When Billy Graham exonerated Bill Clinton, I discounted Mr. Graham as someone I could trust. Now that Pat Robertson supports Rudolph Giuliani, I realize that we are in big trouble in terms of Christian leadership in the election of 2008. If a liberal like Giuliani is the candidate of the Republican Party, that is the end of the Republican Party for Christians of any denomination. Compromise with a pro-abortion candidate is death.

In this county, the Republican Party is as morally bankrupt as is the Democrat Party. We can look at the district attorney, Dumanis, as someone this party nominated and re-nominated. If Dumanis is what this party supports, count me out. Then there is Duke Cunningham, Jerry Sanders, and the Copley newspapers – all Republican. The Republican Party is a mess. Let¹s face it.

There is one thing to be done when both parties are phony. We can start a third party. It may not win at first, but it will put fear in both of these corrupt parties. Ninety percent of Americans know that both parties have sold us out on jobs, outsourcing, immigration reform, defense of the borders, national security, ³kowtowing² to Red China, destroying the dollar, thereby, destroying all Americans on fixed incomes. In terms of education, both parties allow the left to control all public education. The federal government is not our friend. It is our exploiter and executioner. The plan of both parties is to create a giant cheap labor pool by allowing open borders and the annihilation of the Constitution by internationalist secret deals.

Unless the third party is formed, our national integrity will die and America will lose its freedoms and rights.

I am hoping that a group of dynamic Christians will see the need for a third party because if not, ³Give me liberty, or give me death.²

         Michael Suozzi

         La Mesa

This is for a particular person who has been seeking God's will and has lost their home in the fires. You know who you are. God will turn your ashes and mourning into joy and singing.

Satan revels in this devastation, but God will use it for good. God has released you like a bird trapped in a cage to be free to do His plan for you. He wants you to reach out and comfort the hurting and heal the wounds of others. God has set you upon the Solid Rock where no flame will ever reach you again.

God has removed the encumbrances of worldly treasures so it will be easier for you to help the needy in the world. Don't return to what your life used to be. My prayers are with you.

         Connie Youngkin

         Tijuana, Mexico

Here we go again! Before Halloween, I heard ³Jingle Bells² being played in a store. Many Christians are horrified at Halloween. They won¹t celebrate it. ³It¹s pagan,² they say. ³It¹s the devil.² Yet these same Christians will celebrate the pagan Romish Holy Day: Dec. 25, with great excitement. Don¹t they know that this is a pagan holiday (holy-day) wrapped up in the disguise of Roman Catholicism brand of pseudo-Christianity. Sad! Sad! Sad! Our Lord counts such idolatry as an abomination. I know I¹m somewhat of a voice in the wilderness, but truth, both historical and biblical, is paramount.

         Wallace A. Bell

         Oceanside

For people who lost everything (including their pictures, Christmas decorations, and ³after Christmas² gifts from last year) in the recent Witch Fire and all of the other wildfires that burned throughout San Diego County and Southern California, they won¹t be saying or singing, ³I¹ll be home for Christmas.² That¹s because their homes got burned.

But when you think about it, the home isn¹t a building. Just like the church. It, too, isn¹t a building. Nope. As a matter of fact, the home is us. The church is us. Take some time to think about that. The fact that we live in southern California as a society that takes everything for granted, makes us blind and bleak to the risks of living in a place many people deem as paradise. It¹s not. It¹s a nice (and expensive) place to live. But it¹s not and will never really be paradise. Paradise is up in heaven with Christ. Yes!

We¹ve sinned away our days of grace. We need to realize that. However, you can still make it to heaven by admitting here, first and finally at the throne of judgment, that you¹re a sinner and accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior. He died for our sins, so we can have eternal life. That¹s why God gave birth to Christ through the Virgin Mary in the little town of Bethlehem. Just like the Wise Men followed a ³Yonder Star,² we must follow our own stars and tell people about the true meaning of Christmas. Better to find Christ here on earth while you¹re still in the flesh rather than standing naked before God at the throne of judgment and be sent to hell eternally. We¹ll all have to stand naked before him anyway. Christian or not.

Now¹s the time to take full responsibility for our actions. Do it today. Tomorrow¹s a day too late.

To both the fire victims and everyone alike, Merry Christmas! My thoughts and prayers go out to those of you who were affected in some way by the fires. Together, we shall rise from the ashes and prevail by the grace of God and the blood of Christ.

         Clinton Wolford

         Poway

This is a commentary about ³Giving honor to our military² written by Mary Froese in the October edition. She¹s saying ³every drop of blood you have shed, you¹ve shed for me – for a free society.² Also, she said, ³The military is giving school supplies and food.² Then she ended up by saying to ³give honor to whom honor is due.²

With all respect, ma¹am: the military is killing people by convenience, not by reason. The military is doing nothing good for the Iraqi people, neither for us. The military is stealing our children¹s money. The military¹s purpose is to steal the Iraqi people¹s oil. That¹s the truth of the real reality. So, how can you call them heroes – the people who destroy your house and your city, to steal our property?

         Manuel Cabrera

         San Diego

The recent two-part series on the child sex slave business should have been a shocker to all who read the details of this abhorrent trafficking. Those who are struggling to end this outrageous war against children should be commended. However, we need to recall other wars that have been waged and lost: the war on poverty, the war on drugs, the war on terrorism and so on. When you try to stem the economy of a country and perverted desirers you are in treacherous waters.

Sex tourism is a lucrative global industry. In 1998, the International Labour Organization reported that 2% to 14% of the gross domestic product of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand derived from sex tourism. In addition, while Asian countries, including Thailand, India, and the Philippines, have long been prime destinations for child-sex tourists, in recent years, tourists have increasingly traveled to Mexico and Central America for their sexual exploits. Now, San Diego is the not only the gateway for drugs and illegal immigrants, but child sex slavery as well.

Years ago, I was approached by a woman who claimed to be a Christian and was attempting to rescue boys and girls from the sex slave business in the Philippines. She wanted me to go undercover and document what I witnessed. All expenses, and a camera would be provided. There was one caveat, if those marketing the children discovered what I was doing, she would deny having any knowledge of me. Basically, I would have been left on my own in an extremely dangerous situation. I desperately wanted to be part of this rescue operation, but knew that it could cost me my life. The woman was upset at my refusal, even offered me more funds for my service. The best I could do was pray for the victims.

The Bible says it all, ³The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?² Jeremiah 17:9. By nature, men are predators and it¹s one more case of supply and demand. This assault on the innocent will continue until Christ changes hearts and minds, or until He returns.

         Andrea Bearden-Kuhns

         Leucadia

I don't remember the first day and night I was on the street, but I remember plenty of them. I don't recall any of it being particularly easy. I did not do drugs or alcohol. I read the Bible, I prayed, I held Bible studies in the park, in parking lots.

The homeless pray, believe me. But, they are very beaten down — scaled and peeled — what Isaiah talked about. A people like that, weak and feeble. There you are. Jesus people. They know Jesus through pain and suffering.

No, we are not what we should be. Jesus said, "The harlots and drunkards are going to heaven before you." Scary.

America, for the most part, has become the Laodician church. The one, by the way, which Christ vomited. Jesus hates hypocrisy and lukewarm. I'll stay with the homeless.

         Francis Love

         San Diego

Much has been written concerning the recent fires. While it is easy to focus on their devastating effects, it was also a time to see great examples of compassion, mercy and generosity — things needed more of in modern society. Our school, Calvin Christian, in Escondido, volunteered to be an evacuation center. In the four days of its operation we served over 500 individuals (and animals) from the surrounding area forced to leave their homes. We were amazed and deeply thankful for the displays of generosity by citizens and businesses in the community in helping these people.

In addition, I would like to thank the staff, faculty, parents, and students of Calvin who volunteered day and night to serve the evacuees. I have heard heart-warming stories of individuals who donated time and resources: the young man who came by and made numerous trips to the grocery store for us, the shoppers at Costco who handed our shoppers wads of cash to help pay for food for the needy, the couple who bought and donated toiletry items, the man who bought lunch for all the evacuees and staff.

As an institution, Calvin Christian exists not only to provide an education for our 500-plus students, but also train them for a life of Christ-centered service.

I was encouraged to hear a student say, ³It was an amazing experience. We study about putting our faith into action, but here was the opportunity staring us in the face. I knew that I would be serving Jesus by serving these people in need.² While the fires were a tragedy, we have much to be thankful for.

         Terry Kok, Superintendent

         Calvin Christian School

            Escondido