the book and began to read Ashley’s own words:
among young people.
“Dear God, I wanted to write and say I just heard the
Place your faith in God. Follow His ways as best
best poem about a girl who didn’t drink but got killed by
we can and place an importance on this in the home.
a drunk driver. The poem is sad but true. It's never the
This begins with repentance and with surrendering
person who drank who gets hurt. It's scary to think of all
our lives to the Lord Jesus who paid the debt for our
the people I know who drink and maybe a friend of mine
PLAIN VALUES
sins on Calvary’s cross (Romans 5:8-9). 12
The family unit is connected. Family prayer, Bible
Societal effects of alcohol
reading, and church are priorities. Someone once
“Alcohol has drained more blood, hung more crepe,
said, “The most important work you and I do in life
sold more homes, plunged more people into bankruptcy,
will be within the walls of our own homes.” Families
armed more villains, slain more children, snapped
need to love, respect, praise, share and grow together.
more wedding rings, defiled more innocence, blinded
Adults must provide, protect and lead by example
more eyes, twisted more limbs, dethroned more reason,
(Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
wrecked more manhood, broken more hearts, blasted
Parents need to be in the home. It's not a matter of
more lives, driven more to suicide, and dug more graves
quality or quantity time, it’s both. Studies have shown
than any other poisoned scourge that every swept its
that when parents speak, young people listen (Proverbs
death-dealing waves across the world.”
22:6). A study by the National Center on Addiction and
– EVANGELINE BOOTH, 4th General of the Salvation Army
Substance Abuse showed that teens who sat down to have dinner with their families six or seven times a
The United States has less than five percent of the
week were about half as likely to use alcohol and illicit
world's population, but uses two-thirds of the world’s
drugs as those who ate dinner with the family twice a
illegal drugs. Add to that alcohol, which of course is
week or less. Wow!
legal, and it is obvious that our country has a major
Respect yourself. Never forget we all are created
problem. It’s time to get angry at all the hurt, death and
by a loving God who has a plan and a purpose for our
destruction caused by mind-altering drugs. Alcohol
lives! Both young people and adults need to place a
is the most abused drug, and it is also a gateway into
high value on themselves (Ephesians 2:10).
other drug use.
On top of that, our future is secure in Heaven if we have placed our faith and trust in Jesus. Now that is good news!
The same vehicle after its intoxicated driver lost control. PHOTO BY RET. SGT. DAVID SWANSON
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It’s interesting how as a society we became angry at the huge number of deaths caused by cigarette smoking. The result has been a big decrease in smoking. Same with soda pop. Society, based on medical fact, learned that drinking soda is not good for our health. The result? People are drinking less soda pop, and some people have even given up soda pop completely! Alcohol is bad for your health. It causes mental health issues, leads to broken relationships, and can even make you more susceptible to diseases, like Covid-19. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), alcohol compromises the immune system. A weakened immune system increases your risk of catching the virus, and, when you get the virus, it will damage your body more since your immune system can’t fight back at normal levels. Especially dangerous is the connection between alcohol and driving. According to FBI statistics, over a million people are arrested in the United States every year for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a mind-altering drug, usually alcohol. In 2019 alone, there were 1,024,508 arrests made for intoxicated driving. This works out to one arrest for every 222 licensed drivers. Even with the good effort by police departments across our country, thousands of innocent people, doing everything right, continue to be murdered every year on
The truth is that mind-altering drugs, of which
our nation's roadways by people who choose to drive while
alcohol is number one, are at the root of many homicides,
under the influence. Additionally, thousands of people are
suicides, drownings, serious car crashes, boating and
injured, some very seriously, by intoxicated drivers.
snowmobile crashes, accidental fire deaths, assaults of all
A lot of money is spent on advertising alcoholic
kinds–including rape – and neglect and abuse of children.
beverages. Here are some of the messages that advertisers
Add to that numerous health issues costing millions of
promote:
dollars. According to the Center for Disease Control and
Drink and be successful! Drink and be popular!
Prevention, 95,000 people die annually from alcohol-
Drink and be happy! Drink and be athletic! Drink and get
related causes. These are classified as preventable deaths.
back to nature! Drink and be a winner!
We can prevent this loss of life.
These messages are not true.
Alcohol is a deadly drug. We need to feel compelled not only to abstain ourselves from drinking, but also to help others, especially our children, to do likewise.
"According to the Center for
Alcohol's effects on the family
Disease Control and Prevention,
cream-puff when it should be treated like a rattlesnake.”
“The problem with alcohol is that we treat it like a – BILL SUNDAY, American evangelist
95,000 people die annually
According to USA Today, in 2017, 90,000 children in our
from alcohol-related causes."
country were removed from their families because of a parent who had a substance-abuse problem. 15
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