Mt. Pleasant News

The other day my wife and I took on the difficult task of attempting to weed our garden. I believe our crop of weeds is larger than we have ever endeavored. Somewhere, in the midst of tall, overbearing bullies, is a plant trying to grow. Then I read Proverbs 15:4; ?The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.?In the letter of James is a passage of what damage the tongue can ...

We're actually settled into our new home, and yes, we love it. Okay, I can't say that I don't have some things that need to be organized yet, like the armoire for example. When my mom needed something in it, I told her, ?get it with your eyes shut!? Of course she knew how I meant it, it simply takes time to get all these corners done.Several days after moving to our new house, we had a very rare privilege of ...

To the editor:What the government is doing to immigrant families on our own borders with Mexico is a moral crisis. Separating immigrant children from their parents is an abomination. The current U.S. law does not require this. It is a Trump policy that started on April 6 when Jeff Sessions announced it. Now there are even children in cages like dog kennels. It is sinful, evil and abhorrent. Using the Bible to ...

Blossom doesn't particularly like her small pen. She runs from one end of the small enclosure to the other, kicking up her heels, letting us know that if she had a larger pasture, she would put it to good use. Sometime in the future I may expand her living area, but for now, it will have to do. After all, she is a butcher calf.One of my insurance clients called. He read my book and wanted a half-dozen copies to ...

I'm not sure when my deep obsession with the Kate Spade brand began, but I will never forget receiving my first Kate Spade handbag for Christmas only a year and a half ago.Two weeks later, I was on a plane to New York City, my black leather purse with a cream-colored bow safely tucked away in my suitcase. Throughout my seven-month stint in the city, I often modeled the purse walking down the street to my ...

All gardeners share some degree of frustration with weeds: those out-of-place, undesired plants that compete for nutrients, water and sunlight. Most experienced gardeners have developed a repertoire of strategies for weed control, but newer gardeners may welcome some ideas.First, there is one ?don't? to heed: don't plan to use synthetic herbicides as your go-to solution for weed problems. There is almost always ...

?Jesus said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.? Mark 5:34While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. ?Your daughter is dead,? they said. ?Why bother the teacher any more?? Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, ?Don't be afraid; just believe.? Mark 5:35-36Have you ever noticed the sandwiche...

So much has happened these past few days. We're actually settled into our new home, and yes, we love it. For now, I'd enjoy filling you in on some of what's happening in our corner of the world.My parents and their three daughters made plans to swap properties with Daniel, myself and our five little darlings. They were ready for a smaller property and we were interested in a larger house with our rapidly growing ...

My grandfather is the world's greatest fan. Of his wife of over 50 years, of his five grandkids, of farming and of course his White Sox. For their honeymoon, he took my gram to Niagara Falls. He made a joke about jumping in, but even after 50 years he still is her biggest fan.My family used to take family vacations to Wisconsin Dells. Once, when I was around seven, I talked him into going down a waterslide with ...

Eccl. 1:9-11: ?History merely repeats itself; it has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn't already exist long ago? We don't remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.?Things never change. The details may vary, but the things that are happening today are merely ...

We moved Annie, along with her brother, to Mt. Pleasant, from Colorado, completely against their will when they were teenagers. They thought we, the parents, had lost our marbles because they would attend a Christian school rather than public. As native born Coloradoans, ?What was there to do in Iowa?? they asked. So, being the good parents, we bribed them. For Annie, she could have a futon bed. For our son, I ...

Hello, people of Henry County. You all have given me so much over the last few years and I think it's about time to give back. Here's the deal: I come up with big money making business ideas all the time.Some of these ideas could probably make me rich and give me a shot to retire at 35, but I like being a sports editor too much to go through with any of them, and also everyone I pitch these to rips on them and ...