Letter: Dead Sea Scrolls was well worth it

From: Debra Olson
Winsted
My husband and I took a group of 29 teenagers and “twenty-somethings” to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Science Museum.
Although I would have recommended the exhibit before that weekend, I waited to write this letter until I could get the reaction of these young people as well.
I asked them two questions: “Was it worth going?” (affirmatives from everyone) and “Why?” The most repeated ideas were “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” and “It builds up your confidence in the Bible.”
Seeing all the other artifacts helped the whole culture and setting of the scrolls become more “real” for many of them. One person was struck by the thought that the large water pots on display were the same type used at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine.
Yes, much of the exhibit is scientific analysis and written from a secular viewpoint. One of our students made a great point about all of that. “Seeing it all from a completely secular view helps you understand how the people think and makes you understand more the importance of the scrolls and artifacts to the Christian faith.” (My paraphrase).
That really leads to my main point. No matter how “secular” or “politically correct’ the exhibit may seem, God’s hand cannot be hidden. Consider His use of the perfect conditions around the Dead Sea in preserving the scrolls. Think also about the ink. Many documents I have that are only 20 or 30 years old already have faded signatures, yet the particular compounds used by the scribes have lasted over 2,000 years!
God’s timing is also perfect. If the scrolls had been found even 100 years earlier, they may have been lost due to a lack of knowledge and technology for their continued preservation.
Finally, remember that God “who so loved the world” works through, and for, individual people. Imagine a solitary man with quill in hand painstakingly copying the text, never dreaming that 2,000 years later another solitary person would be seeing, reading, and studying his work.
God did all this so you could know about Him and trust His faithfulness.
Go see the scrolls. Look for God’s hand throughout the exhibit, and leave with the wonder and awe of His great provision for you.

Letter: Americans won’t stand for cheating

From: Joan Neururer
Waverly
Americans take their sporting events very seriously.
Americans are upset when their sporting heroes cheat.  They are outraged when teams are accused of throwing a game.
The cheating politicians have perpetrated in the name of health care reform have now outraged American citizens.
Contrary to a recent letter to the editor; health care legislation is not a good thing.  Republicans are not sore losers; they just don’t like losing through the machinations that were perpetrated by the Democrats.
Never in the in the history of our great nation has such sweeping social change been foisted on the American people with so much skullduggery.
Senate rules were changed.  Congressmen were bribed, threatened, and lied to, all in the name of passing the bill. That sounds a lot like thievery.
A majority of the citizens made it known that the bill wasn’t desired, but nevertheless the bill was signed into law.
Americans won’t stand for cheating in their sports heroes, and they certainly won’t stand for it on something as important as health care legislation.

Letter: Dead Sea scrolls program recommended

From: Dianne Mahoney
Winsted
In the April 12 issue of the Herald Journal, an editorial review of the Science Museum of Minnesota’s current exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls with which I totally disagree.
The movie, “Arabia,” which is offered in the Omnitheater, is not required, in fact it costs an extra $8-$11 to see it.
It is advertised on the web site, and there is a big sign on the front of the museum advertising it, contrary to your statements in the review.
We found the exhibit fascinating, the next best thing to a trip to Israel. It is full of wonderful background information about the geography, history, and culture of the area.
It was so interesting and so jam-packed with information, that we had to skip part of the exhibit and made plans to go back another time.  In fact, after a couple of hours of the information, my brain got to the point where it couldn’t absorb any more.
I would recommend that you go in the morning, spend a couple of hours at the exhibit, go take a lunch break, then go back in.
I suspect that your editor’s distaste for the movie colored the entire experience. For instance, referring to a “sect” was, I believe, a reference to the people who copied the scrolls and preserved them, not to Christians as a whole.
There were presentations of conflicting theories of who the people were, how the scrolls came to be hidden in the caves, etc. etc.  It is a scholarly presentation, and I found the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in no way offensive to my Christian faith.
Academics are  supposed to be interested in presenting information, which is what happens here.  It is up to the viewer to make their own conclusions about the awe, mystery, and wonder of having a chance to see such ancient texts which so closely match what we have such easy access to, the Living Word of God.
I hope the negative review will not put anyone off from seeing what a group of Christians thought was a wonderful, wonderful educational experience.

Letter: Wait before bestowing sainthood

From: Dale Vander Linden
Delano
My good friend of 40-some years, John Norman, expounded the virtues of the Obama health care reform.
Considering the fact that we have seldom seen any government program, either Republican or Democrat, live up to its hype, I don’t think most of us fall into that category of sore Republican losers, but into the category of concerned citizens.
Before we pin medals on the program, and on Mr. Obama, maybe we should consider the fact that government agencies have recently pointed out that in 10 years there will still be 40,000,000 folks without insurance and that the 10-year savings look to be $143,000,000,000 less than advertised.
Maybe we should wait about five years before bestowing sainthood.

Letter: Drinking not a passage of spring for teens

From: Carver County Attorney Jim Keeler
Sheriff Bud Olson
Chaska Chief Scott M. Knight
Springtime is full of celebrations for our students – including prom and graduation. These events are milestones for students and families and should be celebrated. How students celebrate prom and graduation however, could have major consequences.
Underage drinking is a serious problem. In Minnesota, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, possess and drink alcoholic beverages. Under the “Not a Drop” law, if someone under 21 drinks and drives they will lose their license from 30 to 180 days. These laws have reduced the incidence and harms of underage drinking.
Teens, however, continually report that adults are their primary source of alcohol at home, in bars, and restaurants and outdoor parties. Serving alcohol to minors is illegal.
Adults providing alcohol to teens can be ordered to serve a jail or prison sentence, pay fines and substantial monetary civil damages. Chaska’s “Social Host” ordinance holds individuals criminally responsible for hosting or allowing underage drinking at parties.
While some parents are relieved that their teen is “only” drinking, they may not know that alcohol is a drug. Teens use alcohol more frequently, heavily and with more deadly results than all other illicit drugs combined. These statistics do not take into consideration the countless lief-altering consequences of underage drinking that do not result in death, including vehicle crashes, violence and sexual assault.
Even though they are 18, graduating and attending prom, parents can still help their teens make choices that ensure their own and others’ safety.
Parents can establish boundaries and expectations for them and hold them accountable for their actions. Remember underage drinking is not a rite of passage –it is illegal.
Our message is aimed at preventing underage drinking and potentially deadly behavior, including drinking and driving. We care about the teens in our community. Please join us in our effort to keep them safe and sober while celebrating their accomplishments.

Letter: Adopt a highway volunteers are out

From: Bob Busch
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Now that spring has arrived, Adopt a Highway volunteers are out along our roadways helping to beautify roadsides and saving taxpayers’ money in litter removal costs.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of MnDOT’s Adopt a Highway program, a public service campaign where community groups, churches, businesses and individuals pick up litter along Minnesota highways.
Minnesota’s Adopt a Highway volunteers are the real heroes of public service. Every year they pick up tons of litter from state highways. The work is hard, never-ending and frequently thankless.
As MnDOT District 3 Transportation District Engineer, I would like to offer sincere appreciation to each volunteer. MnDOT is very proud of their dedication and commitment to keeping our roadsides attractive and giving visitors to our area a positive impression as they travel our local roadways.
Courtesy of their efforts, MnDOT can use the resources that would have been used to pick up litter for highway improvements and safety projects.
The next time you pass a group of volunteers picking up litter, give them a thumbs-up. Or better yet, organize your own group to adopt a highway of its own. Those interested in adopting a highway can visit: www.dot.state.mn.us/adopt/contact.html to find out who to contact in their area.
Adopt a Highway volunteers really make a difference in our communities.

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