Tulane student in Egypt gets an education she didn't expect

"This was supposed to be Lara Getz's junior year abroad, 'but it got cut a little short,' the Tulane University junior said Monday."

Click here for Lara's story.

Honoring a heroine of the civil rights movement – Dorothy Height – in song

"The name Dorothy Height isn't nearly as familiar to the general public as it should be, which is why B.B. King, Taj Mahal and others will be converging on Chicago in coming weeks. Guitarist King and friends rest will be celebrating Height's legacy – and marking Black History Month in Chicago – with 'Godmother: A Music and Dance Tribute to Dorothy Height and the Civil Rights Movement,' which will be filmed for broadcast next year."

For more on the planned event, click here.

Movie Review - 'What If'

"'What If' stars Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson and John Ratzenberger in an inspirational story of the road not taken. GMC, formerly known as the Gospel Music Channel, debuted the television release of the movie, which was produced by Jerry B. Jenkins, best-selling Christian author."

Click here for more on this uplifting movie.

Mattel Announces $500,000 Donation to Save the Children’s New Corporate Partners in Emergencies Fund

"Save the Children, one of the leading global humanitarian and relief agencies, has partnered with Mattel [NASDAQ: MAT], the world’s largest toy company, and the Mattel Children’s Foundation to create a multi-year disaster response strategy, which includes a $500,000 cash donation and toy donation program for Save the Children."

Click here for more on this humanitarian initiative.

How to dig out from the snow -- safely

"Still digging out from last night's nasty storm? We are too. My husband recently came in complaining that the storm dumped plenty of that wet, heavy kind of snow that makes shoveling safely extra challenging.

With that in mind, here are some good tips from the American Physical Therapy Association that came in handy during last February's Snowpocalypse."

Click here for safe shoveling techniques.

Food depression: Eating bad may make you sad

"Eating food containing trans fats and saturated fats could contribute to depression, scientists reported Wednesday.

Researchers in Spain followed 12,059 people over six years, analyzing their diets, lifestyles and medical problems."

Click here for more on these findings.

As American as Apple Pie: Eugenics and the War on the Weak

"Protestant judge Lothar Kreyssig and Catholic Bishop Clemens von Galen courageously resisted the Nazis’ war on the disabled. Sadly, that war still rages today. And America has been on the front lines for nearly a century."

For more on this commentary from Chuck Colson, click here.

With Sudan Referendum voting complete, international focus must be maintained

"Following the peaceful close to voting in the referendum on South Sudan’s self-determination last week, World Vision calls upon the international community to maintain a high level of attention on Sudan."

Click here for more on the situation in Sudan.

More Than 300 ING Miami Marathoners Compete To Raise $150,000 for Haiti Earthquake Relief

"More than a year has passed since a devastating earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and some 1 million people there are still homeless. At Sunday’s annual ING Miami Marathon, more than 300 Team World Vision runners will compete not in hopes of bringing home the $2,000 grand prize. Their goal is raise $150,000 for the people of Haiti through global relief organization, World Vision."

To read more about this fund raising effort, click here.

Confessing Courage: Lothar Kreyssig and Life

"You have probably never heard of Lothar Kreyssig—I hadn’t until recently. Yet, after hearing his story, I realized Kreyssig was a hero for our times: a man whom, at almost unbelievable risk, stood up for the sanctity of human life."

Click here for more on this remarkable man.

Designed by Kids, For Kids: Save the Children Valentine’s Day Cards to Fight Childhood Poverty Crisis

"Limited-edition Valentine’s Day cards designed by children across the country and some of today’s hottest teen celebrities are available now. The Valentine’s Day cards are part of a project spearheaded by actor and Save the Children Artist Ambassador Julianne Moore to raise awareness about the childhood poverty crisis in U.S. and empower kids to help end it."

For more on these very special Valentines, click here.

Didn't You Used to Be...? - Devotions from the Road of Life

In an old movie I saw recently, a scene took place between a faded celebrity and a cocky young man. The young fellow approached the older one in a restaurant and asked, in a sneering tone, "Didn't you used to be...?" and he gave the character's name.

The young man meant to demean the older man in an attempt to impress his buddies. His tone implied "You're a has-been. You're nobody now, just an object of pity. You're a relic."

Click here for more.

Better Men

"During World War I a pair of lifelong friends enlisted in the Army together. Assigned to the same platoon, John and Bill vowed to never leave the other behind.

The two buddies were deployed to the German front and soon experienced the brutal cycle of trench warfare: advancing a few yards against the enemy on one day, only to give back those yards on the next. Yet in skirmish after skirmish, John had Bill’s back and Bill had John’s."

Click here for more on this commentary from All Things Examined.

Save The Children’s U.S. Programs To Benefit From New Frigidaire Cooking Academy

"Parents and kids can join in the fun of making good-for-you meals and snacks together while at the same time supporting Save the Children’s work in the U.S.

At Frigidaire’s Kid’s Cooking Academy, www.frigidaire.com, visitors can take part in a series of web cooking classes hosted by Chef Sue Milliken."

Click here for more on this new program.

Codes Are Not Enough: Why We Need Ethics

"You’d think the sagging economy would be the hot topic at a recent meeting of economists. But you’d be wrong."

For more of Chuck Colson's insightful analysis, click here.

World Vision to benefit from IBM supercomputer’s competition on Jeopardy! quiz show

"International humanitarian organization World Vision has been named one of IBM’s two non-profit beneficiaries in the upcoming Jeopardy! contest between two of the quiz show’s most celebrated champions, Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings, and IBM’s 'Watson' computing system."

Click here for more on this upcoming event with a heart for humanity.

Shooting victim's widow tells Tucson: 'Hang in there. Hang onto your loved ones'

"Near the end of Sunday's funeral for her husband, Mavanell 'Mavy' Stoddard — still in a wheelchair eight days after she was shot five times in the legs — gestured to one of her husband's four sons. She had something to say."

Click here for more on the inspirational way that Mavy Stoddard and her family and friends are dealing with the trauma of the Tucson shootings.

Journey of the spirit: The Chopin Project

"The boy was 11, already well along in his process of discovering music, when he found himself alone at home one day, listening to a piece by one of history's great romantics.

He couldn't explain it, but something in the sounds of Frederic Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Opus 23 — as played by Polish musician Witold Malcuzynsky — struck Brian Ganz like a bolt from stormy skies."

To read more about this extraordinary project, click here.

World Vision responds to massive flooding in Brazil

"With more than 500 people confirmed dead from massive flooding north of Rio de Janeiro, a World Vision relief team is en route and will establish a Child-Friendly Space to provide a safe place for 100 affected children to recover."

Click here for more on World Vision's effort and how you can help.

Tiny fossils offer clues to 'dawn of the dinosaur era'

"Two nasty looking little critters that roamed a remote valley of Argentina 230 million years ago point to a key fork in the road of early dinosaur evolution, when some predatory dinosaurs turned away from meat and went down a path to become plant eaters, according to the latest issue of the research journal Science."

For more on these findings, click here.

World Vision partners with Big Idea Entertainment to offer parents new ways to teach importance of helping others

"Christian humanitarian organization World Vision is partnering with Big Idea Entertainment on a new campaign offering parents practical ways to help their children learn the importance of serving others.

Just in time for the Easter season, the new VeggieTales® ‘Twas The Night Before Easter DVD reminds kids and families of the true meaning of the Easter celebration and the importance of helping others."

Click here for more on this partnership project.

Should We Have a Sex Tax?

"Politicians are always talking about taxes. Some of them want to 'soak' the rich; others want to raise “sin” taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. But I can think of one 'consumer item' we’ll never see a tax on: sex. But maybe we should. Sex—the wrong kind of sex, that is—is driving up the cost of government."

Click here for more on the discussion.

10 ways to keep your house snug

"If you feel a twinge of dread each time you reach for the thermostat, take heart: There are things you can do to get a handle on your heating costs (besides piling on the sweaters and multiple pairs of socks). Here are 10 suggestions on how to keep warm this winter, some of them quick fixes you can make now and others that require a bit more planning."

For more on ways to keep your house snug, click here.

Jim Harbaugh joins Ravens' John Harbaugh to form first pair of NFL head coaching brothers

With unique insight from his older brother John, Jim Harbaugh took a historic step into the NFL on Friday when he became the 18th coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

It was historic because there have never been two brothers serving as head coaches in the NFL before — John is in his third successful season with the Ravens. It was also historic because Jim Harbaugh recreated the path taken by Bill Walsh some 41 years ago — from the University of Stanford to San Francisco — when Walsh launched the 49ers' dynasty era.

Click here for more on this sports-history event.

Only Year One: More Needs to be Done for Haitians, says Save the Children

"One year after the historic Haitian earthquake, Save the Children says the only way to ensure Haitian children and families face a brighter future is for Haitians and the international community to keep building on large-scale efforts to deliver that goal."

For more on the situation in Haiti, click here.

Bald eagles soar near library

"Patrons at the Gail Borden Library have been turning their attention from books to birds since bald eagles have been spotted just behind the library near the Fox River."

Click here for more on the story.

The Truth about the 'Blesseds'

"He had spent the night in prayer. When he began his descent down the mountain, a large crowd was gathered on the hillside. His disciples were there. He sat down and began to teach. It was the inauguration of his public ministry, a ministry that would lead to the Cross.

Jesus’s famous Sermon on the Mount is recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke."

Click here for more on the Blesseds.

Blood test to spot cancer gets big boost from J&J

"A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor’s office."

Click here for more on this news.

Improving sleep when you have fibromyalgia

"If you have fibromyalgia, you may often wake up feeling tired and unrefreshed. Some experts believe poor sleep contributes to fatigue and muscle pain.

Getting a good night's sleep may be a big step toward controlling your symptoms."

To learn more, click here.

Winter driving: What to do, what not to do

"Experts say the key to safety is anticipating what's ahead. Here are some winter driving tips from the professionals."

Click here for more on safe winter driving.

Given final chance, career thief takes it

"Kelly Christian Jr.'s rap sheet offered little reason for mercy. He was a gray-haired, $200-a-day heroin addict with a mile-long criminal record, and in April 2007 he was once again standing in a courtroom, his fate in the hands of a judge.

A DuPage County prosecutor wanted to put him away for seven years for stealing a laptop computer. But when Judge Kathryn Creswell looked over his file, she noted an astonishing fact: In all of Christian's trips to prison, he had never received drug treatment."

For more on this story of redemption, click here.