Murder-for-hire

I appreciated your recent coverage of the abortion issue, but I was also disappointed that it neglected to touch on a very salient point: Abortion is big business in America. Countless dollars are extracted from the hapless women who are the victims of this "industry." We see more and more initiatives to fund abortions with tax dollars, and fetal tissue and cord blood have become incredibly valuable "by-products" of the murder-for-hire of the most innocent of all human beings. It is folly to pretend that there is no relationship between money and the entirely unreasonable attempts by the abortion lobby to defend the indefensible, particularly with regard to partial-birth abortions, which are indefensible even to non-Christian thought. An exposé showing exactly who benefits from such barbarism might prove to be a useful tool in efforts to end the entire unconscionable practice. - Dub Dublin, Austin, Texas

Encouraged

Many thanks for "Treatment, not abortion" (Jan. 16). We have already discussed some of the article's content with two families recently blessed and challenged with Down syndrome births. They found the information personally valuable and feel assured that they are not "alone" out there. - Bob & Sheila Downey, Crown Point, Ind.

Created to glorify God

Thank you for enlightening your readers of the beautiful children with Down syndrome. Our family has been deeply enriched through the life of our 11-year-old autistic daughter. In March, we will roll out the red carpet and welcome our expected daughter, Grace. She was diagnosed with Down syndrome in the second trimester. She too, is being created to "glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." May the fruit of your article cause your readers to be more active in prayer and encouragement of families with children of "special needs" in their local church and community. - Mrs. Yetlin R. Pope, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Power politics

In "One more time" (Jan. 16) you mentioned that after 23 years, it's hard to find anything new to say about the abortion controversy. Although I make no claim to originality, I haven't seen this particular reasoning very much. Our laws have traditionally been formulated to protect the weak from the strong. With a stroke of a pen, the Supreme Court wiped out those protections and granted the right of the strong to prey upon the weak. An adult, who is presumed to be able to exercise restraint and self-denial for the good of one who has neither ability, has been given the absolute right to use whatever means she has in her power to exert her will on a weaker being. This indeed is the tip of the slippery slope, because if it's okay for a strong woman to prevail over a weak baby, it's also okay for a strong son to prevail over a weak old mother and push for euthanasia; for a strong-minded doctor to decide a weak-minded dependent should no longer live.Where will it end? - Pat McGrady, Corvallis, Ore.

A godly example

Thank you so much for "Preparing to die" (Jan. 16). It reminded me of my dear, godly father, who at 75 is facing the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. Mrs. Cheaney says that she wishes, as we all do, to go quickly, while still healthy, at a ripe, old age. Then she writes, "If the Sovereign Lord chooses not to honor my plans, how shall I honor his?" My father has answered that question. He faces his future and increasing debilitation with more grace and faith than anyone I have known. When he could no longer be on the boards of various ministries, he volunteered to mentor a homeless man instead. When he could no longer drive to his morning Bible study, he offered to pay his youth pastor to take him. After two weeks, the youth pastor refused to take the money because he cherished the time he spent with my father. My father was ministering to him. He struggles to read his Bible, but he continues the struggle. He struggles with so many things, but he rarely complains. He has always had two priorities in life: loving God and loving his family. Those are still his priorities. What a precious gift he has given my family and me in showing us how to grow old graciously and faithfully. He is a treasure and I thank God for him every day. - Amy Kieser, Bellevue, Neb.

Backyard mission field

We were interested in Janie Cheaney's "Preparing to die." Nursing homes are a wide-open mission field in our backyard. Most care centers are glad for ministry from churches and individual Christians. Homeschoolers are especially welcome. Any compassionate person with a heart for God's Word, regardless of age or training, can minister to nursing home residents. We personally oversee student teams that conduct services in half a dozen care centers, using large print hymnals and tracts and sing-along tapes. We encourage our students to look beyond the misshapen bodies and empty eyes and take time to give a hug, read a few verses of Scripture, say a prayer, but mostly just listen to people who were once independent, productive citizens. Our students grow and glow from these weekly encounters, for they often meet people who are growing old well and wisely, along with some who are involved in self-examination and are concerned about the state of their souls. - Mr.& Mrs. Don Mathis, LaGrange, Wyo.

Carry on

Hurray for people like James Dobson who have continued to fight for the unborn. There is no greater cause than to fight for the lives of the innocent. As Francis Schaeffer said, "Every person is worth fighting for, regardless of whether he is young or old, sick or well, child or adult, born or unborn, or brown, red, yellow, black, or white." - Ted Rydmark (16), Molalla, Ore.

Night is coming

I appreciated the article "Preparing to die." It certainly gave me a desire to work while it is still day, for the night comes when no man works. Like Solomon said, "It is better to go into a house of mourning than a house of feasting, for that is the end of every man and the living take it to heart." - Harry A. Schork, Tunkhannock, Pa.

Closed minds

"Trial and error" (Jan. 16) reminds us that the White House cynically assumes Democratic senators will obediently vote according to partisan dictates no matter what evidence or sworn testimony is presented at the trial. Such confidence that the facts won't affect anyone's vote may be well founded, but it is discouraging to see the rule of law so casually dismissed by the branch of government constitutionally charged to enforce it. - Douglas Withington, Apex, N.C.

Keyes to the kingdom

A couple of points on your comment about presidential campaigns, "Bumps on the campaign trail" (Jan. 16). First, your list of Republican candidates for president is quite exhaustive, even mentioning unlikely candidates like Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani, but not Alan Keyes, which is a shameful oversight for a Christian magazine. Second, the piece quotes Michael Farris, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, as saying, "There's a lot of head-scratching about what to do next" for social conservatives. With all due respect to Mr. Farris, the head-scratching should cease pronto because of the aforementioned Mr. Keyes. Nobody on the list reflects and articulates the views of social conservatives better than Mr. Keyes. - Greg Jones, Virginia Beach, Va.

Stop throwing stones

I was surprised to see such vehemence against VeggieTales in Mailbag (Jan. 16). My unchurched sister buys every VeggieTales tape for her boys, and I follow up with Scripture stories read aloud on tape. The vegetables make inroads to unchurched people. And what exactly is wrong with presenting biblical truth with a sense of humor? Obviously God has a sense of humor or He wouldn't have created us with one. Artistically, I think VeggieTales are the best produced and most imaginative animated features out there. Evangelicals say, "Let's take back the culture, let's influence the culture," but then when someone actually does, we throw stones. Keep the veggies coming. - Marcia Garland, Manheim, Pa.

On the money

Joel Belz was right on the money in "Impeach the people" (Jan. 16). Now, as one of my sons likes to say, it doesn't matter who caused it. Who is going to do something about it? We in the church have failed our country. Jesus told us to win the lost at any cost (as the song says), but we have been too busy working hard to buy more comfort and more technology to take the time to obey the Great Commission. - Ruth Rasmussen, Crimora, Va.

Lots of chocolate

You know the "gold" ad you frequently have on the back of your magazine? My little brother seriously thinks those are chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. - Kelley Muldoon, Petaluma, Calif.

Gotcha

We are students at Pine Garth Home School. We just received the Jan. 16 issue of WORLD and believe we found an error in Mr. Stayskal's cartoon. We think that the members of the Senate may have better luck hanging their coats in the "cloakroom" as opposed to the "clockroom." Perhaps we have missed the point, and he is really questioning whether they know what time it is. In any case, we hope the spelling skills of conservatives don't cloud the issues as they once did for a certain vice president. - Jonathan, Rebekah, Andrew Wwen, Williamsburg, Va.