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Both & Neither

Both & Neither

As a mixed race person, my experience with understanding my own racial identity has forced me to uncomfortably exist between two sides. When interacting with either side of my heritage, it’s hard to not feel like an illegitimate misfit. Even now as I write this...

What Makes Hope, Hope?

What Makes Hope, Hope?

A great part of my job is taking people out for a cup of coffee and hearing their stories. It also gives me a chance to hear people’s impressions of Hope. What brought them here?  What keeps them coming back?  If I had to boil it down to a couple comments that people...

The Asian American Identity

The Asian American Identity

Identity is something I have struggled with my entire life. I am a Japanese-American born in the United States to immigrant parents. My first language is not English and growing up I considered Japan my second home. I have had the opportunity to spend portions of...

Shouts and Songs From Two Mountains

Shouts and Songs From Two Mountains

Understanding the message of the Old Testament and applying it today is a lot like watching the film “Fight Club.” Only at the end of the movie does the viewer discover that the two main characters are (spoiler alert!) one and the same. Moreover, a second watch is in...

Silence and Solitude

Silence and Solitude

I don’t think anyone in the western world would argue with the following statement: “We live in a time of tremendous and immediate access to knowledge, comfort, and entertainment.”  For those of us that are followers of Jesus, the following statement is also true: “We...

A Prayer of Lament

A Prayer of Lament

Psalm 126 https://resources.hopecc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Psalm-126.wav   A song of ascents When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said...

A Prayer of Humility

A Prayer of Humility

Philippians 2:5-11 https://resources.hopecc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Philippians-2.wav In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to...

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Psalm 103:1-12 https://resources.hopecc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Psalm-103.wav   Of David.  Praise the Lord, my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals...