Listener Feedback

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Friday, May 27th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Time now for Listener Feedback, starting with corrections.

BROWN: On Thursday’s program, we told you about a court ruling in favor of the Air Force’s COVID vaccine mandate. That was correct but we attributed that ruling to the wrong judge. It was in fact U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher [bisher, rhymes with fisher] of Nebraska who sided with the Air Force.

EICHER: Next, a correction from listener Kathryn Stocco. She called in from Winchester, Virginia, after hearing Myrna’s piece on the music group, Village Lights.

KATHRYN STOCCO: At one point in the story it was said that the group can easily transition from a South African gospel sound to a Latin prayer. However, the song that was then sung after that introduction was actually in Greek, not Latin. The song that went, Lord have mercy, and then Kyrie Eleison. That phrase, Kyrie Eleison, is in Greek and is actually the only remnant of the Greek language that has been retained in the Roman rite Catholic mass today. The mass, or worship services of the early church was often in the Greek language as the apostles were evangelizing Greek-speaking peoples. So that’s why Catholics retain that important prayer in Greek, even though much of the Catholic mass today is either in Latin or in the vernacular, the language of the region in which it is celebrated.

BROWN: Well, thanks Kathryn, both for the correction and the interesting history lesson.

EICHER: Next, we have an email from David. He wrote in from Virginia to ask about the way we close the program each day. He astutely observed that we almost always have a woman, either Mary or Myrna, read the closing Scripture. And he wondered whether that was intentional.

And I can answer that it’s more habit than anything else. I usually go first on the closing and my cohost follows.

Years ago, Mary decided she wanted to read a scripture and she did that a few times, and then one day didn’t.

BROWN: Yeah, we got some listener feedback! Haha!

EICHER: Well, we mentioned we’re together again for World Journalism Institute, so our Executive Producer Paul Butler is nearby and he’s dropped in . Paul, any thoughts on that?

PAUL BUTLER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR: On two different occasions, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” He doesn’t restrict that to pastors, or elders, but instructs us all to do so. So when we end the podcast with a passage of scripture it’s not merely a program convention—or just another inspirational thought—it’s honoring a Biblical encouragement to speak the truth of the Word to one another. It’s also a reminder of our mission: “Biblically objective journalism…”

BROWN: Next we have some constructive criticism about Culture Friday from listener Lee Banton. He’s a youth pastor in Leesburg, Virginia and appreciates John Stonestreet’s analysis of cultural issues. But, he says he often detects a lack of hope in our conversations.

LEE BANTON: I believe we do need to point out the issues within culture and be critical of them. But if that is all we do, then we are no different than the mainstream media on the left and right. As Christians, we have the most reason for hope, even when it seems hopeless. Yes, we must give the bad news that sin is in the world, and we are sinners destined for hell. But then, Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah that offers hope to be reunited to our Creator God and then to be the hands and feet of hope in this world. Therefore, as you talk about culture issues, we need to not only talk about the bad, but talk about where we can find common ground as Christians, and non-Christians and give the hope to continue to find solutions to move forward and persevere.

EICHER: Fair enough, thanks, Lee.

Next, listener Mitch Gebel from Edmond, Oklahoma. He called in after hearing Steve West’s commentary this week on fonts.

MITCH GEBEL: As adults, it’s easy to grow out of a child-like joy about the little things around us. My son, who’s 2, helps me remind myself that it is the little things, like fonts, that can bring us the greatest joy. We giggle as we watch a frisbee fly through the air, or stand in amazement that a boat can float on water. It’s the little things that really make the difference. My wife has a sign painted in our living room that says, “Joy comes in sips, not gulps.” And it is a daily reminder that it is things like fonts all around us that remind us of the beauty in the created world and can instill in us that joy and happiness that we can experience. Steve, thank you for a great commentary that articulated this. I know I appreciated it, and I’m sure others did as well.

EICHER: ALWAYS APPRECIATE STEVE!

Speaking of appreciation, I just want to say how much we appreciate you. We’ve had an encouraging response to our New Donor Drive this month so far. Several days yet to go before the end of the month. So there’s still time for you if you’re a long-time listener, but you haven’t given yet, we do hope you’ll become a first-time donor at WNG.org/newdonor.

BROWN: Mmm-hmm! I want to remind you that it’s your giving that makes possible programs like the World Journalism Institute. We’ve got 28 eager-to-learn, wonderful students.

They are sharp and I’m excited to see how God uses them for His glory!

EICHER: It’s a highlight of my year, honestly, working with students. And, right, Myrna, very sharp. Thinking back, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have made the cut! Glad I got in on the ground floor.

We’re growing here at WORLD because of you, because of your support of our work, we continue to bring this program and we’re creating new podcasts and even deeper reporting, we publish WORLD Magazine, bring you the day’s news with The Sift and, for younger students, WORLD Watch daily video news. We couldn’t have done it without your contributions.

BROWN: So would you join in this month if you’ve never supported WORLD? Again, WNG.org/newdonor.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.