Law enforcement doing good things for Christmas

At a time when law enforcement is often shown in a bad light (sad, and usually uncalled for, indeed) while performing their very hazardous duties in defense of the public and their own lives, an exceptional act of good will shines forth from within our local exceptional agencies.

During the Christmas season, less fortunate children are taken under the wing in a very special way by the stellar law enforcement personnel of Cabarrus and Rowan counties.

After having lived within many communities throughout the U.S., I would gladly stack our local law enforcement officers and organizations up against any. When you see an officer, thank them for their service.

It would be impossible to overestimate the future dividends of return that will be seen because of these acts of kindness to deserving young citizens. I personally know many of these great officers, and we are blessed indeed.

If you can, please help the following programs within your community:

• Kannapolis Police Dept – Chief Woody Chavis – 704-920-4000, “Cops target kids for Christmas”

• Cabarrus Sheriff’s Office. – Sheriff Brad Riley – 704-920-3000, Shop with a Cop

• Concord Police Dept. – Chief Gary Gacek – 704-920-5000 – Cops and Kids

• Rowan Sheriff’s Office – Sheriff Kevin Auten – 704-216-8700 – Toys for Tots, and Toy Soldier Programs

• Salisbury Police Dept. – Chief Rory Collins/Capt. Brian Stallings (interim) – 704-638-5333 – Toys for Tots

• Landis Police Dept. – Chief Bobby Wood – 704-857-2129 – (Landis Police Foundation)  Toys for Tots

• China Grove Police Dept. – Chief Eddie Kluttz – 704-857-7755 – Toys for Tots.

Randy Biggerstaff

Kannapolis

Shooting article raises two questions

The Dec. 4 Associated Press article about the terrible occurrence in San Bernardino, Calif., has two statements I would like to address.

First, was Farook, who was Muslim,  “radicalized.” Second, the statement, “We don’t know the motivation” begs a question: Must a Muslim become “radicalized” to commit such deeds or simply follow what the Koran teaches?

I am by no means a scholar of Islam. However, after purchasing a copy of the Koran, I find it certainly teaches against Jesus as deity, Surah 23:91; 18:4-5; 19:92 (Islam) and the Bible teaches Jesus as deity, Matthew 17:5; 1 John2:22-23; John 5:23; 1 John 5:10-12 (Christianity).

The question comes to mind when I read from the Koran on the first page of Surah 9: “And when the sacred months are passed, kill those who join other gods with God wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush: but if they shall convert, and observe prayer, and pay the obligatory alms, then let them go their way, for God is gracious, merciful.” (The Koran translated by John Medows Rodwell).

Is the Koran speaking of Jesus as the “gods” in these verses? If so perhaps we can know the “motivation.”

Jimmy Kinley

Woodleaf