February 21

‘Black & blue’

I have run into Chaplain Jim Bontrager, Chief Randy Brashears, and Michael Williams at various Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers events. It’s always a blessing to know people like these are reaching out to the law enforcement community as well as the civilian population.

Richard Cole / Fulton, N.Y.

‘Coal’s kill fee’

The EPA’s war on coal isn’t the only factor pressing Northeastern electricity prices higher. Anti-nuclear activists and Vermont politicians finally succeeded in shutting down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station last December, increasing carbon dioxide emissions and electricity prices.

David Rasmusson / Russellville, Ark.

This article explains how federal energy policies increase the cost of electricity, but for perspective you should consider how much coal-related pollution increases public health costs because of premature deaths, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and other problems.

Allen Johnson / Dunmore, W.Va.

‘Buying a bestseller’

David Jeremiah has been one of my favorite Bible teachers for many years, so I was disheartened to read about his questionable book marketing techniques. I would like to see him restore trust by apologizing, terminating this practice, and returning to ECFA membership.

John Huber / Myerstown, Pa.

We should never excuse this kind of behavior, but neither should we write off authors like Jeremiah and Mark Driscoll. Cleaning our house should not require us to set it on fire.

Barry Reel on Facebook

‘Faith is the thing’

It felt like Andrée Seu Peterson was writing directly to my family. Many thanks for her vulnerability and for encouraging me to live in faith.

Laura Mauser / Marquette, Mich.

Peterson is right that “God is not a theory.” He is working in history in ways I cannot comprehend, and He asks for faith from me.

Betty Hudgins / Macon, Ga.

‘Free for all’

We strongly disagree with Joel Belz’s perspective on free speech. We agree more with the French policies described in “Clamping down on speech” (Feb. 21), except that hatred should not be a criminal offense.

Ron & Billie Wales / Houston, Texas

The right to free speech is not absolute, and never will be. Is Belz sure he wants people to have the freedom to speak the filth that is in their minds, even before his grandchildren?

Holly Johnson / Kawartha Lakes, Ontario

‘Ignoring the children’

If Congress doesn’t care that abortion violates God’s will, can our representatives at least explain why anyone needs 20 weeks to figure out she was raped or was a victim of incest?

laneygirl on wng.org

I was apoplectic when this happened, and reading the details makes it worse. This sacrifice of principle for the party’s good has brought me to the nuclear option: I will not vote for any Republican who does not vehemently disavow this capitulation, and I don’t want to hear any “working behind the scenes” horse hokey. I want them to do something.

Nathan Carpenter on Facebook

‘Smart isn’t cheap’

When the new “smart” appliances can order milk and have it delivered, I’ll be more impressed.

Michelle Kaiser Weisler on Facebook

I guess thinking is going out of style.

Linda Schierkolk on Facebook

‘The 150-year-old identity’

God does not categorize people as “heterosexuals” or “homosexuals” but as human beings created in His image and dearly loved. That is our true identity.

James Aist on Facebook

A great interview. My generation (20s) needs to hear this. A “race” that is only 150 years old? No, such things are lies.

rrm on wng.org

‘The Rifleman’

I too grew up watching The Rifleman and loved it. Lucas McCain was a virtuous adult who did the right thing, a hero, as my dad was to me. All the boys admired how Connors spun that tricked-out Winchester, but at 6 feet 5 inches his arms were long enough to do it without hitting himself in the face. Thanks for the memories.

topdrive on wng.org

‘Half-baked reporting’

To those who would criticize Bill Jack for stirring up a hornet’s nest, I say he’s not to blame. The world will always leap at an opportunity to paint us as bigoted. We cannot concern ourselves with that but with spreading the gospel.

vortexspin on wng.org

‘Anatomy of a media mugging’

The more I contemplate this story, the more miffed I feel. Bill Jack stuck his hand into a snake pit and the entire Christian community got bitten. More ill will from the cultural left is the last thing we need.

hawaillcharles on wng.org

Dispatches

It is unfortunate that WORLD used the ISIS-provided image of the murder of the Jordanian pilot. You could have noted the news item without advertising for the terrorists, and it is disrespectful to the memory of a young officer.

Julie Akers / Austin, Texas

‘Greek tragedy’

I am very concerned about America’s changing culture fueled by handouts, as Mindy Belz described. I see paradoxes all around me, from church-going WIC recipients driving new minivans to my former students expecting high incomes without hard work or discipline. Something must change, and I pray it involves balanced budgets both in American homes and in Washington.

Lindsay Jones / Columbus, Ind.

February 7

‘Terror by the minute’

Christians are facing a fearsome enemy in Islam and its adherents. It’s easy for me to imagine defending against physical danger, but as Christians we are bound to love our enemies and present the gospel. Are these mutually exclusive? How do we meet our responsibilities on both fronts and be faithful to the Lord?

Tom Sandlin / Liberty Hill, Texas

I shouldn’t have been shocked when I learned that ISIS had kidnapped so many Christians. We need to be more active in what’s happening in the Middle East, but until then let’s pray for those being tortured and killed.

Nathan Wolf / White Haven, Pa.

‘The serpent’s egg’

The column makes some fascinating generalizations about recent French history, but equating imams with serpents is not a good way forward. I doubt any Christian missionaries in France would want his neighbors to think this is how Christians view God’s providential movement of Africans to Europe. The snake we must kill is our own pride and failure to embrace strangers as image-bearers of God.

Stephen P. Lewis / Lafayette Hill, Pa.

The expression, “virtual laboratories of cancerous forces that would ultimately engulf the nation,” says so much. Will we make the same mistakes? If Barack Obama has his way, we will. I tremble for our nation.

Dick Muller / Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Correction

The “closed coal-burning power plant” in the photo (“Coal’s kill fee,” Feb. 21) will be replaced with a natural gas power plant.

WORLD Around the World

Mutare, ZimbabweSubmitted by Kathleen Macosko

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