Mailbag

‘Desert oasis’

July 27 Thank you for spotlighting Ben and Bert Wenke’s labor of love at the Crossroads Rescue Mission in your “Effective Compassion” issue. This courageous couple has stood up to drug users and drunks to proclaim the gospel and had to contend with the USDA’s interference. But Crossroads endures, addicts repent, people are fed and clothed, and best of all souls are saved.—Jeanne Zachman, Amado, Ariz.

‘Hope’

July 27 Sometimes I get depressed reading all the sad stories in WORLD. But you do a good job digging up some of the good news in the Hope Awards. The whole issue gave me a lot of encouragement. Thank you.—Stephen Wacker, Loysville, Pa.

‘Remember the signs’

July 27 My heartfelt thanks to Andrée Seu Peterson for naming sin for what it is, even when it belongs to an organization professing to be Christian.—Jim Newcomb, North Haverhill, N.H.

The most significant warning in this column was how homosexuals are using biblical terms to sound like the good guys.—Dick Dickerson, Mechanicsville, Va.

Many Christians today harshly condemn homosexuals, while others emphasize loving sinners at the expense of truth. Our Lord perfectly demonstrates both grace and truth, never compromising on either.—Don Den Hartog, Winchester, Va.

‘Learning the hard way’

July 27 I disagree with scholar Hart. The deficiency is not in natural law but in the human heart, now hardened by generations of hammering with popular nonsense from every direction. The extreme fringes of the culture of 1960 are today the very center of the culture; those who won’t think are deafened by the noise.—Jim Stewart, Camptonville, Calif.

Janie B. Cheaney lumps together supporting the expansion of food stamps benefits and supporting gay marriage as examples of calling evil good, but many orthodox Christians argue for food stamps. —Eric Harris, Mesa, Ariz.

Nature is also a lousy teacher of evolution. Instead of producing increasing complexity, it reduces beautiful houses to rubble through earthquakes, and intricate animal and human bodies to dust in death. It is a brilliant executioner.—Dick Muller, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

‘Blood on the streets’

July 27 Biola’s policy against graphic images of abortion is like a prohibition against offensive clothing. It is not unjust, nor does it restrict Diana Jimenez’s expression of faith. She should respect the institution’s rules and be grateful it allowed her to convey her message and display graphic pictures in a private setting.—Jeff Wick, Bowling Green, Va.

I thought the article was balanced and well-written. Jimenez said, “I don’t want people to believe that Biola’s not a Christian school, but they’re not doing enough.” I commend her newfound passion, but is that fair? She and CBR have the luxury of being a single issue entity, while Biola is taking stands on abortion and many other ailments of sin in a fallen world.—Todd Wallace, Tucson, Ariz.

Both sides needed to be heard on this issue but my sympathies are with the university.—Deborah Franklin, Pinole, Calif.

‘Occupied territory’

July 27 Marvin Olasky’s column reinforces our need to understand Christian vocation, which encompasses our every endeavor.—Samuel Gray, Clemson, S.C.

I bought three of Doug TenNapel’s graphic novels for my children but they were not appropriate. Yes, there were some Christian themes, but it wasn’t worth it to dig through the trash.—Christy Lindsay, Harleysville, Pa.

‘20 feet from stardom’

July 27 Referring to Phil Spector as a “Beatles producer” overstates his work for the band. He did compile the album finally released as Let It Be in 1970, but by then the band had disbanded. Sir George Martin produced almost all the band’s work.—Loren Sanders, Milwaukee, Wis.

‘Patent racket’

July 27 You state that the “whole purpose” of patents is “encouraging competition.” Competition is a likely outcome of patent law but is not its purpose. The U.S. Constitution states that patent law is to “promote the progress of science and useful arts.” Congress is empowered to do this “by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.” Patents therefore start out being anti-competitive, but this temporary monopoly provides the incentive for scientists and others to invent. The real constitutional and legal question about “patent trolls” is whether their actions promote the progress of science and useful arts.—Gerald Grafe, Corrales, N.M.

‘The Syrian muddle’

July 13 The unanswered question: What is the U.S. national interest in Syria? The Obama administration only cares about what is in the best interest of the Muslim world. This administration, not the United States, has lost its credibility.—Wayne Bley, Fort Belvoir, Va.

‘Leaving Exodus’

July 13 I appreciate Jamie Dean’s sensitive treatment of the termination of Exodus International. I pray that Chambers’ new ministry approach is merely a change of emphasis and not a shift in theology.—Richard Hancock, Utica, Miss.

‘Rochester strong’

July 13 Thank you to Gina DiMartino for sharing her story. She said that she knows where God wants her to be because she “can’t be anywhere else.” I recently became very ill and have no idea what my future holds. I wonder how I’m going to handle it all and if this is really God’s will, but when I remember those words I stop and rest easier.—Heather Bollman, Lanark, Ill.

‘Aging badly’

June 29 I must take issue with the statement that Rachel Carson’s warning on eggshell thinning was “largely discredited.” Carson did not deal with this subject in Silent Spring. The first publication dealing with eggshell thinning appeared in 1967, three years after her death. DDT, or its breakdown product DDE, was shown to cause eggshell thinning in at least five species of captive birds and this was corroborated in numerous studies on wild birds. These studies have never been successfully discredited.—Stanley Wiemeyer, Saint Joseph, Mo.

Rachel Carson’s alarmist attacks on DDT led to the deaths of millions of people from malaria, far more of an “environmental disaster” than she could have ever imagined.—Katalin H. Korossy, Kensington, Md.

‘Beware of “comfort care”’

June 29 As an ICU nurse, rarely do I have a week without requests to “do everything” to keep someone alive, to the detriment of the patient. We add to the suffering of people constantly and often needlessly by giving futile intensive care to elderly patients. I understand Christians who are “pro-life” on this issue but feel they don’t comprehend what it means to “do everything” with present technology.—Karen Wallace, Pottsville, Pa.

Thank you for standing by biblical standards. I pray for world issues every night and your magazine is a good source of information.—Ryan Northfield, Des Moines, Iowa

WORLD Around the World

Kampala, Uganda Submitted by Mike Prom

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