Virginia Lutherans Leave

St. John Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Virginia is leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over it's gay clergy policy. The congregation voted 350-104 last Sunday to join the smaller Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ. A new ELCA policy, lifting a ban against active gay clergy will take effect in April.

Assisted Suicide Ruling

Montana has become the third state to legalize assisted suicide. In a 4-3 ruling, the state supreme court said there's nothing in state law to prevent patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide. Montana joins Washington and Oregon as the only states that allow it. Opponents plan to fight the decision in the Legislature.

Porn Among Kids Top Searches

Included in the top 5 most-searched terms among kids in 2009 were the words "sex" and "porn." Rounding out the top 5, according to Norton were YouTube, Google, and Facebook. Nearly a third of minor's time spent online was searching for music-related topics. TV and movies got about 12%. The information was gathered through the company's Norton Safety Minder software which tracked their behavior.

Haiti's Pact with the Devil

Pat Robertson says Haiti's earthquake stems from the country's "pact with the devil." On his 700 Club TV show today, the Christian broadcaster told viewers:

“They were under the heel of the French, uh, you know Napoleon the 3rd and whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so the Devil said, 'Okay, it's a deal.’ And, they kicked the French out, you know, with Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by, by one thing after another, desperately poor... They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God and out of this tragedy I’m optimistic something good may come. But right now we’re helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable.”

Textbook Debate

KXAN-TV in Austin takes a look at a textbook controversy over the role Christianity played in the founding of the United States.

Davey and Goliath

The man who created the television series Davey and Goliath has died. Art Clokey passed away at his home in Los Osos, California last Friday at the age of 88. Besides coming up with the stop-motion animated series for the United Lutheran Church in America, Clokey also created the popular Gumby character.

Davey and Goliath was first seen in 1960 and ended its run on TV in 1975. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gained rights to the show in a merger of Lutheran denominations. A 2003 documentary by the ELCA told the history of the show and it was brought back in 2004 for an hour-long special.

Answer to the Christmas Quiz

1. Nothing. Luke 2:13,14 tells us, "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and SAYING, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men on whom his favor rests." No where in the Bible does it say that angels sing. Of course, Scripture never says they don't either.

2. The West. Matthew 2:1,2 reads, "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." The Wise Men were in the East and they saw the star in the Western sky. Had they been traveling toward a star in the East, they would have started from somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.

3. The house.
Not the stable. Matthew 2:9-11 says, "After (the Wise Men) had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the HOUSE, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him…" By the time the Wise Men would have arrived, Mary and Joseph would have left the stable. It would have taken a while for the Wise Men to arrive. Perhaps a couple of years, since Herod killed children in Bethlehem under the age of two.

4. We don't know.
Three is the traditional number, but Scripture only tells us of three gifts.

5. Probably Spring. Luke 2:8 tells us, "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." It is unlikely they would have been living in the fields during Winter. Spring is the most likely time.

6. We don't know. Christmas cards may favor a donkey, but Scripture doesn't tell us.

7. We don't know. Christmas cards may favor a camels, but Scripture doesn't tell us.

8. Germany

9. The 4th century
Christmas Carols began in the 14th and 15th centuries. Christmas cards were first sent in the early 19th century.

10. Yes. In 4th Century AD, Nicholas showed acts of kindness and charity early in his life. He served as bishop of Myra (now
in Turkey) and was considered a saint since the 6th century.

11. The nativity scene.

12. No. But he did tell us to remember his death. "…Do this in remembrance of me" Luke 22:19.

Note: All verses from the New International Version

Palin's Serenity

A political strategist in the McCain presidential campaign says he asked Sarah Palin about how she could be so calm right after being selected as the Arizona Republican's running mate. Steve Schmidt tells 60 Minutes her response was simply "It's God's plan."

Oldest Hebrew Inscription Found

An Israeli professor says he may have found proof that older parts of the Bible were written hundreds of years before many people believe they could have been written. Gershon Galil with the University of Haifa points to an inscription on a piece of pottery from an excavation about 20 miles west of Jerusalem. Galil says the inscription is a statement about slaves, widows and orphans. Carbon-dating puts it's origins at about the 10th century BC, making it the earliest example of Hebrew writing we have today. Some scholars say parts of the Bible could not have been written that long ago because the Hebrew language did not exist at that time. But, according to Galil, the inscription suggests otherwise.

$10 Million to College

A Columbia, South Carolina pastor is giving $10 million to a college from his Power Ball winnings. Solomon Jackson Jr. who pastors New Shiloh Baptist Church, won a $260 million lottery jackpot this past summer. He attended Morris College some 30 years ago where he studied theology. Now he's giving the school the gift to pay for a new administration building, a new dormitory and various scholarships to the private, historically African-American college.

The Faith of Colt McCoy

KXAN-TV in Austin reports on the church involvement of the Texas Longhorn's quarterback who'll be playing for the college football championship tonight.

Bible Classes in Oklahoma

A state senator has proposed a bill that would allow high school students to take bible classes in Oklahoma. KOCO-TV reports.

Teacher Can't Sell Book

A New York teacher is in trouble for selling a Christian book to four students. Sixth-grade science teacher Steven Arizmendi was chastised by his superiors for selling He Came to Set the Captives Free by Rebecca Julia Brown for $5 apiece. He also loaned copies to eight other students.

Seminaries Merge

Chicago 's Moody Bible Institute and the Michigan Theological Seminary have merged to create the Moody Theological Seminary. The Plymouth Michigan campus opened less than 15 years ago has 176 enrolled students. The Moody Bible Institute operates Moody Radio and Moody Publishers.

Megachurch Raises Even More

Rick Warren says his Saddleback Church has now raised $2.5 million in six days after he appealed for funds. The magachurch pastor his congregation they were $900,000 short. The money will go toward the church's ministries which include feeding homeless families, overseas outreach and small group ministries. The church says most of the donations were small, less than $100.

Megachurch Pastor Part of Lesbian Mayor's Inauguration

Joel Osteen gave the opening prayer when Houston's new lesbian mayor was swore into office. The megachurch pastor has previously said homosexuality is not "God's best" but decided to take part in Annise Parker's inauguaration. He prayed "God, we just thank you for raising her up. We honor her today and other elected officials. We count it a joy and an honor to be here."

Bible Giveaway Stopped

Schools in Wilson County, Tennessee have agreed to stop letting the Gideons International hand out Bibles to students. The ACLU had threatened to sue. The school system will pay the ACLU's attorney fees as well.

Crimes against Churches

The Christian Security Network says there were more than 1200 crimes against churches in 2009.The Cincinnati-based firm says this includes a dozen homicides and nearly 40 violent crimes.

Passion 2010

A meeting of Christian college students in Atlanta has drawn more than 20,000 people. The 4-day Passion 2010 ends today and is part of a yearly praise and worship gathering that started in 1997 with 2000 students. Among the speakers and performers: John Piper, Andy Stanley and the David Crowder Band.

100 Years and Counting

The Gideons International is marking 102 years of giving away Bibles. The group started in 1908 and has handed out nearly one-and-a-half billion copies of Scripture. Many have gone into hotel room but also to students, military personnel, hospital patients, and prisoners. The nondenominational group is run by evangelical businessmen.

Crash the Super Bowl

Doritos plans to air three consumer-created ads during the Super Bowl. A pastor produced one of the six finalists. Erwin McManus, leads Mosaic, a church in Whittier, California. He submitted an ad in which a guy stages his own funeral so he can eat Doritos and watch football undisturbed in a casket. The three winners will be picked in online voting and get $1 million bonus each if their ads win the top three slots in USA TODAY’S annual Super Bowl Ad Meter consumer rating of ads. McManus ad is competing with entries from former football star Ed “Too Tall” Jones and rapper Flavor Flav. More info here.

Smith out of Hospital

Chuck Smith is in a rehabilitation facility. The senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California suffered a mild stroke last month. The 82-year-old played a significant role in the training of other prominent ministers, including Greg Laurie.

Hume: Tiger Conversion

Fox's Brit Hume says Tiger Woods needs to become a Christian.

The Color of Faith

Time magazine offers an article called Can Megachurches Bridge the Racial Divide? which focuses on Bill Hybels Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Community Church in Houston.

100 Foot Cross

A church northeast of Birmingham plans to raise a 100-foot cross on its property. The Hunter's Chapel Holy Church of Christ will start construction in February on the $232,000 project, and expects to be finished by June. Motorists will be able to see the cross from the future Interstate 22 near Jasper. Pastor Dale Hyche got the idea from a similar monument in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A prayer garden will be built at the foot of the cross.

Miley a UK Threat

A left-leaning UK tabloid says Miley Cyrus is an “agent of the Christian right" and is warning parents about her possible religious influence on tweens in the country following her sold out London concerts. The Independent's music critic, Simon Price, writes, “While the twiggy teenager may not look as if she’s a member of an imperialist shock-troop, in terms of exporting the conservative values of the Christian right she’s more effective than the marines." Rather than pointing to her willingness to quote the Bible and vow to remain a virgin until she’s married, Price cites as his evidence the fact that Time magazine included her on its list of 100 Most Influential People. Read the article from the Independent here.

Saddleback's Fundraising

Rick Warren asked for $900,000. He got more than twice that amount. His Southern California megachurch was running deficit and Warren presented the problem to his congregation. Saddleback members responded with an outpouring of $2.4 million. During a service this weekend, Warren had 24 parishioners rise to represent $100,000 each. The church says nearly all the gifts were individual donations of less than $1,000. More donations remain to be counted since the $2.4 million was the amount brought in by New Year's Eve. Saddleback is the nation's sixth largest church. In 2005, it raised $1.7 million for victims of Hurricane Katrina and $1.6 million in 2004 for victims of the Asian tsunami.

Warren: Goal Reached

Rick Warren says his church got what it needed. The mega-church leader had issued an urgent call for donations to his Southern California church, saying there was a $900,000 shortage in collections. More than 46,000 attended Christmas services at Saddleback Church.

Faith-based Investing

There are now several faith-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Recently launched: FaithShares Baptist Values (trading symbol: FZB), Lutheran Values (FKL), FaithShares Catholic Values Fund (FCV), Methodist Values (FMV) and Christian Values (FOC) funds. Each follow the investment guidelines of each denomination, typically avoiding pharmaceutical or hospital stocks (to stay away from abortion and contraceptives), alcohol stocks and the the pornography industry.

The largest Catholic values mutual fund is Ave Maria Catholic Values with $166 million in assets. It's up 37% this past year (the average midcap blend fund is up 36%).

There is also Dow Jones Islamic Market International Index Fund (JVS) which tries to be consistent with Islamic religious laws. With more than $14 million in assets, JVS is up more than 16% since it started this summer which is slightly behind the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index.

Atheism Under Fire

An Asheville City Councilman is under fire because he doesn't believe in God. Opponents say they may try to invoke an 1868 North Carolina law requiring public office holders to profess the Almighty. But Cecil Bothwell says his religious views are not relevant to the public office. When Bothwell took office last month, he used an oath that did not require swearing on a Bible or reference God. Raised a Presbyterian, he is now a member of the Unitarian Universalist church. Conservatives were already riled at Bothwell's book, The Prince of War, which is critical of Billy Graham, who lives in the area. Several other states have similar laws on the books including Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Maryland and Pennsylvania, though they go unenforced.

More on Dobson's New Show

We told you about James Dobson's new show in an earlier post. Here is some more of the details about the radio program. It will hit the airwaves in March and will be supported, not through Focus on the Family, but a new nonprofit organization. Dobson estimates it will cost about $2 million to keep it going during the first-year operation. Dobson will co-host the program with his 39-year-old son, Ryan. There is speculation that Dobson was forced out of Focus because of conflicts between him and current CEO and president Jim Daly but both Dobson and Daly deny these rumors. Focus’ budget dropped more than $20 million this year. There are some 600 fewer people working at the Colorado-based organization than there was in 2002.

Kidnapped at Church

Police in Statesville, North Carolina are searching for an armed man who kidnapped two women from a church and forced them to withdraw money from an ATM. He walked into the Broad Street United Methodist Church this afternoon, forced them into the car of one of the kidnap victims and later released them at a different place in town. The car was found on fire. If you have any information, call the Statesville police at 704-878-3406.

Oral Roberts

The Economist offers this profile of Oral Roberts, who passed away December 15th at the age of 91.

Dobson's New Show

James Dobson is starting a new radio show. On his Facebook page, the Focus on the Family founder says the show will be called James Dobson on the Family. He'll discuss religion, politics and family issues. Dobson officially leaves Focus on the Family and its flagship radio broadcast at the end of February. Some reports say Dobson has had conflicts with his successor, Jim Daly. The new radio show will involved his son, Ryan Dobson, who heads KOR World Ministries and has never worked for Focus on the Family.

Porn and Bribes

A lawsuit filed against Feed the Children founder Larry Jones claims he took bribes and kept hard-core pornographic magazines among other things. The suit comes in response to Jones wrongful-termination lawsuit against Feed The Children. The board fired him after he admitting placing hidden microphones around the office. Jones denies the charges made in the countersuit and says the pornography was for research.

Purpose Driven Fundraiser

Rick Warren is trying to raise nearly $1 million in two days. The Southern California mega-pastor is trying to make up for a shortfall in donations. In a letter to the Saddleback congregation, Warren says the church is $900,000 in the red for the year.

Top 10 News Stories of the Decade

Christianity Today's Top 10 News Stories of the Decade

January 2001: President Bush launches his faith-based initiative.

September 2001: NYC terror attacks prompt intense reflection on Christian-Muslim relations.

March 2003: U.S. invasion of Iraq prompts debate on just war and Muslim extremists' retaliation against Mideast Christians.

August 2003: Gene Robinson, who is in a same-sex relationship, is confirmed as an Episcopal bishop.

February 2004: Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ shocks observers by earning more than $600 million.

November 2004: "Values voter" analysis draws more attention to U.S. evangelicals as a voting bloc.

December 2004: A Southeast Asian tsunami, followed by Hurricane Katrina, mobilizes unprecedented compassion efforts.

April 2005: Rick Warren launches PEACE Plan, targeting global poverty, HIV/AIDS, and other ills.

April 2007: Supreme Court upholds partial-birth abortion ban, the first national restriction since Roe v. Wade.

August 2007: Taliban takes Korean missionaries hostage, igniting debate on short-term missions.

Birth Mom Must Give Up Child

A Vermont judge has ordered a mother of a 7-year-old girl to give custody of the child to the woman's former lesbian partner. Lisa Miller of Winchester, Virginia must turn over her daughter to Janet Jenkins. The two where joined in a Vermont civil union in 2000 but the couple ended their relationship in 2003 and Miller became an evangelical, renouncing her past lesbian associations. The judge gave custody to Jenkins when Miller refused to allow Jenkins access to the child.

Top 10 News Stories of 2009

Christianity Today's Top 10 News Stories of 2009.

1. The Great Recession reduces missionary sending and closes hundreds of Christian schools as layoffs hit World Vision, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Focus on the Family, Asbury Seminary, CT, and many other ministries.

2. Orthodox Anglicans launch a North American province as the Episcopal Church drops its moratoria on gay clergy and same-sex unions. The ELCA narrowly approves clergy in same-sex relationships, prompting conservative Lutherans to create a rival body. Methodistsand Presbyterians maintain their bans.

3. Religious groups agitate for health-care reform. Pro-life Democrats and Republicans in the House surprisingly succeed at adding a ban on taxpayer-funded abortions to the House reform bill, largely thanks to Catholic clergy's lobbying.

4. The Obama administration permits federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research and overseas groups that promote abortion, while cutting funds for abstinence-only education.

5. Deadly Gojra riots in August prompt a government examination, and fresh international criticism, of Pakistan's notoriously abused blasphemy laws.

6. Swine flu causes Christian churches worldwide to modify services. Egypt slaughters all pigs, devastating the livelihood of its Christian minority.

7. Multisite churches and video-venue campuses evolve from megachurch experiment to near-default option as large congregations expand.

8. Zondervan discontinues the controversial TNIV and announces that an updated NIV translation will debut in 2011.

9. Gaza war hinders reconciliation efforts between Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians. Believers continue to flee Iraq; Somalia's Christians almost entirely vanish.

10. Hispanic evangelical leaders debate boycotting the 2010 Census as a way to call attention to immigration reform. Meanwhile, the National Association of Evangelicals and other groups prepare for the immigration debate to reignite in 2010.

Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls are coming to Milwaukee. WTMJ-TV reports.

Chuck Smith Hospitalized

Chuck Smith has suffered a stroke and has been hospitalized. The 82-year-old senior pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California is expected to recover, as medical officials call it a "minor" stroke.

Church Fight

KOAT-TV reports on an altercation at a church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

No Church for Obamas

The First Family did not to attend Christmas Eve church services. And it is not clear where they would have gone if they had decided to join a congregation for the evening. They have attended three churches so far this year without joining any of them. This includes St. John's Episcopal Church close to the White House, the predominantly African-American 19th Street Baptist Church, and Evergreen Chapel, the nondenominational (and private) church at Camp David. The Bush family spent eight straight Christmases at Camp David while the Clintons often took in midnight mass at the Washington National Cathedral.

As a child, Obama occasionally attended Sunday school classes at the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, where his family held a memorial service for his grandmother.

Deadly Nativity Scene

A truck crashes into a nativity scene, killing one person in Ohio. Here's a video report.

Former Klansman Ordained in Black Church

A former imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan is now an ordained minister in the largest black denomination in America. Johnny Lee Clary is part of the Church of God in Christ and lives in Miami, Oklahoma. Clary's father committed suicide when he was 11 years old and his alcoholic mother sent him to live with his drug-dealing aunt in California. For protection from gangs, he joined the KKK Youth Corps and eventually became the youngest leader of the Oklahoma Klan. He earned money by wrestling under the named Johnny Angel while openly supporting the Klan on shows like Oprah. But he quit in 1989. Not able to hold a job because of his history, Clary decided to kill himself as his father had done but picked up a Bible first. Before the night was over, Clary says he made a decision to follow Christ. Hear more of his story in this video.

CS Lewis College

The C.S. Lewis College is now scheduled to open in 2012. Oklahoma City-based retailer Hobby Lobby plans to start the Christian-oriented liberal arts college in Massachusetts on one of the campuses of Northfield Mount Hermon School. The retail chain has purchased 217 acres for$100,000 in cash. It will invest $5 million to renovate the property and let the C.S. Lewis Foundation set up its first college at the site under terms of the deal valued at $20 million. Read more here

Evangelist in Plane Crash

The son of evangelist Luis Palau was among the passengers on board the flight that skidded off a runway and crashed in Jamaica. Andrew Palau and his family suffered minor injuries when the plane broke in the three pieces. They escaped by jumping on a wing and then the wet sandy beach the plane came to rest on. They lost all of their documentation and belongings.

Was Jesus Wealthy?

A CNN article on the prosperity gospel here.

Singer Dies in Wreck

Christian singer Derek Loux was killed in a one vehicle accident in Nebraska. He lost control of his SUV on an interstate near Cozad. His 2007 CD was entitled Paper Religion. He lived in Kansas City and leaves behind his wife, Renee, five girls adopted from the Marshall Islands and three adopted boys with special needs from Ukraine. The couple already had two daughters. The family asks for prayer here.

Fewer Christians, More Nonreligious

More than three-of-four Americans (78%) say they are Christians while about one-in-ten (13%) say they have no religion. That's according to a new Gallup poll. The number saying they have no religious affiliation is the highest ever for the yearly survey. In 1948, more than nine-out-of -ten Americans described themselves as Christians (91%). Only 2% said they had no religious identity. Read more about the survey here.

Scam at 2 Large Churches

Police are looking for whoever bought thousands of dollars of cell phones in the names of two Raleigh, North Carolina area churches. Someone posing as a member of First Baptist Church of Smithfield and Centenary United Methodist Church ordered the mobile phones from Sprint. When they arrived at First Baptist, someone intercepted the paackages, but Centenary got to its package before the scammer did.

Fake Christian School

US immigration officials have arrested a Southern California pastor for alledgedly charging internationals as much as $10,000 to help them get visas based on their agreement to attend his Christian university in Fullerton. Samuel Chai Cho Oh is accused of giving out phony diplomas at a fake graduation ceremony on a campus of California Union University where only a handful of the 300 students ever attended classes.

Texas Christmas in Iraq

Dad Sees Nativity play through video stream to Iraq. KTBC-TV in Austin reports.

Jesus' Era Dwelling Found

Here's a video report on the discovery of a house in Nazareth from Jesus' Time . More on the story here.

Nativity Display Returns

After being told to take down a nativity scene, a fire station in South Carolina has put it back up - along with other holiday decorations.The Charleston Fire Department had the station add Santa, a menorah, Kwanzaa Kinara, elves and reindeer. The Freedom From Religion Foundation had threatened to sue if the nativity scene remained by itself.

Controversial Contraceptive Ads

The group behind new radio and TV ads are being accused of misleading Catholics. WLUK-TV in Green Bay reports.

Oral Roberts Memorial

Some 4000 people attended the memorial service for Oral Roberts at the school he founded. He died in California at the age of 91 and was buried Monday. A video that told the Oral Roberts story included messages from President Jimmy Carter, Jerry Lewis, Roy Clark, and President George H.W. Bush.

More on Sheppard Resignation

Paul Sheppard, who resigned Sunday as senior pastor of a San Francisco-area megachurch, sent a letter to church members which was read by an associate pastor during the service. According to some reports, he admitted to an affair in the letter and asked for forgiveness while others say he only confessed to a "moral failure" offering no specifics. Wayne Jackson will serve as interim pastor as indicated on the church's Web site.

He became senior pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in 1989 when he started the congregation with just 34 people. Abundant Life now has more than 6000 members. His radio program, Enduring Truth, is heard on more than 500 radio stations. The Salem Radio Network has already removed his broadcasts from OnePlace.com. Sheppard serves on the board of the National Religious Broadcasters and has spoken at Promise Keepers rallies. A native of Philadelphia, Sheppard studied at the University of Pennsylvania, the Center for Urban Theological Studies, and the Southern California School of Ministry. He holds a Master’s degree in Ministry and a Doctorate of Divinity. His latest book is called Build A Bridge And Get Over It!

Read more at the church's Web site here.

Baby Jesus Stolen

KGO-TV in San Francisco reports on a baby Jesus stolen from a nativity scene, found in a street.

Priest Wins at Poker

A South Carolina priest picked up $100,000 for his church in a poker tournament. Andrew Trapp of St. Michael Catholic Church won the money in the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge which will be televised this weekend. He says the winning will go toward building a new facility about 10 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach. Aiken started learing Texas Hold'Em while attending seminary. A retired New York Police detective won the tourney's top price of a million dollars.

Pastor Resigns

A Southern California megachurch pastor has resigned after admiting to "moral failure" in a letter to church elders. Paul Sheppard has been with Abundant Life Christian Fellowship for 20 years. The church has four services with more than 1,000 people. Sheppard's Enduring Truth radio show airs on hundreds of radio stations. Read more at the church's Web site here.

Most Religious States

The South is the U.S. most religious region of the country and Mississippi is the America's most religious state. That's according to a Pew Forum study. Eighty-two percent of Mississipians say religion is important to their lives. Alabama and Arkansas are at 74%, then Louisiana with 72%, Tennessee 71% and South Carolina 70%.

At the other end is New Hampshire and Vermont, each at 36%, Alaska 37% and Massachusetts 40%. New England is the least religious region. That title used to go the Pacific Northwest but religion in the region is rising. Oregon is at 46% and Washington State is at 48%.

As for church attendance, Mississippians again leads the pack with 60% saying they attend at least once a week. Utah is second 57% and South Carolina third 54%. The least number of church-goers are in Alaska with 22%. New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine are at 23%.

Read more here.

Christmas Crook Hits Church

The community of Violet, Louisiana is rallying to replace gifts that were stolen from a church's toy give-away program. Here's a video report.

Oral Remembered

KOTV in Tulsa has an interview with Richard Roberts about his father, Oral Roberts, who died last week.

Top Religion Stories

A survey of more than 100 religion journalists found these to be the top stories of 2009:

1. Barack Obama's June speech in which he pledged a new beginning in Muslim-U.S. relations during a visit to Cairo.

2. Health care reform and the role of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other faith groups played in shaping the debate.

3. Because Maj. Nidal Hasan, the accused gunman in the Fort Hood massacre, was considered a devout Muslim, the role of that faith in terrorism again comes under review; some fear a backlash.

4. Dr. Carl Tiller, regarded as the country’s leading abortion doctor, is gunned down while ushering in his Wichita Lutheran church. Scott Roeder, charged with his murder, is described as a man suffering from delusions and professing radical religious beliefs.

5. Mormons in California come under attack from some supporters of gay rights because of their lobbying efforts in the November 2008 election on behalf of Prop. 8, which outlawed gay marriage. Later in the year, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire approve gay marriage, but it is overturned by voters in Maine.

6. President Obama receives an honorary degree and gives the commencement speech at Notre Dame after fierce debates at the Roman Catholic university over Obama's views on abortion.

7. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America votes to ordain gay and lesbian clergy who are in a committed monogamous relationship, leading a number of conservative churches -- known as the Coalition for Renewal -- to move toward forming a new denomination.

8. The recession forces cutbacks at a great variety of faith-related organizations -- houses of worship, relief agencies, colleges and seminaries, publishing houses.

9. The Episcopal Church Triennial Convention votes to end a moratorium on installing gay bishops, ignoring a request from the archbishop of Canterbury. At year’s end Los Angeles chooses a lesbian, Mary Glasspool, as assistant bishop. Earlier, an elected bishop in Upper Michigan, Kevin Thew Forrester, is rejected because of his extreme liberal views.

10. President Obama’s inauguration includes a controversial invocation by Rick Warren and a controversial benediction by Joseph Lowery, as well as a pre-ceremony prayer by gay Bishop Gene Robinson.

Source: Religion Newswriters Association

Warren: Newsmaker of Year

California megachurch pastor Rick Warren is the 2009 Religion Newsmaker of the Year for the Religion Newswriters Association.

House Dates to Jesus' Time

Archaeologists in Israel say they've found what could have been the home of a neighbor of Jesus during his childhood in Nazareth. It's the first uncovered from that period of time. The Israel Antiquities Authority discovered a water system, courtyard, clay vessels, and parts of a wall. It's near the Basilica of the Annunciation. Builders unearthed it while working on a new Christian center.

Commandments Removed

Officials in a Ohio town have given up on fighting a lawsuit filed against them to get the removal of the Ten Commandments from a public building. WLWT-TV has this video report.

Controversial Christmas Display

WNAC-TV in Providence discusses a controversial nativity scene of Jesus with a shot gun.

TV Show Pays Big Salaries

Freda Crews' Bible Study Time television and radio programs are paying her family nearly a million dollars a year. She gets a salary of $370,000 from the South Carolina nonprofit. Her husband received $416,000 a year until he died after a fall at the age of 75. Both a son and grandson are on the payroll. Freda Crews is seen on the TV show Time for Hope and William Crews appeared on The Awakening Hour before his death.

Senate Prayer "Crossed the Line"

Oklahom Senator Tom Coburn proposed a prayer on the Senate floor yesterday regarding the health care bill. Coburn said, "What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight. That's what they ought to pray." Many assumed he was referring to 92-year-old Robert Byrd. The West Virginia senator has often been in the hospital or too ill to join other Senators. Byrd would have a difficult time getting out in the heavy snow to vote which would leave Democrats short of the 60 they need to pass the meaures. Senator Dick Durbin, the number-two Democratic leader, went to the floor to complain about about the prayer, saying, "When it reaches a point where we're praying, asking people to pray, that senators wouldn't be able to answer the roll call, I think it has crossed the line."

Charity Starts at the Top

The Charlotte Observer takes an indepth look at the "loose rules and scant oversight" that allows "nonprofits pay huge salaries" in the Carolinas. Read the story here.

Church Takes "Gay-affirming Stance"

"Evangelical church opens doors fully to gays" according to this Associated Press article . Read it here.

Disturbance in Church

St. Louis' KFUO-AM took a church service off-the-air this morning when someone collapsed in the congregation. The board operator thought he heard swearing but it was apparently confusing over the woman who fainted at the Blessed Savior Lutheran Church in Florissant.

No Charges in Pastor Shooting

The officers who shot and killed a Georgia baptist pastor in a botched drug sting three months ago have been cleared. WAGA-TV in Atlanta has this report.

Decade's #1

MercyMe is the #1 Christian Songs Artist of the Decade, according to Billboard. The group's song Word Of God Speak is also the #1 Song of The Decade for Christian music. The group is also earns an additional #1 in the Christian AC Song Artist of The Decade category. MercyMe has 22 #1 songs.

Osteen on CNN

Larry King talks to mega-preacher Joel Osteen on whether prosperity gospel played a role in the economic collapse.

Scandal Down Under

Mercy Ministries has closed its doors in Australia following a recent scandal. Seven former Mercy Australia leaders admitted to deceiving young women who came to them for help at two homes there, agreeing to pay some $100,000 to them for saying the program was free and then requiring government support checks. Mercy Australia also told the women they would be provided counseling which failed to materialize. The songwriter penned Shout to the Lord, Darlene Zschech, started Mercy Australia. The group operates similar homes, where care is free, in Sacramento, California and Monroe, Louisiana, Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri. The U.S. organization is based in Nashville which was not involved in the recent agreement.

Athletes & Religion

A new book called Onward Christian Athletes explores religion on the athletic field. Religion writer Tom Krattenmaker especially focuses on the influence of evangelical Christian groups in locker rooms. Krattenmaker goes back to the days of baseball pioneer Branch Rickey who helped to found the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He includes information on Athletes in Action as well and writes, "The conservative Christians got their upper hand in the sports world the old fashioned way. They earned it.'' However, he does encourage pro athletes to be more sensitive in their tone and timing of when they discuss their faith.

Sex Offender Can Go to Church

A North Carolina judge says a sex offender can't be stopped from attending church as part of his punishment. A state law limits their ability to be in places where there are children present. The issue went to court after police arrested registered sex offender James Nichols this year for attending a Baptist church near Raleigh.

Bible Manuscript: Forgery

A copy of the Gospel of Mark thought to be some 700 years old is a complete fake. The University of Chicago bought the handwritten, hand-illustrated manuscript of the during the 1930s. Scholars say the forgery was revealed by advanced dating techniques.

$30 Million for Center

St. Louis' Washington University will create a religion and politics center with a $30 million donation. The gift comes from the Danforth Foundation. The private school has no religious affiliation.

Pageant Death

A Cincinnati church will continue it's Christmas pageant despite a woman's death in the show last year. WLWT-TV reports.

Ministry in Trouble

The ministry of evangelist Rod Parsley is "in jeopardy" according to a Web post on the site of World Harvest Church. However, officials at the Ohio-based ministry say there are no plans to shut down any time soon. Parsley is pleading for money, saying there is a "demonically inspired financial attack" and that he faces an "unavoidable deadline" at the end of the year. World Harvest Church says there is a $3 million short fall despite cutting nearly a third out of the budget .

The church recently paid a family $3 million because a toddler was left with welts and abrasions from a spanking at the church day-care. The family is accusing Parsley of refusing to meet with them and complains the church did not apologize.

High-Efficiency Evangelism

USA Today's front page story is titled Multi-site churches: A new variety of religious experience. Read it here.

Secular Display Approved

A winter solstice display must be placed on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol alongside a nativity scene. That's the ruling of a federal judge. The Arkansas Society of Freethinkers took the issue to court when its tribute to Albert Einstein and Bill Gates was rejected.

Bible Reading Nixed

A New Jersey teacher told a student not to read her Bible during "quiet time" when other reading materials are acceptable. WNYW-TV reports.

Put Away the Bible

A New Jersey elementary student was told to quit reading the Bible during the class "quiet time." Michelle Jordat of Old Bridge says her third-grader cried but later the principal apologized. Jordat says she was told the teacher at Madison Park Elementary School was wrong because school policy allows children to read any material of their choosing during quiet time.

Toys But No Manger

One Indiana courthouse doesn't have a nativity scene on it's lawn but you will find marching soldiers, a dinosaur and even the Loch Ness monster. Howard County Commissioners decided to let anyone put items on the lawn to avoid complains from civil liberties groups about religious displays on public property. A request has been made to put a nativity scene on the courthouse grounds but so far no one has done so.

Oral Roberts Dies

Evangelist Oral Roberts has died at the age of 91. He had been hospitalized after a fall over the weekend at his California home. He died of complications from pneumonia. He founded Oral Roberts University in 1963.

Kicked Out for Jesus' Drawing

An elementary school student was sent home from school for drawing an image of Jesus on the cross. School officials in Tauton, Massachusetts required the eight-year-old to undergo a psychological evaluation before returning. His teacher at Maxham Elementary School had told the class to draw something that reminded them of Christmas. His father says the the incident so upset the boy that he has requested a transfer to another school.

Atheist Bus Signs

Freedom From Religion has started a holiday campaign in Seattle, putting signs on the sides of city buses that read, "Yes, Virginia ... There is no God."

Poster Called Blasphemous

A census poster is stirring controversy. It's part of a campaign linking the government count to events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The National Association of Latino Elected Officials is giving the posters to thousands of churches and pastors. It reads, "This is how Jesus was born. Joseph and Mary participated in the Census." Most of the posters are in Spanish to target Latino evangelicals. The National Coalition of Latino Clergy is encouraging a boycott of the Census - unless Congress changes immigration laws. Miguel Rivera, chairman of the group, calls the poster "blasphemous."

Roberts Hospitalized

Oral Roberts is in a California hospital after a fall on Saturday. The 91-year-old televangelist is in stable condition, suffering from broken bones and pneumonia. He founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His son, Richard, resigned as president after a financial scandal in which he denied any wrongdoing.

Abortion Video

An activist group is accusing Planned Parenthood of lying about what it does - and the group claims to have a video to support the claim. WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee reports.

Obama Shirt

Custon t-shirt and clothing seller Zazzle has taken down shirts that were being sold that say, Pray for Obama Psalm 109:8. The t-shirt sounds innocent enough until you look up the verse.

"May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership."

The online company says it has a policy not to sell merchandise that threatens the president.

Looking Back... Top Religion Stories of 2008

1. The Evangelical Role in Election 2008

2. California’s Same-sex Marriage Ban

3. Christians Killed in India

4. Episcopalian and Anglican Schisms

5. Christians Flee Iraq and Gaza

6. The Pastors of Presidential Candidates

7. Global Economic Woes

8. Muslim and Christian Dialogues

9. Charismatic Divisions over Todd Bentley’s Florida Revival

10. Issues Raised by Raids at Texas Polygamist Compound


Source: Christianity Today

Graham on CNN

Franklin Graham discusses President Obama's Nobel speech, Islam, and Sarah Palin with CNN.

Chinese Christians

Associated Press offers a detailed reports on a China's crackdown on Christian churches here.

The Pastor who can't be killed

An African pastor who was severely injured in terrorist attack that killed an American missionary is now in the U.S. for treatment. KTRK-TV in Houston has this report.