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What kind of influence do you have on others?

Any serious science student knows about the work of Sir Isaac Newton. Back in 1687, after an encounter with a falling apple, Newton began to study the force of gravity. Newton’s work shaped the study of physics for centuries. As important as Newton’s contribution was, however, humanity might have missed out if it were not for the work of Edmund Halley. Halley encouraged Newton’s study, corrected Newton’s mathematical mistakes, and urged Newton to publish his findings, even financing the printing despite the fact that Newton was independently wealthy and could have easily afforded ...

Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms is back in court

(AP) — As Louisiana schools remain stuck in the middle of a legal battle over a new state law requiring every public classroom to display the Ten Commandments, a panel of three judges heard arguments over the controversial mandate on Thursday morning. The law, which has been touted by Republicans including President Donald Trump, went into effect on Jan. 1. However, schools have seemingly been stuck in limbo. At the start of the year, the state issued guidelines for districts to comply with the mandate that requires poster-sized displays of the Ten Commandments in all public K-12 ...

Syrian Christians want their identity and freedoms protected in any new constitution, envoy says

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — As Syria begins recovering from 50 years of autocratic rule by the Assad family, an international envoy says Christians and other religious groups expect their rights and freedoms to be preserved under a new constitutional settlement. Salina Shambos, a senior Cypriot diplomat and the newly appointed special envoy for religious freedom and protection of minorities in the Middle East, said on Friday that religious leaders in Syria expressed a “strong sense of patriotism” and are now “free to hope” that their country will be more inclusive and a respected ...

Bejeweled crown stolen from Virgin Mary statue at Philadelphia church

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man broke into a Philadelphia church and stole a 125-year-old bejeweled crown from atop a marble statue of the Virgin Mary, city police said Monday. The burglary at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church occurred around 1:10 a.m. Saturday when the thief smashed through a stained-glass window, police said. The break-in was captured on surveillance video that police released Monday. The man then climbed into the upper nave of the church and went straight to the statue and crown, the church’s archivist, Anne Kirkwood, told The Philadelphia ...

Aiming for your goals and becoming the best version of yourself

Matt Emmons was leading the 3-position shooting competition in the 2014 Summer Olympic Games when he accidentally cross-fired, hitting the wrong target on his final shot. Although Emmons had nailed the bullseye, he scored a zero and finished 8th in the competition because he hit another shooter’s target. You should aim for your own goals. In the late 1960s, college football wasn’t very integrated. When Ernest Cook was offered a football scholarship to Florida State University, threats were made about what would happen if the Black man came to Tallahassee to play. Frightened, Cook ...