Viewpoints

To the Editor:

In times like these, some things bear repeating. Remember, God is not to be omitted from the 2020 election of the leaders of His country. God has plans and purposes for this nation, the United States of America, for His glory. Our faith is in God, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The Great Creator of the heavens is displaying His power and glory, and divine orchestration in His heaven above us. December 21, we saw the “Christmas Star” conjunction of Jupiter (The King) and Saturn, last seen 800 years ago. Now, January 9 and 10, we had on display an amazing “Triple Conjunction” (Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury) and this rare triangular trinity “Triple Conjunction” appears soon again February 13. All that, plus a total eclipse of the sun, meteor showers, and a comet on January 20, 202’WON’!

To the Editor:

Have we been taking Democracy in our country for granted? Have we become too complacent, not participating in positive, non-violent actions to improve what we view as wrong? Are we relying on unsubstantiated media information to inform us? Are we assuming good intentions, honesty, truthfulness and capability in our elected officials? Do we vote on a well-informed basis after educating ourselves about the people and issues involved? Do we try to share information and viewpoints in a non-judgemental way with others, in spite of differing views?

To the Editor:

We have entered a period in the United States I never expected to see in the greatest country ever created. We have arrived at the point where speech is now controlled by social media and not the Constitution.

We are beginning to look like Communist China or Cuba where only government-approved thought is allowed!

This phenomenon has developed because social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and others, are owned and controlled by Liberals who are not going to allow any kind of Conservative ideas to be presented on their platforms. The owners of these platforms are protected by “Section 230” which gives them pretty much free reign on choosing what can be posted.

Do you know the song “This Is the Day the Lord Has Made”? Some of you know and some may not.  Every day is not the same and the plans God is making for us each day are not the same also. This is the new year God is providing to us again.

As we are approaching the end of 2020, I come to thank God for all the good things and the plans he had for us. Some people will say the year 2020 wasn’t good for us because we lost beloved ones and there were many bad things that happened during the year, especially COVID-19, of course, and you are right. Was God not in control when all the bad and difficult things were happening to us? Has God forgotten his people who were bought with an imperishable price (Blood)? I Peter 1:18-19. I say no! God can’t forget his people and he is with us any time.

To the Editor:

Sometimes one might read something ridiculous which results in humor; however, humor is quickly replaced by indignation as one realizes it was not written in jest or satire. This is my reaction to a letter entitled “Suggesting everyone do their research regarding COVID-19 vaccine” written in the 12/23/2020 edition of this newspaper.

To quote the writer of that letter, “I am not a doctor or an expert on medical things.” Perhaps this is where she should have ended the letter before submitting it.

I similarly am not a medical expert, and instead will listen to the recommendations of scientists and medical professionals. I long for the day in which Americans will once again place value in education and intelligence rather than to scoff at it.

To the Editor:

In a mental health crisis, people are more likely to encounter police than get medical help. As a result, two million people with mental illness are booked into jails each year. Nearly 15% of men and 30% of women booked into jails have a serious mental health condition.

The vast majority of individuals are not violent criminals - most people in jails have not yet gone to trial, so they are not yet convicted of a crime. The rest are serving short sentences for minor crimes.

Once in jail, many individuals don’t receive the treatment they need and end up getting worse, not better. They stay longer than their counterparts without a mental illness. They are at risk of victimization and often their mental health conditions get worse.

In a time when compassion and care are in order, what I have to say may come off a bit harsh but we need to hear it. Folks, we’ve heard what it would take to curb the spread of the Novel Coronavirus and far too many have not headed those directives so now we must face the consequences: no in-person worship during one of the most treasured times of the year. My observation is that, like a teenager who finds themselves pregnant, we just want to ignore and deny it but such immature actions will not make it go away! And just like that teenager must bear the pain of childbirth we must bear the pain of forgoing time-honored holiday traditions.

To the Editor:

A tall tale of disenfranchised voters, lost poll books, rushing waters, two o’clock voting questions, rich oyster suppers and expensive refreshments, risk taking and shenanigans, threatened violence and a wet horse? Is this current events? Thanks to Vicki Calbreath and  Attorney M. A. Harmon and Edwin C. Bailey I think that I know the answer. By the way, where is Moneek?

In 1974, I first heard “then” candidate for Iowa U.S. House of Representatives Grassley speak when I was a 14-year-old 4-Her attending a Citizenship trip that I had earned through 4-H. As a boy, I learned about life by living on a dairy farm. Iowa technical school led me into construction and manufacturing and now to be an Iowa miner. I am proud to have played a teeny, tiny part in making the United States an energy independent and carbon emission reducing nation.

To the Editor:

It has been rightly said that this COVID-19 “plandemic” is the Trojan horse being used as an excuse to put in place an extensive and long-formulated scheme to overtake our constitutional republic. America is the last bastion of freedom (what’s left of it) in the world, and if America falls, the world falls. The virus is real, and many have gotten sick, and many have even died, as with any flu.

But the response to this nasty flu does not match reality; the mortality rate is less than one percent, and the younger you are, that rate drops dramatically.  This plandemic has been exploited, and the narrative of false information on the mainstream media continues to imprison people in fear and ignorance. Keep in mind that one of the communist rules for radicals is the fact that a fearful population is easier to control.  Also, never let a crisis go to waste!

Happy Advent: Preparing for Christmas

The mental image created by the famous painting by Holman Hunt, “I stand at the door and knock” is the one that I enjoy thinking and praying about. I hope you will join me in your prayer life. Holman Hunt took the idea from Revelations.

The painting depicts our Lord Jesus standing before this large door with vines growing around the door and our Lord has his hand extended toward the door knocking.

When Holman Hunt finished the painting, he invited his fellow artists to critique the painting. They were loud in their praise of his artistic talent. Then one of them remarked that he had forgotten to place a knob on the door. Holman replied, “This door is the door of the human heart and it opens only from within.”