Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
On the days when I get really fearful, I say a tiny prayer. It’s called a breath prayer. During a series my pastor in Connecticut taught on the Beatitudes, he taught us how to say breath prayers — short, gritty prayers that get right to the point.
Here’s a link to the column at FOX News.
| Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. |
| Psalm 105:4 (Read all of Psalm 105:4) New International Version |
By Rick Warren
“I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing; make something of me. You [God] can do it; you’ve got what it takes” (Psalm 40:17 The Message).
You’ve probably seen all of these results from your own anger and the anger of others. The Bible is also clear on the ultimate conclusion of our inappropriately expressed anger. Proverbs 11:29 says, “The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left.”
Think of the impact anger has on your family. As parents, we’re often tempted to use anger to motivate our children. It works in the short-term. When you get angry, you put the fear of God (or the fear of you) into your children. Your kids may give you short-term obedience, but you’ll lose in the long-term.
The end result of misplaced anger is alienation. You alienate the very people you love the most. Eventually, you’ll get more anger back and finally just apathy. No one wants to be around you.
The truth is, you always lose when you lose your temper. You may lose your reputation, your job, your children, or the love of your husband or wife when you don’t control your anger.
And it’s never worth that price tag.
By Rick Warren
“Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back” (Proverbs 29:11 GNT).
Think before you speak. Delay is a tremendous remedy for anger. You don’t need to delay indefinitely. If you’ve got an issue you need to deal with, you need to do so. Anger delayed indefinitely becomes bitterness. That’s worse than anger. Anger isn’t always a sin. Bitterness is.
If you respond impulsively, you tend to respond in anger. If you wait to talk about whatever conflict you’re dealing with, you’ll be more rational and reasonable when you do. The longer you hold your temper, the better your response will be. Give yourself time to think.
When conflict arises and you give yourself time to think, what should you think about? Consider these five questions:
T: Is it truthful? Is what I’m about to say the truth?
H: Is it helpful? Or will it simply harm the other person?
I: Is it inspirational? Does it build up or does it tear down?
N: Is it necessary? If it’s not necessary, why do I need to say it?
K: Is it kind?
THINK before you speak. Reflect before you react. It’ll slow down your anger every time.
| I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. |
| Psalm 143:6 (Read all of Psalm 143:6) New International Version |
By Rick Warren
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).
It’s natural. We’re not in control. But that realization should drive us to trust God more deeply.
We might not be in control of our future, but God is. He created the whole universe. If he wanted to, the Lord could just snap it out of existence in a moment. Yet he is working his plan in history. He is moving history to a climax, a destiny. One day Jesus Christ will come back to Earth. Nothing will stop that. Just as he is working in history to move events toward that day, he will work in your life for a purpose, too — if you’ll let him.
The Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).
God’s Word doesn’t say that everything is good. It also doesn’t say that God causes everything. He doesn’t cause war. He doesn’t cause cancer. He doesn’t cause rape, abortion, abuse, or molestation. He doesn’t cause evil. We do that. God gives us the freedom to choose. Evil is the price of that freedom.
But the Bible does say that God causes everything to work together for good. He can take the dumb, evil, and bad decisions I’ve made in my life and use them for good if I’ll trust him. Romans 8:28 isn’t a promise for everyone, though. It’s for “those who love God.” It’s for those who trust God and say, “Here, Lord, you take all the broken pieces of my life and put them together.”
This is why when I read the headlines each day, I don’t worry. Sure, there are a lot of problems in the world today, but God is still in control. God is still moving history to a climax. And God is still moving his people toward his best for them. One day God will work everything out for his purpose.
Because God is in control, we can trust him with everything — including the good, the bad, and the ugly of our lives.
By Pastor Jimmy Russell
Trina was a US missionary in Romania when the refugees began pouring into Europe from war-torn countries. As Trina met some of these displaced people, her heart cried for them. As Trina visited refugee camps, she began to see the people as individuals, rather than just being part of a group. She traveled to dangerous places to help meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Rather than focusing on the danger, Trina focused on the need. She fully realized that she could be hurt or killed, but she had the same attitude as Queen Esther, who also knew the danger and still decided to rescue her people.
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Prayer Suggestion: Lord, You may not call me to enter refugee camps or rescue a nation. But help me courageously answer no matter what You call me to do.
—
I got this, said House Speaker Michael Madigan after a fellow Democrat in the state Senate was accused of bad behavior. I won’t tolerate harassment and bullying in Illinois politics, Madigan insisted, after two of his operatives were accused of abuse. You can trust me to fix the culture, Madigan repeated after his deputy majority leader also faced allegations.
Here’s a link to the editorial at the Chicago Tribune.
| Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. |
| Galatians 6:7-9 (Read all of Galatians 6:7-9) New International Version |
FARM CITY DAYS 2018 and FARM SAFETY GRANT
By Gay Bowlin
This is the second year that we have made Farm City Days a reality. With a lot of planning and some amazing volunteers and sponsors the event was a huge success.
Ralph and Virginia Smith, lifelong Franklin County Farmers were parade marshals and with several entries the parade started the event off at 4pm.
One of biggest draws was the Inflatables in the Kids Area. We had 10 bounce houses/slides and/or games that we rented from Affordable Bounce Company LLC along with a “Corn Bin” with corn provided by Consolidated Grain and Barge for kids to play in. This year we added a little something special to one of the “corn bins” several times during the event we would hide quarters and the kids were then find as many quarters as they could and then they got to keep them all. Just like last year everything in the Kids Area was FREE .
Franklin County Farm Bureau’s tent was located on the square where we gave away 200 Official Farm City Days t-shirts and thanks in part from a grant provided by the Illinois Farm Bureau and COUNTRY Financial we had personal first aid kits, we provided sun screen, water, Share the Road Bumper Strips, U Text U Wreck Window Clings along with several other items that people could register for. There were several tractors on display and farmers spoke about safety on the roadways.
The Franklin County 4-H set up a kiddie tractor pull in the Kids Area.
Franklin County COUNTRY Financial Representatives Adrienne Mason and Mike Brachear were on hand with giveaways and to register for a gas grill. This was sponsored by all of the COUNTRY Reps including Krista Menckowski and Gavin Suver.
There were food vendors, craft vendors, the West City Smoke House along with many businesses who had set up for information and giveaways.
The Car and Motor Cycle Show added a new category with the addition of several Antique Tractors. Jack Russell Fish Co. set up a Bags Tournament in the street and played from 5-8.
Leffler Funeral Home had a toy train display set up in their building and everyone who went said they did an amazing job and really enjoyed it.
Prairie Farms representative Wayne Horstmann brought their newest ice milk snack product call “Milk Snack” it is a crème filled chcolate cake bar that needs refrigeration but not necessarily a freezer.
A special thank you to the committee and the volunteers who made this day possible and helped to make everything run smoothly.
Look for information for the 2019 Farm City Days.
