Saturday, August 30, 2008
Vandals prove that they aren't very good at coexisting
Vandals prove that they aren't very good at coexisting
On Wednesday morning, I received a phone call that our church had been vandalized.
The large white rock, the emblem of our church, had been repainted. The motto "Jesus Saves" had been whited out, and the "coexist" symbol had been spray painted over it.
As I spent a morning that was already full painting over this mess, I wondered what the perpetrators' motivation was. If they really believed in the necessity for peaceful coexistence, they betrayed their own principles by trespassing and damaging private property.
It isn't the Christians who will not coexist. We don't damage property, intrude into other people's space or force our message where it is not welcome.
Christians recognize each person has a God-given right to live their life as they choose, understanding they will be held responsible to God for their choices. Not only is it not desirable, but it is not possible to force our beliefs on others.
Freedom of conscience is a Christian concept not found in any other major religion. The message on our rock, "Jesus Saves," is God does not reject sinners -- he lovingly paid for our redemption while we were in the midst of rebellion.
Pastor Riner Grace Brethren Church
Ads should be green, and not get in the way
I agree with Joshua Bernick's letter regarding those glossy inserts in the newspaper, ("Go from glossy to green on inserts," Aug. 25). I understand the need to advertise, but businesses such as Macy's, Sears, Best Buy and Circuit City, to name a few, should do so in an environmentally friendly way.
Another type of advertising I find objectionable is the flaps along the comic section in Sunday's paper. One must remove the flap in order to enjoy that section, and usually the comics end up getting torn off along with the advertisement.
Bible is clear on abortion, homosexuality
The Bible is clear on murder and homosexuality. To have an abortion is to stop a life from being born.
On the subject of homosexuality the Bible calls it shameful, unrighteousness and wicked.
How can anyone who calls themselves a Christian vote for a candidate who is for both of these issues? Someday we will all stand before God to give an account.
U.S. should adopt national health care
National health care for the U.S. is long overdue. All of Europe and virtually every other democratic nation have evolved to this higher ideal.
Opponents insist there will be new problems. But that is no argument at all, for there always are with change.
The point is, for 50 million Americans the improvement will be like night versus day. To use an analogy, other democracies understand its citizens comprise a family. As such, they extend guarantees to every member.
Even the youngest children, who contribute nothing to the upkeep of the home, are extended basic minimums.
Many Americans earn millions of dollars each year, and they do it with our help, directly or indirectly. In light of this, simple fairness dictates that the wealthy should pay a higher percentage of taxes so that regular citizen can live without fear of poverty caused by the cost of a serious illness.
The U.S. is the only democracy on Earth whose top leaders have voted themselves free health care but not those they govern.
Our politicians, elected the parents of our national family, so to speak, have betrayed our trust, having cared for themselves while abandoning their guardianship of the children.
World War III threatens and no one notices
While the media has its sensationalized, never-ending love affair with the DNC, and the McCain vs. Madonna, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the world is closer to the brink of WW III, and no one seems to notice.
The Middle East is ready to implode, and Russia and U.S. tensions are at an all-time high since the Cold War.
The threatening military rhetoric has reached the heightened level that deserves more attention from the media and the presidential candidates.
Instead, the media are more concerned with Michelle Obama's "body language" and whether or not Clinton and Obama have truly mended their relationship, and Madonna's unflattering use of McCain in a video.
Please, for the sake of our nation, and our world, stop this "glam-fest" and get back to business. I don't care about who is more "Hollywood," or who has the best oratorical talent, or who is too old.
The U.S. has been on way too long of a holidday as we've enjoyed the theatrics of the presidential race. Wake up, America, and demand more from our media and politicians before the world, as we know it, explodes.
