Where was God’s grace?
Lakewood shooting
Regarding “'By the grace of God, we’re all here’: Lakewood holds its first services since the deadly shooting,” (Feb. 18): The front-page headline troubled me. It was not by the grace of God that those present in Joel Osteen’s church were spared harm. They were simply lucky that the troubled woman with a gun did little harm to church attendees, in part, because of courageous human responses to the situation. Where was God’s grace for her 7-year-old son who is fighting for his life from bullet-induced brain injuries? Perhaps rather than praying for him, the congregation should take up a collection to pay for his medical bills and rehabilitation if he survives.
God does not play favorites. On the day of the Lakewood shooting, many innocent people died from war violence, domestic gun violence, treatable diseases and starvation. Where was God’s grace for them? True Christianity is about our role in meeting the needs of others (Matthew 25:31-46), not in falsely thanking God for singling us out for a divine favor.
John T. James, Houston
It’s been over a week since the shooting at Lakewood Church where the shooter was killed, and a small child and another person were wounded. Yet, there’s been no sign of Gov Greg Abbott. He normally shows up within 24 hours to show his support for victims and offers encouraging words — for example, that the killing will have no effect on supplying mentally ill people with assault rifles. I also note that we should soon see a massive fundraising campaign by the National Rifle Association as they push for donations from “gun rights” organizations and individuals.
Kaye Dunbar, Houston
A precious gift
Regarding “As lawmakers push more ‘anti-vaccine’ policies, Texas schools report soaring exemption rates,” (Feb. 15): I found your article on the increase in parents getting their children exempted from vaccinations to be very distressing. The distress was enhanced by my own childhood experience. In 1950, I was 6 years old. That year, Dad remarried and I gained a new mom and a younger sister. The early 1950s were also a time of serious threat from polio, particularly in the summer. It quickly became apparent that my new mom was very concerned about the polio threat to Sis and I. She closely managed our activities to try to avoid possible exposure to the polio virus. When a vaccine became available, Mom made us a vax appointment as soon as she could. I was taught that vaccines were a precious gift. Times have really changed. Louis DuPree, Magnolia
House Bill 2384
Regarding “Sewing: New Texas law is being used to discredit two Black women running for judge,” (Feb. 17): The columnist acknowledges that the state law used by the opponents of the female Black candidates to question their qualifications is “neutral and vague.” Why is their race important to the issue of a vague and neutral law? And why does the racial issue seem to be inferred by the author, unless it is to create a controversy when the only thing going on is lawyers being lawyers in using a vague and neutral law to advance their candidacies. Such is life in the big leagues, madam columnist.
David A. Jones, Houston
Houston movies
Regarding “15 films that scream ‘Houston’: ‘Rushmore,’ ‘Terms of Endearment,’ Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ and more,” (Feb. 18): The story by Andrew Dansby on Houston movies was enjoyable and offered some great recommendations. However, the omission of “Hellfighters” is a shame. Big Oil and Red Adair — you don’t get much more Houston than that!
Rita Dumaine, Sugar Land
This was a nice bibliography of films with local views and locations. One that was overlooked was “The Swarm.” What could be more local than killer bees taking over the Astrodome?
Jack Gaarder, Spring