About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (June 5, 2024)
Page 4A, The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, June 5,2024 The University of Georgia • Cooperative Extension Service This century plant is in bloom, with flowers borne on the tall stalk. Century Plant Sharing the Word The century plant gets it name from the inac curate assumption that it flowers after 100 years. This is a bit of an exag geration. In its native Mexico, it takes only 15 years to store up enough energy to bloom. In the northern U. S., where the plant requires the protection of a green house in order to bloom, it takes 50 years for a specimen to bloom. The plant is a rosette of gray- green leaves. The leaves of this plant can be up to six feet long and ten inches wide. The leaves are toothed and spined at the tips, so they should be planted where people will not come in contact with them. The plant is used as an ornamental worldwide. In fact, it has been intro duced and grows wild in many places around the world. It sometimes is known as American aloe, although it is not a true aloe. Fibers can be obtained from the leaves. These have been used to make rope and course cloth. These plants are drought tolerant and do well in sandy soils. They are largely pest free. When century plants do bloom, they send a pole-like structure up on which the flowers are borne. The structure may extend well above twenty feet high. After blooming, most century plants die. Although the “mother” plant dies, she leaves “daughter” plants around her. The spineless century plant is a smaller plant that lacks the sharp spines, making it a bet ter choice in landscapes that will be enjoyed by children and pets. This species does not die after blooming. In fact, it will bloom periodical ly through-out the year, starting about ten years after planting. For more information, call the Lee County Extension Office at 759-6025 or email me at collinsd@uga.edu By Harry R. Martinez, Ph.D An Eternal Warranty An issue most im portant when purchas ing an item is that of understanding the terms stated in the warranty. Some products, such as automobiles, have the warranty periods based on mileage or years. Other items carry a life time warranty, though these may have limita tions and exclusions not revealed in the fine print which only surface when the buyer initiates a claim. A notable contrast is evident in matters that pertain to God’s rela tionship with mankind. All that is offered to an individual by God is on the basis of grace and cannot be purchased or obtained through some system of merit. That eliminates man’s attempts to obtain favor with God on the basis of self-effort. Grace is free to all on the basis of the saving work of Christ on the Cross. It is God’s plan and purpose to bestow His unmerited love and favor on mankind even though all humanity is condemned by the very nature that resides with in him ... “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23 NKJV). If that were the permanent con dition of a person, that truth paints a dismal picture of man’s spiri tual condition. “For as in Adam all die [spir itually],” but the good news is that... “even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Cor 15:22 NKJV). The Apostle Paul wrote ... “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, re sulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, Post Office is a Lifeline As the new Postmaster of Leesburg, GA, it is a great honor to serve this community. In my years with the United States Postal Service, I have seen firsthand the role the Postal Service plays connecting neighbors and our community to the nation. Our Post Offices also serve as a lifeline for our small businesses to reach customers no matter the location. Almost three years ago, the United States Postal Service pub lished an ambitious but achievable 10-year stra tegic plan, Delivering for America (DFA). The plan established a path to building a Postal Ser vice that is financially strong and consistently delivers on-time for the so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:18-19 NKJV). “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8-9 NKJV). “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1 NKJV). The Apostle John tells of God’s grace that removes an individ ual from condemna tion into a relationship with God as His child... “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 NKJV). “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17 NKJV). Therefore, God’s entire plan for mankind is centered in the Person of Christ and His payment on the Cross for the sins of each individual. To the scoffer or unbeliev er, the terms of God’s plan appear narrow and indeed they are. Jesus said ... “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13-14 NKJV). I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9 NKJV). Prior His crucifixion Jesus reminded His dis ciples ... “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV). Only one way, yes, but American public. Since the launch of the plan, we have made great progress on its four key pillars: in vesting in our people, modernizing our net work, providing service excellence, and creating financial sustainability. All of this, while main taining our mission of service by delivering mail and packages to more than 167 million addresses across our nation every day. On behalf of the 650,000 women and men of the U.S. Postal Service, I thank you for continuing to sup port our organization. Providing reliable mail delivery while strength ening the future of this treasured institution is our commitment to you. Sincerely, Jacquelyn Smiley it is open to all... “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Rom 10:13 NKJV). John records the fine print of God’s offer of eternal salvation and its unlimited warranty ... “And this is the testimo ny: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These Special to the Ledger PRIDE GOETH BE FORE THE FALL “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed in heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteous ness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisi ble things of him from creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God head; so that they are without excuse; because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imagina tions, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorrupt ible God into an image made like the corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to unclean ness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dis honour their own bodies between themselves; who changed the truth of God into a lie, and wor shipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, leaving the natu ral use of the woman, burned burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in them selves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrigh teousness, fornication, wickedness, covetous ness, maliciousness, full things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:ll-13a NKJV). Editor’s note: Dr. Martinez is an ordained minister and was a professor and head of the music department at Florida State University School from 1975 to 2003. He is the father of five adult children and resides in Lee County with his wife, Sara. of envy, murder, de bate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despite ful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, with natural affection, impla cable, unmerciful; who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:16-32 KJV) “Pride goeth before de struction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 KJV) “How are thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the con gregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15 KJV) “Turn you to my reproof; behold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regard ed; But you have set a nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then they shall call upon me but I will not answer; they shall seek me early but they shall not find me; for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; They would none of my counsel; they despised my reproof. Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Prov erbs 1:23-33) The County Ledger Established August 24,1978 lcledger@bellsouth.net P.O. Box 715 (126 4th Street) (229) 759-2413 Leesburg, Georgia 31763 USPS 470-310 Official Organ of Lee County SUBSCRIPTION RATES Lee and surrounding counties $25.00 year Within State $30.00 year Out of State $35.00 year Publisher Derryl Quinn Editor Jim Quinn Layout and Design Zan Twiggs Advertising Manager Tina Maples (USPS 470-310), is published weekly by its offices at the May Office Building, 124 - 4th Street, Leesburg, Georgia 31763. Periodicals postage paid at ALBANY, GA. POST MASTER: Send address changes on Form 3579 to, P.O. 715, Leesburg, GA 31763. fW) Printed On member of Georgia Recycled Paper press association Harry R. Martinez Soul Food from the Hood by Keith Hood
