Math Can be a Thing of Beauty: The Elegance Behind the Fibonacci Sequence

Last updated on: December 31, 2015 at 9:26 am By David Rupert

What makes something beautiful? The human eye is drawn to objects perfectly proportioned. Think of the spiral of a sea shell or the Egyptian pyramids. Certain faces on people seem to have the perfect dimensions. Some designs seem so perfect. And why are some faces so perfect? Interestingly, beauty can actually be mathematically equated to 1:1.6. This ratio is calculated by using a series of numbers called the Fibonacci sequence, or the Golden Ratio. It’s sequence looks like this: 1,2,3,5, 8, 13,... Read more

He Fought for both Iraq and the U.S., but now is a man without a country

Last updated on: December 19, 2015 at 7:40 pm By David Rupert

His eyes danced, full of life. His hands moved with the fluidity of a painter and then they would stop in mid air to make point. His nerves and senses were sharp, keenly aware of everything around him. Alert and ready, he wanted to make sure that I heard him. After a few minutes of talking to this Iraqi refugee, I knew he was intelligent, even brilliant. He told me his name and he halfway expected that I would know... Read more

No Christmas gift for the boss? Let me help

Last updated on: December 19, 2015 at 7:43 pm By David Rupert

Here’s a little last-minute, gift-giving advice. Christmastime, despite the cheer and good will to all, is often full of uncertainty when it comes to gifts. Especially challenging is that awkward tradition of exchanging gifts in the workplace. We’ve all received — and given — our share of tins of chocolates, mugs and ties. And giving a gift to the boss is even more difficult. Ethically, it may be a breach to give your supervisor a present. After all, you don’t... Read more

How politics are helping Christians die in the Middle East

Last updated on: December 19, 2015 at 5:46 pm By David Rupert

Like you, the photos and written accounts of displaced peoples knocking at the door of nearly every European country stirred me. It wasn’t just the tragedy of it all; it was the helplessness that gripped me. So I traveled to Jordan, where more than a million have found refuge, to try to get a clearer picture. I spent time with hundreds of displaced people—I will call them refugees—from Syria and Iraq. I came home fairly certain in my opinions about what... Read more

Afraid at work? The three attitudes that will set you free.

Last updated on: December 6, 2015 at 9:58 pm By David Rupert

The terrible killings at a San Bernardino social services office was frightening on many levels. A home-grown terrorist. An immigrant wife. A nice kid with a baby and a career. A suburban government office having a holiday party. Everyone liked the killer. He was a good employee who showed up and did his work. With a new wife and a a baby and a government job, his friends said he was “living the American dream.” What demons lurked? What seething... Read more

Sorting out Refugees {I Hope Ben Carson Knows This}

Last updated on: December 1, 2015 at 11:54 am By David Rupert

The refugee and immigration crisis is one that is knocking at nearly every nation’s door. As Christians, our hearts are pricked. Our compassion moves us and our spirit is stirred. We want to do something, anything. The news reports and the haunting faces scrambling across Europe are jarring. They are desperate images with photographers eager to capture the tear, the frightening toddler or the elderly man, wrapped in a blanket. I’ve been trying to simply tell the stories of the refugees from one-on-one interviews. I’ve... Read more

Robbed at Knifepoint. Could I give thanks?

Last updated on: November 30, 2015 at 3:03 pm By David Rupert

Nearly 25 years ago, I was walking in a crowded street in Panama City, Panama while on assignment with the Air National Guard. It was broad daylight –and safe — so I thought. Suddenly, I saw a figure rushing at me from my peripheral vision, and then another from the opposite side. Before I knew it, two teens had surrounded me, each brandishing a switchblade. One held a knife to my abdomen, while the other cut away the back pocket... Read more

Refugee Stories: Teenage girl speaks out, “Save my friends”

Last updated on: November 24, 2015 at 12:48 pm By David Rupert

Her voice wavers when I ask her about her family. “I miss them. Everyday that’s all I think about.” But the 19-year old is in contact with her brother and parents regularly from an undisclosed location in Iraq. She doesn’t want her picture taken so she can protect them. Protection runs both ways. Rita Tamur is still alive and free today because her family wanted to protect her. When Daesh occupied their town near Mosul, Iraq last summer, her family was... Read more

I am afraid {Does that make me a bad person?}

Last updated on: November 23, 2015 at 11:30 pm By David Rupert

Since the Paris attack, this could be called the season of fear. Multiple terrorists’ threats, continued taunts from the enemy, and the realization that life for all us is more complicated as we wrestle with right and wrong, compassion and security, love and dread. We are emotionally driven by fear these days. And it’s amazing what that produces – Irrational thought, knee-jerk reactions, and overreaching decisions. But it’s understandable when we feel threatened. Think about your job. How many rash decisions... Read more

Kneejerk: The Paris attacks are bad news for Christian refugees

Last updated on: November 18, 2015 at 1:42 am By David Rupert

With the terrible news of nearly 150 people killed in the Parisian terrorist attacks last week, the fate of thousands of Christian refugees from Syria and Iraq are further complicated. It’s understandable. Lives are gone and families are changed forever. There is pain and anguish and the natural reaction is to begin to look for those responsible. Every nation is reviewing how such a thing could happen — and what they need to do to prevent an occurrence within their... Read more