"America's National Debt: Growing with No End in Sight"

Your September-October issue commentary on "America's National Debt: Growing With No End in Sight" struck a chord with me that is still resonating. Although you've had similar themes in previous issues, you hit a homerun with this prophetic scenario. When all is said and done, many of your readers will look back and wish our leaders were regular subscribers to The Good News.

G.J.B., Hamtramck, Michigan

"Hey, Dad, Remember Me?"

I was reading the September-October issue and was really touched by the inspiring stories. The article "Hey, Dad, Remember Me?" really hit home. The paragraph that said, "Talk to God the Father as to your friend" uplifted me, and is making it easier for me to communicate with God the Father.

I also learned to balance my time through your article "Is Your Life in Sync With God?" If I have an opportunity, I would also like to share this one with members of my Bible study group.

J.M., Leeds, England

"Has America Lost Its Way?"

Great article on "Has America Lost Its Way?"—although the article should have been titled "America Has Lost Its Way." The laws in the Scriptures were crafted to guide people into total righteousness and total peace, bringing true love between a man and a woman, not wars, hatred and homosexuality. And to those who teach that the Messiah nailed the laws to the cross or did away with them, talk about the blind leading the blind.

O.D., Big Spring, Texas

I just finished reading the article "Has America Lost Its Way?" and went away feeling disappointed and even somewhat offended. Countless other Christians seem to have the erroneous notion that it is impossible to be pro-gay marriage and a follower of Christ at the same time. President Obama is a Christian just like I am. However, we do believe that one should be allowed to choose his or her sexuality based on the freedoms this country has bestowed upon us.

R.M.H., Shelby, Montana

The Bible is a true Christian's guide to real righteousness (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 119:172). So real Christians have to follow God's law as their sole standard of conduct. A number of scriptural passages in both the Old and New Testaments tell us that our Creator does not sanction either homosexuality or same-sex marriage. God created the first man and first woman to become husband and wife (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:22-24; Genesis 5:1-2; Mark 10:6-9). Remember Isaiah's dictum: "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

Beyond Today

I watched your TV program and thought it was brilliant! I would love to have a free copy of the booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy. We live in Israel and would love to share this with the people over here.

Reader from Israel

Lost in Las Vegas

I simply must admit that I'm lost without your Good News magazine. It's the only way I can keep up with current events and the Bible at the same time. I've been given copies of other magazines, but they don't include world events that coincide with the Bible, like yours does. You have a way of relating the Scriptures with references so that we can understand the Bible better. Simply put, it is expressed in a way in which we can read between the lines, so to speak. I would be grateful if you could please renew my magazine subscription. I will be sending you a donation.

R.D.L., Las Vegas, Nevada

Readers from Australia

I love reading your magazine. It has helped me to understand more about our Heavenly Father than I have ever known before. I would like to request the booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe? I have always kept Christmas, but I am interested to hear your viewpoint on it.

Reader, Peterborough, South Australia

Thank you for your informative magazine The Good News. It warms my heart to know that Jesus is coming back, although I sometimes hope that He is coming soon. It seems as though He is overdue. I am 87 years old and from Berlin. After World War II, I came to Australia 60 years ago with my young son. I thank God every day for saving me from the numerous air raids and war that overtook my home city. My son and I believe that you are "spot on" with your truth about the Bible. I cannot thank you enough for all that is involved in spreading the gospel.

Reader, Victoria

Readers from Afghanistan and Morocco

This is a reader from Afghanistan. I am currently living in Kabul. I have read your website, which was very useful. Since I have become interested in Christianity, I need your guidance.

Reader, Kabul, Afghanistan

You should talk about the persecution we suffer in Arab countries, especially in Morocco, which is supposed to be a democratic country, but the reality is the opposite. My brothers were put in jail just because they are Christians. We Christians love our country and we don't harm anybody. Many Americans have been deported just because they offered the Bible to those who asked for it, while in the United States Muslims build a mosque every month and practice their religion and call others to Islam.

Reader, Morocco

Attending a United Church of God congregation

I wanted to write you quickly as my wife and I are relocating to Dallas next week. We are also leaving the church that I've belonged to for 35 years. Over this past year God has revealed to us the meaning of many things in the Bible. Through this understanding we've come to realize that our church doesn't teach God's ways. Yet it has been a difficult year as we were tasked with leaving people behind that we have loved in order to be obedient to God's laws.

We've been led by God to honor the Sabbath day on Saturday. We have much learning left as we want to conform our lives to God's way through our diet, the feast days, annual Sabbaths, etc. After much searching, I came across the United Church of God and after reading much of its material on the website concluded that this is the closest church I have found to the true teachings of the Bible. We'd like to participate in a service in your Dallas location sometime soon. After much seeking, I have joy in my heart seeing a church that is teaching the truth, and we are looking forward to meeting everyone there.

Reader, Dallas, Texas

After reading your booklets The Gospel of the Kingdom, Heaven and Hell and What Happens After Death?, I must say that they have been an eye-opener to me. I never thought about things like this before. I would like to know if the United Church of God has a branch in Durban, South Africa.

Reader, South Africa

It is so encouraging to me to come across your website and finally find a Christian denomination that teaches sound biblical doctrine instead of following the traditions of mainline churches regarding doctrines like the Trinity, Sabbath and dietary laws. I have always been passionate about studying God's Word. All one has to do is to study Church history to see when the slippery slope first appeared. I wish there was a United Church of God congregation closer to me in the greater Daytona Beach area.

J.G., Florida

I would like to thank you for this amazing insight into the Bible. I can't devour enough of this information. I'd love to take the next steps to baptism. Can you send booklets about this? Also when and where do the congregations in my area meet? I do need to worship on the Sabbath (Saturday, not Sunday). Everything I have been previously taught is so clearly misleading. No wonder I was so far from home. If you would care to send me any publications (anything at all),

I would be most grateful.

L.W., Cambridgeshire, England

We thank our readers for their various requests. All requests for magazine renewals and free booklets mentioned in the Letters From Our Readers feature have been honored. This includes requests for literature on specific subjects such as water baptism. In addition, requests for church locations have been referred to our local pastors and the requesting readers have been given appropriate contact telephone numbers or e-mail addresses.

We would also suggest that those interested in attending church services ask for our free booklets The Church Jesus Built and This Is the United Church of God. Readers interested in finding the United Church of God congregation closest to them should visit our website at http://www.ucg.org/congregations/all.