Letters to the editor

‘No’ to casinos Dear editor:

I will start off by saying, I enjoy going to a real casino and playing once in a while. But every place that has casino’s has the same issues. Crime and poorly paid workers. Recently, while on The Gulf at a casino I won’t name, my wife and I found out the housekeepers didn’t make minimum wage. They were paid per room they cleaned. So if someone had a do not disturb sign, the housekeeper didn’t get paid for that room. To make matters worse, they were on a clock on how many rooms they had to clean in an hour.

As far as crime goes, don’t we have enough in Hot Springs? I remember when Oaklawn pushed for the amendment, they made a lot of promises to the city and their employees and they didn’t deliver. So why should we let them expand again? They aren’t creating real jobs. The traffic is still an issue. And to top it off, they have a full security staff, yet still hire city and county officers who go up there in taxpayers cars and use taxpayers equipment to protect their interests, not ours.

If we want casinos in Arkansas, fine. But Oaklawn needs competition, not total control. That’s why I’m asking that you vote no. Till we get a gaming bill that will allow all the casinos to come in, that will benefit all the people of Arkansas in lesser taxes.

It’s time to stop this one-horse race. Ron Swanson Hot Springs

‘Snow job’ on bonds Dear editor:

I am so sorry to see the people of Hot Springs didn’t turn out to refuse the bond issue for the MASM. It seems that our community fails to recognize when “the wool is being pulled over their eyes.” The misrepresentation of this issue will now cost the citizens of Hot Springs 10 more years before they can reject another bond issue for the MASM. As I am sure there will be another reason to extend the 3 percent “hamburger tax” on the working class.

Steve Arrison and Diane LaFollette did a great snow job to get this bond passed. I recall in a past letter that I asked the public to review Mr. Arrison’s statements in The Sentinel-Record for last month, oh that’s right, my letter never saw the light of day. Then of all things, after last month stating that the money was there to build the addition, without the bond, Mr. Arrison had the nerve to state that it would not be built if the bond failed to pass.

My question is, if the MASM gets a bond to add on to its business, why not issue a bond for other businesses to expand to meet the tourism trade? Would the Alligator Farm, the duck rides or perhaps the mini golf places qualify in Mr. Arrison’s “Visit Hot Springs” category? How about the bath houses or the race track, should we issue bonds for them also?

Property taxes are raised for the schools, how much more taxes is the average family in Hot Springs supposed to pay?

Why should Hot Springs be called a “tourism town” and not a nice place to live with your family? Let’s attract real businesses that pay good wages, so the people of Hot Springs can afford to live here. Tired of paying taxes, L.J. Gibson Hot Springs

A free gift Dear editor:

Donald Cunningham (who is a retired pastor) made an excellent point in his last letter (Sunday, Sept. 9). He said that the Bible does not teach that God has chosen ahead of time who will be saved and who will be condemned to hell.

No, God lets each one of us have the freedom to either accept or reject Jesus Christ as our Savior. God has given man a free will to make his own choices. He won’t try to coerce anyone to turn to Him.

God declares that all men have sinned against Him, so all have offended Him. All of us are guilty before Him.

“Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal” (Romans 3:23).

So we all need a Savior! We all need salvation. We need our sins to be forgiven.

Salvation is offered to everyone as a free gift. It must be a free gift because no man could ever earn his salvation by somehow doing enough good works. God says that would be impossible!

Man cannot work his way up to God and save himself. Only God can save a man.

Nothing else but the finished work of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross is sufficient for our salvation. That alone, and nothing else added to it, is all God requires.

The important part that a man plays in his salvation is coming to God so that God can save him. The Bible tells us that all may come who will come.

It is a matter of the will. Will you choose to come and received the free gift of salvation? Will you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

God gives us the opportunity either to love Him or to reject Him without violating our freedom.

God will let you do the choosing, but remember that your choice will have profound eternal consequences! Your eternity will be spent either in heaven or hell!

Jesus Christ was God who came to earth in the form of a man. He died a horrible death on a wooden cross as a sacrifice for our sins.

This was the God-man who never sinned, who was willing, out of love, to take the punishment that we deserved.

In other words, this was God coming down to die for us so that we might live. Does that not impress you?

“In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but His love for us when He sent His Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins” (1 John 4:10).

God wants everyone to be saved, but unfortunately and tragically, not everyone will be, because they won’t choose to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior!

“Yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins” (Romans 3:24).

Are you ready for eternity? Have you been saved?

Remember — eternity is only one heartbeat away! Lloyd Hoffman Hot Springs

‘Thanks’ for compassion Dear editor:

Our family would like to commend Gabreal, Jason, Helen (CNA) and all the hospice employees, as well as Sharon and all the Caruth-Hale associates for their professionalism, kindness and compassion for Roy Jett. The hospice workers eased our burden with their constant care. Caruth-Hale provided the most unique and special memorial service. We could not have made it through this difficult time without these tireless people.

We also thank everyone for their cards, food, prayers and love. Linda Jett Hot Springs