I am not a student at Missouri Southern but the parent of a student who was saddened by Josh Ray's Editor's column and his lack of respect for the living God served and worshiped by Christian students. It seems to me that God makes the difference that separates his followers from terrorist, sniping, torturing vandals who cripple, maim, and kill innocent children, women and men throughout the world, even in today's America. The Bible is God's living word by whom all shall know the truth. In its pages are rich stories of mankind   the good, the bad and the ugly. Through the account of creation, God created human beings and gave them freedom to make choices concerning their actions, beliefs and activities. Ironically, Adam and Eve quickly made a mess of things with their decisions. Never once in its pages is it written that there will be no sorrow, pain, war, slavery or unsavory deeds upon the earth. It is written that through Jesus Christ, mankind can find the way to salvation from this earthly turmoil to a place where the streets are lined with gold, the gates are pearl and each believer will find eternal peace. It is every individual's right to choose the alternative to heaven which is a total separation from God and an eternity to dwell in the fiery waters of hell where no relief will ever be found.

Are Christian students without sin? NO! No one can live a perfect life, but through faith, Christian students on the campus of Southern are constantly weighing their actions against what God would have them to do. Christianity is the one thing that sets people apart from the animals. It's the one thing that allows students to walk safely from their cars to their classes and back. It is the one thing that gives students the compassion to extend a hand to a hurting classmate. It is the one thing that offers absolute comforts and feelings of contentment while struggling through the routines of everyday life situations.

As an author, myself, I always read print with an open mind. I try to put myself in the writer's shoes. What was the intent of the article, who was the intended audience and what impact will the piece have on its readers? If Mr. Ray's intent was to influence Christian students at Southern to forsake Christ, without a doubt, it has fallen short of its purpose. Christian students know their God is not dead, because they converse with him daily. Their needs are under the ministry of his appointed angels, and their futures are secured in the knowledge that he will take care of them.

Should Mr. Ray be reprimanded for writing such a disrespectful article? No, not by the Christian students. Should he be prayed for? Absolutely! God is a forgiving God who knows that people mess up, and he will open his arms to any lamb who seeks to enter the kingdom of heaven and feast eyes upon those streets of gold that he will give freely to his people.

On the front page of the very edition of The Chart that featured the  Christians bow to dead being" article, there was a tribute to Kenneth McCaleb, a long-time peace promoter and founder of the campus newspaper. If he could speak today, I wonder what his opinion of Mr. Ray's thoughts would be. I did not know the man, but I think that he would have been troubled by this Editor's column.

Sincerely,

Jana S. Dahinen

Carl Junction, MO