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.

Ascension Press  and  Ascension Presents   in collaboration with  Inspires   give you this riveting magnum opus.‎.. Condensed Reflection by James Z. Carpio That is both an easy and a difficult question. Yes, I do present my true self to others. The moment I step outside of my house that is who I am, what you see is what you get. However, My jobs do not define me. My strengths do not define me. My weaknesses do not define me. My successes and failures do not define me. I am imperfect. Human. I am prone to error and misgivings. Despite of all these, according to Father Mike when God sees us for who we are as sons and daughters as we are, then, He would love us as we truly are in all our pristine form even while we were still just a thought in His Divine Plan. My identity is I am God's creation. May God love me as I am. God bless you my friend!

It is November 2068, Mr. Davenport just arrived in a small town. He came to visit his cousin Jacobson. It was a long flight. He was weary, no, he felt exhausted.  He told the driver to drop him off at the gates of Jacobson's vast property. He rang the doorbell. No one came to meet him. He rang the doorbell at least more than 20 times. Nothing. He saw that the iron gates were not locked. He opened it. He went inside while carrying his luggage. Then he saw the Manor. The last he had seen it was 10 years ago. Then, he saw the solid bridge. He thought to himself everything seems to be alright. Then, he wondered where could his cousin be? He went straight to the doorstep. Then, he knocked. And, he called out his cousin's name. He patiently waited. After what seemed like eternity Jacobson opened the door. Oh, Richardson, it is you!! How are we today? he added. And he exclaimed it has been a long time. You aged a bit cuz... Richardson re...

Peter's visitor is at it again. It started when the Autumn leaves turned into shimmering spectrum of shades of pastel colors. He noticed the bird when he woke up one morning while sipping his cup of tea, he saw the winged creature flying like a hummingbird by the mirror.  It was amusing the bird thought that the reflection it has seen was that of another. Then, he became somber as he realized that it was on the contrary a stark experience of a friendship. Why? Because from that unforgettable early cold morning the bird kept coming back to visit it's so-called friend. It became all the more endearing as he observed when he came back from Scotland that the bird is still a regular visitor. The bird he admired for the sole reason that though it was not real its' loyalty was sublime. Peter thought to himself. Such loyalty. Quite a splendid friendship. Then, he surmised come to think of it some human friendships though real could not compa...

Tod Trevor sat at the garden of the Saint Anthony Hospital. It was two o' clock. It was scorching hot. And he felt dead deep inside. He told his doctor what happened to him and the only thing that he could recall what Dr. Smith told him was that the things that happened to him were not okay. He remembered the police officer he talked to and he advised him to formally file charges. Tod thought for a moment and heaved a sigh of exhaustion. It's a cruel world indeed and he had to reconcile the fact that it is easier to be out of the picture. His friend from Birmingham told him to pray for Divine Justice. He did just that but he is still going through a lot. Tod looked out to the horizon and saw the sun glancing behind the clouds. He told himself people don't realize that they hurt people and even people whom they love. It was poignant. More so, it was plain sad. Then, he called his twin brother, Ted. Ted answered and asked how he was doing....

James Z. Carpio, writer In the meantime read other books for now. God Bless!

They stole everything from me. I was powerless. I had been in transit for too long. I was tired. I did not fight anymore. I was too weak. I just remember praying to God to help me.  Then, they stabbed me. I think that is all I can recall for now. To be continued...

After about 13 milliseconds, he cringed and felt a throbbing pain in the back of his head, then he gasped for breath, and then his vision went blank. He passed out. Three days after, Mr Peter Grespo found himself in the hospital. He opened his eyes and it was blurry. He tried to focus. It was too bright. The smell of the sterile room was of disinfectant products. He glanced at the wall clock, it was three o' clock in the afternoon.  Peter did not know what happened. He had forgotten everything. Well, almost.  The only thing he could remember was there was an accident. Then, the door opened. A nurse came in and cheerfully greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Grespo!"  He asked, "What happened to me?" "Miss Harriet," he added as he read her nameplate. "Someone found you unconscious on the ground, you were stabbed seven times, you lost a lot of blood. We cannot fathom why you survived, really, I guess you are lucky!" she uttered...