Sleeper argument

I took the Jan. 12/19 issue from my mailbox and was captured when I saw that picture of the baby girl sleeping ("Roe v. Wade at 35"). As I was reading about abortion, our Supreme Court may have been hearing arguments about whether execution by lethal injection could amount to "cruel and unusual" punishment for murderers. -Gardner C. Koch; Rock Hill, S.C.

Blessing in disguise

I've been a World subscriber for a few years now and just received the first issue of WORLD's biweekly format ("A changing WORLD," Jan. 12/19). I am very excited about it. I really like the depth and breadth of the articles and also the new features. I think that the increase in postal charges that "forced" you to re-evaluate and make changes was a blessing in disguise. -Jonathan Bentz; Burnsville, Minn.

I just read "A changing WORLD" and, as a brand new subscriber, was very encouraged. I have never enjoyed and been challenged by a magazine so much. Thank you for not retreating in any way from the rate increases or competition. Thank you for reporting on a large variety of subjects, leaving a margin big enough for us to come to our own conclusions while still maintaining an all-around Christian worldview. -Heidi Cox; Spokane, Wash.

Your first double issue was wonderful. That includes not just the layout, size, and coverage, but the articles seemed to be particularly good. Thank you so much for your fine work. We trust you and so far you've lived up to our trust. -Tip & Jessica Hudson; Ellensburg, Wash.

It took determination to get through the thicker magazine, but I like the new layout. I've read WORLD for years and years, so I especially like the authors' pictures at the bottom of their columns along with their email addresses. Maybe I'll never email them, but it's neat to feel that I can. It was also interesting to have a "So, that's what they look like!" moment. -Cindy Whitford; Williamson, N.Y.

Sometimes our local Christian radio stations will have back-to-back advertisements for people with credit-card debt over $10,000 followed by another ad for those who owe the IRS a lot of money. This is why WORLD's personal finance column ("Have a plan," Jan. 12/19) is needed and welcomed. -Dianne Moyers; Centennial, Colo.

Still a bummer

Thanks for the walk down memory lane ("Skids are for greasing," Jan. 12/19). I grew up on the deck of an American Flyer. In winter, I spent most days sledding on the hills west of New Ulm, Minn. We had neat names for some runs, like Sharp Turn Annie, Over the Edge, and Speed Demon. When we got older we went to Suicide Hill, which sent you shooting out onto the first street on the edge of town. In later years a cable was stretched across so you could only use the bottom half. Much safer, but somehow still a bummer. -John Reinhart; Sauk Rapids, Minn.

"Skids are for greasing" brought back great memories of my youth. Time and time again in my 51 years God has brought me to the point where I must answer the question, "Will I trust in His care and providence?" Thanks for bringing the hopes and expectations and fears of a new year into proper perspective. -Glenn McIntyre; Perrysburg, Ohio

Not just for Christians

`Marvin Olasky wrote in "Reaching out" (Jan. 12/19) that some think Mike Huckabee has run as "a Christian-only candidate," so he needs to reach out in the style of John Adams and Patrick Henry. I would argue that Huckabee has "reached out" through his positions but has been hurt by waves of attack ads. Further, Huckabee has repeatedly stated that he is not running as pastor in chief and that he will not force his faith on others. -Randy Goggin; New Port Richey, Fla.

As an evangelical who believes in limited government, better enforcement of immigration laws, and personal responsibility for health care, Huckabee scares me. He's not a conservative Republican candidate, in my opinion. -Michelle Wood; Keller, Texas

Know thy leaders

Marvin Olasky advises readers not to see There Will Be Blood ("Overrated Blood," Jan. 12/19). I found the movie thought-provoking. It challenges believers to acknowledge that some religious leaders are frauds: Can we distinguish the fraudulent preachers from the genuine ones? There are different challenges for secular people: Are oil speculator Daniel Plainview's moral values wrong? On what basis? And how many successful business leaders have Daniel's values at their core, hidden from view? -Dave Skeen; Cedar Park, Texas

Hold the grabbers

Pat Robertson's quote (Quotables, Jan. 12/19), that God told him that a terrorist attack in the United States in 2007 would lead to a mass killing, is alarming. Deuteronomy 18 is pretty clear about "prophets" who declare messages from the Lord that don't come to pass. While we don't put false prophets to death anymore, isn't it time we hold these headline grabbers accountable? -Frank Nolton; Lodi, Calif.

Common-sense issue

When will politicians realize that showing I.D. to cast a vote is not a partisan issue but a common-sense issue ("Identification, please," Jan. 12/19)? If we can give away body organs on the back of a driver's license, there should be a place for "Registered Voter" on the front. I don't want someone to steal my vote. -Abbie Kurti; Kalamazoo, Mich.

Confidence collapsed

Your article highlighting the fundraising tactics of Christian Children's Fund ("Bodies, not souls," Jan. 12/19) was timely and spot-on. After contributing to CCF since 1980, I became uneasy about five years ago and since then my confidence has collapsed. One reason was a letter from a sponsored child thanking me for a monetary gift and saying he used it to buy "a raincoat and a pair of Moslem clothes." I certainly don't begrudge the lad spending the money on clothing, Muslim or not, but such needs can be met by secular providers. I would have liked to see that CCF had used the name of Christ to influence the recipient, not just as a tactic bordering on fraud to induce contributors to give. -Kenneth Tacoma; Cadillac, Mich.

That'll be the day

I appreciated Janie Cheaney's column regarding e-books ("Kindle that reading glow," Jan. 12/19). We've seen Star Trek technology become reality with the cell phone and personal computer, and I use internet-based Bible search programs. However, I cannot imagine a world without paper books. Can you imagine being unable to finish a chapter because of a dead battery? A library without shelves? I, for one, pray we never see that day. -David M. Wilson; Redondo Beach, Calif.

Hopeful

Thank you for the article on Kid's Hope ("One on one," Jan. 12/19). For years we have been the only school in California to have the Kid's Hope program, but now some of the other schools in our district are in the process of getting it. This organization and the mentors have made a big difference in the lives of many of our children. Some of these students have completely turned around academically and socially, and they look forward to their weekly meetings with their mentors. -Patricia James; Temecula, Calif.

Speaking up

I appreciate Michael Gerson's insistence that religious people should not be forced to shut up in politics, but his distrust of a completely free market concerned me greatly ("Religious people who won't shut up," Jan. 12/19). -Elizabeth Johnston, 17; Martinsburg, W.Va.

Corrections

The number of abortions in the United States in 1860 was probably about 160,000-as many in proportion to the population at that time as in the United States during the 1980s ("Choosing children over choice," Jan. 26/Feb. 2, p. 9).

The title of Mark Pinsky's book on Disney is The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust ("Faith, hope & pixie dust," Jan. 26/Feb. 2, p. 62).