October 17

‘Battling the biological clock’

Great stuff. Sadly, I know of single Christian women who succumb to the pressures of the biological clock via IVF, willing to be a single mom in order to scratch the selfish itch. Young Christians need the church to step in with biblical guidance on this issue.

Jay Walker on wng.org

We shed many tears when we learned it was impossible for us to conceive “naturally.” My lively, mostly joyful son, 8 months old, was conceived with the assistance of IVF, and we believe it was part of God’s plan for our family. It may not be right for everyone, but until you have known the pain of Hannah you won’t understand our joy today.

Stephen Crane on wng.org

How is IVF not playing God? I have compassion for those who are infertile, but adopting orphans blesses both children and parents. We Americans act as if parenting is more about satisfying our need to have children on our terms than it is about raising a generation to love and serve God.

Barbara Kuhls / Fond Du Lac, Wis.

This is the best cover I can ever remember on any magazine! It’s a clever yet accurate turn of phrase with a super-creative use of the pause logo.

David Niednagel / Evansville, Ind.

I admire the Royals for their efforts to honor the lives of the embryos they created, but only God has the prerogative to create life in the womb through the sacred union of husband and wife.

PhoebeJoy Wesley on wng.org

Thanks for this story. I pray it encourages believers to consider God’s Word as they make decisions amid the sad circumstance of infertility.

Beau Fournet on wng.org

‘Don’t despise your sister’

Thanks for taking issue with the person who criticized Kim Davis for taking a stand long overdue from Christian leaders. Davis’ decision not to sign same-sex marriage certificates was in keeping with her beliefs and consistent with biblical teaching, hardly a fraudulent act.

Igor Shpudejko / Mahwah, N.J.

I applaud Davis’ initial stand; she made her point, rendering a good and faithful witness. Could she not have continued to witness by resigning, instead of disobeying while refusing to vacate the position? She has become the focal point, distracting from the gospel.

Ken Williamson on wng.org

If Davis, who was elected, resigns, she would be conceding that Christians cannot hold public office unless they bow to a clearly unconstitutional decision. She should continue to serve without compromise, as can be done by having her name and title removed from the documents. Running away is the wrong move. She is a model citizen of two kingdoms: God’s first and America’s second.

Gary Brown on wng.org

My first reaction to Davis was, why not quit if she can’t perform the job as required? But as others have noted, issuing licenses to same-sex couples was not part of the position to which she was elected, so it is unfair to say she cannot keep it.

Amber McGuire on wng.org

I think Kim Davis is as close as anyone gets to a Daniel in our day.

Vince Kluth on wng.org

I agree that the brother who called her a fraud did not act in love, but I find it inappropriate to herald Davis as a hero. The church is being distracted by this hill that Davis chose to die on. The real fight is for the souls of the lost.

Andrew Fortune on wng.org

‘Hard hits’

What a quote from the Christian NHL executive. Dropping your gloves and fighting in hockey is a “biblical value”? What happened to turning the other cheek?

Bob Brown / Bel Air, Md.

‘Getting into the weeds’

Another thoughtful, well-written column by Mindy Belz. She makes apt use of scriptural images to help us think and live more biblically.

Diane A. Tyson / Muncy, Pa.

‘Going to pot?’

I live in Snohomish County in Washington state and have been involved in trying to stop the pot industry from taking over our neighborhood. On the way to the high school where I teach, we pass at least six medical marijuana shops in a 2-mile stretch. I am deeply concerned for our state and the decisions other states are making.

Sherri Larkin / Snohomish, Wa.

Why should we have a nanny state that prohibits some vices and extols others? Given the ruined lives and wasted dollars of the disastrous “War on Drugs,” I am not so sure that legalizing marijuana will be, on balance, a bad thing.

Douglas Oliver on wng.org

‘Trust but verify’

As a pro-life voter, I can’t help but think that the GOP has played us the same way that the Democrats have played black voters. Our party leaders seem to be pro-life, but we have little to show for it. The Planned Parenthood budget renewal is just the latest example.

Mike Thaman on wng.org

‘Island of influence’

I’ve been teaching on mainland China for 13 years and used Studio Classroom in and out of the classroom. Thank you for filling in the rest of the story. What an illustration of our Father’s grace and creativity.

Tim Williams on wng.org

‘Woodlawn’

I went to see Woodlawn despite your review. You said it lacked focus, but it was focused on the Spirit of God reviving a nation. It reminds us of what God can do and encourages us to pray, once again, for revival and restoration.

Dorothy Gable / Dubuque, Iowa

‘Short stops’

I loved Marvin Olasky’s last line, that he hopes the Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity is in heaven. My wife wants to travel in heaven; I think I will read books.

Charles Robbins on wng.org

October 3

‘True rest for the weary’

My father died in September at age 98. The evening he died my wife asked him what he expected to do in heaven. With pneumonia in his lungs, he struggled to get out one word: “Work!” His greatest joy, taken away by physical weakness that left him immobile in a nursing center, was working. Whether studying Scripture to preach a sermon or building a house, he knew that joy was work and work was joy. It will be so in our eternal “rest.”

Stephen Leonard / Colorado Spring, Colo.

September 19

‘An arrogant blowhard’

For better or worse, Donald Trump is very popular, and he is “stirring the pot” by talking about issues that others, particularly politicians, don’t have the courage to address. He is getting people to think and wrestle (and yes, argue) about some of the urgent matters of the day.

Kathleen S. Rochelle / Hamilton, Va.

Corrections

Glenn Gould was a classical pianist (“Joyful virtuosity,” Oct. 31, 2015).

The movie Brooklyn is rated PG-13 (“Coming and going,” Nov. 14, 2015).

WORLD Around the World

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