Mailbag

"A god of our age"

(Oct. 22) Thank you for not canonizing Steve Jobs, as many other media have. He was an incredible innovator, his ideas were almost always cutting edge, and I was pleased to hear that he was married for 20 years to the same woman. But let's keep his achievements in proper perspective. Larry White; Lakewood, Ohio

Steve Jobs had great insight into our society's future, and his standard of excellence inspires us. But it is also clear that this "visionary" had no insight into the truths of God nor into the most important future of all: the eternal state of man's soul. Kristofer Sandlund; Zanesville, Ohio

As we ponder a world without Jobs, let us recognize his mother, a single woman and a college student who placed him for adoption. She could have had an abortion and no one would have known what the world had missed. We can add Steve Jobs to the list of children whose unseen, heroic mother gave us an amazing human being. Connie Cox; Pleasanton, Calif.

"The Smiths and the Browns"

(Oct. 22) Your "buy small, upgrade later" house-buying recommendation ignored some crucial factors, such as inflation and the expenses of selling one home to upgrade to another. You also used an atypical mortgage interest rate (7 percent). When I factor in a modest increase in housing value, a 5 percent mortgage, realtor fees, and $4,000 in closing costs, the couple who buys the cheap house first would take three months longer to pay off their mortgage than the couple who buys the more expensive house and stays put. Maybe I'll encourage my kids to consider the nicer neighborhood after all. Missy Fox; Raleigh, N.C.

My wife and I have been married for a little over a year and we're saving up for a down-payment on a house. Your column was a blessing to us and a reminder to persevere on the financially conservative road of stewardship. It also reminded us that saying yes to a more expensive house means saying no to tithing more and being more generous to others. Joshua Abel; Ludlow, Mass.

"Candidate Cain"

(Oct. 22) What a disappointment! Herman Cain's answer to your question about what difference it makes whether a person believes in evolution or creation was, "None. ... I don't think that's relevant to turning this economy around and protecting this nation." Without a firm belief in the God of Scripture and the creation story, man is set loose to make his own moral judgments, leading to unwise choices that bring ruin to our economy and undermine the safety of our nation. Mary Glaesman; Fallon, Nev.

"Time to go pro"

(Oct. 22) I'm simply baffled, and a bit irritated, by your review of the movie Courageous. You presumed that Hollywood can "help" the Kendricks, but going Hollywood on anything Christian could jeopardize the message. And we wonder why Christian artists cross over to pop and how a secular company ended up with VeggieTales. John Reale; Roanoke, Va.

I thought the movie was very good, but I did not like going into a Christian bookstore to find books, studies, desk calendars, and framed certificates all in the name of Courageous. I find it very sad how quickly we can find a way to change the ministry of Jesus into the business of Jesus. Anthony Brooks; Leesburg, Ga.

"Battling class envy"

(Oct. 22) Many thanks to Marvin Olasky for addressing not only the root cause of class envy and the solution for it but for his honesty in describing the struggle he had with this particular sin. Probably very few of us have not struggled with this sin in some form. It is not how much or how little we have but how we use what we have to bring good to others. Class envy is a sure sign of an ungrateful heart. Olivia Williams; Montgomery, Ala.

My sisters and I are much like Olasky's aunts and mother. I married a wonderful Christian man (seriously, this guy is awesome) who struggles every day to provide for me and our five children, but I would never change a thing. If only people could grasp the truth that our security is in God, not a 401(k) account. Lorraine Fuerst; Pleasant Valley, N.Y.

"No turning back"

(Oct. 22) This column is spot-on. I could relate to the Willises because in 2010 my older daughter went home at age 53 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Her mother and I stayed with her and her husband during the last months of her life. During that time I experienced daily God's presence, power, love, grace, and peace more powerfully than ever before in my life. Paul Zierk; Blue Hill, Maine

My six children were aged 3-14 at the time of the accident that claimed the lives of the Willis children. I felt their pain and wondered how I would hold up under such a test, so I prayed fervently for them that their faith would remain strong. I am so glad to hear that they are using their trial to strengthen the brethren. Kathy Hahn; Claremore, Okla.

"Pastors and politics"

(Oct. 22) Tim Dalrymple's warning is a little bit late for our church; we have suffered a split over how to counter the current political trend. In our case we did not realize that we had any political disagreements. Congregations need to be informed about the biblical design for the "civil magistrate." Gary Lindberg; Olathe, Colo.

As a pastor, I encourage my congregation to be informed on candidates and issues and to vote with a biblical worldview. However, we must remember that the primary task of the church is spiritual, not political. The best way to ensure that Christians vote with a biblical worldview is to build them up in the faith, knowing the truths of God's Word and applying it in every facet of life. Frank Nolton; Woodbridge, Calif.

"Off the farm"

(Oct. 22) Your story described the plight of Alabama farmers who, after the state's tough immigration law passed, suddenly had no help to harvest their crops. This seems like a strange problem considering Alabama's unemployment rate. It suggests that the unemployed decided to continue collecting unemployment rather than do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Bill Clayton; Falls Church, Va.

"Following the yellow brick road"

(Oct. 22) Our local (and somewhat liberal) newspaper repeatedly denounces the pro-life and fiscally responsible decisions that Gov. Brownback of Kansas has made over the past year. That makes Angela Lu's article all the more encouraging. I appreciate what Gov. Brownback is doing for my state. Ezekiel J. Willcox; Hutchinson, Kan.

"Obsessed with liberty"

(Oct. 8) As a patriot who loves the freedom and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution, I say we should be more than obsessed with our God-ordained rights-we should be ready to defend them at all costs. Thank you to Alan Sears of the Alliance Defense Fund for fighting the good fight. Todd Taylor; Eastvale, Calif.

"Confidence game"

(Oct. 8) Joel Belz finally ended WORLD's overly diplomatic tone in describing the real Barack Obama. The stage was set almost 50 years ago for a statist such as Obama with Supreme Court decisions concerning school prayer, the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and abortion. Obama is merely continuing the process toward centralized government and moral decay. Jim Irish; North Augusta, S.C.

Corrections

Cartoonist Gary Varvel was 21 when he needed an unemployment check, 24 when he was married, and 27 when his first child was born ("No laughing matter," Nov. 5, p. 57). He attends Bethesda Baptist Church in Brownsburg, Ind.

Bill Buckner's misplay of a ground ball in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series allowed only one run to score ("Penultimate greatness, Nov. 19).

WORLD around the world

Chinandega, Nicaragua Submitted by Soonie Keznor

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