To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned. After the first victory, evil would die if the second victory did not infuse it with new life.

—Miroslav Volf, Croation theologian (1956—)

Rate of major depression in women who have attended religious services since childhood: 27 percent

Rate in women who have changed attendance patterns (nearly all had stopped attending services): 36 percent

Incidence of major depression in men who have always attended religious services: 31 percent

Incidence in men who have stopped attending: 24 percent

We find it difficult to maintain a commitment to both this world and the next, to this life and the next.

A friend of mine uses the analogy of a busload of tourists en route to the Grand Canyon. On the long journey across the wheat fields of Kansas and through the glorious mountains of Colorado, the travelers inexplicably keep the shades down. Intent on the ultimate destination, they never even bother ...

When my son Aaron was five years old, he kept asking me to help him climb a very large tree in our backyard. At the time of his asking, I told him it was too cold. Finally, when it was warm enough out, it seemed like a good time for him to learn how to climb a tree.

When I lifted Aaron onto the tree's lowest branch, he panicked for fear of falling. I tried to coach him along, telling him to first kneel ...

The nuclear submarine Thresher had heavy steel bulkheads and heavy steel armor, so it could dive deep and withstand the pressure of the ocean. Unfortunately, on a test run in 1963, the Thresher's nuclear engine quit, and it could not get back to the surface. It sank deeper and deeper into the ocean. The pressure became immense. The heavy steel bulkheads buckled; the Thresher was crushed with 129 people ...

In his spiritual memoir A Stranger in the House of God, author and Moody Bible Institute professor John Koessler tells the story of his younger brother George. Since childhood, George's life consisted of heartache after heartache: because of a collapsed lung shortly after birth, he struggled with a learning disability that made him the butt of far too many jokes—even from his own family; his ...

When comparing believers with those who consider themselves atheists or agnostics, the Barna Group found believers to be more positive, generous, and socially active, as reflected in these behaviors:

Likelihood to vote:
Active-faith Americans: 89 percent
No-faith Americans: 78 percent

Being active in their communities:
Active-faith: 68 percent
No-faith: 41 percent

Personally helping homeless or poor ...

Surf's Up is an animated film about a young penguin named Cody Maverick (voiced by actor Shia LaBeouf), who longs to leave his hometown and become a famous surfer like his hero, a penguin known as Big Z. His dream leads him to the island of Pen Gu, where he competes in the "Big Z Memorial Surf Off" against the nine-time champion, a bully of a penguin named Tank Evans.

The movie spoofs documentary films; ...

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next … Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither.

—C. S. Lewis, Irish professor, author, and apologist (1898–1963)

Zoe Koplowitz, 59, ran the New York City Marathon on Monday, November 5, 2007. She didn't do very well. Paula Radcliffe, for example, was the first woman to cross the finish line after 2 hours and 23 minutes. Martin Lei led the men with his time of 2:09:04. Zoe's time: 28 hours, 45 minutes.

Thirty years ago, Zoe was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 1988 she entered her first New York City Marathon ...