“For several minutes, we both sat silently watching the gulls soar overhead, listening to the surf break on the beach. Then Jones began to gather the empty cans and place them in the plastic bag. Standing, he extended his hand and helped me to my feet. ‘Incidentally,’ he said with a smile, ‘you ate sardines and Vienna sausages in the sand. I dined on surf and turf with an ocean view.’ He slapped me on the back. ‘It’s all about perspective.’” The text above is an excerpt from one of the most Continue Reading
Proclaiming Our Faith to the Next Generation {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic and philosopher who, together with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England. His literary works greatly influenced both English and American literature in the beginning of the 19th century. The son of the well-respected Rev. John Coleridge, Samuel became known in the Victorian period as one of the most important apologists for the liberal Anglican point of view. Although Coleridge himself Continue Reading
Who Is Really In Control of This Election? {Column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution}
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
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
Allow God to Handle Your Battles {Column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution}
“Fight your battles on your knees.” I have been privileged to sit under Dr. Charles Stanley’s teaching at First Baptist Atlanta for the past 16 years. This quote is one of "30 Life Principles" that he wrote, all based on Scriptures and his life experiences as a Christian for over 70 years. I was reminded of that principle this morning during my morning walk. Both my children have recently had some bad experiences with friends who have proven to be unfaithful. As my teenage daughter shared Continue Reading
Strive to Be Wise With Money {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
According to the most recent data from the Survey of Consumer Finances by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the credit card debt of American households is approximately $5,700. When a financial institute performed a research study earlier this year to determine the average debt of households that did not pay their balance in full on a monthly basis, the numbers were even more staggering. The average credit card debt for those households increased to an average of $16,048. College debt is another Continue Reading
