God

o7The North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit in that state's Superior Court to allow oaths to be taken on the Koran. North Carolina law states that oaths must be taken on "Holy Scriptures," though it allows for people to raise their hand if their beliefs do not allow them to swear on a Bible or to simply affirm that their testimony will be truthful if they do not have religious faith. Should the court allow witnesses to swear oaths on sacred religious texts other than the Bible?

It's been a stressful week. It was mid-afternoon on Sunday before I knew the Angels had won the home field advantage in the divisional baseball playoffs and would be going head-to-head with the Yankees on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the National League wild-card was up for grabs even later on Sunday, and while all this was going on, the San Diego Chargers were destroying New England down the road a piece, and Newport Beach was launching its centennial celebration.

The motto “In God We Trust” appears to be headed to the City Council chambers in some form or another. A divided council voted 4-2 Monday to approve the motto and start a committee to work on a design to display it, with Mayor Debbie Cook and Councilwoman Jill Hardy in opposition. Councilman Keith Bohr abstained, saying he didn’t believe it was an issue council members should weigh in on. Council members Cathy Green and Joe Carchio sponsored the measure. A couple of supporters spoke at public comment period, saying it would send a positive moral and patriotic message.

MICHELE MARR Christmas, secular and sacred, has passed. The new year and the buzz and business of New Year's resolutions are here. It's not my favorite time at the gym, which goes from sparsely populated, or at worst full, to overflowing. Exercise and diet plan books and complementary cookbooks are selling in record numbers for the year. Career, financial and debt counselors are doing brisk business. Day-planners and motivational tapes are selling well.

The national motto “In God We Trust” is now in the Huntington Beach City Council chambers. A blue-and-white sign sporting a city logo ringed by the motto appeared in the chamber for the first time Monday, though it had not yet been placed on the wall. The sign follows a split vote by council members in April to have a committee design a sign with the motto on it. No further action is required, and the sign will be placed behind the dais where members sit, city officials said.

Fountain Valley Mayor Pro Tem Guy Carrozzo asked the City Council to consider displaying the motto of either ‘In God We Trust’ or ‘One Nation Under God’ in the council chambers at Tuesday’s City Council Meeting. Carrozzo said he hopes the issue will be put on the agenda for the May 20 meeting during his comment period of the meeting. “This should not be a difficult vote. We pledge allegiance to the flag at the start of each council meeting and recite the words ‘One Nation Under God,’” Carrozzo said.

The motto “In God We Trust” is headed to the City Council Chambers in some form or another, following a vote Monday on a proposal by Councilwoman Cathy Green and Councilman Joe Carchio. The council voted 4-2 to approve the motto and form a committee to work on a design for its display, with Mayor Debbie Cook and Councilwoman Jill Hardy in opposition. Councilman Keith Bohr abstained, saying he didn’t believe it was an issue council members should weigh in on. A couple of supporters spoke at the meeting, saying it would send a positive moral message.

While talking about the 4-2 decision of the Huntington Beach City Council to display the national motto “In God We Trust” in Council Chambers, someone I know remarked he was surprised. When I asked him why he said, “Because I didn’t know they did.” And perhaps some don’t. After all, it was not a unanimous decision. Jill Hardy says it’s her Christian faith that makes her wary of the move. Hardy wanted to know more about the motivation behind the public display.

Like a gangrenous limb, they had to be removed. Nineteen pine trees, 15 ficus and two of a variety unfamiliar to me. They were crumpling sidewalks, gutters and curbs, and choking and crushing sewers. Homeowners, including me and my husband, had been forced to call Roto-Rooter every three months for years. Most of us have had to replace our main sewer lines at least once. The rutted sidewalks were inviting falls and broken bones. The august trees, more than 30 years old, had to come out. I know, I know.

The Ocean View School District met this week to discuss displaying the motto “In God We Trust” somewhere around district offices, but no vote came out of the informational discussion. The five board members couldn’t agree on a single course of action, so they asked their staff to come back at a later meeting with a few options on what to display and where, along with the price tag attached to each. The proposal, brought by district Supt. Alan Rasmussen, would differ from recent votes to display the motto in nearby city councils by surrounding “In God We Trust” with other slogans and seals representing the nation, state and city.

One can just imagine Neil Simon, 30 years ago, mulling over possible themes for his next Broadway play, his eyes fixing on a Bible and saying to himself, "Hey, how about the Book of Job? That would be a real knee-slapper. " Thus was begat "God's Favorite," the tale of a modern-day businessman whose faith in God is unshakable, so much so that the Almighty wagers Satan that the guy won't renounce him, no matter what misfortune is visited on him. Before God is through, slapping knees, or any other body part, is too painful to imagine.

I am sending a letter of response to the On Faith column published by Pastor Mark Wiley on Aug. 2 titled "Thoughts on God, the shooting and love. " Thankfully, God in this case was in caps. There are many areas of disagreement, but as a reformed Christian, I want to focus on what I believe is the most egregious error in this case when it comes to an attribute of God, on which, among true Christians, there should be no argument, and that relates to the Almighty God's omnipotence. True, Christianity leaves no room for error in this regard.

Reading about the Muslim custom of praying five times a day in Mona Shadia's "From 50 prayers a day to 5" (Unveiled: A Muslim Girl in O.C., June 28) I found something common between Islamic custom and Zarathushti (Zoroastrian) tradition. Over 4,500 years ago, the religion that I follow, founded by His Holiness Prophet Zarathushtra (or Zoroaster, as Greek philosophers who studied his teachings called him), had the requirement of praying to the One God we call Ahuramazda (Wise Lord)

A couple of days ago, I received a political flier from Troy Edgar, who is running for the state Assembly. On the back of the flyer were endorsements from Republicans. The first name cited was that of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. In his 22-plus years in Congress, Rohrabacher has always been an "establishment" Republican, a "yes man" who is ready to jump upon any command from the establishment Republican leadership. Rohrabacher has never been a true conservative by never standing up against the establishment leadership.

On May 10, the Huntington Beach Independent carried an article ( "Proposal uproots passion" on a magnificent eucalyptus tree at 1751 Main St. This tree is a true treasure that predates the city. The city has no business cutting it down. It should be preserved like the treasure it is. Dean Williams Huntington Beach * Fond memories of Mr. Atteberry Your article on Jim Atteberry brought back wonderful memories of the many years that I taught fifth grade at Eader Elementary School in the classroom next to his ( "An unlikely spotlight for teacher," City Lights, May 3)

There are so many lies that get circulated online about Islam that are sometimes printed and repeated as if they're facts. Some of them really amuse me, especially the one about how Muslims believe in the "Moon God, Allah. " We know Allah is Arabic for God. But the Moon God? Who is he? I've been a Muslim for 28 years and have never heard of him. If my community has been withholding a lunar deity from me, it's about time it fesses up! Some of the lies point to ignorance, like the notion that Muslims believe in a different God than the Jews and Christians, or that Muslims are supposed to lie to and kill "infidels.

I want to express my gratitude for your article about the church I have attended for the past six years or so — Calvary Chapel of the Harbour (“Prayers for home,” Dec. 3). I was not “looking” for a new church, but as I live in the Harbour, I came across Pastor Joe Pedick’s small church. I have been blessed in so many ways by the family of God who meet there faithfully to honor God and support each other and the community at large. What a blessing to have them in the neighborhood!

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor…” So began George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in October 1789. On behalf of both Houses of Congress, Washington recommended to the people of the United States that they observe “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” to acknowledge “with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.” Prominent among the favors he listed were “civil and religious liberty.

The national motto “In God We Trust” is now in the Huntington Beach City Council chambers. A blue-and-white sign sporting a city logo ringed by the motto appeared in the chamber for the first time Monday, though it had not yet been placed on the wall. The sign follows a split vote by council members in April to have a committee design a sign with the motto on it. No further action is required, and the sign will be placed behind the dais where members sit, city officials said.