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The Master of the Banquet
I remember the first time I saw Martha. We were in Spain, at the Adventist school’s Church building during a weekday. I was helping my neighbor lead a worship choir for English speaking students. I was not going through a particularly great season in my life, and thus had zero expectations that I would be…
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Much Out of Little
Let’s be honest: we all feel, at least once in a while, not good enough. We easily fall short of the love we promised our spouse, we quickly lose our temper with our children, we fail to keep in touch with dear friends, we find it easier to criticize than praise our church family and…
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No Other Way
Love and freedom are fundamentally connected. So much so that there cannot be one without the other. For love to be true, it needs to be free. Love cannot be forcefully manufactured nor can it be kept alive with threats and manipulation. At least not for long. Love has to be free, freely given and…
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Peace
Peace is a tricky thing. At least, it is to me. When I’ve had a good night of sleep and the day looks promising, it is easy to go about my business with peace in my heart and a smile on my face. But when my night was not restful and my day is filled…
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Tiny Hand Reaching for a Cookie
During Advent and Christmas season, my family and I were deep into baking mode. Apple, pumpkin and strawberry rhubarb pies graced our oven, breads were consumed and happily shared with neighbors and friends and gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies blessed our dining room table. We feasted like being in good company and celebrating the birth…
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Pay Attention
I recently stumbled on a poem written by Andrew Peterson. These were its first lines: Pay attention to the little things. Pay attention to the big things too, Because both are easy enough to miss, And are one and the same more often than not This hits me hard in all kinds of…
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Building Home
My father had me later in life. By the time I was a teenager, he was well into his sixties. When I was about eleven years old, he had an acute pancreatitis, which almost took his life. He survived it, not without making it very clear to my young mind that he was mortal, and…
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Converting Santa
Let’s be honest: there is nothing more legalistic about the Christmas season than Santa Claus. Have you ever paid attention to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”? “You better watch out You better not cry You better not pout I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town He’s making a list He’s…
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Gather all the Nations to Him
A few years ago, the Piano Guys released their own take of “Angels from the Realms of Glory”, a nearly two hundred year old Christmas hymn. On our drive to and from school, the girls and I love to listen to it and loudly sing along. There are lots of exuberant and joyful “Gloria” in…
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A Rose in the Night
An old German Christmas Carol begins with the following lines:Lo, how a Rose e’er bloomingFrom tender stem hath sprung!Of Jesse’s lineage comingAs men of old have sung.It came, a flower bright,Amid the cold of winterWhen half-gone was the night. What an image this song paints in our imagination! A rose, the quintessential love flower, blooming…
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The Show
November 20, 2023 “Alexa, play waltz music.” “Alexa, play a ninja song.” “Alexa, play ‘only a boy named David’.” It doesn’t fail. These requests directed to our smart device are usually voiced in the evening, after supper is finished. They often come when we haven’t even emptied the table of dirty plates and leftovers and…
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Falling Leaves
As Autumn winds gain strength, tree leaves begin to fall. Slowly but surely, trees are undressed, baring their skeletons for all to see. Their strengths and weaknesses are exposed, causing us to fear some are close to crashing down, while others amaze us with their sturdiness and strength. While we may get hints of a…
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