P-a-r-e-n-t-s...Where were you on voting day? What are you thinking? Did you vote on Proposition 85?

I can understand why this bill did not pass the first time because of the confusion, but not passing this second time is a big eye-opener to me. What a totally pathetic reality! Duh....We better become a God-fearing people. That I was so naïve to think the people of California would not stand up for good parental communication and not caring enough about family to want to know what is happening to each other. This surely proves that most of us are ³out-to-lunch² and unable to think of what¹s good for ourselves.

Who wouldn¹t want to protect their young daughter from handling this problem alone? I get it that parents don¹t want to deal with the disgrace, but how selfish!

We all need to be a part of building community. Life is the most wonderful gift, even when things are not as we would have dreamed it to be. God is the giver of life and we can expect great things when we trust Him. I repent for not having done more with this opportunity to come against the most grievous sin of our nation. I¹m flabbergasted that others did not find this issue important enough to vote for it.

 I pray that God will be merciful and give us another chance to put this on the ballot again! I commit to exhorting pastors to preach on life and provide discussion on abortion, put announcements in the bulletin and whatever it takes to catapult the conservative movement into being pro-active. Won¹t you join me?

         Mary Calgaro

         Escondido

Can we stop and think for a moment? Despite centuries of spiritual enlightenment, millions believe ludicrous lies about the deity of Jesus Christ. How could this happen? It¹s easy. We are gullible, stubborn, sinful humans. For instance, around 600 AD, Muhammad thought he spoke with an angel. This angel directed Muhammad to preach Islam. But the angel was a demon and tricked Muhammad. ³For Satan himself poses as an angel of light.² (2 Corinthians 11: 14). And, ³Even if we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached, let him be accursed... ³ (Galatians 1:8).

Again, in the early 1800s, after chatting with an alleged angel, Charles Taze Russel started the Jehovah Witnesses. In the same century, Joseph Smith spoke with a suspicious angel. Interestingly, this angelic conversation led to creating the Mormon Church, which teaches Jesus and Satan are brothers. As if that wasn¹t calculating enough, Satan uses regular men, such as science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, to start religions like Scientology. A science fiction writer? Go figure.

Look, don¹t be fooled! Think! There is only one God. According to Isaiah 44:6, ³I Am the first and the last; apart from Me there is no God.²

You don¹t need to be a biblical scholar to understand Jesus is God. Open a Bible and start reading. It¹s that simple.

         Kim Oakley

         Valley Center

This is in response to part of Mark Phillips¹ letter (Nov. edition) regarding his intent to accommodate (sic) Arabs (more properly Muslims). I get the feeling that Mr. Phillips, earnest as he may be to want to bring the Gospel to the Muslims, lives in a bit of a utopia.

However extreme some Muslims may be, even the more ³moderate² Muslims simply will not relinquish their collective belief in, and (I dare say) their almost fanatically blind obedience to Islam¹s Sharia laws. What these laws entail, to put it in as simple a way as I can, is that it is illegal for Christians, of any denomination, to proselytize Muslims. To do so would warrant the death penalty.

Also, all non-Muslims living in Muslim lands must pay a jizya or poll tax. If Muslims pay a particular percent of their ³income² to the central government (15% for example), non-Muslims would have to pay a higher tax - the jizya. Failure, or inability, to do so could literally cost the non-Muslim an arm and a leg.

Please, Mr. Phillips, don¹t let yourself be fooled.

         John F. Tashgian

         San Marcos

Correction

 A letter to the editor last month had the writer¹s first name wrong. The writer was Wallace A. Bell of Oceanside. We regret the error.