The Lord's Work

Will and grace: I do not read the Pitch regularly. However, almost every issue I pick up, there is at least one letter bashing Christians and our belief system.

As a faithful Christian, I admit I'm a sinner and a hypocrite. Christianity isn't about perfectionism; it is about grace. My past is far from pretty or perfect, but because of the love and grace of God, I am forgiven, not perfected.

I could relate to the gentleman who returned to church after three years but continued to feel anger and has not returned (Letters, September 2). When we focus on people, we miss the boat. People will disappoint us. I was raised in church and took a 180-degree turn away from it for over ten years. When coming back, I had to turn my focus on God, not what everyone else around me was doing. My church went through a terrible ordeal, and many people left, many not to return to any church. People will disappoint and sometimes hurt us, yet God promises never to leave us or forsake us.

I do support the Marriage Amendment, and it is not because I hate homosexuals. I believe God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman. I believe God intended children to have a mother and a father. With divorce being at an all-time high among heterosexual couples, what will happen among homosexual couples? What will happen with our children?

My prayers go out to all of you who "hate" for any reason. I pray my brothers and sisters in Christ will show others the love and grace which has been given to them.

Rhonda Timmons
Independence

Bush League
Swing set: I have some comments regarding C.J. Janovy's piece regarding President Bush's recent visit to Lee's Summit High School ("Stump of Approval," September 16). I heard not from the Bush-Cheney campaign but on KMBZ 980 that tickets for the event were being given away. Everyone was welcome. No requirement to have a Bush bumper sticker tattooed to your forehead. And Janovy mentioned an "invited audience." That included her.

She mentioned that 200 "suburbanites" wrote, complaining that their school had been "hijacked" for a Republican pep rally. Did she know that the students at this school were given the opportunity to NOT attend? Telling young people to REGISTER to vote is a bad message? President Bush did not say register to vote AND VOTE FOR ME, did he? No. The sad part to me is that sure, most of the people at the event are supporters, but I would have loved to see the same number of undecided voters at this event. If they could walk away from this feeling like Janovy seems to is very unlikely. President Bush is an honest, genuine man of character and one that you KNOW where he stands, unwavered in his belief.

Invite the Bush-Cheney campaign to a rally in Swope Park -- great idea! Seems the swing state Missouri has stopped swinging. One thing stands out to me: Keeping the student and faculty from seeing the president would be more wrong than what happened that sunny beautiful morning in Lee's Summit.

Jeff Chancey
Kansas City, Missouri

Shop Talk
Body politic: Yo, Pitch, I'm sure you've seen me around. I'm a street dancer. Anyway, I jus' wanna say thanx for that article y'all did awhile back on tha InfoShop (Nadia Pflaum's "The Anarchists' Datebook," August 5). It truly warmz my heart that y'all took tha tyme ta do that for my friendz. Alzo, thanx for x-posin' all that Bushit when he came here (C.J. Janovy's "Stump of Approval," September 16).

Take care of yo'selvez & keep up tha good work. Peace2004j-wizz

James Hathorn
Kansas City, Missouri

Ad Up
Remote and controlled:Regarding Nadia Pflaum's "Viewer Discretion Advised" (July 15): Television Preview has sent me a letter with the four tickets. I was excited about it until my coworker showed me the Pitch article she had remembered. I was really surprised that they still are doing the scam, if that's what it actually is. I guess they aren't actually scamming because they aren't taking money. Just lying and false advertising, right?

If they are wasting our time, why not waste theirs? I thought about printing copies of the article and passing it out to people there, then being very talkative during the commercials or something so their research is disrupted.

Mike Smick
Kansas City, Missouri

Truth or DARE?
Are they on crack or what?:Regarding Nadia Pflaum's "Buzzkill!" (September 2): I don't have children yet. But when I do, I don't want a police officer showing my child what drugs look like. To me, that really does pique their curiosity. Children are always wanting to do things, and showing them what they are does not keep them from trying them.

Keeping children busy with activities helps keep them from drugs. I would keep my child out of school on the days DARE came to the school, and I know family and friends who would do the same when their kids are of age for the DARE program. I have even heard that they have started having DARE in grades lower than fifth, which is younger than most think is appropriate. Yes, we know that some children are trying drugs starting at that age, but those that have never seen drugs should not be shown what they are and what to use them with.