Viewpoints

Dr. David Moessner was one of the seminary professors who taught me the New Testament. Though he had the kind heart of a pastor, Dr. Moessner was nonetheless an intimidating figure - not only because his scholarship was so rich but also because he read Scripture in its original Greek with the same ease that you and I read English.

His teaching style always invited seminarians to read aloud the particular Bible passage of the day’s study. My classmates and I shared various English translations, and Dr. Moessner followed along in his beloved biblical Greek. Occasionally, he would interrupt the reading with a bracing judgment: “That’s a horrible translation” - faulting not the talent of the reciting student but the choices of the Bible’s English translators.

Blessings to all who read these wandering thoughts from a wayward follower of Jesus.   Let’s talk about prayer… Praying seems like such a simple thing to do. We pray at mealtimes, we pray at bedtime, we pray during church services, we pray during times of grief, life’s struggles, traumatic events, and at times of joy, thanksgiving, and blessings.

Typically, prayer is used as a defensive tool.  Something has happened or is about to happen and we seek intervention. But when was the last time you used prayer as an offensive tool, specifically in doing God’s work? When was the last time you used prayer as just a time to have a conversation with the All Mighty?   When was the last time you asked God what God wanted you to do, rather than asking God to bless what you wanted to do?   

To the Editor:

As I indicated in an earlier letter (February 19, 2025 edition of The Standard), Presidents Trump and Elon Musk shut down the U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID) which finances overseas foreign aid, disaster relief, and international development programs.A federal judge recently ruled their actions “likely violated the U.S. Constitution multiple ways.” Although Musk falsely claimed “no one died as a result of a brief pause to do a sanity check on foreign aid funding,” people died.

One of the programs cut was PEPFAR, a program started by President George W. Bush that saved 26 million lives from AIDS. As Nicholas Kristof, a journalist on the ground in South Sudan reported, one of those who died was a 10-year-old who was infected with HIV from his mother during childbirth. 

To the Editor:

In his letter to the editor printed February 20, Pat Ward rails against  President Trump and what he and the Republican Party have done for the country. We appreciate Mr. Ward’s service to the country, however, he is totally wrong in his assessment of what President Trump is doing and has accomplished.

Mr. Ward fails to recognize that President Trump was put into office  by more than 77 million American voters, many of whom also served this country. I am not sure what Mr. Ward has against those voters, some of whom choose to fly the American Flag.

The United States is enjoying its highest international standing in many years. That has been brought about by the policies formulated by President Trump. The country is enjoying an economic growth that is helping millions of American families. That is something that was not accomplished by the previous corrupt administration.

Why Lent?

We are just about to begin the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays). It seems like every year I hear comments from different people who don’t like Lent, such as, “It just makes me feel sad” or “It’s hard to hear so much about the suffering and death of Jesus,” and “Why can’t we focus on more pleasant things?” Today, I want to address some of these concerns and explain why Lent, though a somber and penitential a season, is truly a great comfort for every Christian.

Lent is a somber season. Ash Wednesday reminds us that God created man from dust and one day to dust we shall return. It reminds that we are not invincible. We will not live forever. “The wages of sin is death.” Death is proof of our sin. It makes it clear that we need a Savior.

To the Editor:

First, let me say, I fought in combat for that U.S. Flag that these MAGAs are staking out in their yards or on their houses to represent the old Republican party of Lincoln. That party no longer exists and is now referred to as the party of the MAGAs, who only use that flag to let me and you know that they voted for a convicted rapist and also a worldly-known felon, and that it is and was OK to try and overthrow this country and government.

Two of the biggest American flags I have seen recently are hanging from the rafters at a business, and it’s not - even though the employees believe that it is - because of being patriotic, but how naive and not the real reason, as many, and I say many, know why they are hanging from the rafters, from the walls or being staked out for all to see when they walk in the doors or drive by.

To the Editor:

Contact your congressional representatives, is often suggested when we become aware of an issue. Crafting a message and delivering it can seem like a difficult or time-consuming task, a task that can be postponed until some later time.
However, communication with the Iowa U.S. Congressional Delegation is made easy using your Word or Pages software to create your message, your browser to access a delegates website, and their website pages to deliver your message.
Members of the Iowa U.S. Congressional Delegation are: Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Joni Ernst, District 1 Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, District 2 Representative Ashley Hinson, District 3 Representative Zach Nunn and District 4 Representative Randy Feenstra. The district numbers are for reference only.

To the Editor:

President Trump, who intends to take a wrecking ball to our government, empowered Elon Musk to do the dirty work. One of the first casualties has been the U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID). Musk called it a “criminal organization” and said he was in the process of “shutting down” the agency.

Trump has no authority to abolish the USAID as it was established by Congress as an independent agency and by law only Congress can dissolve it.

The agency spends around $40 billion a year (about 0.7 percent of the US budget) to finance overseas foreign aid, disaster relief, and internal development programs. Although it has about 14,000 employees worldwide, the Trump administration plans to retain only around 290. About 1,400 U.S.-based staff members were put on indefinite administrative leave effective immediately and hundreds of contractors were issued stop-work orders.  Employees posted abroad are expected to return to the U.S. within 30 days.

To the Editor:

“Throwing the baby out with the bath water.”

That is what Trump and Musk are doing. They are throwing out good programs instead of just wasteful parts. Think about the Department of Education (DOE) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Department of Education programs include updating standards that Iowa uses, federal aid for students pursuing postsecondary education (PELL grants), community college funding, special education and rehabilitation services, and activities for drug prevention. For PELL grants in Iowa, over 60,000 students each received an average of almost $5,000/year, awarded by financial need. Discontinuing these programs will negatively impact Iowa students.

You may have heard the recent accusations made on X (formerly Twitter) that claimed money was being laundered through religious organizations and specifically named the “Lutheran” faith.

As an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), I feel it is important to state that these statements are blatantly false. The ELCA responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service: feeding people who are hungry, caring for those who are sick, and advocating for justice, peace and the dignity of all people.