The San Diego City Council says the Mount Soladad cross, the national veterans’ memorial, must be removed.

That doesn’t mean everyone who visits the barren sight afterward need stand there without a cross. Open your arms, wide. Embrace the moment and everyone on the scene. Then lift your head skyward. In this vulnerable position, say a prayer for all those who take offense at the inanimate object that millions recognize as a symbol of hope: that they will one day be united with their loved ones who’ve gone on.

It presents a more poignant picture of the One Matthew quoted as saying, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That One died for all. Take up your cross, everywhere.

         Eletta Files

         Lakeside

Woe unto you, San Diego. City Council, you have sealed the fate of your city, your county. By your vote of March 8, it is the same as if you took a rope, fastened it to the top of the cross on Mt. Soledad, which is a symbol of the Sovereign God of the Universe, and with your hands pulled it over, breaking it into a million pieces. It has been cast aside . . . torn to pieces before your eyes, over the pleas and begging of more than 300 believers — who fear God and know the consequences of your action.

You acted. In the face of unprecedented “acts of God” around the earth, you dared to thumb your collective noses at He who created us and who sustains life upon this planet. You have to know that the coming days are the peace before the storm. He still gives us time to set our houses in order, to repent of our foolish living and turn to Him before His judgment falls upon our area. He will strike the just along with the unjust . . . so, church - you also must know that your days in the San Diego area are numbered.

Do the work while it is yet day, for the night comes when no man can work.

         Mary F. Froese

         Vista

Is the world a place where compassion is fitting, where turning the other cheek works? Is it a place where it is better to give than to receive, better to share one’s wealth with the poor than to spend it selfishly? Or are these teachings of Jesus idealistic and unrealistic, and appropriate only for some other world or some other time?

The Bible tells us that the Creator has structured this world by righteousness, justice, steadfast love and faithfulness. That is how God governs the world; the wise person will live this way.

In the Beatitudes, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did not describe conduct for a future world but for here and now. The meek will inherit the earth, not the powerful, the violent and the revolutionaries. The focus of life should be on seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, not on anxious striving for food, clothing and housing. Jesus said that those who seek His Kingdom and His righteousness will be blessed.

For a time the meek may lose, the righteous may be persecuted, and the ones who turn the other cheek may be martyred. But God raised Jesus from the dead and Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.’ (Mark 8:35, NIV)

Losing your life for Jesus is the way of wisdom.

         Richard Leppi

         Oceanside

You have gone two issues without judging those adulterous, idolatrous straight men that have sex with other men. (Leviticus 18:6-22). Now teach the Gospel.

         Fred Conwell

         (Via Internet)

Once we allow the state of Florida to murder Terri Schiavo, where do we go next? Do we set a death penalty for all children born with Down’s syndrome? Do we declare a death penalty on all babies born premature which might require too much special medical care? How about if one of your children or grandchildren gets leukemia, or some other disease — do we just go ahead and put them to death? How about all these people who are getting to be 70 years old and older — imagine how much better off our society will be if we just put them to death. Not to worry if it is your parents or grandparents; remember, it is for the good of our society. Where do we stop? After another holocaust?

My Friend, let us put a stop to this legalized murder before it spreads — to your state, to your community, to your family.

         Bill Gray

         Via Internet

Regarding Bill Maher’s comments about Christians: Let’s, first, remove the beam from our own eye.

Is the Bible just a book of fairytales? The fact that the Bible contains metaphor, allegory, parable and simile, does not stand in the way of it being an excellent history. And that is just one reason why it outsells Mother Goose.

Is religion a “crutch for the weak?” Perhaps. But don’t confuse Christianity with religion. Christianity is something quite personal; religion is a collective thing. Terrorism is about religion (You got that right). The Crusades and the Inquisitions were about religion. The Salem witch trials were about religion. Albert Schweitzer and Mother Theresa were about Christianity.

Christianity offers a lifestyle for strong individuals. Government is a crutch for the weak. Federal health, education and welfare programs are crutches for the weak. Social Security is a crutch for the weak. HUD is a crutch for the weak. Trade barriers are a crutch for the weak. Prohibition is a crutch for the weak. It is a weak society, not a Christian one, that turns individual responsibility over to government. Today, however, most “Christians” join secular society in having more faith in government than ancient pagans had in idols.

It is easy to get Christianity all wrong; and it seems to be getting more un-recognizable every day. The Christian faith of our founding fathers has become a thing of the past. We now live in a society that has come to regard government as omnipotent and omniscient. The Christians of our nation have done exactly as the Jews were warned not to do, over 3000 years ago: they have chosen a “king” to fight their battles for them.

Political science scholar, R. J. Rummel, a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, calculates that governments in the 20th Century murdered approximately 177 million of their own subjects; a figure that doesn’t even count international wars. Rummel finds it inconceivable that individual criminals, or vicious mobs, could kill that many people in just 100 years. He also speculates that the volume of property theft, under anarchy, might compare favorably to the private wealth that governments have confiscated and squandered in the last century. Considering the abject failure of government planning over the last 100 years “Christians” may appear crazy to worship it, but certainly no more crazy than their secular brothers and sisters. Would that include you, Mr. Maher?

         Grant Kuhns

         Carlsbad

         www.LibertyLinkUSA.com