Merge Wright

Unashamed to be a Christian T
and any demand or suggestion could have been met with an emphatic no. He said hed think about it. His Uncle Paul offered up Turning Point in Alabama. His uncle a musician had attended the facility and had great praise for what it did for his life. The 12step program would last 90 days at a peaceful farm facility located in a serene valley. He thought it over thinking his problem really wasnt the drugs and alcohol it was his belief that nothing mattered in life, that all the phony people he met in church growing up were just like all the phony people he met in Palm Beach. Where was the love, the care and concern for each other that God had promised when he was a young lad. Childhood trauma in his formative years and his parents divorce were never understood. Why me God was still churning in his heart. He was carrying a lot of luggage and its weight had nearly destroyed him. After much consideration he agreed to attend Turning Point. Hopefully it would somehow help but he wasnt 100 percent sold that he was going to find the answer Several weeks into the program he and a fellow patient went to the chapel one night. They talked and prayed for three hours. He finally opened his heart and soul and let it all go to be reborn in the spirit of the Lord. It was like a million, maybe a billion pages that hed been writing for two decades were instantly deleted. He forgave all, blessed those that had remained true along the way and walked in a peace he hadnt known since childhood. Unashamed he would be from that day forward. Unashamed to stand up for his Lord and Savior, unashamed to say he is a Christian, unashamed to help the fallen, unashamed to proclaim how God had saved him and gave him an understanding that day that he had been seeking for so many years. Today you can find Paul Steele at the Garage 1919. Hes the director there and on every Tuesday night he presents Unashamed to the youth of our community. The program starts at 7:30. I attended last week to interview Paul and highly recommend his ministry. The Garage 1919 is funded by a handful of business owners, community leaders and several churches in Springboro and the south Dayton community. There are no agendas from any of the donors. Its purely a ministry to help teenagers and young adults walk in Gods light as they enter a life of adult hood, marriage, children, careers and being a good citizen of their community.

Springboro Sun,

Thursday, July 9, 2009

he text message readMom I love you. He then hit send on his cell phone, emptied several containers of pills 200 or more, swallowed them with a glass of water and laid back in bed to quietly end his life. A life he believed had no purpose or meaning. He originally came Don out of Wright Cleveland, Tn., world headquarters of the Church Columnist of God. A Springboro church that Sun he and his family attended when he was a youngster. He was successful in several businesses and at the time was the general manager of a Tequila Bar in Palm Beach, Fl. From all outward appearances he was totally together. He ran with the rich and famous, had an elegant ocean front condo, was surrounded by beautiful women but there was a thorn. He was unhappy, his life seemed totally contrived. Alcohol, cocaine and designer drugs were in abundance producing short empty feelings of euphoria. And then that question: Is this all there is? A couple weeks before, dad had visited Palm Beach and the two met for breakfast. A request for his girlfriends cell phone was provided when dad asked for a back up number in case he couldnt reach him. When his mother received the text message she immediately expected something was wrong. She called and there was no answer. His father received a phone call with a garbled message and then nothing. He called back and there was no answer. Dad called the girlfriend. She would run next door with her dad and check, he was probably just in the shower. It took a while to gain entry. Finding empty pill bottles and unable to waken him they called 911 immediately. Paramedics arrived within minutes and transported him to the medical center. When he woke up later that night he found his body covered with needles and tubes. The prognosis wasnt good. His liver had been severely attacked. It would be several days before theyd be able to tell if hed get a second chance at life. Dad flew in from Springboro and sat by his side praying his son would survive this horrible mistake and with out long term disability. God was with him as he fully recovered and was given a clean bill of health. Dad asked if hed be open to getting help. He was extremely strong willed

PFC Michelle Witzel and PFC. C. Allen Witzel will deploy in July. PFC Aaron OBryant wil head to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for training.

Contributed photo

Aaron OBryant continues family tradition by joining service after graduating SHS

Michelle and Allen Witzel heading to Afghanistan

PFC. C. Allen Witzel (OBryant) and his wife PFC. Michelle Witzel are preparing to deploy in July. The two are currently serving as communication technicians. Allen and Michelle recently married during their training in February and are stationed in Ft Hood Texas. Currently home in Springboro on leave before they ship out. The two will be part of the large deployment President Obama promised to send to Afghanistan. They both enlisted during

the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict to serve their country. They both knew the probability of being sent to the conflict, but were prepared to serve. PFC. Aaron OBryant joined the Army National Guard and completed his basic training last summer. He graduated this year from Springboro High School and will ship out to Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri this August to finish his training as a Combat Engineer. Aaron was a cadet with the Springboro AFJrROTC for the past three years and enlisted during his Junior year. The brothers share a mutual respect and pride for the armed service since their father Sgt. Mike OBryant served in the US Army. Mike a resident of Ohio served during 1986-92.

Three arrested in anhydrous ammonia theft

Three Clermont County residents were arrested in connection with the Burglary of the Southwest Landmark fertilizer facility in Pleasant Plain in southwest Warren County. At around 12:45 a.m. July 1, Warren County Deputies and Hamilton Township Police responded to a report of a burglar alarm at the facility. After observing a large cut in the security fence, two men were found within the fenced area of the facility. A propane tank filled with Anhydrous Ammonia was found nearby. The female suspect was found in a nearby vehicle. All three were arrested. Matthew Paytes, 38, of Loveland, is charged with breaking and entering, theft, and possession of criminal tools. Adam Williams, 28, of Goshen, is charged with breaking and entering, theft, and possession of criminal tools. Kathleen May Johnson, 41, of Milford, is charged with complicity to breaking and entering, complicity to theft, and possession of criminal tools. All three are being held at the Warren County Jail. Anhydrous Ammonia is used in farming as a source of nitrogen fertilizer. It is frequently stolen for use in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine.

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Letters to the Editor

Sorry to disturb your peace

Their peace oh you mean the safety and peace they enjoy because I earned it for them? Well youre welcome. I am glad you are having peace because I spent a year away from my family, because I got shot at instead of you, because I slept outside for months, and was dehydrated because we could only have three liters of water a day while outside exposed to 120+ degree weather. Youre welcome. Major Ron Weneck, Springboro

To the Editor: If you stand outside my house tonight you will hear the sounds of fireworks all around you. I spent a year listening to that and it was not fireworks. Every pop and boom left you wondering eternity. Now tonight as I celebrate my freedom Ive earned (rightfully mine for the service and sacrifice I have made for my country) one of my neighbors who probably doesnt even know the meaning of suffering calls the cops. Why did they call the cops? Because my fireworks were disturbing their peace.

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Children of Eden on stage at Epiphany Lutheran Church

around the world, this year a portion of the advertising and ticket proceeds will support Lutheran World Relief. LWR works with partners in 35 countries to help families grow food, improve their health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods, and recover from disasters. The final song tells us that each step is once again our first. We hold the promise of the earth in our hands. Our hands can choose to drop the knife, our hearts can choose to stop the hating, for every moment in our life is the beginning. There is no journey gone so far, so far we cannot stop and change direction, no doom is written in the stars, its in our hand. Wean said Showings are at 7:30 p.m. on July 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18. Matinees at 2:30 p.m. are scheduled for July 12 and 19. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 60 and over and $10 for children 12 and under. Group discounts are available. To order tickets, call 433-1449 ext. 101.

The Epiphany Players Drama Ministry is presenting its 10th anniversary production of Children of Eden, through July 19, at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 6430 Far Hills Avenue in Centerville. Based on the first nine chapters of the Book of Genesis, the show features Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Noah and his family. More than 70 local performers, including 30 area children, will help bring to life these stories of the first families. This show is good for the whole family because it illustrates the human struggles that every family goes through from the first family through generations to Noah and for all families to come. It speaks about love and that the hardest part of love is the letting go, Director Kay Frances Wean said. To help other families

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THE SPRINGBORO SUN