Ounce of prevention

My thinking about abortion ("Roe v. Wade," Jan. 21) was challenged a few months before I became pregnant outside of marriage when our congregation saw the Francis Schaeffer series "How Shall We Then Live?" What I learned made it practically impossible for me to abort my baby, who is now 24. It was hard to admit what I had done, but that ounce of prevention enabled me to avoid the heartache that others who have aborted their children have experienced. Too bad I didn't get the premarital sex challenge earlier, too. -Mary Alice Ladwig; San Diego, Calif.

Your Jan. 21 issue is one of my favorites, especially "What women want." It is a terrible tragedy that abortion exists in our country, yet with Samuel Alito confirmed, hopefully he will help ("Grilled Alito," Jan. 21). I also enjoyed the timeline at the bottom of the page ("Aborted justice"). I did not know about all the happenings and was saddened but hopeful at the same time. -Lindsay Kratzer; Williamstown, W.Va.

I opened your Jan. 21 issue with gusto, but missing was any discussion of contraception. Our culture has rejected the idea that children are a blessing from God and this poison has seeped into the church as well. Until we accept that life begins at conception and that God is the one who plans parenthood, the deadly practice of abortion will not come to an end. -Tanya Hackney; Clearwater, Fla.

I think the best answer to abortion is education. Pro-abortionists have tried for a long time (and very successfully) to teach women that abortion is their "right" but also that the baby is just a bunch of cells. We now have the most wonderful ultrasound machines that can show the baby in 3D so people can see that, by 8 weeks and above, the baby looks like a baby. -Tamara Schwartz; Newberg, Ore.

I can almost hear the more than 40 million little voices from above saying "Thank you!" for "Broken sex" (Jan. 21). I cried when I read this. -Thomas C. Abney Jr.; Ozark, Mo.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Broken sex." God's way (monogamy for life) is truly higher than man's ways. Satan does everything he can to cause Christians to hop in bed before marriage and tries to keep us out of bed during marriage. Christians not only need to abstain from extramarital sexual activity, we need to repent of drifting, passionless marriages and distracted parenting. -Debbie Work; Medina, Ohio

As an octogenarian, it seems to me that life is missing its richness when nothing is sacred. Licentious behavior cancels out whatever in life is precious. To me, it is so sad to see lives spent in ways that are so empty when they could be so full and satisfying. -Jean W. Sherman; State College, Pa.

The good fight

I was very surprised and disappointed by Joel Belz's stand against Pat Robertson for speaking what I believe is the truth ("Public disaster," Jan. 21). Mr. Robertson is not giving up "the good fight" and he truthfully identifies the situation for what it is. -Scott E. Carrel; North Canton, Ohio

It is time for Mr. Robertson to retire from leadership, or just plain be quiet. -Gary Ferris; Lacey's Spring, Ala.

While I am no great fan of Pat Robertson, condemning him on the basis of his remarks about Prime Minister Sharon is a dangerous endeavor. Who among us can assess the actions of God? Has God ever struck down a human being in punishment for his actions? The Bible is littered with examples. Whether Mr. Sharon's illness is a punishment or not, like all catastrophic occurrences (think Hurricanes Katrina and Rita), it affords us the opportunity to reassess our priorities and make changes. -Katherine Powers; Springfield, Va.

Just everyone

"Radical tactic" (Jan. 21) was a wonderful column about how forgiveness may be the only way, and I believe it certainly is. The failure to forgive affects everything-marriages, churches, the workplace, and just simply every person on this earth. I wonder what the world would be like if we could only learn to forgive instead of getting angry and thinking only of ourselves. -Jonathan Luke Horton, 13; Weatherford, Texas

Transformed tribe

Immediately after seeing End of the Spear ("Walk this way," Jan. 21), I asked my two sons, 15 and 11, "What did you think?" They both responded, "It was a great movie!" "I don't mean the movie," I said. "I mean the hand of God working in the lives of people." In 1956, God used these five missionaries and their families to take the gospel to a savage, unreached people. Today, God has used this transformed tribe to bring the same life-changing gospel to a lost and distracted world. -Rob Stanley; Fayetteville, Ark.

I was more than a little amazed that Mr. Veith did not mention how Every Tribe Entertainment chose Chad Allen, a gay activist, to play Nate Saint, the lead character in this movie. Neither did Mr. Veith note that not once did the movie mention the name of Jesus Christ. -Bill Henry; Battle Ground, Wash.

Sin-infested

Gene Edward Veith hits the nail on the head in pointing out that The Book of Daniel "actually captures very well many of America's churches" ("Television review," Jan. 21). Mr. Veith's comments will hit too close to home for too many American Christians-as well they should. -M.L.F. Freiberg Sr.; Evanston, Ind.

I must admit that, as a cradle Episcopalian who was saved at 19, I am very disappointed by the cancellation of The Book of Daniel. It was a good description of the ECUSA today. Each episode espoused its "gospel of tolerance, inclusion, and diversity" and promoted ECUSA's agenda. It brought to light what many conservative Episcopalians knew was being kept in the dark by ECUSA's leadership. It saddened my heart to see Jesus portrayed as a hippie but, now that ECUSA's agenda has been exposed, will brothers and sisters reach out to ECUSA clergy and laity with the real gospel to turn this sin-infested church around? I pray that they do. -Rob Kirschner; Lakeville, Mass.