Opinion

Arriving early one Sunday a preacher sat down at a local donut shop, opened his Bible and went over his sermon notes. A man at the counter asked, “You a preacher or something?” The preacher replied that he was and the man asked which church. The preacher told him which church and he responded excitedly that he went to that church.

The preacher said, “I’ve been preaching there for about three months and I’ve never seen you there.”

New Year’s resolutions are always a tricky subject.

We all know the normal ones: weight loss, get a better job, try something new, etc. And for most of us, those resolutions are broken usually within six weeks.

Luckily, I’ve been able to keep my personal resolutions of the last two years (I’m showing off, I get it), and so as editor of your weekly paper, I wanted to make some public resolutions for the Era for 2015.

We all know the nature of ripples. We throw a stone and it causes ripples. We say something and it causes ripples. We take action and it causes ripples. We belong to a community or an organization or a workplace (small or large) and our behavior there causes ripples. All those ripples affect other people. All those other people are throwing their stones as well, and their ripples are affecting us.

A man called his parents to wish them a happy New Year and his dad answered the phone. He said, “Hi Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?” His Dad answered proudly, “To make your mother as happy as I can all year.” When Mom got on the phone he asked her the same question and she answered, “To see that your dad keeps his New Year’s resolution.”

My goal in life with my work at Hosparus and in my ministry projects is to care for others with great conviction and passion. But sometimes I have to be reminded by my dear wife to take care of myself. Sometimes I have to tell other hospice workers and ministers to take care of themselves.

Many of us who are care providers are far more anxious about having to confront whatever will come up in the empty space, when we are quiet and alone. Who knows what terror lurks in the anonymous solitude? What voices will arise in the silence?

Ed. note: Ask the Expert is a column submitted by the Oldham County Chamber. The question and answers are solicited by them.

QUESTION: My arthritis is worse in cold-weather months. Tips on how I can manage this?

ANSWER: “Many people experience a worsening of arthritis symptoms in cold, wet months during the fall and winter,” shared Jeremy Statton, MD, who is with Baptist Northeast Orthopedics, part of Baptist Health La Grange. “The arthritis itself isn’t worse but the pain associated with arthritis is often more intense.

The prophet Isaiah writes, “This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey - and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor - so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights” (Isaiah 31:4). Who is this great lion, the Lord God Almighty, who fights these great battles?

The holidays are just around the corner, bringing many joyous gatherings and heaps of delicious treats that show up everywhere. Often, we resign ourselves to the many weeks of inevitable indulgence and resolve to get back on track after ringing in the New Year. This year, why not make a resolution now to adopt some healthier habits through the holidays?

I tried to hold onto what I knew to be absolute truth, but the hardcore facts were staring me in the face.

I pride myself on my vast knowledge of Barry Manilow lyrics. I became a fan over 30 years ago, at an age when my hearing was intact and my thirst for pop culture knowledge was at its strongest. So, I was a bit surprised when someone stated that “dictuend” is not a word.

“Oh, yes it is,” I argued. “It means to dictate or orchestrate.”

“Use it in a sentence,” they challenged.