Qualifying article in the Allied News (PA)

Here is a qualifying article in the Allied News by Rev. John Culp of Grove City, PA, titled, “It's the perfect time for faith and God.”

Pastor John writes:

“Just a minute.” “The ticking of the biological clock.” “A day late and a dollar short.”

Our everyday speech is peppered with references to time because the specter of time looms large in our minds.

Time does not merely pose a challenge for us. Throughout our days in this life, time holds us prisoner. Wisely have many spoken of the tyranny of time.
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John’s well written article about dealing with time pressures and getting older qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards. Keep up the good work.

Sometimes even Bloggers need Encouragement

That is what I received when I found an opinion titled, “Faith can carry us over any obstacle,” written by Catherine Galasso-Vigorito in the New Haven Register (6/25/07).

Here is the paragraph that spoke to me most:

God is waiting to bless us more than we could ever think, but we have to take the first step. Remember, stumbling blocks can be the steppingstones for our greatest achievements. Failures are only temporary defeats, which can be transformed into valuable assets. And setbacks often open new doors of opportunity, and provide us with valuable knowledge and strength.
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I’m not the “prosperity gospel” type, but I believe God holds blessings for us we can hardly imagine, mostly because our imagination is trained on material things. Today I needed a gentle reminder that those spiritual blessings are waiting, I just have to ask.

Catherine does an excellent job using God’s word to reinforce the truth she shares. That qualifies her to the Amy Writing Awards.

Good job, Catherine!

Qualifying Article in the Fort Wayne Gazette

I found a great article in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette by author Dick Honig dealing with legalism. I thought it was well written and addresses an important aspect of conservative Christianity that threatens our freedom in Christ as much as does "washed-out" prosperity theology.

As Honig points out in his opinion titled, “Legalism interferes with our commitment to God,” setting and keeping a prescribed list of “thou shalt nots” attempts to pin God down and gain his approval for our sanctioned way of life. That doesn't work, and sets us up for undeserved dissappointment in God.

Here is some of what Honig writes:

There seems to be an ever-increasing tendency among those in the Christian community to allow what is commonly referred to as legalism to rob them of their freedom and joy in Christ. The purpose in writing this is to expose legalism for what it is, and perhaps in some way, bring light where darkness reigns.

What is legalism? Author Jerry Bridges, in his book “The Pursuit of Holiness,” defines legalism as “anything we do or don’t do to gain favor with God.” In effect, legalism is really submitting one’s self to man’s rules and regulations, thereby trying to live a Christian life in the energy of the flesh, often for exaltation of self.
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Honig’s article opens with Paul’s call to live free, found in Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” This is one verse I try to live every day. I am free from sin and free from "to-do" or "not-to-do" lists that I want to create to prove myself worthy of God’s love.

The truth is, God’s grace is enough.

Honig’s excellent article qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards and I am going to email him and encourage him to enter.

Good job, Dick, keep up the good work!