Not the endgame

Marvin Olasky's column "Looking up, looking down" (Oct. 21) is right on the money. As a laborer in the trenches for a solid, pro-life Christian conservative, I often have to remind myself that political victories are not the endgame but merely a means of bringing more lost people into the kingdom. A Christian with a proper view of God's sovereignty knows that while men fail and kingdoms fall, God is still on the throne.-Daniel Darling; Round Lake, Ill.

The reports of moral filth among Republicans are not isolated incidents. "De-Foley-ating" is not enough-radical internal surgery is required. True moral leadership will purge sin from the camp.-LeRoy Whitman; Christiana, Pa.

Republicanism and conservatism have parted ways ("Crucial decision," Oct. 21). I've stayed with the Republicans for too long. I'm leaving.-Brian Keen; Palm Bay, Fla.

Branded

Another fine column by Andrée Seu ("Plucked out of the burning," Oct. 21). It demonstrates how vital it is to understand how God's sovereignty works out in every single person, regardless of how weak and sinful that person may be. Possibly John Wesley was referring to his sinful state beneath the Castle of Despair when he penned those words, "a brand plucked out of the burning." However, those words originated from his mother Suzanna when John, as a child, nearly died in a fire that devastated the parsonage. After he was rescued, his mother said, "Is this not a brand plucked out of the burning?" That saying stayed with John Wesley throughout his life.-Pete Andreas; Pella, Iowa

Seu's column echoes this quote from church historian David Jeffrey: "God is ever pouring out His Spirit upon the world by means of human vessels, and it is well that the final judgment of these vessels' worth will not be that of either contemporaries or historians."-John Kennedy; Philadelphia, Pa.

Sad beyond words

The tragic death of these babies is sad beyond words ("Learning from mistakes, the hard way," Oct. 21). As a nurse of 30 years and the mother of an infant who died, my heart goes out to the parents of these children, as well as the hospital staff involved in the incident. I have no doubt that the nurses involved in this situation are devastated.-Ellen Peller; Spokane, Wash.

So many children

`0 Thank you so much for reporting on the situation in Ethiopia and Somalia ("A new jihad," Oct. 21). My husband and I are in the process of adopting four older children from Ethiopia. There are so many Christians adopting older children and large sibling groups as well as toddlers and infants. Thank you for reporting on the things that the media in the United States seem to care little about.-Robin Chomko; Collinsville, Ill.

I think the increased violence in Jima is a result of persecution that the church experiences whenever there is a serious movement of God in areas like this. I returned from Jima on Aug. 31 after working with 16 other Americans on an evangelistic mission. We all experienced threats of violence or death if we stayed, but over 6,000 heard the gospel and hundreds professed faith in Christ. Thirty-one Christians died for their faith, but we hear that since we left, 85 others have come to Christ.-Tom Criswell; Grants Pass, Ore.

In the face of evil

How is it that, in the face of unimaginable evil, two little Amish girls were capable of offering their own lives in exchange for their friends ("Paradise lost," Oct. 14)? And how could a community of Amish folk embrace the family of their children's slayer? The real story behind the schoolhouse murders is not what police and school administrators could be doing to protect children physically but what churches should be doing to disciple their children and members to confront the evil all believers must face until Christ returns.-Kimberley & Mark Bowman; Lodi, Calif.

Uncharitable

Mark Bergin did an excellent job of explaining the uncharitable nature of this "charity" at the taxpayers' expense ("Bunks for drunks," Oct. 14). These programs are certainly filled with inefficiency and unbiblical values. Christians should oppose these programs so that we can be wiser givers and free to truly help our neighbors.-Nathaniel Gilbert; Seneca Falls, N.Y.

When I started reading "Bunks for drunks," my first thought was, "How ridiculous." As I read further I found myself laughing out loud. By the time I finished the article I was reminded that we must pray for people trapped by alcohol and also for these silly deceived people who think that such a program as this could actually work.-Al Wychers; Jamestown, Mich.

Fine with that

The improvements and growth expressed in such concrete numbers and the differences between WORLD and Time magazine gave me a new perspective on WORLD ("Progress report," Oct. 14). If more ads allow for more articles and news, then I'm fine with that.-Spencer Morison; Lawrenceville, Ga.

Speaking of heroes

I was glad to see two Houston Astros in WORLD ("Enhanced attention," Oct. 14), until I read the article. Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are heroes in Texas. Is it really fair to speak this way of two great players?-Lydia J. Holt, 17; Kountze, Texas

Ex-introvert speaks up

I'm deeply disappointed in Mike Bechtle's conclusion ("Evangelism for introverts," Oct. 7). I was an introvert. The answer for my frustration and missed opportunities was "hands-on" training in evangelism and discipleship. I believe introverts lack the confidence to interact or participate. Fear of what people think focuses our attention on ourselves rather than the lost around us.-Martie Gaines; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Judging art

Regarding "'Clean' gets scrubbed" (Oct. 7), about the court ruling against family-friendly editing of DVDs: Art, especially films, should never be judged on how much sin they portray but rather on what they say about that sin. I don't understand why you're trying to make Hollywood out to be the bad guy for standing up to the butchering of its films.-Luke Ewing; Chicago, Ill.

Lost and found

"The quiet hijacking" (Oct. 7) made my heart skip a beat. On Dec. 14, 1988, I entered the doors of AA and felt right at home. Having ambled in off the sidewalk in a quaint Sierra Nevada town, I was lost and beat. I was looking for my Savior but didn't know it initially. Meetings were my life for several years; that "Higher Power" revealed itself, eventually, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today I occasionally visit AA meetings and share the gospel. I will share Seu's column when I do, and hopefully many of us former drunks can address the quiet hijacking of AA away from Christ.-John Silver; Lakeport, Calif.

Got the point

Thank you for the insightful commentary given on Pope Benedict's controversial message ("Missing the pope's point," Oct. 7). Over the years I have found my own evangelical faith bolstered by contacts with devout Roman Catholic friends. The silence of other evangelical spokespeople in this matter speaks only too loudly.-Lisa Severine Nolland; Bristol, United Kingdom

Get serious

Please remove my name from your mailing list. I can no longer overlook your right-wing slant. The final straw was Hugh Hewitt's statement ("Read it yourself," Oct. 7) that "One party is serious about the war. The other party is not." I suggest that the party that is "serious about the war" get serious about ethics.-Glenn McCoy; Crossroads, N.M.

My husband and I deeply appreciate your excellent magazine. Thanks for your faithfulness in communicating the truth.-Marcia Nelson; Port Clinton, Ohio

Correction

John Howard is the prime minister of Australia ("Nutty professor," Sept. 23, p. 29).