Billions of tiny bugs

Thank you for your balanced look at the Y2K bug ("Surviving the Y2K panic," April 3). Many people regard the "Y2K bug" as a single large computer glitch and conclude that it either will or will not be fixed. In reality, the problem is not fixing one large bug but fixing billions of tiny bugs and determining which are critical and which are unimportant. It is difficult to predict what will happen. I think wise individuals should consult current information, assess how at-risk their families are, and prepare for any natural, man-made, or economic disaster they feel appropriate. Panic does not occur when people prepare for the worst a year in advance, while supplies are in abundance. Panic occurs in November and December when the unprepared rush to the stores as supplies dwindle. - Mario Sanchez, Cranberry Township, Pa.

Merely a nuisance

Computer geeks in almost every area of business are saying that Y2K will not be a problem of consequence; possibly a nuisance, but never a catastrophe. - Phil Wade, Chattanooga, Tenn.

An unprecedented threat

I was appalled at your second-rate coverage of Y2K. It obviously presents an unprecedented threat to our whole way of life. - Robert S. Berry, Greeneville, Tenn.

Work for today

Birds and ants store up for the winter, but God has not directed any of them to store up for Y2K. He is obviously prepared to take care of them; why does this not apply to us? - Alfred Corduan, Redondo Beach, Calif.

Where's the outrage?

Where is the outrage in the church against Henry Lyons, former president of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., and his supporters? Where are the editorials? All we have is a near-deafening silence on the issue from evangelical leaders. - John Tors, Toronto, Ont.

True to her schools

As a Christian parent and public-school advocate, I was disappointed in the statistics in "Head of the class" (April 3). It seems an unfair comparison of all public-school children with a much smaller group of homeschooled children of mostly nonworking moms. Who wouldn't thrive on that kind of attention? - Donna Brown, West Chicago, Ill.

Humanism all week long

In Joel Belz's April 3 column ("What is religion?") he presents the scenario of President Clinton announcing a new federal department dedicated to developing a Sunday school curriculum. Most church-goers would not stand for this government intrusion into religious instruction for one hour on Sunday morning; why do we let them teach our kids humanism, feminism, and New Age all day Monday through Friday? - Joan Thompson, Oak Harbor, Wash.

A shiny, secular apple

In his April 3 column Joel Belz laments how the arbitrary power of one postal employee has determined God's World Book Club is not eligible for nonprofit postage rates. Why did God's World ever allow someone else to define "religion" for it in the first place? Because it yielded to the temptation to accept a shiny, secular apple-a $200,000 annual break on its postage costs. When God's World first gave in to the temptation, it implicitly said, yes, we will allow others to define for us what religion is, and what it is not. - Ken Sturzenacker, North Catasauqua, Pa.

In real life, a missionary

Chris Stamper's review of the animated version of The King and I confirmed my worst fears ("Accept no imitations," April 3). Although I am a great fan of Rogers and Hammerstein's musical, I suggest we go even farther back, to the story told by Margaret Mortenson Landon, published in 1943 as Anna and the King of Siam. The courage of Anna Leonowens in her teaching ministry to the royal household of Siam is a missionary story of no small impact. Although she was ordered not to proselytize, she witnessed faithfully to Christ in a closed country. The intrigues, wealth, and pageantry of the court, the slavery and poverty, and her commitment to work for right makes a fascinating read. Ultimately, her influence helped bring about the opening of that country to foreign missionaries for the building of schools and hospitals, the abolition of slavery, the guarantee of religious freedom, and many democratic reforms. - Elizabeth Stone, Moundsville, W.Va.

Nearly missed it

As a mother of a daughter with Down syndrome, I found Jewel unsatisfying and was ready to discontinue reading when Fred Baue's review (March 13) appeared and encouraged me to finish the book. Without that article I would have missed the powerful ending. My daughter, Mathalia, has been teaching me much about life and what it means to be made in the image of God since the day she was born, and she is just turning five years old. Jewel did learn from Brenda Kay, but not until the end of her life and the end of the book. - Janet Abuhl Stroethoff, Missoula, Mont.

A happy ending

Unfortunately, I went and saw EDtv before I read your review ("Accept no imitations," April 3). It had the worst combination of a wannabe McDaddy, a lost soul, and a trashy family. I rejoiced when the movie ended. - Becky Gruen, Lindenhurst, Ill.

Pure truth

So President Clinton thinks that one negative can be offset by hundreds of good deeds ("Strike three," April 3). A glass of pure drinking water may be fatally contaminated by only a small amount of sewage, but sewage remains undrinkable, even with many glasses of pure water added to it. - Dan Johnson, Kalkaska, Mich.

Risking our lives

It seems that the first priority of our government leaders is self-preservation instead of national security ("Remember Los Alamos," March 27). They may be temporarily saving their political careers, but they are jeopardizing the personal safety of the American people and themselves. - Sara McWhorter, Memphis, Tenn.

Content matters

I would like to respond to the argument in the March 27 Mailbag that Christian contemporary music is inferior to secular music. Content does matter and it does have an effect on sales. The real appeal of most secular music is the carnal themes, not the quality of the instrumentation or composition. Look at what happens to the same artist before and after conversion. As in the case of J.S. Bach, many fine Christian artists are virtually ignored in their own time. Charlie Peacock would be an excellent example. - William E. Schuler, Pierceton, Ind.

Deserved disgust

I am somewhat befuddled by the article "Undeserved treasure" in the April 3 issue. At first you agree that touching a card or touching a symbol of three crosses will not get you what you want from God. Then you accuse yourself of basically judging this person and being self-righteous? If you "judged" him to be less worthy of the treasure of Jesus based on his appearance, OK, then do some self-analysis. But when someone completely misrepresents the healing power of Jesus through cards and symbols, you should be disgusted. - Julie Hermonat, Doylestown, Pa.

Useful and a blessing

Your magazine has been a real blessing to me, a prisoner incarcerated down here in Georgia State Penitentiary. Thank God a loving Christian lady and her husband paid for my subscription. I enjoy reading your magazine every week. In fact, I use much of your topics for my discussions down here in our small prison yard. Many other prisoners enjoy these conversations, and it allows me to witness to other prisoners. - Roy David Vargas, Reidsville, Ga.

Making sense

I am homeschooled and have used your magazine to supplement my current events studies. Over the past year I have learned a lot from your balanced, conservative reports. I completed that course, but am still engrossed in your magazine. With WORLD the news finally makes sense. - Lori McCurdy, 15, Broken Arrow, Okla.

Good Monday morning

We read your magazine weekly in American literature class with donuts and coffee every Monday morning. We especially enjoy reading the letters from those wishing to cancel their subscriptions. It's beyond us why people would rather have their emotions fed by the secular media than hear the sometimes harsh truth brought to light by WORLD. - Sheena Cook, Alicia Breininger, Emily Breininger, Richland Center, Wis.