READ: GENESIS 1:26-28; ROMANS 8:22-25; COLOSSIANS 1:15-23; 1 PETER 1:3-5 "Humans have made a mess of this world. It’s time for them not to be in charge.” I backed away after the android said this, clicking its long metal fingers together. A product of the recent technological singularity, this artificial intelligence was trying to take [...]

READ: LAMENTATIONS 3:19-26; JOHN 5:24; ROMANS 7:14–8:1 A vivid sunset reached over the aqua waters of my home on Zakynthos Island. I slid my hand down my pteranodon’s sleek, yet powerful neck as he lifted his wings, carrying me higher into the color-splashed sky. Apostolos had been my constant companion since the night he landed [...]

READ: LUKE 15; JOHN 15:13; ROMANS 5:5-11 Elle’s dragon, Thon, had run away many times. But never before had he been missing for more than one rotation of the two moons. Elle had hand fed him from his hatching, taught him to fly, nursed him through dragon pox. Loved him. Elle sat up on her [...]

Your mission will be riddled with perils. Make no mistake, this exoplanet is uncharted territory—there are no illusions about our exploration team making it back to our home planet safely.” Commander Sholer crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze penetrating the souls of the group gathered around him. “Anything to add before we embark?” [...]

For as long as Sapphira could remember, the world had been at war. For years she had defended her small kingdom against the fierce advances of the Hadyssian empire, and so far they had remained free, as had her sisters' kingdoms to the north and to the south. But every time her armies returned from [...]

The Incredible Sparkle, superhero and defender of Glimmer City, couldn't tell whether her constant shivering came from the cold or from the raw terror she felt coursing through her body. Behind her, the roof extended mere inches before dropping ten stories to the busy street below. Looking forward frightened her even more. Her nemesis, Dr. [...]

Torchlight flickered in the dark, casting shadows on faces, reflecting golden light off the water—beautiful, and wrong. My mother's body was laid in the funeral boat and covered with flowers. Someone said, “It was her time to go.” The comment stung me, just like all the other well-meaning condolences. Their voices still prattled on in [...]

CRACK! CRASH! Ivy gazed in horror at the chaos around her. Everywhere she turned, everywhere she looked, there was turmoil—she couldn't escape it. The very earth was trembling as mountain caps collapsed and fell. Ivy clutched at her head. Peace. She needed peace. Quiet. Stillness. Where could she find that on this crumbling earth? Another [...]

Darkness. Mena jolted awake, jumping up off the prickly grass. Where was he? “Is anyone there?” he called out to the emptiness. Silence responded. A memory flashed inside him, of the recent burning anger when he'd yelled, “No one cares! Nothing makes a difference! It's all a waste of time.” Now he was alone. Sweat [...]

Ash rained from the sky like a grim snow, the crimson lands desolate. A permanent red haze stained the horizon, darker than the sunrise. I could only guess it was time for the sun to rise. I hadn't seen the actual sun for years; ash and the ubiquitous red glow of the beast choked out [...]