Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. " So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. Genesis 1: 26-27 (NRSV) Janet Asbridge, from Washington, was with her husband at the Honolulu Zoo and were laughing at the gray birds with pink faces that made them look as if they were blushing. They marveled at red, green, and yellow parrots that squawked from the trees. When Janet saw a blue bird wi

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sw

Andrew Garland Breeden went to a Christian university for his undergraduate study. It was required that students attend chapel each day. Often chapel services felt like an obligation and an interruption - time that could be spent doing something else. Andrew attended to have his ticket punched, and when it was over he would quickly move on with his day. He had doubts about whether he belonged in the community at all and sometimes he would wonder if he wouldn't be better off somewhere else. Then one morning, the family members of a teacher who had died attended our chapel service. As a gesture of our encouragement and support, we sang to the family. In Andrew's church tradition, singing "psa

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation - if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NRSV) Shirley G. Brosius, from Pennsylvania, watched a pair of robins build a nest, over a period of time, hatch their eggs, and feed their young. What a busy pair! Once the babies arrived, the parents hopped around the lawn, gathering worms to drop into the hungry beaks. Without constant nurturing, those little fluff balls would not have survived. As Christians, we can take a few lessons from those birds about nurturing new believers. Ju

Read Exodus 14:10-18 But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you , and you have only to keep still." Exodus 14: 13-14 (NRSV) Adam Benson, from North Carolina, tells the story of a friend who went white-water rafting with a small group, and after going over a class IV rapid, she was tossed out of the raft and into a turbulent part of the river called a weir. Her natural instinct was to fight against the current and try to swim to the top, but she had been coached by her rafting instructor before-hand that the way to s

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. " John 15:12-13 (NRSV) Chad B. McRee, from Texas, was serving in Iraq in 2007, when he awoke early one morning with an overwhelming feeling of dread. He prayed desperately that God would protect him and shield his family from the pain they would experience if he didn't return home. He wrote a letter to his wife and children and asked his operations officer to ensure that his family would receive it if anything happened to him. Despite fear that made him sick to his stomach, they set out on their mission. On the outskirts of Baghdad, they were ha

After he (Jesus) had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For i have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." John 13:12-17 (NRSV) Kay Hawk's sister gave her a very expensive gift for her birthday. It was not unusual for her sister to s

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. Psalm 34:1-8 (NRSV) Dorothy O'Neill, from South Australia, shared the story of her five-year old daughter, who was eager

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the

Eric's Frozen Peanut Butter Pie was a hit at a 50th anniversary celebration in Pastor Jerry's previous church. You will Need: (for each pie) * 1 prepared "Oreo Cookie Crumb Pie Crust" (the black colored ones available at any major grocery store) *2 cups Vanilla ice cream * 1/2 cup Cool Whip * 1/2 to 2/3 cup Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy) To Begin: 1) Let the ice cream and cool whip thaw 10-15 minutes, so they can easily be blended together. 2) In a good size mixing bowl, blend the ice cream and cool whip using a large mixing spoon. You can do this by hand; no need for a mixer. 3) Blend in the peanut butter. Be certain the mixture is thoroughly blended together. Pour into the pie crust. 4)

Read Matthew 26:31-46 (Jesus) said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Mathew 26:38 (NIV) As Jesus approached the moment of his betrayal, he was fully aware of the dreadful task ahead. he desired to draw near to God and took his closest disciples with him. When Jesus wanted to approach his Father in prayer, he told his disciples to wait and keep watch with him. Although they could not do anything about his sorrow or the task ahead, he desired their companionship. Jesus' request of his disciples reminded Gordon Rowe, from Indiana, of when he was young and played in school sports. They were taught that even if they were not pla