Mailbag

‘When cities rot’

March 9 A city will rot over time when Christians choose the comforts of their social club over the difficulties of presenting Christ in the marketplace. Christ called us to be salt and light, but too many give up and move out of the city to a “safe” place, neglecting the place and people we should know, love, and pray for the most. —Jim Sutton, Haltom City, Texas

‘Semi-liberated capitals’

March 9 I lived in Ukraine for several years and found that some people who claim to be atheists admit in private conversations to believing in God. Despite the Orthodox Church’s resistance to Protestant movements, many Ukrainians have a seed of spiritual appreciation that sometimes blossoms into full-fledged faith. Three generations of Soviet rule were not enough to quench the flame entirely. —Nathan Gibson, College Park, Md.

‘Words search’

March 9 To replace “compassionate conservatism,” I suggest “Lincoln conservatism.” This refers to Lincoln’s view of private enterprise as a means to freedom and hope for the future. As he wrote, the “prudent, penniless beginner” can work his way up and this is “the just and generous, and prosperous system, which opens the way for all.” —Jonathan Ashbach, Fortuna, Calif.

We recently moved from Houston to a much smaller city. It seems to embody compassionate conservatism. Everyone knows everyone else’s business, but they also show up unannounced to help. I’d call it “Freedom to Be a Neighbor,” but the problem is that my former, big-city neighbors want to create more rules to ensure that their neighbors act neighborly. It seems that big-city conservatives don’t like people to have the freedom not to be a neighbor. —Dan Sweet, Victoria, Texas

‘Ideal subscribers’

March 9 I am one of the 28-year-old readers WORLD targeted many years ago. I am now 51. I so much appreciate your goal of reaching women who are “intelligent on half-a-dozen fronts” but find themselves in the trenches of full-time mothering. —Jody L. Gates, Lafayette, N.Y.

Fourteen years after I got my first WORLD, each of the kids has a favorite section so I rarely get to read it until a week after it comes. I’m thankful you targeted me, but Joel Belz’s demographic ponderings should include the next generation. —Carolyn Schlicher, Elizabethtown, Pa.

I was one of your 28-year-old moms with two kids tugging at my knees. Now at 48 I have eight kids, some tugging at my heart more than others, and one who can see comfortably over the top of my head. I depend upon WORLD, which has given me much to think about as well as how to think about it from a Christian perspective. —Janell Young, Tyrone, Pa.

‘Twelve worried men’

March 9 Great article. I attended the same church in Tyler, Texas, as Rep. Gohmert and had the privilege of voting for him in his first congressional race. Bravo to him and the other 11. But where are the rest? —Al Shirah, Big Canoe, Ga.

I have friends thinking about going into politics and I’m glad there are some good examples. They give me hope for America both spiritually and politically. —Sarah Millard, Knoxville, Tenn.

‘Treadmill swerve’

March 9 Believers need not be intimidated by so-called experts, even Harvard professors. The author of The Swerve, asserting that the world is “atoms and the void and nothing else,” is either dishonest or ignorant of scientific and intellectual developments outside his narrow academic specialty. I’d guess that the book’s rapturous reception has a lot more to do with academic in-group solidarity than the merits of Epicureanism as a better flavor of atheism. —Al Manteuffel, Wheaton, Ill.

‘Opportunity reports’

March 9 I just listened to Ben Gormley’s performance of Marvin Olasky’s lyrics for “Hallelujah.” It moved me to tears, knowing that my own sin held Christ on the cross. —Gail Miloch, Vermontville, Mich.

‘Unlikely additives’

March 9 Thank you for this article about titanium dioxide. My brother and I are both allergic to it; we break out in hives and have trouble breathing. Besides gum, candy, and toothpaste, it is also found in soap, icing, and some medications. I hope it will be banned. —Josiah Boyd (age 12), Lilburn, Ga.

‘The cavalry is not coming’

Feb. 23 An excellent interview with Kay Coles James. I’m sure that many Republicans disagree with her, but our party needs to wake up before it totally runs aground. —Mary Peters, Rochester, Minn.

The horror of slavery is not what is dealing out wholesale devastation in the black community today. A political agenda has reinvented prejudice and reversed racism. —R.C. Harrelson, Edneyville, N.C.

‘The day the music died’

Feb. 23 This perspicacious column brought to mind a comment by the late Sen. Sam J. Ervin, chairman of the Senate Watergate Committee during the investigation that forced Nixon’s resignation: “God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” That biblical truth is several times more apposite to events in our ill-led country today than it was in the 1970s. —John Novotney, Prague, Czech Republic

I agree with your premise but would say that the tipping point of distrust of our government was the Vietnam War, not Bill Clinton’s presidency. And while I oppose what Clinton did, his lies did not result in thousands of American deaths. Our military acted with honor and valiantly served our nation. I wish that could be said for our political leaders of both parties since then that have allowed the travesty of this current war to continue. —Bill Slack, Phillipsburg, N.J.

‘Early maturity’

Feb. 23 This article was encouraging. Marrying young and growing a large family has brought us to rely on Jesus more. It’s an opportunity for death to self, and we do experience joy in the storm and mess. —Eric Hansen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

We faced overwhelming criticism from our shocked friends when we married one sunny September afternoon at ages 18 and 19. But my family helped us bear it. Eleven years later we have four darling children and thank the Lord for His amazing gift. —Mary Chatfield, Newton, Iowa

‘Seeking and saving the lost’

Feb. 23 Mindy Belz is correct that national believers often are the most effective in evangelism, discipleship, and church growth. My wife and I have seen this firsthand trekking for hundreds of miles across sub-Saharan Africa amidst Sunni Muslims and elsewhere. —David Sanford, Salem, Ore.

‘Loaded questions’

Feb. 23 Your caption for the photo of an AR-15 describes it as an “assault rifle,” but that weapon is a semi-automatic, which fires only one round with each pull of the trigger. “Assault rifles” are capable of firing multiple rounds with a single pull, an important distinction in this debate. —Ray Mallory, Oakland Park, Fla.

WORLD around the World

Shihaphumi Village, India Submitted by Dave & Sarah Glass

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