Warren: Donations plea brings in $2.4 million

"Evangelical pastor Rick Warren's plea for donations to fill a $900,000 deficit at his Southern California megachurch brought in $2.4 million, Warren announced to cheers during a sermon at the church on Saturday.

Warren said the amount raised after the appeal was posted online Wednesday included only money parishioners brought in person to Saddleback Church by New Year's Eve. More was arriving by hand and by mail, he said."

To read more about this amazing outpouring, click here.

The tallest building ever (Brought to you by Chicago)

"As a boy, growing up about two blocks from the beach in Southern California, Adrian Smith built towering sand castles -- only to watch the Pacific Ocean wash them away.

Now, the Chicago architect has designed a far more lasting legacy: the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai, which will have its grand opening Monday in the debt-ridden city-state of Dubai."

Click here for the story of the Burj Dubai.

Reasons to keep eyes on the skies: Lunar eclipse, meteor showers, Jupiter closeup are in the lineup

"It's been nearly two years since Marylanders had their last opportunity to watch a total eclipse of the moon from start to finish. But at the end of 2010, they'll finally get another chance.

The stargazers' calendar for 2010 shows the lunar eclipse on Dec. 21 - when the moon slides through the Earth's shadow - will be total from 2:40 a.m. until almost 4 a.m."

Click here for more on what's in store in 2010 in space.

Reflections for New Year's Day

"What better way to start the new year than by reflecting on God's amazing grace? And that's just what one hymn writer did in 1773. We've been singing about it ever since."

To read the rest of Chuck Colson's commentary, click here.

A New Year Paradigm: Simon Peter

"2010 offers us a chance to shed our old skin, to look at others and ourselves with clearer lenses. We can do no better in this regard than to return to the rich example the New Testament gives us in the disciples, particularly Peter."

Click here for more on lessons from Simon Peter.

How angry young man turned his life around

"For better and worse, Sam Vega couldn't stop looking back.

Let down by a mother with destructive habits, a father he never knew and the grandmother who moved him to Chicago, Vega struck out on his own at age 18.

But bitter memories of neglect combined with concern for his four siblings kept him from moving on. His failure to forgive undercut his will to succeed, as did a fear that he was echoing the mistakes of his elders by walking away."

Click here for more on this amazing young man.

Dickens vs. Darwin: A Question of Worldview

"Two of the most famous books in the Western canon turned 150 years old in 2009—On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

But these anniversaries were celebrated in vastly different ways. While Darwin’s book was honored around the globe with films and websites and much more, relatively few people took notice that Dickens’s book had reached the same milestone."

Click here for more of Chuck Colson's commentary.