Table of Contents A wonderful life by Russ Pulliam Cover Story | Like the mythical George Bailey, Robert Lavelle has used a savings and loan to help more people than he can possibly know [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/a_wonderful_life] In this issue: "Lavelle's wonderful life," Dec. 25, 2004 Features Dispatches Reviews Notebook Voices Features Flew the coop by Gene Edward Veith Religion | How a prominent atheist philosopher made the revolutionary decision to become a theist [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/flew_the_coop] Into Africa by Mark Bergin AIDS | An ambitious plan to help Africa's AIDS orphans fights apathy, resistance [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/into_africa] Journalism & humility by Marvin Olasky Media | The two rarely go together anymore, but by following the Bible a Christian journalist can aspire to be a humble truth teller. Other current… [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/journalism_humility] Dispatches Bridge building by Mindy Belz France | French president Jacques Chirac's recent attempts to assert himself on the world stage have exposed raw motives [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/bridge_building] The Buzz by The Editors The latest on this week's biggest stories [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/the_buzz_2] Quick Takes by The Editors A surprise inside Employees at Samsung's Secaucus, N.J., repair shop may be used to unhappy customers, but a DVD box this month from Jefferson City, Mo., was… [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/quick_takes_2] Quotables Memorable things they said [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/quotables_1] Reviews Return of the King by Gene Edward Veith Video | With so much more material, this Return of the King is, in effect, a different movie from the version that won 11 Oscars [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/return_of_the_king] Spanglish by Andrew Coffin Movies | This imperfect but funny and touching film deserves more credit than it's likely to get [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/spanglish] Madden NFL 2005 by Ben Olasky, Marvin Olasky Culture | What really makes Madden stand out are its graphics, which are amazingly realistic [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/madden_nfl_2005] Bestselling books Notable Books | The five bestselling hardback novels as of Dec. 13 [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/bestselling_books_0] Notebook Feline studies by Chris Stamper Technology | Online school under investigation for awarding MBA degree to a cat [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/feline_studies] Choosing a 'champion' by John Dawson Sports | The Bowl Championship Series creates another year of controversy [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/choosing_a_champion] Big & mobile by Dan Perkins Business | Sprint and Nextel announce $35 billion merger [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/big_mobile] Voices Too close for comfort by Joel Belz A story of intense personal interest becomes a national controversy [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/too_close_for_comfort] Taliban west? by Gene Edward Veith Liberals worry that President Bush's reelection will lead to an American theocracy [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/taliban_west] Royal entrance by Andrée Seu Luke's anti-narrative on the coming of a new kind of kingdom [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/royal_entrance] A resolution to work by Marvin Olasky Christians can lead the way in solving Social Security's problems [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/a_resolution_to_work] Mailbag Letters from our readers [http://www.worldmag.com/2004/12/mailbag_2]
