In his book Human Universals, anthropologist Donald Brown lists over 400 human behaviors common across all cultures. Some of his findings are touching: All cultures have toys, jokes, dances, and proverbs; they have music, poetry, tickling, and thumb-sucking; the people of each culture develop... read more »

A father and his young son were taking a walk in the country. As they walked down the rough and slippery path, the father cautioned his son to be careful. Suddenly, the son fell and hurt himself. Bruised and in pain, he began to cry. The father picked up the boy and held him close. Amid his tears,... read more »

Today, most of us live in a highly pluralistic society. Our next-door neighbor could well be Chinese, Ethiopian, or European. And, in the name of harmony, we’re told to respect differing views and opinions. But when voices of culture state that homosexuality, abortion, and cohabitation are... read more »

What’s a quote you read or heard lately that drew you closer to God? ... read more »

Last fall I had to make the decision to have our family dog of 15 years put to sleep. It was one of the most heart-wrenching decisions I’ve ever made. There’s a reason why we refer to dogs as “man’s best friend.” Roger Caras once said, “Dogs are not our whole... read more »

Crouched on the floor amid rows of lockers, the young students lowered their heads to their knees. Barely bothering to kneel, the older students followed the minimal requirement without giving the warning any serious thought. Although they were glad to miss class, the tornado drill was little more... read more »

How do you respond to the greeting, “How are you?” Most of us simply reply, “Fine. How are you?” Others develop trademark comebacks, such as “Better than I deserve.” I know of one fellow who answers, “I’m just the Lord’s prostitute.” What?!... read more »

During a trip to Singapore, I was fascinated by the variety of cemeteries found there. One featured aboveground crypts with openings at the bottom. When I asked why the holes were there, my host explained that it was due to religious beliefs. The families of the deceased believe that the openings... read more »

Clouds of steam poured out from under the hood of my Saab hatchback. I pulled over and made a call for a tow truck. Minutes later, a man approached my car. He wasn’t from the towing company, but he said he could fix the problem. Reluctantly, I let the stranger hoist up the hood and peer... read more »

Several years ago, The Osbournes, a reality television show that experienced surprising popularity, featured drug-addled rocker Ozzy Osbourne, his wife, and his disobedient and disrespectful children. Every obscenity from the children and parents seemed to attract more and more viewers, making it at... read more »