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given that they believe that their relationship with Jesus means they are saved from their sins and therefore have a place in heaven [like reserved seating?]. Seems like they already have the really tricky part out of the way!

So, what about those helpful, positive, uplifting passages of the Bible? I attend the Presyterian church (USA) and we have an agreement with the Methodist church that allows us to exchange ministers. One Methodist minister told me that the most important questions about Genesis are the why questions, not the how questions. Some people get hung up and have to get into a big argument with scientists, but his point was that why God created us is more important than the exact how. We get clues as to how important humans are in Genesis. If you read in the New American Standard version you can see that at the end of each day of creation, God proclaimed that what he made was [and presumably, is] good. On the day that the Bible says God created man and woman in his image and gives humans dominion over the earth, he proclaims that particular work as VERY good. Right from the beginning, God set us apart and above the animals. God wanted a relationship with us from the very start.

Perhaps you're wondering about something you can use in your practical daily life as opposed to God's philosophical stance on us humans. Some verses seem universal and others are definitely aimed as encouragement or teaching for those who call themselves followers of Jesus. I will finish this article with verses you can take to heart and I'm sure at least one of them will stick with you and uplift you if you are ready to receive them. How about these verses? 1 John [First John] 4:7&8 [Chapter Four, Verses Seven and Eight]

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Reading the 1 Corinthians 13 from the beginning tells us a great deal about love and I recommend reading it. For now, here is verse 13:

"But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

If love isn't practical enough for you, then here are more verses:

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

Romans 14:1

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,

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