5 good Samaritans start chains of life

"Five Chicago-area adults who have stepped forward to give kidneys to strangers may help save the lives of as many as two dozen people, thanks to transplant chains that will multiply the impact of the donations."

Click here to learn more about the impact of five kindhearted people.

Tea and Charity: Modern 'Little Platoons'

"One Sunday afternoon in February, a few dozen women gathered at McLean, Virginia, home. Walking through the door, they saw Chinese lanterns and they heard the sound of classical Chinese music. In the dining room, the ladies found a mouthwatering spread of Chinese pastries and savories.

It was a fundraising tea party for a Chinese human rights group. But it was something else as well. It was an example of what the great British statesman Edmund Burke called the 'little platoons.'”

For more on Chuck Colson's commentary, click here.

Seismic Reform? The California Corrections Crisis

"California is in the midst of what one expert calls a 'seismic shift'—and it has nothing to do with the San Andreas Fault. Circumstances are forcing California—like many other states—to rethink the way it handles prisons and prisoners."

Click here for more of Mark Earley's commentary.

Cashier receiving customer's kidney today

"Shortly before 6 a.m. Friday morning, Dan Coyne, a married father of two, showed up at Myra de la Vega's doorstep in Evanston to pick her up for a very special date.

Their destination: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where Coyne is planning to donate one of his kidneys to de la Vega, 49, a single mother with two children who is suffering from renal failure."

For more of this heartwarming story, click here.

New Reality: The Bentness of Human Nature

"You don’t need an experiment to prove that people do bad things, even whey they know it’s wrong.

In 1961, psychologist Stanley Milgram devised a now-infamous series of experiments. The goal was to understand why seemingly ordinary men carried out the demonic orders of the Third Reich."

Click here for the rest of Chuck Colson's commentary.

NU study: Dirt's good for kids

"A little dirt may be good for the heart.

Analyzing data collected from thousands of children over two decades in the Philippines, researchers have concluded that a healthy dose of germs and pathogens during infancy reduced cardiovascular inflammation in adulthood — a precursor to heart attacks and strokes."

To get the dirt on this study, click here.

A Mother’s Day Gift that Gives Lasting Joy

"This Mother’s Day, Save the Children has a special gift for your mom that can save a newborn’s life in some of the poorest, most remote communities in the world. For as little as $13 you can buy, in your own mother’s name, one Newborn Care Kit, which consists of lifesaving supplies and information for a new mother and her baby."

Click here for details on this life-giving gift.

Boston Flower and Garden Show 2010

"Although run now by a different organization, the flower show is back after a one-year hiatus because of financial issues. The show runs March 24-28 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. Enjoy the photo gallery."

To take a look, click here.

'Perfect little dog' makes a good life better for couple

"Ben and Maxine had a good thing going for 25 years. Then they found a 'perfect little dog' who made it better.

Ben Mathews loves to talk about Buud, the little terrier mix he and Maxine Dixon adopted last August."

Click here for more on the changes wrought by Buud.

Making harmonicas of note in Rockford: Tiny startup company targets professional players

"He had poured his life savings and the better part of 10 years into the development of the small, nickel-plated harmonica. Years of research, months of false starts, dozens of failed prototypes, countless nights of sleeping on the floor at the office."


Learn more about this musical dream and its realization-click here.

New tower is monument to Lewis, Clark — and persistence

"A soaring monument to the Lewis and Clark Expedition soon will open to the public, ending 10 years of persistence and frustration.

The idea of a 'viewing tower' overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers first arose in a community group's brainstorming sessions in 2000."

Click here for more on the monument and the years of work behind it.

Ashes of Affirmation: Lent and Worldview

"Every year Washington, DC, along with every other city and town in America, is filled with a vast and silent witness to Christian faith in the face of inevitable death.

On Ash Wednesday, forehead after forehead displays two black smudges in the shape of a cross."

Click here for more on the affirmation inherent in Ash Wednesday.

Success against malaria bolsters case for further investment, new report shows

"A new study linking funding increases in the global fight against malaria to a drop in deaths from the disease also shows that resources from donor governments still fall short of those needed for maximum impact against the world’s fourth-biggest killer of children, according to a global health policy analyst at international aid agency World Vision."


For more on the story, click here.

Stranded Horse Flies His Way to Safety

"A horse named Colorado got to play Pegasus for a few minutes today after he was attached to a long rope and rescued by helicopter from a sand bank in Arizona's Gila River."

Click here for more on this equine rescue.

War of the Worlds: The Dangers of Online Escapism

"How might online fantasy worlds affect the real world we live in? For a sobering look at the dangers of escapism and Internet addiction, read today’s commentary."


Click here to read Mark Earley's commentary on computerized escapism.

Saving face: Don't let your cosmetics cause health problems

"We turn to cosmetics to look our very best, but sometimes all that lathering, slathering, powdering and painting can do more harm than good. Certain ingredients in personal care products can cause redness, itching, swelling, acne and other reactions in people who are sensitive to them. Preservatives, fragrances and dyes are common culprits. Some people are allergic to specific ingredients, but more commonly the problem is irritation, which can happen to anyone. Either way, it's wise to keep an eye on the ingredients you're smearing on your skin."


For more information on protecting your skin from cosmetic problems, click here.

Practically Theological: How churches are teaching doctrine—and finding eager participants

"Before he started talking, Solomon Wilken was singing from his crib—and not children's hymns, either. Like the rest of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, Illinois, he learned 'Glory to God in the Highest' from the church hymnal."

Click here for more on this story.

The Countersign: God’s Servant in Haiti

"When catastrophe strikes, what can we Christians offer? We can offer a countersign. I’ll explain."

For more of Mark Earley's commentary, click here.

Frontenac girl wins St. Louis Post-Dispatch Spelling Bee

"Olivia Long of Frontenac won the Post-Dispatch Spelling Bee today at Maryville University by holding off 29 challengers through 12 rounds."

Click here for more on the competition.

Christo, the artist who wraps the world, reminisces in Tokyo

"Christo -- the artist behind The Gates in Central Park, New York City and The Umbrellas in Ibaraki and California -- made his way back to Japan in February for the opening of a new exhibition Life=Works=Projects at 21_21 Design Sight. Issey Miyake, who is a longtime friend and also runs the museum, personally commissioned the exhibit when he heard the news that Christo's wife and collaborator Jeanne Claude passed away last November."

Click here for more on Christo and his work.

California cowboy hailed a hero after stopping loose bull

"When a bull broke free during a rodeo in Houston Sunday, there was nothing police or most bystanders could do to stop it.

But a California cowboy stepped up."

For more on the exciting rescue, click here.

890th defused bombs in Iraq: Monument honors Guard battalion

"Theirs was one of the most dangerous jobs in Iraq, and a monument unveiled Sunday pays tribute to the soldiers of the 890th Engineer Battalion of the Mississippi National Guard.

The latest mission was on the streets of Baghdad, finding improvised explosive devices and clearing the way."

Click here for more on this courageous unit.

Apple Hill Blossom Trail Run

"Ranches belonging to the Apple Hill® Growers Association are showcasing their blooming orchards, Christmas tree and vineyards on April 17th with a trail run to kick off our 2010 Apple Blossom Festival, sponsored in a partnership with Whole Foods Market.

A portion of the proceeds from the Apple Hill® Blossom Trail Run will benefit Hope House of El Dorado County. Hope House is a not for profit, transitional living program for homeless women with young children."

For more on the event, click here.

Secret millionaire donates fortune to Lake Forest College

"Like many people who lived through the Great Depression, Grace Groner was exceptionally restrained with her money.

She got her clothes from rummage sales. She walked everywhere rather than buy a car. And her one-bedroom house in Lake Forest held little more than a few plain pieces of furniture, some mismatched dishes and a hulking TV set that appeared left over from the Johnson administration."

Click here for more on how a frugal woman has made a big difference to Lake Forest College.

Seek Social Justice: Foretastes of Heaven

"Want a foretaste of heaven? Love your neighbor and seek justice. Find out what it’s all about."

Click here for more on Mark Earley's perspective on social justice.

SNL 'presidents' unite in clip urging financial reform

"The comedians who played presidents on 'Saturday Night Live' have gathered for a comedic summit in a new Web video on FunnyOrDie.com.

The video, posted Wednesday, stars Fred Armisen as President Barack Obama. During the night he is visited by the ghosts of presidents past, who urge him to push for financial reform."

To learn more and view the video,click here.

Waiting by the Phone: 'Avatar' and Salvation from Beyond

"This year’s Oscar race is being billed as duel between ex-spouses—Kathryn Bigelow, the director of the critically acclaimed war film about Iraq called The Hurt Locker, and her ex-husband, James Cameron, director of the phenomenally lucrative 3D blockbuster, Avatar.

But Avatar is part of another, more important, competition—one between competing accounts of where salvation is to be found."

Click here for more of Chuck Colson's commentary.

Roger Ebert debuts new 'voice' on 'Oprah'

"Four years ago, one of the most famous voices in the entertainment industry was silenced.

On Tuesday's 'Oprah Winfrey Show,' film critic Roger Ebert's voice was finally heard again."

For more on this triumph of science and the human spirit, click here.

US Marines land on Iwo Jima to mark anniversary

"Hundreds of U.S. Marines landed on the remote island of Iwo Jima on Tuesday to prepare for the 65th anniversary of one of World War II's bloodiest and most iconic battles.

The Marines flew in trucks, water and food from Washington to support Wednesday's commemorations of the 1945 battle that was a turning point in the Pacific theater. It claimed 6,821 American and 21,570 Japanese lives in 36 days of intense fighting. A drill team also arrived on the island."

Click here to read more about the commemoration.