God's creation

Gene Edward Veith hit the nail on the head about marriage being created and ordained by God ("Present at the creation," Feb. 11). It is refreshing to hear a sane voice weigh in on the marriage controversy. It is frustrating to hear evangelicals talk about how court or legislative decisions will lead to the destruction of marriage and families. While these decisions may result in the destruction of our society, marriage is God's creation and that will never change regardless of how we as a society define it. -Kevin Erickson, Chisholm, N.M.

Say "Ted"

Thomas Jefferson worried that federal judges appointed for life would become dictatorial. Time has proven him correct. The long-term solution is to make federal judges more accountable to the people ("Total recall," Feb. 11). It is time to discard the appointments for life. Every four to eight years, federal judges should be placed on the national election ballot with two options to the voting public: to keep in office or to remove from office. -J. Ronald Winter; Elizabethton, Tenn.

Marvin Olasky concludes that oversight by the people would be much better than what we currently have, but I believe the real answer for judges is the same answer as for senators and congressmen: term limits. No senator or congressman should be in office more than 12 years; the same is true of Supreme Court judges. There are some downsides to term limits, but so far to overcome these arguments I merely have to say, "Ted Kennedy." -Jim Stark; Fortville, Ind.

Remember

This is a long overdue thank-you to Andree Seu, whose articles have been a consistent source of conviction and encouragement. Her brokenness before God about what is in her heart allows me to see the evil in my own heart ("All your mind," Feb. 11) and reminds me to remember these truths and rejoice in them as my only hope. -Beth Wagner; Enid, Okla.

Liberty vs. security

I think that perhaps the outcry over the wire-tapping is to make political hay ("Wal-Mart wisdom," Feb. 11). The use of surveillance seems necessary and I have a general trust of President Bush to keep a delicate balance. But the concern is that another administration, whether Republican or Democratic, may use these powers to spy upon citizens who oppose them. -W. Burke Rentz; Milford, N.H.

Monitor-thick

As a senior citizen who fondly remembers leafing through the Saturday Evening Post, Life, and other great magazines of the 1940s, I hope good magazines like WORLD will never die out ("Paper-thin argument," Feb. 4). I really get weary of gazing at a computer monitor to get all the information I want. Besides, who wants to lug around a monitor? -Ron Johnson; Yelm, Wash.

1,000 words

Your article about Canadian customs officials fleeing before a would-be border crasher ("Due north," Feb. 11) is a living picture of the difference between the United States and Canada. -Daniel Rubio; Albion, Mich.

Explain

I've read much of the testimony regarding the Abramoff scandal, and it is obvious that there was manipulation ("Focus on the finances," Feb. 4). The evidence demands an explanation. What Ralph Reed did has been done many times before from various political factions and will probably be done again. However, this evidence should not be disregarded as propaganda, as Mr. Reed would suggest. -Maurice Atkinson; Macon, Ga.

As a long-time subscriber to WORLD and a daily listener to Focus on the Family's radio broadcast, I am distressed by the controversy that has arisen regarding "Focus on the finances." I have the highest regard for both organizations, and I urge WORLD and Focus to be reconciled. -Tom Sanders; Willow Grove, Pa.

You should have printed Focus Vice President Tom Minnery's full letter and let him present his side of the story without your editing. You blew it this time. -Lynn Barton; Medford, Ore.

I appreciate that WORLD does not hold back from reporting the wrongdoings and embarrassments of Christian public figures. I re-read the article and didn't find any accusations against Focus. Why does Mr. Minnery think Focus has been accused of hiding something? However, Focus has been dragged into the public eye on this issue. They are entitled to state that they weren't involved without feeling mugged by their friends. -Judith Weber; Houston, Texas

Can't stop it here

Why is Paul Bonicelli, coordinator of USAID's democracy-building efforts, concerned about the government of Zimbabwe seizing private land when we can't stop that from happening in the United States ("Building blocks," Feb. 4)? -Chuck Hankinson; Eure, N.C.

Fertilize us

As in Japan, we can find a whole lot of "Infertile ground" (Jan. 28) here in the United States. Sadly, the ground around Christian families does not look much different from a typical American clan. The desire for two incomes, an improper use of Christian freedom, and viewing parenthood as a means of self-fulfillment rather than self-giving are just a few of the reasons Christians limit the number of children in their families. -Michael Goers; St. Louis, Mo.

No basis

You write that "the Florida union affiliate successfully challenged the Opportunity Scholarship program on the grounds that it violated separation of church and state" ("Give kids a choice," Jan. 28). If some want to argue that vouchers conflict with "the establishment clause" we can listen, but there is no constitutional basis for "separation of church and state." -Jim Almond; Allen, Texas

Not once

I was one of the first to see End of the Spear in our local movie house. I appreciated Mr. Veith's review, "Walk this way" (Jan. 21), but was I the only one to notice that this film about missionaries, martyrdom, redemption, and repentance managed to be made without once using the name "Jesus"? -Moishe Rosen; San Francisco, Calif.

Correction

The bill to outlaw online gambling in 2000 was sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) ("Winning hand," Feb. 18, p. 26).