To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here Who invented the automatic sliding door? It wasn’t Edison. Nor Westinghouse. Nor any of the many engineers who reached the peak of their powers in the 20th century. Believe it or not, the first functioning automatic door was the brainchild of a Greek inventor who lived during the time of Jesus…. Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here At first glance, it may be hard to recognize the two objects in this picture. But they are poised to change the world. On the left is a solar energy panel. On the right is the small electric lamp (made of durable plastic) that it charges. When the sun goes down every day… Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here The Italian scientist Galileo and the Catholic Church had a bit of a falling out in 1633. Despite being acclaimed today as “the father of observational astronomy,” “the father of physics,” and even “the father of modern science,” Galileo was tried by the Inquisition and found “vehemently suspect of heresy.” He… Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here How would you fill in this blank? Realistically, before I step out to serve God, I would need more… More what? More time? More money? More training or motivation? Here’s how God fills in the blank in the Old Testament book of Judges: “All you need is more trust. If you… Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here As video game designer Matt Harding approached mid-life, he became captivated by the idea of dancing at famous spots around the world. Here’s the rub: Matt Harding is not a great dancer. In fact, he describes his movements as “uncoordinated, unselfconscious silliness.” He has nonetheless become one of the world’s most celebrated… Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here There was no way John Wycliffe’s theological opponents were going to let his earthly remains rest in peace. In 1415, some 31 years after the Oxford professor had died, he was excommunicated by the Catholic Church at the Council of Constance. Thirteen years later, his bones were exhumed from his grave…. Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here In his book Soul Keeping, author and pastor John Ortberg recalls a visit that he and some friends made to an open-air street fair. Among the attractions was a mechanical bull, the kind that brave or foolhardy people attempt to ride. The man sitting at the remote-control panel gave Ortberg the… Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here Malcom Gladwell, longtime staff writer for the New Yorker, is known for a series of celebrated bestsellers. They include The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Gladwell has a knack for uncovering interesting stories in unexpected places, and demonstrating how things we expect to find often turn out to be surprisingly different…. Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here The two men in today’s picture both claimed to be world-famous film directors. One was telling the truth. The other was a con artist. Can you tell which is which? On the right is the late Stanley Kubrick, who in his 50-year career directed only 13 feature films. But some of them… Read more »
To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast, click here Do you remember this nursery rhyme, which originally arrived on the scene 500 years ago in England? Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?I’ve been to London, to look at the queen.Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?I frightened a little mouse under her chair. Let’s break it down together. Pussycat finally grabs… Read more »
