LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Jesus offers eternal life

Editor, the Leader-News:

Recently, on television, I listened to the presidential debates. Most of the debate dealt with Iraq, Iran and religion. Several comments were made by religious leaders after the debate. First they believe that more laws need to be passed on gays and abortion. I would like to respond to what I heard and what I know is the truth.

When I hear Roman Catholics or Protestants make claims about their church I wonder if they have ever read the word of God. First the Old Testament was written to the Nation Israel, not the Gentiles. Our Lord came out of this chosen nation as told in the scriptures. The Law of Moses was given to the People of Israel, not the Gentiles. The people of Israel wanted something more and mistakenly did not accept God's gift of Grace and Mercy.

The Word was provided to give everyone a way out of death. The way out was through a perfect sacrifice and more importantly his resurrection. He was truly a man and truly God, he freely gave his life and more importantly was first to be raised. He accepted our sin, a sinless person, so that our sins would forever be removed from the sight of God. This means the sins of the past, present and future are gone forever.

God is the initiator and we are to respond, we tend to want to initiate and not respond. A lot of churches say that you must be Baptized or take Communion in their church; they are greatly mistaken. John the Baptist said Christ will Baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, not water.

Remember that our sins were forever removed at the cross, so throw your cross away. We were all born dead but through his resurrection we are given life. The only unforgivable sin is to deny Christ; God will never hear your prayers until you repent from this one sin. Everyone has the right to accept or refuse this new covenant.

This country wants to pass more laws while we can't even live by the law of Moses. Government should not be involved in making decisions about how we live. Our Lord is the only way and if you follow the pope or any other church leader you are following the wrong person. Christ provided the Word and if you believe in him through his death, burial and resurrection you are saved and no one can take that away from you.

As for president, I know Ron Paul is our only hope for our country short of the return of our Lord. We are in a larger mess than people know and unless somebody with courage and wisdom can step in and reverse it, I think we will soon lose our country, if we haven't already lost it.

Jack Swanson

LSWP project all about money

Editor, the Leader-News:

On October 30 there was FINALLY a project update meeting in El Campo on the Lower Colorado River Authority San Antonio Water System Water Project (LSWP). It was the first one for the entire year.

Thank you, Dick Winters of Brady, for stating all landowners in the original six reservoir sites need a firm commitment from LCRA stating their land is totally out of the picture and will NOT be reconsidered as a site as stated by LCRA's project manager Leah Manning. We'll be waiting on documentation to that effect.

To those of you who attended, along with Matagorda County Commissioners Gibson and Deshotels and Wharton County Commissioners Kainer, Miller and Reynolds, a sincere thank you. To those who left before the end, you missed the best part!

A huge THANK YOU to Matagorda County Judge Nate McDonald for his concern and hard hitting questions regarding many aspects of LSWP. The SAWS group definitely got defensive! Judge McDonald challenged LCRA that they should be protecting the Colorado River instead of trying to sell it out from under us: the citizens and communities who depend on it for their livelihood, food sources, recreation and all other uses.

The most simple and logical reason SAWS is not considering desalinization of Gulf of Mexico water is because LCRA doesn't want them to! Without LSWP, LCRA will not make any money nor will they OWN (or need to own) the giant reservoir, newly proposed conservation ponds, pumping stations, the GROUNDWATER WELLS and WATER RIGHTS, and the infrastructure that goes with it all.

This whole project is all about money! LCRA personnel stated many times in the past that SAWS has deep pockets. LCRA was going to have to do these studies anyway. But with LSWP, even if it falls through, LCRA will only have to pay for half of all the study costs. SAWS is looking at several other ways to get water but desal of Gulf water is NOT one of them. Why not? Because LCRA won't make any money! They don't own the Gulf of Mexico water - yet!

Thank you again, Judge McDonald, for your attendance and statements. Several Wharton and Colorado county residents told me afterward they wished you were their county judge and leader! I'm proud to have you as mine!

Judy Bishop Jurek

Markham

Thanks, and an apology

Editor, the Leader-News:

We want to thank everyone who came out and made our fund-raiser a success. I say success because the food was delicious and the weather was excellent. We appreciate everyone's support; however we do want to apologize to everyone who was turned away when we ran out of food, but thank "God" we are a forgiving people and we will work harder next year to work out the wrinkles that we had this year. We thank El Campo Leader-News, KULP and all the banks for advertising for us and we thank all the angels who were not CDA members that came out to help us.

May God bless everyone of you. Mil Gracias,

St. Robert Bellarmine CDA Officers Terri, Elma, Becky, Roseann and Ofelia

Small town folks a blessing

Editor, the Leader-News:

I would like to thank everyone who helped my aunt at the cemetery Friday evening after her fall on the sidewalk.

Teresa Treybig and Jane Heimann - thank you for the tender care you gave Aunt Evelyn after her fall. I knew she was in good hands when I saw the care you were giving her. To the gentleman who called for the ambulance - thank you. LeighAnn Johnson - thank you for helping with her bandages and help with washing her off.

And to everyone else (I am sorry I don't know your names) who brought water and paper towels - and everything else you did to help our situation a little better, thank you. Thanks to the EMTs who came and made my aunt comfortable and feel like she was in safe hands on her ride to the hospital.

It is nice to live in a small town where the people who don't know you are there in a crisis. Thank you again for all your help - I know we were all there to honor loved ones and you all stopped to help a stranger - El Campo is a great town to live in when there are people like you living in it.

Kaye Hubenak

Relay team appreciates help

Editor, the Leader-News:

On behalf of the Lifesavers Relay for Life Team from El Campo Memorial Hospital and Mid Coast Medical Clinic, we send a big Thank You to everyone who helped us raise $19,084 to help fight cancer. We placed second in the amount of money raised this year. Special thanks to Pizza Hut, El Campo Coca-Cola Company, and Aqua Beverage for their donations, and everyone who supported our team throughout the year.

Thank you.

Becky Wishert, Chairman Kristi Cerny Co-Chairman