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The courage to say no

Your View

It occurred to me recently that one good thing has come out of the unfortunate manner in which local entities have tried to sell Marshalltown to data center developers: It has brought the community together. It has given us a common cause to fight together. I’m surprised and impressed to see how many people are showing up, speaking out and not backing down. I’m grateful to be a part of a community that has the courage to say no. I’m proud that so many people think our land, our resources and our quality of life are worth more than a promise of a handful of jobs and some potential ...

Bible Truth or Tradition: Who is the creator of the heavens and the earth?

Columnists

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1,27‬. The singular personal pronoun “He” indicates that God is one person. “Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?” Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭6‬ “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,” Psalm‬ ...

Round River: The Grace of the Wild

Columnists

At the end of August, the world lost an amazing writer and poet, Wendell Berry. His poem "The Peace of Wild Things" has grounded me and refocused me for decades. Up until recently, I had this poem posted on my wall next to my desk. I never printed one after becoming director, but that will ...

25 years since 9/11

Columnists

From natural disasters to political, agricultural, scientific and technological revolutions, certain events change the course of human history. This year, we celebrate 250 years since America’s founding patriots signed the Declaration of Independence. Since then, generations of Americans ...

Driving forward

Columnists

I had the opportunity to attend the Marshall County Food Access meeting this week at the ISU Extension Office. Meetings are held quarterly. You would be surprised at how many people and groups are working their tail off to help people have access to food. Food banks, little food boxes that you ...

ASK AUGUSTINE

Columnists

Is Christianity inclusive or exclusive, and how is that reflected in our styles of worship? Contemporary worship styles of worship seem to focus their presentations aimed at finding a theological and cultural lowest common denominator to attract and engage the greatest number of people; hence such styles of worship clearly indicate the inclusiveness of Christianity. As a result, in contemporary worship services there seems to be no need to be a Christian to understand almost everything that was said or sung. So why sing ”Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” when one does not know what ...