Editor, Times-Union: Mr. Clupper wants to see a few thousand people in his own community actually do something about his conservative Christian community's sin problem. He wants leaders to teach others to accept the teachings of Jesus to turn away from darkness. But where could even a few hundred (or even a dozen) leaders be found who have accepted the teachings of Jesus themselves, who could qualify to be able to solve the natural sin problem that all have been born with and choose to live with? If leaders refuse to accept the teachings of Jesus, how can it be expected that they could possibly be a part of any solution?
Matthew 7:1-5 says that those who judge that others must clean up their act must clean up their own act first. Where are the Christian leaders who have perfectly clear eyes so they cannot only see the "dirt" in other sinners' eyes, but are able to remove the "dirt" from those eyes? Who would want to be perfect when sin is so much fun?
The teaching found in Ephesians 4:11-16 also sheds light on the conservative Christian community's natural sin problem. Why aren't today's leaders able to teach others how to be able to be as mature as the Christ was when he walked this earth? The best he could do was to try? Did he sin a bit, now and then, but not by habit? Where are the leaders who can clean up the "dirty" eyes of the naturally sinful because their own eyes are clean?
Could it be that the leaders only want others to clear up their eyes to the degree of the leaders' eyes? If all sin to the same degree, there would no longer be any need to solve more problems.
Mr. Clupper says that there are things that have no place in society with any desire for truth and righteousness. Just where is the society with any desire for truth and righteousness that could solve any problems? Is it true that the Bible says that leaders must have perfect eyes before they can see to remove the dirt from others' eyes? Is it true that the Bible says that leaders are to see to it that others are as mature as the Christ was? No problems will be solved until there are leaders who accept the truth that needs to be accepted.
Mr. Clupper gives his e-mail address for anyone interested in being a part of his solution. Will several people contact me to learn how to be a part of the Bible's solution to the natural sin problem? Since the editor wants to protect the privacy of those with the courage to write him, the best I can do is tell you that my address can be found in the phone book.
Robert Stichter Milford
Partisan Politicians
Editor, Times-Union: Politicians don't come more partisan that Congressman David McIntosh. The gubernatorial candidate is exactly what voters are tired of - the kind of rigid, irresponsible politician who cares more about his party than his people.
Vote after vote, McIntosh refuses to compromise with Democrats. Even his Republican colleagues in Congress often try to find some middle ground so that progress can be made. But not McIntosh. When he actually shows up to work, he is so rigidly opposed to Democrats that it seems he'd rather vote against unarguably good measures, like a memorial for Oklahoma City bombing victims, than to side with Democrats.
If he can't make progress in Washington, how will he ever get anything accomplished with Indiana's state legislature?
James E. McConnell South Bend
Prayer At The Pole
Editor, Times-Union: They say a picture is worth a thousand words. How sad to see so few young people around the pole for prayer day. Not only here but other schools around. The theme this year is "A Generation Seeking God."
Virginia Hanna Warsaw via e-mail
Disposing Of Pets
Editor, Times-Union: I am going to ask a simple question that may not have such a simple answer. What do you do when you have a family pet which weighs approximately 100 lbs. die over a holiday weekend? The answer may seem simple enough, but if you live in a small town which does not condone burying the deceased animal in your backyard, what do you do? My husband and I ran into this problem a few weeks ago.
First, we contacted our family vet's office who had cared for the animal, but we were informed that they can only freeze the deceased animal for a month in a freezer, and that if the animal has been dead for more than 24 hours, they can't do anything to help in the disposal of said animal.
Second, on the advice of a family friend, we contacted a rendering plant and asked them to pick up the animal, only to be informed that they can only pick up LARGE animals such as horses and cows, so they were no help either. Bear in mind that we offered to pay for their services.
Third, we contacted our town police department who put us in contact with the animal control officer who made it abundantly clear that it was OUR responsibility to take care of the deceased animal, which is exactly what we were trying to do. He informed us that if the animal was a stray, the animal shelter or humane society could help dispose of the animal.
I told the animal control officer that my husband works 12-hour days seven days a week, I have two small children at home and I was not physically strong enough to drag the dead animal which my husband had already double-bagged and was ready to be picked up. We volunteered at every point to pay for someone to come and pick up the animal, but at every point we were turned away.
I am sure that we are not the only ones to have encountered this problem, but I think it is pretty sad when you can have an animal disposed of if it is a stray, but you can't even pay someone to take care of a family pet by legally disposing of it.
