ABC STARS Inspires

Ascension Press  and  Ascension Presents   in collaboration with  Inspires   give you this riveting magnum opus.‎.. A Christmas Message by James Z. Carpio Being all grown up the meaning of Christmas for me has changed. Why? Because people change and particularly my family has changed. My family became aplenty. Whimsical wishes abound, following trends and the modern times. Shiny new things from hi-tech gadgets to everything glistening that bring shimmering beaming faces. The trees at the park are bedecked with strings of colorful lights. The malls are adorned with gigantic Christmas trees. Everywhere you look it is a lot like Christmas. One fine Sunday morning, I went to the mall with my older brother. As we passed by a store he exclaimed, "look a white Christmas tree!", I retorted, "no, it's silver." Ours at home is a white Christmas tree. It is one of the whimsical wishes I was telling you about, my younger brother wished f...

Since, it is December, this monthly episode will be published on Christmas Day. Thank you!

That would be Noel and his wife, Cesyl.  Technically, we are both Jameses. He is James the Great. And I am James the Less. We were both named after Saints. He asks the most peculiar things from me. And I always try to make it happen. Being my second critic, he wants me to do more. Because I think he knows I could. He has bragging rights to greet people: "Joyeux Noel!", French for Merry Christmas!

James Z. Carpio, writer I remember my late father he was playing a computer game. I was in high school. I came home almost in the wee hours in the morning. There was a big event at school. I gave him a kiss on the cheek then he asked me "have you eaten, son?" then, I replied, "yes." After all these years, it is only now that I realized that he waited for me. He made sure I got home safe.

Ascension Press  and  Ascension Presents   in collaboration with  Inspires   give you this riveting magnum opus.‎.. Condensed Reflection by James Z. Carpio Father Mike cites C.S. Lewis' concept of Undulation meaning the rising and falling of anything in any situation. A roller coaster ride or ups and downs. Yes, in life we do have myriad expectations and when the realities are not what we would have wanted to be then we become confused then, we try to fathom their meanings. All Father Mike emphasizes is that they all mean nothing. In times of discernment he cautions us not to make decisions in times of desolation and keep our plans that we made in times of consolation. He suggests that we make that a rule of life. Basically, just stay the course, then, set a season for yourself or a specific timeframe. When that time is over then maybe you could shift g...

James Z. Carpio, writer Why? Because God loves me. He saved me. From them... He wants me to do this. For you. Because God loves you too. We are all God's children. We came in the world as babies. Just like He did one night at Bethlehem. Then, regardless of everything. We are all brothers and sisters. As we approach the Season of Advent. May the green of the wreath remind us of hope. May the red of the candy cane remind us of love. May the violet of the ribboned candles remind us of fortitude. May the blue robes of the kings remind us of peace. May the yellow star remind us of wisdom. May the pink of the  Gaudete Sunday remind us of the nearness of His coming. May the orange skies remind us of our own fragility. May the brown soil remind us of God's plans. Is it not amusing that God played with clay and He created mankind. He showed Noah the rainbow as a s...

The Team of Inspires would like to apologize for the late edition of Ascension Presents: Father Mike Schmitz. It was supposed to have been published on the 20th. We forgot that we follow a different time zone. Again we are sorry for the delay. Thank you.