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How much does Jesus love us...

Local Columns

"Jesus Loves Me This I Know...," so goes the song many of us sang as youngsters. But how can we understand how much Jesus loves us? To comprehend, here's a real-life story of love and believing. It was 1961 when Lou Holtz had just married the love of his life, Beth. Lou was a graduate student and graduate assistant coach at the University of Iowa. Their main source of groceries were scraps from the Iowa football team training table. Spring training had just finished, and all the couple had was their love and a small apartment in Iowa City. One day Lou came home with a brand-new ...

A Holy Week pause

Local Columns

There’s something about this time of year that feels like it moves faster than it should. The calendar fills up. The weather starts to shift. There are baskets to fill, meals to plan, schedules to coordinate. And before we know it, Easter is here… and gone. But this week—the week leading up to Easter—was never meant to be rushed. In the Christian tradition, we call it Holy Week. It’s a journey through some of the most meaningful moments of Jesus’ life: celebration, betrayal, suffering, waiting… and ultimately hope. And if we’re honest, it’s also a journey that looks a ...

A rose by any other name

Local Columns

Four centuries ago William Shakespeare wrote, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” This line from Romeo and Juliet is valid for today’s column, even if used out of context. We are largely who we are regardless of our name. I’ve been an Arvid for more than 78 years but if my parents had named me Ralph or Elmer I’d probably still be the same loud, outspoken story teller I am today. At some point of development we recognize and accept our name and then become protective of it. Some folks may choose to use their middle name or even change their name. Whatever we ...

Bleeding Disorder Awareness month in March encourages more knowledge about disorder

Letters to Editor

To the editor, March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. Across the country and right here in Iowa, patients and families are raising awareness about rare inherited bleeding disorders that affect thousands of Americans. Bleeding disorders occur when blood does not clot properly. Conditions like hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare platelet disorders and factor deficiencies can turn everyday injuries into serious medical events. Something as simple as a fall, dental work or surgery can lead to days of pain, swelling or long term joint damage. Managing these lifelong conditions ...

Haymow Hoop Dreams

Editorials

March Madness has begun and I can truly say this is my favorite time of the entire year. I grew up with a love of basketball that began in the early 1970’s on our small hobby farm located 30 minutes south of the state capital in Madison. Our large gambrel style barn was a working barn that housed sheep, black angus cattle, chickens, a couple of mutts, several cats, and dozens of bats that would emerge from the rafters at dusk. It also had mice, one of which ran up my pants leg when I was throwing bales of hay down the chute. The barn was large and had a cavernous haymow. The ...

Public notices must remain in newspapers

Editorials

There are some in the Iowa Legislature who periodically toy with the possibility of eliminating the requirement that local governments print public notices in newspapers This is the wrong move today, tomorrow and for the future. Government transparency is more important than ever. In truth it is critical. While The Messenger, The Daily Freeman-Journal and other Iowa newspapers have an economic interest in seeing that the public notice publishing requirement remains, the issue goes far beyond a few dollars. Maintaining the legal requirement to publish government actions and meetings ...