Voice of warning

In announcing the death of Jerry Falwell ("Jerry Falwell: 1933-2007," May 26), our local radio station said, "He often mixed politics with religion." Of course he did! So did the founders of our country in acknowledging our Creator. He was a prophetic voice of warning, an often misunderstood Jeremiah for our generation. His calling was to minister to those who had responded to Christ. He was not perfect, but he was faithful. -Fanchon D. Cornell; North Blenheim, N.Y.

Falwell and I started our ministry for Jesus about the same time; I was jealous. Your welcomed article about Jerry, his accomplishments, and those who criticized him reminded me of Psalm 1, "the wicked are like the chaff that the wind blows away." -Gardner Koch; Rock Hill, S.C.

Academic heresy

I can sympathize with Professor Gonzalez ("Publish and perish," May 26). When I was an assistant professor at a state university, a tenured member of my department told me that "anyone who fails to believe in evolution [regardless of the field] is not qualified to be a professor." Thankfully, he voted to award me tenure, anyway. Not long afterward I moved to a Christian college, one of the best decisions I have ever made. -Bryan Dawson; Jackson, Tenn.

I was an ID supporter back in 2001 when I taught a course in the subject and lost my tenure-track physics job at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. When I applied for a job at Baylor, Bill Dembski would not meet me in person but spoke to me by phone lest he jeopardize my chances by being seen in my vicinity. The bias goes a lot further and a lot deeper than even this article suggests. -Robert Sheldon; Huntsville, Ala.

Why is anyone surprised that Dr. Gonzalez would be denied tenure by Iowa State University? If ISU thinks that an atheist running a Religious Studies Department is appropriate, Gonzalez should consider himself lucky that they didn't burn him at the stake as a heretic. -Matthew Burton; Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Material evidence

Joel Belz asked about the principle of two witnesses ("How many witnesses?" May 26). Jesus extends the principle even to the case of the testimony of the Father and the Son in John 8. In the law of Moses, "material evidence" is used in deciding a few legal cases; a blood-stained "cloth" or sheet from the wedding night would testify to the bride's virginity, for example. The law does not cover every possible case and judges had to use wisdom because, the law recognized, witnesses could contradict one another, or lie, or just misinterpret what they saw. Sometimes material evidence was clear-cut and sometimes it needed interpretation. Christians who today are judges or are summoned for jury duty should use the same principles. -Vern Poythress; Philadelphia, Pa.

Brad Wright's conundrum can easily be resolved by asking: What principle is the Old Testament law about witnesses trying to establish? It seems to indicate that there is value in not prosecuting the innocent and that human beings are imperfect witnesses. Every situation is different, both in terms of the nature of the crime and the severity of the punishment. Wright needs to lighten up (unless he is trying to get out of jury duty, of course). -Joseph Canner; Casablanca, Morocco

They remember

Thank you for your piece on journalist Michael Kelly ("Remembering Michael Kelly," May 26). Our Democrat-led Congress wastes time and taxpayer money debating the financing of the war. A better use of our tax dollars would be to send our representatives to Iraq to see what Kelly saw. I would hope their cries of "peace, peace" would change to "justice, justice." My son Daniel, who is in the Marine Corps, agrees with Kelly that there "are times when it is more moral to go to war." -Bonnie Lucas; Willow Street, Pa.

Marvin Olasky's column on Kelly ties into the Mass Graves Day the Iraqis recently observed. They remember the horrors, the evils, the suffering, and the disappeared in Iraq, even if the Left in America doesn't want to. -Christopher Taylor; Salem, Ore.

Truthful and trustworthy

Thanks for your good article regarding the resignation of Paul McNulty as deputy attorney general of the United States ("Four on the floor," May 26). I served with him in the Department of Justice for about six months, and found him to be truthful, trustworthy, and rock solid in his faith. But regarding the implication that McNulty's resignation was the result of the non-scandal involving the firing of U.S. Attorneys, McNulty told me privately two years ago (and recently told me again) that he was anxious to leave public service and enter private law practice to better afford his children's education. -Jim Davids; Virginia Beach, Va.

Childish tirades

I used to be a fan of Ann Coulter ("A shouter," May 26), but my Bible tells me to always be ready to give an answer to my enemies in defense, but with gentleness and respect, and to show them the love of Christ. Is this what Coulter purports to do by name-calling? If she wishes to continue her childish tirades, she should leave Christ out of it! -Barbara Cueto; Cloudcroft, N.M.

Coulter seems to have been abundantly gifted by God, but she may be a little off track in how she is using those gifts. May God grant that she takes some time to consider her speech before Him. -Anita Evanhoe; Dayton, Ohio

Cheers

I bought a bottle of French wine today in honor of the people who elected President Nicolas Sarkozy ("French elect Sarkozy," May 19). -Arietta C. Watson; Atlanta, Ga.

Going non-postal

After many years as a subscriber to your wonderful magazine, I faced a difficult decision. I moved to this city five years ago and discovered that we have a third-world postal system here. I was lucky to receive two issues dated the month in which they arrived. Then I discovered WORLD online. Now as an online subscriber I get all my issues and you save money on postage ("Stamped out," May 19). Praise God. -Cecelia Levatino; Las Cruces, N.M.

I read "Stamped out" with anger and horror, but not much surprise. I do registration work for a horse breeders' society and recently postage costs for our volunteer-run, nonprofit organization went up 20 percent; the Postal Service seems to want to price us out of existence. The observation that Time-Warner has a finger in this pie makes an already annoyed cable subscriber even more suspicious about its motives. -Carol D. Neubauer; Delphi Falls, N.Y.

Stinky rag?

Please stop sending me your neo-con journalistic rag. The last straw was the May 19 cover. You plastered Mitt Romney's face on it, yet you have ignored Ron Paul, the only candidate who truly represents the people. Something stinks at WORLD and I for one no longer wish to smell it. -Taylor Moore; Joliet, Ill.

Just a note to say how much the writings of Andrée Seu, Russell Board, Marvin Olasky, and others have impacted my thinking and walk with God. Your magazine is a unique and welcome breath of fresh air amid the cacophony of slanted and heated political offerings from countless other sources. -Gordon Donaldson; Phoenix, Ariz.

How's that?

You reported that Lisa Miller was abused by her mother and needed therapy, was a recovering alcoholic, and was practicing sexual perversion with a violent partner ("Are you my mother?" May 12). How was that couple granted a license to run a daycare and to be foster parents? Thank you for strengthening my resolve to care for my three preschool grandchildren while their parents work. -Rachel M. Garcia; San Antonio, Texas

So few devoted

"Betrayal" (May 12) reminded me that Oswald Chambers said, "Today we have substituted credal belief for personal belief and that is why so many are devoted to causes and so few devoted to Jesus Christ." Whether Christian writers engaging culture, or Christian apologists contending for the faith, or Christian humanitarians bringing relief, if we have not a life of devotion to Christ, we will have little lasting influence, we will soon lose heart, and denial of our Lord may become a sobering reality. -Charles Smith; High Point, N.C.

Correction

Hutchison Whampoa is based in Hong Kong ("Rising red tide," May 26, 2007, p. 22) and has contracts to operate four ports in Mexico.