Letters

Winter 2006
In the article "Considering the source" (page 34), I quote, "'The overall issue is that Texas has, more or less, used all of the groundwater supplies it has available,'" he (Dr. John Dunbar) says. The choice, then, is to turn to the few other options that are still available, all of which utilize surface water supplies, such as reservoirs."
I find this statement shortsighted. Surface water supplies are not the only solution, just the most expensive. The most cost effective solution is rain catchments. The average home in Texas has a roof with enough surface area to collect enough water for household use even in a drought year. It costs about the same as a well and the water is pristine.
Living in the Hill Country, I have many friends that have converted from wells to rain catchments systems and never been happier. This approach allows for development of communities without having to worry about water resources or the cost of creating them. 
Water is a hot topic in a hot state, but one can step "out of the box" and create [his] own resource. Something Texans did long ago before municipal water districts.
John Curry, BS '98
Kerrville, Texas
 

As a (former) editor, I am addressing my reproof to you because you chose to include the following quote in the Baylor Magazine. ... 
What Mr. Peterson said cannot be true: "Jesus said there is to be no violence in the cause of God. None. This still holds true today" (page 10). It was not true in the past and it will not be true in the future. Old Testament repeatedly tells of how God equipped Israel in war to overcome their enemy. Two scriptures immediately come to mind when reading Mr. Peterson's feel-good, ear-tickling quote: "The Lord is a man of war. The Lord is his name" Exodus 15:3; and Revelation 19:11, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." 
I do not like war or violence. But I fear the Lord and believe his word. I am very concerned with Baylor's inclusion of a man who will not speak the truth and will propagate apostasy. I would like to see the magazine sharpen, not dull, its Christian audience. 
Kari Vanhoozer, BS '91
Waco, Texas 

Can you show me in the Bible where Jesus said there is to be no violence? 'I was curious about the context from which the quote from the Rev. Dr. Eugene Peterson was taken. That quote is not a biblical fact, but merely an opinion.'So my two questions: One, was this quote taken out of context? Two, can you show me where Jesus said there is to be no violence? Thank you.
Christi Jordan, BA '04
Lubbock, Texas

Editor's note: This feature -- which we call "Quotables" -- simply is a sound-bite from an event held on campus and does not necessarily reflect our views at the magazine or the views of the administration (as is stated on the inside cover of the magazine). To obtain a full transcript of this talk by Rev. Dr. Eugene Peterson, contact Nancy Floyd, assistant to the dean at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, at 254-710-6089 or Nancy_Floyd@baylor.edu.
 

Correction: Due to a reporting error, a quote in the Winter '06 story "First Aid" (page 42) was wrongly attributed to Ailey Runyon.