Eating energy

"Feed my people" (May 3/10) describes how the price of pizza in New York has risen by one dollar per slice in recent months, in part because of the rising cost of wheat. But the cost of wheat in a slice of pizza is only a few cents. While commodity prices may have a large impact in developing countries, the real story of rising food prices here is the cost of energy to grow, transport, process, and distribute these commodities. -Vance Wendelburg; Stafford, Kan.

Altar calls

WORLD's fawning over Mike Huckabee and finger-pointing at evangelicals who didn't support him is getting a little old ("Off-key," May 3/10). I'm a conservative Christian who enthusiastically supported Huckabee at first, until I became disillusioned by his naïve foreign policy, his failure to speak frankly about his record in Arkansas, and his acceptance of the anthropogenic global warming story. But he can't accuse me of "worshipping at the altar of electability"; I switched to Fred Thompson. -Daniel Bruhn; Berkeley, Calif.

"Off-key" was right on target. Huckabee was my choice last summer when evangelical leaders were flirting with Giuliani and Romney. Shame on James Dobson and others who did indeed bow to the altar of electability. If evangelical leaders had supported Huckabee from the start, I believe he would be the Republican candidate today. -Gary S. Karwoski; Brookfield, Ill.

As an ardent Huckabee supporter who is neither a Republican nor an evangelical, I understand and agree with Joel Belz. Huckabee needs to continue to propose his ideas, but he has to be more careful because some who might be drawn to his campaign wonder whether, once in power, he would try to establish a theocracy. There was no evidence of that when he was governor and I saw none in the campaign. Yet I know people who harbor such a concern, unjustified as it is. -David E. Anderson; Ellicott City, Md.

In His name

Thanks for the great article on Engineers Without Borders ("Beyond charity," May 3/10). I'm an engineer and would enjoy helping other people in this way, but was dismayed by EWB founder Bernard Amadei's humanistic worldview. Jesus Christ didn't teach His people just to give cups of cold water, but to give cups of cold water in His name. The former is hopeless without the latter. -Steven Van Epps; Glen Burnie, Md.

As a missionary working with local churches and schools in Zambia, "Beyond charity" hit close to home. Coming to Africa with a Western "We can fix it!" mindset is the one mistake I see over and over. Money is the one tool that we all need, but yet it causes the most damage. In churches that are not financially dependent on us, the relationships are stronger and the church leaders and members have a much greater personal investment in seeking and saving the lost. Engineers Without Borders is right on. Helping people see that there is much more to be gained once they take ownership of something is so important. -Megan Bloemker; Lusaka, Zambia

Just another fundamentalist

This American will not vote for Obama ("Tarnished eloquence," May 3/10). It has nothing to do with his race, as I could certainly vote for a Colin Powell. It has to do with three basic issues: Obama has not really revealed himself, and I cannot be sure I can relate to what combination of beliefs really drive him; he has kept possibly some of the worst company on the planet, such as Rev. Wright, for many years; and he has a certain level of disdain and arrogance that I equate to being naïvely dangerous, and even malevolent. -Arnold C. Falk; Aiken, S.C.

Thank you for "Tarnished eloquence." Marvin Olasky articulated what Obama really is: another secular fundamentalist dressed up as a concerned man of faith. -Timothy Matthew; Saginaw, Mich.

Carried away

I completely agree with Marvin Olasky in his assessment of today's political culture ("The battle of ideas in America," May 3/10). Too often we fall into the stereotypes of "liberal" or "conservative" and abandon any questioning of party lines. On both sides of the spectrum are people who get carried away conforming to a mere ideological title without considering the teachings of Christ. -Kody Zalewski, 16; Richfield, Wis.

Three cheers for "An Evangelical Manifesto" and the article about it, and thank God for William Wilberforce and his recent impact upon evangelicals. But most of us, to our loss, seem unacquainted with another evangelical giant who followed him: Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-85), who fought abuses in mills and mines and fought for ragged schools and other social reforms. A film about him would be a great sequel to the Amazing Grace movie. -Alex V. Wilson; Louisville, Ky.

Life and death details

Thank you for the insightful column about the Author of all things ("God as author," May 3/10). How wonderfully profound and encouraging! I teach Bible to inmates at a maximum security (death row and life-without-parole) prison, emphasizing the power and reliability of the Word of God. Gene Edward Veith has helped me to understand more perfectly the elegant reality of the Lord's involvement in the personal details of life-and death-for each one of us. -Bill Swenson; St. Louis, Mo.

No wonder

I agree wholeheartedly with Janie Cheaney's column, "Less than zero" (May 3/10). We should not wonder that the world has no moral compass. When unbelievers reject the Creator, to whom are they answerable? And when humans create their own rules, those rules are subject to anyone's interpretation. -Pepper Meulendyk; Grand Rapids, Mich.

Go younger

Thank you for highlighting some intelligent design and creationism books in "Discussing Darwin" (May 3/10). I am a little disappointed, though, that WORLD included only old-earth creationism books. I would have liked to have seen books from the young-earth perspective as well, such as Evolution: The Grand Experiment by Carl Werner or Starlight, Time, and the New Physics by John Harnett. I am grateful, though, that WORLD gives a voice to the intelligent design and creationism movements, subjects that liberal publications approach with either hostility or purposeful ignorance. -Randy Goggin; New Port Richey, Fla.

Prolong the battle

I'm offended by your description of Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" as a plan to get the "lesser candidate" to win the Democratic nomination ("Those other races," May 3/10). In Rush's own words, the point of crossover voting in the primary is to "prolong the Democrat primary battle. Allow the Clintons to bloody up Obama politically, since our side won't do it. Enjoy liberals tearing each other apart. Drain the DNC of campaign cash. Annoy the Drive-By Media." -David Ellers; Carol Stream, Ill.

Be patient

`0 I loved your interview with Eugene Peterson ("A patient Peterson," May 3/10). As a pastor, it was refreshing to hear from someone who has put his time in. I was encouraged to be reminded to be patient as God works. I want my church to grow now. How silly and selfish. -Jeff McKearney; Powell, Wyo.

Sickening

It is sickening that a candidate for the presidency can lie like Hillary Clinton did about the trip to Bosnia (Quotables, May 3/10). Even if she really did just make a mistake (which I doubt-how could she mix up a sniper and a little girl reading poetry?), she should have corrected herself immediately. -Adam Osborne; Hotchkiss, Colo.

Killing and sustaining

I canceled my subscription. I used to really appreciate WORLD, but the way you handled Mitt Romney and his religion (which is my religion) killed the friendship and my interest. -Dan Rotondo; Fort Wayne, Ind.

I occasionally read letters from people who ask that their subscriptions be canceled. I do not care for everything I see in WORLD, so I sometimes do not read it cover to cover, but you do a great job of reporting and analyzing the news. Unless my taxes become so high I can't afford it, I plan to keep reading WORLD. -Dudley Field; Buffalo, N.Y.