Hi Russell:

Regarding my column "Love and Justice" you make a good point about substance abuse being a disease.  I'm mentally ill and I just can't "repent" my way out of it.  But there are some people (unlike your sister) who don't even try and assume God will back them up on it.

I'll give you another example on your side of the issue.  Everybody laughs at Jimmy Swaggart for his tearful multiple repentance's about sexual indiscretions.  But if you look at, and listen to him he's in agony about it.

I'm celibate and I hate it.  But I know it's expected of me and it so happens I can do it.

I certainly mean no disrespect to people like your sister (and me too) and I guess what your email has done is made me realize what I wrote was somewhat simplistic.  Only God will know at the end how hard we tried and whether we did it in good faith.

                                                                                        God Bless

                                                                                        Hugh Deadwyler