Breaking Down the Vote

Barack Obama is making "significant inroads" among Christian voters, according to The Barna Group. The research group says the numbers break out this way among “born again” voters:
John McCain – 45%
Barack Obama – 43%

Evangelicals represent about 9% of likely voters. Here’s how they break down:
John McCain – 63%
Barack Obama – 23%
Undecided – 12%

Obama had only 17% of Evangelical voters in May.

Non-evangelical voters:
Barack Obama – 48%
John McCain – 41%
Undecided – 9%

Voters associated with other faiths:
Barack Obama – 74%
John McCain – 14%

Atheists and agnostics:
Barack Obama – 50%
John McCain – 28%

Church Mystery Shopper

WOAI-TV in San Antonio reports on a new way to shop for a church home.

Voting for Racial Minorities

Would you vote for a racial minority if he or she was nominated by your party?
Percentage who responded “yes”.

non-Hispanic white Americans - 84%
non-Hispanic white Americans who say the Bible should be taken literally – 75%
non-Hispanic white Americans who say the Bible should be taken literally and attend church with an all-white congregation – 69%

Source: Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion

Dobson Interview with Palin Raises Questions

An interview conducted by James Dobson on his radio program with Sarah Palin has stirred controversy. The Republican vice presidential candidate told the broadcaster John McCain opposes federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. But McCain wrote to the Science Debate 2008, "While I support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, I believe clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific progress.” Even some radio ads tout McCain’s support for the funding. FactCheck.org even included a post pointing out that Barack Obama’s ads saying McCain opposed stem cell research were wrong. The McCain campaign says it will be his views that are implemented should they win the election and not those of the vice presidential candidate.

ORU Settles Lawsuit

A legal battle over the leadership at Oral Roberts University is over. The school has cut a deal with a couple of former professors. They filed a lawsuit claiming they were let go after revealing financial improprieties on the part of then school president Richard Roberts and his wife. The scandal led to Roberts departure though he denied any wrongdoing. A $70 million donation from billionaire an Oklahoma City businessman has cut the ORU debt from more than $50 million to about $18 million.

Baptist Leader: Birth Control Pills = Murder

Thomas White says taking birth control pills is "murder of a life" He made the comments at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth earlier this month. A video showing the Baptist leader making the remarks has been making the rounds on the Internet. White is a mentor for students at the seminary.

Christians Persecuted in Iraq

Iraqi Christians who refuse to convert to Islam or leave Mosul are being told they will be killed.

Church Cuts Deal with Denomination

Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church has agreed to shell out $1.75 million to keep its building. The Tulsa, Oklahoma megachurch will pay its old parent denomination – the Presbyterian Church, USA. Kirk of the Hills is now aligned with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Warren Update

Rick Warren’s personal assistant says Jaime Warren, who is married to the megachurch pastor’s son, is doing as well as can be expected. She remains in the hospital, recovering from many hours of brain surgery. Warren gave birth to her son five weeks prematurely in August. Her father-in-law did not preach Sunday and it is not clear when Rick Warren will return to the pulpit. Read the notes he sent to the congregation here.

Bomb Scare at Christian University

A suspicious package turned up on the campus of Cedarville University near Dayton, Ohio yesterday. The uproar at the Baptist school led to a Dayton Police Bomb Squad. investigation. The package, covered in odd scribblings was found in a ministry center where the university holds a daily chapel session. It was moved to a parking lot where authorities found.. chocolates inside. It was part of a game played by students who were supposed to search for the box around campus.

Rick Warren's Family Crisis

Below are some of the notes written by Saddleback pastor Rick Warren to his congregation about his current family crisis involving his daughter-in-law :

Kay and I, and our entire family are deeply grateful for your prayers for Jaime and her battle with a brain tumor.

SATURDAY
Jaime was hospitalized for blurred vision, instability, and headaches. A CT Scan revealed a massive tumor at the base of her brain.

SUNDAY
My 25 year old daughter-in-law, Jaime, (Josh's wife) is facing her second life-threatening health crisis in less than two months. Seven weeks ago, Jaime went into labor five weeks early. They discovered the baby was in the breech position and an emergency C-section was ordered because the baby's heart rate began to drop. Cole was not breathing when he was born, and it took great skill from the medical personnel to resuscitate him.

TUESDAY
After getting 3 professional opinions on the nature of the tumor, we've moved Jaime to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The UCLA chief of neurosurgery has taken Jaime's case because of its risk and complexity.

WEDNESDAY 10 AM
Jaime was just rolled into the operating room for her 16 hour brain surgery. We now know the premature birth and emergency C-section of Cole likely saved Jaime's life. She could have died pushing in a normal delivery. What we often think is a problem (at that moment) is often a protection.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 11 pm
Hour 13 of Jaime's surgery. We are told the tumor is tangled with all of the nerves on the left side of her brain, pushing its way into the brain.

THURSDAY 6 AM
After almost 20 hours, Jaime leaves the operating room. She'll now be in recovery for several hours.

THURSDAY 10:30 AM
VERY BAD NEWS. A post-op CT Scan shows that Jaime is bleeding internally and building pressure on her brain. This is life-threatening, so doctors must go back to the operating room, reopen the wound, find the cause of the bleeding, and stop it. This will take another 4 ½ hours.

THURSDAY 3 PM
The second surgery stops two areas of internal bleeding. The doctor frankly discusses the possible long term damage.

THURSDAY 5 PM
Josh just got to see Jaime for the first time in 32 hours. It was only 30 seconds but she opened her eyes. She is on a breathing machine and can't speak but can move all four of her extremities. The next 24 hours will be extremely critical. Our family is all worn out too.I love you and I'm grateful for you.

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network

Ohio Evangelicals

CNN reports on the Evangelical vote in Ohio.

Call for IRS Investigation

IRS asked to investigate Little Rock church for involvment in politics. KLRT-TV reports.

Rick Warren's Family Tragedy

Rick Warren is asking is congregation to pray for the recovery of his daughter-in-law from multiple brain surgeries. The pastor of Southern California’s Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life says 25-year-old Jaime Warren had to have emergency surgery after a she was diagnosed with a massive life-threatening brain tumor after she was admitted for blurred vision and headaches. Warren gave birth to a son in August, when an emergency C-section might have saved her life because she “could have died pushing in a normal delivery” Warren writes. Read the notes by clicking here.

Palin on Faith

Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin tells CBN in a new interview that she's been a target because of her faith. She says:

"I think the saddest part of that is that faith, not just my faith, faith and God in general has been mocked through this campaign, and that breaks my heart, and that is unfair for others who share a faith in God and choose to worship our Lord in whatever private manner that they deem fit, and my faith has always been pretty personal."

See the video or read the full story here.

Actress' Former Boyfriend Faces Prison

Actress Anne Hathaway's former boyfriend will be sentenced this week for his involvement in a church scam that Raffaello Follieri plead guilty to cheating investors out of millions. He claimed he could he could buy Catholic property at bargain prices. Because he had family connections to the Vatican. The Italian businessman used the money on a lavish lifestyle.

Osteen's on Happiness

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria talk about her new book on achieving happiness and living a fulfilling life.

Fireproof Numbers

Fireproof fell out of the box office top ten this weekend. The faith-based drama took in about $2.7 million for a total of $20.7 million since it was released. The surprise hit could end up with $30 million.

Pastor Plays College Football in his 50's

Fox News has the story of a 51 year old college football player. Who's also a pastor.

Budgets and the Bible

Baptist Pastor Bryan Wright tells CNN why he believes the best financial advice comes from the Bible. Wright is is pastors the 7,400 plus member Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in northwest metro Atlanta.