Engrossing

Your article on the 2008 "Daniel of the Year" (Dec. 13) was thoroughly engrossing. Where has the news coverage of this man and his ministry been, and why does the mainstream media paint such a rosy picture of the relationship between Islam and Christianity? Zakaria Botros is an amazing man. Surely if more knew of him and his service to Christ, more would dare to follow his lead. -Dick Thornton; Midland, N.C.

Congratulations on your choice for 2008 Daniel of the Year. It is good to see WORLD embracing Christians outside the evangelical fold. -Aaron Friar; Boston, Mass.

The one that works

Regarding "Facing Islam" (Dec. 13): The article correctly points out the brutality and extent of Islamic conquests. However, the solution is not to deemphasize the differences between Christianity and Islam, as Mark Siljander advocates. Unfortunately, we have only one historical example of an action that stops Islamic military aggression: overwhelming military might. Only superior armies stopped the Islamic takeover of Europe: the victory of Charles Martel's army in France and the defeat of the Islamic Turks at the gates of Austria. -Irving E. Friedman; Irvine, Calif.

The man and the office

If President-elect Obama has a legitimate right to serve, the last thing I want is for him to fail ("Hoping for a stumble," Dec. 13). However, we're about to install arguably the most unqualified, anti-life, and leftist man ever elected to the presidency. Respect? Please. He will get it when he earns it. -Kent Ellsworth; North East, Pa.

While strolling down the streets of Washington, D.C., last week, a friend and I talked about how we hoped Obama's presidency would be less-than-successful. When I got home and read "Hoping for a stumble," I felt a bit ashamed. We need to respect offices of authority, even when the individuals holding them have different perspectives than our own. -Jacqueline Gardner; West Allis, Wis.

On the other end

As a maturing teenager on the other end of the pendulum, Amy Henry's "Pendulum parenting" (Dec. 13) was a helpful insight into what my parents face and a poignant reminder to this over-reactive swinger of what really matters. -Bethany Pinzur; Cookeville, Tenn.

Sowing and reaping

People need food assistance in California ("Low food nation," Dec. 13)? I wonder how many of those people helped approve Proposition 2 in California, which regulates how farmers treat chickens, pigs, and calves, and will raise everybody's food prices. -Bev Roe; Hamilton, Ohio

Amen to justice

My wife and I, now in our 80s, have settled down home after the adventure of working in 19 countries as medical missionaries. We say amen to everything that Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission emphasized in his interview about fighting for justice ("Nothing to fear," Dec. 13). -Charles & Doris Marshall; Martinsville, Va.

And pay for it

I'm appalled that a court of law would even hear a case such as described in "Two-part eHarmony" (Dec. 13). It grieves me that a business can't set its own boundaries without being pressured to comply with the homosexual agenda, and on top of that pay for it. -Andrew Flori, 16; Rolla, Mo.

Telling why

I never before thought about our need to tell stories as being the same as needing to know the "why" of things, and needing a hero to save us ("Tell us a story," Nov. 29). The irony about Richard Dawkins is that he is the one out of touch with reality; he believes that a frog really did turn into a prince, given enough time. -Cindy Carlson; Santee, Calif.

Wasn't Westmonters

Some might infer that Westmont College students were among the "10 young adults" who "failed to extinguish sufficiently a fire they had built on a mountain ridge near the Christian liberal arts college" near Santa Barbara, resulting in a blaze that burned 200 homes (The Buzz, Nov. 29). However, investigators have confirmed that no Westmont students were involved. -Kerry Dean; Henderson, Nev.

Don't get comfortable

I believe conservatives are still in the majority in this country ("Get real," Nov. 15). Although his real record shows otherwise, Obama's campaign talking points were conservative and he captured a significant minority of the conservative vote. And in the most liberal state of all, California, the traditional marriage amendment passed by a good margin. We lost because McCain and Bush have compromised on conservative principles and did not show a real difference between them and liberals. -Tammy Kihlstadius; Burnsville, Minn.

"Get real" was more depressing than the actual election results. Yes, we lost and need to regroup. But we conservatives cannot become comfortable with minority status. Please, no! We cannot give up the fight. -Angela W. Copetillo; Auburn, Ala.

I often think the late Francis Schaeffer went to the Lord with his concept of "co-belligerency" only partially defined. It is now in drastic need of review. Evangelicals formed a coalition with other religious groups that may have conservative "values" but reject the Christian gospel. Add a leftward shift in evangelicalism and you end up with a distinct minority status for conservative believers. While Republicans lick their wounds and ponder the future, it is time for evangelicals to carefully review their position as well. -Jim Schilling; Colorado Springs, Colo.

About God's business

I have never read a column as timely as "In a day of hardship" (Nov. 15), on the omnipotence of our magnificent God. I have spent half a century convincing my congregation that the world has its business but we are about God's business. Mindy Belz pushed all the right buttons. -Robert E. Winterton; El Cajon, Calif.

Inspiring

Thank you so much for the article on Paula Leen and her struggle to feed and take care of so many starving children and adults in Zimbabwe ("How far can Zim dollars go?" Nov. 15). I admire her efforts and hope her message will inspire us to give more generously. -Donna Pershall; Wenatchee, Wash.

Forgotten war

I applaud your choice to draw your readers' attention to World War I ("A very bad war," Nov. 15). I think a very strong case can be made that it is the most epoch-making event of the 20th century. It is regrettable, but perhaps unsurprising, how little noted it is in the American consciousness. -Joshua Michael; Clarks Summit, Pa.

Meeting a dire need

I was a freshman at Nyack College in September of 1986 when Max McLean, then a faculty member, performed a dramatic recitation of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians. I'll never forget it. I thought then, and still do, that there is a dire need in our entertainment--oriented society for drama based on the finest literature ever printed: God's Holy Word. Congratulations to McLean for responding to the call that found him ("Dramatic faith," Nov. 1). -William M. Cmaylo; Fellsmere, Fla.

Roots of corruption

I agree wholeheartedly with "Children of the state" (Nov. 1). Can we view the corruption in society and not find roots in the amoral education system? We do not need to wait for vouchers or reforms for more parental controls. As a tax-deductible avenue for supporting private schools, foundations are an immediate option. Local foundations can often be started with as little as $5,000 and funded by an annual dinner. -Sandra Gleespen; Prospect, Ohio

When, over a generation, we have secularized the vast majority of our children in public schools and a substantial number of the balance in equally secular private schools, the ideological direction of our nation is, alas, understandable. -Perry Nicklow; High Point, N.C.

All things and more

Once I started reading WORLD, I found that I did not need six of the other eight magazines I was receiving because WORLD covers all the things (and more) that I am interested in. -Jack K. Mayes; Huntington, W.Va.

Corrections

In "Terror in Tijuana" (Nov. 29, p. 50), the correct translation of the phrase "God save us" is ¨Dios sálvanos.¨

The name of the surgeon referred to in "Stem cells aren't embryonic anymore" (Dec. 27, p. 65) is Paolo Macchiarini.