LARRY NORMAN DIES

A pioneer of contemporary Christian music has past away. Larry Norman died of heart failure in Salem, Oregon at the age of 60. Norman stirred controversy in the 70’s with songs like Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? and I wish We’d all Been Ready. The Gospel Music Association inducted him into the group’s Hall of Fame in 2001. He introduced Randy Stonehill to Christianity and produced his first few albums. An album he recorded with Frank Black and Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse was set to be released later this year.

CROSSES DEEMED GANG-RELATED

South Albany High School in Albany, Oregon has suspended two students for wearing crucifixes. The principal called the jewelry “gang-related” because sometime gang members put their colors on rosaries and claim they are religious. The 14-year-old and 16-year-old students say the crosses were just gifts from their mothers.

WHAT AMERICANS BELIEVE

Almost half of American adults have left their religious upbringing. That’s the finding of a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The organization polled more than 35,000 adults and discovered the US is..

• 78% Christian
• 51% Protestant
• 44% Have switched denomination of Protestantism to another or from one religion to another
• 25% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have no religious affiliation
• 19% are Roman Catholic
• 10% are former Catholics
• 9% say they are protestants without denominational ties
• 6.9% History black churches
• 4% are atheists or agnostics
• 1.7% are Jewish
• 0.7% are Buddhist
• 0.6% are Muslim

Other findings:
• For every person leaving the unchurched group, there are three others taking their place
• Nearly half of all Catholics under 30 are Hispanic, the survey found.
• Nondenominational protestant churches are growing but Baptist and Methodist churches are
showing net losses.
• Hindus have the highest retention of childhood members
• Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention of childhood members
• Most Buddhists are converts

LORD OF THE RINGS LAWSUIT

The British charity managing the estate of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien wants to stop New Line from making The Hobbit. The charity filed suit against New Line Cinema this month claiming it cheated the Tolkien Trust out of its 7.5% share of the gross profits from the first film Lord of the Rings.

THE WILLIAM TELL MOM

Perhaps you’ve seen a funny video floating around the internet describing the trials and tribulations of motherhood set to the tune of the William Tell Overture. The singer is the wife of an Atlanta pastor by the name of Anita Renfroe who has been building a career as a Christian comedian. Her kids got her to post the video on YouTube last year and it’s popularity grew until it recently passed the 8 million mark for views. Renfroe was recently rewarded for her work by Good Morning America which has created a regular segment featuring her humorous take on life.

DEDUCTING YOUR CHURCH GIVING

If you want to deduct donations to your church, you’ll need to have "proper" records. And that includes your smaller donations. It used to be you only needed something to back up gifts of $250 or more. But now you need a receipt even if you just toss a few bucks in the offering plate. Proper documentation would include a check, bank copy of the check, electronic funds transfer record, credit card or credit union statement, payroll stub or W-2 in the case of a payroll deduction. These records must indicate the charity name, the amount, and the date the donation was given. A written letter from the charity or church with the information also acceptable. You don't have to submit the information with your tax return. Just be able to produce it if you are audited. There’s more info charitable giving on IRS Publication 526 and 562.

SUPER BOWL SCREENINGS

The NFL says it will allow churches to show the Super Bowl on big-screen televisions. In a complete turnaround, the league commissioner says in a letter to congress that it will not object to live showings by religious organizations regardless of screen size. Many churches cancelled their Super Bowl parties this year after the NFL threatened to sue them for copyright violations if screens larger than 55 inches were used. The league allowed sports bars an exception. In response, several members of Congress have threatened to offer legislation to stop the NFL restrictions.

PASTOR DISPUTES CLINTON’S RECOLLECTION

The pastor of Houston’s Second Baptist Church is accusing Bill Clinton of lying about a 1993 encounter between the two at the White House. Ed Young sent a letter to Clinton’s foundation saying what actually happened was nothing like the former president described in a recent speech to Baptists in Atlanta. Clinton said he debated the former Southern Baptist Convention president at a breakfast. But Young says they did not share breakfast that day and the exchange about women in the ministry was not a debate, as Clinton described. Young also says Clinton was misleading about their exchange on whether the Bible is literally true.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Here are some changes in church membership for the past year according to the National Council of Churches 2008 yearbook:

• Jehovah's Witnesses - up 2.25%

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints - up 1.56%

• The Roman Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Assemblies of God and African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church – up less than 1%

• The Episcopal Church - down 4%

• Presbyterian Church, USA - down 2.4%

SEMINARY AGREES TO PAY $300K

Seattle’s Mars Hill Graduate School has agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a harassment and discrimination lawsuit brought by one of its founders. Heather Parkinson-Webb, the first female professor at the seminary says she was fired after she was granted a restraining order against her then husband, Kirk Webb. Both are founders of the school. She says the school knew that her former husband had an affair with a student but failed to dismiss him. He has since left Mars Hill.

MILLION DOLLAR ‘GOD’ STUDY

London’s Oxford University plans to spend a bout $4 million on why whether belief in a divine being is a basic part of mankind's makeup. The major grant from the John Templeton Foundation will bring together academics from a variety of disciplines including theologians, anthropologists, and philosophers. The Ian Ramsey Center for Science and Religion will take three years to complete the study on why mankind embraces God.

EVOLUTION IN FLORIDA

For the first time, schools in Florida will be required to teach evolution next year. The state Board of Education made the decision on a 4-3 vote. But parents, educators and lawmakers who insisted that evolution was far from an iron-clad fact are pleased that an amendment was added to put the words "scientific theory of" in front of the term "evolution".

COPELAND VOWS TO FIGHT INVESTIGATION

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland says he’s going to fight an investigation spearheaded by Senater Charles Grassley. Copeland told a group of ministers that any attempts by Grassley to gain information would be made "over my dead body." Grassley first sent letters in November to six ministries teaching prosperity gospel asking about contributions, salaries and spending. They include Randy and Paula White, Benny Hinn, David and Joyce Meyer, Eddie Long and Creflo and Taffi Dollar. The only one that has cooperated is Joyce Meyer. The senator plans to send a second request for information, along with further justification for his probe. Copeland's response has been posted on YouTube. COPELAND VIDEO

CONFESSION TO A MURDER

The former youth minister of Elim Church in Pasadena, California has confessed to police he killed a convenience store clerk for when he was 16 years old. Calvin Wayne Inman now faces capital murder charges. Inman turned himself in more than 13 years after the crime. Inman had decided he should resign his position just a few month after being ordained by the church. Church leaders say the arrest is a lesson in taking responsibility and they fully forgive Inman.

THEY SAID IT: JAMES DOBSON

"He once berated one of our staffers to tears because he simply had to wait a few minutes to see the member" - A congressional aide talking about Focus on the Family founder James Dobson as quoted in an Associated Press article

FEMALE REF REJECTED

A Kansas athletics oversight organization is looking into whether a religious school refused to allow a female referee call a boys' high school basketball game. Referees have reported to the Kansas State High School Activities Association that St. Mary’s Academy northwest of Topeka refused to allowed Michelle Campbell to officiate a February 2nd game. A school official apparently insisted that a woman could not be in a position of authority over boys because of academy beliefs. St. Mary’s is not a full member of the association but participates in league activities. The Association is expected to deal with the issue at its next meeting on March 11.

WHO WOULD JESUS VOTE FOR?

A new website lets visitors vote on what they believe Jesus would have as his political goals. JesusIn2008.com attempts to be nonreligious, aimed at a debate on the issues rather than an exchange of dogma. Besides inferring his stances on modern politics, internet users can choose a contemporary running mate for Jesus. All of the real presidential candidates are offered as options.

THEY SAID IT: CHARLES BARKLEY

"Every time I hear the word 'conservative,' it makes me sick to my stomach, because they're really just fake Christians, as I call them. That's all they are." – former NBA player Charles Barkley

COLLEGE GROUPS LOSE FUNDING

Christian groups at Florida State University are losing their funding because they don’t include gays in their anti-discrimination policies. The Student Government Association approved the move unanimously. That means hundreds of dollars will be held back from Every Nation Campus Ministry and the Christian Legal Society. Both groups object to the decision but neither given the opportunity to respond

POLITICAL FLYER STIRS CONTROVERSY

Fliers are circulating around a Tennessee congressional district that say, "Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen and the Jews hate Jesus." The anti-Semitic flyers against the first-term Democrat showed up in the mailboxes of voters in the mostly black district this week. Cohen is the first white congressman from Memphis in more than 30 years.

MOHLER DROPPING OUT

R. Albert Mohler is no longer in the running to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President has health problems and will undergo surgery for a precancerous tumor in his colon. He underwent major abdominal surgery about a year ago. The convention next meets in Indianapolis this June.

DOVE AWARDS

The 39th annual Dove Awards will air live April 23 over the Gospel Music Channel. Here are some of the nominees:

Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Tomlin
Gerald Wolfe
Jon Foreman
Mark Hall
Mark Schultz
Marvin Sapp
TobyMac

Female Vocalist of the Year
Amy Grant
Christy Nockels
Darlene Zschech
Krystal Meyers Mandisa
Natalie Grant
Sandi Patty

Group of the Year
Casting Crowns
David Crowder Band
Ernie Haase & Signature
SoundHillsong United
Point Of Grace
Selah
The Clark Sisters

Artist of the Year
Casting Crowns
Chris Tomlin
Natalie Grant
Point Of Grace
Skillet
The Clark Sisters
TobyMac

New Artist of the Year
33 MilesAustins Bridge
Brandon Heath
DeWayne Woods
Group 1 Crew
Mandisa
Rush of Fools

BILLY GRAHAM HOSPITALIZED

Billy Graham is in a North Carolina hospital following brain surgery. The 89-year-old evangelist had the surgery to replace a valve installed in 2000 that drains excess fluid from his through a small tube.

ROMAN CATHOLICS & MARRIAGE

A news survey found most Catholics believe a non-Catholic spouse must promise to have the couple's children raised Catholic. But that’s hasn’t been true since church law was changed in 1983. Here are some other findings:

Is your opinion about marriage have been at least "somewhat" informed by church teaching? Yes – 55%

Were you married in a Catholic church or have had their marriages blessed by the church? Yes - 70%

Is divorce acceptable in some cases? Yes – 76%

Source: The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University

IRS LOOKING INTO CHURCH OVER POLITICS

The IRS is investigating the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California over accusations the church illegally endorsed Mike Huckabee for president. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State complained that pastor Wiley Drake sent out a press release last year that encouraging Christians to give the former Arkansas governor their vote. Wiley also endorsed Huckabee on his Christian radio show. Wiley says those were personal endorsements and not as a representative of his church which would jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status.

FAITH-BASED VOTING

Mike Huckabee benefited from a strong turnout of born-again evangelical Christians in Virginia's primary. Thirty-seven percent of Virginia Republican voters were born-again evangelical Christians. They voted 63 percent for Huckabee and just 28 percent for John McCain. In Maryland, there were fewer evangelical voters and they supported Huckabee over McCain by a somewhat smaller margin. Among Republicans, Huckabee won the votes of 64 percent of Virginians and half of Marylanders who said they were looking for a candidate who shared their values.

EVANGELICALS VOTING DEMOCRAT

In Missouri, 34% of those who described themselves as white evangelicals voted Democratic. That’s about 160,000 people. The percentage was 29% in Tennessee or 182,000 voters. The numbers comes from a Zogby poll taken right after those states’ primaries. Another survey conducted by Barna showed 40% of evangelicals say they will pull the lever for the Democratic presidential in November and 29% plan to vote for the Republican. The rest say they haven’t made up their minds or else will vote for a third-party candidate.

COLLEGE PRESIDENT RESIGNS

The president of the College of William & Mary has suddenly resigned. Gene Nichol’s tenure included the controversial removal of the permanent display of a cross from the school's chapel on the campus in Williamsburg, Virginia. He said the goal of removing the cross was making non-Christians feel more welcome. The university board had already decided not to renew his contract. Thousands of angry alumni and students signed petitions. One donor rescinded a pledge to give the college $12 million. Eventually, Nichol had the cross returned to the chapel but this time locked away in a glass case near the altar. Last week, William and Mary brought to campus the Sex Workers' Art Show. It offered monologues and performances by actors from X-rated movies and strippers.

BAYLOR CHANGES RULES

The Baylor Board of Regents has voted to let non-Baptist Christian student groups to officially meet and be chartered at Baylor. Officials at the Texas school say the new organizational policy is designed to be more inclusive and say the new policy does not conflict with the university's Christian mission.

GRAMMY WINNERS

Rock or Rap Gospel Album: Before the Daylight's Shot - Ashley Cleveland Pop/Contemporary

Gospel Album:A Deeper Level - Israel and New BreedSouthern

Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Salt of the Earth - Ricky Skaggs & The Whites

Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Free to Worship - Fred Hammond

COLLEGE SUFFERS DAMAGES

Tornadoes that swept through Tennessee trapped more than a dozen students in residence halls at a Baptist college. More than 60 students had to be treated for injuries at Union University in Jackson and 17 buildings were damaged. The school’s president believes the cost of repairs will run into the millions. Classes have been suspended for the next few weeks.

CREATIONISM IN EUROPE

Creationism is making inroads in Europe. Small groups of creation science advocates now meet regularly in many British cities. The movement has also had skirmishes in Italy, Germany and Poland. In response, this past fall, the Council of Europe condemned attempts to bring creationism into Europe's schools. That hasn’t stopped Answers in Genesis from getting its creationist point of view into some state-supported science classes in Britain. At the same time, a group called Truth in Science has sent thousands of DVDs to all British high schools in Britain which argue that mankind is the result of intelligent design and not evolution. There are even plans to construct a Christian theme park in northwest England. The issue goes beyond evangelical Christianity. The British government is now funding nearly 100 Islamic schools even though they teach a version of creationism.

NEW BOOKS ON POLITICS & RELIGION

• Religion in American Politics by Prudue University professor Frank Lambert traces the connection between religion and politics through US history.
• In Souled Out, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. writes from the liberal Catholic tradition explores the roots of American liberalism
• The Party Faithful by Time magazine editor Amy Sullivan traces how the Democratic Party has dealt with religion.
• The Future of Faith in American Politics by David Gushee, a professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University, offers an "insider's account" of evangelicals who are weary of their brethren on both the left and right.
• In New Kind of Conservative, Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter says it's time for evangelicals to focus on issues beyond abortion and homosexuality.
• Beyond Left and Right: Helping Christians Make Sense of American Politics by Wheaton College political scientist Amy Black is for the political neophyte.

THEY SAID IT: HUCKABEE

James Dobson's "still got a lot of credibility with people across the country, and is looked to as the remaining mega-giant within evangelical circles, and so I think it's a very significant endorsement." - Mike Huckabee on his endorsement by Focus on the Family founder James Dobson

DOBSON TO GIVE ENDORSEMENT

Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee had long sought the endorsement of the founder of Focus on the Family – and now he’s apparently going to get it. The Associated Press reports that James Dobson is about to endorse Huckabee’s presidential bid despite Huckabee's recent comments chastising Dobson for his comments about John McCain. Dobson says he could not go along with front-runner John McCain because of his support of embryonic stem cell research, his opposition to a federal anti-gay marriage amendment and for his use of foul language. Dobson had never endorsed a GOP presidential hopeful during the primary campaign.

FROM ANCHOR DESK TO PULPIT

A TV news anchor in Charlotte, North Carolina is leaving his job to become a pastor. Chris Justice has been serving as part-time pastor of Lee Park Baptist Church in Monroe. The father of four will stay at WCNC until April, so the station will have time to find a replacement. The news director says, “It's a blow but I can't compete with God."

HUCKABEE TAKES ISSUE WITH DOBSON

James Dobson has said he would not support Senator John McCain if he were the Republican nominee. The founder of Focus on the Family complains that McCain “voted for embryonic stem-cell research to kill nascent human beings”. But candidate Mike Huckabee says he disagrees and that conservatives who won’t support McCain are “more about themselves than they are the cause. Because there's no way that a true conservative would vote for Hillary Clinton”.

COMEDIANS FIGHT OVER HUCKABEE

Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are fighting over which one is behind the success of Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Fueled by the writers strike that has left all three without their typical supply of material, the comedians have been appearing on each other’s shows to continue the mock feud over the past few weeks. It started with O'Brien claiming responsibility for Huckabee's campaign after the former Arkansas governor appeared on his Late Night show. Stephen Colbert has often mentioned how Huckabee has beneifited from the Colbert bump in the polls. They gathered on Monday on all three shows for a pretend fight. At the end, Huckabee appeared by satellite and said, "Let's be clear: None of these guys made me. This great nation made me. So vote for me. God bless America and forget these three idiots.”

HAGGARD DROPS OUT

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard has ended his "spiritual restoration" process before he was finished. He was fired from New Life Church in Colorado Springs for sexual misconduct when a former male prostitute alleged they had a cash-for-sex relationship and accused Haggard of using methamphetamine. In a statement issued by the church, leaders says Haggard should not be allowed to return to the ministry. He now lives in Phoenix.

ORU GETS INFUSION OF CASH

Mart Green is giving $70 million of his family's fortune to rescue Oral Roberts University. The evangelical school is embroiled in a financial scandal and is $45 million in debt. Televangelist Richard Roberts recently stepped down as president. Mart Green gets a spot on the university board for his generosity with money made from craft supply giant Hobby Lobby and Christian bookstore and office supply chain Mardel. He’s a member of the Assemblies of God. Forbes says Green’s net worth is $1.8 billion.

THEY SAID IT: GRISHAM

“For so long, so many Baptists have worked so hard to exclude so many.” - Best-selling author John Grisham

12 TOP EVANGELICALS IN SPORTS LIST

• Joe Gibbs - owner of champion NASCAR team, Joe Gibbs Racing, and until January 8, 2008, the head coach and team president of the Washington Redskins

• Mariano Rivera – relief pitcher for the New York Yankees who helped the team win four World Series titles throughout his career

• Derek Fisher – point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers

• Shaun Alexander – running back for the Seattle Seahawks, 2005 NFL MVP

• Allyson Felix – track and field sprinter, won three gold medals at the Outdoor World Championship in Japan in 2007

• Hunter Smith – punter for the Indianapolis Colts

• Jake Peavy – pitcher for the San Diego Padres

• Tony Dungy – coach for the Indianapolis Colts

• Curt Schilling – pitcher for the Boston Red Sox

• Tim Tebow – quarterback for the Florida Gators at the University of Florida• Michael Waltrip – driver and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing

• Zach Johnson – American golfer, won the 2007 Masters TournamentSource: beliefnet.com

MYSPACE ATHEIST SITE DELETED

mySpace has shutdown a 35,000-member site called the Atheist and Agnostic Group. At Thanksgiving this past year, hackers broke in and renamed the group's site Jesus Is Love. The site was also removed after a group of Christians organized a campaign against it.

CONTROVERSIAL PASTOR RESIGNS FROM BOARD

A controversial Oklahoma pastor has resigned as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board. Wade Burleson says he decided the board wasn’t getting anywhere and as a gesture of goodwill, he plans to shut down the blog that stirred controversy over board decisions. But board chairman John Floyd issued a statement saying the board is rejecting Burleson’s apology as less than genuine. Burleson blogged about a Baptist policy barring anyone from becoming missionaries of the group if they admitted to speaking in tongues. THE BLOG

The Game which Shall Not be Named

Churches have long used Super Bowl Sunday to bring in visitors and build fellowship among members. Some congregations embrace the day with church-sponsored Super Bowl parties and big-screen TVs. Perhaps even a talk about the Gospel at halftime. But many are scaling back in the face of legal threats from NFL lawyers.

THE NFL'S RULES
There are legal restrictions that limit TV screens to 55 inches at public viewings. There is an exception for sports bars and restaurants if they regularly broadcast sporting events - but there's no exception for churches. Presenting the game along with a message, even at halftime, is forbidden, according to the league. Plus, using the phrase Super Bowl on church fliers or on Web sites is illegal because it suggests some NFL affiliation.

OVERREACHING
An intellectual-property attorney says the NFL is exaggerating their ownership rights by saying that any use is prohibited. The Wall Street Journal quotes the lawyer, who has worked with companies like Nike, as saying “trademarked phrases as the Super Bowl are allowed free use under the First Amendment as long as it doesn't damage the brand or imply an official endorsement. And it's unlikely anyone would believe a halftime testimonial reflects an NFL position."

EXAMPLES
• A congregation of New York deaf Christians cancelled plans to broadcast the game with closed captioning after learning the league might sue them.
• The NFL directly ordered Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis to stop plans to show the game on a 12-foot-wide screen last year. This time, instead of gathering in the sanctuary, the church has planned many smaller viewing parties in the homes of Sunday School teachers.
• Louisville, Kentucky’s Southeast Christian had planned for 700 people at last year’s party but a switch to a smaller, legal screen took the number down to 400. The church is holding this year's party at a Tex-Mex restaurant.
• The Keystone Hills Baptist Church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma plans five house parties for church members. To avoid mentioning Super Bowl on the website, the church’s website: "You know the Super Sunday game we're talking about?...The one with all the expensive funny new commercials and that is usually a blowout by the 3rd quarter?...Yeah, that one."

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN
Former NFL quarterback and now Democratic congressman Heath Shuler of North says that if the league keeps pushing churches, he plans to introduce a bill that would exempt churches from the screen-size restrictions. And the civil rights group The Rutherford Institute is threatening to sue the NFL on behalf of an Alabama church.

ABORTION CLINIC RECORDS

An abortion clinic must turn over hundreds of medical records to a grand jury, according to a ruling by a Kansas judge. Dr. George Tiller tried to stop the subpoenas issued this month by the grand jury looking into whether his clinic conducted illegal late-term abortions. The grand jury investigation began when the Christian anti-abortion group Operation Rescue helped to gather enough signatures last year to call the panel into session.

NEW MORMON PREZ

Thomas Monson will be the new the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He takes over for Gordon Hinckley who died Sunday. The 80-year-old Monson was named one of the 12 apostles in 1963. His election will take place after Hinckley's funeral tomorrow. Monson has worked in every area of the church, from missionary work to welfare services, education to genealogy.

WHAT AMERICANS WANT IN A CANDIDATE

Do you view presidential candidates who cite Scripture in a positive light? Yes – 78%

Are you more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who sees the office as a privilege to serve others, with a responsibility to God?
Yes – 84% of 18-29 year-olds
Yes – 62% of 50-64 year-olds

Would you vote for a presidential candidate who does not believe in God?
No – 49%
Yes – 20%
Would not affect vote – 20%

Source: Zogby Poll

THEY SAID IT: BILL MAHER

"I think it is much more likely that there could be space ships from outer space.. than a space god flew down bodily and you know who was the Son of God and you know had sex with a Palestinian woman..." – Bill Maher on his Friday night HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher

CHOOSE LIFE PLATES UPHELD

A federal appeals court has unanimously reversed a judge's decision and ruled that the free speech rights of a nonprofit organization were violated when the state refused to issue specialty license plates with the message Choose Life. Arizona's License Plate Commission had approved plates for police and firefighter groups as well as the Wildlife Conservation Council, before turning down the Arizona Life Coalition. Just a few days ago, a federal judge ordered the state of Missouri to issue Choose Life plates. In his ruling, he said state laws were too broad in allowing license-plate messages to be rejected because of their content.

DA VINCI CODE CATHEDRAL SALE

The cathedral that served as Westminster Abbey in The Da Vinci Code movie is selling off props used in the film to raise money. The cathedral in Lincoln, England was picked after Westminster turned down an offer to take part in the screen adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling, Christian-themed mystery novel. Wall hangings and foam monuments are up for grabs until the end of March.

THE AQUARIAN GOSPEL

Hollywood is getting set to film a $20 million movie called The Aquarian Gospel. It speculates about what happened in Jesus’ life between the ages of 13 and 30. The film's producers will taut him as a wandering mystic inspired by eastern religions who travels across India, living in Buddhist monasteries. The role of Jesus will be played by several actors and some parts will be created by computer animated actors for the 2009 release.

FLORIDA GOP PRIMARY RESULTS

The Evangelical vote was split among three candidates:
Mike Huckabee 30%
Mitt Romney 30%
John McCain 28%
The Republican pro-choice vote went this way in Florida:
John McCain 43%
Mitt Romney 26%
Rudy Giuliani 20%
Source: CBS News Florida exit poll

TOP MORAL PROBLEMS

A new survey by The Barna Group asked Evangelicals whether they believe a particular one was a "major" problem facing the country. The research group says the findings show the evangelical vote is not splintering over issues such as abortion and homosexuality.

Abortion 94%
Personal Debt 81%
TV & Movie Content 79%
Homosexual lifestyles 75%
Immigration 72%
HIV/AIDS 71%
Global warming 33%

The findings were quite different when all American adults were included in the survey.

Poverty 78%
Personal Debt 78%
HIV/AIDS 76%
Immigration 60%
Global warming 57%
Abortion 50%
TV & Movie Content 45%
Homosexual lifestyles 35%
Political efforts of conservative Christians 23%

THEY SAID IT: BARACK OBAMA

"Everywhere I go across this country, I'm hearing from evangelicals who may not agree with me or progressives on every single issue, but agree that poverty has no place in a world of plenty and hate has no place in a world of believers.” - Presidential candidate Barack Obama

CS LEWIS MOVIE

The second movie based on the C.S. Lewis' seven-part book series The Chronicles of Narnia will premiere on May 16. Prince Caspian is a follow up to the Disney’s 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It grossed nearly $750 million worldwide, helped along by cultural nods like a Saturday Night Live mock hip-hop ode called Lazy Sunday or The Chronic-what?-cles of Narnia which became a viral sensation online. The new film is still a family-safe PG and being shot in New Zealand. The third installment, The Dawn Treader, is due in 2010.

MORMON PRESIDENT DIES

The president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City. Gordon Hinckley was 97 years old. He was made the 15th president of the Mormon Church in 1995. Church presidents serve until their deaths.

ROMNEY & CHRISTIANITY

A series of short videos put out by Focus on the Family (founded by James Dobson) mentions that presidential candidate Mitt Romney has "acknowledged Mormonism is not a Christian faith” - despite the fact Romney has said his church insists it is Christian. The political arm of Focus points out that Romney's campaign has not asked for a retraction. The video is posted on Focus Action Web site (citizenlink.org) which averages nearly a quarter million hits each month.

SHARK ATTACK SURVIVOR

Outspoken Christian and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton secured the best result of her professional surfing career this weekend at Roxy Pro World Qualifying Series. The 17-year-old Hawaiian, who lost her left arm to a tiger shark just over four years ago advanced to the semi-finals along with three other surfers. But her run against some of the world's top professionals came to an end at Woolamai Beach, Australia when she was eliminated after not finding any good waves in the heat. Hamilton received $2,000 for tying for third place.

MILLION DOLLAR DONATION

The Presbyterian Foundation is getting a million dollar cash donation from Mark Hostetter and Boston’s Alexander N. Habib Foundation. The money will be used to create the Donald A. Hostetter Endowment Fund that will support camp and conference outreach programs of the Presbyterian Church, USA.

MUSLIM PRAYER IN LEGISLATURE

A Muslim Imam began a session of the Iowa legislature this past week with prayer. The pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Albert City complains that his prayer included a request for “Victory over those who disbelieve". Steve Smith says that is asking God to grant the Muslims victory over every non-muslim. The invocation also asked for "protection from the great Satan" - which Smith says could be taken as a reference to the US. Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake has filed a formal complaint over the prayer.

SPORTS ANCHOR SUSPENDED

An ESPN anchor has been suspended for a week after she delivered a speech that included obscenities aimed at Notre Dame, the icon painted behind the school's football goal posts dubbed Touchdown Jesus - and Jesus himself. Dana Jacobson was booed off the stage in Atlantic City during a roast of two radio personalities who host Mike & Mike in the Morning. One of them attended the University of Notre Dame and she went to the University of Michigan. Jacobson, who co-hosts the show ESPN First Take has apologized and called her comments "foolish and insensitive".

A NEW BAPTIST COVENANT

A convocation of Baptist denominations and organizations will meet next week in Atlanta – prompted in part by former President Jimmy Carter. The Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant may draw as many as 10,000 people for the three day gathering designed to give moderates in the denomination a greater national voice. Among the speakers: Former Vice President Al Gore, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and writer John Grisham. Mike Huckabee accepted an invitation but withdrew after Carter called the Bush administration the "worst in history" in international relations. Two moderate Sothern Baptist organizations are taking part: The Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

TELEVANGELIST DIES

Former TV evangelist Vicki Peterson has died at the age of 71. She broadcast Vicki Live from Tulsa in the 70’s and 80’s. In her later years, her husband was put in jail for violating a court order to stay away from her. The order stemmed from concerns he was a threat to her safety.

CHRISTIAN SINGER DIES

Roby Duke died of a heart attack the day after Christmas. At his last concert on December 23rd in Thousand Oaks, California, the last song he sang was I Shall See God. He had planned to record a Christmas album this year with Bob Bennett. Duke was 51 years old. He was best known in Contemporary Christian music for tunes he recorded in the 80’s such as Not the Same and Come Let Us Reason.

N.I.V. TURNS 30

Zondervan will publish a special 30th anniversary edition of the New International Version of the Bible this year. The special study Bible will have thousands of revised footnotes, offer extra-wide margins for note-taking and go for about $120. The various editions of the NIV make up about 40% of the Bible market.

PAULK SENTENCED

Earl Paulk of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church has plead guilty to lying under oath. A judge sentenced him to 10 years probation and a $1,000 fine for the felony charge. The charge stems from a deposition in a civil lawsuit filed by a former church employee who says she was coerced into an affair. Paulk claimed under oath that the only woman he had ever had sex with outside of his marriage was the woman who filed the suit. But a court-ordered paternity test revealed Paulk is the biological father of his brother’s son.

MAMMAL SKULL FOR SALE

The Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum in Lubbock, Texas is selling off a prehistoric mastodon skull in order to stay in business. The facility teaches creationism and needs a big payoff from the auction of the fossil. The skull of the elephant-like mammal is about the size of a small-car and estimated to be about 40,000 years old. It’s the largest of its kind and expected to bring in at least $160,000.

PROBE OF TV MINISTRIES

Another set of letters are expected to go out from Senator Charles Grassley in his probe of Christian television ministries. The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee already put the spotlight on Creflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer Kenneth Copeland Benny Hinn and Randy and Paula White. Grassley wanted to know how they are spending their money and how they are governed. Some have not cooperated and Grassley’s new letters will be asking why. Christianity Today magazine has suggested in an editorial that the probe is overstepping the Senator’s authority while the head of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and the editor of Charisma magazine say they support Grassley’s effort.

PAULK OUT OF JAIL

Earl Paulk is out on bond after turning himself into authorities. The Atlanta megachurch leader charge that he lied under oath about having sex outside of his marriage. The pastor of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church testified in a lawsuit filed by a onetime member who accuses Paulk of manipulating her into an affair by telling her it was her only path to salvation.

“HUCK AND THE EUCHARIST”

St. Lake City’s Public radio station, KCPW, has apologized for airing a skit about presidential candidate Mike Huckabee called Huck and the Eucharist. Listeners heard it on January 7th as part of the Fair Game with Faith Salie program. Among other things, it offered a “Huckabee family recipe” called “Deep-Fried Body of Christ - boring holy wafers no more. Take one Eucharist. Preferably post transubstantiation. Deep-fry in fat, not vegetable oil, ladies, until crispy. Serve piping hot." Hundreds of angry email came in to the station.

THEY SAID IT: JK Rowling

"No one in my family was a believer. But I was very drawn to (the Christian) faith, even while doubting. I certainly had this need for something that I wasn't getting at home, so I was the one who went out looking for religion… I'm opposed to fundamentalism in any form," she says. And that includes in my own religion." - J.K.Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series.

BUSH IN THE MIDDLE EAST

While in the Middle East, President Bush is spending time at important Biblical sites. He visited Capernaum and at Sea of Galilee yesterday, where the Bible says Jesus walked on water and calmed a sudden storm. He spent time Friday at the sites of Jesus' early teaching in northern Israel and Bethlehem the day before.

ROBERTSON MAY GET INTO PRINT

Pat Robertson is thinking about buying a Virginia Beach newspaper. He’s often been critical of The Virginian-Pilot’s coverage. The daily could provide internships for journalism students at Regent University, the private Christian school he founded. The Virginian-Pilot has a circulation of more than 186,000 each week.

“SCREWBALLS & NUTS”

A district attorney candidate in Houston says people who attend Joel Osteen's megachurch in the city are "screwballs and nuts" and she tries to keep them off of juries. Republican Kelly Siegler mad the remarks about Lakewood Church when trying to explain why she cut a man from a jury pool. She also objected to his membership in the NAACP. But Siegler is backtracking now. She tells the Houston Chronicle she’s not only read Osteen’s books but considers him “genuine.”

MEGACHURCH LAWSUIT DISMISSED

A judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed against several leader of a megachurch in Nashville. The judge said the court lacks jurisdiction over the case involving the pastor of Two Rivers Baptist Church and two other staff members. The suit was filed by 75 members of the church against Jerry Sutton for allegedly failing to abide by church rules and punishing those who question his authority. Sutton and others denied the allegations. Although the suit was dismissed, the judge decided the the members were entitled to see financial documents they had been denied access to.

ORU RESIGNATIONS

Benny Hinn and I.V. Hilliard have resigned from the board of Oral Roberts University. The university has also settled with John Swails, one of the three professors who have filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the school. The suit sparked a spending scandal involving its former president, Oral Robert’s son, Richard Roberts. There’s no word on why they quit. Televangelists Jesse Duplantis and Creflo Dollar resigned from it last month. Both Hinn and Dollar are being investigated by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. He questions whether th`ey and four other ministers are violated their organizations' tax-exempt status by their extravagant lifestyle. Both deny doing anything wrong.

PENTECOSTALS AND CHARISMATICS

More Americans associate themselves with Pentecostalism and charismatics than ever before. A Barna Research survey found 36% say they fit into those categories. That’s about 80 million people and has risen from 30% a decade ago. Here are some other findings. According to the survey, Pentecostals and charismatics make up:

• 40% of all non-denominational churches are now
• 36% are Catholics
• 22% are Catholic
• 7% of Southern Baptist churches
• 6% of mainline churches

RULING ON WEARING CROSS

A court in Britain has ruled against a British Airways worker Nadia Eweida. She took the airline to court after banning her from wearing a small cross around her neck and put her on unpaid leave when she refused. But the judge in the case said it did not constitute religiously discriminated. Eweida plans to appeal the decision even though BA has changed its policy and she has returned to work.

MORE NOT ATTENDING CHURCH

A survey of adults who say “I never attend church”.

2007 - 22%
2004 - 17%

Source: National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago

THEY SAID IT: SAINTS MENTALLY ILL?

"I have a theory that you can’t find any saints anymore because of psychotropic medication. I think that (in) the old days, the saints were hearing voices and they didn’t have any Thorazine to calm them down. Now that we have all of this medication available to us, you can’t find a saint anymore. That’s why Mother Teresa had issues." - Joy Behar on The View

ROBERTSON’S PREDICTIONS

Pat Robertson says a recession and a major stock market upheaval will hit the US this year. The Christian broadcaster says oil will hit $150 a barrel in 2008. Robertson admits his prediction of a serious terrorist attack in the US did not happen this past year. But he says that was a display of God’s mercy.

BIBLE GIVEAWAY STOPPED

A Federal judge has ordered a southeastern Missouri school district to stop giving out Bibles to grade school students. The Gideons International has been handing out the Bibles to fifth graders at the South Iron School District in Annapolis for more than 30 years. But the ACLU filed suit on behalf of several parents to put a stop to the practice.

WHAT NON-CHUCHGOERS THINK

A survey of non-churchgoers who agree with these statements:

• I have at least one close friend who is Christian - 71%
• I can have a "good relationship with God without belonging to a church - 86%
• Christianity today is more about organized religion than loving God and loving people -79%
• I would "be willing to listen" to someone tell "what he or she believed about Christianity - 78%
• God, a higher or supreme being, actually exists - 72%
• The church is "full of hypocrites - 72%
• The God of the Bible is "no different from the gods or spiritual beings depicted by world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. - 61%
• Jesus died and came back to life - 52%
• Christians get on my nerves - 44%

The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points
Source: LifeWay Research, the research arm of the Southern Baptist Convention

SATANISTS ARRESTED

Two Satanists are behind bars in Phenix City, Alabama. Police say they are responsible for a series of arson and vandalism at rural churches. Graffiti like Teach children to worship Satan!! was scrawled on walls at some of the churches. The two men plead not guilty. A task force of federal, state and local authorities tracked them down when the grandmother of one of the men called police. She had found a brass cross in the home along with other items taken from churches.

THE GOSPEL OF MANAGEMENT

Villanova University's School of Business is launching a master's degree in church management in May. The courses will have a Catholic focus because as a Catholic university. The degree being offered primarily online, with only a one-week residency on campus and costs $23,400.

THE GREATEST REVOLUTIONARY

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez says he’s a devout Christian and that Jesus Christ was "the greatest revolutionary in history, for defending the poor against the powerful." The left wing leader made the comment in an interview with supermodel Naomi Campbell. She was hired by GQ magazine to interview Chavez.

SCIENCE, EVOLUTION, AND CREATIONISM

The National Academy of Sciences has released a new book intended for lay public that promotes the group’s viewpoint that acceptance of evolution does not require abandoning belief in God. Science, Evolution, and Creationism points to DNA research, fossil discoveries and emerging diseases as evidence for evolution, denouncing intelligent design as “disproven” and “false.” The book will be promoted to school board members and high school educators.

CROSS BLOCKED

Ervin Wagner’s plan to build a large cross on his property is being blocked by the St. Joseph, Michigan. The 30-foot cross would sit on property he owns located on a bluff facing Lake Michigan. Wagner wants to stream a shot of the cross over the internet but the city says it’s too big meet zoning standards.

WOMAN THROWN OFF BUS

Christine Lutz was told to get off the city bus she was riding on because she was reading the Bible aloud to her children. The Fort Worth Seventh Day Adventist was on her way to church when the bus driver made the demand.

IOWA EVANGELICALS TURNOUT

Mike Huckabee’s win in Iowa's caucuses can be credited to a turnout by Evangelicals. Entrance polls show that about 60% of Republican caucus-goers describe themselves as born-again or evangelical Christians and nearly half of them voted for Mr. Huckabee. Only 20% of them say they were going to vote for former Massachusetts Governor Romney.

FATHER FIGHTING CATHOLIC SCHOOL ORDER

A Kentucky atheist is fighting to keep his son out of a Catholic high school. When David Ryan of La Grange divorced his wife a judge ordered their son to keep attending a Catholic school. His mom is Roman Catholic. But Ryan wants his son in public school. And complained in court this week that the 8th grader will be harmed by the “indoctrination of the church school”.

“INTIMIDATION” LETTER TO CHURCHES

Some pastors in Iowa were surprised by anonymous letters they got in the mail warning them that they could be prosecuted for supporting Republican Mike Huckabee. The letters had no return address and was signed Concerned Christian, arrived before Thursday's precinct caucuses. Another letter claimed the IRS was investigating churches tha back candidates in violation of tax rules. One pastor called it “intimidation”. One letter had exaggerated punctuation and a spelling mistake.

CRUXIFIED SANTA

A Seattle-area man showed his objection to the commercialism of Christmas by nailing a Santa Claus to a 15-foot crucifix in front of his house. Bremerton resident Art Conrad also put it on his Christmas cards with the message: Santa died for your MasterCard.

CHRISTIANS ATTACKED IN INDIA

Hundreds of troops are being sent to eastern India where some 40 Christian churches and houses have been burned to the ground or ransacked by Hindus. Christian groups say the attacks were based on fears that plans for a performance to celebrate Christmas could lead to conversions.

THEY SAID IT - WILL SMITH

“98 percent of the principles [in Scientology] are identical to the principles of the Bible.” - actor Will Smith

DATING SERVICE WARS

Online dating service Chemistry.com is targeting eHarmony.com in a new ad campaign. The marketing strategy will criticize its competitor for refusing to match people of the same gender. It will also go after the evangelical Christian beliefs of founder Neil Warren. He has had several books published by James Dobson’s Focus on the Family. Earlier this year, Chemistry ran a set of ads called Rejected by eHarmony. Chemistry’s 7 million registered users are dwarfed by eHarmony’s 17 million. eHarmony dismisses Chemistry as only a casual dating site and not in the business of fostering lasting relationships. Warren has said he personally believes premarital sex can increase the likelihood of one’s marrying the wrong person.

GIVING GOING ONLINE

Catholics around Cincinnati have a new option – online giving. While it won’t replace collection baskets, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati hopes the option will increase giving to its 230 parishes. Catholic Ministries Appeal set up the funding program and takes a few cents from each dollar donated to pay for keeping the site secure.

HUCKABEE & HAGEE

Mike Huckabee’s recent visit to San Antonio’s Cornerstone church has drawn complaints from the Catholic League. They say John Hagee, pastor of the church, disparages Catholics. The one-time Baptist preacher stopped to give a special Christmas sermon. Huckabee called Hagee, who is known for his teaching on end-time prophecy, "one of the great Christian leaders of our nation."

HOLIDAY CHEER

More than 350 customers at a Seattle area Starbucks bought coffee for the people in line behind them this past week. It all started with a woman who visited the store in Marysville early in the morning. When a Starbucks employee explained the situation to the next person, that customer decided to pass the good will along. Some customers went even further, giving as much as $20 to the coffee shop. The extra money is being used for Starbucks' holiday toy drive.