Megachurch Changes Hands

As we reported this weekend, Paula White has taken over at Tampa's Without Walls International megachurch after her ex-husband, Randy White, resigned as the pastor. Here's a video report about the changeover.

Suit to Stop Engravings

A lawsuit has been filed to stop an architect from engraving the Pledge of Allegiance and In God We Trust at the entrance for tourists visiting the Capitol in Washington. Congress decided to add the engravings to the new Capitol Visitor Center this month. But the Freedom From Religion Foundation objects and has filed a lawsuit in federal court, saying the decision amounts to taxpayer-funded endorsement of religion.

Swine Flue at Church Camp

Health officials are warning parents about a possible swine flu outbreak at a church camp. KLRT-TV in Little Rock reports.

Short Dies

The man who wrote The Gospel According to Peanuts has died. Robert Short was 76 years old. His best known work sold more than 10 million copies and became the top nonfiction bestseller in the US when it first came out in 1965. A few years ago, the ordained Presbyterian minister started a group called Christianity Without Doom or Gloom out of Little Rock.

Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church is preparing to officially approve gay clergy serving in any position. At the Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, California, bishops voted to affirm their support of the move. Delegates representing members and priests are expected to give their approval before the Convention ends this week. The move may end a moratorium on ordaining gay bishops passed at the last convention three years ago. The resolution does not mandate that all dioceses consider gay candidates but encourages them to do so.

"Kiss-in" at Mormom Temple

KSL-TV Salt Lake City has a report on protesters at an LDS temple.

Ex-Wife Takes Over Megachurch

Paula White will take the pulpit at Tampa’s megachurch Without Walls International tomorrow. Ex-husband Randy White resigned last week. Randy White says he quit over serious health concerns and this Sunday’s services will be used to honor him. Paula White has been away from Without Walls for more than two years, following the couple's divorced. The congregation has rocked by the death of Randy White's daughter from brain cancer and the hint of financial scandal. The couple is part of a federal inquiry into the church finances.

Bruno Protest

A Christian group is calling on cities to ban the Sacha Baron Cohen’s new movie Bruno which opens this weekend. Texas-based Movieguide is sending letters to city officials around the country suggesting they take a look at whether the film does not fit their community standards related to obscenity and pornography. Cohen plays a flamboyantly gay television host. The movie includes frontal nudity of men and woman. Groups of people appear onscreen engaged in various sex acts. It originally recieved an NC-17 rating but some scenes were trimmed and now it carries an R-rating.

Begging Church

WHAS-TV in Louisville, Kentucky reports on a controversial church that begs from people in the streets.

More on Sign Controversy

This video report comes from WCJB-TV about the sign controversy in Gainesville, Florida.

Obama Meets Pope

Barack Obama met with Pope Benedict today at the Vatican. It's Obama's first vist with the pontiff. They spent more than a half-hour in Benedict's private libraray and exchanged gifts. The Pope gave the President a copy of his book on church social teachings (among other items) and Obama giving the Pope a stole placed on the remains the first naturalized U.S. citizen to named a saint. The First Lady and the Obama children visited the Vatican as well.

Church Sign Flap

WTEV-TV in Jacksonville reports on the church sign we told you about yesterday that's drawing fire.

Sign: “Islam is of the Devil”

A message on the front lawn of a Florida church is causing protests. It reads. “Islam is of the Devil”. The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville explains on its website why the pastor decided to put up the controversial message. More than 100 people showed up for a prayer vigil on Sunday organized by the pastor of Emmanuel Mennonite Church in an attempt to get the sign removed. Later that night, someone torn it down but the message was put back up the next day.

Herod's Temple

Archaeologists may have found the spot where King Herod got the stones to build the Jewish Temple some 2000 years ago. That includes what’s known as the Western Wall. The Israel Antiquities Authority says the ancient quarry is more than 100 yards square. The stones, along with pottery, tools and coins were uncovered before construction of an apartment complex. The Roman legions destroyed Herod’s Temple in A.D. 70 after a Jewish uprising.

Bible Used for Escape

Inmates escape jail with help from the Bible. WALA-TV has a video report.

Prayer In The Office

WNYW-TV in New York has a video report on prayer at work.

Mega-Home for Mega-Evangelist

A televangelist is building himself a $4 million house in South Carolina. Although the his ministry has recently laid off workers and made cutbacks to benefits, Inspiration Network CEO David Cerullo is paid one-and-a-half million in compensation.

Flyover Denied

The Air Force has turned a request to flyover the God and Country Family Festival in Nampa, Idaho. Air Force planes have made an appearance at the event for decades. But the military turned the request down because of the religious nature of the event.

Oldest Bible

We told you earlier this week about the oldest Bible in the world going on line. Here's a video report on it from KRIV-TV in Houston.

Twittering Church

A Dallas church is experimenting with twitter. KDFW-TV reports.

"Convert the Atheist" Show

A new Turkish TV game show will feature attempts to convert a group of atheists. Four religious groups will have representatives (a Buddhist monk, Muslim imam, a Christian priest, and a rabbi) who pitch their faith to ten non-believers. Station Kanal T will give the winner a free trip to a holy site of their religion. The show has hit a speed bump. The Religious Affairs Directorate considers the concept disrespectful and doesn’t want to provide an imam to appear on the show.

Getting to Know.. Robert Schuller

1926: Born in Alton, Iowa

1950: Earns bachelor of divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan

1950: Ordained a minister of the Reformed Church in America

1950: Marries Arvella DeHaan

1950: Serves as pastor of Ivanhoe Reformed Church in Chicago 1955: Founds the Garden Grove Community Church in Orange County

1961: Dedicates the first walk-in, drive-in church.

1968: Dedicates the Tower of Hope, a 14-story office and counseling center 1970: Begins broadcasting the Hour of Power TV ministry

1980: Dedicates the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California

1980: Launches The Glory of Christmas pageant

1985: Launches The Glory of Easter pageant

1986: Becomes the only nonarchitect to be elected to the board of the American Institute of Architects

1989: Mikhail Gorbachev invites Schuller to speak on a telecast to the entire Soviet Union

1996: Declares his son, Robert A. Schuller to be his successor

2003: Completes $40-million International Center for Possibility Thinking

2006: Announces he is turning over Crystal Cathedral leadership to his son, Robert A. Schuller

2006: Turns over leadership of the Crystal Cathedral to his son, Robert A. Schuller

2008: Removes his son as preacher on the church's weekly Hour of Power and Robert A. Schuller soon resigns from leadership at the Crystal Cathedral

2009: Robert A. Schuller announces his company has acquired cable network AmericanLife TV from the Unification Church

2009: Announces that eldest daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, will take over leadership of his ministry

Pink Menno Video

Here's video of the pink menno protest in Columbus, Ohio. Gay and lesbian Mennonites gathered outside the church's official convention to pray, sing and tell stories about how they've been ostracized in the denomination. Some 1400 members signed a letter calling on the church to allow homosexual members to participate in the church services. Inside the annual meeting, the subject was avoided because it had stirred up conflict at other meetings. Here is video of the protest.

Oldest Bible

Pages from the world's oldest Bible have been pieced together and can be viewed over the internet. The Codex Sinaiticus was written in Greek during the 4th-century on parchment leaves. Parts of it have been preserved in various locations around the world. The unification project has required the cooperation of experts from serveral countries including Russia, the UK, Germany and Egypt. The Codex may be the oldest large bound book known to exist and contains a complete New Testament and most of the Old Testament.

Billboard Controversy

WSVN-TV reports on a sign promoting atheism that some Miami residents want taken down.

Theme Park Free Day

Trinity Broadcasting is hiding the date of their required free day at the Holy Land Experience near Orlando. The religion-based theme park must legally forego its annual $35 ticket price for a day in order to get their property-tax exemption. The last one was on February 5th. TBN officials say publicizing the event could overwhelm the park with visitors.

Lenny Kravitz

Singer Lenny Kravitz says he's been celibate for the past 4 years and had resolved to remain so until married. He tells the London Telegraph he believes it is was wrong to have sex without being married. "I think sex and intimacy and all that is very important. It’s just that I’m going to do it with my wife. And not everybody else." He went on to tell the paper, "I really do use Christ as my example and try to live this life and not just bullshit with it."

Worship at Bar

An Austin church holds services at a local bar. KTBC-TV reports.

Bomb at Church

Police in Buffalo are looking for someone who threw a pipe bomb inside a church. WIVB-TV has this report.

NY Megachurch Pastor Out

Warren Speaks to Muslims

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren addressed the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America yesterday. During his 25-minute speech, he told the audience that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must work together to combat stereotypes and solve global problems of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy. He went on to say, "My deepest faith is in Jesus Christ. I am committed not only to the good news but the common good. Scripture says 'love your neighbor as yourself.' I am commanded to respect everybody." The annual convention pulls together more than 30,000 people each year.

LEGO Record

A Chicagoland church has set a world record using legos. More than 150 grade school-aged kids built a model of Noah's ark made of LEGOs at Harvest Bible Chapel. It's 12 feet long, 2 feet wide and stands 18 inches tall.

Baptists Turn Away Choir

Southern Baptists have disinvited a youth choir from taking part in a mission program. Broadway Baptist Church Chapel Choir has been told it can’t take part in the University of the Cumberlands' Mountain Outreach program because of the congregation’s stand on gay issues. The church was voted out of the Southern Baptist Convention last week. The church had decided to avoid offending gay couples by published a directory without family portraits. The choir will instead, is joining the First Baptist Church of Nashville for its mission trip.

A case before the Kentucky Supreme Court involves an $11 million grant coming from state funds for a new pharmacy school at the University of the Cumberlands. A gay rights group sued the school for expelling a gay student.

Okla Proclaimation

An Oklahoma lawmaker is offering a proclamation blaming our economic troubles on abortion, pornography, same-sex marriage, sex trafficking, divorce, illegitimate births, child abuse "and many other forms of debauchery." Sally Kern made headlines earlier this year when she said suggested homosexuality was a greater threat to the country than terrorism. Here's a report from Oklahoma City's KWTV.

Prayer Booth

A prayer booth has been set up at Detriot's city hall - leading to outcries that it violates the separation of church and state.

Radio Ad Blitz

The religious left has launched an ad blitz on Christian and country music radio stations across the South. The ads call for support of a climate bill, that would cut greenhouse-gas emissions. The issue is framed as one of Biblical morality. The American Values Network spent nearly $200,000. The religious coalition will put $150,000 more to enlist support from pulpits in the West.

Michael Jackson Friend

" wanted me to study the Bible with him because he was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses early in life, [and] he would want his children to be raised the same way." family friend Firpo Carr t0 CNN

Pink Menno

A group of about 100 Mennonites dressed in bright pink are protesting the denomination’s views on gay issues. The church is holding its biannual convention in Columbus, Ohio. Those gathered outside to protest are calling it the pink Menno campaign. They have a petition with the names of 1400 Mennonites who say they support the effort.

Pastor Tasered

Houston-area Police tasered and arrested a pastor after a traffic stop involving one of his members. They used pepper spray to disperse a crowd of his parishioners. Here’s a video report from KPRC-TV.

CBN Evacuated

A white powder mailed to Pat Robertson's CBN Network in Virginia caused a stir today but it turned out to be a bodybuilding supplement. The company's Virginia Beach building was evacuated and closed as a precaution as a precaution until tests were run. The network is expected to open again tomorrow.

Modern-Day Miracle?

WTTG-TV reports on a Maryland woman who says prayer cured her.

Faith-Healing on Trial

A Portland couple accused of failing to get medical treatment for their child before she died says they relied on prayer. KPTV has this report.

Joyce Meyer Court Dispute

The family of a woman allegedly killed by the former security chief at Joyce Meyer Ministries is asking a judge to force the organization to cooperate in their wrongful death lawsuit. Christopher Coleman is accused of murdering his wife, Sheri Coleman and their two children. Meyer’s says it will cooperate if the family agrees to a confidentiality agreement. The family wants travel records, flight plans, information about insurance policies, etc.

Mag Stands By Obama Church Story

TIME magazine is standing by its story that the 1st Family has picked Camp David's Evergreen Chapel as its primary place of worship. The White House denied the report on Monday but carefully worded its statement to leave room for the Obamas to attend the church while not declaring it home base. Here's what TIME has to say about the conflicting information.

Graham Has Cancer

A Texas megachurch pastor is battling prostate cancer. Jack Graham is taking two-months off from leading the 26,000 members of Preston Baptist Church in Plano. Graham has surgery last month. He twice served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Did Jackson Become a Christian?

Rumors are circulating that Michael Jackson became a Christian in his last days. He is said to have prayed recently with Christian singer Andrae Crouch and his sister. But she says the story isn’t entirely accurate. They did met with the pop star – but only to talk about recording songs with their choir on his next album. Before leaving they prayed and Michael listened and held hands with them. Read more on Andrae’s Facebook page.

Jackson grew up in the Jehovah's Witnesses and later dabbled in Kaballah and spent time with New Age guru Deepak Chopra. In the last few years, he reportedly followed several of his brothers into Islam.

Bible Club Ruling

The Supreme Court won’t hear the case of two students who weren’t allowed to start a Bible club at school. Officials at Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington didn’t let them form the group because non-Christians would not have been allowed to become voting members. Lawyers for the student may re-file the case to reframe the question before the court, focusing on the fact that the school district allows groups to limit membership based on gender, such as in the case of honor clubs just for girls and just for boys. The ruling could be applied to all kinds of clubs, such as a Republican club that prohibits Democrat from joining.

Obama Still Church Hunting

The White House is now denying widespread reports that President Obama has decided to make the Camp David presidential retreat his church home. A spokesman said today his family is still looking for a worship center. The Camp David reports came from reputable publications such as TIME magazine. Here's what we had earlier in the day on the story at ChristianNewsReport.

Funeral Protests OK

Missouri will not be able to stop an anti-gay church group from protesting near funerals. The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that barred the state from enforcing a law that would create a buffer zone. Many other states have passed similar laws. The Missouri law was aimed at Kansas’ Westboro Baptist Church whose members believe US soldiers are dying because the country tolerates homosexuality.

President Pick's Church

TIME magazine's report on Barack Obama's new church. ChristianNewsReport offers some info here.

H1N1 Prompts Changes

WLFI in West Lafayette, Indiana reports on how swine flu is affecting services.

Obama's New Pastor

Barack Obama’s new pastor is a Southern Baptist. The President has picked Camp David’s Evergreen Chapel at as his primary place of worship. It’s the same place George W Bush attended. The nondenominational Evergreen Chapel seats only about 150 people. It’s only a third full on most Sundays and is open to the nearly 400 military personnel and staff at Camp David. The Navy rotates chaplains through pulpit duties every three years. The present chaplain is Lieutenant Carey Cash from Memphis. Cash is a Southern Baptist who got his degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

Bible Giveaway Arrests

Police arrested three people at the Minneapolis Pride Festival for handing out Bibles this weekend. Brian and Doris Johnson have passed out free Bibles at the festival for more than a decade. But organizers refused to allow the Hayward, Wisconsin couple to have booth. They were arrested for trespassing along with their son.