Thursday, April 12, 2012

Layoffs at Denomination's Headquarters

The Assemblies of God headquarters is laying off 47 employees. Church officials say the move is a result of switching from a print to a digital focus. Most of the people losing their jobs work at the Gospel Publishing House which prints Sunday School materials, books and a weekly magazine. Church officials say more downsizing could be ahead.

Seattle Times on Jazz Movie

The Seattle Times reviews the film Blue Like Jazz, based on the Christian book by the same title, here.

Blue Like Jazz

A review of the film Blue Like Jazz, based on the Christian book, from the McClatchy-Tribune News Service here.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Banners Taken Down at FL School

A Miami high school teacher has taken down banners from his classroom that say In God We Trust, God Bless America and God Shed His Grace on Thee. They hung in Bradley Johnson's Westview High School classroom for years, but in 2007, school administrators ordered them removed. Johnson went to court and won, but that decision was overturned by an appeals court in favor of the Poway School District. Johnson then appealed to the Supreme Court, but the justices chose not to hear his case.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Student Protests Graduation Ceremony at Church

A high school student in suburban Georgia says she won't attend her graduation on May 25 because it's being held at a church. The Southwest DeKalb High School graduation will take place at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The school district says it was just a matter of finding a place large enough for the graduation class, but the mother of Nahkoura Mahnassi calls it a violation of the separation of church and state and a "slap in the face."

Monday, April 9, 2012

Bubba Watson on Easter

Bubba Watson came from behind to win the Masters golf tournament yesterday. In his news conference, he was asked about why it was special to win on Easter.
"Yeah, this is the day Jesus is risen. Good Friday was when He was crucified on the cross, and today is Easter where we celebrate He's risen. For us, that's salvation to go to Heaven. He took all of our sins from us. So for me, it's just a dream come true. My dad is not here. I hope he's watching in heaven. My grandma never got to watch me play professional golf. She used to make all my knickers for me. So when I think about the day, those are the most important things to me. A guy, Billy Weir, that introduced me to PING; all of these people that influenced me throughout my life, that's what I'm thinking about, not really me winning a golf tournament. I'm thinking about all of these people that influenced me in the right direction to get to where I am today as a person."

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Tebow's Easter Speech

Some 15,000 people came to hear Tim Tebow speak at a Easter service in Texas at the Celebration Church in Georgetown, north of Austin. Pastor Joe Champion interviewed Tebow, asking the New York Jets quarterback what needed to change in America. "First and foremost is what this country was based on: one nation under God. The more that we can get back to that," Tebow said. He also told the outdoor crowd, "It's OK to be outspoken about your faith."

"The hell-raising evangelist's son"

CBS News visits with Franklin Graham here.