A recent phone conversation shed some light on a get-rich-quick scheme to bribe non-profits. The caller explained that an unnamed gentleman with a D.U.I was looking for a non-profit which would accept a $300.00 donation in return for signing him off on his sentence of 100 hours of community service. The caller stated that the man didn’t have the time to carry out the penalty. Apparently he had the time to get drunk and earn the $300.00 for a bribe. Yes, bribe. What else could it be called?

Many non-profits, including outreach ministries are suffering financial downfalls due to numerous disasters, both at home and abroad. This is evident by the amount of mail I receive asking for additional help. The swipe of a pen in return for a generous contribution might sound like a tempting proposition. This is a cautionary tale. If you take these ill-gotten gains you will be attempting to obstruct a court order and judgment. The bribe will hardly pay for attorney’s fees. I don’t know how many non-profits, both secular and Christian have been faced with this proposition. But I do know that honesty is the best policy on the part of both parties. The Apostle Paul wrote, “that no man transgress and defraud his brother...because the Lord is the avenger in all these things...” (1 Thessalonians 4:6, NASB)

         Andrea Bearden-Kuhns

         Carlsbad

That’s Christmas as in Jesus Christ. And Krismas (“Holiday”) as in Kris Kringle (Santa Claus). It’s the most wonderful time of the year, yes. It’s also the time of year where controversy surrounds the Christian meaning of Christmas which is so heavily under attack. You’ll see the bells, reindeer, snowmen, Santa, Jack Frost, penguins, polar bears, trains, snow, ornaments, lights, candles, Christmas trees, packages, yada, yada (which are fun and pretty) and yes, Stars of David and menorahs for 8-day Hanukkah and fruits and kinaras for 7-day Kwanzaa during Christmastime. But how often, besides seeing them at your church and in your neighborhoods, do you ever see Stars of Bethlehem, nativity scenes, and the Christ in Christmas in public society in this day and age of secular political correctness gone too far? Hardly ever or very little. If you think Santa Claus is secular, guess again? He’s St. Nicholas: a born-again Christian who did give gifts to good kids. Christmas was once a pagan festival commemorating a false god of the winter solstice. However, we Christians decided to manage with the festival by commemorating “Christmas” for something or should I say someone of a higher power and sent to the earth by God to be born in Bethlehem and die for our sins. Now, some members of the government and the private sector of Corporate America are trying to turn Christmas back into the pagan festival it once was by removing Christ and any reference to God from our society and using political correctness as an excuse by calling it “Winter Season,” “Holiday,” or “X-mas.” Notice the X. People use the X to remove Christ or maybe just to keep the word short, which is understandable. However, a lot of you may not know that in Greek, the X means Christ! How interesting is that, hmm? Anyway, stand up for your right to say “Merry Christmas” and Happy 2006 New Year, too. Protect and enjoy your Christmas holiday. God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.

         Clinton Wolford

         Poway

 I read an editorial in the North County Times entitled, “Unconditional love can’t damage morals” by James Woodward. Mr. Woodward asks the question “how giving unconditional love to our children, our family members — in fact, to all people — is in any way immoral?”

My question for Mr. Woodward would be, “does unconditional love mean tolerance for what is immoral and destructive for our children?” The kind of love that is good for a child is willing to warn, correct and rescue their child from a destructive lifestyle, whether its drugs, gangs or homosexuality. The very Bible that Mr. Woodward quotes and even twists is the Bible that I have read for over 30 years. It clearly condemns and never affirms homosexual acts. Jesus warned us about those kinds of people like that in the PFLAG organization that Mr. Woodward states as its president. Jesus said that “whoever causes one of these little one’s to stumble... that they should put a millstone around their neck and throw themselves into the sea.”

And “that if your brother sins, to rebuke him and if he repents, to forgive him.” That, Mr. Woodward, is unconditional love. Unconditional love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, nor affirm it by a cheap love that promotes hedonism. Homosexuality is wrong not only because of what the Bible tells us, but even medical science and logic tells us that it is destructive and life-shortening. The most loving thing I can tell Mr. Woodward is that Jesus died for his sins, including homosexuality, but if he does not turn away from it, he will surely perish in his sins. Mr. Woodward should be pointing children to Christ to save them from the bondage of the sin of homosexuality, just as Christ has done for thousands of lives across America.

         Phil Magnan

         Biblical Family Advocates

I only hope and pray that the churches will put their heads together (and money) and help the homeless.

I have lived that life and it is not a fun thing.

What are the churches waiting for? For Jesus to say, “well done” or “depart from me”?

         Francis Love

         (A homeless man)