Author: hcarmstrong
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The Blessing of Disagreement
“Everything just looked blurry!” That’s what I told my mom and my kindergarten teacher. School was frustrating because I couldn’t see what was on the board, even when I sat in the front row and squinted. But, thankfully, things changed when I told others what I saw and that allowed them to help me. After…
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People of Reconciliation
When you hear the term “reconciliation” what comes to mind? In America, “racial reconciliation” can be volatile and is usually hotly discussed, or avoided, depending on the setting. While race is a relatively modern concept (concurrent with the transatlantic slave trade), people have always found reasons to separate from each other. Some of these reasons…
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Let’s Talk Politics!
So I did’t listen. Months after graduating from college and heading out of state for my first professional position, I was given the standard rule. Mentors reminded me, “Don’t discuss politics or religion at work.” But I didn’t heed the advice. As I’m having a casual conversation with a few co-workers, during my first week…
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Sonya Massey
Sonya Massey should be alive right now, but she is not. On July 6th she called the police because after suspecting a prowler in her home. Although she posed no threat and was unarmed, Ms. Massey was shot and killed by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy. I write this post with a heavy heart. I…
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Stigma Pressure
Can stereotypes be detrimental even if you don’t believe them? In Whistling Vivaldi, Dr. Claude Steele addresses the idea of stigma pressure. Some common stereotypes in America are: These and many other erroneous assumptions have wreaked havoc on our culture and continue to damage relationships. Further, the beliefs and assumptions of the general culture can…
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Escaping the Matrix
The Matrix is a popular movie from 1999 about humanity being unknowingly trapped inside a digital reality. Once he achieves freedom, Keanu Reeves’ character Neo leads an effort to defeat the machines and free others. The pandemic jettisoned most people to depend on virtual meeting platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. And this…
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Healing and Restoration
Message from Sunday June 16, 2024 from Ephesians 4:11-16. The way to successful cross-cultural relationships is through empathy and engagement.
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3 Ways to Disagree Well
Do you feel like this when approaching conflict? Most people deal with conflict through avoidance or hostility. They either: There is a better way to deal with disagreements. Focusing on these three things will shift most of your conflict from hurtful to helpful conversations. 1. Focus on the main goal Conflict happens when coworkers or…
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Unoffendable
As someone that regularly speaks on race and religion (somehow politics seems to sneak its way in too), I often find myself facilitating very polarized arguments. Our society is increasingly embracing the opposite of James 1:19 and instead embracing stubbornness in listening to others, and quickness in getting angry. In the middle of these discussions,…
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This is a Man’s World?
In his 1966 classic James Brown sings: This is a man’s world, but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl Brown gets half of this line right. In this song he endeavors to list the achievements that men have developed over the course of history while noting the vital maternal roles that…
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