By Pastor Rod Anderson

Q is coming to us!

It looked like a basketball in my Sunday paper batch of circulars and advertisements – a flat basketball! March Madness is coming to us, so why not the “ultimate game changer” ad for a Mega March Madness experience brought to your screen and mine in the “best bundle” by DirectTV and Qwest (Q, hereafter, to a point, in this column)?

By Bernard Johnson

I’ve been thinking about what I would do if I were the devil. Among other things I would try to convince the world that I do not exist.

I would persuade people that there is no such thing as evil in the world, only ignorance. I would elevate the notion of being a victim and ridicule the idea of personal responsibility for things dark and wicked. I would convince people that everything is relative and truth is merely a matter of opinion ... your truth and my truth!

By Barb Howe and Joanne Bartel

Emilie was once a vibrant woman, capable wife and nurturing mother of 11 children. Her days were full – managing a large family farm house, bandaging little knees and singing with her musically talented family. When she was a schoolgirl, Emilie developed a strong sense of competition as a gymnast. Now she struggles with the effects of advanced-stage memory loss. Caregivers who work with Emilie tap into her family experiences and competitive nature to guide the administration of her care.

By Pastor Rod Anderson

A year ago at a February funeral I met an elderly gentleman who had gathered with the congregation to mourn the loss of a dear friend. We struck up one of those especially meaningful conversations that prompted several visits in my office over the year since, focused on the role of the funeral service in shepherding those in grief to greater faith. We agree every funeral is an encounter with one’s own mortality and, thus, is a valuable opportunity for proclaiming faith and making the case for the promises in scripture regarding our afterlife with God.

By Rep. Erik Paulsen

Just one year ago, Congress and the president stood poised to work together towards smart, effective policy that would encourage job creation and move us out of a terrible economic recession.

By Lauren Carlson-Vohs

Many of us have been pondering this question in recent weeks as we have tried to process the immense tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti. Inundated with graphic images and harrowing stories, we are left to wonder how could this possibly come to be? Where do we find our God amidst it all?

By Maura Steblay

Friends of the Library are supporters who strengthen community ties by sharing a passion for local books and learning, taking on fundraising efforts, assisting with programs and events, and sponsoring special programs for children, teens, adults and seniors. We invite you!

By Bernard E. Johnson

I’ve been thinking about finding hope in the midst of chaos. The earthquake in Haiti has produced suffering and chaos in unprecedented proportions. On the scene news persons weep openly at what they see. As the world rushes to help, the damage and confusion in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation overwhelms the best of intentions. It will be a long and sorrowful journey to any sense of wellbeing. In the meantime, people just like you and me continue to grieve and bury the dead.

By Erin Callahan

Each day, over 42,000 people visit Hennepin County Library’s award-winning Web site, www.hclib.org. Ever wonder who does all of its behind-the-scenes work? Our Web site is a hugely collaborative effort coordinated by the Web developers and content specialists in our Web services department.

By Michael Miller

How will you make the world a better place in the coming year?

This past week we moved into a new decade and a new way of speaking in reference to the new year. I read just last week that we can stop saying “two thousand ten” and shorten our new decade to “twenty ten.” As a child the thought of living in the era of the 2000’s was nearly as incomprehensible as the concept of eternity. But now I am astonished at how quickly it has come.