Do You Believe in the Resurrection of the Body?
April 30th, 2018

Do You Believe in the Resurrection of the Body?

Rosalie J. Karjala

Just when we New Englanders thought that we would not outlive winter’s grip, signs of spring begin to appear. It’s subtle. You have to watch for it. The bare willow trees turn sunny and golden. Crocuses and tiger lilies poke up through the dark earth, rising ...

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Words are Powerful. When is the Right Time to Speak Up?
April 23rd, 2018

Words are Powerful. When is the Right Time to Speak Up?

Ann-Margret Hovsepian

My neighbor must have been in a good mood—or maybe a spectacularly bad one—because, for the first time since I’d moved into my apartment five months earlier, I could hear music blaring from next door. Only the bass tones reached my home office, but it was distracting. Do ...

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The Bible’s Simple Truth of How to Love My Neighbor
April 9th, 2018

The Bible’s Simple Truth of How to Love My Neighbor

Rosalie J. Karjala

My son the linguist never met a word he didn’t love. And he delights in sharing his etymological treasures with whoever will stop and listen. Recently we celebrated my birthday with breakfast at a little restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. As we watched the morning sunlight ...

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What is Courage: Self-Confidence or God-Confidence?
February 12th, 2018

What is Courage: Self-Confidence or God-Confidence?

Ann-Margret Hovsepian

If a child fell into the deep end of a pool, a trained lifeguard would not hesitate to jump in and rescue him. That’s confidence . If I was the only adult nearby, I’d have to momentarily forget that I am terrified of being in water past my ...

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What Did Jesus Really Think of Women?
October 9th, 2017

What Did Jesus Really Think of Women?

Rosalie J. Karjala

How does the Bible view women? At face value, some of its messages and examples can seem oppressive or devaluing. But when you learn more about how Jesus responded to the Bible’s historical and cultural context, you may rethink your first impressions. Christ entered into a specific time and ...

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How to Let Your Hunger Lead You Closer to God
July 24th, 2017

How to Let Your Hunger Lead You Closer to God

Katy Callahan

One of my favorite comedians has a bit in which he imagines that the delicious foods we describe as “heavenly” aren’t actually allowed in heaven. I think of this joke whenever I read about manna, the mysterious substance that was showered upon the Israelites by God after they complained ...

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What is a Biblical Response to Injustice?
July 10th, 2017

What is a Biblical Response to Injustice?

Katy Callahan

A few days after the 2016 presidential election, I thought of the time Peter cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear as Jesus was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:10). Many of us with differing priorities for justice have spat venom at each other before ...

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