WORLDmag.com's Top 20 for 2009

1. Family man

All-American Michael Oher went from the streets as a 15-year-old son of a crack addict to potential NFL Rookie of the Year on the love and dedication of an adoptive family that wouldn't let him fail | by Amy Henry | Nov. 21, 2009

2. All in the family

Behind the scandal-tainted C Street house is an organization big on protecting its own and small on church ties and theology | Emily Belz and Edward Lee Pitts | Aug. 29, 2009

3. Book of the year

It's based on the best-selling book of all time, but WORLD's 2009 winner takes Bible study to new levels | by Marvin Olasky | July 4, 2009

4. The blinded side

Many reviewers can't see something to cheer about in the uplifting story of football star Michael Oher | by Megan Basham Nov. 21, 2009

5. The C Street house

A secretive Capitol Hill Bible study finds two of its high-profile members embroiled in scandal | by Emily Belz, Edward Lee Pitts | June 26, 2009

6. Heal or heel?

While the Bible shows that God can heal people supernaturally, claims of particular faith-healers should be examined. Here's what WORLD learned about the "Lakeland Outpouring" healings of television preacher Todd Bentley | by Warren Cole Smith | May 23, 2009

7. Strange collocation

Bertrand Russell's 'firm foundation of unyielding despair' was tragically odd | by John Piper | Oct. 24, 2009

8. 2009 Daniel of the Year

Stephen C. Meyer, director of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, fights to show that all lives have eternal value because they are the work of a Creator and not the product of chance | by Marvin Olasky | Dec. 19, 2009

9. Washington's prescription

The House healthcare bill is only 1,017 pages long. What are you waiting for? | by the Editors | Aug. 15, 2009

10. Trouble in River City

With last week's court ruling in Iowa, the battle for preserving traditional marriage is on its way to being lost | by Cal Thomas | April 7, 2009

11. Losing a beachhead

Rob Koons, a University of Texas at Austin philosophy professor and a Christian, poured six years into development of a UT Program in Western Civilization and American Institutions. Then administrators yanked it away from him | by Marvin Olasky | Sept. 12, 2009

12. The sixth wind?

Headlines trumpet Christian decline, but a closer look suggests another rise in serious faith | by Marvin Olasky | June 20, 2009

13. A curse and a gift

Words can be twisted, but God uses them to tell straight truths | by Janie B. Cheaney | Dec. 19, 2009

14. Alienation of affection

A divorce-related lawsuit alleges former lawmaker Chip Pickering carried on an affair while living at the Fellowship's C Street house | by Jamie Dean | Aug. 29, 2009

15. Guts and grace

WORLD's Lynn Vincent teams up with Sarah Palin on a book that promises to set the record straight about the Alaska governor's personal and political life | by Mickey McLean | May 21, 2009

16. Back to the present

Understanding abortion in the past will help us fight it today | by Marvin Olasky | Jan. 17, 2009

17. New prayer policy

As the president prays privately, National Day of Prayer organizers are forced to move Thursday's public event away from the White House | by Edward Lee Pitts | May 6, 2009

18. Jesus the socialist

The president offers a Christmas lesson that perfectly fits his social goals | by Cal Thomas | Dec. 24, 2009

19. To rise and not fall

There are several steps Sarah Palin must make if she is to have a future in national politics | by Cal Thomas | July 7, 2009

20. No good choices

With enemy spies in custody, Capt. Roger Hill faced an impossible situation; the choice he made is costing him his career | by Lynn Vincent | Jan. 31, 2009