People in East Tennessee talk often about the "lost state of Franklin." The area of upper East Tennessee formed a state, named it after Benjamin Franklin and petitioned to be made a part of the Union. Because of political considerations for North Carolina, the petition was rejected. Later, the region came into the Union as...

One of the greatest and most beloved characters of all time is Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney often told of how Mickey came to him in a time of adversity. Walt had invented a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Several cartoons had been produced and released featuring the rabbit. On a trip to N

In one of their books, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen retell an ancient story. There was a thief in ancient times who stole a magnificent coat. It was made of the finest of materials and had buttons of silver and gold. He eventually sold the coat and a friend in the society of thieves asked him what he got for it. "A hundred pieces of silver," was the reply...

An old fable of Aesop tells of the fox and the crow. A crow once stole a piece of meat. The fox, who wanted the meat, began to compliment the crow. First he complimented the beauty of her black feathers. Then, he complimented the beauty of her form. Finally he complimented her signing voice as asked to hear her sing....

In South Korea some people are getting operations on their tongue, but not for a true medical reason. They are getting the operations so that they can say their L and R sounds like an American. This ability is greatly prized in the business world is South Korea. The procedure involves snipping the thin tissue under the tongue,...

There is a community in southern Iraq that is named by locals as the site of the Garden of Eden. There was even a tree there called the Adam tree. After years of conflict and the recent hostilities, the area that was purported to be the Garden of Eden is now a ruined mess. At one time the regime in Iraq thought they might ...

The movie, "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring" has revived interest in Tolkein's fantasy. It also has people talking about truths the book addresses. Much discussion centers on the ring itself. The ring is the most powerful of several rings that are abroad in this fantasy world. It can make the wearer invisible. It also...

The Ripley organization highlights the story of the unusual creature, the Nanomia Cara. It is a jellyfish, and it lives in a huge cluster with other jellyfish. Some in the colony catch the food, others digest the food for the rest, others provide propulsion and still others lay eggs. They are interdependent. So is the church. Everyone...

God gradually reveals His truth, like a flower unfolding. It is not like the night-blooming cereus that opens only in the darkness and is seen by few. It is not like the century plant that opens so rarely and is seen so seldom. It is not like the morning glory that opens at dawn and is shut by noonday. God's revelation gradually...

Blandon Churchyard, where Winston Churchill is buried, is like many similar village churchyards. There is a lichgate at the entrance. Here the bearers could wait with the casket until the minister came out to escort them into the church. If the weather was inclement, they had some shelter beneath the roof of the lichgate. Over...