Webster's Dictionary defines empathy as "the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience" of someone else. With that definition in mind, psychologist Douglas LaBier, director and founder of the Center for Adult Development in Washington, DC, feels many of us are being "catastrophically unempathetic." We suffer from ...

Churches are talking trash. No, not badmouthing other congregations; they're examining ways to reduce the waste they produce. Earth care is in vogue, and many Christians, believing that stewarding creation is a spiritual mandate, are looking to mesh environmentalism with their faith.

One leader in the movement is Joel Hunter, pastor of Northland: A Church Distributed, out of Longwood, Florida. Hunter ...

A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner. This ...

If only adults showed as much sound judgment as an infant! Through a series of tests, Yale University's Infant Cognition Center has found that babies as young as six to ten months old know what's right and wrong. Researchers sat babies down in front of a roller coaster-like track to watch a cartoon-eyed wooden toy try to climb its way to the top of one of the hills. As the toy climbed, other toys ...

In this age of overflowing mega churches and high-profile Christian ministries, can a tiny congregation hidden in the middle of America make a difference?

Consider West Covington Baptist Church. Kalkidan Tessema, a 4-year-old Ethiopian girl, is alive and well today thanks to this northern Kentucky church with a Sunday attendance of about 25 people.

Last year, when member Grace Wilson received e-mails ...

Set in 72 BC, the 2004 television miniseries Spartacus follows the adventures of a former slave who leads an army of freed slaves against the tyrannical Roman legions. In this scene, Spartacus and his followers are hiding out in a secluded forest because the Roman army is looking for them. Spartacus says the time has come for decisive action, but his followers are unsure and even selfish.

One man, ...

The Ant Bully is a computer-animated movie about a boy, Lucas, who terrorizes an ant colony on his lawn by spraying water and stepping on them. In response, an ant wizard devises a magic potion that makes their enemy, Lucas, shrink to ant size. Throughout the film, the boy is forced to live and work with the ants. Along the way, he learns several lessons about courage and loyalty, and becomes sympathetic ...

In a game between the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos on December 10, 2006, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson took his position the same way he had done hundreds of times before during the season. But this particular play was different. After receiving the ball and sprinting around two defenders for a seven-yard gain, Tomlinson found himself in the end zone for his NFL record-breaking ...

In a special feature on the DVD of the movie The Natural, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. talks about his view of success. Even though he is one of the greatest individual players in baseball history, what mattered most to him was succeeding as a team. In the interview, he says: "I'd much rather be referred to not as an individually great player, or someone who tore up the record books, but someone ...

When Katie Couric took over as anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2006, various personalities gave her advice as to what to do and what not to do. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. secretary of state, contributed this:

"There is nothing wrong with holding an opinion and holding it passionately. But at those times when you're absolutely sure that you are right, go find somebody who disagrees. Don't allow yourself ...