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 th

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

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

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

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 la

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 r

"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 a

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 g

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

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