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Top 10 reasons for going to church

I go to church. That put me in a solid majority of Americans when I was young. Now I’m in a mnority. The trend toward that significant shift began a few decades ago. It got a jolt during COVID when staying home became a preferred pastime for many. A lot of people blame a lot of things for the drop in church attendance. We can take comfort in knowing God’s time is not our time. Rather than griping about it, how about if we believers commit ourselves to being the most decent, loving, and kind people we can be? Maybe we can attract someone back to a pew who wants to be part of ...

Homemakers: Still prove important to family life

One of Glen Campbell’s famous songs celebrates an American icon and an ideal way of life from the 20th century. The “Dreams of an Everyday Housewife” is not his greatest hit of all time. That honor should probably go to “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Honorable mentions should definitely be given to “Galveston” and “Wichita Lineman.” Even so, the housewife song is meaningful because it presents a viewpoint that’s different from the idealistic image of homemakers from the time period. A woman’s place was at home with the children. Women worked only if they absolutely ...

The mask

Getting lined up for cancer treatment involves approximately as many people and resources as it took to build the Saturn V rocket. My initial day at the cancer center was a learning experience. Among the first things they requested was permission to take my photo. “Is that really necessary?” I asked. “Has anyone ever tried to impersonate their way into cancer treatment?” I was told that this has never happened except for that one time when a guy who had an identical twin brother thought it would be funny to try a switcheroo. I got the impression that staff at the cancer ...

Assassination attempt leads everyone toward shock and sadness

Every once in a blue moon something happens in the world that shocks people, enough so that they remember what they were doing when they first heard the news. I had that situation last Sunday after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. It started out as a typical summer Sunday, with coffee followed by a skillet breakfast. I decided after breakfast that it was already too hot for a walk. I decided to go to the Camden beach. My car was down to less than a quarter of a tank, so I stopped at my usual place for a refill. When I went in to pay I saw the banner ...

A fun summer Saturday

If you can’t find something fun to do on a summer Saturday you probably aren’t trying. A good example would be how I spent a recent July Saturday. The Brookings Summer Arts Festival took place just a dozen miles from our house. But I opted to kick off the day with a combination of airplanes and pancakes. South Dakota State University’s Flying Jacks Aviation Club held a fly-in and breakfast at our local airport. Flapjacks, sausage and eggs were served up by smiling, fresh-faced students. Few things are more enjoyable than a hearty breakfast in a hanger that’s brimming with ...

A shipshape shop

I have never been accused of being a neatnik — my desk resembles the aftermath of a tornado — but I have lately found great pleasure in tidying things up. A good example would be my newly rebuilt old farm shop. It has taken more than a year, but I’ve finally gotten the shop to the point where I feel that it’s exactly the way I want it. This has been a long but fulfilling process, one that involved the acquisition of tools that I deemed essential. Sometimes this meant buying a new item while at other times a used piece of equipment proved to be just the thing. I hate to admit ...