Stand up, stand up

Have you ever picked up a magazine cover and suddenly been struck with the seriousness of the times we live in? Sometimes, it seems unavoidable, as with the fall of the Berlin Wall, when we were forced to acknowledge our being audience to something more than mere history in the making: something taking place in the spirit realm that would change our lives forever. The same thing happened when I looked at the recent WORLD with its cover story: "Daniel of the Year" (Dec. 5). Greatness in God's kingdom, I again realized, is not measured in stained-glass windows (although there's nothing wrong with the glass), but in the ability to stand tall in front of the great congregation while facing into the winds of hell's fury, and to declare, along with heaven, " This is the way, walk ye in it." - Frank T. Chisholm, Bronx, N.Y.

Truth important to God

I thought your article on Ken Starr was right on target. He has done his job (one he didn't want), he has served his country (more honestly than our highest official), and he has been ridiculed to no end. Honesty, truth, and principles found in the Bible are characteristics that are no longer admired in this country. But should we expect anything different from a country whose main agenda is self and lies? Thank you for writing good things about a good man! No matter what happens, Mr. Starr will be rewarded for presenting the truth. Truth is still important to God. - Todd Moss, Elk City, Okla.

Wearing a flak jacket

Thank you for the great article on Ken Starr. It's about time someone made a statement about the character of this brave man. It should make all Christians stand a little taller in our world where flak is flying over our heads and sometimes in our face. - Shirley Roberts, Cincinnati, Ohio

Changed mind

I along with many Christians thought Mr. Starr was the worst thing to hit Capitol Hill since President Clinton. A man obsessed with sex and graphic details (in short, I thought he was doing the wrong thing for the right reason), but the article in WORLD really changed my mind. I still don't know what I think of Mr. Starr, but thanks to your article, I am rethinking my views. - Anita Fritz, West Bend, Wis.

A get-out-of-jail-free card?

How refreshing it was to read an accurate account of Kenneth Starr. It has been so disgusting to read and hear how all the liberals have tried to make him the criminal instead of President Clinton, who is the real criminal. The question is now raised-should we impeach our president since he has repented? I would say yes, absolutely. Why? Because if we apply that kind of thinking to the president, then we should apply it to all criminals across our country. We would have many empty jail cells throughout our land. - George Anderson, Carlton, Minn.

Four little words

I am so proud of you for bestowing the title of Daniel of the Year upon Kenneth Starr. You wrapped up my own feelings about him in four words: He is a hero. As for those of your readers who persist in admonishing us to pray for the president, I pray for him, all right. The answer can be found in Isaiah 22:19: "I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your post." - Jacqueline Brown, San Carlos, Calif.

Duty to cover up sin

I have felt embarrassment regarding Ken Starr's actions. I am a Christian and I feel I represent a large number of Christians that agree with my view. Obviously President Clinton is wrong in his behavior, but I see no biblical justification for the uncovering of his sins. The Word has always guided us to be respectful of our national leaders. When there was conflict, it was because the leadership accused God's person, not the other way around. Also, the destruction that has occurred in Hillary and Chelsea's lives since the exposing of President Clinton's affairs has been heartbreaking. We are specifically told that love covers a multitude of sins. President Clinton's situation is an excellent example of a need to cover a multitude of sins. Mr. Starr could have privately gone to him and told him of the information of which he had become aware; that is biblical. I do think Mr. Starr will have to make amends to Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea someday for treating the Presidency with such disrespect and the welfare of Hillary and Chelsea so lightly. After all, God did place him in office for his own reasons and with his own wisdom. - Diana Berndt, Boise, Idaho

Liar's den?

Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to call him "Daniel in the liar's den"? - Harold Isenberger, Stanley, Wis.

Our defender

Thank you for honoring Judge Starr as WORLD's first Daniel of the Year. Despite the efforts of the media and his critics, it should be remembered that he represents the American people. His defense of the Constitution and the law in our name deserves our heartfelt commendation. - Robert Gallagher, Seattle, Wash.

Deserving

No one could be more deserving of this award than Judge Starr. His courageous and unflappable devotion to fulfill his sworn duty is an inspiration to all. - Lee Eaton, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Fully God, fully man

I was glad to read "Becoming incarnate" (Dec. 5). I, too, have considered that Christ was with us nine months before Christmas. However, stating that Jesus took on human form when "the Holy Spirit planted the fertilized seed in Mary" gives the impression that Mary was only a surrogate mother. We know Gabriel told Mary she would conceive (Luke 1:31). I believe that by the power of the Holy Spirit the seed joined with Mary's human ovum. That thought helps give me a tiny grasp of the enormous concept that Jesus is fully God and fully man. - Beth Burgess, Greenville, S.C.

Disheartened

For the past several months, my father has been a subscriber to your magazine. Each month, I seem to find myself, with little else to do, grudgingly sitting down to read through it. And each issue, I find myself flustered, irritated, and all around angered by at least a few things I have read. This month, I simply find myself disheartened. I am really tired of your "us against them" mentality. Christ did not send us into this world to focus on the horrors of this world, but rather to work together to alleviate them. Your magazine offers nothing in the way of solutions. - Amy Day (16), Murphys, Calif.

Donuts and WORLD

We love your magazine! Every Tuesday my senior government class looks forward to a new edition of WORLD. We bring donuts to class and ritually open up the magazine simultaneously to the comics page. After some good laughs we each go our own way reading articles and blurbs here and there, reading aloud the interesting and outlandish things we come across. Thanks to WORLD, our government class is always interesting, and we are well-informed about current events. - Nicole Shown, Mission Viejo, Calif.

Praising Maynard

I was struck by the quality of Roy Maynard's three pieces for the Dec. 5 issue. The article "Berlin's remaining walls" was so amusing that I read it to my wife and daughter who have almost no political interest and, in the case of my daughter, no knowledge of what the Berlin Wall was. In the beginning of the article, we were shaking with laughter, and at the end we were on the verge of tears. Please keep up the good work. Roy deserves a hearty "Amen." - Nord S. Isaacson, Branford, Conn.

Looking up

Thank you for your articles on Christian athletes. As a young Christian athlete, I find few role models to look up to in the world of sports. Your articles inform me of the few who play professional sports yet still have dedicated their lives to Christ. I admire Christian athletes for taking a stand for Christ despite the evil they are surrounded by. - Paul Davis (14), Momence, Ill.

On the mark

Gene Edward Veith's thoughtful piece, "Feminist imperialism" (Nov. 14), is perfectly on the mark. Radical feminists at the UN are using sophisticated media campaigns to export their gender agenda to relatively innocent and untouched corners of the globe, denigrating the traditional roles of wife and mother in the process. While the multiculturalists are missing in action, two other groups are loudly cheering the feminists on: the population controllers and the radical environmentalists. Neither group is particularly committed to feminism, but both would like to render people barren. And both see feminism, by discouraging women from marriage and childbearing, as the perfect instrument to achieve this. Feminism is merely a cover of their real aim: to decimate humanity. - Steven W. Mosher, Front Royal, Va.

Granny likes it

Your magazine is just what a granny needs. WORLD is informative, interesting, educational, scriptural, stimulating, and sometimes argumentative. Don't cancel my subscription. - Dorothy H. Lehman, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.