Adagio for Souls: God's Gradual Work

"God has begun the gradual metallurgy of fall. Outside my window, down to the left, He’s refining one tree into pure gold.

It quivers ever so slightly each day as it moves from one degree of gilded glory to the next. Just beyond the edge of the dark green forest, I can see touches of copper and bronze. But the furnace of change heats so gradually, I cannot perceive exactly how the vista has altered from the day before. Like most things God does, it’s subdued, unhurried, and steady."

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Pet blessings

"Every year, some churches in Chicago invite parishoners to bring their pets with them to Sunday services, where the furry creatures receive blessings from the pastor.

Here's a few images from a 'pet blessing' held Sunday by Grace Episcopal Church at Dearborn Station in the South Loop."

Click here to view the story and accompanying photo slideshow.

Former foster child in Chicago now a million-dollar scholar

"Derrius Quarles leans back in his seat and methodically analyzes Aristotle's theory of truth during freshman honors English class at Morehouse College.

He strides across campus in a navy blue tailored suit and a bold red sweater handing out business cards that boast 'Student/Entrepreneur/Leader.'

But behind the 19-year-old's dauntless appearance is a past that few on campus know."

For more on this amazing young man, click here.

Eat the Panda: Not Merely Another Animal

"Consider your average panda, the endangered, cute-as-a-button, roly-poly bear. Should mankind save the panda? Like everything else, that depends on your worldview."

Click here for more on Chuck Colson's opinion.

Becoming the 'Others': Christianity in the Media

"In modern secular American culture, believers in Jesus Christ are increasingly being painted as 'the other.'

'The other' is any individual or group defined as being different in some fundamental way and therefore not belonging. In literature and in history this 'otherness' is often based on race, gender, religion, behavior, or appearance."

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

The weight of the world can't stop this 76-year-old powerlifter

"At 76 years old, Ray Curtis might be expected to take it slow, devote his days to beachcombing or reading or other quiet hobbies.

But the New Orleanian devotes his days to barbells at the Jewish Community Center on St. Charles Avenue. And countless hours spent working out are paying off."

Click here to learn more about this amazing senior citizen.

The Desert Shall Rejoice: The Legacy of Norman Borlaug

"One of the most influential and important figures of the 20th century recently died—Norman Borlaug. If you never heard of Borlaug, you are not alone. His face never appeared on the cover of People magazine, and the cable networks didn’t cover the story of his passing 24/7.

If Borlaug actually had been famous, his claim to fame would have been that, as the father of the 'Green Revolution,' he saved hundreds of millions, perhaps even a billion, lives. As one writer put it, Borlaug’s work is why 'food today is cheap and widely available, and why famines have become relatively rare events.'

Click here for more of Mark Earley's tribute to Norman Borlaug.