Opinion

Over the past couple of months, I’ve written some “feel good” columns about worthy causes in our community.

It’s about time to step back into politics and take up something a bit more controversial, like cat leash ordinances – wait, not even petty tyrants would be foolish enough to try to leash cats. So moving on…

Spinning the big wheel of controversy, we have: abortion, guns, taxes, immigration, felon voting rights, Israel, gay marriage, click, click, click, and we come to rest on – voting rights for felons.

Last week, my dad gave me all the pictures from my childhood. Among them are seven snapshots of the Pittsboro Kindergarten graduation of 1976. I can still remember the coolness, and slightly musty smell, of the church basement where the ceremony was held. I also recall the battle I had with my mom beforehand while she was trying to fix my hair.

If God is good why is there so much evil? This is the question of theodicy that can never be fully answered. This is one of the most difficult questions in all of theology. God is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent and the creator of the universe. So why is there so much pain, death, struggle and evil in the world? Over the next four weeks I want to look at different facets of the problem of evil: 1) demonic evil, 2) human evil, 3) evil from the perspective of eternity and 4) trusting in the goodness of God.

No tax increase

Same story again this year. Oldham County Schools needs more money so it increases taxes. I wouldn’t mind if the school district would use some other measures first before asking Oldham County property owners to pay more.

Why doesn’t the district sell off some of the vacant land that they have acquired over the years? It’s my understanding that they own property next to the now closed Liberty Elementary. It was purchased with our tax dollars to build a replacement school but the school board has now changed their mind.

My appreciation for food started when I was very young. I grew up exposed to great food from my Italian grandmother and German Irish food from my other grandmother. My mother cooked with an American and international flare. Family gatherings were about fun and really great food.

The upside of being in my mid-forties is that I don’t particularly care anymore what people think of my behavior or my clothing. This gives me the freedom to push against what is expected from a woman my age. For the most part, hubby is totally on board when I try new things, change my style or randomly buy a house after living in the same place for 18 years. But sometimes, he’s a little too honest about my attempts.

Editor’s note: This is a new column as part of a partnership between The Oldham Era and Oldham County Chamber and Economic Development to give expert advice to the community. The views are those of the experts. Questions and answers submitted by Chamber personnel.

Question:

“After this harsh winter I am trying to liven up my landscaping in the front of my home. What flowers or plants would look really attractive from the street but would be really easy to upkeep? Are there flowers or shrubs that would especially thrive in this area?”

In a most pleasant turn of events, hubby came home Sunday night. When he left on July 5, we didn’t expect to see him again until the end of September, but now we have two wonderful weeks to spend together.

I told our teenaged daughter, “Daddy has a lot of summery things he wants to do over the next 14 days, so whatever he suggests, we are gonna be excited about it.”

She agreed that we would make his time at home as carefree and fun as possible, then she asked, “What exactly causes a midlife crisis?”

Pastor Bob Russell writes in his book Jesus, Lord of Your Personality, that having a lot doesn’t tend to produce a grateful spirit.