At Easter, some might wonder what all the fuss is about. Who cares? What difference does it make if Jesus rose from the dead? It makes all the difference in the world. If Christ did not rise, then thousands of believers have died as martyrs for a hoax. If he did rise, then he is still alive and can offer peace to troubled, hurting lives. Countless...

Can God and politics mix?  Is blending them a recipe for suppressing freedoms, grabbing votes, or promoting the public good? God-talk has become popular among US politicians. Leaders contemplating faith-in-action would do well to look back two centuries to William Wilberforce, the famous British parliamentarian who led a grueling but bipartisan...

Forty years after his tragic death, President John F. Kennedy continues to fascinate. A new JFK biography hit the bestseller lists. His relatives -- America's royalty to some -- are frequent newsmakers.  An intriguing facet of his legacy involves his decision-making procedures. Some brought great success, others colossal failure. In 1961, after...

Leadership can be lonely.  When you’re the mayor, people who talk to you very often want something from you. That’s why Portland, Oregon, Mayor Tom Potter was so surprised when one citizen – a prominent international figure – asked what he and his network of local leaders and activists could do for the mayor and the city. “In all...

What kinds of things disappoint you?" I once asked a friend out of curiosity. "Yuck! Don't ask me that!" she exclaimed. "I'd rather focus on the positive!" Disappointments can be quite painful, regardless of their magnitude. My friend Nancy1 terminated a long-term relationship in which she'd struggled for decades. Harsh words, bitter memories,...

Got lingering anger, stress or high blood pressure? You may need to forgive someone (or to be forgiven yourself). That's the conclusion of an increasing number of social scientists. Religion has long held that forgiveness is an important component of a fruitful life. A recent Christianity Today article outlined secular research that also supports...

Happy with your grocery bills these days?  Do those gasoline pump meters seem to whir like Vegas slot machines, except you never hit the jackpot? The two issues are not unrelated and they’re affecting pocketbooks and bellies at home and around the globe.  Some Westerners might react with detached shock to stories of food riots in places like...