$5 Million by Dec 31

Rick Warren is asking his congregation to give $5 million before the end of the year. The megachurch pastor told his Saddleback Church he would jumpstart the giving by pledging $1 million himself. The money will go, among other things, to start 5 church campuses. Warren says he takes no salary from the church, no money for speaking engagements and he supports his family solely from the royalties off his book.

What Pat Robertson Meant

Since Pat Robertson made his comments about marijuana, a spokesman has come out with a statement to clarify what the 700 Club host meant. Chris Roslan says Robertson did not intend to suggest he now supports the legalization of marijuana, but questions the severity of the punishment for possession of small amounts of the drug. Here is the full statement.

“Dr. Robertson did not call for the decriminalization of marijuana. He was advocating that our government revisit the severity of the existing laws because mandatory drug sentences do harm to many young people who go to prison and come out as hardened criminals. He was also pointing out that these mandatory sentences needlessly cost our government millions of dollars when there are better approaches available. Dr. Robertson’s comments followed a CBN News story about a group of conservatives who have proven that faith-based rehabilitation for criminals has resulted in lower repeat offenders and saved the government millions of dollars. Dr. Robertson unequivocally stated that he is against the use of illegal drugs.”

You can see the video of what Robertson had to say below.

Message Switch at Lincoln Tunnel

A new billboard has replaced the one put up by atheists on the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel. The first one said Christmas was a "myth." The new billboard declares, "God is." The Manhattan-based Times Square Church paid for it. The Catholic League erected its own pro billboard on the New York side of the tunnel that reads, "You Know It's Real: This Season Celebrate Jesus."

Robertson Favors Legalizing Pot

Pat Robertson has come out in favor of legalizing marijuana. The televangelist offers a video on his 700 Club about drug law reformers who run prison outreach ministries. Robertson said,"We're locking up people that have taken a couple puffs of marijuana and next thing you know they've got 10 years with mandatory sentences. I'm not exactly for the use of drugs, don't get me wrong, but I just believe that criminalizing marijuana, criminalizing the possession of a few ounces of pot, that kinda thing is just costing us a fortune and it's ruining young people. Young people go into prisons, they go in as youths and come out as hardened criminals. That's not a good thing. Here's a video showing the full context of what he had to say:

Con Man Posing As Pastor

South Carolina's WCBD-TV has a video report on a man who claims to be a pastor to get money.

Controversial Billboards

Cincinnati Right to Life has put up 5 billboards around the city like the one you see here. They feature an ultrasound image of a haloed fetus. The ad was made by ChurchAds.net, a coalition of Christian churches, including Church of England, Baptist Union, United Reformed Church, Anglican and Methodist churches.

Sign Slashed at Church

Vandals have struck at a church Cleveland-area church. The images of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus on a sign at the St. Julie Billiart Catholic Church in North Ridgeville have been sliced with a knife.

Megachurch Pastor Quits, moves to Asia

Read the story at CNN.com here.

Bible College Warned

Criswell College has received an official warning that its accreditation is in jeopardy. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools cites “institutional effectiveness” in planning and assessment. The Bible college was started 4 decades ago by the First Baptist Church of Dallas and is named for longtime pastor W.A. Criswell. There were 365 students enrolled during the past semester.

Missionary Murdered in Africa

KLTV in Texas tells the story of a family grieving this holiday season because of the loss of a missionary husband and father. Read about it here.

Poll on Evolution

40% of Americans believes in creationism. That's down from 47% in 1993 and 1999. Here are some other findings from a newly released Gallup poll:

• 38% believe God played a role in the process of evolution.
• 16% believe humans have evolved with no divine guidance (twice as many as in 1982).
• 60% of those who attend church on a weekly basis believe in creationism
• only 2% of those who attend church on a weekly basis believe in secular evolution.
• among those who rarely or never attend religious services, 24% believe in creationism
• among those who rarely or never attend religious services, 39% believe in evolution without divine guidance.

Killed in Israel

An American tourist recently murdered in Israel was a staff member at Church's Ministry among Jewish people, a group involved with presenting Jewish people the Christian message. Kristine Luken was stabbed to death while hiking with a professional tour guide and friend who survived by pretending to be dead, and said the pair were attacked by two Arab men with what looked like a bread knife. No one has been arrested so far in the investigation.

Pastor's Past Revealed

A Virginia Congregation is shocked to learn their pastor was convicted.. for murder. Read about it here.

Churches Figtht in New Mexico

KOB-TV in Roswell shows what happens when church groups comes to blows over theological.

Christmas in 3-D

A Dallas megachurch church is offering its Christmas services today in 3-D. Pastor Ed Young says each person attending the service of Fellowship church will be given a pair of 3-D glasses in order to watch the high-tech service. The church has 4 campuses in the Dallas area and one in Miami. The church's website offers a 3-D video with Young and his wife. You can see it here.