The pastor’s sermon this morning resonated deeply. He used Hannah’s powerful words from 1 Samuel 2 about “broken bows” to address the heartbreaking issue of gun violence, particularly against children. It prompted me to revisit Hannah’s song (verses 1-10) after a long time. The phrase about “bows” is a powerful metaphor. It reminds us that…

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The past week was a whirlwind of medical appointments — an MRI, blood draws, and consultations with actual doctors and numerous messages going back and forth through various “portals.” (No, I’m not going back to college to play football). I like to get my visits done at the same time, so I can quickly forget…

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Sometimes There Are No Words As we live our lives, we will inevitably encounter tragedies or events where words seem inadequate to express our feelings or offer comfort. We fumble, we repeat pat phrases, or we avoid our friend or neighbor because “sometimes there are just no words.” These are times that our silent presence is…

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To love another person is to see the face of God. — Victor Hugo, Les Miserables. I missed this quote when I read the Classic comic book that summarized Hugo’s classic. I heard it the first time I saw the musical, and it has had a lasting impact on me. The sentiment reflects a view that…

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The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden, — Matthew 13:44a. Before I read today’s bible verse, I knew what I wanted to talk to God about this morning. There are times when my pain and discomfort make it almost impossible to have inner peace. I needed God’s help in calming the fires in…

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