Thanks to the generosity of our neighbors in San Diego, many children around the world have something to smile about. Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas project, collected 12,571 gift-filled shoeboxes from local residents during last year's collection season. These gifts from right here in our community are now on their way to hurting children around the world.

With the donations of shoe box gifts from churches, individuals, businesses, and community groups, Operation Christmas Child will be able to hand-deliver some 7.6 million gifts to children in more than 100 countries. On behalf of Operation Christmas Child, I would like to thank Horizon School of Evangelism and all the other local collection sites for providing locations for collecting the gifts and all the volunteers who served with this amazing project for children.

 To everyone in San Diego who packed a shoe box gift, please be encouraged by the fact that these simple gifts will serve as powerful messages of joy and hope to needy children around the world. Thank you for joining our community in this amazing outreach, and for giving to others at Christmas.

 Though the San Diego drop-off locations are closed until November 2007, it is not too late to send gifts to children overseas. Gifts are received year-round at Samaritan's Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, N.C., 28607. For information on packing a shoebox, go online to www.samaritanspurse.org or call 1-800-353-5949.

 Thanks again to everyone who participated in the project.

         Iliana Salazar

         Operation Christmas Child

         Director, West Coast Region

How unfortunate that your "former newspaper staffer" (February page 1 story) turned away from reporting or helping with the Lord' s business and went over to "the other side" to participate in producing all that is repugnant to decent Christian lifestyle. There is nothing 'holy' in 'Holly-wood.'

         R.J. Gardner

         San Diego

When I was a little kid, cartoons on local broadcast stations were very popular on the weekdays, as well as Saturday mornings. Now, all of a sudden, stations decided to dump children¹s programming with too much mind-polluting newsreels.

It used to be, before we had cable, kids would be able to watch children's programs before and after school. The last network (not including PBS) to air children's cartoons and superhero shows, before going crazy on us (at least here in San Diego), was the CW Television Network, formerly the WB.

 You can still watch cartoons on Saturdays on the CW, Fox, NBC, CBS and ABC - but that's it - though they started airing newsreels on the weekends, too. Guess what that leaves? That leaves the liberally, morally decayed PBS Network airing educational cartoons and science shows for kids every day, except Sundays.

What has happened to television? How did so much morning and afternoon news take away programming from our kids?

         Clinton Wolford

         Poway

Does anybody with a brain believe these politicians anymore? The writing is on the wall. One-world order, period. Apostasy in the churches, a small remnant and feeble seed. It's so amazing to be living in these times. I can't stand it - all the bull.

Most of the churches believe in a rapture. No, it's only the Second Coming of Christ, the Lord at the end of the seven years of tribulation. If anyone would take the time to actually study Scripture, you would come to the same conclusion. The old church never mentioned this rapture, it is just wishful thinking by guys like Chuck Smith. It is time to get it right! The cross is suffering.

         Francis Love

         San Diego