Texas Baptist Forum

Texas Baptist Forum

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Muslims & military

Do we need a debate on whether Muslims should serve in the U.S. armed forces?

My grandson Kirkland turned a year old a couple of months after 9-11. We have been at war in Muslim countries all of his life. Kirkland, like many other little boys, looks up to the U.S. armed forces. His No. 1 ambition is to fight for this United States of America when he is grown. That’s only nine years away, and I pray every day God will guard and guide Kirkland’s ambition. Every day, I ask God to give him a little bit of extra special attention for that day; wondering if I may have to pray that prayer someday when Kirkland actually fights in a foreign Muslim land.

There is no question in Kirkland’s 9-year-old mind that he will fight for freedom if needed. My family on my father’s side started fighting for freedom way back in the Revolutionary War and in the Civil War. My mother had three brothers who fought in World War II. She had an uncle who fought and died in World War I. I have a brother who went to Vietnam. We have family who served in Korea. One of my great nephews served two tours in Iraq.

Non-Muslim armies are fighting for the freedom of those Muslims who are busy debating what part they should play in fighting to keep this free America many of them call home! Is a debate really necessary?

Joyce M. Brumley

Grand Prairie

 

Foster transition gap


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The article on foster teens (Dec. 7) recognizes a serious need to fill the transition gap. The initiative of Toby Owen, Bryans Fitzhugh and University Baptist Church in Fort Worth is most praiseworthy.

The current foster-care system, apparently based on historic norms, does not address the handicap and difficulty of foster teens in a world where transition to adulthood or independent living is 21 to 25 years of age. Reduction of vocational skills training at the high school level in Texas has contributed to the transition deficit.

Since more than 2,000 Texas teens age out of foster care per year, it seems this need could be met more completely by changes to the foster-care system. Transition benefits likely would be a small fraction of the current cost of homeless teens and issues that are borne by the state or others.

Since foster homes inherit much of the burden by default, such a program would be a strong encouragement to maintain the foster-care system.

Bill Fellers

Trent

 

Buried talent

Jesus taught that he would leave the 99 and go seek the one who was lost.

If a congregation loves one another, comes together to worship and preaches the word of God but fails to be out in their community looking for the hungry, naked and those in spiritual and physical need, are they not burying their talent? Is it not the same as Jesus taught in Matthew 25:14-30?

Daniel Younger

Itasca

 

What do you think? Write to: P.O. Box 660267, Dallas 75266-0267; or [email protected].

 

 


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