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In between Testaments

When the Old Testament came to a close, there were preachers who brought their message to the people as instructed. Hosea began the preaching with the fact he was going to take a prostitute as a wife: Hosea’s wife is a picture of Israel seeking other gods. Joel says that “A nation is coming to my land, they will lay the land bare.” Amos says, “The Lord will roar from Zion and will not stop any Heavenly punishment dealt to the Israelites; Obadiah says, Israel’s pride has deceived you.” Jonah said that “in forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown.” Micah says that the Lord ...

The ugly American

The Dec. 12 T.R. article “Trump Leads America Boldly into Decline” by syndicated writer Froma Harrop was just a scratch on the moral decadence, the corruption of Democracy and the unraveling of the rule law spewing from America’s highest office. Watching Trump’s racist disparage of Somalia, his outrageous claim that Venezuelan oil is America’s oil, the barbaric extra judicial bombing and killing of suspected drug runners, his high jacking of an Venezuelan oil tanker, the continuation of illegal sanctions against Venezuela, Trump’s release of two U.S. ...

Handel’s Messiah

We are grateful to everyone who could manage the snow and cold and attend the 2025 presentation of Handel’s Messiah on December 7th. Handel himself began the tradition of raising funds for charity, and this year your generous offering will be shared with the Emergency Food Box and the Salvation Army. The 2026 Messiah presentation will be on Sunday, December 6th. Watch for announcements beginning in October for the November rehearsal schedule. New singers are always welcome!

Recognizing everyday acts of kindness

Too often, people are quick to complain and slow to praise. Today, I want to take a moment to highlight something I witnessed that deserves recognition. On my way to work, I noticed a young woman walking along the sidewalk near a local auto dealer. She was wearing a coat and carrying a backpack, and I assumed she was heading toward a bus stop. Later, as I passed back through the area near the skate park, I saw her still walking. She looked tired and extremely cold, and I grew concerned. At a nearby gas station, I noticed a police car parked. From what I could tell, the female officer ...

Thankful for the MPD and Officer Wolf

To the Marshalltown Police Department, I am writing this letter to recognize not only the department as one, but to a very special officer that took lifesaving measures so I can be here today to talk about it, Logan Wolf. On Aug. 17, the evening you arrived, I was living in a lifestyle defined by fear, trauma, addiction and abuse that had become too heavy to carry alone. I was trapped in an ongoing vicious cycle of domestic violence living in the painful aftermath of sexual assault, uncertain if safety or peace existed anywhere in my life. My addiction had become both a symptom of ...

Property taxes

We own our home and pay property taxes. Our six kids own their homes and pay property taxes. Our 14 grandchildren will never afford a home. If elderly can’t afford property taxes, there are low-income apartments and HUD. We don’t qualify. My grandparents lived in low-income apartments. My parents could not afford property taxes on the farm, so they moved to town and continued to pay property taxes. They weren’t rich or poor. They continued to work, had a nice car and ate out on occasional trips to the casino. They had Medicare, VA and Blue Cross. The Hispanics are conservative. ...