After I wrote the article "Life After War" (May WN) I have received 20 e-mails from east to west, north to south, from three of my children, my sister and other people whose lives have been broken by a war.

When I e-mailed Curtis May of the church’s Office of Reconciliation Ministries on Veterans Day, I was just a vet looking for recognition for my fellow veterans. In our church we had not been strong in supporting the people in the armed services. With that thought in my mind I must remember that with God, no matter what our mind-set is, he has a plan that is beyond our limited understanding.

In my article, I wrote about something that has consumed my life and brought me to the foot of the cross, helpless and totally broken on the potter’s wheel.

For the first time on my birthday my children did something to show dad they cared, and on Father’s Day each of the older three again did something. God sometimes is too good!

My pastor, Glen Weber, suggested reading the book Secrets of the Vine before this all started, and it has helped me see God’s loving hand in everything. There is not enough space on your or my hard drive to record all the awesome things God has done in my life in the past year. In spite of me, God has allowed me to go beyond my wildest understanding of what he was doing in my life, to be used in ways that leave me in awe. It is all about him and nothing about me.

As I close I can hear my mother telling me, "Mike, the pen is mightier than the sword." I was big on swords and using them to solve problems. Thankfully God’s love is bigger than all our hurts.

Mike Zorn

Spokane, Washington

I enjoyed Ray Meyer’s "Open Letter to Generation X" in the July WN.

For some time I’ve been delighted to observe God’s work in the lives of teens and young adults. I’ve heard about large groups of young people conducting praise and worship every morning on the beach at the festival in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In our local church, three young adults (Joe Shipman, Steve Kramer and Corrine Brunet) drive at least 70 miles one way every week so they can mentor our teens. These and others like them serve as spiritual big brothers and sisters who energize and motivate those who are a few years younger. Several older adults also work with the youths, serving as spiritual moms and dads.

One teen I know has turned his closet into a prayer room.

Let’s praise God for his work with our young people and let’s do everything we can to support that work.

Frank Lewandowski

Mesquite, Texas

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