BY THE BOOK: Regarding His Love For Us Is Unconditional (News Shopper, October 12). While I said in my original letter God does not approve of same-sex relationships, I was referring to the context of homosexual relationships. So while the relationship between David and Jonathan cited by Ms Barfoot was indeed close, it was not homosexual. After all, how could this square with God's abhorrence of homosexuality according to the Scriptures quoted? The instance quoted in Luke 7:9 alludes to a close relationship between an army officer and his servant, but again, no homosexuality is implied. Ms Barfoot then suggests the Bible is not God's word but merely man's writings. Well, this can't be so as it says in the Bible itself at 2 Tim 3:16-17 "all Scripture is inspired of God"; also at 2 Peter 1:20-21 "no prophecy of scripture springs from private interpretation but came from the control of Holy Spirit as God spoke to men". God, being the universal Sovereign, has the right to tell us by means of his word what is and what isn't acceptable. It is not for any of us to then twist and misinterpret these words to suit our own ends.

Leslie R Waller Orpington

ON YOUR BIKE: I have commuted to Greenwich from Beckenham via Lewisham and Catford by bicycle for 15 years and occasionally I sympathised with rabbits and foxes. To my knowledge, a cyclist in Austria and Germany can hardly do anything wrong. Any accident will almost always be the motorist's fault. Can this be right? But then how many motorists are killed by cyclists or pedestrians? However, the conditions for cycling in London have much improved over the past 10 years. Not least because of organisations such as the Cyclists' Touring Club and Sustrans.

Ernst Wallisch Beckenham

WHAT RIGHTS?: Who are they to tell us to ban Christmas? Who are they to dictate what we can and cannot do? Who are they to tell us what hymns we can and cannot sing? If we went to their countries and dictated these things we would be on the first plane out. Wake up, Britain. It's about time you thought of your own people.

Name and address supplied

WHAT A TREAT: I would like to thank all the people in Spur Road, Orpington, (even numbers) for being so kind and generous when my children knocked on Monday when they were out trick or treating. Most had a chat and gave them a treat. They had a great time thank you.

J Eastwood Orpington