By Gary Hopkins, Associate Pastor, Oceanside Community Church

A telling indictment of the United States has been: "Americans do
not take care of their Senior Citizens." Indeed our country is overwhelmed with retirement homes, rest homes, hospice care, and ò sadly ò more homeless seniors than ever before.
In nations that Americans consider barbaric, third world, or just
plain lesser than us, we find seniors treated as jewels to be cherished.
Children are taught to hold the elderly in high regard and seniors
are treated like the elderly statesmen of the family. Children are
expected to help their grandparents, and when the elder person speaks everyone listens. Perhaps in these countries living without the luxuries westerners enjoy has actually been the larger blessing, for they seem to cherish the blessings of the aged.
We no longer consider age as wisdom, rather, we only see slow, and in our way. Unfortunately, Americans are addicted to convenience, and having our own personal identity. We have placed so much value on individualism that the family unit has suffered greatly. This disturbing trend has bled over into the family of God. Churches have purposely designed services to attract the younger generation while the elder generation stays home. Our Lord didn‚t alter the way he
reached people, because the Gospel is for all people. Churches crank up the music, do away with traditional services in order to pack more of the youthful generation in, some even suggest the elderly go somewhere else more suitable for them (like a rest home?).
Lev. 19-32 (NLT) says this: "Show your fear of God by standing up
in the presence of the elderly people and showing respect for the
aged. I am the Lord." Exodus 20:12 (NIV): "Honor your father and
your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your
God is giving you." And of course in Ephesians 6:2-3 we are reminding that this commandment is the first with a promise.
I have the privilege of worshipping with many of the elderly in our community; the wisdom of these gray-haired saints has blessed me greatly. I find they have the tell it like it is mentality, they are eager to serve and just as excited to see people led to the Lord as any youngster. Perhaps they have the wisdom of time to realize what one is being rescued from. Is it possible to reach unity in the body of Christ without honoring our elderly? I don‚t think so.
I want to take this time to thank our elderly saints, for being there for me and my family, for showing me that the test of time creates beautiful jewels in the sight of our Lord.

By Councilman Jack Feller, City of Oceanside

I, like the majority of Americans, support our President and our
military troops serving here and overseas. No one likes war, but
sometimes war is necessary. And we should always remember that it is our troops and their families who make the ultimate sacrifice, allowing all Americans and the world the opportunity for continued freedom and democracy.
Along with their sacrifice, we too must stand strong at home for them, for ourselves, and for future generations. One such way to protect our freedom is to send a very clear message to our elected representatives as to how we feel in regards to the ongoing attacks on our Pledge of Allegiance and our National Motto. The website, www.wepledge.com, can help everyone get that message to the people in power!
Don‚t wait; act now and preserve our basic rights. God Bless America, now and forever!

By Dr. Norman Mann, San Diego

Never once did France or Russia veto the United States offer for
aid after World War II. It was the same Russians and the same Germans who thinking they could carve up the world decided to become partners and looked to soaking up Europe and the Balkans. Their nefarious deal led to the slaughter of 50,000,000 souls and their way of life was restored by the goodness of the American people. Now that they have a little power they are turning against the hand that fed them.
They "see no evil, hear no evil from and will speak no evil" against Saddam Hussein.
These so called friends, France and Russia, were almost gobbled up
before aid came from the U.S. Early in WWII, France threw in the
white flag and refused to allow its fleet to assist the Allied effort
to defeat the Germans. Now it looks as though the Vichyites, and
Germans are joining forces again with their Axis partner Russia,
flaunting their power gained from the US to undermine a serious threat to the world and Middle East stability.

By Dr. Paul Sugalski, Chula Vista

Twelve years ago our U.S. Military soundly defeated Iraq in the Persian Gulf War. I supported our country's war with Iraq then. And I support it now. But there was an aspect of Operation Desert Storm I did not support. The men and women who served in the U.S. Military during the Persian Gulf War were not permitted to wear a cross, so as not to offend officials within the government of Saudi Arabia who held to the Muslim faith.
For many men and women serving in the U.S. Military, the cross represents everything worth dying for. And I believe that it was wrong for the U.S. to mandate a policy which would force these individuals to compromise their Christian faith.
On Sept. 11, 2001, a "Holy War" was declared on America, our country is at war with an extreme element of the Muslim faith, which seeks to destroy our nation, in part, because we embrace the cross and all that the cross represents.
Our current campaign in the Persian Gulf has much to do with faith. And I believe it is time to draw a line in the desert sand. And
to determine on which side of that line we will stand.
Those who defend our nation should not be asked to lay aside the
cross in order to appease the enemy in a "Holy War."As American
citizens we would do well to encourage our leaders to change this
policy. The brave men and women who defend our Nation‚s freedom should have the freedom to wear a cross.

By Richard E. Dellwo, Retired Navy Commander, San Diego

Dear Patriotic Americans, Remember the Muslim bombing of PanAm Flight 103!
Remember the Muslim bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993!
Remember the Muslim bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon!
Remember the Muslim bombing of the military barracks in Saudi Arabia!
Remember the Muslim bombing of the American Embassies in Africa!
Remember the Muslim bombing of the USS Cole!
Remember the Muslim attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11/01!
Remember all the American lives that were lost in those vicious Muslim attacks!
Now the United States Postal Service REMEMBERS and HONORS the Eid MUSLIM holiday season with a commemorative first class holiday postage stamp.
I strongly urge you to REMEMBER to adamantly and vocally BOYCOTT this stamp when purchasing your stamps at the post office.
To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors.
I also strongly urge you to pass this along to every Patriotic American you know.
God bless America!