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4A ®jje 1) eralb <©a?£tt£ Tuesday, March 30,2021 Opinions Ruffin’s BY MIKE RUFFIN rjffinml@gmail.com You are reading these words during the week that Christians call “Holy.” Friday is Good Friday, the day we re member Jesus’ death on the cross. Sunday is Eas ter Sunday, the day we celebrate Jesus’ resurrec tion from the dead. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the founda tions on which the Christian faith stands. Preachers have spoken and scholars have writ ten innumerable words on the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. 1 hesitate to speak for Christians, given the wide range of theological assumptions and opin ions that exist among us, but 1 think 1 can safely say that we believe that Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection make all the difference. Renderings: What difference does it make? We believe that Jesus’ crucifixion and resur rection make all the difference at the end of our lives. We believe that because Jesus died and rose again, we have everlasting life. We believe that death is not the end, but rather is the gateway to an existence that is more wonderful than we are capable of comprehending or even imagining. We affirm these truths at funerals. Hopefully we also affirm them all through the lives we live before we get to our funerals. We also believe that Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection make all the difference at the end of time. We believe that God is working God’s purpos es out and that God will finally make all things as God intends them to be. As we believe that Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrec tion are central to God’s purposes, we also believe that Jesus’ sec ond coming will culminate those purposes. So Christians believe that Je sus’ crucifixion and resurrection make all the difference at the end of our lives and at the end of time. But since we are still alive and since time and history are continuing, those events are (obviously) still in the future. So what difference do Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection make here and now? What difference does Jesus’ crucifixion make in the ways we live in this world and in this time? Christians tend to talk a lot—as we should— about the fact that Jesus died for us. We say things such as, “Jesus died for our sins” and “Jesus died so we can be forgiven.” Again, we should say those things. We should cel ebrate them! We should live in light of the fact that Jesus died for us. But we should also live in light of the fact that Jesus calls us to die with him. Jesus laid down his life for us, and he summons us to lay down our lives for God and for each other. What does this mean, given that chances are slim that we will have to literally die for God or for other people? It certainly means that we put the needs of other people ahead of our own, that we practice selflessness rather than selfishness, and that we do whatever we can to help people in need. Christians follow the Savior who died on the cross and who calls us to walk in the way of the cross. That is the way of service and sacrifice. That is the way of love. What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make in the ways we live here and now? On one hand, it means that we live in light of the way things are going to be. We will be resurrected someday and God will bring all things to their appropri ate fulfillment someday. We live in the assurance of those great truths. But walking in newness of life and knowing that our true citizenship is in heaven does not enable or allow us to live above the pain and suffering in this world. Because we are people of the cross, we enter into the world’s suffering with the willing ness to take it onto our selves. Because we are people of the resurrec tion, we try to bring the hope of new life into the world’s death, destruc tion, and despair. We affirm that we will be raised from the dead someday. For as long as we live in this world, we should try to spread as much hope and life around as we can. We Christians believe that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ will make all the difference in the end. They should also make all the difference right here and right now. Do they? The answer largely comes down to how much love we practice and how much life we share. Mike Ruffin is a Barnesville native who lives in Yatesville and works in Macon. His new book, Praying with Matthew, is available at helwys.com and at Amazon. How the American Rescue Plan robbed the state of Georgia DREW FERGUSON U.S. CONGRESSMAN It is called the Ameri can Rescue Plan, but on multiple fronts this package jammed through by President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pe- losi, Georgia’s Senators Warnock and Ossoff, and Congressional Democrats is robbing Georgia of our resources and relief. As a concerned mem ber of the Georgia del egation, it is important for me to outline the fatal flaws of this so-called “rescue plan.” Folks need to remember that 91 per cent of the $1.9 trillion in this package is going towards progressive priorities unrelated to improving public health, reopening schools this year, or helping Ameri cans get back on their feet. The formula in the bill distributes federal funds to states based largely on unemployment rates, which is a deviation from the typical methodology that focuses on popula tion data. What that means for Georgia and other states that opened their economies ear lier in order to prevent higher rates of unem ployment is they will lose funds they otherwise would have received. Thanks to this new formula, the Peach State will lose out on $1.2 bil lion to states like New York, California, and Illinois. An amendment offered during Senate consideration of the package would have tied funding received by states back to state populations but was defeated with the help of both of Warnock and Os soff. Why our representa tives rejected the oppor tunity to put Georgians first is confounding. Even worse, however, is that under the new structure included in this package, Georgia’s seniors will be hit with $11.5 billion in Medicare cuts over the next decade. Another large cause for concern we have heard from small busi nesses across Georgia is that the extension of additional unemploy ment benefits will allow folks to be paid more to stay home than at their jobs. The significance of this has lasting impacts for our workforce, our economy, and Georgia businesses as the ability to rehire workers to full time jobs is jeopardized. These are short-sighted changes that are going to hurt the vulnerable populations of our state for years to come. On the tax side, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats snuck in a provision that will ban states’ autonomy in de termining their own tax laws until 2024, directly prohibiting them from lowering taxes - even if states determine that tax incentives are needed for their economic develop ment priorities. This is yet another brazen attempt by Democrats to weaponize federal funds to coerce states into adhering to their liberal agenda. As the number one state in the country to do business for eight years running, Georgians know what’s best for our tax laws, not D.C. Demo crats. 1 fully support help ing Georgia families and small businesses get back on their feet, get ting vaccines distributed in rural areas, getting people back to work safely, and getting kids learning in the classroom this year. In fact, my Republican colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee and 1 attempted to improve this package by offering 34 amendments during the mark-up, and over 200 amendments on the House floor, but Demo crats rejected every single one. One of my amend ments would have redirected unused funds from prior COV1D pack ages towards vaccines for rural and under served seniors and corre sponding mental health programs. It is clear that rural communities have unique vaccine distri bution challenges that require special attention. My amendment would have ensured states are equipped to provide life saving vaccines to rural America while address ing the tsunami of mental health issues caused by COV1D-19 lockdowns. Un fortunately, Democrats did not believe that to be a priority in their $1.9 trillion package. From the start, 1 have said that this package must be temporary, targeted, and directly tied to getting Georgians the help they need. This bill does none of those things. It is a lavish, SEE RESCUE PLAN 5A LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Local Farm Bureau thanks farmers Each farmer feeds 165 people To all active farmers in Lamar County, Lamar County Farm Bureau is so thankful for your hard work. American agriculture not only provides us food I, along with other citizens of Milner, Geor gia are appalled at the reported actions of our circuit district’s pros ecuting attorney regard ing the criminal probe into several of Milner’s council members and certain alleged financial funds as confirmed on your front page of the 3-23-2021 issue. Our Honorable Dis trict Attorney Jonathan Adams and GB1 investiga tors pretty much slapped every resident of Milner in the face by telling us to wait an undisclosed amount of months and they just might get around to informing the citizens of their findings. Maybe. The Milner City Coun cil, both current and previous members, have had numerous heated, The Friends of the Barnesville-Lamar Coun ty Library thanks Lamar Gives 365 and all the citizens who fund it to make our community ex ceptional. Your grant to the Friends enabled the library to purchase and and clothing, but also helps meet needs around the world. Each farmer feeds 165 people and just about everything we eat, wear and use is available to us because of hard “drag’em- out-into-the- street” discussions with residents over what some have considered to be out and out cor ruption. Many council meetings have had “fingers-in-the-faces” mo ments while debating the criminal probe and the possible reasons for the investigation. People are hot as a roasted potato regarding rumors and in nuendoes with where the possible financial funds went and with whom they absconded with. What could be the rea son for not even present ing the case to the grand jury this session? Has new evidence been found pointing the possibly guilty arrow in another direction and a determi nation has been made that a new investigation is needed? install a security camera for the front parking lot. This is an area where the after hours book drop is located. Security is needed to discourage nighttime loitering, van dalism and other prob lems that could occur. working men and women, like yourselves, who grow our food. “Without farmers, Georgia can’t grow” LAMAR COUNTY FARM BUREAU We, the citizens of Milner, are a patient lot but that only goes so far. We are unable to trust our city’s elected officials until these investigations are brought to a conclu sion. At the next city coun cil meeting, 1 will pres ent the mayor and city council with a written formal request. 1 will be asking them to contact our state’s Attorney Gen eral asking they assign a member of their office to get to the bottom of the hang up on behalf of the citizens of Milner. Either they got something; some evidence, strong enough to prosecute, or they don’t. It’s time for the citizens of Milner to know the answers. Thank you for helping us meet this special need of our library. SINCERELY, ANNE HAINES, PRESIDENT Friends of the Barnesville-Lamar County Library Mar. 28-Apr. 3 10 years ago Sharmaine Shavers of Meansville won the na tionwide Cuties Ultimate Soccer Mom contest. Coach Don Bohensky of the PC Fury, the area’s first select girls team, nominated his key assis tant. Fury players were Kelly Brooke Fitzhugh, Joy Park, Anna Mat thews, Paige Wood, Bailie Garland, Hannah Nauck, Shelbie Bohensky, Kaitlin O’Connor, Brooke Shav ers, Bean Butler, Brooke Biggs, Jodie Hearn and Livia Lanier Geiger. The players were to get a free clinic with Olympian Joy Fawcett as part of the prize. 25 years ago The City of Milner expressed an interest in buying the Milner Middle School property which consisted of 35 acres and multiple school build ings. Mayor Joe Bostwick said the $200,000 price tag was reasonable but the city did not have that much cash. The property is now home to St. George’s Episcopal School. 50 years ago A Gospel Singing was planned at the Liberty Hill Community House. Featured singers were to be the Memorial Quartet from Warner Robins and the Christian Echoes from Monticello. All good singers and those who love good singing were invited. 100 years ago Mr. T. J. Bailey, who was with the Pike road force for the past year and who is regarded as one of the best machin ist-road men in the state, was employed by the State Highway Depart ment the past week and placed in charge of the Dixie Highway from the Spalding line to Forsyth. Mr. Bailey expects to make Barnesville his headquarters and will operate a regular road force in keeping the high way maintained. Letter printing guidelines Limit letters to 250 words or less. All letters are subject to editing. Send letters to P.O. Box 220, Barnesville, 30204, email it to news@barnesville. com or drop it by 509 Greenwood Street, Barnesville. Frustration over Milner criminal probe SINCERELY, BOBBY BRANTLY A “shout-out" to Lamar Gives 365 Zi)t Umltr #a^tte barnesville.com 770.358.NEWS P.0. Box 220 Publishers Staff SUBSCRIBE DEADLINES 509 Greenwood Street Walter Geiger Nolan George $30 per year in Lamar and sur- The deadline for public notices Barnesville, Ga. 30204 Laura Geiger Rachel McDaniel rounding counties; $40 outside is noon Thursdays; news and 770-358-NEWS Tasha Webster the local area. advertising before noon Fridays. barnesville.com General Manager Includes 24/7 access to Early submission is appreciated. E-mail: news@barnesville.com Missy Ware barnesville.com