By Billy Graham, North Carolina

I am burdened in prayer for the many communities like San Diego, which are faced with the sudden absence of so many husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers at once. I encourage each and every one of us to continue to pray for our troops, our nation, and our world.

Specifically, as Scripture instructs us, we need to pray for our President and other leaders in national government and the armed forces. Pray also for the many civilians living in the region — innocent men, women and children caught in the middle of the conflict.

I also want to remind all of us that God tells us to love all people. We need to remember that we are not in a war against the people of Iraq or against Islam. In fact, we should be praying for the Iraqi and Islamic people, that as few innocent people are harmed as possible.

Although it’s not generally known in the United States, Iraq is also home to hundreds of thousands of Christians, some of whom my son, Franklin, and I have met, and I pray particularly for them during this difficult time.

And finally, we need to remember to pray for the peace of the entire Middle East region — a region where differences go back thousands of years. We need to be praying for all those who will be making important decisions about what will happen in the Middle East in the future. We know that lasting peace can only come about through Divine intervention. I hope all Americans will join me as we pray for God’s wisdom and peace — in the hearts of individuals and among nations.

By Randy Thomasson, Campaign for California Families, Sacramento

Three years ago, hundreds of churches supported Proposition 22, the Protection of Marriage Initiative on the statewide ballot. Houses of faith handed out “Yes on 22” yard signs and flyers in a historic effort to shape state marriage law. Yet, currently only three churches are opposing AB 205, the homosexual “marriage” bill in the California State Legislature. Compare that to 23 liberal churches and synagogues which are official supporters of the bill, and you’ve got a real shame and a real opportunity.

Please take action. Write a brief letter of opposition to AB 205 on the official letterhead of your house of faith or community organization. Address it to Gov. Gray Davis and the California State Legislature, but mail it to CCF, P.O. Box 782, Sacramento, CA 95812. Please act today. CCF will make sure churches and organizations get listed for the governor and legislators to see.

Pro-family citizens must show Gov. Davis and 120 state legislators that the people are watching and they’re outraged at the thought of their vote on marriage being reversed. This is not an issue of whether churches can be involved, since the IRS had made it abundantly clear that churches and other 501(c)(3) nonprofits can use approximately five percent of their operating expenses to influence legislation. The only issue here is a matter of commitment to God and the sacred institution of marriage.

By Paul Sugalski, Chula Vista

I'm writing to share a comment regarding two news stories that appeared in the March 2003 issue of Good News, Etc.

One of the news stories dealt with the successful efforts of the Oceanside City Council, to prohibit the display of a plaque, on which is inscribed the motto: “In God We Trust.”

The other story reported on the continuing effort by the mayor of the city of Burbank to prohibit any “invocation” which ends in the “name of Jesus.”

In both cases, the reason given for such actions was the desire not to offend those who don’t believe in God or Jesus. Yet they seem to have no problem with offending those of us who do. Not to mention how offensive such an action is towards God, and towards the name of Jesus.

Their argument champions the right of the unbeliever. As though unbelief were a virtue. But such an argument is strait from the pit of hell.

In reality their concern has nothing to do with the inclusion of others, but rather, it has everything to do with the exclusion, of any reference to the name of God, or the name of Jesus Christ.

By Chuck Reynolds, San Diego

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Good News, Etc. I saw one recently and was blessed by it. I was also suprised to see the name Asay on a political cartoon.

Chuck Asay was a friend of my parents. We knew him in Taos, New Mexico, where I grew up. He was one of the people I looked up to as a believer that was committed to knowing God, and serving. I looked his number up on the internet and gave him a call in Colorado Springs. What fun that was to catch up on what the Lord is doing in our lives!

Keep up the good work at Good News, Etc.

By Barry Steinman, Oceanside

Christians are widely divided on their views about the War in Iraq. Is God involved in this War? Read Acts 17:24-27, which makes some incredible statements about God’s involvement in history. Paul is clearly saying that God has predetermined the fate of all the nations. He has determined what nations have existed. God has set their exact borders.

Not only that, He has determined how long they will remain within those borders. God has also decided what nations will exist in the future and what their borders will be. In a very real sense history is “HIS story.” Without doubt God is involved in the geo-political aspects of our world.

The nations of the world are in upheaval. The U.N. does not determine what happens with the nations. But God Himself does.

This passage in Acts talks about God’s firm hand setting boundaries and times for all the nations. God determines this history, so that “men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him’’ One of God’s purposes in setting the times and boundaries of nations, is so men might come to know Him. Something about the turmoil, upheaval and division of the nations, tends to turn people’s hearts towards God.

There is nothing like wartime to turn the hearts of people to God. During the civil war in the U.S., there were great revivals on both sides. As the saying goes, there are no atheists in battle trenches. Uncertainty and upheaval cause our hearts to seek God. When there is turmoil among the nations, God is still firmly in charge.

How should we view this war? Christians have widely different perspectives. But as believers, I think we can all agree that God is actively involved. This is a rare time, when more hearts will be open to Jesus.

After 9/11 we had a short period when people were really seeking God. In this time of war and uncertainty, people’s hearts will again be open. We have to be ready to respond to any opportunities God presents to us in the coming days. Pray to be ready to respond to seeking questions from those you meet. Be on the lookout for those tell tale signs of someone seeking answers.

Seek God for creative ways to serve. In an effort to reach out to Military families in our area, a few house churches and a local church are partnering to set aside a night to watch kids for military spouses that are at home alone with their kids due to deployments.

By Bart Frazier, Fairfax, Virginia

The moral issue stands out: Does the end justify the means? Is it not morally wrong to sacrifice the few to benefit the many? The damage that our bombs and bullets have inflicted — the death and maiming of thousands of people — is the price of “liberating” Iraq. How does anyone, including our own president, claim the moral authority to kill or injure one group of people so that another group of people might have better lives?