‘Taking prisoners’

May 13 | Let’s hope that while President Donald Trump’s officials are publicly praising and working with China’s President Xi Jinping to take positive steps on North Korea, they are privately raising real concerns about the jailing of Americans, Christians, and human rights workers. —STEVEN ARNOLD on wng.org

‘Under Big Brother’s eye’

May 13 | Government cameras in churches? What a concept. This is an amazing opportunity to share the gospel with the Chinese government. When can American churches sign up? —TODD TAYLOR / Riverside, Calif.

‘Wielding words’

May 13 | I read Joel Belz’s column just as I finished former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly’s book in which she touches on the network’s long-standing sleaziness. Perfect timing. —PETER KUSHKOWSKI / Portland, Conn.

Belz asked for a word to describe Fox News instead of sleazy: fallen. —JEFF DICKERSON / Morton, Ill.

The words that came to my mind were postmodern, carnal, and worldly. What can we expect of a business that majors in sensationalism? —PHIL BLYCKER / Edinburg, Texas

“Sexually provocative” captures the image of Fox News. —CARL R. JOHNSON / Bremerton, Wash.

“Sleazy” was an acceptable adjective given what we knew in August about Fox executives’ treatment of women. Today “fetid” is a better choice. —CRAIG A. WHITE / Costa Mesa, Calif.

I am not a big Bill O’Reilly fan, but I would use words like “sleazy” very carefully. O’Reilly may be guilty, or perhaps the accusations are just an attempt to assassinate the character of a decent man who spoke his mind. We don’t know all the facts yet. —KENNETH E. ISGRIGG / Valley Lee, Md.

‘The ISIS hostage crisis’

May 13 | I really enjoy Mindy Belz’s articles about Iraq. I recently returned from a trip there to rebuild bomb-damaged homes. The ISIS crisis is opening the door for us to show Christ through love and compassion to those in need. —BRANDON MILLER / LaGrange, Ind.

Mindy Belz’s long experience in the Middle East provides a breadth of understanding and Christian reflection I’m not getting anywhere else. She enables her readers’ hearts to share in the feelings of the people she meets, old friends, and those seeking to help. —DWIGHT DOLBY / Venice, Fla.

Thank you for your article, but you didn’t mention that most of the Christians are Assyrians or Chaldeans, who are dying as people groups. I am Assyrian and my family fled Iraq and Iran. To label them simply as Christians doesn’t address our distinct cultural, language, and religious concerns. —JOEL T. BADAL / Indianapolis, Ind.

‘From bad to worse’

May 13 | It’s hard for those of us who grew up watching Lucy and Ricky Ricardo sleeping in twin beds to see the exponential growth in sexual and violent content on TV. The low wall between network and cable standards has been breached. —ELAINE NEUMEYER / Seacrest, Fla.

Great article. The days of the family gathered around the living room TV watching TGIF are long gone. We need to teach our kids discernment and control, including what they consume on the screens in their hands. —KEITH RUSSELL / Superior, Wis.

Being “in” but not “of” the world continues to be a challenge for all believers. Marvin Olasky’s rationale for covering movies and television, as he explained again on your website (“FAQ: Reviewing coarse cultural products,” May 3), is what appealed to me when a friend sent me a gift subscription a couple of years ago. —RON E. TARLTON / Marietta, Ga.

‘“Trauma-filled city”’

May 13 | Nothing will solve the crime problems in Baltimore or any other city without the gospel of Jesus Christ. Young men must commit to becoming faithful fathers and husbands. Boys need fathers as role models to steer them from a life of crime and violence. —PHILLIP WOECKENER / Tallahassee, Fla.

Where there is fear of God and the authority He ordained in governments and homes, there is the acceptance of personal responsibility and the possibility of forgiveness. —R. WAYNE ANDERSEN on wng.org

‘Pointing out potholes’

May 13 | I admire Andrée Seu Peterson’s honesty in refusing to minimize the sins of her younger years. In saying that she “just believed my way was superior at obtaining what I wanted out of life,” she spoke for us all. Who but a redeemed one could be so candid? —TRACY NELSON / Burnsville, Minn.

‘Singles and doubles’

May 13 | I don’t know what Tim Tebow’s baseball future holds, but this article is a home run. I admire Tebow’s courage and approach. —T. WILLIAMS on wng.org

‘Airliner alternative’

May 13 | I hope I live long enough to see cheap flights on electric aircraft a reality. At age 67 and 400 miles from my family of origin, this would be a dream come true. —ARIETTA C. WATSON / Atlanta, Ga.

‘Nuremberg now’

May 13 | Why spoil a good column on the lessons of Nuremberg with derogatory comments about a border wall and “scuffles about irrelevant pundits”? Your dismissal of the wall shows your tone deafness to an issue of great concern to many Americans, and the threat of violence at Berkeley is symptomatic of a much greater problem. —IGOR SHPUDEJKO / Goodyear, Ariz.

‘Power and purpose’

May 13 | Missing from this column, which discusses whether American military intervention in other countries “makes it worse,” is any mention of Vietnam or Iraq. Those two certainly didn’t work out as planned. —CARL PRICHARD / Tampa, Fla.

Corrections

Singapore’s mandatory health savings account is called Medisave (“Negative diagnosis,” April 15).

Lt. Carwile was in the truck commander seat (“‘Tell me they’re fine, tell me they’re hurt, tell me they’re dead, but tell me something!’” May 27).

More letters, emails, and comments we didn't have space for in the print edition:

‘Disjointed galaxy’

May 4 | Regarding your observation that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 suggests that a family can be any group of people who love each other: As one who had to “build” a family from a list of friends, it may not be ideal but sometimes it is necessary. Now I would never trade the “framily” that God gave my husband and me. —JODY HENDERSON on facebook

‘Topping the Top 50’

March 18 | I’m so thankful you recommended The Life We Never Expected by Andrew and Rachel Wilson. It is probably the most helpful book I’ve ever read about raising children with disabilities. Having an adult son diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome when he was 9, my husband and I can so relate to much in this book. It will make readers more empathetic and help them deal with their own trials. —SUSAN CARNES / Tullahoma, Tenn.