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Category Archives: 2011

Baby Jesus is Missing!

The headline was unmistakable, but Nick Thompson read it again. “Baby Jesus is Missing!” This was followed by a short article and then a photo of the empty manger at the front of St. Luke’s Church. “I can’t believe it!” Nick exclaimed, causing his wife, Jackie, to look up from her laptop across the kitchen […]

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Forever Grateful

The chilly air off the Hudson River only added to the somber spirit of the crowd that wrapped its way along Albany Street. As the final haze of twilight shifted to darkness, our eyes couldn’t help but be drawn upward to the nearest source of light. The Freedom Tower, still topped by cranes, glowed in […]

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Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Aside from the flurry of leaves whisking down my street each morning and the crisp breeze that greets me as I step outside my door, another sure sign that autumn is on its way is Lucy’s inevitable attempt to trick Charlie Brown into kicking a football. You remember the comic strip series, Peanuts? Every fall […]

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Teach the Children Well

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” […]

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Coming Home

As a child, one of the best things about summer was being able to play outside with my friends until sunset. In my neighborhood, we could safely run up and down the street, flying down a slip-and-slide at one end and shooting hoops with the boys at the other. We’d even venture just around the […]

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One Nation under God!

I want to start this short message with one caveat: America is not my source of salvation. Now, please don’t misconstrue – I’m a very patriotic person, but America is my country, and Jesus is my Savior! Yet I do believe this country is extremely special – founded by faithful men and women and blessed […]

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Hope in Times like These

I don’t know about you, but I’m weary this week. Where do I even begin sharing some of the sorrows weighing me down? Well, here’s a few – some of which you might be able to relate to: *Killer tornadoes that have devastated whole areas – like Joplin, Missouri. *Daily news reports about disappointing public […]

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The Treasure of a Mother’s Heart

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all […]

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Can I get a Witness?

The words on the front screen at church were reiterated in our pastor’s message a few minutes later. What intrigued me most was the expression “witnesses.” Who were these people? Why had they chosen to be present when Paul preached? And what prompted the Apostle Paul to even use this term in his letter to […]

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A Saint in the Making

March often seems like an idle month . . . a bit of a boring season tucked between the end of football and the start of baseball. Sometimes Easter arrives early, but otherwise we’ve only Saint Patrick’s Day to celebrate – that holiday when even non-Irish men and women wear green garb and eat corned […]

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