{Re}plete

Replete, from the Latin verb plēre, means “to fill.” Because we know that the Latin prefix “re” means back or again, it makes sense that replete would mean “to fill again.” But it doesn’t. According to Merriam-Webster: “Replete is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety.” It’s the perfect word…

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Penultimate (or {Re}plete minus 1)

There’s no again here. That’s right, no again. I haven’t been here before. For 364 days, agains have come to me sometimes by magic. Sometimes when I thought they wouldn’t. Sometimes when I thought I was making them up. (Seriously, retoast?) They’ve taken me deep. They’ve left me eager to learn more. They’ve taken me…

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{Re}question

Basically it means to question again. Last night, I finished a book that had been on my reading list for a while. It is “Wait, What? And Life’s Other Essential Questions,” by James E. Ryan. Ryan presents five essential questions that helped him get through life. I was inspired by them. I was especially inspired…

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{Re}joice

It’s here. Christmas Day. The day for which Advent expectantly hopes is fulfilled. For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 6:9, NET Let there be rejoicing and gladness and hope and…

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{Re}demption

The story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, was nearly my undoing during the Wine, Women, and Jesus bible study. (To learn more about that go to The Marcella Project by Dr. Jackie Roese.) As I studied Ruth, I realized more and more how God provided for Naomi. And how the story of Ruth is…

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{Re}st

It’s the Sunday before Christmas. We spent this weekend with our family in Oklahoma. We weren’t expecting Keck to have two days off only Christmas day. As we look forward to some time just the two of us, we look back on this weekend with our family and know that these people are dear to…

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Tradition: An Again That Doesn’t Start With {Re}

Tradition nearly by definition is doing something again. It’s a continuity of practice, celebration, or ritual. It can be religious or secular, familial or communal. It’s what we do year after year to celebrate the Christmastide. Some families open gifts on Christmas Eve. Others wait for Santa’s delivery and are awaken early by curious, excited…

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