The Best Christian Journalism on the Web

Qualifying, Challenging Article by Nicholas Kristof in the NY Times

2010-02-28T11:43:00.004-05:00

I have to admit it, I read the New York Times (nytimes.com) on a daily basis. As a would-be writer and annual judge for the Amy Writing Awards, I fell in love to the writing style and quality. There is also something inside me that likes my news “liberal” so I understand the bents and biases inside the articles and opinions that challenge and sharpen my Christian world view.

But every once and awhile I run across a Times article that surprises me, that opens my mind beyond the usual analysis and critical thinking. “Learning From the Sin of Sodom” (2/28/2010), written by op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof, is one such opinion.

Kristof writes:

For most of the last century, save-the-worlders were primarily Democrats and liberals. In contrast, many Republicans and religious conservatives denounced government aid programs, with Senator Jesse Helms calling them “money down a rat hole.”

Over the last decade, however, that divide has dissolved, in ways that many Americans haven’t noticed or appreciated. Evangelicals have become the new internationalists, pushing successfully for new American programs against AIDS and malaria, and doing superb work on issues from human trafficking in India to mass rape in Congo.

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I have enjoyed reading Kristof’s challenging opinions, especially the ones based on his international assignments, but this one caught me off guard because it used Biblical scripture to substantiate the expanding roll of evangelical Christians in addressing some of the world’s most serious problems.

Kristof keeps his professional distance by quoting an author (an effective way to bring Biblical truth into the mainstream conversation). Kristof writes:

A growing number of conservative Christians are explicitly and self-critically acknowledging that to be “pro-life” must mean more than opposing abortion. The head of World Vision in the United States, Richard Stearns, begins his fascinating book, “The Hole in Our Gospel,” with an account of a visit a decade ago to Uganda, where he met a 13-year-old AIDS orphan who was raising his younger brothers by himself.

“What sickened me most was this question: where was the Church?” he writes. “Where were the followers of Jesus Christ in the midst of perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time? Surely the Church should have been caring for these ‘orphans and widows in their distress.’ (James 1:27). Shouldn’t the pulpits across America have flamed with exhortations to rush to the front lines of compassion?

What I believe Kristof accomplishes something remarkable. To use vernacular, he hits conservative readers in the mouth by using scripture typically used to condemn behavior that example God’s expectation for all of us to engage the world where people are suffering most. Then, as if with a smack to back liberal readers’ head, he calls for an understanding, if not appreciation, for the vital role faith-based initiatives play in solving the world’s most pressing problems.

Because Kristof included scripture quotes and proper references, he more than qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards. Honestly, I hope he submits because I want to read more, well written, challenging entries in next year’s submissions. That’s what this blog is aboutn.

Ann Coulter qualifies ...

2010-01-11T13:19:00.004-05:00

Back at the Amy Writing Awards blog for 2010, it’s sort of a New Year’s resolution. Thanks to Brit Hume’s advice to Tiger Woods on Fox News, the web-based news outlets and blogosphere are fired up.

Here is Ann Coulter’s opinion related Hume’s comments published on the St. Augustine Times website on Monday, January 11, 2010:

Someone mentioned Christianity on television recently and liberals reacted with their usual howls of rage and blinking incomprehension.

On a Fox News panel discussing Tiger Woods, Brit Hume said, perfectly accurately:

"The extent to which he can recover, it seems to me, depends on his faith. He is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So, my message to Tiger would be, 'Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."

Hume's words, being 100 percent factually correct, sent liberals into a tizzy of sputtering rage, once again illustrating liberals' copious ignorance of Christianity. (Also illustrating the words of the Bible: "How is it you do not understand me when I speak? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my words." John 8:43.)
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Coulter drops the “L” for liberal and the “I” for ignorance bombs early and often in this piece, obviously to generate maximum outrage and shock value, but she does qualify her piece with appropriate references to scripture, which qualifies her for the Amy Writing Awards.

Coulter, like Cal Thomas before her, is one of the current standards bearers for conservative values in the mainstream press, serving as lightening rod and fire starter. In this piece she stokes the flames of controversy raised by what was heartfelt advice from Hume. Watching the clip on YouTube showed a sincere Hume to which his counterparts could not adequately respond.

It is unfortunate that the Tiger Woods tragedy had to turn political or even religious. Hume was right in suggesting Jesus offers forgiveness and reconciliation for a multitude of sins.

Good Valentines Article … that doesn’t qualify

2009-02-14T12:14:00.002-05:00

I found this Valentine’s Day article/blog through my Google Reader, written by Joe Rodriguez, titled, “Hearts, flowers and faith,” published in on the Wichita Eagle website (www.Kansas.com). It takes a different bead on the relationship of love and faith by interviewing a series of couples, whose video interviews are intermingled with the story’s text.

Rodriguez writes:

Valentine's Day conjures up familiar images for most of us. Cards, cupids, flowers and candy. But today is also a day when many couples celebrate their long-lasting commitments to each other.

For them, love means marriage, and marriage means a lifetime together, often rooted in a common faith.

Five longtime married couples share the importance of faith in their relationship.

Each talked about the difficulties and challenges they have faced.

But their faith, they say, has been a foundation for their love, and a key to the success of their marriages.
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Rodriguez goes on to summarize the testimonies of the five couples he interviewed. His approach provides an excellent telling of personal faith stories independent of himself as the writer, and this tends to have a greater impact on readers. It also gives the writer an opportunity to reinforce his central point with scripture by quoting one of the interviewees sharing a biblical quote.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see where one of Rodriguez’s interviewees provided him with that opportunity, so this well written article does not qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

I am going to email Joe and see if he does have other articles that meet the Amy Writing Award entry requirements. In the meantime, Joe, keep up the good work!

Fighting words …

2009-02-11T23:27:00.002-05:00

Andy Coghlan’s blog post, “Vatican backs Darwin, dumps creationism” (2/11/09) on the Short Sharp Science blog from NewScientist, doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, but I am sure the subject of the provocative post will generate more than a few qualifying entries.

Coghlan writes:

"What we mean by evolution is the world as created by God."

Did I say this? No. It was reportedly said on Tuesday by none other than Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture. In effect, the Roman Catholic Church, the dominant Christian faith, is saying that Darwin's theory of evolution is compatible with Christian faith.

After all these years, even the Pope and his pals are on-message, Darwin-wise. At least the admission came a bit sooner than for poor old Galileo, but better late than never.
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The pivotal point of Coghlan’s post is his indication that the Vatican is throwing an Origin of the Species anniversary party and letting creationists and “intelligent design” advocates know they aren’t invited.

I’m not sure where Coghlan comes down on questions of personal faith, but it’s clear he’s happy to see the Vatican side with evolution. I can only imagine the interest and opinion writing this will generate. My hope is, like Coghlan’s blog post, the conversation remains passionate, yet civil without name-calling or condemnation.

This presents thoughtful writers with plenty of opportunity to eloquently share their thoughts, their faith, and smartly reinforce their arguments with scripture, and the Amy Writing Awards will be better for it.

Get writing.

Everything, but …

2009-01-15T19:05:00.003-05:00

Here is an article on ESPN.com that has everything an award-winning Amy Writing Award entry needs, except one thing. Written by Kyle Whelliston, the well written column is titled, “Coaches lose shoes for a good cause,” and tells the story about what happened when Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) coach Ron Hunter coached a basketball game last year in his bare feet last year to raise awareness for the charity Samaritan's Feet.

Whelliston writes:

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ron Hunter sat in his office Wednesday afternoon, staring into his inbox on a blinking computer screen. As has been the case for the past year, most of the messages were about shoes.

"I can't keep up with all of these," said the IUPUI head coach enthusiastically. "We've had 80,000 pairs donated just today. And here's one from a guy in South Carolina who coaches seventh graders … all the coaches in his league are going shoeless this weekend. Isn't that great?"

One Thursday evening in January 2008, at the request of Samaritan's Feet, Hunter spent a game walking the sidelines without shoes or socks to raise awareness for a charity which collects shoes for impoverished children around the world. It was a simple act, intended to generate 40,000 pairs of sneakers for African children to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death.
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That’s is what I love about God. He rewards humility and sacrifice, now, when Jesus walked in bare feet, and every time in between. Remember the story about the fishermen who fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus suggested they cast their nets one more time. The Bible says, “… they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” (Luke 5:6 NIV).

There is so much imagery in Whelliston’s story with tie-ins to the story in Luke, but no direct link. Enough good gym shoes to fill a fleet of fishing boats, but no direct Jesus. I wish it did. If it did, I know we’d be reading this story in the later rounds of the 2010 Amy Writing Awards, but without identifiable scripture, it doesn’t qualify and I am left a little short.

But don’t let my disappointment that detract from reading this excellent story. God and good deeds jump off the webpage, just from between the lines. Perhaps it's another causality of the web editor's pen. (I know, sometimes I need one.)

Whatever, read this article. Good job, Kyle!

First article of the New Year …

2009-01-13T13:09:00.002-05:00

Comes with a bang and I found it in the “Most Popular” section of the NYTimes.com website. The article, entitled, “Who Would Jesus Smack Down?,” written by Molly Worthen is about Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington.

(I must point out that this is not “the” Mars Hill Church, which I attend virtually through Pastor Rob Bell’s podcasts and audio books. The Mars Hill Church is in Grandville, Michigan, although you can download Mark Driscoll’s podcasts from iTunes U too.)

Worthen writes:

Mark Driscoll’s sermons are mostly too racy to post on GodTube, the evangelical Christian “family friendly” video-posting Web site. With titles like “Biblical Oral Sex” and “Pleasuring Your Spouse,” his clips do not stand a chance against the site’s content filters. No matter: YouTube is where Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, would rather be. Unsuspecting sinners who type in popular keywords may suddenly find themselves face to face with a husky-voiced preacher in a black skateboarder’s jacket and skull T-shirt. An “Under 17 Requires Adult Permission” warning flashes before the video cuts to evening services at Mars Hill, where an anonymous audience member has just text-messaged a question to the screen onstage: “Pastor Mark, is masturbation a valid form of birth control?”

Driscoll doesn’t miss a beat: “I had one guy quote Ecclesiastes 9:10, which says, ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.’ ” The audience bursts out laughing. Next Pastor Mark is warning them about lust and exalting the confines of marriage, one hand jammed in his jeans pocket while the other waves his Bible. Even the skeptical viewer must admit that whatever Driscoll’s opinion of certain recreational activities, he has the coolest style and foulest mouth of any preacher you’ve ever seen.
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Discroll’s rough side comes through in the article and Worthen does a masterful job explaining his Neo-Calvinistic message and how appeals to Seattle's downtrodden, people not welcome in most churches. There is controversy, but there is also Gospel in this well written feature. And scripture cited to, so it qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards.

I don’t know; I’m torn on this article because I am decidedly not Calvinist, but I cannot say enough good things about Worthen’s writing.

How about this: Driscoll can keep preaching predestination (hey, it’s working), I’ll keep listening to Rob Bell’s messages about “grace and peace,” and Molly, you keep up the good journalism!

ESPN the Magazine

2008-12-24T07:18:00.002-05:00

Here is an article in this month’s ESPN the Magazine has an amazing amount of Christmas without any Santa. Written by Rick Riley, the subtitle says it all, “There are some games where cheering for the other side feels better than winning.”

Riley writes:

They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.

It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.

Did you hear that? The other team's fans?

They even made a banner for players to crash through at the end. It said, "Go Tornadoes!" Which is also weird, because Faith is the Lions.

It was rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on—by name.
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Riley doesn’t dwell on the fact that the opposing team was Grapevine Faith "Christian" School in Grapevine, Texas (I don't think Christian was mentioned one time), or that, obviously, their acts of grace and kindness towards the Gainesville “maximum security students” were religiously motivated. He let their actions tell the story … a good sign of good writing.

This story moved me; it’s what we look for in the Amy Writing Awards, but unfortunately, the feature didn’t include an identifiable scripture, such as Hebrews 13:3: Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering (NIV).

Regardless, the article accomplished more than intended-- going beyond reporting to inspiring faith. Thank you, Rick Riley, for writing this excellent story.

Good book review, doesn't qualify

2008-12-23T10:48:00.005-05:00

Here is an article on the book, “Blind Spot: When Journalists Don't Get Religion," in the Wall Street Journal, written by Vincent Carroll, editorial-page editor of the Rocky Mountain News.

Carroll writes in the December 22, 2008 Wall Street Journal edition:

In a jarring misreading of the Islamist mentality, the New York Times last month described a Jewish center in Mumbai, India, as the "unlikely target" of the terrorists who attacked various locations there. "It is not known if the Jewish center was strategically chosen," the Times went on to declare, "or if it was an accidental hostage scene."

Paul Marshall would not be surprised by such stunningly naïve statements. In "Blind Spot: When Journalists Don't Get Religion" -- a collection of essays that he edited with Lela Gilbert and Roberta Green Ahmanson -- he notes that similar assertions have been common in the coverage of Islamic terrorism. The book's contributors explore all sorts of news stories with a religious component -- Islamic and otherwise -- showing where reporters have veered off course and discussing the reasons why.
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Although well written, Carroll’s article isn’t the type of journalism the Amy Writing Awards intends to recognize because it doesn’t include identifiable scripture and doesn’t promote a faith-based world view, only criticizes secular ones.

What his article does exceptionally well is identify why we have the Amy Writing Awards and this blog— that is, to promote knowledge representation of faith-based issues. To quote the Amy Foundation’s website:

The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program is designed to recognize creative, skillful writing that applies in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the biblical principles to issues affecting the world today, with an emphasis on discipling.

To be eligible, submitted articles must be published in a secular, non-religious publication (either printed or online) and must be reinforced with at least one passage of scripture.

Please don’t get me wrong, Carroll’s article is important because it demonstrates the need for more informed faith-based journalism, but it had the potential for excellent, in terms of Amy Writing Award entries, if it had turned from its sharp, accurate criticism to indentify why it is important to properly cover such issues, possibly providing an example of when mainstream media gets it right (and it does frequently). What’s more, it highlights a resource, Paul Marshall’s "Blind Spot: …”

I just wanted biblical truth and journalism’s sword in the same 950-word opinion.

100 blog posts and counting (12-18-08)

2008-12-18T18:29:00.003-05:00

This marks the 100th post on "The Best Christian Journalism on the Web" blog, which the Amy Foundation started a couple years ago to recognize good faith-based journalism with the hope of boosting Amy Writing Award submissions.

Well, mission accomplished. Last year, award entry submissions were up 25 percent and this year entries were up 7 percent with two months to go.

Along the way we found dozens of well written articles that qualified and a number that should have, but didn't (they missed by not including a piece of identifiable scripture). We also learned a great deal about online publication and, in 2008, we expanded the Amy Writing Awards to include qualifying entries that were only published online.

The plan is to continue blogging, possibly adding other contributors, all with the goal of connecting with more writers who connect with more readers by sharing their faith in print-- whether published in ink or pixels.

Thanks for reading.

Interesting Debate in Newsweek

2008-12-18T18:27:00.002-05:00

Newsweek organized a debate between Rick Warren, best selling Christian pastor, and Sam Harris, an up-and-coming apologist for Atheism. The excerpt-based article, titled “The God Debate,” starts this way:

The latest NEWSWEEK poll shows that 91 percent of American adults surveyed believe in God—and nearly half reject the theory of evolution. Also, Americans on John Edwards and the Senate's goal for troop withdrawal.

Rick Warren is as big as a bear, with a booming voice and easygoing charm. Sam Harris is compact, reserved and, despite the polemical tone of his books, friendly and mild. Warren, one of the best-known pastors in the world, started Saddleback in 1980; now 25,000 people attend the church each Sunday. Harris is softer-spoken; paragraphs pour out of him, complex and fact-filled—as befits a Ph.D. student in neuroscience. At NEWSWEEK's invitation, they met in Warren's office recently and chatted, mostly amiably, for four hours.
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The conversation is long and illuminating. I was disappointed to find the article did not qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, although the article comes close on internet webpage 7 when Warren quoted Jesus when he said, “I am the only way to God. I am the way to the Father.” Close paraphrase, but not close enough.

Still, the dialogue, which gets testy at times, is interesting. Give it a read!

A funny Op Ed in the NY Times

2008-11-25T15:09:00.002-05:00

I didn’t go looking for this article, it found me— “On a Ring and a Prayer,” New York Times, 11/25/08, written by Seth Freeman.

Freeman writes:

PLEASE listen carefully as this menu has changed.

For English press or say “One.” Para español oprima o diga “Dos.” For all other languages press or say “Three.”

One.

Thank you for your interest in our service. If this is a true spiritual emergency, please hang up and dial the number on the upper left-hand corner of the mailing label of your last solicitation. Otherwise, please stay on the line and your prayers will be
answered in the order in which they were received.

All right, let’s get started. For prayers of repentance press or say “Two.” For prayers of supplication press or say “Three.” For prayers of forgiveness press or say “Four.” For prayers of serenity press or say “Five.” For all other prayers press or say “Six.”
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This funny piece doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards because “... Vengeance is mine.” isn’t properly attributed to scripture (Romans 12:19 KJV), but it is a humorous piece. Given all the negativity that Op Ed pages printed over the past several months, pro- and anti-faith, this opinion is a pleasant surprise-- a spiritually-inspired note that makes readers laugh.

I'm just glad God doesn't use an answering service.

Thank you, Seth Freeman, for writing this.

God and Sex in the same article in the New York Times

2008-11-24T22:03:00.002-05:00

Okay, I admit it: I wasn’t drawn to this article because I was looking for qualifying Amy Writing Award entries. With a title of “Pastor’s Advice for Better Marriage: More Sex,” it is not surprising that Gretel Kovach’s article topped today's “Most Popular” list on the New York Times website.

Kovach writes:

And on the seventh day, there was no rest for married couples. A week after the Rev. Ed Young challenged husbands and wives among his flock of 20,000 to strengthen their unions through Seven Days of Sex, his advice was — keep it going.

Mr. Young, an author, a television host and the pastor of the evangelical Fellowship Church, issued his call for a week of “congregational copulation” among married couples on Nov. 16, while pacing in front of a large bed. Sometimes he reclined on the paisley coverlet while flipping through a Bible, emphasizing his point that it is time for the church to put God back in the bed.

“Today we’re beginning this sexperiment, seven days of sex,” he said, with his characteristic mix of humor, showmanship and Scripture. “How to move from whining about the economy to whoopee!”
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Kovach’s article is more than provocative; it deals with the real life struggle many marriages face— the lack of intimacy. The mainstream media typically portrays great sex as extra-material and separated from the friendship and shared faith a marriage can and should become. God intended when he designed marriage for our enjoyment (and his glory) and that is the message this article shares with the world.

The feature article in the NYTimes.com “U.S.” section does include scripture (2/3rds of the way down and provided as a reference in support of the story’s protagonists, Rev. Ed Young and his wife), so it does qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

I have to say its nice to read a pro-Christian news article about sex that is favorable to a pastor. That isn’t always the case.

Thank you, Gretel Kovach, for a sensational article. I hope to see it in the early rounds of the 2008 Amy Writing Awards. Please send in all your qualifying entries, and don’t delay. The postmark deadline is January 31, 2008— just 67 days away.

Excellent Veteran's Day feature (that doesn't qualify)

2008-11-11T15:02:00.002-05:00

Here is a very well-written article on two military chaplains that is a “must read,” and I don’t say that very often. The timely feature, published today, on Veteran’s Day, is written by Troy Moon in the Pensacola News Journal, entitled, “Faith in the face of war.”

Moon writes:

Two 50-something Episcopal priests at different St. John's churches in Rhode Island are sent to the Middle East to serve as military chaplains.

One serves as a Navy chaplain at a combat-support hospital in Kuwait. The other serves as an Army chaplain at military prisons in Iraq.

Less than three years after they're finished with their active-duty service, they end up at Episcopal churches in Pensacola, some six miles apart.

The Rev. C. Neal Goldsborough and the Rev. Jeffrey A. Jencks emerged from combat with similar perspectives: They firmly believe they have seen God — and his dark counterpart — on the blood-soaked battlefields and field hospitals of the Middle East.

It's Veterans Day, and the two priests say it's important that Americans remember that the sacrifice we ask of our young men and women overseas isn't just a physical sacrifice.
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The piece is full of God’s grace and truth, but unfortunately, I don’t see where Moon included identifiable scripture. Had it, I am sure we would see this article in the later rounds of the Amy Writing Awards. I am going to write Moon and tell him “job well done” and see if he has other articles that do qualify for this year’s awards program.

Keep up the good work, Troy!

Qualifying Article from Red Bluff Daily News (CA)

2008-11-08T21:00:00.001-05:00

Here is an well-written online article, entitled “God Talk: The cares of life,” written by Larry Jensen, published on The Red Bluff Daily News.

Jensen writes:

In this day and age you don't have to look long, or go very far to find the cares of life. The cares of this life can rise up and consume you very quickly. You can be going through life and everything is just going great and the next thing you know, you find yourself overwhelmed by all kinds of life's issues. The cares of this world can take on a lot of different forms. The economy, gas prices, the increase of day-to-day living, relationships, marriage, family, friends, health problems, cancer, flu, diabetes, migraines. The list can go on and on.

Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world we will have tribulation [trials, distress, frustration], but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" We will all face the issues of life. The question is what are you going to do when you're faced with a trial? If you're walking with God you can be of good cheer Why? Because Jesus said that he has overcome the world! Jesus overcame the world when he hung on the cross and paid the price for our redemption.

As a Christian, it is very liberating to know that whatever is going on around you, no matter how intense or huge the issue is, we serve the God who created the heavens and earth and He is well able to take good care of us.
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While this article is a little heavy on scripture (qualifying the article for the Amy Writing Awards), Jensen’s personal approach to drawing the reader in works for me. With all the crises in the world today, Jesus’ message is even more relevant, and Jensen does a good job sharing God’s truth and the importance of personal faith in troubling times.

Keep up the good work, Larry Jensen!

Article deals with current events and avoids getting political ...

2008-11-01T21:33:00.003-04:00

Pastor Steve DeYoung, in a Contra Costa Times article entitled “A good time to put faith in God,” writes:

The election season is upon us, with much at stake concerning the direction of our country. The moral fiber of our country seems to be crumbling, the economy is worse than it's been in many years, and few seem to be confident about the future. Democrats and Republicans alike feel the only hope is if their party wins.

But is there more at stake than just the election of a president or the passing of a few propositions? I believe there is more going on than meets the eye!

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:26-27: "At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, `Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."' The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken - that is; created things - so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
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It’ is a short article, by Amy Writing Award definition, but I appreciate how DeYoung draws in the reader using current events and deftly applies scripture to the worry and concern caused by the recent financial turmoil. It includes identifiable scripture, so it qualifies.

I’ll write DeYoung and let him know.

Keep writing, Steve!

Interesting Anomoly …

2008-10-27T13:51:00.002-04:00

Here a fiery anti-Christian faith rebuttal (agnostic leaning, I must say) that qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards because the author cites Biblical scripture while refuting a recent submission of a local Christian pastor.

Perry Mann of Hinton, WV, wrote the “MANN TALK: Evangelical Faith Is Full of Implausible Assumptions” on the HuntingtonNews.net website:

Pastor: “By the way, Jesus wasn’t railing against public prayer, because He prayed in public.”

Response: What would a preacher do if he had to pray in a closet and not in the church or on the corners of streets or everywhere else where the people could see and hear? It’s no wonder that the pastor has contrived a Jesuitical interpretation of Christ’s admonition in Matthew 6:6. How could Jesus have been more emphatic: “But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
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What’s more, Mann quotes the King James Version. You don’t see that every day, even from pro-Christian faith authors. For Christian writers everywhere, you have to take this as encouragement that you too can include scripture passages in your mainstream media writing and still get published!

While I disagree with Mann's assertions, I should thank, Perry Mann, for keeping God’s word in print.

Heartbreaking story … literally and figuratively

2008-10-27T03:38:00.004-04:00

These types of stories break my heart, not only because of the tale of apparent misguided justice, but because articles like “My Visit With Troy Davis, a Man Facing Death on October 27th,” which I found in on the Altnet.org website, would be an exceptional Amy Writing Award entry if it only cited identifiable scripture.

American Observer Writer Federica Valabrega’s clearly shares the faith of one Troy Davis, who recently received a stay of execution in Georgia. Valabrega writes:

I met Davis inside the walls of the prison for the first time, when, after a two-month correspondence, I decided to fly to Jackson to talk to him in person. I wanted to know for myself how someone could sleep at night, knowing that death might soon be whispering in his ears for a crime he says he did not commit.
The answer was more powerful than I had expected.
"My faith has taught me that if you give all your worries to God he will carry your burdens," Davis wrote in a letter to me sent the day after my visit. "It's God that carried me through death's valley and took my worries away."For Davis, faith is the door to freedom. Having faith makes you stronger than your family and able to support them more than they are supporting you, he said, because they are the ones who will be left behind once you are gone and you have to show them you are not afraid to die.
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The personal nature of the piece is profound and clearly moves the reader. The rare, but real tragedies of our justice system raises my awareness of Paul’s admonitions: “that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives” (I Timothy 2:1-2) and “remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3).

Sadly, I could not find where Valabrega cited identifiable scripture as she so deftly pleads Troy Davis’ case. Still, her writing had its impact, at least on me. I prayed for Davis and his case today and commit to doing so through his next scheduled date with execution, Oct. 27, 2008. It is reassuring that Davis is relying on the comfort of Christ Jesus as he faces his own death for a third time, knowing his eternal judgement is forever stayed and unconditional acceptance awaits him in the arms of his Savior.

Thank you, Federica, for reminding us to be vigilant for misguided justice and to pray for those behind prison walls, whether wrongly convicted or not.

"Pro anti-Atheism," if there is such a thing ...

2008-10-27T02:56:00.004-04:00

Once again, I’m trolling the internet, looking for signs of intelligent Christian commentary that is not related to the election, and I came across this online publication of a local pastor’s take on “Is Atheism a religion of faith?”

Pastor Mondo Gonzales writes about this provocative topic in the New Lenox Patriot:

"The fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God.'" Psalm 14:1
I think it is very important when having a dialogue not to resort to name calling or ad
hominem attacks. These are neither helpful nor kind in presenting an argument, but I want to share in this column why I think God has said this in His Word about those who reject His existence. First, I think it's important to define a couple of words. What is the definition of "religion" and "faith?"
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Starting out by labeling atheists “the fool” probably isn’t the most sensitive, reader-friendly approach to engaging in meaningful dialog, but the provocative nature of the article will draw attention. After reading several pro-atheist / agnostic articles, it’s on par with the "give what you get" genre.

I found the personal nature of Gonzales’ opinion more effective. The mid-section breaks off from the affront on atheism to explain how 1) Gonzales himself moved from atheism to his Christian faith and 2) how he reconciles evidence of natural selection with his views of "Young Earth" creationism.

That’s why I am recognizing Gonzales’ article as a qualifying entry in this year’s Amy Writing Awards. With two identifiable quotations of scripture, this opinion qualifies, and it may place strongly with the judges— I cannot say. But I like Gonzales use of personal experience to substantiate his position. Critics may argue with his take on science and atheism (they do, just read the reader comments), but they cannot argue with Gonzales’ personal experience as a basis for his choice to choose the God of the Bible over no god at all.

ESPN.com delivers ...

2008-10-16T22:32:00.002-04:00

With the online news outlets are clogged with political stories about faith and politics, it was refreshing to find a qualifying Amy Writing Awards article on ESPN.com, my haven from the election year storm.

Here is a very engaging article, titled "Bama's Smith humble, hungry and a maestro," about starting University of Alabama junior offensive tackle Andre Smith, written by Chris Low. Low starts his article strong:

They are the four words Alabama junior offensive tackle Andre Smith lives his life by: Pride comes before destruction.
Smith knows exactly where to find them in his Bible -- Proverbs 16:18. But he's been hearing them since he was a little boy from his mother, Nesa.
Andre Smith is a force to be reckoned with along the Alabama offensive line. "My mom always said, 'Don't let your mouth praise you. Let somebody else praise you,'" Smith said. "Being boastful and saying you're going to do this and do that in an arrogant way always ends up blowing up in your face.
Read more>>

As you read the article, football and Smith’s NFL prospects take precedent, but this sure-to-be draft pick’s faith shines through. I’m going email Low and tell him I appreciated the faith perspective of the story, and let him know that his article qualifies for the Amy Writing Award.

Web-based articles now qualify ... OKAY, NOT EXACTLY

2008-09-10T07:05:00.003-04:00

Retraction: I talked with the initial screener for the Amy Writing Awards, and technically this article doesn't qualify because the scripture quoted was not in quotations and was obsecured in such a way to not attribute the quotation to scripture. It would have qualified if the author had placed quotation marks around "what is man that you are mindful of him" (found at the end of the post) or cited its reference (i.e., Psalm 8:4). For the record, scripture cited in the title of opinions and articles do not qualify the article for the Awards; it must be in the body of the article. Scripture "tacked" onto articles may qualify the piece, but doesn't win you many points with the judges.

Here is an excellent example of a web-based newspaper column—a “blog” by any other name—that now qualifies for the 2008 Amy Writing Awards. Author Bob Haynes recently posted the entry, titled “Fables and Faith: What is man that ‘you’ are mindful of him” on the Benton County Daily Record’s website (9-8-09). The new rules on electronically published articles can be found at www.amyfound.org under "Amy Writing Awards."

71 year-old Haynes writes:

Lots of folks have pondered the answer to that question, me included. John Wesley said it much more eloquently than I could when he said: "For what end is life bestowed upon the children of men? Why were we sent into the world? Then he said: "We were sent for one sole end, and for no other, to prepare for eternity. For this alone we live..."
Read more>>

The author deals with a relevant topic for all of us, even us 39 year olds. Instead of asking “where has all the time gone” or regretting what we haven’t done, Haynes’ article encourages us to consider why God made us who we are and gave us the life that he did.

Typical of web-based columns, Haynes article has some spacing issues. My fellow Amy Foundation judges and I take a holistic approach to rating articles and mark down articles that have typos (even though this blog has several, I know).

Regardless, I am enthused to find a web-based article, on a relevant topic, that qualifies under the new rules.

Keep up the great work, Bob!

Good Article that doesn’t Qualify

2008-08-10T14:24:00.002-04:00

Here is well written article in the Quad City Times (Davenport, IA), entitled, “Strong men, stronger faith: Religion plays central role in many local athletes' lives .” Sports writer Nate Taylor draws readers with this opening stanza:

It is a Sunday afternoon and the Quad-Cities River Bandits are an hour away from game time.

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Class A affiliate sit in the clubhouse and watch the parent club play the San Diego Padres.

Right-fielder Adron Chambers watches the clock turn 4 p.m., and walks into a hallway. Then, he walks back into the main locker room and alerts his teammates.

“Hey guys,” he says. “Come on. It’s time to meet.”
Read more>>

I found the article to be interesting and timely with the Olympics running "24/7," baseball season in full swing, and football in pre-season. It clearly articulates a message on the importance of faith, especially in the lives of the athletes Taylor interviews.

Unfortunately, Taylor’s article doesn’t include identifiable scripture, which is essential for qualifying for the Amy Writing Awards. I am going to email and make sure he is aware of the Amy program and see if he has articles that do qualify.

Keep up the good sports writing, Nate!

Qualifying Article in the Cincinnati Inquirer

2008-07-27T19:19:00.002-04:00

Here is a tribute in the Cincinnati Inquirer written for Katie Reider, an up-and-coming Christian musician who recently passed away. “Katie Reider still connects,” was written by Lauren Bishop and appeared today, July 27, 2008.

Bishop writes:

Through it all - her career as a singer and songwriter; her life as a mother, partner, sister and daughter; and her two-year battle with a rare tumor that took away her vision in her left eye, her voice and ultimately her life - Katie Reider wanted to be three things: Real. Transparent. Vulnerable.

That was the message that Reider's longtime friend, Dan Stroeh, delivered Saturday to the 900 people who filled the lower level of Crossroads church in Oakley to remember her. The Montgomery native died July 14 in New Jersey at age 30.

By all accounts, Reider succeeded. Her realness, transparency and vulnerability shone through in the lyrics of her songs on four albums, but even more so when she performed those songs live. She had an extraordinary ability to connect with her audience, friends and family members say.
Read more>>

Bishop’s story is well written and connects with an audience beyond those who new Reider (I didn’t, but I was touched by the article).

The article is an excellent example of the type of stories we promote with the Amy Writing Awards, for which the article qualifies. Bishop smartly includes Reider’s favorite scripture verse by quoting Reider’s longtime friend, Dan Stroeh, who spoke at her memorial service:

Reider was tired, frustrated and sad in her last days, but she took solace in her favorite Bible verse, Joshua 1:9, Stroeh said. The verse, projected large on Crossroads' video screens, reads in part: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

I am going to write Bishop and congratulate on the article and remind her that entry in the Amy Writing Awards is free and writers are allowed to submit 10 articles/opinions per year with a deadline of 12/31/2008 for publication and 1/31/2009 for entry submission.

Keep up the good writing, Lauren!

Excellent Web Article on USAToday.com

2008-07-22T20:43:00.003-04:00

A Google News search turned up the following article on USA Today's Blog (7/21/08), wrestling with the age old question of why God allows suffering. Michael Novak writes a personally persuasive opinion, entitled, “Reconciling evil with faith,” where he argues that shedding one’s belief in a loving God when faced with pervasive evil doesn’t make evil any less prevalent or faith any less relevant.

Novak writes:

The New Yorker (of all magazines) gave a good number of pages early last month to a quite brilliant book reviewer, James Wood, for a long essay on why he could no longer be a Christian. Stories like his are widespread. They usually cite the natural evils that too often crash upon humans — in China a stupefying earthquake, in Burma a cyclone, elsewhere tsunami, or tornado, disease, flood, or cruel slow-working famine. They then add the evils that humans inflict upon other humans.

Virtually every family in America has suffered from painful evils, often bitterly and almost overpoweringly so: A promising young nephew in a major university killed in an auto crash; a wife, husband, or sister wasted slowly and painfully by cancer or some other affliction — drug or alcohol addiction; the Alzheimer's disease of an unrecognizing spouse; nightmares from brutalities suffered under distant dictatorial regimes.
Read more >>

Novak’s piece is commanding because he takes time to set up his central argument by embracing the deep disappointment experienced by Jewish and Christian believers when confronted with tragedy. The mix of historic crimes and news making tragedies interlaced with personal decisions to leave one’s faith makes for a compelling storyline and thrusts the reader into the central argument of Novak’s opinion:

Would a conviction that our sufferings are meaningless, and due to blind chance, ease the pain of the poor and the unjustly tortured? Raging against the night seems to be an evasion of reality.

What’s more, Novak’s powerful opinion is clearly supported by scripture (“When Jesus said: ‘Ask and you shall receive,’ he did not mean you will get what you pray for, …”), which qualifies it for the Amy Writing Awards (thanks to the Foundation's new guidelines for accepting online publications).

I am going to recommend to Novak that he submit the article and I hope to see it in the later rounds of this year’s contest. His article renews my faith in Christianity’s light shining in the media’s often secular darkness. By far, his opinion is one the best I’ve found on the web this year.

Qualifying Article in the NY Times

2008-07-14T14:14:00.002-04:00

Here is a qualifying article in the New York Times from July 6, 2008, entitled “Ancient Tablet Ignites Debate on Messiah and Resurrection,” written by Ethan Bronner. The story explains how the discovery of a 36 inch tablet is challenging traditional views that the messianic story came from outside Judaism.

Bronner writes:

JERUSALEM — A three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew that scholars believe dates from the decades just before the birth of Jesus is causing a quiet stir in biblical and archaeological circles, especially because it may speak of a messiah who will rise from the dead after three days.

If such a messianic description really is there, it will contribute to a developing re-evaluation of both popular and scholarly views of Jesus, since it suggests that the story of his death and resurrection was not unique but part of a recognized Jewish tradition at the time.
Read more>>

I have to admit, I started reading the story to see if it would qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, but the quality of writing and the subject compelled me to read it twice before remembering why I was reading the story.

Then I found it, at the tail end of the piece, I found a paragraph referencing the Book of Daniel and quoting chapter 8, verse 25 (NIV):

To whom is the archangel speaking? The next line says “Sar hasarin,” or prince of princes. Since the Book of Daniel, one of the primary sources for the Gabriel text, speaks of Gabriel and of “a prince of princes,” Mr. Knohl contends that the stone’s writings are about the death of a leader of the Jews who will be resurrected in three days.

I was so encouraged to find the article qualified because it appealed to me as a reader and a believer. How important the discovery of the tablet is to uniting the Jewish and Christian faiths, time will tell, but without this article, readers wouldn't have the opportunity to contemplate the promising answer.

Online Articles from Mainstream News Sources Welcome

2008-06-02T14:45:00.001-04:00

Attention: The Amy Foundation has augmented its Amy Writing Award rules to include online publications affiliated with traditional, mainstream media

SUPPLEMENTAL CONTEST RULES FOR ONLINE ARTICLES ONLY
Beginning with the 2008 Amy Writing Awards, we will also accept articles that have been published on the web pages of mainstream, non-religious newspaper, news or e-magazine websites as determined by the Amy Writing Awards panel. Articles published in print, as well as those published online will be judged in one contest. There will not be a separate award for online submissions.
If your submission did not appear in print but was posted on a mainstream, non-religious newspaper, news or e-magazine website, the rules remain the same as for those articles that appeared in print with the following additional rules:
Only online articles that appear on mainstream, non-religious news or
e-magazine websites as determined by the Amy Writing Awards panel will be
accepted. Decisions of the judges are final.
Articles or entries from “blogs” or newsletters are not eligible.

Only entries sent in a printed format on paper exactly how they appeared on
the website will be accepted. URL addresses of columns will not be
accepted as an entry. Articles must be sent via US Mail, not via
email.

Almost qualifying article dealing with grief (June 1, 2008)

2008-06-01T16:03:00.004-04:00

Here is an "almost" qualifying article related to loss of a child and the impact on personal faith. The article, titled “After devastating loss, many people find solace in religious beliefs,” appeared in The Tennessean today, June 1, and was written by staff writer Bob Smietana.

Smietana writes:

Everybody dies.

For most people, life follows an orderly pattern that ends, after a number of years, in death. But when that pattern is broken and the natural order of things collapses, people tend to search for answers.

It can be as diverse as the premature loss of a middle-age spouse or the inexplicable death of a child, as in the recent accident that claimed the life of 5-year-old Maria Chapman, daughter of Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman.

Most question the meaning of their loss in quiet privacy. But sometimes the spotlight shines on people of faith — often leaders of their religious community — who fall victim to life's tragedies and find themselves awash in public curiosity and scrutiny.
Read more>>

Smietana draws people in by citing the recent death of Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter's tragic death, a story that topped the internet search logs for several days. But instead of staying with the popular story, the author goes on to contrast several people’s reactions to faith because of the death of their children. This challenged me to think what would happen to my faith if one of my children died-- the test of a well written article.

I also appreciated the delicate way the author handled telling real life stories of families who have undergone the unthinkable tragedy. Smietana quotes one grieving father as saying:

"There's a picture that some have of God as the Almighty Ant Farmer," Mike Rayson said. "He is up there with a magnifying glass, watching what everybody does."

He said some think of God as a deity who would send a ray of burning light through the magnifying glass to see what would happen to one of the ants.

"That's not the picture of God that I have at all," he said.

Instead, the Raysons said, their faith supported them in their grief. They said it doesn't erase the pain, "but it does make it one step under intolerable," Rayson said. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust — you never expect to say those words over your child's body.''

I highlighted the small, but poignant burial rite that, for me, ties the entire piece together by relating personal experience to the promise that God cares about our grieving and loss. Unfortunately, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" is not scripture, but a loose interpretation of Genesis 18:27.

Including scripture would have qualifies Smietana’s piece for the Amy Writing Awards. Typically, including a key passage within the context of someone’s suffering makes the article more accessible as well as the universal truth of God’s comfort in this suffering which is the underlying premise of the article.

Good article that misses the point (and doesn't qualify ...)

2008-06-01T15:43:00.003-04:00

Here is a very informative article on the next generation of Christian evangelicals that ultimately misses the point. Faith in Christ is about accepting his salvation and living out his teachings and not about crusading for political, social, or environmental causes, how ever worthy.

The New York Times article to which I refer is “Taking Their Faith, but Not Their Politics, to the People” and was written by Neela Banerjee. While the story starts in the right direction, it quickly gets distracted by presidential and environmental politics.

Banerjee writes:

ST. LOUIS — Southern Baptists, as a rule, do not drink. But once a month, young congregants of the Journey, a Baptist church here, and their friends get together in the back room of a sprawling brew pub called the Schlafly Bottleworks to talk about the big questions: President Bush, faith and war, the meaning of life, and “what’s wrong with religion.”

“We go where people are because we feel like Jesus went to the people,” said the Rev. Darrin Patrick, founder of the Journey.
“That’s where people are having their conversations about things that matter,” the Rev. Darrin Patrick, senior pastor and founder of the Journey, said about the talks in the bar. “We go where people are because we feel like Jesus went to the people.”
Read more>>

The article does a solid job of identifying the political fracturing of young evangelical’s long-held political beliefs, which I beleive is allowing God’s message to transcend ideology.

What is missing is a mention of God's message of salvation and hope. One verse that came to mind while reading the piece is: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17 NIV)

This verse helps me, as a reader, understand that God does not intend for us to get tangled in the politics of this world and forget our number one priority, which is sharing the Good News of God’s saving work.

I did find the article encouraging, informative, and well written. I would have loved to read it as an Amy Writing Award entry, but with no scripture it doesn’t qualify.

Qualify Article that needs to get Personal

2008-04-23T06:55:00.002-04:00

Here is a qualifying article in the Muskogee Phoenix by Barrett VanLandingham, titled “God consistent in seasons of change.”

Barrett writes:

Unless you're someone like my brother who likes to brag about riding his motorcycle in the cold, wind, and rain, most of us “casual bikers” are looking forward to at least a few days of consistent weather of the drier variety.
Sometimes I wonder how such a consistent, dependable, un-changing God can be the God of such inconsistency, especially when it comes to Oklahoma weather. After all, the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.”
Read more>>

As you can see, Barrett’s article starts out with a solid opening, but like may Christian writings do, the story takes a turn away from the personal, i.e., Barrett as a “casual biker,” which is what drew me into the story, to tell the biblical story of Jonah.

I know the story of Jonah; it inspires me (even this week I was considering the biblical account, wondering if I am satisfied with God even when bad things come my way). But as a reader, I want to know how Barrett deals with “inclement weather” in his life.

I want to know how he handles problems at work or at home or when a child that doesn’t follow after God after “raising him up in the way he should go.” It’s in Barrett’s life that God’s Word comes to life, and I want to see it.

I am going to write Barrett and congratulate him on winning the battle and getting published with an Amy Writing Award-qualifying article. I am also going to encourage him to draw the reader into his life and make his point by personal example.

Keep up the good work, Barrett. You accomplished the hard work of getting published with God's Word promeniently displayed. Now bring it home by making it personal.

Front page of my local paper …

2008-03-23T16:37:00.003-04:00

Knowing it’s Easter, I expected to find hundreds of good articles on faith choking my Google Reader, but I didn’t need to log on to find an excellent article on Christian baptism. A quick walk through the snow to my mailbox allowed me to find God's good news on the cover of the Lansing State Journal.

Kathleen Lavey’s story, titled “Born again: For many, baptism is new beginning,” took up two-thirds of page. I have admired Kathleen’s writing on faith since my days working full time for the Amy Foundation, and I have been watching for one of her stories to qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

Today's article qualified with its sub-caption: "For we were buried with Him by means of baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead … so we may also walk in newness of life. -- Romans 6:4".

Kathleen writes:

Allison Davis was ready to make a statement about what she believes.

So she took a leap of faith last Sunday - into the baptismal font at New Hope Church in Haslett.

"It's me telling the world that I am a Christian and telling the world that I am committed to living a Christian life," said Davis, 22, of East Lansing.

Today, most Christians celebrate Easter, the holiest and most joyous holiday of the church season. It commemorates the day they believe Jesus - put on trial, beaten and crucified to redeem the sins of humankind - rose from the dead.

Davis is among a nationwide group of Christians who are using the Easter season to declare their faith through baptism or by formally joining a church.
Read More>>

What I have always liked about Kathleen’s writing is her even-handed, personal approach to faith issues, such as baptism. After starting with a current event (i.e., Allison Davis's baptism), she includes a section on the historical roots of baptism and explains both protestant and catholic perspectives.

Kathleen’s article ends where it begins with Davis’s testimony of why she decided to be baptized and what it means to her faith:

"I was the kind of person who would worry and stress about things. (Now) there is a higher power who takes the stress off of me," she said. "I try to live my life in a Christian sense. I've stopped gossiping about people. Certain things that seemed so important to me before seem to be like little things you don't need in your life now."

This is an engaging, well written, Amy Writing Award-qualifying article. Good job, Kathleen, keep up the good work!

Qualifying article in the Journal Gazette / Times Courier

2008-03-02T21:08:00.002-05:00

Here is a qualifying article in the Journal Gazette / Times Courier (serving Mattoon and Charleston, Illinois, by Pastor Brian Miller. The article is titled, “Abraham's story about faith lived in real life.”

Miller writes:

Abraham’s story is an honest one. It is a story about faith. And within this faith, there is sex and violence, mistakes and doubts, poor decisions and wrong decisions. It isn’t a religious faith. It is a faith lived out in a real life… like we have to do.
Faith is something we develop.

Faith is something that changes us.

Faith is so much more than a “yes” or “no” on God.

After 35 to 40 years of faith, God has asked Abraham to give up so much. He had to give up his home. He had to give up his extended family. He had to give up his first son, Ishmael. And that was no easy task.
Read More>>

I am going to write Pastor Miller and let him know that, because his article includes identifiable scripture, it qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards. It is a good attempt to share God's word in the mainstream media.

Brian, keep writing!

Interesting, Non-Qualifier

2008-03-01T19:45:00.003-05:00

Here is an interesting article chronicling the reversal of fortunes between science and faith. Gail Holley, in the Northeast Missouri Daily Journal, in an article titled, “Science and Faith not mutually exclusive,” writes:

In the Middle Ages there was a phrase that largely summed up how people thought. It was "Faith seeking understanding."

Faith, in this age, was the great, unassailable "given," the basis for truth. Clearly, so the thinking went, God existed. His exploits were there for us to read in the Bible and, to the extent that it thought we needed to, the church was there to tell us how to understand him.

Humanity's understanding of nature, astronomy, and the human body, was, at best, in its infant stages. Philosophy and science were the helpmeets, the subordinates of faith and their roles were enobled by the extent to which they supported it. Figuring out how the world fit into the parameters of faith was the purpose of study and "science." Humans were gifted with intelligence so that they could flesh out exactly how or why God made things the way he did.
Read More>>

Holley does a good job drawing in readers and making the argument that science and faith aren’t necessarily juxtaposed.

Unfortunately, Holley didn’t include identifiable scripture. One passage on God’s “reasoning” comes to mind:

Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 AMP)

This verse reminds us that God doesn’t take issue humans trying to figure out his creation (i.e., science and reason); he just doesn’t want us to overlook our separation from him because of sin. He is more than willing to forgive us and accept us, even to extend an peace offering in the form of his Son, if we will just accept his truth.

Without a scripture citation, however, Holley’s well-written piece doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards. I am going to email Galen with information on how to write award-winning pieces in the future.

Keep up the good writing!

Criticism is harder to receive than give …

2008-02-12T21:46:00.005-05:00

Blogging on good faith-based journalism is a lonely business. If I am fortunate, a thankful writer will respond positively to me pointing out a qualifying article for the Amy Writing Awards. On occasion, I receive positive feedback when pointing out how an unqualified opinion or article could have qualified.

But most of the interaction happens by email and not in comments, which is what blogging is all about. I have been challenged to figure out how to get more comments and interaction.

That changed this week when I received the following comment:

This phrase seems to contradict what "bump" is trying to say:

"...knowing we have to overcome evil with good, good writing with bad, and good faith with what’s not so good."

When we are writing about writing, we need to exemplify it, especially by critically proofreading our own writing.

The post came from someone new to Blogger this month and took issue with my criticism of a questionable sample of Christian journalism in my piece titled, “What we are not looking for …”

Although I figured the target of my initial rant must have discovered my critique and fired back, I took the criticism hard, going back over the comment and over my blog post, trying to figure out what I had said that elicited such a response.

Since I don't have editorial support, I tapped a friend with strong editing skills and she pointed out that I used the word “through” instead of “throw.” Honest spell-checking error, I admit.

My friend suggested that I could have included scripture to make my case:

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2)

That one hit me between the eyes since including scripture is the key component to a AWA qualifying article or opinion.

She also suggested that my closing statement could been rewritten:

It is my hope that fellow Christian writers will see articles like this one and feel challenged to share the good news even more. We know we have to overcome evil with good, implementing better writing and our faith.

In those brief comments, my friend confirmed what I already knew: people are much more accepting of constructive criticism when they are seeking advice or when it's positively put, and much less so when they find their published work criticized publicly.

For this I would like to apologize to the original author I criticized. That is not the way to encourage good writing and I have learned a valuable lesson: criticism is harder to receive than give.

Good, nonqualifying article

2008-02-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting story in the Des Moines Register (1/28) written by Erin Crawford, entitled “Jason Rich keeps faith in God, looks to 'American Idol' for fame.”

Crawford writes:

Christian singer/songwriter Jason Rich, a 21-year-old from Dike, wasted no time in adding “2008 American Idol contestant” to his biography.

Tuesday night's episode of the hit talent contest on the Fox network will feature auditions in Omaha, Neb., that were held in August 2007. Viewers may get to see footage of Rich, who sang a country song, Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing At All.”

“I’m not really a country singer,” he said. “I’m a contemporary Christian artist with a fairly progressive acoustic style.
Read more>>

I was drawn to the article because I watched a segment of this year’s American Idol (AI) preliminary round (Philadelphia) and I know there has been some complaints about AI producers tease up the emotions of contestants.

I thought the article was well written, general interest grabbing, and portrayed the protagonist’s faith in real world terms. This is just the type of article we are looking for in the Amy Writing Awards.

Unfortunately, the article does not contact a piece of identifiable scripture, which is a critical component in qualifying.

I will email Erin and let her know about the contest and qualifying requirements so may be we’ll see some of her articles qualify.

Keep up the good work, Erin!

Now playing on GodTube

2008-01-13T11:50:00.001-05:00

Here is a great story about GodTube—a Christian response to YouTube—written Stephanie Shapiro for the Baltimore Sun, entitled, “Clicking with Jesus,” (1/13/08).

Stephanie writes:

Spend an hour on GodTube.com and you'll find that God is in the details of thousands of videos. He is benevolent. He is angry. He is forgiving. He is grief-stricken. He is ecstatic. He supports Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul, too. He is there for Britney Spears, and He wants to save gay people from unholy desires.

Created in the image of YouTube, the Christian video-sharing site presents a God of unlimited dispositions. "A Letter from Hell," a fire-and-brimstone drama chronicling the fate of a teen drunken driving victim, suggests a judgmental God. "Little Girl and Psalm 23," a home video of a toddler reciting the song's sacred words, argues for a God who meets cute. In "That's My King!" the late preacher S.M. Lockridge's cadenced catalog of deific virtues, God is praised as all of the above - and more.
Read more>>

The article does a wonderful job exploring the complex nature of an online Christian community where varying ideology and theology mix to create a rich online tapestry of Christ.

But for all the good GodTube.com achieves in encouraging personal expressions of faith in new forms of media, it stands as an example opposite of what the Amy Foundation, through the Amy Writing Awards, is trying to encourage, which is the sharing of one’s Christian faith, reinforced with scripture, in the mainstream media.

How easy is it to stand in front of your church and share your faith when you consider sharing it at a football game or at a work conference or across the street at your neighbor’s house?

Just like the local church, however, we need sites like GodTube to encourage people’s faith. It is my hope that those posting on GodTube, also post on YouTube too, so that their faith with “shine before [all] men” (Matt 5:16).

Stephanie’s interesting and engaging article is exactly the time of Christian journalism, published in the mainstream press, that we celebrate through the annual Amy Writing Awards. Unfortunately, I didn’t see where her writing included a piece of identifiable scripture, so the article doesn’t technically qualify for the 2008 Awards.

Stephanie, great job, keep up the good work, and try to work scripture in next time!

What we’re not looking for …

2008-01-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I struggle with the title of our blog, “the best Christian journalism on the web,” simply because we are trying to highlight people sharing their faith more so than excellent writing. (We definitely take both faith and good writing when we can get it.)

Unfortunately, I run across the combination of bad faith and writing all the time. Let me share a sample I found today:

Many today are seeking fame and fortune. Remember the television show "Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous"?

When you see these so called fortunate people, do you think that they are really peaceful, content and happy? Or are they always wanting more, bigger and better things for themselves?

Look at the bad young girls of Hollywood today. They have got the amenities, but are they content and happy? Their fame and fortune seems to be destroying them on every level.

Their debauchery and low lifestyles are pictured in magazines, on television and in the gossip rags at every grocery store checkout lanes. Their notorious living gets top billing and front-page coverage.

(There’s more … a little later in the 318-word opinion, the author calls “them” “losers.”)

What is so troubling is that this judgmental, angry rant clearly comes from someone with a Christian faith perspective. The writer even references—but doesn’t quote—scripture (I Timothy 1:12, which it doesn't fit) to support her rant against the evil she sees in the world.

While clearly I agree with the writer that the fame and fun pursued by the Hollywood set is fleeting and self-destructive, I question whether she considers her audience as she caustically shares her perspective on God's truth. How many people read to the very end to reach the author’s salient conclusion: “Which is the better choice -- fame or faith? Fortune or faithfulness to God? One is temporal and the other is eternal.”

What makes me frustrated as I read is the opportunities destroyed by carelessness when we through out insults like, "so called," "low life," "gossip rags," and a little later, "losers."

Too many times people are turned off to God’s Good News of grace and peace by our offensive and angry rhetoric. Jesus told us that “… the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10), not to offend them.

It is my hope that fellow Christian writers will see articles like this one and feel challenged to share the good news even more, knowing we have to overcome evil with good, good writing with bad, and good faith with what’s not so good.

Keep writing!

solid, non-qualifying article in the Indianapolis Start

2008-01-12T17:29:00.000-05:00

Here is a solid, non-qualifying Amy Writing Award article, written by Tom Enrich for the Indianapolis Star, entitled, “Transformation is necessary to better ourselves, communities” (1/12/08).

Enrich writes:

In the Church Wellness Project (www.churchwellness.com), we talk about three aspects of membership development: recruitment, retention and transformation.

The first two can be clearly, if inelegantly, stated as bringing new members in the front door and keeping them from going out the back door.

Both need to be in balance. It does no good to focus so much on new members that existing members feel abandoned and unloved. Nor can we be so solicitous of existing members that newcomers feel unwelcome and invisible.

It is the third activity -- transformation -- that is difficult to pursue and measure.

The point of Christian community could be stated, variously, as new life, repentance, winning the victory over self, seeking forgiveness, learning to love, becoming God's agent in justice, making a positive difference with one's life, accepting God's better ways of living, or allowing God's reign to commence in one's life.
Read more>>

Tom does a good job introducing and pursing an important topic— the need for transformational change in ourselves and our churches. Unfortunately, he doesn’t use a passage of scripture to assert his claim, such as:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, TNIV)

We are not just promoting the inclusion of scripture so that an article qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards. No, including scripture ratchets up the authority of Enrich’s argument, from that of a well-meaning local pastor to an all-knowing, all-caring God.

I will write Tom Enrich and encourage him to keep sharing his transformational message and support it with God’s word.

Keep up the good work, Tom!

Qualifying entry in Burbank Leader

2008-01-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

Here is an Amy Writing Award- qualifying article, titled “Family Faith: Consider outcome of your choices,” written by Rev. Kimberlie Zakarian in the Burbank Leader (1/11/08).

Zakarian writes:

Choices. What does this word cause you to consider? As soon as I see or hear this word, I think of the life choices that I can decide to make — or not make — that will affect my life and the lives of those I am in contact with. I also think of the discipline my choices require and how they will shape the future.

Our lives are full of choices. Some are crucial and quick. In a split second, we can choose to give in to temptation, and sin, or to abstain. Perceptively, we will pay the consequences of a bad choice or be blessed by a good one. Other choices can be less vital, like whether to have that third cup of coffee in the morning when you are already behaving like an edgy drill sergeant to your family.
Read more>>

Kimberlie practices good form by introducing an important topic that the average reader can relate to— making good choices. After she develops her argument, she supports it with a relevant scripture in a “non-preachy” way. (i.e., "Should we choose God’s way in our daily decisions? Proverbs 8:10 tells us this: “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than gold.”)

Good job, Kimberlie!

Qualifying Article in The News Journal

2008-01-06T15:38:00.000-05:00

Here is another well-written, qualifying article I found in the The News Journal (Wilmington, DE), titled, “Teens live for faith, prayer, rock 'n' roll.”

Dan Shortridge writes:

Four thousand heads simultaneously bowed in prayer. Eight thousand clasped hands rose high.

But the solemn silence filling the cavernous room was the exception Saturday, as this resort town played host to a gathering of thousands of United Methodist youths and adults from across the region, whipping them into a frenzy of faith.

The event's message was one of good works and religion in action: "No matter how old you are, God can use you," the Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball told the teens. "God can work through you, too."

Yet make no mistake: Teenagers being teenagers, the big draw for many was the music.
Read more>>

Later in the story, Shortridge tells how the organizers arrived at the conference’s “whatever” theme:

The theme for the event, "Whatever," was not a slogan for the slacker generation, but instead an exhortation from Colossians: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

This clear scripture citation qualifies the article for the Amy Writing Awards. I know it’s early, but I have a good feeling about 2008 in terms of finding good stories like Shortridge’s on the internet.

Keep up the good work, Dan!

First qualifying article of 2008

2008-01-06T14:22:00.001-05:00

Here is a powerful story, titled “Faith carried teen through battle against leukemia,” about a teenager who fought leukemia with faith.

Kelly Bothum, columnist for The Daily Times (Salisbury, MD), writes:

For 17 months, she fought like a warrior. But now, Kaylyn Warren was tired. Tired of staying in the hospital, connected to so many tubes and wires. Tired of the cancer-fighting cocktails that made her tongue swell and her skin blister.

Tired of the weakness and shortness of breath that usually meant she needed another blood transfusion. Tired of spiking a fever, the tell-tale sign of an infection somewhere in her body. But most of all, Kay was tired of the leukemia cells that kept invading her blood and marrow, despite everything her doctor tried.

She wanted to go home. No more needle sticks, no more IVs, no more chemotherapy. Just a comfortable bed, familiar surroundings and the chance to say goodbye to the people she loved who had spent the last 17 months rallying behind the brown-haired beauty with the heavenly voice and the faith to match it.
Read more>>

I like how Bothum introduces the pivotal role faith plays in Kaylyn Warren’s cancer fight and how she relates the power of God’s word to support her struggle:

Kay had lived the first 17 years of her life trusting in the Bible verse from Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. She didn't plan on giving up that faith now that she needed it most. She believed God had a purpose behind her illness even if she didn't understand why.

Bothum’s article is a touching, must-read story, and hers is the first qualifying article I have found in 2008. I am going to write her and encourage her to submit for the Amy Writing Awards and to keep up the good work all year.

Good job, Kelly!

Associated Press Article that ...

2007-12-30T17:27:00.000-05:00

Doesn't qualify.

Here is an excellently presented story about the Potter’s Clay, a faith-based, addictions treatment program operated in South Carolina’s prison system. In the story titled, “Faith-based program helps SC prisoners combat addictions,” Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard tells about the program's success in the life of Brian Shores, a recovered drug addict. I found the inspiring story in The Charlotte Observer.

Kinnard writes:

In and out of prison for the past 30 years, Brian Shores had all but given up hope that he'd ever have a life without crime. His temper, coupled with a dependency on alcohol and drugs, landed the Aiken County man in prison time and again, most recently for aggravated assault and battery and threatening a public official.

But Shores, who is to be released Monday after a five-year stint in a South Carolina prison, says he now has a new lease on life thanks to the solace he's found in a faith-based prison recovery program.

"I'm here because God sent me here," said Shores, 52, his forearms covered in the swirling black tattoos worn by many inmates. "I know about drug addiction and alcoholism. And I guess it just takes whenever you finally hit bottom and you give up. You've got nothing left but God."
Read more>>

Kinnard’s article is an excellent example of how a journalist can present the truth of Christ within the bounds of professional journalism. Unfortunately, the piece does not include an identifiable scripture, so it doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards (AWA).

Here is the advice I give would-be AWA finalists, like Kinnard, seeking to submit a news item as opposed to an opinion piece, which would provide more latitude: include the scripture as part of an interviewee quotation.

Meg, keep up the good work!

Excellent, non-qualifying story on Santa

2007-12-30T17:02:00.001-05:00

Here is an excellent story of why we have a Santa Claus tradition. “God Talk: History lesson: Saint Nicholas, a servant of Christ,” written by Jay Nelson and published in the Red Bluff Daily News (Tehama County, California), tells the story of how Turkish-born St. Nicholas became Santa Claus.

Nelson writes:

What about Santa Claus? With our young children, it is fun to pretend there is this guy with eight tiny reindeer who lives at the North Pole. He delivers presents to every single household in the world all in one night! Just as other things, this will fade with age.
There is concern that the celebration of Christ's birth during this season will be overshadowed by the anticipation of gifts, and the prominence of a make-believe "gift-bringer." It is imperative that we discuss the historic figure of St. Nicholas with our children. Not so much Clement Moore's depiction of "a right jolly old elf," with rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes, but of the real man who lived a life devoted to God.

Between the blend of fact and legend, one thing is clear. He was a man of action, living out his Christian faith in word and deed. In all accounts, Bishop Nicholas would have readily agreed, the greatest gift ever given to mankind is salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Read more>>

This well written article is very informative and encourages people of Christian faith to believe in the spirit of Santa Claus, even while we are dissappointed at Santa's increasing secularization and materialization.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see where Nelson cited the “holy scriptures,” to which his opinion referred several times. That means the article wouldn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, even though it is one of the better articles I have read this year.

I am going to write Jay and encourage him to include scripture the next time he writes.

Jay, keep up the good work!

Great article, doesn't qualify ...

2007-12-26T12:04:00.000-05:00

Here is a great article about sisters standing up for their Christian faith as they pursue a career in music. The article is titled, "Church Sisters celebrate love of God through song," written by Rebecca Blanton for the Danville Register & Bee, Danville, Virginia.

Blanton writes:

The two sixth-grade twins withdrew from a previous agreement to sing before Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine when they were told they couldn’t make references to God in their songs.

Being gospel singers, the request put 12-year-old Savannah and Sarah Church in a difficult position. First, the girls said, God and Jesus are what they sing about, and also, they sing specifically in order to share their faith.
“The assistant principal, Cedric Hairston from Dan River Middle School, called and asked us to come sing for the governor at the Commonwealth Scholars program,” the girl’s mother, Stephanie Duncan, said.
Read more>>

This is an inspiring article about two high school age sisters that seek to honor God in their performances and are blessed because of it. It is also informative about the choices that musicians must make to honor their faith while pursuing a career that is increasingly influenced by American Idol.

Unfortunately, Blanton doesn't reference identifiable scripture in her engaging article, and thus does not qualify for the the Amy Writing Awards. I am going to email her, tell her about the awards, and encourage her to continue writing (and possibly qualifying).

Keep up the good writing, Rebecca!

Google Reader: new process for finding articles

2007-12-26T11:54:00.000-05:00

For the past few weeks, I have been using what is called a news/blog "aggregator" for collecting news and items on the web about my work in educational technology (read: day job). My aggregator of choice is Google Reader, which watches the websites I tell it to watch and brings back new articles in date order.

It lets me be very efficient in finding information I can use. I cannot believe how many items I have bookmarked or saved since I started the practice.

Well, last night, when I was using Google News to look up my typical "God faith Christian" search for news articles and opinions to blog about, I realized Googel Reader could help me out. At the bottom of the page, Google let me add the search to my Google Reader.

Long story short, Google Reader streamlined the process of finding good articles and opinion on which to blog. In the first pass, the aggregator helped me find 2 articles/opinions of worth. Since I normally find less than 1 a week (on average), Google Reader promises to double my productivity.

So I plan to up the number of blog posts, which probably means I'll write less of my own thoughts. But we'll see ...

Interesting Opinion in the San Jose Mercury News

2007-12-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

I found the opinion, titled “A season for all to work for peace” in the San Jose Mercury News (12/11/07) interesting because it is qualifying Amy Writing Awards piece written by Santa Clara University President Paul Locatelli.

It is not every day you see a president of a prominent University speaking on a topic of faith, let alone citing scripture as a reference, although Santa Clara is a Jesuit institution. It makes sense and so does Locatelli

Locatelli writes:

During this holiday season, millions of us will be celebrating, in our own ways, God coming into our world.

Our Jewish sisters and brothers are in the midst of their celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, as they recall the victory of the Maccabees, the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple, and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

Our Muslim brothers and sisters will, at the end of December, celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, which lasts for three days and commemorates Ibrahim's
(Abraham's) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. But when Ibrahim heard a voice from heaven, he stopped and instead was allowed to sacrifice a ram.

Our African-American sisters and brothers will celebrate Kwanzaa, which recalls seven principles to live by: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

This time is one of particular reflection for me. I find lessons from the past apply to our world today. Advent, which began Dec. 2, is the time when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Read more>>

Locatelli draws in a wider audience by citing other religious observations and then builds his argument for peace on a passage from Isaiah 2, which promises that “one day one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war …” His ecumenical plea may draw readers in, but clearly the truth he shares is a Christian message and call for peace.

And the world could always use more peace.

Non-qualifying Article ... but a good one

2007-12-01T14:12:00.001-05:00

Here is an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal that explains how “In God we Trust” ended up on U.S. currency (“The Currency of Faith,” 11/20/07).

John Andrew Murray, the author, explains:

Fifty years ago, the phrase "In God We Trust" first appeared on our nation's one-dollar bill. But long before the motto was signed into law by President Eisenhower, it was considered for U.S. coins during the divisive years of the Civil War.

On Nov. 13, 1861, in the first months of the war, Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase received the following letter from a Rev. M.R. Watkinson: "Dear Sir, One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins. You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were now shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation?"

The clergyman surmised correctly. Chase was indeed a Christian.
Read more>>

While this well written and educational piece includes quotations of prominent U.S. officials and other commentators at the time and explains that it was President Lincoln’s desire to see U.S. currency bear the God-fearing inscription, Murray’s brief text does not include any identifiable scripture, which means it doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

I will email Murray and encourage him to keep writing and explain the criteria for the awards, so that might one day qualify and win.

Qualifying article in Kansas City Star

2007-11-25T14:18:00.000-05:00

Judging from the national response, Mother Teresa’s published letters have touched a sensitive spot in America’s personal faith. Here is another article on the topic of losing faith in difficult times, published in The Kansas City Star.

In an opinion titled, “What does it mean when believers doubt God in their lives,” Rev. Duke Tufty and Rev. Pat Rush deal with this difficult question. Tufty writes:

It means we are normal. At this stage of our spiritual evolvement, our faith in God often flees in the midst of troubled times.

We are students of life, not graduates of life. We are engaged in the process of becoming; we have not yet become. When Jesus cried out, “My Father, why hast thou abandoned me?” he doubted God in his life because he was in the process of becoming “The Christ” he had not yet become.
Read more>>

It is a qualifying article and I am writing both men to encourage them to submit their opinion to the Amy Writing Awards.

No question on "A Crisis of Faith"

2007-11-23T09:18:00.000-05:00

Here is another great story about “A Crisis of Faith” that qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards. The article was written by Meredith Heagney and published in The Columbus Dispatch, dealing with the silence of God in troubling times.

Heagney writes:

Laura Bradford lost her job and her identity along with it, and she turned to God for answers.

She asked God for his will and how she could carry it out.

She got nothing.

"It's like a big, black hole," she said. "What does God want from me?"

It wasn't that the Lancaster Catholic doubted God's existence, but the silence left her confused and lonely -- not feelings she associated with people who had faith.

"I have become more accustomed to not having the answers and just being with God where I'm at," she said.
Read more>>

The personal introduction really grabbed the reader and pulled him/her into and through the story. Heagney dealt also fairly, broadly, and professionally with the difficult issue of loosing faith when God is silent, while using the life of Mother Teresa and others to reinforce her point: we should not give up when our feelings don’t match our faith.

This well written piece left me thankful that God hasn't been silent, only quiet, during my own difficulties.

Heagney deftly used scripture to tie her argument back to Jesus (i.e., "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). This is the type of article that keeps me blogging.

Meredith, great job. Keep up the good work!

Qualifying article on Drop-out Crisis in Michigan

2007-11-15T20:35:00.000-05:00

I am from Michigan and partial to education topics since I work in K-12 education (educational technology). I found this opinion by Kimberly Sams-Smith in The Detroit News about how “Michigan must tackle dropout crisis.”

Sams-Smith writes:

As Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. continue to cut white-collar and factory jobs and start two-tier wage structures, one thing is crystal clear: High-paying factory jobs requiring only a high school diploma are ancient history. That is why concentrating on ways to increase Michigan's high school and, ultimately, college graduation rates is critical.

The results of a recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University is the latest cause for alarm. The study, which analyzed U.S. Department of Education enrollment data from 2003-2006, identified 78 Michigan high schools as "dropout factories," where no more than 60 percent of students who enter as ninth-graders make it to 12th grade.

Johns Hopkins researcher Robert Balfanz says the harsh term dropout factory describes "a harsh and unfair situation, under-resourced and over-challenged high schools which educate primarily low income and minority students and year after year are unable to graduate the majority or near majority of students who enter the school."
Read more>>

Later in the article she uses clearly identifiable scripture to reinforce her point that something must be done to curb the drop-out epidemic in Michigan high schools— “No wonder the Bible at Hosea 4:6 says: ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’”

Sams-Smith’s call to social action is strong and draws attention to a growing crisis, and her inclusion of scripture qualifies her article for the Amy Writing Awards.

Good job, Kimberly.

2007-11-05T11:44:00.000-05:00

After a month-long hiatus of blogging on good Christian journalism, I came across Stanley Fish’s opinion in the New York Times blog, dated November 4, 2007 and titled, “Suffering, Evil and the Existence of God.”

Fish does an excellent job setting up a summarization, comparison, and contrasting articles of two, soon to be published books on the existence of God, a subject which has had great play recently. He frames his examination of the two opposing views—“one from theism to agnosticism, the other from atheism to theism”—with the following thoughts:

In Book 10 of Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Adam asks the question so many of his descendants have asked: why should the lives of billions be blighted because of a sin he, not they, committed? (“Ah, why should all mankind / For one man’s fault… be condemned?”) He answers himself immediately: “But from me what can proceed, / But all corrupt, both Mind and Will depraved?” Adam’s Original Sin is like an inherited virus. Although those who are born with it are technically innocent of the crime – they did not eat of the forbidden tree – its effects rage in their blood and disorder their actions.

God, of course, could have restored them to spiritual health, but instead, Paul tells us in Romans, he “gave them over” to their “reprobate minds” and to the urging of their depraved wills. Because they are naturally “filled with all unrighteousness,” unrighteous deeds are what they will perform: “fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness . . . envy, murder . . . deceit, malignity.” “There is none righteous,” Paul declares, “no, not one.”

It follows, then (at least from these assumptions), that the presence of evil in the world cannot be traced back to God, who opened up the possibility of its emergence by granting his creatures free will but is not responsible for what they, in the person of their progenitor Adam, freely chose to do.
Read more>>

Fish's lengthy analysis has all the great qualities of good journalism written from a Christian perspective and would qualify for the Amy Writing Awards except for one thing— it was published online and not in print.

I am going to email Stanley Fish and see if his thoughts were published in print and encourage him to consider doing so. I am also going to share his piece with the Amy Foundation Advisory Board as an example of why we need to determine a way to include digital media, like blogs, in the contest at some point in the near future.

Good article on going green …

2007-09-25T14:46:00.000-04:00

Here is a attention-grabbing article in the Indianapolis Star by Robert King, titled “Going green for God” (9/25/07). King reports on the increasing trend found in Indianapolis churches advocating eco-friendly policies and instituting “green” programs.

He writes:

Preachers are buying hybrid cars and sermonizing about carbon footprints and sustainable living.

Small groups are forming in churches to encourage the faithful to recycle, spread the gospel of eating organic, cut pollution and hand out reusable shopping bags.
And some congregations, concerned that Styrofoam cups can spend an eternity at the bottom of a landfill, are vowing to banish them from the coffee hour in favor of bring-your-own mugs.

Increasingly, the people filling places of worship across the Indianapolis area are tackling environmental preservation in a way that was once the sole domain of tree-hugging political activists.
Read more>>

King’s article attracted me because I have some “go green” children in my own house. My early grade-school age daughters are very eco-conscience and have assumed the recycling responsibilities for our family (please, don’t look in the garage).

I wanted to see how Indianapolis clergy back up their earth-friendliness with theology. Unfortunately, the article was more of an interest story and didn’t do that far in depth. It also didn’t include any recognizable scripture, so it didn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

I’m going to write King and tell him I liked his piece and tell him about the Awards. Hopefully, he’ll keep writing on matters of faith.

A time to blog ...

2007-09-20T13:33:00.000-04:00

This week Thursday and Friday, I am at The Internet Ministry Conference, held on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and sponsored by Gospelcom.net. The conference is open to everyone this year and not just Alliance Members.

I came to find out how to better promote the Amy Foundation blog and website. I also wanted to ply some of the speakers on how best to include digital submissions in the Amy Writing Award winner.

An aside, Jim Watkins presented on writing for the internet attention span in a presentation titled, "How To Hook Today's Online Users." He's a former Amy Writing Award winner. (I enjoyed his presentation and bought his latest book, Writers on Writing.)

But we cannot just throw open the contest to the “blogosphere” either. So I thought this was a good place to start.

I’ll try to share more later.

A Great Article on Mother Teresa that doesn't Qualify

2007-09-10T15:54:00.001-04:00

Here is another great article about the Mother Teresa’s private struggles with doubt. Annamaria Longo’s piece, titled “Mother Teresa endured severe test of her faith,” published in the El Paso Times, is excellent opinion that uses Teresa’s doubt to encourage all of us to remain faithful when facing our own apprehensions.

Longo writes:

For the average person who believes in God, it's difficult to think of losing God.

I can't even fathom how hard it would be to be someone of great faith and humility and lose God.

Late last month, excerpts from a new book, "Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light," were released, and we learned a lot more about a woman whom many of us already regard as a saint.

We learned that after receiving a message from Jesus in 1946 that she be his light, Mother Teresa never heard from him again.

We learned that she wrote to her confessors of the "darkness" she felt.

We learned that her smile was a "mask," "a cloak that covers everything."

But most of all, we learned that she was far stronger and more faithful than we thought.
Read More>>

While Longe’s piece hits its mark in encouraging the faithful to remain just that, it doesn’t include a quote of identifiable scripture, so sadly it doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

I will send Longe and email encouraging her and sharing with her the qualifying requirement for the award.

Good job, Annamaria Longo!

Inspired by Teresa

2007-09-04T05:54:00.000-04:00

I knew there would be a flurry of newspaper opinions about Mother Teresa’s doubts. After reviewing several of them, I found Sally Oakes’ article, titled “Honest doubt can help you grow in faith,” in The Citizen of Fayetteville, Georgia.

It's one of the best.

Oakes writes:

So Mother Teresa doubted! Wow. I found this out today while I was on the Internet. The woman whose faithfulness and dedication to God’s work inspired the world, no matter what the religion, had faith struggles. I don’t know why this surprised me so; everyone who seeks more than a cursory relationship with Christ has crises of faith. I guess it surprised me because she didn’t seem to be anything but an incredible woman of God and a tireless worker for his kingdom.
Read more>>

What I like about Oakes’ piece is how she interprets Mother Teresa’s struggles in terms we can all understand.

I wish I had more time to write about Oake’s exceptional piece. All I can say is that she does a good job working in God’s word towards the end and turning the story toward Jesus’ own crisis of faith.

This qualifies her for the Amy Writing Awards.

Good job, Sally Oakes!

Excerpt, Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light

2007-08-25T16:05:00.001-04:00

Would you remain faithful to God if He called you to serve Him and then didn’t speak again for the rest of my life?

Would I?

The private letters of Mother Teresa, recently published in a book titled, “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light,” show us a woman called to the slums of Calcutta, India, in 1948 by the voice of Jesus, but worked the last 50 years of her life in darkness, doubt, and God’s silence.

Time Magazine provides excerpts of the book in an article by David Van Biema, titled “Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith” from the magazine’s September 3, 2007 edition.

It is a powerful tale of faithfulness to God’s calling in the face of depression and darkness, one anyone would struggle in matching. As I read the article I was drawn in by the profound sadness of Mother Teresa over the absence of Jesus in her life, the meaningless of her cause because she could not share it with the one person she loved more than life.

The article makes a successful attempt in sharing the spiritual struggles of a soon-to-be saint with those struggling with their own dark times. One Page 4, Van Biema shares a breakthrough the spiritual icon had in 1961:

… The Rev. Joseph Neuner, whom she met in the late 1950s and confided in somewhat later, was already a well-known theologian, and when she turned to him with her "darkness," he seems to have told her the three things she needed to hear: that there was no human remedy for it (that is, she should not feel responsible for affecting it); that feeling Jesus is not the only proof of his being there, and her very craving for God was a "sure sign" of his "hidden presence" in her life; and that the absence was in fact part of the "spiritual side" of her work for Jesus.

This counsel clearly granted Teresa a tremendous sense of release. For all that she had expected and even craved to share in Christ's Passion, she had not anticipated that she might recapitulate the particular moment on the Cross when he asks, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" …
Read more>>

This well written article gives us an glimpse of Mother Teresa’s lifelong struggle with “the dark night of the soul” that lasted 5 decades. It makes me want to read the Rev. Kolodiejchuk’s book.

I was so pleased to find a biblical quotation in one of Mother Teresa’s letters that qualifies Van Diema’s article for the Amy Writing Awards. Fittingly, it was the verse that gave Mother Teresa peace in the midst of her pain.

Good job, David Van Biema, keep up the good work!

A Christian View of Illegal Immigration

2007-08-11T06:49:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting article on the illegal immigration printed in the Lansing State Journal about the fine line a Chicago priest must walk when serving him Latino parish.

The article, entitled “Pastor walks a tightrope over topic of immigration,” was written by Margaret Ramirez and Andrew L. Wang and published on August 11, 2007.

Ramirez and Wang write:

As pastor for more than 5,000 families, most of them Latino, at three parishes in Waukegan and North Chicago, [Rev. Gary] Graf is a central figure in the lives of the immigrants who are transforming this city and its Catholic churches.

But his role as a spiritual leader also has placed Graf at the center of the nation's volatile debate over controlling illegal immigration, a battle that flared this summer after Waukegan sought to give local police the power to deport immigrants accused of serious crimes.
Read more>>

The article does a good job depicting how Rev. Graf serves his community in the spirit of Christ without compromising his commitment to truth. At one point, Ramirez and Wang quote Graf as saying, “Through all this is what Jesus said: 'You love the sinner but hate the sin,’…”

While this paraphrase refers to Jesus’s stance towards all of us, it does not match any one of his sayings closely enough to garner qualification for the Amy Writing Awards.

The article is a good one, however, and it challenges us to consider how Christ would address the illegal immigration issue. Rev. Graf’s noble work in Chicago gives us one indication.

Faith at the office. Why not?

2007-07-30T09:44:00.000-04:00

Here is a good article about the growing acceptance of faith in the workplace that oddly doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards. The article, titled “Faith at the office. Why not?”, was written by Rev. Henry G. Brinton and published in the USA Today on Monday, July 30, 2007.

Brinton writes:

On any given Sunday, members of my congregation request prayers for children diagnosed with cancer and victims of natural disasters — people facing extraordinary challenges. These requests are heartfelt, but as I collect them I notice that something is missing. Where are the prayers for the accountants, attorneys, automobile mechanics and other workers who have to face the challenge of an ordinary Monday morning?
Read More>>

It is an well-written article on a timely and important topic, and Brinton even references scripture toward the end of the piece (“When I teach classes on faith at work, I challenge church members to think of themselves as co-creators with God, and to evaluate their work according to how it follows the divine pattern of bringing order out of chaos, and creating something that is good (Genesis 1:1-5).”).

Unfortunately, he doesn’t come out and quote scripture, so sadly the piece doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, but it is worthy of “well done” on our blog.

Amazing article that doesn't qualify

2007-07-19T07:35:00.000-04:00

Here is an amazing article in USA Today that sadly doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards. The piece, titled "Faith rebuilds house and soul," was written by Liz Szabo. Szabo's story documents to magnitude aith-based volunteers are having on rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

She writes:

NEW ORLEANS — Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina, much of the city is
deserted. Broken glass hangs from the windows of office towers. Weeds flourish in front of boarded-up homes. In the Lower Ninth Ward, entire blocks have been obliterated, the houses carted away to the junkyard, leaving nothing but the square outlines of foundations and the squat, concrete steps that once led to front doors.

Yet many of those surveying this scarred landscape see reason for hope. It arrives, in wave after wave, on the sunburned faces and sweaty backs of hundreds of thousands of volunteers who come to rebuild the Gulf Coast. To many weary residents, every church van with out-of-state plates seems like a beacon of light, a sign they have not been forgotten.
READ MORE>>

Szabo quotes numerous survivors and volunteers who testify to the goodness of God in their lives because of the volunteer effort, but the article doesn't contain a quote of verifiable scripture. Still, the article draws people in and encourages the reader's faith. It is an excellent example of faith-based journalism.

Thanks, Liz, for a great story! Keep up the good work!

2007-07-04T13:49:00.000-04:00

Cal Thomas is a former winner of the Amy Writing Awards. I typically like what he writes when he is “outside the Beltway.” This week’s syndicated article is just such an opinion.

We find Cal’s piece, titled, “Patriotism is not solely the province of American conservatives," online in the Salt Lake Tribune. His by-line tells us he’s writing from Washington, Indiana.

He writes:

... Last week, senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said that religion is not the exclusive property of conservative Christians. He is right. Neither is patriotism a trademark of the Republican Party.

As with religion, some people on the right have used patriotism, which should be a unifying theme, to divide Americans. My liberal friends love America as much as I do. They might disagree on some, or all, of my political and religious beliefs, but that does not make them less in love with America, much less un-American.

Many political and religious liberals have family members who have served or are serving their country in war and in peace. They have spilled their blood and given their lives to guarantee our freedom to disagree and to still live together.
Read more>>

I was drawn to the piece because it calls a truce in the war over religion in politics and patriotism in politics. Cal calls for a stoppage of accusations against personal faith and commitment to country. A message I hope all parties and presidential candidates heed as we head into the 2008 election year.

Unfortunately, Cal’s opinion doesn’t include scripture (or a call to live a life of Freedom in Christ), so it doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards this time. Even so, the Christian undertones are clear and his message of faith unmistakable.

Qualifying article in the Allied News (PA)

2007-06-28T13:54:00.000-04:00

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.
... Read More

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

2007-06-26T07:31:00.000-04:00

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.
Read more>>

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

2007-06-09T20:10:00.001-04:00

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.
Read More>>

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!

Two in one day!

2007-05-19T14:14:00.000-04:00

[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.]

------------------------------

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

2007-05-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

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!

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

2007-05-17T06:51:00.000-04:00

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.

Test for Jean

2007-03-16T14:07:00.000-04:00

AAA

Darwin's God

2007-03-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

FYI ... the "Darwin's God" article in Sunday's New York Times is the #1 most emailed article today (3/6/07), which is pretty good for a 2-day old article. (My wife emailed it to me yesterday).

also, I received word back from the "qualifier" that receives and qualifies articles for the Amy Writing Awards, and she would not accept the following paraphased quotation as a scripture citation because it didn't acknowledge its source as biblical:

And one prominent member of the byproduct camp, Justin Barrett, is an observant Christian who believes in “an all-knowing, all-powerful, perfectly good God who brought the universe into being,” as he wrote in an e-mail message. “I believe that the purpose for people is to love God and love each other.”

You win some, you lose some, I guess. But this is an article that supports biblical principles (i.e., that humanity is predisposed to a super natural God).

Religion ... an evolutionary byproduct?

2007-03-04T16:36:00.000-05:00

I recently listened to the book, The Language of God, by Francsis C. Collins. It reconciles Collin's evangelical faith in God with his prominent role in genomics. Because his story is so compelling, it has opened me to reading other religion and science commentary.

A lengthy, well-writen article appeared in the New York Times Magazine this week, written by Robin Marantz Henig, titled, Darwin's God. There is so much science here it reads at times like a modern textbook, yet the story is engaging. And most interestingly, I believe her article makes a strong scientific case for faith in God.

Henig poses the following question in her opening:

Which is the better biological explanation for a belief in God — evolutionary adaptation or neurological accident? Is there something about the cognitive functioning of humans that makes us receptive to belief in a supernatural deity?
And if scientists are able to explain God, what then? Is explaining religion the same thing as explaining it away? Are the nonbelievers right, and is religion at its core an empty undertaking, a misdirection, a vestigial artifact of a primitive mind? Or are the believers right, and does the fact that we have the mental capacities for discerning God suggest that it was God who put them there?
In short, are we hard-wired to believe in God? And if we are, how and why did that happen?

She goes on to let the intellectual argument pay out over 11 web pages. Before I knew it, I was drawn in, looking for scientific proof for God. Of course, there isn't any, and that isn't the jest of the article. The jest is explaining scientific evidences that we are "hard-wired to believe in God."
Henig then wraps up the article by sharing an enlightening discussion with a scientist, Justin Barrett, who is both an "observant Christian" and "promient member of the byproduct camp" ("byproduct" refers to the theory that religion is a byproduct of natural selection). Here is what she writes:

And one prominent member of the byproduct camp, Justin Barrett, is an observant Christian who believes in “an all-knowing, all-powerful, perfectly good God who brought the universe into being,” as he wrote in an e-mail message. “I believe that the purpose for people is to love God and love each other.”

At first blush, Barrett’s faith might seem confusing. How does his view of God as a byproduct of our mental architecture coexist with his Christianity? Why doesn’t the byproduct theory turn him into a skeptic?

“Christian theology teaches that people were crafted by God to be in a loving relationship with him and other people,” Barrett wrote in his e-mail message. “Why wouldn’t God, then, design us in such a way as to find belief in divinity quite natural?” Having a scientific explanation for mental phenomena does not mean we should stop believing in them, he wrote. “Suppose science produces a convincing account for why I think my wife loves me — should I then stop believing that she
does?”
What can be made of atheists, then? If the evolutionary view of religion is true, they have to work hard at being atheists, to resist slipping into intrinsic habits of mind that make it easier to believe than not to believe. Atran says he faces an emotional and intellectual struggle to live without God in a nonatheist world, and he suspects that is where his little superstitions come from, his passing thought about crossing his fingers during turbulence or knocking on wood just in case. It is like an atavistic theism erupting when his guard is down. The comforts and consolations of belief are
alluring even to him, he says, and probably will become more so as he gets closer to the end of his life. He fights it because he is a scientist and holds the values of rationalism higher than the values of spiritualism.
Read more>>

I have underlined a paraphrased version of the Great Commandment, found in Luke 10:27:

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

While I am not sure this paraphase qualifies the article for the Amy Writing Awards, it is the type of articles I look for in terms of meeting the intent of the Awards, which is:

The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program is designed to recognize creative, skillful writing that presents in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the biblical position on issues affecting the world today.

It is skillful, especially when writing for the New York Times, to use quotations to convey scriptural truths and equally skillful to draw in the reader (and your editor) with science-based controversy before presenting biblical truth.

If the paraphase passes muster, I will write Robin and encourage her to submit the article.

Oh So Close

2007-02-25T20:27:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I had to go to the second page of search returns to find it, but I found at great opinion that almost qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards.

Pastor Craig Harris deals with transgenerational faith in his opinion, titled "Pushing faith on your children," in The Palenstine Herald-Press (Texas).

Craig writes:

I’ve heard parents say they are going to let their kids make up their own minds about matters of faith. Newsflash! Our children are going to make up their
own minds no matter what we do.

“I don’t want to push religion on my kids like my parents did me,” I’ve heard. That sounds like a good idea; no one wants anything pushed on them. “So, we don’t go to church or talk about God in our home.” Now I’ve got a problem with your plan.

Here’s a reality check about matters of faith. We all form our own opinions and make up our own minds about it. My faith is not a clone of any of my parents’ or grandparents’ beliefs. As far as I know, in fact, I’m the first Harris from our family who is a preacher. But I grew up seeing that faith was important to my folks and that became the foundation of everything I am.
Read more>>

Unfortunately, Craig didn't include identifable scripture in his opinion, otherwise this would be an excellent entry in the 2007 Amy Writing Awards.

Second Page on Google

2007-02-09T04:09:00.000-05:00

I apologize for the delay in posting. Having started a new job, it is challenging to keep up on all my hobbies. So I decided to run my Google News query today on "Christian Faith God." The today's first story looked promising, but ended up being a 150-word movie review.

So I clicked on Page 2 and found this delightful article, titled "Children of God," written by Christine Whittaker, a the priest at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Holliston, MA, published in The Hopkinton Crier.

Christine shares the insights of Episcopal infant baptism with her broader community. What was so attractive about this piece was how she drew the reader in:

The English writer P.D. James described her novel The Children of Men as a hristian fable, though the religious dimension seems to have eluded several reviewers of the recently released movie based on that book. The novel is set in England some years in the future, at a time when the human race has lost its ability to reproduce. James uses small details to capture the sense of longing and despair that haunts people then there are no more children and no more births. Government regulations, for example, allow limited reproduction for pet animals and people gather for the birth of kittens to watch and celebrate with awe the arrival of new life.
Read More>>,"

Unfortunately, Christine didn't include indentifable scripture, so it doesn't qualify the Amy Writing Awards, but it would have been a strong entry because of the message of bringing children into the community of Christ.

Local Author Strives to Qualify ...

2007-01-02T17:19:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago now, Melvin Rhodes of Lansing, Michigan contacted me about an article/opinion I wrote, published in the Lansing State Journal, over which he disagreed. We struck up a friendship and now regularly meet and talk about world events from a Christian worldview (Melvin in a British ex-pat, minister, and former missionary to Ghana).

After my tenure on the LSJ Community Advisory Board (CAB), Melvin took my place as the CAB's standard bearer for Christian values and opinions and did a great job. Because he's slighty more conservative and outspoken than me, he proved a better lightening rod for criticism. (For example, one of his first opinions recommended starting a "Virgin Club" like they have in Ghana for educating kids about sexually-transmitted deseases.)

December 2006 marked the last month Melvin was on the CAB and, as a parting shot, he wrote an opinion on the Christian church's "gay" crisis, titled "Christian churches facing a gay crisis." Here is how he started out:

As 2006 closes, Christian churches are facing a gay crisis.
On Dec. 17, two congregations in Virginia voted to break away from the American Episcopalian church, joining with the more traditional Anglican Church of Nigeria. This news follows closely on the outing of Ted Haggard, former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, by a male prostitute with whom he had a
relationship.
More than 200 years ago, everyone agreed on the subject of homosexuality. Today that is decidedly not the case.
Read More>>

To his credit, this excellently-written, well-reasoned opinion had 5 separate citations or references to Biblical scripture. Still, it didn't take long for Melvin to start receiving nasty emails over his opinion because of the sensative subject matter. This is unfortunate because the jest of his opinion is that churches have to stop being naive about homosexuality and start offering real options for those who struggle with same-sex attraction.

What's more, Melvin was able to get this article published "under the wire," that is 12/31/06, the last qualifying date for the 2006 Amy Writing Awards. Now all he has to do is send the tear sheet into the Foundation with his contact information by 1/31/07 and he's entered. (Yes, it's that easy.)

Amy Writing Awards
P. O. Box 16091
Lansing, MI 48901-6091

Good job, Melvin, and good luck the Amy Writing Awards contest!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

NY Times Reader Review

2006-12-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

Another great article, this time in The New York Times, that qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards! This is making my blogging job so easy.

Michael Joseph Gross recently wrote a reader review for The New York Times. His December 10, 2006 article, titled “A Once-Feared Kingmaker Called to a Different Battle,” tells the engaging story of Good News Holdings, a new venture for venerable movie magnet, David Kirkpatrick. In the story, Gross explains Kirkpatrick’s path from mogul to Christian to president of Good News, the production company behind several of today’s faith-inspired blockbusters.

Gross does a keen job of drawing in the reader and he doesn’t dose the reader with heavy-handed Christian-speak, which wouldn't see print in papers like The NY Times. No, his approach in dealing with Kirkpatrick’s personal faith is sophisticated. Here is how he introduces the scripture passage that qualifies his article:

The phrase describes a worldview that interprets human thoughts and actions as the product of unseen battles between angels and demons. Frank Peretti’s 1986 novel “This Present Darkness,” a best-selling Christian thriller, made spiritual warfare a popular notion among evangelicals, who cite as evidence for their belief verses from Chapter 6 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, particularly Verse 12: “For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Read more>>

While this paragraph appears in the last 1/3rd of a lengthy article, the entire story does an excellent job relating Kirkpatrick’s coming to faith and the effect that is having on the Hollywood movie industry. Also note how Gross uses "a popular notion among evangelicals" to provide 1) context for the scripture quotation and 2) Gross with professional distance from his sources.

This is exactly the type of writing The Amy Foundation seeks to encourage with the Amy Writing Awards. I am going to email Gross and encourage him to enter.

Great work, Michael!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

"Atheists' bleak alternative"

2006-12-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

Google News is great! I have it set to search the net for search terms “Christian, Faith, God” and it daily returns top news stories on these topics. Today, it found an Amy Writing Awards-qualifying opinion in The Boston Globe (yes, The Boston Globe), written by Jeff Jacoby, an award-winning Op-Ed writer.

In his 12/13/06 opine, entitled “Atheists' bleak alternative,” Jacoby identifies secularism's great success in Great Britain in banishing “Christmas” from holiday cards. His opinion bids ominous tidings for the United States, where secularists are actively attacking the religious moorings of the holiday on this side of the Atlantic. (See “Groups protest calling Capitol tree a "Christmas Tree" in the Lansing State Journal for an example that hits close to home.)

In his smartly-worded opinion, Jacoby writes:

…
What is at stake in all this isn't just angels on Christmas cards. What society loses when it discards Judeo-Christian faith and belief in God is something far more difficult to replace: the value system most likely to promote ethical behavior and sustain a decent society. That is because without God, the difference between good and evil becomes purely subjective. What makes murder inherently wrong is not that it feels wrong, but that a transcendent Creator to whom we are answerable commands: "Thou shalt not murder." What makes kindness to others inherently right is not that human reason says so, but that God does: "Love thy neighbor as thyself; I am the Lord."
…
>>Read More

I underlined Jacoby’s expert uses of scripture to point out the ease at which he integrated relevant passages into his opinion without editorial reprise. If he can get an Amy Writing Award-qualifying opinion published in a paper like The Boston Globe, it makes sense that other writers—professional or otherwise—can accomplish the same task in smaller ones.

I am going email Jacoby and encourage him to submit this opinion to this year’s Amy Writing Awards contest. He has until January 31, 2007 to mail in a tear sheet and his contact information. That’s all it takes. (For a complete list of rules, please visit http://www.amyfound.org.)

Jeff Jacoby, keep up the good work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Great Article on The Nativity Story

2006-12-09T14:48:00.000-05:00

On December 7, The Tucson Citizen published an opinion by Ted Baehr and Tom Snyder entitled, "'Nativity Story' has message for impressionable youth."

Baeher is founder and publisher of Movieguide (www.movieguide.org), chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, and a longtime friend of the Amy Foundation. Snyder is the editor of Movieguide.

In the 12/7 opinion, they write:

...
Joseph's faith and trust in God gave him great courage to obey God, resist social pressure and take Mary home to be his wife. That courage, trust and faith inspired Joseph to protect Mary's holy child, Jesus, when his life was in danger.

Today's teenagers are daily bombarded with hedonistic, pagan images and sounds of sex in the mass media. No wonder that a recent medical study revealed that half of all of today's teenagers will get a sexually transmitted disease by the time they are 25 years old.

Today, of course, an STD can kill you. In fact, some STDs can kill you long before any second-hand cigarette smoke will.

Another recent study, by the journal of the American Association of Pediatrics, found that teenagers listening to music with explicit sexual lyrics fornicate sooner than teenagers who do not.

These two studies show clearly that following the example of sexual purity and honor set by the Virgin Mary and Joseph is not just some quaint remnant of Medieval Times or the Victorian Age. It's a matter of life and death.
...
>>Read More

It's a well-written opinion on a current topic-- both in terms of the movie and teenage sexual practices--but unfortunately, it doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards because it doesn't include identifable scripture. The authors could have easily accommodated a quotation given the subject matter.

But readers of this blog should take their opinion as encouragement that current issues have a Christian perspective that needs sharing. It would be great to see 100 similar opinions in magazines and newspapers, large and small, using the release of The Nativity Story to relate God's truth on a variety of topics. So let's get writing!

2006-11-28T10:29:00.000-05:00

The debate between atheism and Christianity continues to rage, this time in the guise of science vs. religion. ...

The a new round is led by Richard Dawkins, Ph.D., a preeminent evolutionary biologist and author of “The God Delusion.” His counterpart, defending the Christian faith and perspective on science, is Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute and author of “The Language of God.”

In Time Magazine’s November 13, 2006 cover story, entitled, “God vs. Science,” written by David Van Biema, Dawkins and Collins square off in a one-on-one debate. At its core is the viability of God in a science-based universe.

Here are the concluding parleys of the debate:

… COLLINS: I just would like to say that over more than a quarter-century as a scientist and a believer, I find absolutely nothing in conflict between agreeing with Richard in practically all of his conclusions about the natural world, and also saying that I am still able to accept and embrace the possibility that there are answers that science isn't able to provide about the natural world--the questions about why instead of the questions about how. I'm interested in the whys. I find many of those answers in the spiritual realm. That in no way compromises my ability to think rigorously as a scientist.

DAWKINS: My mind is not closed, as you have occasionally suggested, Francis. My mind is open to the most wonderful range of future possibilities, which I cannot even dream about, nor can you, nor can anybody else. What I am skeptical about is the idea that whatever wonderful revelation does come in the science of the future, it will turn out to be one of the particular historical religions that people happen to have dreamed up. When we started out and we were talking about the origins of the universe and the physical constants, I provided what I thought were cogent arguments against a supernatural intelligent designer. But it does seem to me to be a worthy idea. Refutable--but nevertheless grand and big enough to be worthy of respect. I don't see the Olympian gods or Jesus coming down and dying on the Cross as worthy of that grandeur. They strike me as parochial. If there is a God, it's going to be a whole lot bigger and a whole lot more incomprehensible than anything that any theologian of any religion has ever proposed.
Read more>>

I am not suggesting that this Time article is great journalism (actually the article’s preamble gives more play to Atheism’s renewed assault of religion than anything else), but it is very enlightening. It also showcases an intelligent defense of Christianity in the face of an intense, scientific-based attempt to discredit faith.

I believe Collins successfully points out that Dawkins’s mind is closed to God, therefore weakening his assertions and credibility with his antagonistic view of personal faith. Dawkins is left to deny it, but he doesn’t overcome the Collin’s point.

Read the article for yourself, consider the issues, and weigh into the debate by writing about it in your hometown paper.

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Great Article BUT No Scripture

2006-11-20T14:28:00.000-05:00

Here is a good news article about Pastor Sarah Bowling in Denver. Given all the clamity surrounding Ted Haggard's demise, any good news about a Colorado-based pastor is good news.

Colleen O'Connor writes the story, titled "A preacher's daughter rocks the faithful with a modern ministry," for the Denver Post on 11/19/06. She writes:

A spiky-haired woman in ripped jeans hangs out with musician John Cooper, frontman for the Christian crossover alt-rock and Skillet.

Looking more like a band groupie than a preacher, she is Sarah Bowling: wife and mother and the daughter of world-renowned Christian evangelist Marilyn Hickey.

As senior pastor of Orchard Road Christian Center with its membership of thousands, Bowling, 38, is one of a few daughters who received the mantle from her mother.

More commonly, men pass their ministry to sons: Billy and Franklin Graham, Oral and Richard Roberts, or Kenneth Hagin Sr. and Kenneth Hagin Jr.

The Grammy-nominated band will rock the church tonight, but first, promptly at 7, television cameras start to roll, and Bowling revs up to interview the band for "Today with Marilyn and Sarah," the popular mother-daughter daily Bible show broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network to as many as 1.5 billion households in 49 countries.

"How did you hook up with Jesus?" she asks each musician.

Eventually, she cuts to her passion: the next generation. ...
Read More>>

The one thing missing in this news article that would qualify it for the Amy Writing Awards is identifiable scripture. It can be difficult for journalists to fit appropriate passages into copy AND have their editors accept it, but it has been done. The best way to do it is include the favorite scripture passage mentioned by a source. In this case, Pastor Sarah Bowling would have plenty to share.

Good job, Colleen. Keep up the great work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead (10-20-06)

Opinion in The Chattanoogan

2006-11-01T13:56:00.000-05:00

Politics tend to spark debates this time of year, even among "evangelicals." Roger Meyer, Ph.d. posted an article on The Chattanoogan.com today (11/1/06), titled, "Read The Bible And Decide For Yourself," about how faith and politics collide.

It seems that Dr. Meyer takes issues with religious organizations telling him how to vote this election season. Dr. Meyer writes:

If you are an evangelical Christian and have received mail, email, or phone calls telling you what you, as a Christian are to do, you may be as disgusted as I am. Some religious leaders and groups appear to reject the priesthood of believers. Instead they see us as sheep and they as the shepherds, not Jesus Christ. As a protestant evangelical, I believe in the reformation principle of studying and rightly dividing the word of God for myself, using the teaching of the saints of all the ages to guide me.
Read More>>

It's a well-reasoned, well-written opinion, whether or not you agree with Meyer's opinion; however, it doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards because it lacks identifiable scripture. I also think this opinion exists in electronic form only, and the Awards require paper-based publication.

We still want to encourage Meyer and other thoughtful pundits--professional or otherwise--to KEEP WRITING and expressing their faith-based views in the mainstream press, include appropriate scripture, and enter the Awards.

Good job, Roger! Keep up the good work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

New Age Movie Rife for Writing

2006-10-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

The movie "Conversations with God," based on the life and times of Neale Donald Walsch, is opening in theaters around the country, and it provides an excellent opportunity to talk about the real God of the Bible.

I looked through several movie reviews and found the one in The Seattle Times written by Jeff Shannon to treat the movie from a constructively critical perspective.

His moive review titled , "Conversations" to conversions: Messages from new-agey God," starts this way:

"Conversations with God" is a bad film about good things that many people will find enlightening. Its message is admirable, its filmmaking as bland as a communion wafer.

This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the bestselling books by Neale Donald Walsch, who wrote "Conversations with God" after hitting rock-bottom and experiencing a life-altering epiphany. For better or worse, Walsch stripped away the strictures of organized religion and delivered a safe, secular, new-agey God who would appeal to the "spiritual but not religious" masses. Walsch created a talkative God in the image that best suited him, and made a profitable wager that a lot of people would want to hear those "conversations." ...
Read More>>

While Jeff gives the movie two stars, I give the movie two thumbs up in terms of opportunity to debate the real character of the Living God. I suggest people see the movie/read the book before intelligently commenting, but don't miss this opportunity.

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Okay, so it is the NY Times

2006-10-27T10:55:00.000-04:00

[Editor's note: we use Google News to find outstanding news articles and opinions on the Christian faith. It should be no surprise that New York Times articles meeting our search criteria rise to the top (i.e., faith, God, Christian). We are both amazed and appreciative of the coverage our faith gets in such a widely-read, well-regarded mainstream newspaper. We will redouble our efforts to find news and opinions outside the NY Times, but first ...]

I cannot pass over the excellent article in the NY Times on October 26, 2006, written by an anonymous Associated Press writer, titled, “U.S. Evangelicals on Mission in Israel.”

The story recounts the perilous journey of 35 American Christians, labeled Evangelicals, as they attempted to deliver humanitarian relief supplies to Israel. It’s an amazing trip. The AP writes:

ASHDOD, Israel (AP) -- After 35 days at sea, a group of American evangelicals traveling on a creaky World War II-era cargo ship landed in Israel on a solidarity mission only to run aground in red tape, with long delays in unloading their cargo of clothes, toys and medical supplies.

Still, the crew was unfazed Thursday, keeping a positive attitude in a demonstration of the growing alliance between evangelical Christians and the Jewish state.

''The Bible says, 'Who blesses Israel will be blessed,''' said Don Tipton, the group's leader. ''We believe that.''

The Spirit of Grace steamed into the Israeli port of Ashdod in early October from Louisiana, flying an American flag and a huge banner reading ''Jehovah'' in Hebrew letters. Three weeks later, the ship is still docked, its 900-ton load of goods bound for local charities stuck on board as the gears of Israeli bureaucracy slowly turn. …
Read More >>

Not only is this a story of perseverance, this excellently written news article qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards. Notice how the author quoted the group’s leader quoting identifiable scripture. Thanks to the source, the author was able to attribute it directly to the Bible, leaving no question of its source.

I plan to write the AP and encourage the anonymous author to submit the NY Times tear sheet and enter this year’s contest. It’s never too late. You have until January 31, 2007 to enter any article published in 2006, and each author can submit up to 10 articles per year.

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Timely Article on Christian v. Atheistic Worldview

2006-10-24T12:35:00.000-04:00

I found this engaging article that tackles an important debate in our society, that being “why is faith thriving in an age of science and reason.”

Dinesh D'Souza’s article, titled “God knows why faith is thriving” was published on October 22, 2006 in the San Francisco Chronicle, promoting his forthcoming book entitled “The Enemy at Home,” to be publish in January 2007 by Doubleday Books.

In the article, D'Souza challenges Darwinism and the effects of evolutionary-based social policy on secular society. Counter to this, he posits the views of Christians who value life as a gift from God.

D'Souza writes:

A group of leading atheists is puzzled by the continued xistence and vitality of religion.

As biologist Richard Dawkins puts it in his new book "The God Delusion," faith is a form of irrationality, what he terms a "virus of the mind." Philosopher Daniel Dennett compares belief in God to belief in the Easter Bunny. Sam Harris, author of "The End of Faith" and now "Letter to a Christian Nation," professes amazement that hundreds of millions of people worldwide profess religious beliefs when there is no rational evidence for any of those beliefs. Biologist E.O. Wilson says there must be some evolutionary explanation for the universality and pervasiveness of religious belief.

Actually, there is. The Rev. Ron Carlson, a popular author and lecturer, sometimes presents his audience with two stories and asks them whether it matters which one is true.

In the secular account, "You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm washed up on an empty beach 3 1/2 billion years ago. You are a mere grab bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an empty corner of a meaningless universe. You came from nothing and are going nowhere."

In the Christian view, by contrast, "You are the special creation of a good and all-powerful God. You are the climax of His creation. Not only is your kind unique, but you are unique among your kind. Your Creator loves you so much and so intensely desires your companionship and affection that He gave the life of His only son that you might spend eternity with him." …
Read more>>

This article addresses an important issue that most Christians are either unwilling or unprepared to discuss. D'Souza uses a engaging introduction to capture the reader and pull him/her into a reasoned discussion of the outcomes of atheistic vs. faith-based world views.

There is some question as to whether D'Souza’s article qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards, although it did quote scripture (i.e., “The old principle was, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’”). There would be no dispute if D'Souza used “the biblical principle is …,” but we will leave it up to the qualifying judge to decide and encourage D'Souza to enter the contest.

Overall, this an excellently written opinion dealing with a critical and timely article. I encourage Dinesh to keep up the good work!

Written by,
Gina Umpstead

Solid Journalism about Iraqi Christian Plight

2006-10-17T10:34:00.000-04:00

Here is an article in the New York Times about the plight of Iraqi Christians, titled, “Iraq’s Christians Flee as Extremist Threat Worsens,” written by Wisam H. Habeeb and Khalid al-Ansary in Mosul, Iraq.

It is a well-written and compelling story about how Iraqi Christians are suffering attacks because of ill-fated comments of Pop Benedict’s XVI’s regarding Muslim extremism.

Habeeb and al-Ansary write:

…
“After the pope’s statement, people began to fear much more than before,” said the Rev. Zayya Edward Khossaba, the pastor of the Church of the Virgin Mary. “The actions by fanatics have increased against Christians.”

Christianity took root here near the dawn of the faith 2,000 years ago, making Iraq home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. The country is rich in biblical significance: scholars believe the Garden of Eden described in Genesis was in Iraq; Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees, a city in Iraq; the city of Nineveh that the prophet Jonah visited after being spit out by a giant fish was in Iraq.

Both Chaldean Catholics and Assyrian Christians, the country’s largest Christian sects, still pray in Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
…
Read more>>

Although it lacks an identifiable quotation of scripture to qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, the piece shares the significance, faith, and struggle of Christians in Iraq and makes the larger world aware of the suffering of Iraqi’s religious minority, a fact we see overlooked and rarely considered in public discourse.

Great job, Wisam and Khalid.

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Great place to start ...

2006-09-24T20:43:00.000-04:00

Small town newspapers are a great place to start writing newspaper opinions that share God's truth. Here is a good example.

Darold L. Hill is the Pastor at Charlotte Free Methodist Church (just outside of Lansing, Michigan). The Charlotte Shopping Guide published his article, titled “Tragedies of 9/11 can be healed through God”, which the Lansing State Journal posted on its website.

What I liked about the article was the part where Hill talks about how hope can return after the destruction of 9/11 and he provides a good scripture reference and citation:

In the center of the lament, Jeremiah includes words of hope that rise out of the ashes of destruction. His words from Lamentations chapter 3, verses 19-23 are still quoted over 2500 years later:

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

These words are so powerful that to this very day, on the 9th day of the 4th month of the Jewish calendar, these words of the ancient prophet are still read in synagogues all around the world.
Read more >>

Hill could improve the article by staying on the singular point of hope. His inclusion of the idea prayerful confession in the context of the Presidential Prayer Team, while interesting, detracts from his core message of hope.

Hill’s article qualifies for the Amy Writings Awards, and we plan to contact him and encourage him to enter. We also encourage others to follow Hill’s example and share God’s truths in their small town circulars.

Submitted by Gina Umpstead

Cover Story ... Time Magazine

2006-09-21T11:31:00.000-04:00

Here is a Time Magazine story about prosperity theology that is timely, and the authors, David Van Biema & Jeff Chu, know their subject.

The provocative piece, titled “Does God Want You To Be Rich?”, gets at the heart of a raging debate among American Evangelicals on what the authors call the “theology of money.”

This must-read article presents both sides of the debate in an equal and candid light. The authors also wrestle with the Biblical scriptures that fuel each side’s claim to spiritual superiority. Here’s a sample:

As with almost any important religious question, the first response of most Christians (especially Protestants) is to ask how Scripture treats the topic. But Scripture is not definitive when it comes to faith and income. Deuteronomy commands believers to "remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth", and the rest of the Old testament is dotted with celebrations of God's bestowal of the good life. On at least one occasion--the so-called parable of the talents (a type of coin)--Jesus holds up savvy business practice (investing rather than saving) as a metaphor for spiritual practice. Yet he spent far more time among the poor than the rich, and a majority of scholars quote two of his most direct comments on wealth: the passage in the Sermon on the Mount in which he warns, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth ... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven"; and his encounter with the "rich young ruler" who cannot bring himself to part with his money, after which Jesus famously comments, "It is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Read more >>

This is a sample of excellent writing on a relevant faith-based topic in the mainstream media that is reinforced with scripture (short, tight passages that get to the point).

This article is a top-flight candidate for the 2006 Amy Writing Awards. I’m going to write Van Biema and Chu and encourage them to enter AND keep up the good work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Keeping God Hostage, Augusta Free Press

2006-07-27T08:28:00.000-04:00

Patrick Augustine has written an insightful piece regarding the current conflict in the Middle East.

Stating and expanding upon the topic, he writes, "Interactions among Abraham's fractious offspring create many of the most dangerous flashpoints on the planet. Each faction justifies deplorable actions to serve the cause of holy God, by whatever name they worship Him."

You may view his article at: http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$40210

After some delay ...

2006-07-10T13:36:00.000-04:00

Okay, so we're back to monitoring the web for great articles and opinions that example good Christian-influenced journalism in the secular media.

On such piece I found on www.news.google.com was titled, "Local churches help battle gangs with God" written by Aaron Burgin for the Potterville Reporter in Potterville, CA (7/10/06).

The story tells of how churches in Potterville are battling the insurgence of gangs in their community. He starts the piece creatively by quoting Pastor Iglesia Emmanuel as he addressed a news-making rally:

"We ask you touch our hearts tonight," prays Roman Hernandez, pastor of Iglesia Emmanuel, in front of a growing crowd on the grass of Centennial Park Plaza on a sultry Saturday afternoon. "And that we not do our will, but your
will." The crowd responds in amen agreement.

Most in the gathering across the street from City Hall are families; fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who said they believe the best way to keep the youth away from gangs is through God. ...
Read more >>

Unfortunately, Aaron's well-written article didn't include a recognizable scripture passage so it doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards. With such a wide audience on the web, we encourage Aaron to seek to qualify in his next article.

Aaron, keep up the good work!

Submitted by Bruce Umpstead

Teenage abstinence

2006-05-24T11:35:00.000-04:00

The recent article "Saving Grace" in The New York Times was a great article for all Christians to read, particularly those leading our youth groups and young adults. Thank you for presenting such a wonderful perspective on this important subject of teenage abstinence. Scripture was not quoted, but could have easily included to qualify for an Amy Writing Award.

Article: My Problem with Christianism in TIME

2006-05-24T11:01:00.000-04:00

This refers to the recent article, "My Problem with Christianism" in TIME magazine (5/7/06) by Andrew Sullivan. While I doubt I could agree with the article 110%, some valid concerns are raised about how the media lumps all Christians into the religious right. There are tremendous risks for all of us in painting any group with such a broad stroke. Your article will cause all of its readers to think. It is very well done. Again, this article does not contain scripture but could have easily woven in a passage dealing with humitlity, virtue, etc.

Faith, fiction, conspiracy and codes

2006-05-22T10:53:00.000-04:00

Thank you to Tiffany Pakkala of the Gainesville Sun for her 5/19/06 article titled "Faith, fiction, conspiracy and codes."

This is one of the best articles about the movie that I have read. I thought the quote from Professor Westin that said “I give him an F for research, a C for writing ability, but an A+ for marketing” hit the nail right on the head. I only wish that more people who do not know the truth could read this article before going to see the movie.

This article did not include scripture. A smart way to qualify such a piece would have been to include such a quote from one of the story's many sources.

Good work, Tiffany!

Current events and scripture. . .

2006-05-15T11:16:00.000-04:00

This was a good example of an article about current events and how easily scripture could have been incorporated into the story. The article by John Iwasaki appeared in the May 5th issue of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and was titled "Nation raises its voice in prayer" in response to an event highlighting the National Day of Prayer.

He writes:
"They prayed for President Bush, Congress and Gov. Christine Gregoire. They asked God to bless moms and dads, teachers and students, cops and physicians. They sought divine guidance and human compassion.

"If the requests to the Almighty seemed ambitious, it might be because participants at the National Day of Prayer gathering Thursday at Westlake Park were confident in the object of their devotion.

"All these proposals we have, we can't do them without God," said the Rev. Emmanuel Iweh, a Nigerian native who leads St. Mary Magdalene Church in Everett. "With God, we can do everything."

The story went on to discuss other National Day of Prayer events, both locally and statewide. It also quoted President Bush's statements made at a service in Washington, D.C. where he said "prayer humbles us by reminding us of our place in creation. Prayer strengthens us by reminding us that God loves and cares for each and every soul in His creation. And prayer blesses us by reminding us that there is a divine plan that stands above all human plans."

While this was a news report, including a quotation of scripture from one of the story's sources would be a good way to weave biblical truth into the story. This piece could have easily cited Matthew 19:26 ". . . with God all things are possible." We will encourage this author to include scripture in future articles and enter the Amy Writing Awards.

Current Event ...Headline Regarding Faith ...but no scripture!

2006-04-25T12:36:00.000-04:00

My personalized web search by Google News brought up a story by Barbara Karkabi (4/26/06), titled "Christian leaders call immigration a moral issue," in the Houston Chronicle.

She writes:

Leaders of Houston's Christian community issued a call to action on immigration reform Monday, calling it a moral as well as a political issue.

"Behind every law and every number is the face of a real person with hopes, aspirations and desires to make their life better," said the Rev. David Meeker-Williams of The Metropolitan Organization. "We are talking about people and the morals implicit in the immigration issue." Read More>>

This article sheds light on the interplay of moral and spiritual issues in the highly-charged debate over illegal immigration in the U.S.

Where should Christians stand on this issue? Karkabi clearly articulates the perspective of four pastors in the Houston area, where illegal immigration is a hot topic of conversation.

Like all good journalism, the piece is thought-provoking to the reader, leaving her/him to decide the proper role of Christianity in the debate. Unfortunately, the piece didn't include an identifiable scripture passage, so it doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

I realize this is a news report and not opinion/commentary, but I am sure one of the pastors referenced scripture when talking with Karkabi. A smart way to qualify such a piece would have been to include such a quote from one of the story's many sources.

Good work, Barbara!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Good Story ...No Scripture!

2006-04-18T15:57:00.000-04:00

There was short, but good story in the Houston Chronicle, titled New Spiritual Outreach, Listen Ministries, Injects ''Evangelistic Prayer'' Into Churches Across California.

Writer Karen Gleason tells about how Listen Ministries is offering to pray for the needs of the "un-churched." She writes:

Today, a new non-denominational ministry announces its spiritual outreach to churches across California. Listen Ministries serves as an outlet for both the churched and the un-churched alike who are looking for someone to pray for them. Many congregations have prayer teams that are only praying for their own members, and a small number of them at that. A number of people outside the church may need prayer, but have no idea where to start. Listen Ministries exists to help connect those in need of prayer with the people who are able to intercede on their behalf. Read More >>

This a great ministry and deserves the spotlight. This story showed up in the "Top Stories" on News.Google.com.

Unfortunately, the piece didn't include a scripture reference, so it doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards. There is plenty of references to cite, such as:

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 6:16)

Good job, Karen. Keep up the good work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Qualifying Entry ...Again in the NY Times!

2006-04-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

Strawberry Soroyan did a masterful job for the New York Times covering the effect of professional public relation firms on the branding of American Christianity in her Easter story titled, "Christianity, the Brand." It is a long expose about the work of "Larry Ross, arguably the top public relations man for Christian clients in America ..."

Find the full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/magazine/16christian.html?ex=1145851200&amp;en=d307bf6f9149682b&ei=5070&emc=eta1

On page three, she relates how "He [Ross] advises clients to avoid ecclesiastical language when addressing the mainstream ("Somebody talks about the Holy Ghost or the Army of God — that sounds like a revolution and it's coming out of Iran," says Lawrence Swicegood, who has worked for Ross and DeMoss) and to use metaphors because they stick in people's minds."

This is sage advice for anyone sharing a Christian message in popular culture, especially in mainstream media. If a TV camera can add 10 pounds, I believe an ecclesiastical-laced opinion or article can add 100 years to the relevance of what you're trying to say.

Smartly, Soroyan works in a scripture reference by citing a plaque on Ross' wall, thus qualifying her article as an 2006 Amy Writing Award entry.

Beside the desk of the receptionist, Susan Gromatzky, there was a plaque: "'When God is your client, eternity is in each account' — Proverb 16:3."

We've already encouraged her to enter because this is the type of well-written journalism that puts personal faith in the public eye and gets people to think.

Well done, Strawberry. Keep up the good work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

Excellent ... but no scripture

2006-04-14T15:15:00.000-04:00

At some level, the following article truly saddens me because it is so good, such an excellent example of faith-based journalism, yet doesn't qualify for the Amy Writing Awards.

On 4/14/06, Richard Wightman Fox tells the powerful story of how Abraham Lincoln was "The President Who Died for Us," (New York Times). He starts by telling us that Lincoln was shot on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, and his popularity caused instant comparison with Jesus.

Here is an excerpt:

...
Jesus had saved humanity, or at least some portion of it, from eternal damnation. Lincoln had saved the nation from the civic equivalent of damnation: the dissolution that had always bedeviled republics. "Jesus Christ died for the world," said the Rev. C. B. Crane in Hartford. "Abraham Lincoln died for his country."
...
Most American Christians turned to the Jesus analogy because they realized how much they loved Lincoln. They took his loss as personal, often comparing it to a death in the family. Many felt attached to Lincoln almost as they felt attached to Jesus. The striving rail-splitter from Illinois and the simple carpenter from Nazareth resembled them, the people. In contrast, while still heroic, Washington seemed more distant, even aloof.
... Read more>>

Most writers of faith-based articles have the opportunity to reinforce their story with truths found in scripture, but don't take it, or worse, have editors cut such citations out. There probably was one or two opportunities in this piece too, although I feel unqualified to offer any suggestions to Mr. Fox, who wrought such a superb piece.

Most excellent, Mr. Fox. Keep up the good work! I hope to see some of your writing make it into our annual contest.

Submitted by
Bruce Umpstead

Practicing what we Preach

2006-04-13T10:02:00.000-04:00

By way of example, I was fortunate to have an opinon published in the Lansing State Journal today (4/13/06), titled, "West must engage with Afghanistan." It deals with the thorny issues involved in last month's trial of Afghani exile Abdul Rahman for converting from Islam to Christianity.

The premise of my opinion is this: you cannot have political freedom without religious freedom, BUT you can have spiritual freedom regardless.

Here is how I worked biblical scripture into the 500-word opinion, starting in paragraph 9:

In the first century, the Christian writer Paul addressed the importance of our religious freedom when he wrote, "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" (Galatians 5:1).
Jesus' offer of freedom attracts people like Abdul Rahman the world over. Fortunately for those living under repressive regimes, spiritual liberty can be accessed without the benefit of political reforms or leaving their homelands.
What's more, many seek this liberty expressly because their personal freedoms are repressed.
Read more >>

To draw the favor of the editors, I dealt with a timely issue, framed it as a issue of democratic freedom, and concluded it with a call to stay committed to democracy in Afghanistan. But I hope readers will see my fundemental throught that true freedom is found in Jesus.

Submitted by
Bruce Umpstead

Great Article in the NY Times--A Qualifying Article

2006-04-13T09:13:00.000-04:00

I was pleased to find a qualifying entry for the Amy Writing Awards-- in the New York Times, no less! On April 13 (today), David Brooks wrote a provocative opinion about the historical roots of the conflict in Iraq, juxtaposing past and future perspectives in an opinion titled, "The Past Meets the Future" (TimeSelect subscribers only).

Brooks uses Elie Kedourie's essay on the British occupation of Iraq in the 1920's to bolster the claims of "Mr. Future," who argues against western intervention in Iraq. "Mr. Past" cites social activism, using the Exodus story, as a catalyst for the changes needed to stabilize the Iraqi nation and bring democracy to the region.

It is a powerful dialogue that pits optimist vs. Pessimistic perspectives on a very real, very serious policy tug-of-war over the Middle East policy. Both sides are presented well.

Here is a critical excerpt:

[To Mr. Past:] The central lesson of the past three years is that societies are not that malleable. Evils do not grow out of manageable defects in the environment that can be neatly fixed. We need to change our mentality, scale back to more realistic expectations.

Mr. Future: Actually, I did read Kedourie, but last night I also reread the Exodus story. The Exodus story reminds us that human beings can transform themselves and their situations. It reminds us that people who embark on generational journeys are the realistic ones, because they are the ones who see
all the possibilities the future contains.

The finest things humans have done have been achieved in an Exodus frame of mind. This country was settled and founded by people who adopted the Exodus mentality. The civil rights movement was also led by such people.

Martin Luther King learned from Exodus that it is not enough to sit back and let history slowly evolve. It's sometimes necessary to venture into the hazardous wilderness.

Ultimately, Brooks's writing is an example of how Biblical principles and perspectives can and does inform public policy. His references to Martin Luther King, Moses, and later Tocqueville were masterful. Yet, he balances the article with Mr. Future's well-thought, well-reasoned, well-supported perspective.

He also tactfully uses scripture to reinforce his point that freedom is won through a long, difficult process, sometimes turning brother against brother.

Well done, Mr. Brooks. Keep up the good journalism. I hope to see this as a entry in this year's Amy Writing Awards.

Submitted by
Bruce Umpstead

Awesome series(come on, include scripture!)

2006-04-07T10:16:00.000-04:00

Starting today (4/7/06), Scott Farwell is reporting on what he experienced during a 24-hour visit to a faith-based drug rehabilitation center in a series of front-page articles in Dallas Morning News. The title of today’s article is "Addicts expected to have faith.”

Farwell tells the story of Elliott Haynes:

On this day, Elliott Haynes prayed and danced and pledged his love to a godly woman.

He studied the Bible. He clenched his fist in pride. He wept.

Mr. Haynes is a recovering crack addict. Two months ago, the 36-year-old man moved from San Antonio into the Victory Home, a Christian-based drug treatment center near the Cotton Bowl in South Dallas.

The program is supported by private donations, daily fundraisers and a pair of nonprofit groups linked to Prestonwood Baptist Church of Plano and King of Glory
Lutheran Church in North Dallas.
Read more>>

It is an excellent story of personal redemption and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t contain an identifiable passage of scripture, so this article doesn’t qualify for the Amy Writing Awards. But there is hope. It looks like there is a story running on the front page Saturday (4/8) and Sunday (4/9). There is still time …

This article was so close too. Mr. Haynes shared a favorite song:

"When hope is gone and the darkness has fallen
"I will still believe, I will still believe
"I will rise up, I will rise up
"I will rise up and call myself blessed."

I am sure Mr. Haynes receives comfort from a favorite scripture passage as well. Perhaps Farwell will include in before he concludes the series.

Congratulations to Scott for writing such a moving piece of journalism. Keep up the good work!

Submitted by,
Bruce Umpstead

A Great Topic (but no scripture!)

2006-04-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

A recent study released by researchers at the Mind/Body Medical Institute near Boston made big news this week. As the New York Times reported, “Prayers offered by strangers had no effect on the recovery of people who were undergoing heart surgery, a large and long-awaited study has found.”

This serve as an excellent opportunity to discuss Christianity and personal faith in mainstream media, and writer Jeffrey Weiss for the Dallas Morning News took advantage. On Thursday, April 6, 2006, he wrote the following opinion, titled “More proof that science, religion don't mix”:

Serious efforts to combine science and religion all too often produce train wrecks. I offer two recent examples.

One came across right after I finished last week's Peek: The ballyhooed study on intercessionary prayer for people who had heart bypass surgery. A generic prayer was offered for one group and not another. Some people were told they’d be prayed for, others were told they might or might not.

Not only did the prayers not seem to have any benefit. But those who were told they would be prayed for had greater medical complications than those who were not. Not only, therefore, did the study not "prove" what some folks
hoped – that prayer heals – but it indicates that something about prayer may actually hinder healing. …
Read more >>>

Jeffrey went on to explain how science and religion often end in a “null hypothesis” with science unable to prove the validity of spiritual tenets. I appreciate his insight and applaud his writing.

Unfortunately, Jeffrey’s piece would not qualify for the Amy Writing Awards, if it was published in newsprint, because it did not include identifiable scripture. There was plenty of opportunity. Jeffrey derived several of his arguments from the book of Matthew. He even sited it as a reference, but the quotes he used were not scripture.

It is not hard to find an appropriate passage. For example, I talked with a psychometrician friend who thoughtfully responded to taking a scientific approach to an expressly theological issue. Instead of dithering on the quantitative particulars, which he is qualified to do, he questioned the validity of performing such tests of God’s supernatural ability. “Can we measure God’s performance,” he wonders. “Didn’t Jesus warn us, ‘Do not put your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:7).

Good job, Jeffrey. Keep up the good work! We look forward to reading one of your columns as a 2006 Amy Writing Award entry later this year.

Submitted by
Bruce Umpstead

Good Commentary! (but no scripture)

2006-03-31T11:35:00.000-05:00

Jeff Mullin writes commentaries for the Enid News & Eagle in Enid, Oklahoma (population 47,045). In reviewing online commentaries about the case of Afghani Christian, Abdul Rahman, Mullin did a good job addressing the issue of religious martyrdom and gets at why Rahman's faith is so threatening to Islam.

On March 26, 1996, Mullin writes:

The concept of Christian martyrdom seems an ancient one.
All Christians know the stories of Stephen, James, Philip, Matthew, James the Lesser, Andrew, Peter and Paul.
All died because of their faith.
But that was thousands of years ago.
The idea of putting someone to death simply because they worship in a certain way seems anachronistic, at best, in the opening decade of the 21st Century.
That, however, is precisely the situation facing 41-year-old Abdul Rahman, a native of Afghanistan who converted from being a Muslim, to Christianity, some 16 years ago. ...

Read more of Mullin's commentary at: http://www.enidnews.com/opinion/local_story_085002947.html?keyword=secondarystory

Unfortunately, this opinion would not qualify for the Amy Writing Awards because it didn't include an identifiable scripture passage. There are plenty of passages that would fit nicely. The one I am thinking of comes from 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.

Good job, Jeff. Keep up the good work! We look forward to reading one of your columns as a 2006 Amy Writing Award entry later this year.

Submitted by
Bruce Umpstead

2006-03-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

Edward Colimore of the Philadelphia Inquirer presents a balanced exposition of Benjamin Franklin's faith in his 3/21/06 article. Had Edward quoted a scripture passage, this would have been a strong entry in the Amy Writing Awards. Here's a sample of his piece:

Faith debate familiar to Franklin
What would Ben do? Same as us, one
philosopher posits - wonder.
by Edward Colimore, Inquirer Staff Writer

He was born 300 years ago but would have felt at home in today's cultural tug-of-war between America's secular and religious camps.
Benjamin Franklin lived through a similar battle himself and was conflicted about his own faith.
What would he say about the government display of the Ten Commandments and the use of "In God We Trust" on coins? Where would Franklin be in the debate over the phrase "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance or the teaching of intelligent design in the public schools?
"Franklin's religious perspectives are what really make him seem a contemporary in the beginning of the 21st century," said Kerry Walters, the William Bittinger professor of philosophy and chair of the philosophy department at Gettysburg College.
...

Well done, Edward! Find the article at
www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/14146951.htm

2006-02-27T11:15:00.000-05:00

Thank you to Terry Fielder of the Twin Cities' Star Tribune for his extensive and balanced feature on faith in the work place. Had Terry included a scripture reference, his article would have been a great entry in the Amy Writing Awards. Check out his piece at www.startribune.com. Here's a sample:

Where faith, work meet
From quiet prayers to open displays of devotion,
more Christians are bringing their religion into the workplace.
Terry Fiedler, Star Tribune
Last update: February 26, 2006 – 11:50 PM

It's 6:30 a.m. at the Fridley headquarters of Medtronic Inc., and a small cluster of employees is gathering in a spare conference room to praise their leader.

It's not CEO Art Collins.

Palms upraised and eyes closed, the workers sit in silent adoration around a conference table as religious music plays on a laptop computer. One member suddenly drops to his knees in rapt devotion.
...

Thanks, Terry!

2006-02-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

Tonya Maxwell of the Chicago Tribune published an excellent article today on the opening of a new and innovative church in Chicago. Not only is Tonya's article well-written, it also includes a scripture reference. I hope she submits it to the Amy Writing Awards for consideration. Here's a sample of her work:

Church born of faith and music
3 pastors bring plan to fruition in Pilsen
By Tonya Maxwell, Chicago Tribune staff reporter
February 27, 2006

The mountain has moved in Pilsen.

For months, three Protestant pastors have been using mesmerizing jazz fusion beats to capture the imaginations of Pilsen residents. They beat bongos and thumped bass at the tiny Cafe Mestizo on Ashland Avenue, creating camaraderie in music.

But always these young men of God had a plan for creating camaraderie in Christ though an informal, music-laden church service.
...

Great job, Tonya!