Twenty-five thousand people turned out on a cold January day in New York City to rally in solidarity with the Jewish community following the December 28 attack on a rabbi’s Hanukkah party. It was an eloquent witness of support amidst ever-growing num…
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On Sunday, Jan. 26, St. Paul will offer two showings of Angst, a documentary designed to raise awareness around anxiety. The film includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents, and Olympian Michael Phelps. The goal specifically is…
The power of positive thinking is over- and underestimated. No doubt, our attitude can have a tremendous impact on our circumstances, positively or negatively. You need only consider the smile of someone dear to you, and the effect it has on your own…
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On the stage at the Brunner Theatre at Augustana College, the smile of Bridgette Weis cannot be mistaken. Bridgette is one of the cast members of the upcoming performance of “The Lion King Jr.,” a production of The Penguin Project of the Quad Cities….
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On the morning of New Years’ Day, my wife asked me, “Are you making any New Year’s Resolutions this year?” “No, I don’t think so,” I replied. “You?” I can’t remember whether I made any last year. If I did, they didn’t last long. I understand the draw…
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Mid-Advent, if you were to peep my church office, you’d find a disheveled scene. Fifteen hand soaps in an opened box on my desk, a manger full off socks waiting to go to Family Resources, and a displaced baby Jesus doll resting on an office chair. To…
“Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings…” These words from the third verse of Hark the Herald Angels Sing helped inspire our theme of Light and Life for this year’s Advent Devotions. But it wasn’t until I went caroling with…
In John 8:12, Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” In these turbulent times it is easy to lose sight of the light. As we prepare for Jesus’ birthday, his arrival in t…
As a college student, Advent season also means finals season. These tests determine if I have or have not learned precisely what I was meant to over the entire last semester. For me this consisted of vocabulary, theology, Greek and Hebrew translation…
Since Teresa died this June, everything I go through is a first. First baseball season. First Fall. And now I just had my first Thanksgiving since she died. That went okay, because my son and I and some family went to Steeplegate Inn for brunch, and…
Light, life, healing…three words that capture the promise of God to all people at Advent and always. God’s light often shines brightest when life seems darkest. That light makes difficult places tolerable. When my husband passed away I was sure lif…
Life is a long and tedious process. It is full of ups and downs. There is a lot of good and some bad. We all have some things to push through. I think it is what makes us who we are. For me there has been a couple of things that were really hard. I l…