Spirituality

The Christmas Story

The Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2:1-20) About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's hometown,...

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Amazing Grace

I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see. Even though the average life span has continued to increase over the years, many would still argue that life is short. A life well lived, however, could not be qualified by a mere number. Life is full of a roller coaster of seasons -- joy, despair, ecstasy, grief -- what makes the difference...

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Peace...Where Are You?

Peace – it’s elusive sometimes, isn’t it? What happens when peace disintegrates into chaos, when a husband loses his job and finances are cut off, when a child is in a car wreck? What happens to peace when the repo man stands knocking at the door, or pain strikes the chest and there is no insurance? Where does it go when the cupboard holds...

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3:32
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Finding Peace and Freedom

If I asked you to describe yourself, what would you say? Would you tell me your job title or refer to your relationships – husband, wife, son, daughter, friend? Would you talk about your successes, or failures, your dreams or your past? These are parts of who you are, but you are more than what you do or where you live. You are a human being...

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In Search of the Christmas Spirit

The holidays can be challenging. If you need someone to talk to, come talk to a mentor. One Christmas, I came across an article in a local newspaper by an articulate columnist named Bill Johnson. His column was titled, "A Lesson in Catching the Christmas Spirit." Johnson began his search for the Christmas spirit at the Christmas tree lots,...

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Feeling Grief

Grieving is a unique experience. It’s a process that is as individual as the people it affects. Oh yes, there are predictable stages … but the experience of loosing someone  dear to you is truly a very personal journey. Recently I said goodbye to my dear Dad. It’s hard to believe it was only a couple of months ago. I’ve processed a lot...

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Can God & Politics Mix?

Can God and politics mix?  Is blending them a recipe for suppressing freedoms, grabbing votes, or promoting the public good? God-talk has become popular among US politicians. Leaders contemplating faith-in-action would do well to look back two centuries to William Wilberforce, the famous British parliamentarian who led a grueling but bipartisan...

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Faith & Practice

"Stop right there!" the elderly patient exclaimed. "I know God hates bastards!" The Christian medical student who was trying to communicate his faith for the first time was a bit flustered. He had just told the patient that God loved her, but his training hadn't taught him how to deal with this objection. Conceived during a rape, this woman...

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