Mailbag

‘Walking wounded’

Nov. 17 Our son-in-law served in the Marines about the same time as Andrew Smith. Like Andrew and Tori, our daughter Heidi is Devon’s motivation to overcome obstacles. Devon did not lose a limb, but struggles instead with mental illness. God is at work in the lives of both couples, and as parents that is our comfort. —Brian & Terri Ellis, Howe, Ind.

Rarely, if ever, has a news story made me cry but this one made me cry, and cry some more. What a hero. What a testimony. What a Savior! —Maynard Eyestone, Lynnwood, Wash.

‘The backward path forward’

Nov. 17 I spent seven years caring for a wife with Parkinson’s disease and dementia. After eight happy years with my second wife, history is beginning to repeat itself. This column was an encouragement and comfort. —Daniel Esau, Roanoke, Va.

‘Unprecedented’

Nov. 17 The web was abuzz that Hurricane Sandy was caused by “climate change.” Grievously, our Creator God was sidelined in the discussion. —Carla Keys, Belle Center, Ohio

‘Wreck-it Ralph’

Nov. 17 This movie can appear trite and as two-dimensional as a classic arcade game but there is much more to it. When a fellow “bad guy” tells Ralph that just because he’s “a bad guy, it doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy,” the film begins a deep examination into issues of family, desire, sacrifice, love, and true heroism. The point is that what you are is not defined by others’ validation but by the morality of your actions. —Phillip Wright, Raleigh, N.C.

‘A real cliff-hanger’

Nov. 17 You quote Rusty Leonard saying that following the election “the economy looks like it wants to grow more normally again.” What is the evidence for that? “Halloween jitters” (Nov. 17) just beneath noted that for many companies “the revenue picture for the third quarter was not good.” We are already seeing companies laying off people. The consequences of this election for the economy will not be good. —Bill Russell, Brighton, Mich.

‘Toxic U’

Nov. 17 You noted that the “students voted to ‘de-recognize’ Tufts Christian Fellowship … and InterVarsity.” Maybe we shouldn’t expect it at Tufts University, but higher education institutions should have administrations with courage to stand on principle, not political correctness. Instead, we have the inmates running the asylum. —Rob Davis, New Castle, Ind.

‘Food and loathing’

Nov. 17 I appreciated your article on anorexia. It shed a lot of light on a common problem and showed me how people can get sucked into that mindset. —Crystal Gillette, 14, Tucson, Ariz.

I’m saddened to read of those suffering eating disorders languishing in misery for so many years. As we helped our daughter to recover, we prayed for healing and learned that anorexia is also a physical problem of the brain. My biggest mistake was thinking I could talk my daughter out of it. Instead it took months of full nutrition and time for her brain to heal before the fog began to clear and she could fight the strong compulsions. —Julie Powell, Seattle, Wash.

‘An electric atmosphere’

Nov. 3 I found this column the day after the election, while looking for something to distract me from a sense of desolation. I’m 24 and “challenging” doesn’t begin to describe what it means to graduate into the Obama economy. Try “unfeasible” or “preposterous”—anything but hopeful. But I digress. This column was the scrub down that washed away the political muck of the last 12 months. It helped me look beyond a presidential term to remember that “in Christ alone my hope is found.” —Barbara H. McAlister, Monterey, Mass.

‘Race to the finish’

Nov. 3 We own a small donkey named Pedro and a lot of sheep. We like your artwork but my daughter, a college student and photographer, was seriously disturbed by the cover showing President Obama on the Democrat donkey. It has the split upper lip of ovines or goats, not the two equine nostrils out to the side as a donkey should. Pedro is upset too, as he doesn’t like sheep, and he can get very grumpy when he’s crossed. —Robin Levenstein, Woodbine, Md.

‘A bad rap?’

Nov. 3 Propaganda claims the message of his song “Precious Puritans” is really about not giving any popular person undue devotion, but Professor Strachan is right about needing “historical nuance” to understand Puritans and slavery. Individual beliefs and practices often differed from what was legal and accepted in society, for example. At the time of the Civil War not even all abolitionists agreed that the whole system should be abruptly abolished. —Temple Christiansen, Palmer, Alaska

‘Here Comes the Boom’

Nov. 3 Your review didn’t prepare us for some pleasant scenes, such as when the characters talk about Genesis 32:24 and how Kevin James’ character earned respect by fighting hard, just as Jacob wrestled with God. Another was James and three supporters joining hands in a prayer circle before his final fight. This was a funny and inspiring film. —Ken Walker, Huntington, W.Va.

‘The tales of trees’

Oct. 6 Several years ago I looked up all the passages about trees in the Bible, focusing on the Tree of Life, and wondered why I hadn’t heard about it in sermons or books before. This column summarized it all so well. —Nancy Streza, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

‘Raging relativists’

Oct. 6 Janie B. Cheaney’s observation that “maybe everything looks like a lie when you’ve lost sight of the truth” pretty well sums it up. Thanks for a great column. —Roger Hudgins, Bartlesville, Okla.

‘2016: Obama’s America’

Sept. 22 I found this film compelling. The concept of neo-colonialism says there is only so much money, prestige, etc., in the world and anyone who has more than his “fair share” must have stolen it from someone else. If Kenya has less than the U.S., it’s because the U.S. took Kenya’s wealth. This idea underlies much of life in Africa. —Marian Hungerford, Guider, Cameroon

‘Runway platform’

Sept. 22 If the photo with this story is any indication of what Freedom and Fashion is showcasing, then it really seems ironic that a ministry that spotlights sex trafficking is doing so by displaying sexy clothing. I disagree with Chris Baltodono that sexual addiction starts in trauma and dysfunctional families. It starts in a culture and churches that accept sexually provocative fashion as normal public dress. —Sven Trenholm, Loughborough, U.K.

‘Shallow Courage’

Sept. 22 We were hesitant to go to Last Ounce of Courage because of your review, but I’m so glad we did. It has a great message on saving our freedoms and is an excellent family film. We need more movies like it. —Donna Adee, Minneapolis, Kan.

‘God out of the box’

Sept. 8 Some might criticize Andrée Seu Peterson for suggesting that the God of the Bible may still desire to break into our lives in a supernatural manner. However, I do not believe that the evangelical church is in danger of succumbing to emotionalism or inflated expectations. One is reminded of Screwtape’s observation: “The great thing is to have them running about with fire extinguishers when there is a flood.” —Dave Wells, West Bend, Wis.

WORLD Around the World

Siguatepeque, Honduras Submitted by Cortney Newell

Send photos to: mailbag@worldmag.com