His own petard?

I read with interest your story of the tactics used by Ken Ham's enemies to silence him and his ministry (&quotCreating controversy," Jan. 25). While I sympathize with the rough treatment he is getting, I believe Mr. Ham has been guilty in the past of the same kind of tactics when dealing with creationists who do not accept his young-earth chronology. Maybe the &quotsomething better" that God has in store for his museum includes some better and more honest dealings with his fellow creationists. - Richard C. Asper, Watertown, S.D.

Enough is enough

I find it disturbing that you can shrug off the EPA's recommendations regarding particulate matter (&quotDust in the wind," Jan. 11, 1997). We as a country, and as a planet, are still pumping uncounted thousands of tons of garbage into our atmosphere to fill our insatiable desires for the material comforts. The ecosystems of the world can only take so much abuse before they will start to falter. Our fate is tied to them, only we don't realize it, because most of us are blinded by greed and/or political ambition. Open your eyes. In the words of the long-dead Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu, &quotHe who knows that enough is enough will always have enough." Do you have enough? - Bill Coates, St. Paul, Minn.

Light on the 'net

I love your web page. It is a bright shining light in the depths of depravity called the internet. By placing the magazine online you are allowing people to see that Christians are not knuckle-dragging, lock-stepped illiterates. - James Prewitt, Ft. Lewis, Wash.

No laughing matter

Thanks for Cal Thomas's &quotWe're all fallible" (Jan. 25), which explains the mistranslation of Pope John Paul II's words on evolution. When I first read in your magazine that the pope was &quotmoving in the direction of a materialistic worldview," I knew there had to be a mistake. Anyone who knows the pope's track record as head of the Catholic Church would laugh at such an idea. - Jennifer Swope, Derry, N.H.

Remembering game day

Our grandparents called it the Holy Sabbath; our parents called it Sunday; today's Christian athletes call it game day (&quotSuper Bowl glory," Jan. 25) Call me a legalist, but I thought Jesus said, &quotIf you love me, keep my commandments." What professional sports needs is not more &quotprayer circles" or more promises to keep promises, but godly men like runner Eric Liddell or Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson, men who refused to profane the Lord's Day by laboring when God said to rest. - Jeffery J. Ventrella, Boise, Idaho

Chairman Johnson

I just received my Feb. 1 dated edition of WORLD--on Jan. 30 no less! I can't tell you how thrilled I was to see the picture of U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson on page 7. Why? Because she is referred to as the ethics committee chairman. This is the first time in my memory I have seen a female referred to properly--not as a chairwoman or as a spokesperson. Spokesman, chairman, etc. are generic terms referring to all human beings, not a slant against the female sex. Yes, that's sex, not &quotgender"! It's bad enough the world thinks this is the appropriate way to refer to women in these positions, but when even Christian journalists fall into this, it grieves me. Please keep up the good work. - Bill Gensky, Bryan, Texas

If we can't get it right...

I am often surprised at how many Christian families don't understand God's plan for how a family should function (&quotIt's a family tradition," Feb. 1). Their way of life as a family is determined more by secular influences than by the principles laid down in the Scriptures. I find this especially true when it comes to Christian marriages. If we Christians can't get it right, how can we expect the rest of society to do so? Let us be committed to learning and applying God's principles for family life, because only his word can turn this society around. - Dirk A. Hall, West Point, NY

Accepting responsibility

Joel Belz's &quotCourse corrections" (Feb. 1) made some good points about the disappearance of absolute values, the ascendancy of relative values, and the quick-fix concept so prevalent in the '90s. But I think he missed a more immediate cause of people's failing to face up to their mistakes: Before a Christian--or anyone--can correct his mistakes, he must accept personal responsibility for all of his behavior--and for the resulting consequences, intended or not. - F.R. Hedinger, Springfield, Ill.