As a junior in high school, the future is a common topic of conversation. Where would you like to go to college? What career are you interested in? What is your vision for your life? I like thinking about such things, but recently I was struck by a certain predicament: how do my career goals reconc...
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It is an imperative of many industries and fields to be “current,” offering the latest features and the newest models. In fields like medicine, being up to date is decidedly important, as innovations and new research often provide life-saving treatments.  Yet, in other areas, from...
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    “We sinned for no reason but an incomprehensible lack of love, and He saved us for no reason but an incomprehensible excess of love.” Peter Kreeft’s words remind us how selfless Christ was in his sacrifice on the cross. We must always keep in mind his passi...
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Recently a colleague shared his experiences of the 2017 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and told us how he was re-energized by the powerful testimonies there. As I listened to him and looked into the event, the theme of the LA Youth Day prior to the congress caught my attention.  ...
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Last month I wrote about difficult or impossible questions, but I did not expect to be confronted with such questions in the following weeks. On Feb. 18, my aunt and godmother, Kim Sermersheim, died of an extremely rare form of cancer. Then, just two weeks later, on March 7, our teacher and coach a...
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Lent can be a dangerous time.   Lent is the period in the liturgical calendar during which asceticism flourishes most abundantly. It is the period during which we expend a lot of time and energy channeling our willpower – a worthy practice, for, to exercise self-discipline is to celebrat...
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I’ll admit that I usually don't look forward to fasting (using today's common church definition). It's uncomfortable, and it can seem like it doesn't do much good, especially if I just end up hungry and grumpy all day. However, we hear in the scriptures that fasting is powerful and can aide p...
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Questions are dangerous to our peace of mind. What is my purpose? Why did God decide to create anything in the first place? It’s not like he needs our help for anything. Most vexing for me: how can we know what is true? The most thought-provoking questions have no satisfactory answers, so t...
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It's inspiring to me that each Saint’s life is so different and unique. Each lived deeply rooted in Christ’s will, fully trusting in the Lord and serving as they were called. What a gift that we can follow the Saints’ examples, not only in their specific actions but in their overa...
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How does one separate from longtime friends? Why would one separate from longtime friends? Sometimes it’s necessary for friends to split apart because of differences in values.  These can be difficult situations. It’s easy to feel obligated to remain friends for a variety of reaso...
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