Warner Retires

NFL Quarterback Kurt Warner explained the connection between his faith and his career yesterday as he announced his retirement.

“As always, as it started in 1999 when I was up on the podium holding up a trophy (following his Super Bowl win with the St. Louis Rams), the first thing I want to do is give thanks to God. My Lord Jesus brought me here. I know he brought me here for a purpose. And it’s been an amazing ride. I don’t think I could have dreamt out that it would have played out as it had. But I’ve been humbled everyday that I’ve woke up for the last 12 years and amazed that God would choose to use me to do what He’s given me the opportunity to do over 12 years. So I hope that when people think back over my career – maybe it’s just over the next couple of weeks as they reflect on it or maybe it’s years to come – that that’s what they remember more than anything else. Not the way I threw the football, not particular games that I won. But that they remember that here’s a guy that believed, that worked hard, and – although things didn’t always go in his favor – he continued to press through. And with his faith in himself and with his faith in God, he was able to accomplish great things. I’m excited about what lies in front of me. I’m excited about spending more time with my family and seeing what God’s going to do next."

Analysts say Warner is a sure bet for the NFL Hall of Fame after winning three MVP awards, a Super Bowl, and the second-highest completion percentage in NFL history.

Crystal Cathedral Makes Deep Cuts

We reported yesterday on the cuts at the Southern California mega-church founded by televangelist Robert H. Schuller Sr. Here's a video report by KTTV.

Pastor Threatens Son with Gun

The son of an Knoxville-area pastor says his father pulled a gun during an argument over his failure to attend church and is now seeking legal protection. Michael Colquitt says Joe Colquitt who pastors St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Alcoa, threatened to kill him and his family if they didn't start attending church. A court hearing is set for Thursday.

Bible Classes Move Forward

Tennessee's state board of education has approved using the Bible as part of the curriculum. The "Bible as education" classes will begin in the fall. Two years ago, state legislatures had passed a state law allowing for "non-sectarian, non-religious academic study of the Bible." Bible courses are not mandatory for students to take or schools to offer.

Crystal Cathedral Financial Trouble

Robert H. Schuller's church is struggling after an $8 million drop in revenue last year. The Southern California megachurch founded by the televangelist is taking drastic steps to make up the difference. The Crystal Cathedral is selling 170 acres of property in south Orange County, cutting eight TV broadcasts, laying off 50 employees who worked at its retreat in San Juan Capistrano and canceling its annual Glory of Easter pageant. The Glory of Christmas will continue as usual. The combined cutbacks will save about $5 million. Revenue fell 27% in 2009 from the year before- from $30 million down to $22 million. Schuller's son left the megachurch and the Hour of Power and his father returned to leadership after a family feud. Now, the younger Robert A. Schuller is now part of the Dallas-based TV network American Life Network.

Bibles Burned at Church

Vandals burned Bibles inside of one of four churches broken into Titusville, Florida. New Venture Church faces $100,000 in fire and smoke damage. Someone threw Bibles into a pile and set them on fire. A few blocks away at the Way of Life Church, someone left behind offensive messages. Windows at the St. Andrew United Methodist were smashed and at Westside Baptist, vandals smashed $1,500 worth of windows and doors. The pastor of New Venture told reporters “We want them to find God. That's our heart's prayer more than anything. And, if it takes justice for that to happen, that's what we pray for.” Police have so far made no arrests.

Tebow Responds to Ad Controversy

Here's what Tim Tebow had to say about the Super Bowl Ad controversy.

Copeland Accusations

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland is denying accusations his ministry failed to follow through on promises to help earthquake victims in Haiti. The claim comes from Rich Vermillion, who worked with Copeland and wrote the book Angel Flight 44: The True Story of Two Dedicated Pilots, a 60-Year-Old Airplane, and the Amazing Hurricane Katrina Mission That Birthed a New Aviation Ministry. The book is about the 2005 relief efforts for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. According to Vermillion, Copeland's promised at the time to form a new ongoing aviation humanitarian-relief ministry also called Angel Flight 44 but never did.

On his blog, KennethCopelandBlog.com, Vermillion writes:

"...one has to wonder where Copeland and his Angel Flight 44 ministry were during those early days of the disaster when their services were so badly needed. If Copeland had prepared beforehand as he had pledged, there would have been supplies flowing into Haiti within 24 hours after that earthquake. Instead, the people had to suffer and wait until other groups arrived, and that seems almost criminal in my opinion."

Copeland's lawyer responds:

“Kenneth Copeland Ministries is one of the premier Christian Ministries in the world today and is run with the utmost integrity. The Church has an annual independent audit and there are no funds that have been misused or unaccounted for.”

Superbowl Ad Stays

CBS says it will not cave into pressure to drop a Focus on the Family ad from its Super Bowl coverage. Woman's rights groups objected to the :30 announcement featuring former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. The network issued a statement that said:

"We have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms on the issue. In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy ads for some time. At CBS, our standards and practices process continues to adhere to a process that ensures all ads -- on all sides of an issue -- are appropriate for air. We will continue to consider responsibly produced ads from all groups for the few remaining spots in Super Bowl XLIV."

The Women's Media Center, National Organization For Women and more than two dozen other groups have launched a campaign to pressure CBS into pulling the Super Bowl "pro-life" ad bought by Focus on the Family. In the past, CBS has rejected advocacy ads from PETA, MoveOn.org and the United Church of Christ.

The spot reportedly tells how the Heisman Trophy winner's mom was advised by doctors to abort him. CBS officials have said they have seen the ad and have no problem with the video.

The NFL backed the CBS decision. "CBS standards and practices department approved the content of the ad as appropriate for the audience. We take no issue with CBS' decision," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

A CBS spokesperson had told B&C's Claire Atkinson last week that the network had vetted the spot's script and did not expect to have any trouble with the video.

Here's a report from WNAC-TVs morning show on it.

Protest Over Super Bowl Ad

Some women's groups are asking CBS to reject a Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad featuring Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, including the the National Organization for Women. There is speculation the 30 second ad will tell the story of his mom's pregnancy in 1987. Doctors recommend she have an abortion. Instead, she gave birth to Tim.

Controversy Over 'Jesus' Guns

KDFW-TV in Dallas reports on guns made for the military with Bible verses on them.

DC March for Life

WTTG-TV reports on the March for Life in Washington, DC.