“Anger is a survival mechanism”—that is the secular version of the story we tell ourselves, whenever we lose our cool. Our ancestors survived because they killed others while avoiding being killed themselves. It is all about survival of the fittest, and anger gave our ancestors the edge they needed. Acting first and asking questions later provided an evolutionary advantage. We are merely products ...
Total War
When a country engages in Total War, all of its resources and every ounce of its strength is focused and dedicated to the war effort. Every citizen from oldest to youngest is conscripted into service in some shape, form, or fashion. There are no luxury items. Every meal is rationed. Curfews are strictly enforced, for even time is a precious resource. Nothing and no one belongs to themselves in ...
Firmly Rooted
The most extraordinary thing about the tea plant is how extremely ordinary it appears. It is a variation of the common camellia and looks like nothing more than a common bush. One’s first reaction upon seeing it is to think, “Really? That’s it?” There are no distinguishing features, no gorgeous flowers, just a jumble of haphazard branches and a bunch of green leaves. What makes the tea plant ...
Artificial Ingredients
There are six things that go into making milk chocolate: cocoa powder, cocoa butter, vanilla, lecithin, sugar, and powdered milk. If you want dark chocolate, which tastes more bitter, remove the milk. If you want white chocolate, remove the cocoa powder. In similar fashion, if you want chocolate peanuts, add peanuts. Chocolate toffee, add toffee. Every recipe has its ingredients. Take away an ...
Exceeding Expectations
Near the turn of the last century, America was at war with Spain, and President McKinley needed to get a message to a man named Garcia, who was the leader of a group of Cuban rebels. Unfortunately, no one seemed to know exactly where in the thick island jungle the rebels were hiding. It fell to a man named Rowan to carry a letter to Garcia from the President of the United States. Rowan took the ...
Ready, Set, Go
On January 8, 1956, five young missionaries were murdered on the shores of the Curaray River in eastern Ecuador by a group of particularly aggressive natives, known as the Huaorani. Ironically, the missionaries were trying to introduce those natives to the good news of Christ’s love. The story of their sacrifice became legendary within Christian circles and inspired an entire generation of ...