This blog is maintained on behalf of the Amy Foundation for the purpose of tracking the best Christian journalism we find on the Web. Our posts regularly identify those news articles or opinions in the mainstream media that represent good faith-based writing and example them for other Christian journalists.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Two in one day!

[I set up my homepage to display the "God Faith" Google News search that finds bloggable articles, and (I cannot believe it) two qualifying articles showed up in the same day. By qualifying, I am referring to the Amy Writing Awards.]

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I really like the Times Leader article I found today by Father Bob Timchak of Wilkes-Barre, PA, titled, "Turn to God when you're in a suffering state."

Father Bob writes:
A COUPLE OF weeks ago I felt like I had a black cloud hanging over me. Nothing was going right. It seemed like days went by without any good news and I started to retreat into the cave. That’s what I call my dark days -- cave experiences. It’s just my way of explaining rough times.
>>Read more

I appreciate his openness and personal touch that draws in the reader.

To qualify, Father Bob quoted Jesus' prayer in the garden before his Crucifixion: “Father, I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for all those who will believe in me through their word, that all may be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you; I pray that they may be one in us.”

"Did you catch that," Father Bob writes. "Jesus prayed for us. He prayed for me, for you, and for all who believe in him."

What a powerful message. Like I said, Father Bob's article qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards and I believe it will be a strong entry.

Keep up the good work, Father Bob! Keep writing.

Good article that qualifies

Here is a good article written by Rev. John Dessart of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was published today, May 19, 2007, in the Green Bay Press Gazette. John's article, titled "Faith Perspective: Making a True Turn to God," was a call to true repentance and referenced scripture several times, cited 2 Chronicles 7:14 a the model for believers to follow when truly turning to God.

Here is what John wrote:
One of the most alarming things that I am noticing in the church today is an attitude and spirit of complacency. One of the warnings that Jesus himself gave in Matthew 24:12 as he was describing the end times, was that the love of many would wax cold because of the abundance of iniquity. It used to be that life was more centered around God and the things of God than what we are seeing today.
>>Read more

By citing identifiable scripture, John's article is qualified for the 2007 Amy Writing Awards. Good job, John; keep writing for Christ!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Faith highlighted in the Tennessean (5-17-07)

Here is a short story in The Tennessean, by staff writer Natalia Mielczarek, about a young man from Rwanda who fled his country from violence. Eric Uwiringiyimana's personal testimony is nothing short of riviting.

He tells Natalia:
"It's been really hard, and at some points I felt like giving up," said Eric, who is an avid soccer player. "But when I think where I came from and see what little situation is trying to get me to quit, I say: 'No.' Most of my strength comes from God. I take one step, and he takes three steps for me."
>>Read More

It is a good article, but misses the criteria of the Amy Writing Awards by not including identifiable scripture. (I also think the article is too short to be a top 15 contender).

None the less, the author allows Eric's story to tell itself and God's truth to shine brightly.

Good job, Natalia! Keep up the good work.