Tag: Christianity
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Santa, the Grinch, and the Christ Child
This past week I greeted a kindergartner in the main office of our school, where I serve as an administrator. Rosa Maria (not her real name) had on a Santa hat and a Christmas themed outfit, so I asked her, “Are you one of Santa’s helpers?” She answered, “No, I’m Santa.” Then, the most fascinating…
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Advent Reflections on Love and Kinship
Two young girls of two different races, walking down the hall at school holding hands, that’s what I saw one morning. As I passed them, one told me (with genuine joy), “This is my sister!” Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God…
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Advent Reflections: Shadows of Joy
Something amazing happened at our house one December day–we opened the blinds on our front door to let some sunshine into the house. No, that’s not the amazing part, though we are rarely home during the day to do this. I’m sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a mid-morning cup of coffee when Nancy says,…
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Advent Reflections: Peace by Piece
The following story is historical fiction: straight out of my imagination but inspired by actual events. During World War II, Matsuko and her family were among the many Japanese Americans forcibly interned in camps. For three years she longed to return to the farm near Salinas, California where her husband Hayato’s family had grown strawberries…
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Advent Reflections: The Power of Hope and Love
A favorite *story of mine that pairs well with the first Sunday of Advent is about a woman who leaves anonymous notes of encouragement throughout her city. Elizabeth, a recovering drug addict, wants to help others by spreading hope, something she once desperately searched for herself. So, she writes uplifting notes and tucks them under…
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Tuning into God’s Broadcast in Our Lives
A popular sports grill was packed one Saturday for lunch, with many of the noisy patrons watching American college football games on giant flatscreen TVs. Every television played a different game, but with the audio muted. I spotted a sign on the wall advertising an app that syncs the broadcast audio of a turned down…
