Editor, Times-Union: Do you feel as I do when you see row after row of Muslim men kneeling in an attitude of prayer with their foreheads to the floor at the call of their priest, called mullah, five times a day? I became envious of their visible commitment to their pattern of prayer in their Islam religion.
Do you ask yourself, as I do, would Christian men, be that visible, obedient, public in our witness to our prayer to God five times a day?
Now I know as do you that a posture with head to the ground and rump in the air doesn't make a man a Muslim, or is a man a Christian just by bowing at a communion rail for a bit of bread and grape juice. As has been said, a boy doesn't become a Boy Scout by putting on a Boy Scout uniform. There is a lot of learning, commitment and service to be done in all of the three pictures of people above to be "the real thing."
I recall reading a committed Christian man's statement that if Christianity doesn't outlove, outserve other religions, it deserves to be defeated. As I consider the truth of this statement, I am humbled and challenged, and I hope you are also. In I Corinthians 3:l in our Bible there is the scripture describing too many of us Christians as "babes in the Christians Life." What do we need to "grow up?"
So many of us have been in church all of our lives. Yet we know our Bible poorly. We couldn't pass a test on its stories and truths. We have little desire to pray. We bear few marks of living our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. Yes, we resolve to do better by our own will power. This is noble, but futile.
What we need is outside help to break the habits that bind us. It is available. The Bible tells us where we may grow into mature, faithful followers, servants of Christ, and give everyday witness that brings the favor of God and the praise of man.
The Bible book of James, Chapter 2, reads: "Show me your faith by your works," and "faith without works is dead." Hurts me to read it, as I know I could do much better for my Lord, who did so much for me. I pray to do better with Christ's help. Will you also?
C.L. Hendrix, via e-mail Winona Lake
Facts Vs. Opinions
Editor, Times-Union: In response to "Rudeness":
Janice Campbell, I would like to state that my purpose in writing the letter to the editor was to inform people that if they are going to write an opinion in the opinion section that is fine with me, but if someone writes a so-called opinion in the opinion section and uses false facts, they are misleading and lying.
I understand that you have your opinion, as does Michael Stinfer, which he clearly stated without using misleading or false information. He used information solely based on his opinion. In your letter you stated a fact that is untrue. "There are more Muslims in the world than any other religion." When you stated, "After all the lives lost and money spent in Iraq, I don't feel any safer," that is an opinion.
I would just like for us to support and pray for the people that lead our country. No matter who our leader is, I am sure that they don't wake up in the morning and say to themselves, "I sure wish we would go into more debt, more troops would die, gas prices would go up, more hurricanes would come, people would go uninsured." The list could go on. I hope that we stand up and make a difference in some sort of manner.
Writing letters in the opinion section won't help, and accusing people of being rude because you were offended and caught you off guard with their research won't help solve the world's problems. We all can make a difference if we choose to. There are a lot of great opinions written in the opinion sections, and I do not think that people are spouting of in the public arena because they are giving their opinions only.
To finish up my point, you stated in the opinion section, "I may not be able to quote numbers and state all the facts, but I do know how to disagree without being rude." By researching information and knowing the facts, you will be able to better inform people of your opinion, if in future letters you choose to use true facts. In the parting words of A.A. Hodge, "He is wise who knows the sources of knowledge - who knows who has written and where it is to be found."
Jason Spangle, via e-mail Mio, Mich. formerly of Warsaw
Ferguson Road
Editor, Times-Union: The fall season of the South Ferguson Road International Speedway has begun. Allegedly, the homeowners along this speedway have created a private pool. One chooses a number representing how many days it will be until a walker, bicycle rider, motorcycle rider or an innocent motorist is turned into road kill.
Revenue raising is a big concern for locale politicians. May I suggest that Ferguson Road could support two more full-time officers by simply enforcing reasonable traffic regulations?
Ferguson Road is a country road, but as of 2003 the highway department figures showed that in a three-day period, nearly 2,500 autos careened along this track. Many more houses are here than in 2003. I would wager an unofficial number of cars of at least 3,000 in 2006.
Think of the revenue. Just think with all that money what the sheriff's department could get rid of - those gang-banger squad car windows on their cars so they could wave to us and we could wave back. When I see one coming, I think of the movie "Christine."
