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Rx for World Weariness: Peace in the Midst of Terrorism, Turmoil and Election Chaos
I don’t know about you, but I have been battling world weariness lately. In the last month or so, I have, via the news, witnessed hundreds killed in horrific attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq where my refugee friends have family members. I’ve seen a horrific attack in France and checked facebook to make sure my niece was safe, sheltering in place in Munich. I’ve seen reports of black men dying at the hands of the police, and policemen ambushed in multiple cities. I’ve watched an attempted coup in the country I called home for twelve years and I’m witnessing a presidential race that reminds me more of an episode of…
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Helping Kids Process Traumatic Events
Living in an information saturated world means we often get bombarded with news events. I recall crying when I read the news on Sandy Hook and feeling sick to my stomach over the events in Paris. And now, the latest terrorism in Orlando leaves us all stunned—CNN is calling it the “deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.” How do we respond to such events? And, how do we help our children process difficult news when we struggle to make sense of it ourselves? Be careful of media exposure—Whenever possible, avoid letting children under 5 view any traumatic news. Many psychologists also suggest that children between the age of 6–11 should…
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A Christmas Lament
O Come Emmanuel, Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by thine Advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death’s dark shadows put to flight In the midst of joy to the world and hark the herald angels sing In the midst of employee seminar/Christmas lunch, taking pictures by the tree, ten minute break Shots rip flesh and fourteen families apart Blood pooling on the floor, water pouring from fire sprinklers, wails of agony War comes to sleepy San Bernardino, much like it came to Pearl Harbor, seventy-four years ago today Much like it came to Bethlehem over…
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The Tsunami, Birth Pains, Death, and the End of Days
“The world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:6-7).
