Letters from our readers-December

LETTERS:We loved the food

We read the mixed review of Skewers restaurant (Who can turn down hot beef on a stick? ISSUE 49 by Heather Yarborough) and—because we relish the kind of food she described—we thought we'd check out the place ourselves.
We joined a couple from The Woodlands who also enjoy Mediterranean fare—and are wine aficionados—and all four of us found the restaurant, its food and wine, and the service to be absolutely wonderful. Clearly Ms. Yarborough has not cultivated a palate for some of the delicacies available at Skewers, but that is not because the food is lacking.
Among the four of us, we had the vegetarian plate, roasted chicken, chicken skewer, lamb skewer, and salmon with sun dried tomatoes. It was one of those memorable meals where we tablemates made wonderful sounds of pleasure enjoying the food before us, and each of us offered to share our good fortune with one another, just to be sure we could all enjoy the flavors.
And we were pleased to see a wine list that included some terrific house wines that—during the Happy Hour running from 4 to 7 PM—were only two dollars a glass. The young bartender was very gracious and showed us a new version of the wine list (available in the next couple of weeks) that our friends said will be sensational.
The vegetarian plate, by the way, is exactly the kind of selection you might be served if you were visiting Jerusalem and ordered a salad bar. The nine items on the plate were authentic and delicious, much better than (and different from) that described in your review. For example the grape leaves (in Greece they call them Dolmades) are stuffed with rice, not olives. The falafel, while not Ms. Yarborough's cup of tea, were excellent. We found everything on the platter flavorful; it was perfect as an appetizer to share while our entrées were being prepared.
We agree that the addition of table service would add to the experience at Skewers, and we were told that—very soon—that there will be table service during the evening.
We even enjoyed the Baklava and Nemoora. These are appropriate desserts to end such a flavor-filled meal—perfect when accompanied by a cup of coffee. In Chicago, where Greek restaurants are legion, diners wouldn't think of ending their Mediterranean meals without a cup of good, thick, strong Greek coffee to complement the sweet pastries. Nemoora, by the way, has a very exotic flower-like flavor.
If you like Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food—or you are interested in trying it out—we heartily recommend Skewers. And—selfishly—we hope you will. That's because we want the restaurant to be successful so we will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.

Julie and Fred Halperin
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS:Christmas chuckle

What a great story!!!! (You know you live in hickville when... ISSUE 49 by Curtis Schlough) Great for a chuckle, something alot of us need this time of year.

Stephanie Moore
Willis, Tx

LETTERS:Can't wait until next year

I live across 45 so don't go "downtown" much. I'm so sorry to have missed this event, but your description was magnificent. (You know you live in hickville when... ISSUE 49 by Curtis Schlough) You captured the essence of a grand event. Going to put it on my list for next year.

Marcella Derrick, Ph.D.
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS:Touchy subject

I was at the same time amused and disturbed while reading two recent letters (You got the wrong touch, ISSUE 50 a letter by M.L.C. and In defense, ISSUE 50 by Jim Riggs) responding to the Bulletin's recent review of Touch of Texas restaurant in Montgomery. (Touch of Texas menu doesn't touch much, ISSUE 48 by Heather Yarborough)
Both letter writers -- one being part-owner of the restaurant -- were apparently defending the establishment after it received an unflattering write-up by Heather Yarborough. I can only assume the review was negative; I didn't get to read it in print and couldn't find it in the Bulletin's on-line archives.
Not that I had to actually read the review to get a good idea of what happened -- it's the same thing that usually happens when an "Alternative Newspaper'' takes hold of any subject. Like Ignatius J. Reilly in "A Confederacy of Dunces," the writers of such publications as the Bulletin and the Houston Press are the Lone Geniuses, tortured arbiters of taste, social conscience and hipness. They just wouldn't be honest to themselves or their faithful readers if they failed to scrutinize convention, stamp out the mundane.
With such a bohemian, petulant perspective, they almost always fail to recognize proper context. A Touch of Texas is a small, unique restaurant with a tea-room atmosphere in a small, historic community with a growing heritage tourism economy. The critically acclaimed eatery would be equally well received in Old Town Spring or Kemah. It is a complementary asset to the antique, gift, craft and novelty shops, as well as the historic buildings and sites, which help give Montgomery its identity.
Yarborough knows all this, of course. The whole quaintness and balance of the restaurant with its surroundings probably suffocated the poor writer, knocked her off her equilibrium. Touch of Texas probably just doesn't measure up, in her world, to the stylish bistros and trendy bar-and-grills Houston Press reviewers get to assess.
Kudos to the Bulletin editor, then, for allowing readers to post two lengthy counter-points to Yarborough's review. However, the numerous errors left unedited in the letters reveal something about the Bulletin's modus operundi. Neither letter, I'll assume, was written by an individual who makes his living communicating through the written word. The fact that the letters include numerous agreement errors, misspellings (cant rather than can't, for instance) and poor punctuation fails to dismiss the reality that their authors have a better sense of perspective than the Bulletin's own staff writer. We can only conclude that the publication fails to edit letters for clarity, good punctuation, etc. to make its readers look stupid, to discredit their opinions, especially when the opinions are contentious with the Gospel According to the Bulletin.
Leaving errors in letters to the editor shows how mean-spirited and journalistically corrupt publications like the Bulletin are at heart. Leaving errors in letter policies and help-wanted boxes is either sloppy or just plain "ignert," as the Bulletin no doubt considers most of us Montgomery County bumpkins.

Jamie Barnes
Montgomery, Tx

LETTERS:Now we've done it

Now you've gone and done it. (Delectable Seafood, ISSUE 51 by Heather Yarborough) (Giving exposure to Hydens and now will probably draw a larger crowd. I like going in there when its not very crowded.
Over the years Hydens has reinvented itself many times and now although the prices seem a little steep, the food is at its all time best.
Far better than any 'Theme' restaurant, I'll take these single restaurants anytime over franchise joints no matter what type of food is served.
I also like the toned down nature of the place.
One thing I do miss from the past Hydens is the hush puppies your table would get instead of bread as an free appetizer.

Bob Zimmerman
Spring, Tx

LETTERS:For God So Loved The World

Can you remember the pride and joy of the birth of your first child and if possible even more at the birth of your first grandchild? When my first grandchild was born, I made up a poster sized picture of her to show my pride and joy that was overflowing. Well, God has never been know to do things in small ways.
When His first and only Son was born, He filled the a magnificent sky with glorious angels singing the praises declaring his galactic joy as he announced the birth of His Son. What mixed emotions must he have had when all the while he knew that his only son would be required to sacrifice his life to give us mere mortals eternal life.
In this time of trouble, remember that we are all God's children. When we are born into His Kingdom, all the angels fill heaven with their Glorious singing. With our young men putting their lives in peril to preserve our faith and freedom at his Christmastime, keep them and their families in your prayers remembering God rejoiced in their birth and grieves in their deaths as he did with his Son. Remember not only the story of Christ's birth but the reason he was born. God's Great Love will prevail and keep us unto the day that he will again return filling the spectacular skies with the awesome pride and glory of his Son.

Mary Langley
Montgomery, Tx

LETTERS:A Response to Jenkins

I read—with smile—Jim Jenkins' eloquent defense of his beloved, beleaguered Republican Leadership Council (RLC). (Who is the RLC, ISSUE 47 by Lori J. Flint) by He characterizes the group that has lost its two most recent battles as "winning." He portrays the organization as the largest political entity in the county and implies it is the lone defender of the Republican Party Platform. He writes, he explains, to clear up an issue and to explain why his organization is the target of attack from the liberals.
Let's set the record straight:
The RLC is losing.
It lost the book battle when the citizen's committee of educators spent hours reviewing the challenged books and determined that they belong on the shelves of our library system. More than that—the committee said the books belong on the shelves where they had originally been placed.
It lost the library bond battle when the electorate voted in favor of the bonds. Not only that—and listen closely, Mr. J—the bond win was bigger in precincts where the RLC should have been in control—in those precincts that have RLC members as precinct chairs.
And it isn't losing to a bunch of crazy, hateful liberals, either. No sir. Look around this county and you won't see a lot of those. The people who supported the Library Bond Election—conservatives, moderates, and liberals of almost every political stripe —voted for knowledge and literacy, and they were willing to pay for it.
The RLC is—as the saying goes—"a legend in its own mind." Calling it the largest political organization in the county, with a membership larger than all other political organizations combined, is preposterous.

The Republican Party of Montgomery County—which disavows any relationship to the RLC and has publicly expressed a wish that they would just disappear—might be considered a larger organization by anyone who can count registered Republicans.
And the 1,500-and-growing membership roll that Jenkins waves at us is a fiction. I know someone who was added to the list just because she attended an RLC function; and she has been unable to get her name off of the list. How many others are in the same boat?
The RLC is a principled organization, according to Jenkins, and that is one of two reasons it is a target of the hate of liberals. Principled is a word typically used to describe people we admire—people who are as good as their word, ethical, moral, standing for all we hold dear. Tell me please:
How a principled is an organization that needs exaggerate its size and its importance?
How principled is an organization that publicly claims its position on the bond election is all about taxes, but publishes and distributes handouts that refer to the "$10 Million Kiddie Porn Library Bond?"
Can you trust an organization that—just days after two stunning defeats—says it is winning?
The RLC is effective, according to Jenkins, and that's the other reason why it is the target of hate. Effective? Where? How? Please—oh voice of reason—please elucidate for those of us who are not so gifted as you and do not see what you see—please show us how effective you have been. Perhaps it is the victory of the fig leaf you are claiming (but for which you actually can claim no credit).
I, by the way, am a registered Republican, who is embarrassed by the small-mindedness and mendacity represented by the RLC. I suppose, in your mind, Mr. J, that makes me a liberal. Despite that, I don't hate you or any of your members. Sometimes—I have to admit—I get agitated by some of your tactics and claims. Sometimes I am emotional when I hear or read about your organization, but the emotion is as often amusement as it is reprehension.
Today—to honor your opinion piece—I, too, am being reasonable. The way I reason it out, you ought to pack your bags Mr. J. With a few more wins like the last two under your belt, you just might have to find a real backwater community where you can spread your brand of hate and misinformation. The citizens of Montgomery County aren't buying what you are selling.

Fred Halperin
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS:Tree lighting in Conroe

I found your article on the Christmas Tree Lighting in Conroe to be dead on...to a point. (You know you live in hickville when... ISSUE 49 by Curtis Schlough) My 2 daughters, grand-daughter and I attended the ceremony. It was difficult, at best, to hide our laughter and amazement at what was to be the premier event for this city.
The speeches sounded hastily put together, there were lulls to be sure, and a few snafus. When the luminaries were being lit, I felt as if the crowd was being talked down to - since we didn't read the paper we didn't know we could have purchased one for a loved one.
The tree - oh what can be said of the tree - not much more than the young girl quoted in the article. When we came home the description of the tree was the talk of the dinner table. Pitiful. Having seen the Woodlands Lighting of the Doves from the very beginning - someone from Conroe needs to go talk to someone in the Woodlands about marketing. Where was Santa? Where was advertising? The Dove ceremony is highly publicized throughout the Woodlands. The only place that I saw this advertised was in The Courier online. Oh, and thanks for informing us that the structure where this took place is an ampitheater - although I just don't see it.
HOWEVER, here's the "to a point" part. The sarcasm directed toward the Humane Society's need of bleach and towels and the Rainbow Room's need of underwear for the eldery the serve was highly uncalled for. These are two organizations that do good in the county and while "underwear" may not be what you think of first when thinking of what organizations need - it's a fact that it is a necessity.
You totally ignored the choir - who sounded pretty good acapella, the Johnson Community Center youths that took the time to make "stocking stuffers" for goodie bags for the elderly of the county, and the CHS Army JROTC that provided the flag ceremony for the evening. You ignored the individuals who were honored for their service to the county.
While I realize the gist of your story was to show another reason why Conroe is considered "Hickville" you should have acknowledged those who were trying to make a difference in the county. Alternative journalism does not mean ignorance. Perhaps your staff should take an inservice with Houston's alternative newspaper.

L. Foster
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS:A Charlie Brown Christmas with bragging rights

Thank you for attending our Christmas tree and Luminary Lighting ceremony. It is unfortunate we did not impress you with our tribute to volunteerism. (You know you live in hickville when... ISSUE 49 by Curtis Schlough) Perhaps you didn't understand that the tree lighting is a simple ceremony to recognize three individuals that have been selected for their service to country and community. We also invite citizens of the community to remember a loved one that has passed away.
You need to know that the City of Conroe doesn't have the bragging rights to this event. Conroe Beautification Association is the sole organizer of this event. Our supporters pay for everything. No "taxpayer" money is spent to buy a tree, decorate a tree, decorate the light poles or even buy the cookies and hot chocolate we serve free of charge to those who come to celebrate with us. It is 100% our doing, so you owe the City of Conroe an apology.
As for what you published about our event and efforts of our volunteers, nothing in your publication diminishes the importance of that evening. We celebrate the life contributions made by Ret. Command Sergeant Major Louis C. Bowen, Mr. M.E. "Bud" Trigleth and Miss Jennifer Strozier.
We appreciate the partnership we have with Conroe 4-H, Conroe High School Army Jr. ROTC, Conroe High School Football team and Oscar Johnson Community Center C.H.I.C.O.S. youth group, Mr. Jim Bingham, Mrs. Ann Siede and the choir members of the Tree of Life Lutheran Church Adult Choir and our many members.
We will continue to encourage the efforts of the Montgomery County Food Bank, the Friendship Center, the Rainbow Room and the Montgomery County Humane Society and assist them in their mission with service projects that meet their needs as well as ours.
We may never meet your expectations of Christmas at Rockefeller Center in New York or even The Woodlands. The tree lighting will continue to be part of our overall education program that encourages individuals to preserve our urban forest, reduce solid waste by recycling reusable goods and promote the maintenance of public and private property through litter abatement and beautification projects.
At the end of the year we will once again gather together to decorate and light a "live tree" of any size to encourage everyone to recognize that their small contribution has a tremendous impact on the community they live in. With that said, we wish you and your staff a Merry Christmas and a more informed New Year.

Sylvia Reyna Wiggins
President - Conroe Beautification Association

LETTERS:You got the wrong touch

After reading a column you printed recently about Touch of Texas, (Touch of Texas menu doesn't touch much, ISSUE 48 by Heather Yarborough) I felt the need to write you and tell you how I and many people in Montgomery feel about the restaurant.
You are a professional in your career; therefore you should know there will always be "bad days". I have worked at a restaurant before and know that you can not always please all tastes, and personalities. I personally would not like the Philly Cheese Steak at Touch of Texas or any other restaurant if they had bell peppers on the sandwich.
At any job, if you are short handed, it is going to make everything that much harder and cause things to be slower. You said that there was one waitress working on the day you were there, this is not the waitresses fault. This is also not the owners fault, and you can't always assume that it is because of an incompetent employee. Things happen that cannot always be controlled by anyone.
On the same topic, my family and I have dined at Touch of Texas many times since we have lived in Montgomery and have always enjoyed it. Every time I have ever been there, I can honestly say I have never been there or seen anyone stay there an hour and an half without it being by choice.
Just because the name of the restaurant is titled Touch of Texas, does not mean that you go there expecting chicken fried steaks and mashed potatoes. Touch of Texas is known for there homemade meals and desserts, they are also known for cooking healthy meals. If Touch of Texas meant chicken fried steaks it would not be the restaurant it has grown to become. I'm sorry that you have the opinion that you do have about Touch of Texas because you are really missing out.
We all have days that occur when we don't feel like doing the responsibilities that we have to do, or being around what we have to be around, but there is no reason to punish someone else for this.

M.L.C.
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS:In defense

In response to your food article (Touch of Texas menu doesn't touch much, ISSUE 48 by Heather Yarborough) I feel compelled to come to the defense of the restaurant in which the review was aimed. I must first preface with a confession, my wife and I are the owners of Touch Of Texas Restaurant. With that being said, I'm sure the reader will take my defense as "sour grapes", but be that as it may.
My wife works very hard and many hours to make Touch Of Texas Restaurant a unique, comfortable, dining experience. Along with her wait staff, she takes great pride in the fact that over the past 3 years, they have built a business that is the talk of the town. My wife has catered to many of the unique taste in the community as well as unique preferences of regular customers from Houston. If the critic that penned the review knew how hard, and how many hours a day my wife works, she might have been a little more generous in her review.
The "Philly" cheese steak sandwich that the author of the review sampled has been altered to suit the taste of the numerous regulars that happen to dislike bell peppers. As with all of our menu items, "add-ons and request may be made. As far as the author not knowing what kind of bun the sandwich was served on, well, shouldn't a food critic be knowledgeable enough about food to know the difference between a "hoagie" bun and a "hamburger" bun?
I will however apologize for the service that the author seemed to disapprove of. As in any business, when employees don't show up for work, for whatever reason, the owner or manager is faced with doing the absolute best that they can with what resources are available. I must say however, that no one, in the history of the restaurant, has ever….EVER….had an hour and a half wait unless it was by his or her own choice. I believe that for whatever reason, the author of the article "stretched" the truth in her reporting. Since the article was published, we have had many, many regulars comment on how they just cant believe what they read in the article.
My wife and wait staff also prides themselves on giving people the best service and meal that they have ever had. The intention of my wife is to serve "healthy" meals, which are not fried. (I.e. chicken fried steak, fries, etc.) This happens to be one of the many things our regular patrons enjoy.
I happen to believe, and always have, that when a person has the "power of the pen", and has access to being published, and also is a "food critic", that the person should try an eating establishment a minimum of three times to get an "average" of the food and service being offered. We would like to extend the author an open invitation to sample us again, and possibly try a menu item that she actually likes. We extend this invitation to any reader that is looking for a quaint "tea room" atmosphere.
Just as a matter of fact for the reader, in the three years of Touch Of Texas existence, my wife has had many reviews from major publications, all of which have been the most flattering and recommending. We realize that we cant please every taste, but with the exception of your food critic we seem to have pleased the majority.
Thank you for your time, and as I have mentioned, we offer an open invitation, to all that would like to form their own opinion, or perhaps change the opinion they have already formed.

Jim Riggs
Montgomery, Tx

LETTERS:More theatre

I enjoyed your article (Theatre project moving right along, ISSUE 48 by Terry Deane) and I applaud what the MCTP is attempting to do.
I have been looking for a theatre to work with since I moved here from Houston and this sounds interesting.
Do you have any information about future auditions or working with the theatre group. If not can you direct me to someone who would have information. My wife and I enjoy reading The Bulletin. Sort of a voice for sanity in the county.

Steve Caporiccio
Shadow Bay

LETTERS:Tamina's water problem

An article by Michael Moore appeared in The Villager on January 10, 2001, almost two years ago. The headline was TAMINA WATER PROJECT TO CONTINUE IN 2001. The article began; "For more than a year the city of Oak Ridge North has been working on a system that would provide water and sewer services to the Tamina community."
At that same time, on January 11, 2001, U.S. Representative Kevin Brady announced an additional federal grant of $250,000.00 to augment the Community Development Block Grant money available to Tamina.
It appeared that the project was underway.
But now, almost two years later, our neighbors in Tamina are still waiting for sewage collection and running water.
At the November 25th 2002 Commissioners Court meeting a resolution was passed for the WATER DISTRIBUTION AND SEWAGE COLLECTION FACILITIES FOR THE TAMINA COMMUNITY. This resolution, endorsed by all the commissioners, was a display of support and good faith.
But at that same meeting county Community Development Director Nancy Mikeska, warned that if the grant money for Tamina was not used soon the project could be in trouble. In other words, after all this time and effort and trust the people of Tamina might be abandoned. They might be forced to continue living in deplorable conditions that threaten their health and safety. The CDBG grant money might be used for other purposes.
This is not acceptable to me. I would like to know why this project is taking so long.
I know many hard working people, churches and organizations have given freely of their time and money to make the Tamina Project a reality. It could not be lack of community caring and support that is endangering the Community Development Block Grant.
Can you explain why it is taking so long to disperse the funds?
I really want to understand.

Margaret Moorehead
The Woodlands, Tx

LETTERS:Dehumanizing Others

Dehumanizing people has been a deadly characteristic religions. Dehumanization has resulted in the deaths of millions of people considered social outcasts.
Today's Christians have chosen another minority group to vilify and persecute—sexual minorities. Christians obsessed with sex deny them social interaction with sexual majorities. Created statistics emphasize faults of sexual minorities while ignoring the same faults in equal proportions in sexual majorities. Ninety percent of child abuse is perpetrated by heterosexuals. Eighty-three percent of condoms work well. One would never know that from Christian statistics, which state that ten percent of child abuse is perpetrated by homosexuals and seventeen percent of condoms fail.
Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son to teach families how to treat their children who do not act or become what is socially acceptable. When the Prodigal Son returns home dejected, the father welcomes him and rejoices in his homecoming while the brother wants to punish his Prodigal Brother. The father's loving actions are the model that Jesus asked his followers to emulate.
Jesus also told the parable of the Good Samaritan, who was a social outcast because he was half Jewish and half Gentile. Despite being part of the in-group, religious men chose to turn a blind eye to the plight of an injured traveler. The Samaritan's character was superior to that of the religious men for his capacity to see the humanity in the stranger and to act with compassion and human kindness.
Jesus' teachings are the core of Christian behavior and character-building. He taught us to see the humanity in one another and not persecute poor people, women, or other social outcasts—not anyone.
Frequently we are asked to single out groups of people for persecution in the name of Christian decency. Doing so thwarts Jesus' teaching, the essence of Christianity.
As for asserting that Christians always tell the truth, no one is fooled that some Christians create their own realities, which they repeat ad infinitum until the message becomes commonplace. In the name of Christianity, people's lives are being destroyed because they are dehumanized. This may be the state of Christianity in the second millennium, but this is not the teaching of Jesus.

K.E.S. Palmisano
The Woodlands, Tx

LETTERS:How to fix the Conroe Amphitheater

Yes I have a real issue with the design of this amphitheater that I guess you can call it a live music amphitheater. (Not by design, ISSUE 43, by S.D. Williams) To me it sounds like a big waste of Conroe tax payer's money. I have been told by many well respected citizens in the Conroe area that they can not get any artist to play hear. If this is the case, this sounds like a waste of money spent. To benefit the City of Conroe you need to be able to use the facility. The only way you will get artists to play there is to offer protection and that does not mean BUSHES!!!
What needs to happen is a 3-5 foot hole needs to be dug and sloped up the hill. This offers more of a stage that will protect the artist and give all the fans at each show, and there could be many, and better viewing of the show. This would work out great for everyone.
I represent a band that plays Conroe a number of times a year and I will not let them play there until something is changed. These are just my thoughts, I am sure not everyone agrees with me, but I do have a right to my opinion. Also I think about the guy who designed this. I would have surveyed a few of the notable bands on what they would have like to have seen built. Since this was built for them to play on. As many people know if the artist is not happy he/she will throw their fits! I guess my point is; since the research was POORLY done, let's just fix it and listen to some great music in the downtown area.

Chris
Montgomery County

LETTERS:George Washington's Christianity

I suggest Matt Potter read some of Washington's speeches and personal letters, original documents, not just the historical revisionism ideas of the liberal left. Potter wrote in his letter, (The RLC lied at the Polls, ISSUE 48, a letter by Matt Potter) "George Washington NEVER ONCE referred to Christ or Christianity in ANY of his written letters or speeches. He instead used `the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men'." In fact, Washington used a lot of phrases like "Supreme Being", "Lord and Ruler of Nations","Almighty God", "Hand of Providence", etc in his old fashioned style of speech. And he spoke about Christ, in a very personal way. He was a man of tremendous dignity, humility, wisdom, and reverence for God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible, as were virtually all the Founding Fathers and authors of liberty American style.
From George Washington's personal prayer book, consisting of 24 pages in his field notebook, written in his own handwriting, … "SUNDAY MORNING....Almighty God, and most merciful Father, who didn't command the children of Israel to offer a daily sacrifice to Thee, that thereby they might glorify and praise Thee for Thy protection both night and day, receive O Lord, my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to thee; "I yield Thee humble and hearty thanks, that Thou hast preserved me from the dangers of the night past and brought me to the Light of this day, and the comfort thereof, a day which is consecrated to Thine own service and for Thine own honour. Let my heart therefore gracious God be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works but wait on Thee, and discharge those weighty duties Thou required of me: and since Thou art a God of pure eyes, and will be sanctified in all who draw nearer to Thee, who dost not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in Thy courts, pardon I beseech Thee, my sins, remove them from Thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of Thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into Thy temple and compass Thine altar, my prayer may come before Thee as incense, and as I desire Thou wouldst hear me calling upon Thee in my prayers, so give me peace to hear the calling on me in Thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me gracious God, the good work for which Thou hast sent it. "Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and forever for His sake, who lay down in the grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
I will not call Mr Potter a liar, although I could. I will not call him ignorant, although I could. I will however say that he appears to have been willingly brainwashed by the secular humanistic, liberal leftist thinkingcontrolling public education and the media, which misrepresents history and misrepresents the moral and religious basis necessary for true and lasting freedom in civil societies.

Mark Cadwallader
Conroe, Tx

LETTERS:Signs, Signs everywhere Signs

There is so much controversy over posting signs in the libraries and other public places that read "In God We Trust" and the Ten Commandments. If some must post signs and convince other people of their religiosity, why not put up the one quote that all religions agree on. The Golden Rule: "Do unto other as you would have others do unto you". This says it all and even to those who are not religious. However, the more I think about it, this isn't really about religion, it is about power.

Maxine DeVries
Panorama Village, Tx

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