Since 2004 Time magazine has each year recognized 100 people as the most influential in the world. As heady a thing as it would be to find your name on such a list, the recognition also highlights the fragility of life and power in this world.

In May 2008 Time recognized journalist Tim Russert as one of the 100 most influential people for the power he wielded over politics on the program Meet the Press. ...

Many kids wake up to the smell of coffee brewing or the sound of a rooster crowing. My wake-up call was my father's passionate praying filtering through the house. Sometimes I'd ease downstairs and join him. One knee was usually raised, so I'd slip in underneath, shielded by his body as he pleaded for my soul.

I never caught Dad praying for our happiness. He realized that the pursuit of happiness for ...

The following are the last words spoken by famous individuals:

"Nothing matters. Nothing matters."
—Louis B. Mayer, film producer; died October 29, 1957

"It is very beautiful over there."
—Thomas Alva Edison, inventor; died October 18, 1931
(Edison may have been referring to the view outside of his window.)

"I'm bored with it all." —Winston Churchill, statesman; died January 24, 1965 (Before ...

When Bill Clinton was appointed the Attorney General of Arkansas, he was just 30 years old. He was elected governor of Arkansas two years later, easily becoming the youngest person in the nation to hold that position. He was a youthful 44 when he was elected President of the United States, and still holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever to leave the office of President. In other ...

In August of 2006, Newsweek magazine interviewed Billy Graham. Amazed by Billy's attitude in spite of deteriorating health, the author of the article wrote, "He seems congenitally incapable of surrendering completely to the weakness of the body."

One of Dr. Graham's daughters, Anne Graham-Lotz, recounted a conversation with her father on the subject of aging. "All my life, I've been taught how to ...

Nancy Walker of Newport Beach, California, was invited to attend the burial of a goldfish owned by her 5 year old neighbor, Jimmy Yeargan. Since Jimmy was not yet able to write at the time, he asked Miss Walker to do the honors for him, handing her a small, cardboard tombstone he had brought with him to the ceremony.

"What do you want to say?" she asked.

"His name," Jimmy replied, "was Mobert." ...

Known as one of the greatest soccer players in European history, French footballer Zinedine Zidane put together a sparkling athletic career. Viewed as a player of uncommon skill with a penchant for big-game goals, he led the French national team to a World Cup championship in 1998.

Eight years later, Zidane reported that he would retire following the 2006 World Cup. The French team was not expected ...

According to Forbes magazine, the 10 most influential celebrities of 2006 are:

1. Tom Cruise
2. The Rolling Stones
3. Oprah Winfrey
4. U2
5. Tiger Woods
6. Stephen Spielberg
7. Howard Stern
8. 50 Cent
9. The cast of The Sopranos
10. Dan Brown

To view the rest of the 100 most powerful celebrities, click here.

Beyond the Gates of Splendor is a documentary based on Elizabeth Elliot's best-selling book, Through Gates of Splendor. Both tell the true story of 5 missionaries: Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian, who in January 1956 were speared to death in the jungles of Ecuador by the Auca Indians.

In a testament to forgiveness, the documentary shows family members of the slain ...

Without a Paddle is the story of three friends, Jerry, Tom, and Dan, who go canoeing in Oregon State. Returning to their childhood hideout, they find a container they had buried years before labeled "D. B. Cooper's Treasure Chest." Cooper had found fame in 1971 by hijacking a plane and parachuting away with $200,000 in ransom. As boys, the three had placed their most valued treasures in the container, ...