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• Celebrate Jesus' redemptive nature

  This time of year we picture a sweet baby Jesus lying quietly in a manger born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. It's quaint and sanitized.

• Generosity part of American heritage

  According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, this is going to be a down year for most charity groups. In a spot-check of 35 charities around the country, 28 reported giving that was flat or down and 10 reported donation declines of 10 percent or more. Wichita's charities also need a boost. As reported in The Eagle, Inter-Faith Ministries' Operation Holiday, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities' Christmas Sharing Program and the Share the Season campaign experienced shortages of cash, toys and food...

• 'Bible said so' won't win political debate

  The issue of the religious right being too prominent in the Republican Party has become a topic of lively debate. Columnist Kathleen Parker, a conservative, recently made the case that the religious right is detrimental to the GOP because it scares off other would-be Republicans with all of its God talk.

• Reflect the traits of nation's forefathers

  There is a lot to like about Thanksgiving: It's not overly commercialized, you don't have to bring gifts to the gathering, and of course the food. But part of the holiday's special appeal is the story of the Pilgrims, because they encapsulate many of the qualities that we esteem and that we hope are found in ourselves.

• Homosexuality is not wholly genetic

  I don't usually write follow-up columns, but this time I feel compelled to because of the large and spirited response to last week's column on whether gay marriage is a civil right.

• Gay marriage isn't a civil rights issue

  A major objective for proponents of gay marriage is to frame it as a civil rights issue. To hear them talk, gays are suffering injustices similar to those suffered by African-Americans a generation ago. But gay marriage is not a civil rights issue.

• Economy eclipsed some voters' issues

  It's no surprise that the election of Barack Obama to the presidency is a great disappointment to values voters. His position on issues such as abortion and traditional marriage run counter to core conservative Christian beliefs. For many, his views were typified by his statement about rural Pennsylvania voters: "They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

• Obama has words but is lacking deeds

  Well done is better than well said. --Benjamin Franklin America may be on the verge of voting in a president based on his words, not deeds.

• Wealthy already pay much of tax burden

  I think most of us have heard the response that Joe the Plumber got from Barack the Income Redistributor when he asked about taxes: "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

• Extremists at rally not representative

  After the religious right gained prominence, many on the political left complained about it having a holier-than-thou attitude, and feared that it wanted to impose its views on the citizenry. But those of the left now embrace the attitude they once abhorred, albeit with their own twist. Theirs might be called more-educated-than-thou, or maybe a-better-person-than-thou.

• Falling stocks aren't what really matters

  The recent decline in our financial markets reminds us that our future is never fully secure. Many Americans have lost their homes; many, many more have lost thousands of dollars on plummeting investments.

• Morals declining, like stock market

  The crash of the subprime mortgage market and the subsequent failure of prominent financial institutions is a crisis we should have seen coming. Anytime people buy things they can't afford, things will go poorly.

• Flood showed how we aren't in control

  The creek that runs from my neighbor's property typically flows through a short canal under the road and through a portion of my front yard before winding through the pasture. But Friday's record rains weren't typical, and the several-inches-deep water was pouring across the road and flooded the front portion of my property and much of the pasture. It was an occurrence that a neighbor said had only happened three times in 50 years.

• Too much ado about Palin's faith

  After all the uproar over Barack Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the sights of the media and bloggers have turned to Sarah Palin.

• Voters can relate to Sarah Palin's life

  For Americans who are yearning to vote for someone with whom they can relate, Sarah Palin seems an obvious choice. Her life finds common ground with many of us.

• Sexuality videos take the low road

  Just in time for the new school year, Planned Parenthood is trying to educate teens and young adults about sex. One of its chapters based in Oregon has created some new Web-based videos that are part of its "Take Care Down There" campaign. If you're inclined, you can find them at the Web site www.takecaredownthere.org.

• Religious right still big political player

  There has been a lot of talk about the loss of influence by the religious right, but Saturday's interview of Barack Obama and John McCain by evangelical pastor Rick Warren shows that it is still a significant player in our political landscape.

• Culture expects too little from teenagers

  As we prepare to start another school year, all good parents hope it will be a successful one for their children. Those of us with teenagers may want them to make the team, ace algebra and meet new friends. But some of us may be bracing for the new school year because our kid doesn't like school and gets into trouble.

• Limbaugh stands for American ideals

  On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh refers to himself as "El Rushbo" and a "lovable little fuzzball." But his detractors, who are legion, don't feel the love. Comedian-turned-politician Al Franken called Limbaugh a "big, fat idiot," which sums up the feelings of many left-leaning Americans.

• Not 'lovin' it': Chain supports gay group

  Bigot. Homophobe. Hater. These are the terms that many gay activists and their supporters use to label you if you oppose gay marriage, or believe homosexuality is immoral.

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