Author Ava Pennington
Author Ava Pennington

I Fell Into the Teacher Trap

I ignored the warnings for months. The first was a quiet, almost imperceptible nudge. Then came stronger recognition. Finally, last fall, when asked for a prayer request, my answer reflected a growing awareness. But still, I pushed those warnings aside. For those who...

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I’m Weary of Hypocrisy

I’m weary of people talking without listening to the words they speak. And they seem to be appearing in news headlines with appalling frequency. I’m weary of Christians who say God is love, then spew hatred for unbelievers. I’m weary of secularists who demand...

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My Personal Hope for 2017

A new year, a new word. In 2015, my “one word” for the year was release—a word I didn’t like, but did need. These posts explain my choice and my experience in applying my one word. The following year, my word was joy…a word that seemed to be the opposite of release,...

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How Should We Live?

  Each new year brings the potential for a clean slate. New opportunities, new challenges, new experiences. But that clean slate also produces uncertainty. Globally, we're facing wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. Nationally, we're weary of political...

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The Danger of a Post-truth Perspective

Every year, Oxford Dictionaries chooses a word of the year. A word that, in their estimation, exerted significant influence on our language. A word that attracted much interest or encapsulates a significant change in our culture. For 2016, the Oxford Dictionaries Word...

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See the Baby Jesus

I love Christmas. The music, lights, and decorations. The tree and the ornaments, the Christmas village, and especially the nativity scenes. Of all my Christmas decorations, my favorite is a large tabletop display that includes a manger set in the midst of a hustling,...

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Refuse to Enlist in the Christmas Wars

It’s the first day of December and the Christmas wars are already in full swing. You might have enlisted if you: correct sales clerks when they say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” give your name as “Merry Christmas” when placing a Starbucks order,...

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Just Because I Can Doesn’t Mean I Should

Another uproar. Another point of division in a divided country. Another debate about free speech. The gifted, diverse cast of a Broadway play exercised their right to free speech by making a political appeal to a VIP in the audience. Supporters of the cast affirmed...

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A Different View

In the past two months, I’ve been aware of several eye problems occurring among my friends. One friend had cataract surgery in both eyes. Another’s son experienced scratched corneas in both eyes. Although his eyes are now healed, at the time the doctor considered the...

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Too Early for Christmas?

Ahhh…the beginning of a new month. This is usually the time when I’m asking if anyone knows where the previous month went…and wondering how we can get it back. Not this month. And that’s because Christmas is in 52 days! Yes, I know, most people don’t want to hear...

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