In the United States, nearly 98% of criminals walk free.[1] It’s not that we don’t try. In fact, we spend about $300 billion every single year to fund police, courts, jails, prisons, probation, and parole.[2]Here in California, only 12% of burglary cases are even solved, let alone perpetrators punis
Interviews are a minefield of tricky questions. “What is your greatest weakness?” “Where do you see yourself in five years?” “Would you ever bend the rules to get the job done?” In many cases, the panel is more interested in how you deal with the pressure of the question than they are the specifics
Never underestimate the impact of a teacher. Most of us can think back to a teacher who not only made a subject come alive, but awakened wonder in us and a desire to truly grow in our learning. Along the way, whether they said it or not, it was clear that they actually cared about us.Even more vivid
In the 40’s and 50’s, if you needed an expert, you might go to Fred Demara. His resume is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. As a teen, he became a Catholic monk. He served in the army and the navy. He was a deputy sheriff and assistant prison warden. He became a lawyer, but wanted to teach. He taug
From time to time we are taking a look together at the “one another” commands in Bible. It’s been a little while, but we’re back at it this morning.There are about 60 “one another” commands, given to Christians so we can know how to properly relate to each other in the church and so we can be built
In the early 400’s, there was a Christian monk named Ammonius who lived in the Egyptian wilderness. They said he “reached the perfection of the love of God.”[1]Ancient writers venerated him for several factors. They recorded that he could recite the entire Old and New Testament, as well as 6,000,000
Thanks to procedural cop shows, we have become armchair coroners.When a body is found by our favorite CSI team we anxiously await the liver temp. We watch as they look for lividity, for ligature marks, petechial hemorrhaging, subdural hematomas, and signs of blunt force trauma. Are there signs of a
I’m going to introduce us to a map of North America. It is an old map, but it is contemporary as well.It’s the Technate Map of America.Quick show of hands. Who has heard of it?It was published in July 1940 by a group called Technocracy. It was created by the organization’s founder, an engineer, Howa
What a thrill it must be to win a gold medal. After so much dedication, study, training, expense, and effort, to receive that glorious award. Olympic events can be incredibly demanding. Consider the biathlon, where athletes must first cross-country ski with “all-out intensity,” then suddenly pivot t
A lot of things you learned before you don’t remember anymore. Though algebra 1 has been a high school requirement for decades, I doubt many of us more than 5 years removed from the classroom would be able to pass a pop quiz. 82% of adults have forgotten whatever trigonometry they’ve learned. 69% ca
Do you have what it takes to be victorious at the ISSA Show? It is billed as “the world’s largest and most influential event” in its category.[1] It’s a “powerful platform” to showcase your greatness and help change the way the world views the people of this particular industry.[2] You’ll have to co
In 1912, Jim Thorpe accomplished an incredible olympic feat: He won gold in both the pentathlon and the decathlon. No had ever done that before and no one has done it since.The king of Sweden presented him his medals and said, “You sir, are the greatest athlete in the world.” Not only was it true, i
The beginning of the year is a time when many people give increased attention to their health. You start or re-start that gym membership. You download that food tracker app. You schedule your annual with your doctor.If we were talking health and I said, “How are your numbers looking?” Certain metric
Most Americans believe in God. That is, when polled, 83% of Americans believe in the idea of “God” or a “Universal Spirit.” Eight out of ten Americans may claim some level of belief, but for many it doesn’t translate to communion with God or the power of God in their lives. Between 2007 and 2024, th
Phone calls used to be awfully expensive. Who here remembers putting off long-distance calls until nights and weekends?The younger among us may have never seen a payphone in the wild, let alone used one. But in the era before everyone had a cell phone with flat monthly fees, you might find yourself
It’s the most famous reveal in movie history. Dorothy and her three friends enter the chamber of Oz, The Great And Powerful’s – fire and smoke exploding around his throne. Their hopes are dashed when the curtain is pulled back, revealing Oz is no wizard. He’s just a man, pulling levers in a desperat
Final speeches are different than last words. Last words are often private or unexpected – given in whisper. But when a figure knows that this will be their parting message to their audience and the world, it’s interesting to hear what they consider to be the most important thing to say.In 399 BC, S
We’ve seen it in movies a thousand times. The great coach shows up to evaluate his new team, only to discover that they’re a bunch of misfits and losers. They don’t know their fundamentals. They squabble with each other. There’s no chance they’ll win a series, let alone a championship. The Mighty Du
The men of Thyatira regularly dined in restaurants whose entertainments were far worse than a tableside cultural dance.Thyatira was a manufacturing city where unions were prevalent & powerful. They called them trade guilds. Membership in a guild was mandatory. You were not allowed to work without me
This week’s prophecy update is brought to you by Costco.I’m not saying Costco is the Antichrist – although it might have felt that way this past Christmas.What’s happening there is worth paying attention to.Costco, like many major retailers, is rolling out new digital systems:In some stores, they’re
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It’s the 28th, so we’re right in the middle. Three days from Christmas, three days till New Year. Whether you’re a New Years resolutions person or not, at the close of December we tend reflect on the year behind and anticipate the year ahead.And the truth is, that
What are your Christmas plans? I’m sure someone has asked you and you’ve asked someone that question. Christmastime has a high concentration of plans. Where are we going to go? What will we buy? Which events will we attend? What side dish are we bringing to Aunt Blanche’s house?Christmas travel plan
Who here has had or needs to have cataract surgery? It’s a common experience as we age. One of every five Americans over 65 will develop cataracts. And 50% of those 80 and older will.[1]A cataract is a clouding of the lens on your eye. The lens is the clear layer inside the eye that focuses light. W
How many packages were delivered to your house this week? If you don’t do online shopping, think about how often a delivery truck drove down your street in the last few days.During the Christmas season, UPS delivers 32 million packages a day.[1] USPS does another 23 million. Plus all those Amazon de
