Devotionals

Early in the second century, Pliny the Younger served as the Roman governor of Bithynia. The apostle Paul had been killed by Nero about 50 years earlier, but his missionary journeys had been effective, and the budding Christian church was expanding into Europe. During Pliny’s rule, the Roman government first recognized Christianity as a religion distinct from Judaism. During that time, many were arrested [...]

A helicopter’s design has been characterized as “a collection of parts flying in relatively close formation.”  That’s an understated way to describe an extremely complex mechanical and aerodynamic system.  Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, whose design is suited for flight, a helicopter is inherently unstable and requires precise mechanical and pilot input to remain airborne. The most iconic helicopter in history is the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, [...]

All Things New Among the innovations of 2025 are several autonomous robot applications.  We now have self-driving cars, self-operating lawn mowers and drone-delivered packages.  The year also saw the development of the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine, which is believed to enable hypersonic travel (e.g., Los Angeles to Tokyo in under two hours).  Also, you can now access the first compact, at-home ultraviolet printer that [...]

“Failure is not an option” is a phrase popularized by the movie Apollo 13. In the context of the real lunar mission, we are all grateful for the resolve of those who rescued the stranded astronauts. However, that kind of relentless determination is not always appropriate.  One of those ways is what’s known as “helicopter parenting.” According to one psychologist and children’s mental health [...]

You may be putting some New Year’s resolutions in motion today, but did you know that the practice has pagan roots?  About 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians recognized the new year in mid-March when crops were planted.  The event was marked by a weeklong celebration that involved reaffirming their loyalty to idols and a commitment to pay debts and return borrowed items.  It was [...]

In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss speculates on the reason for the Grinch’s sour attitude. “It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all, May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.” Dr. Seuss had a gift few [...]