November 23 Dear Ms. Lockwood: In response to your question, let me assure you that when I wrote THE OZONE SKIP, there were no church burnings making national headlines as they are today. I don't know what that's all about; but it would be most unfortunate if anyone thought the author advocated church burning. If they did, I would point out that the church in my story was abandoned by its pastor, and sold on the open market to a secular party, who planned to raze the building within three days, and build a children's play-park in its stead. Realizing the church was going to be demolished anyway, however, some fundamentally disenchanted person or persons broke in the night before and had themselves a party in the former pastor's basement office. After which they set fire to the building, the end result being that the demolition company was shorted a little work; the woman who bought the property was saved a little money; and the good citizens of Rockcleft were treated to a spectacular show, which served as a convenient focal point for their innate sense of unity. Moreover, the story is metaphorical, in the same sense that 1st Corinthians 3.13-15 is: "...the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire." Anyway, I thank you for your interest, as always, and I appreciate your concern. I pray you find this explanation sufficient to assure you that I too believe we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (EPH 6.12). Sincerely,
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