We thank you, Lord, for cool breezes,
that bring relief from the relentless summer heat.
We see bright colors fading and dying,
leaves turning brown, crisp, disintegrating,
only to be reborn next year,
reminding us that every living thing, including us,
must die in some way before being reborn. Hallelujah!

Blessed Are the Persecuted … Right?
Jesus’ Beatitude about persecution has a special resonance in Punjab, Pakistan, right now. Earlier this month, Muslim mobs attacked and burned 26 churches, accusing their