Mailbag

"Profiles in effective compassion" (April 24)

Thank you for the stunning cover. I've known many Mennonite people in my lifetime and they are great neighbors. It is not surprising, as caring people, that they send their teenagers out to places like New Horizons Ministry. Because of their upbringing, it's a given that Harmony and Karen will be dependable nannies. Bruce King; Hamilton, Mont.

"Did you hear the one . . . ?" (April 24)

Oh, please do not wait a whole year to give us another joke page. With all the awful news we hear and read, we need the good medicine of clean laughter. Bonnie Russell; Landing, N.J.

The joke page laid an egg. It's not necessarily a bad idea, but you need fresh material. Larry Zimmerman; Electric City, Wash.

My vote is for a repeat. "Did you hear the one . . . ?" was an absolute hoot. Ken Walker; Huntington, W.Va.

"Sin problems" (April 24)

I was thrilled to see a reviewer honestly address the reason Christian films are so unappealing. It has nothing to do with second-rate talent or production values; even a home movie can be absorbing if it tells a good story. The real problem is that it is difficult to portray on-screen what happens inside the heart of a person when he encounters God. Jeannine Liebmann; Eureka, Mo.

I was very disappointed in Megan Basham's review of Letters to God. The movie presented quite frankly the struggles of those dealing with a dying loved one. I encouraged everyone I know to see this movie. It was good, and moving, and worth seeing. Maria Dunn; Woodbridge, Va.

"Fun junk" (April 24)

As an aspiring writer and English major, I love Sam Thielman's cleverly written and hilarious movie reviews. His review of Clash of the Titans was no exception. I trust WORLD's reviewers because they provide balanced perspective, judge movies from an artistic perspective, and look for deeper messages instead of automatically writing off as worthless every movie with "objectionable" content. Meredith McLinden; Colorado Springs, Colo.

I have always loved WORLD's movie reviews but thought the review of Clash of the Titans was unfair. This family-friendly movie was full of all the things I love in a story: action, comic relief, romance, peril, and a character with a strong commitment to his values. Jesse Bishop; Glenrock, Wyo.

"The foo dog" (April 24)

I saw the picture of the dog and dropped everything to read the column. I have been cleaning closets and looking through old boxes today, on the same quest as Andrée Seu. Over the years, in the process of taking several children through the teen years, some unhappy things have come into our home. We are trying to get them all out. Becky Robertson; Tallahassee, Fla.

"A day's work" (April 24)

Thank you for your coverage on the coup in Kyrgyzstan. My wife and I are one of 60 families trying to adopt from that country. We have been waiting for over two years and get the sense we are not any closer to a final resolution. I'm sure Bogdan, Igor, Ruslan, and the 57 other children awaiting adoption would be thankful for prayers. Thomas & Marie Skokna; Downer's Grove, Ill.

"Pioneer spirit" (April 24)

My family (eight of us!) enjoyed Little House, the Musical in Spokane recently. The sets were simple but fabulous, and the music delightful. Carole Hutchings; Rathdrum, Idaho

"Cope vs. hope" (April 24)

Jennifer Myhre's column hit the nail on the head. Many times those little things that a Westerner can "push" against make a difference. When we were on the mission field doing Bible translation work, one of our best "checkers" (national workers who checked our translations) had Graves' Disease. As long as we were around to see that he got his medicine, he was fine. But in our absence, no one "pushed" to see that Yusuf was given his meds daily or even that he got food. And slowly, without our "push," his family and friends let him die. Neil Johnston; Grand Prairie, Texas

"'I'll just do my job'" (April 24)

Joel Belz's column is spot on. Would I do it again? No. I became an optometrist to help people, but much of my time is spent jumping through regulatory hoops. And as a Tennessee practitioner I have seen the failure of TennCare ("A history ignored") firsthand, from rampant abuses of the system to the utter entitlement mentality it creates. After ObamaCare passed, my wife (also an optometrist) and I agreed that if rationing becomes a reality we'd consider leaving the country. I may soon discover what it would take for me to renounce my chosen profession and become a foreign missionary. Andrew W. Howard; LaFollette, Tenn.

"Message in the bottle" (April 24)

Thank you for your wonderful column. I sometimes feel like I am the only person in the world (even though I know it is not true) who ponders these things. They help us consider just what and how big God actually might be. Joe Bonanno; Waynesville, N.C.

"Payback" (April 24)

Although Fred Phelps Sr. may have freedom of speech, where in his protests against the military is Christ's compassion and love? Have the protesters forgotten that there is no one righteous, no, not one? Betsy Patchet; Eau Claire, Wis.

"O Jerusalem" (April 10)

I can't recall weeping so frequently while reading a magazine as I did while reading "O Jerusalem." And Janie B. Cheaney put my experience in words with "a personal language where days call to days and supply speaks to need" ("Age of miracles"). Doug Denbow; Howard, Ohio

"Start-up or upstart?" (April 10)

I read Mindy Belz's column on economic prosperity in Israel with great interest since I had just returned from a trip to Israel and had seen firsthand some of the evidence of the Israelis' technological advances. Truly the desert is blooming. Count me among those who believe it is primarily because God has brought His people back to their land and is blessing their efforts. Patricia Handy; Seaford, Del.

"'Going on its own'" (April 10)

I read with interest Andrée Seu's column about William Stead, who reported on the sex trade in Victorian England. A new ministry has just started up in San Diego to rescue children from human trafficking. I too was totally unaware of the problem, thinking it only happened elsewhere in the world. I was shocked to learn that San Diego is among the leaders on the FBI's list of American cities that are beset with this horrific crime. Ann Williams; El Cajon, Calif.

"Diamonds in the shadowlands" (April 10)

Marvin Olasky's life as a Red Sox fan began in 1960. Mine as a Yankees fan began three years earlier as an 11-year-old when the Braves beat the Yanks four games to three in the World Series, causing me many hours over a hot stove shaking a skillet. I had bet my dad a year's worth of popping corn against $100. But in 1958 the same bet made me one of the wealthiest kids in seventh grade. And I don't think being a fanatic for a team weakens your Christianity. It's not about the Yankees or the Red Sox; it's about the love of the game. Hugh Thompson; Gilbert, Ariz.

Breath of fresh air

I depend on WORLD for the majority of my knowledge of current events, as our family does not have TV. The conservative perspective is a breath of fresh air among a cacophony of liberal papers. The reviews help give me a Christian perspective on new movies and television, while your books and music section has brought several new books to my attention that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Ian Kenyon, 15; Columbia, S.C.

OK, so I wrote you before to say that we'd have to part ways, but I just can't do it. Money gets wasted sometimes, but WORLD is never a waste. Susan King; Live Oak, Fla.

Letters and photos

Email: mailbag@worldmag.com Write: World Mailbag, P.O. Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-9998 Fax: 828.253.1556 Please include full name and address. Letters may be edited to yield brevity and clarity.