Viewpoints

For your meditation:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Matthew 3:1-2
Romans 15: 4-9

Peanuts - The little girl Lucy is saying that Christmas is a time for kindness and good will; a time to accept one another, welcome  others to our homes and into our lives. Charlie Brown responds by saying, “Why just at Christmas? Why can’t we be kind, accepting and hospitable all through the year?” Lucy looks at Charlie Brown and says, “What are you? Some kind of religious fanatic?” Well, that old religious fanatic, the Apostle Paul, was of the same mind as Charlie Brown. He saw Christian acceptance as a year round everyday quality which is an outgrowth of faith in the Christ who freely welcomes and accepts others all the time.

Thanksgiving

But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.(Luke   17:15-16)

Thankfulness is foundational to the Christian life. Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we have been forgiven, saved from death, and adopted as God’s children. There could be no better reason for a grateful heart!

To the Editor:

I read with interest the Word for Word article by Pastor Ron Pederson of King of Grace Lutheran Church (November 13, 2019).

He recounted his experience of ministering to a dying man and seeing that man come to have faith in Christ.

Rev. Pederson offered a fresh perspective, perhaps not in the exact words I would use in light of my own church denominational background, but nevertheless his words demonstrated the genuineness of someone entering the Christian faith for the first time.

Being offered this fresh perspective is important to me, because I need to know that while other Christians from other churches may use slightly different words and phrases that I am used to, we are all really on the same page.

Whether the church is Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, or some other Biblically-based denomination, our goal is primarily the same: to see those around us brought closer to God.

To the Editor:

What do smoking, chewing and vaping have in common? Nicotine.

We are seeing youth rates of nicotine use increase with the prevalence of electronic smoking devices (e-cigarettes, JUULs, vapes, etc). In Allamakee County, 22% of 11th graders used an electronic smoking device in the past 30 days (Iowa Youth Survey, 2018); this is an increase from 6% reported in 2016.

The week of November 17-23 is Northeast Iowa’s Tobacco Awareness Week. The 21st marks the nationwide Great American Smokeout. This annual event encourages people to stop using tobacco for the day and to make plans to quit. The Board of Supervisors from Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties have proclaimed Tobacco Awareness Week throughout their counties.

A Dying Man Shows Christian Doctrine Practical

Several years ago I had the privilege of calling on a dying man. The doctors had told him he had three days to live. He had four. He was not a member of the church but his wife was. She called me and asked me if I would come to the hospital and visit him. I said sure.

To the Editor:

Football is in the air; on the stage and on the field. Outstanding players in both are exciting fans of athletics and the performing arts alike at the Waukon High School.

Good News! The musical made a play for our hearts and won. Ethan Hooten as the BMOC (Big Man On Campus) Tom moved as a true hero. His love, Connie, was played winningly and wise by Oonagh Ahouse. Aislinn Goettel lit up the stage with her smile and flounce portraying the pixie Babe. Ryan VanderVelden excelled at physical comedy and vaudevillian mugging as he brought the underdog Bobby to life.

Denzel Decker made his character, Coach, convincing as he wooed the staid academic professor, Kenyon, played with verve by Madelyn Helgerson. Fine character performances came from Chase Boydston, Ashton Gallagher, Haillie Bresnahan and scene stealer Miann Barr. A special applause to flapper Alaina Gebel.

To the Editor:

Iowans need to speak up for our farmers, and against federal policies that endanger Iowa agriculture, our biofuels industry and our rural economy.

A proposed rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could cripple rural America by weakening the Renewable Fuel Standard.

It also would be another broken promise; the EPA rule is contrary to an ethanol plan announced in early October by the Trump Administration.

Iowa farmers are worried about these mixed messages out of Washington, D.C. - especially after ongoing trade wars and bad weather, which have created extra challenges. The Iowa Corn Growers and other commodity groups object to the EPA’s plan.

I encourage all Iowans - farmers and non-farmers - to join a quick and easy public comment initiative by the National Corn Growers Association.

Last week we celebrated Halloween. As many of you know, the term comes from “All Hallows Evening”, or the night before the Feast of All the “Hallowed Ones”. “Hallowed” can also mean “Holy”.  Another term for the “Holy Ones” are “Saints”. So the day following Halloween, November 1st, for centuries, has been known in some churches as All Saints Day.

I go into all this to talk about saintly behavior. I know that none of us are perfect, and we probably think we are far from sainthood.  But I would like to point out some saintly actions I have witnessed in our area:

A postal carrier who paused on her route last winter to ask if I needed help getting out of a snow bank when I was stuck at Yellow River State Forest.

The person who bakes pies for every benefit and fundraiser.

Those people who make frequent phone calls to a lonely neighbor.

EMTs and First Responders who help at a moment’s notice.

To the Editor:

As we approach Veteran’s Day, I would like to share two very important numbers with you: 58,276 and 405.

As of Memorial Day, 2019, there are 58,276 names on the national Vietnam Veteran’s memorial, the Wall of Faces, honoring service members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought in Vietnam, those who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who went unaccounted for during the war.

A 1973 fire in St. Louis, MO destroyed their military records, leaving no photos behind. In 2013, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund set out to find the pictures to preserve their legacies and sacrifices. As of October 2019, only 405 names are still missing pictures.

Across the country, volunteers and organizations like the National Newspaper Association and the Newspaper Association Managers (NAM) are helping the program leave no one behind.

To the Editor:

VFW Auxiliary #4117 held its annual Poppy Day campaign. Poppies are made by disabled veterans. Proceeds are used to benefit veterans assistance programs locally and at veterans hospitals and facilities.

Locally, funds are used for veterans medical assistance, support for patriot quilts, recognition for veterans in care facilities and support for Veterans Affairs needs. The Auxiliary appreciates all the individuals and businesses that generously donated for these veteran needs.

VFW Auxiliary #4117
Sherry Bechtel
President