Fear and pessimism seem to be permeating the Presidential Election this year. As a matter of fact, I was sitting at church this past Sunday, listening to some of the conversations, when an amusing thought crossed my mind. I told my husband later that afternoon: “If we could breed Chicken Little and Eeyore, we would come up with an offspring that resembles the demeanor of many believers who fill our church pews every Sunday.” “The sky is falling and everything is really, really bad.” That Continue Reading
My Interview with Andy Stanley – Controversial WHO NEEDS GOD Series
I am not a stranger to legal courts. A daughter of a defense attorney in Brazil, I grew up watching dad buried in countless books and evidence documents, carefully studying each case with zeal in order to prepare for his defense. For many years I witnessed him turn down clients whom he could not defend in clear conscience. While watching his earnest quest for justice and passion for truth, my heart was shaped at a very young age to carefully hear each side of an argument in its entirety, Continue Reading
The Empty Pew – Is Hypocritical Faith to Blame? {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
Dwight L. Moody was an American evangelist and publisher, who lived in the 19th century. Among other institutions, Moody founded the renowned Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers, both still in existence today. He was known for his piercing and passionate sermons and for leading highly popular revival tours in Great Britain and the U.S. In one of his publications, titled “Moody’s Anecdotes,” he wrote a provocative story about a picture exhibited in a gallery in London. From a distance, Continue Reading
Playing with Temptation {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
Published on the Atlanta Journal Constitution - Faith & Values Column - 09.03.16 - Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen was a famous German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I. Famously known as the Red Baron due to his distinctive red Fokker aircraft, Richthofen shot down more combat planes than anyone else on either side in the first world war. On April 21, 1918, while engaged in the battle over the Morlancourt Ridge near the Somme River in Continue Reading
Friendship & Envy – The Pinnacle of Contradiction {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
It seems as if my daughters’ social experiences this year have offered ample opportunities to learn about various facets of friendship. It’s been a blessing sharing my experience and struggles with them, and watch as they make wise decisions, while learning key principles one must know in order to better evaluate a person’s character. Several weeks ago, I wrote a column about how true friendships are tested in times of trouble. Later that week I ran across an amusing quote from an unknown Continue Reading
Grace to the Unlikely {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
I recently came across an illustration about patience and long-suffering that gave me great pause. According to a supposedly traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when a weary old traveler walked by. The old man looked tired and hungry from a long journey. Abraham rushed out to help the stranger, inviting him into his tent. There he washed the man’s feet and gave him food and drink. Without hesitation, the old traveler began eating his food before Continue Reading
