Thomas Kinkade Passes

Artist Thomas Kinkade has died at the age of 54 in Los Gatos, California of natural causes. Kinkade’s distinctive style was panned by the critics but sold well to Evangelicals. He often uses Christian themes in his work. In 2009, a judge ordered Kinkade to pay more than two-million dollars to two gallery owners. They claim he left them financially ruined by using religion to get them to make large investments in a project that had no chance of success. Other investors sued Kinkade but were not successful in court. One of his companies declared bankruptcy in 2010. The same year, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI near Carmel, California.

Actor Playing Judas Hangs Himself

An actor is in serious condition in the city of Itarare, Brazil after he accidentally hung himself during a passion play. Tiago Klimeck was playing the part of Judas. After the betrayal of Jesus, during the scene of his character's suicide Klimeck confused which cord he should use. He hung unconscious for several moments because his fellow actors thought he was just playing his part.

Dead Bunny

A South Carolina church sends out post cards showing a dead Easter Bunny. WVLA-TV has a video report here.

Tebow in Texas

Tim Tebow will speak at the Easter service of a Texas megachurch Sunday. The Celebration Church in Georgetown, north of Austin is expected some 20,000 people to hear the The New York Jets quarterback. The non-denominational service will be held outside and parishioners will sit on lawn chairs and blankets. More details here
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Defamation Suit

Florida megachurch settles defamation lawsuit. Read the story here.

Dropping "God" from God Bless the USA

Lee Greenwood is blasting a Boston school for taking the word God out of his song God Bless The USA. Greenwood says,  “The most important word in the whole piece of music is the word God, which is also in the title. Maybe the school should have asked the parents their thoughts before changing the lyrics to the song. They could have even asked the writer of the song, which I of course, would have said you can’t change the lyrics at all or any part of the song.”  Here's a video report from Fox's Boston TV station.

School changes lyrics from 'God Bless the USA' to 'We love the USA' : MyFoxBOSTON.com

Colson Has Brain Surgery

Chuck Colson remains hospitalized after undergoing brain surgery over the weekend. The founder of Prison Fellowship had a blood clot removed from his brain. His doctors say he did not have a stroke. Colson is sedated by resting comfortably, his doctors say. The Watergate figure is now 80 years old.

Vandy's Student Group Policy

Vanderbilt Catholic is leaving campus over the school's policy that prevents student groups from requiring leaders to hold the beliefs of the group. Four others student groups are on provisional status at the Nashville school for violating the policy.

School Shooting

A man is in custody following a shooting at a Christian school in California. At least seven people are dead at Oikos University in Oakland. Police say he opened fire in a classroom. Police arrested the suspect several miles away at a shopping center and say the man was once a nursing student at the school. The school is connected to Oakland's Praise God Korean Church in Oakland and Shepherd University in San Francisco.