Radio Station Sale Goes Through

The only classical music station in St. Louis will soon blast contemporary Christian music. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is selling KFUO-FM (Classic 99.1) to Christian music broadcaster Joy FM for $26 million. Classical music enthusiasts have been fighting the move for a year, trying to get the FCC to block the sale but the agency has approved the sale.

Graham Prays at Pentagon Anyway

Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon today after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted Muslims.

Abortion Bill Veto Sticks

Lawmakers in Kansas failed to override the governor's veto of a bill to tighten restrictions on late-term abortions. Kansas no longer has a clinic known to perform abortions in the final trimester since the murder of physician George Tiller last year.

Poll on Prayer

A new poll find 92% of Americans say there is a God and 83% say he answers prayers. The USA TODAY/Gallup Poll 57% approve of the National Day of Prayer while only 4.5% opposed it.

Suit to Stop Graduation at Church

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the Enfield, Connecticut public schools from holding graduation ceremonies in a church. They filed the suit on behalf of two high school seniors and three of their parents. The ceremony has been held at the First Cathedral a few miles south in Bloomfield.

Gay Pastor to Stay

The Lutheran Church plans to reinstate a gay pastor in Atlanta. WAGA-TV offers this video report.

Women Addicted to Porn

Kansas megachurch offers counseling for women addicted to pornography. The New York Times offers a profile here.

Dobson Switches Endorsment

James Dobson has switched his endorcement in Kentucky's Senate race. He's calling on voters to support tea party favorite Rand Paul after first endorsing Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Dobson says he was misled by Republican leaders as to each candidate's positions. Dobson says he was told Paul was not opposed to abortion though both candidates have expressed anti-abortion positions. While Paul has the backing of Sarah Palin and one-time presidential candidate Steve Forbes while former Vice President Dick Cheney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has endorsed Grayson.

Praying for Obama's Death

There are calls for Facebook to shut down a group that's being accused of "praying" for the death of President Barack Obama. The group has more than 1 million members. There are fake photos showing, for instance, the president against a communist flag and a cartoon associating Obama to Hitler. Its location is listed as Marysville, OH, 43040.

The group is called, "DEAR LORD, THIS YEAR YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTOR, PATRICK SWAYZIE. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTRESS, FARAH FAWCETT. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE SINGER, MICHAEL JACKSON. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS BARACK OBAMA. AMEN."

Another group is calling itself "Petition to remove Facebook group praying for President Obama's death," is denouncing the anti-Obama group and advocate for its removal. This group has more than 650,000 members.

National Day of Prayer

The 59th annual National Day of Prayer is next Thursday, May 6th. A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled this month that the day is a call to religious action and deemed it unconstitutional. The ruling can't take effect until all appeals are exhausted. Congress first established a National Prayer Day in 1952. In 1988, lawmakers set the first Thursday in May as the official day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.

Racist Remark from 1st Baptist, Dallas

The First Baptist Church of Dallas is apologizing for an ethnic slur made by the interim president of Criswell College Sunday that was heard over the radio on KCBI-FM. Lamar Cooper was about to teach a Sunday school class when he could be heard using the word wetbacks while talking about the controversial illegal-immigration law in Arizona. The church has received many complaints Cooper will apologize during next Sunday's class but it will not be broadcast as the remark was.

Complaint of Prayer at Public School

The Freedom From Religion Foundation claims the band director at Oxford High School in Oxford, Alabama is illegally leading his symphonic band class in prayer. School officials say that's not happening. The group also charges the instructor has threatened to fail students who don't attend a concert taking place at local Baptist church. The school's principal says the concert was not mandatory and only students lead prayers.

The Next Southern Baptist President

3 pastors are likely to vie for the Southern Baptist presidency when the convention meets in Orlando during June. The three are:

• Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida
• Bryant Wright, senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia
• Jimmy Jackson, president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention

The three will be competing for the position now held by Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia.

Abortion Measure Passed in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Senate has voted to override the Governor vetoes of two anti-abortion measures. KWTV reports.

High Court: Cross Staysc

The Supreme Court says the a cross in the Mojave desert on public land can stay. It was put there 1934 to honor fallen soldiers. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said the 1st Amendment called for a middle-ground "policy of accommodation" toward religious displays on public land, not a strict separation of church and state. The justices split 5-4. Roberts and Alito joined Kennedy's opinion. Scalia and Thomas agreed but has different reasoning. Retiring Justice John Paul Stevens spoke for the dissenters saying The government should "avoid endorsement of a particular religious view." Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Breyer agreed.

Christian Singer Comes Out

A San Diego megachurch pastor confronts singer Jennifer Knapp on CNN's Larry King about her decision to "come out of the closet."

Most 'Millennials' don't Pray, Read Bible or Attend Church

Most Americans between the ages of 19 and 30 say they are Christians but seldom pray, read the Bible or go to church. That's the finding of a new survey conducted by LifeWay. The researchers estimate that no more than 15% of the 80 million young adults known as "Millennials" have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

31% pray at least once a day
20% say they never pray
67% say they rarely or never read any sacred writings
8% say they read the Bible every day
25% attend religious services at least once a week
75% rarely or never attend a house of worship

Read more here.

Noah's Ark Discovered?

A group of Evangelicals from Turkey and China claim to have found what's left of Noah's ark. The 15 member team from Noah's Ark Ministries International says it recovered pieces of wood from a structure on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. They say carbon dating suggests the specimens are about 4800 years old, near the time the ark is said to have been afloat.

Graham Meets Obama

President Obama met and prayed with Billy Graham today at Graham's North Carolina home. They met for a half-hour along with Graham's son, Franklin. The Army recently decided to not have Franklin speak at a Pentagon prayer service because of his comments about Islam. The evangelist gave Obama a Bible for himself and one for the first lady.

Abortion Bills Vetoed

Oklahoma's governor has vetoed two abortion bills. One proposed law would have required women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound and hear information about the fetus. State lawmakers are considering a vote to override the veto. The other bill would have stopped pregnant women from seeking damages from doctors who withhold information about a potentially disabled fetus.

Beckto Speak to Liberty

Fox News commentator Glenn Beck will deliver the commencement address at Liberty University's May 15 graduation. Falwell did not address why he was allowing a member of what many at his school consider a cult to give the address. Beck is a Mormon. The baccalaureate address will be delivered by the president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Paige Patterson.

Conflict over Bible Verse

A Bible verse painted on a fence is stirring controversy. KSAZ-TV in Phoenix reports.

Graham Dropped as Speaker

The son of evangelist Billy Graham has been removed as a speaker at a Pentagon event related to the National Day of Prayer because of his remarks on Islam. CNN offers this video report.

Dove Winners

Casting Crowns has won the artist of year at the 41st annual Dove Awards. Producer and songwriter Jason Ingram took four awards including producer of the year for their work on Tenth Avenue North's Over And Underneath and song of the year for the band's By Your Side. NEEDTOBREATHE earned three Doves for group of the year, rock/contemporary album of the year for The Outsiders and rock/contemporary song of the year for Lay 'Em Down. Brandon Heath won male vocalist of the year for the second consecutive time. Francesca Battistelli was picked as female vocalist of the year. Jennie Lee Riddle also won two Doves, including songwriter of the year.

Band Makes History

MercyMe's now has the first Christian song to go platinum in the digital domain. The single I Can Only Imagine recently surpassed 1 million digital downloads. The song was written by lead singer Bart Millard as his father was suffering from terminal cancer. Besides topping the Christian radio charts, it hit #4 on the mainstream Adult Contemporary charts and entered teh top 25 on Pop/CHR and Hot AC charts.

Pope Meets Victims

Pope Benedict says he'll take action on the sexual abuse scandal. His comments came after meeting with victims, saying he was "greatly moved." There have been 100s of allegations of abuse by Catholic clergy in the U.S., Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany.

Billy Graham Library Reopens

Evangelist Billy Graham makes his first public appearance in years while attending the re-opening of his library.

Dobson in Politics

James Dobson is endorsing Dan Coats candidacy for a seat in the US Senate in radio ads. The Focus on the Family founder has been friends with the Indianan Republican for a long time. Dobson stresses that his endorsement is personal and not on behalf of any organization. Coats hoping to take the slot being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Evan Bayh. Meanwhile, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is backing Coats’s main challenger, John Hostettler. The primary will be held May 4th and the winner faces Democrat Brad Ellsworth in November.

High Court on Campus Rules

The Supreme Court heard arguments today in the case of a Christian group denied recognition on a college campus because gays and nonbelievers are excluded from membership. The University of California, Hastings College of the Law, denied recognition to the Christian Legal Society because it does not conform to the school's policy that membership should be open to all. Liberal justices suggested if the group was allowed to ban gays from membership, then women, minorities or those with disabilities could be kept out. But conservative Justice Antonin Scalia wanted to know whether a campus Republican club must admit Democrats or whether a Christian group must allow atheists to join and even conduct Bible classes. Scalia said "That's crazy" and the courtroom erupted in laughter. A decision from the high court could be made by the end of June.

Sea of Galilee Ban

Israel has stopped all fishing in the Sea of Galilee for two years. This is the first known ban on the practice dating back to when Jesus and his disciples fished those same waters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says fish stocks in the freshwater northern Israel lake have fallen dramatically in recent years. Israel's agriculture ministry blames the drop on overfishing and the use of illegal nets that trap young fish.

The Outlaw Larry Norman

A documentary about Larry Norman will finally see the light of day. The Jesus Music pioneer recorded several albums in the early 70's that impacted many later Contemporary Christian musicians. The film called Fallen Angel: the Outlaw Larry Norman has suffered from legal delays as Norman's family tried to block its release. They eventually settled out of court. The film will be shown this coming Tuesday in Nashville (click here for more info). It suggests Norman cheated partners out of music royalties and fathered a child out of wedlock. Norman's family denies several claims in the film. N0rman died in 2008 at the age of 60.

Day of Prayer Struck Down

A federal judge in Wisconsin says the National Day of Prayer violates the constitutional ban on government-backed religion. Judge Barbara Crabb struck down the federal statute today. Defendants in the case, President Obama and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will be able to exhaust their appeal before the injunction against the 1952 law that created the National Day of Prayer takes effect. The Obama administration says Obama intends to recognize this year's National Day of Prayer on May 6.

Seminary Prof Resigns over Evolution Dispute

An Old Testament scholar was forced to resign from his position at Reformed Theological Seminary after endorsing evolution. Bruce K. Waltke was a professor at the Florida school until he posted a video on his blog. It's carried by the BioLogos Foundation, an organization promoting harmony between science and theology. Waltkes says he stands beside what he said on the video but also believes in "in the inerrancy of Scripture." Here's more on the story from USA Today.

Philosopher Dies

British Philosopher Antony Flew has died at the age of 87. He spent most of his life denying the existence of God but dramatically renounced his atheism in 2004. This shocked many of his admirers. He had long been regarded as one of their foremost champions of nonbelievers. Yet Flew's "conversion" did not included a belief in the afterlife, good and evil or divine intervention in human affairs. He was especially known for his work on the eighteenth-century philosopher David Hume and on the philosophy of religion. His paper Theology and Falsification was one of the most frequently-quoted philosophical publication of the second half of the 20th century.

Christian Singer Says She's Gay

Christian singer Jennifer Knapp says she's a lesbian. She's been out of the music spotlight for 7 years but plans a return. The 36-year-old, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter has a new album coming out on May 11 called Letting Go. The songs are mainstream, rather than Christian-oriented. Her last album was the 2001 The Way I Am release. Knapp says she still considers herself a “person of faith” and has not turned her back on the church.

Missionary Killed

A Southern Baptist student missionary has died in Mozambique. 21-year-old Jeremiah Johnson was killed yesterday in a motorcycle accident and his passenger was injured. Johnson was a member of Royal Palms Baptist Church in Phoenix and a student at Glendale Community College.

Former TBN Pastor Sentenced

A former TBN pastor got only 5 years probation for injuring a man on his way to the headquarters of the Trinity Broadcasting Company in Costa Mesa. Stephen Eugene Galiher was driving over 85 miles per hour and three times over the legal drinking limit almost one year ago when he injured David Rhodes who passed away within six months. Galiher will also pay restitution and was ordered by an Orange County judge to stay away from alcohol during the probation. Galiher spent 3 months in a alcoholism clinic and four months under house arrest at his Tennessee home before facing any sentence. The judge suggested he wanted to give Galiher more time but was constrained by the law.

John Tesh and Oprah

A new biography about Oprah claims she had a romantic relationship with John Tesh, known for his Contemporary Christian praise music. The book is rewritten by Kitty Kelley who says the two lived together in Nashville during the 70's but parted ways because the social pressure of an interracial couple at the time proved too much for Tesh. The book comes out tomorrow.

College Firings on Hold

A judge has issued a temporary injunction stopping the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church from removing 14 Erskine College board members. Three of the trustees filed suit against the church. Students at the South Carolina school have complained that professors are promoting nonChristian views in the classrooms.

Slain in the Spirit Ruling

Michigan's highest court says a woman injured when she was "slain in the Spirit" is entitled to money from Mount Hope Church in Delta Township. A jury had awarded Judith Dadd more than $317,000. Dadd claimed pastor Dave Williams defamed her when he sent a letter to members accusing her of insurance fraud, faking her injuries and renouncing her faith. An appeals court had said she was entitled to money from the negligence claim ($40,000) but not $273,000 in damages for libel, slander and false light. However, the 5-2 ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court reverses that decision.

Megachurch Meets with Creditors

Leaders from the Crystal Cathedral met with vendors and creditors yesterday to apologize for failing to pay them. Several businesses have filed lawsuits against the Crystal Cathedral stating that the megachurch owes them more than $2 million. There are as many as 185 creditors waiting in line to be paid. The church, founded by Robert Schuller, has put various properties up for sale, fired employees and cut its Easter pageant.

Documents Contradict Account of Abusive Priest

A priest involved with looking into accusations of sexual abuse by another priest at a Milwaukee-area school for the deaf now admits there are documents that contradict what he says happened. Thomas Brundage admits in a letter to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (read it here) that his archbishop in 1998 told him to stop the judicial process against Lawrence Murphy, a priest accused of molesting 200 deaf children. Brundage says he's sorry but his false statements were only a misunderstanding of how he remembered the events.

What Did the Pope Know?

An AP reporter discusses the Pontiff's involvement in the Catholic church's decision on what to do with a California priest with a record of sexually molesting children.

Protests Over Play

Students and their parents are calling on Gallaudet University to cancel a play at the deaf tschool they are calling offensive and blasphemous. The production is called Corpus Christi and in it Jesus and his disciples are portrayed as gay. Tarleton State University in Texas canceled a planned performance after a protest. Gallaudet's theater department has scheduled three performances from April 8-10 where Jesus will be portrayed as both gay and deaf.

A Catholic group called The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property has launched an online petition here. The group says Gallaudet does not have the right to let the play be performed. So far, the university is standing by its production.

Church: "No Homo Mayor"

A Gainesville, Florida church changed the sign in front of the sanctuary from No homo Mayor to No Homo after learning it could lose its tax-exempt status for making a political statement. The original message in front of Dove World Outreach Center referred to Craig Lowe, a gay city commissioner who is running for mayor.

TBN Settles Lawsuit

The Trinity Broadcasting Network has settled a lawsuit that alleged an employee was harassed for his sexual orientation. Brian Dugger once worked as an engineer at the Christian broadcast network. His lawsuit alleged that Paul Crouch Jr., the son of founders Jan and Paul Crouch, teased Dugger and told him to quit acting gay. Crouch denied that ever happened but still made an out of court settlement with Dugger for an undisclosed amount.

Vatican Dismisses Abuse Accusations

The Vatican is calling accusations it covered up the abuse of deaf children by priests "petty gossip." The remarks came in a surprise move in which a cardinal made the unusual decision to speak before Pope Benedict offered his Easter Sunday Mass. Benedict himself did not mention the scandal though the Vatican several times has recently blamed the media for creating a smear campaign. The Vaican newspaper says he's the real victim, writing that Benedict is having to endure a "despicable campaign of defamation." The New York Times reported Benedict was warned about the priest but he was not defrocked and he continued abused children even after his forced retirement. Barbara Blaine, a leader of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said, "Victims are seeking consolation and healing and should not be insulted and told that our speaking out is petty gossip."

Megachurch Hit with $2 Million Suit

The Crystal Cathedral is being sued for more than $2 million in unpaid bills. The Southern California megachurch led by Robert Schuller produces the Hour of Power TV program each week. Several vendors claim the church owes them tens of thousands of dollars for services provided during the annual Glory of Christmas extravaganza. Crystal Cathedral has a $55 million budget deficit.

A New Kind of Christianity

A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren is getting lot of attention during its first month of release. A Christianity Today reviewer wrote, "Unfortunately, this book lacks the ‘generosity' of genuine orthodoxy and, frankly, I find little space in it for orthodoxy itself." Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler held a panel discussion on the book where panelists referred to McLaren's "rejection of the gospel" and "new kind of apostasy."

McLaren has written a dozen books including last year's A Generous Orthodoxy. He says he is "conflicted" about whether to consider himself an Evangelical.

"My background was evangelical, and I've never felt that I've left anything that was essential to being an evangelical, but on the other hand, if evangelical is defined by certain people, then I know they wouldn't want me there and I wouldn't be comfortable with the way they define it."

"If liberal means open to fresh thinking, open to asking questions, having an environment of free inquiry about the social dimensions of the gospel, then I'm happy to be liberal. But if it means disregarding the Bible, demoting Jesus to just another moral teacher, downplaying the need for personal commitment, being careless about personal spirituality and discipleship—then I think the label is very inaccurate for me."

You can watch a video of the panel discussion here.

$2 Million Giveaway

Corpus Christi's Bay Area Fellowship plans to hand out more than $2 million worth of gifts on Easter Sunday. The church meets at 7 different sites around the city. Senior pastor Bill Cornelius says every individual or family will receive $300 in gift certificates from local businesses, and drawings will be held at every service to give away cars, flat-screen TVs, laptop computers and furniture. Every child will be given a new bicycle at Bay Area Fellowship's new urban campus. He says its an illustration of what he calls "the ultimate giveaway" of salvation.

Supreme Court Free-speech Cases

Two of the free-speech cases being considered this term by the Supreme Court are of special interest to Christians.

The Christian Legal Society is suing California's Hastings College of Law over the state university's refusal to recognize the group on campus because it refuses to admit gay students and non-believers violates. This case will come before the court on April 19.

Another question coming before the court is whether the names of those who signed a petition for a state ballot measure against gay rights should be made public. The case will be argued April 28.

Woman Pastor Causes Stir

An Atlanta Baptist church could be kicked out of the Southern Baptist convention because one of its pastors is a woman. WAGA-TV has this video on a story we told you about yesterday.

Easter Becomes Spring Holiday

The city of Davenport, Iowa has removed Good Friday from its calendar on a recommendation from the Davenport Civil Rights Commission. A memo to municipal employees announced Good Friday in the city would officially be known as Spring Holiday. Complaints have poured in to the offices of city council members from citizens who say it's "political correctness run amok." Some members complain the city administrator made the change without giving the council a chance to vote on the matter which is required by law for a change in policy.

Baptists May Cut Ties Over Woman Pastor

The Georgia Baptist Convention wants to cut ties with a church because it has a woman as co-pastor. Mimi Walker has been co-pastor at Druid Hills Baptist Church sinc 2008. Her husband also is co-pastor. The executive committee of the state organization made the recommendation at a March 16 meeting. The full convention will consider it in November.

Kenyan Sign Language Bible

CBN takes a look at a Christian ministry translating the Bible into Kenyan sign language.

SIGN-LANGUAGE BIBLE - CBN.com
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Megachurch Not Paying Bills

Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral owes tens of thousands of dollars it hasn't paid to the people who help to produce the megachurch's Christmas and Easter pageants. Leaders of the Southern California church have said revenues are down 27% in the last two years and the church is facing $55 million of debt. One vendor who is owed $20,000 has designed props, decorated sets and provided wigs and special makeup for the productions for 25 years.

Abuse Accusatoin Against Italian Church & Pope

A group of deaf men who say they were abused in the Catholic church appeared on Italian TV. The three former students claim two dozen priests had for decades abused children at a school for the deaf in Verona. The accused include Bishop of Verona from 1958-78 who died in 1981 and some have sought to have beatified, a crucial step on the road to sainthood. The current Bishop of Verona accused them of “hallucinating” until one of the accused lay brothers admitted sexual relations with pupils. Last summer the diocese forwarded its files on the abuse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which took no action until last month. The Italian Bishops Conference has agreed to form a “task force” to collect evidence of paedophilia.

The Church’s account of how much the current Pope knew about a German paedophile priest is being called into question since a memo came to light, showing he led a meeting in 1980 during which the transfer of an offending priest was approved and the information about the man's abuse of children was kept from the leaders of the place to which he was being transfered. Peter Hullermann had been sent to the Munich Diocese for “therapy” after molesting a boy. Hullermann was convicted of sexual abuse in 1986. He was still working in the church until this month when he was suspended for breaking a promise not to have contact with children and young people.

Missionary Leader Remains Behind Bars

The Idaho woman who led a group of Baptist missionaries to Haiti where they were arrested for kidnapping children is still in a Haiti jail. Terry Silsby's Internet business, Personal Shopper Inc. is closing down while her former spouse is asking the courts for sole custody of their two children, ages 15 and 5. Silsby tried to bus 33 Haitian children to the Dominican Republic. Her husband says he wants custody because he believes Silsby wants to move to the Dominican Republic and take his children there. Her attorney has not commented on the issue.

Catholic Leaders Defend Pope

Catholic leaders in Europe are rising to defend Pope Benedict. The former archdiocese of Munich insisted the Pontiff did not know about the abuse of children in the city's Catholic churches even though he was archbishop of Munich in 1980. That year, a priest was reassign to a post with access to children - even though he was undergoing therapy for being a suspected pedophilia. Just a few years later, the priest was convicted of molesting a boy at another parish. Several other cases of abuse in European Catholic churches have recently come to light as well. Also, the Vatican decided not to defrock a Wisconsin priest accused of sexually abusing as many as 200 deaf boys in Milwaukee during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.

Vatican Knew Priest Molested 200 Deaf Boys

Some 200 deaf boys were molested by a priest who was never defrocked by the Catholic Church. The New York Times reports that Vatican officials, including Pope Benedict XVI were a part of the decision. The situation become public because of a lawsuit that revealed correspondence between Wisconsin Bishops and the future pope Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Five men are suing the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The letters show Ratzinger was more concerned about protecting the church from scandal than the welfare of the children. He and other officials did not alert the authorities or even discipline the priests involved in sexual abuse while he served as the Vatican’s chief doctrinal enforcer.

American priest Lawrence C. Murphy served at Wisconsin's St. John’s School for the Deaf from 1950 to 1974. He first taught classes and became effective at raising money for deaf causes and was eventually promoted to run the school in 1963 - even though church officials already knew he sexually abused children.

A group of deaf former students spent decades trying to get something changed, even handing out fliers outside the Milwaukee cathedral. Eventually, an internal investigation of Murphy showed he was not remorseful and he appealed to Ratzinger for leniency. Murphy died at the age of 72, buried in his priestly garments.

A 1st for Gospel Music

Marvin Sapp's new Here I Am collection hit #2 on the Billboard top 200 chart. That's the highest position of any gospel release in the chart's 54-year history. The project sold 76,000 copies its first week in stores, second only to the latest album from the country trio Lady Antebellum. The album's first single is a power ballad called The Best In Me. USA Today gave the album 3 and a half stars out of four.

Gay Jesus Play at Texas College

This Saturday Tarleton State University will host a play in which Jesus is portrayed as gay called Corpus Christi. Campus police plan to step up security at the school, located in Stephenville, Texas, some 70 miles outside of Fort Worth. Critics who say the play is blasphemous plan a protest.

Instructor Under Fire

A California college says it will take action against one of its instructors for telling students that homosexuality is a mental disorder. Fresno City College says Bradley Lopez, a science instructor, violated a campus anti-discrimination policy. Several students complained to administrators who now say Lopez was making comments unrelated to the course. Lopez has taught at the school for 18 years. Lopez also ran afoul of campus regulations by using the Bible in class. He plans to challenge the finding.

Hamas Spy and Convert

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of one of the founders of the Palestinian Hamas party who claims he worked for Israeli intelligence for years. He's also a Christian convert. Yousef tells his story in Son of Hamas which is #11 on the New York Times’ list of hardcover nonfiction bestsellers. He says it is "a message of hope – not because son of Hamas is a great person, but because son of Hamas followed the steps of a hero, my hero, Jesus Christ... When I think about Muslims, I think about my family. I’m not going to give up on them. They disowned me. I will not disown them." The fact he has gone public makes Yousef a potential target for extremists.

City: Bible Study Needs Permit

A Southern California city has told a group of Christians they can't meet in homes for a Friday night Bible study without a permit. Rancho Cucamonga wants to stop the meetings after a neighbor complained about the traffic. The permit requires public hearings, traffic studies and other costly procedures. The city doesn't require permits for other similar sized events. The group is affiliated with Shiloh Tabernacle Church.

Prof's Claim Denied

A University of North Carolina at Wilmington professor has lost his case against the school for discriminating against him because he's a Christian. Michael Adams is a prominent conservative commentator and associate professor of criminology. He says he was denied the position of a full professor because of his Christian beliefs and conservative views. The judge in the case said because Adams included his controversial work with the material he submitted for review in consideration of his promotion and that it could not be considered opinion outside opinion. He is considering an appeal.

Bible Studies Banned in Arizona Town

A small church near Phoenix Arizona has been ordered to stop holding Bible studies. Police in Gilbert cited the seven members of Oasis of the Truth Church after they put out signs inviting people to come and worship. There have been no neighborhood complaints or traffic problems. Other activities are fine, it's just "religious assemblies" and private schools that have been banned. The issue may wind up in court because the church believes the ordinance is unconstitutional. City counsel members plan to discuss the issue at their next meeting.

More on Dobson Exit

An unnamed member of the Focus on the Family board says James Dobson could not allow his son to take over the ministry because Ryan Dobson divorced 2001 and later remarried. The 39-year-old tattooed surfer and skateboarder wrote a book called Be Intolerant and is known for preaching to youth. James Dobson ended his hosting duties on the Focus on the Family radio show show for Focus in February. His new show will be called James Dobson on the Family. Dr. Dobson’s new venture is likely to compete directly with Focus for donors, listeners and radio stations. One and a half million listeners tune in each day for The Focus on the Family radio show on some 1,000 stations.

Curriculum Revisions by Texas Conservatives

The Texas Board of Education voted 11 to 4 today to approve a social studies curriculum promoted by conservatives. All 10 Republicans along with one Democrat voted for the curriculum while four Democrats voting against.

Glenn Beck Under Fire

Some Christian groups are taking issue with comments made by radio talk show host and Fox commentator Glenn Beck. On his March 2 radio show, he told listeners:

I beg you, look for the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!

Later on his television show Beck said "social justice" was the one common rallying cry of both Nazis and Communists because they both want totalitarian government.

Beck now denies he has advised people to leave churches because they talked about social justice:

No, no, no. Didn't say that. I said if they are basing their religion on social justice. Social justice and economic justice are code words. Look for those code words, and then ask your church, 'What do you mean by that? What is that?' Because they're code words. And don't be sucked into that," said Beck.

Megachurch Pastor: Dobson Kicked Out of Focus

James Dobson was pushed out of Focus on the Family, the ministry he founded, according to his friend, Ken Hutcherson, who leads a megachurch Washington State. Hutcherson says the board of directors wanted to take a less divisive direction. Dobson is starting a new radio venture with his son, though he admitted during a Focus on the Family broadcast in November that he was asked to resign for reasons he didn't fully understand. The ministry denies Hutcherson's charges and says it gave a million dollars to help Dobson to start his new show.

High Court to Consider Church Protests

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider the case of a Pennsylvania man awarded $5 million from the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas, after members of the church protested outside his son's military funeral. Snyder found the church's Web site attacked him for raising his son a Catholic and supporting his service in the armed forces. The decision was overturned by an appeals court last year.

Prison for Faith-Healing Couple

An Oregon judge has given a couple 16 months in prison for watching their son die while relying on faith healing. Jeffrey and Marci Beagley were convicted of criminally negligent homicide for their 16-year-old son's death. Their 15-year old granddaughter died last year from pneumonia and a blood infection that also could have been treated. Her parents were acquitted of manslaughter. The Beagley's church cemetery includes many headstones marking the graves of children. An appeal is planned.

Haiti Frees Missionary; Leader Still Held

One of two Baptist missionaries still held on kidnapping charges in Haiti was released and flew to Miami yesterday. But the U.S. group's leader remained in custody.

MLB Picks TobyMac

The Major League Baseball Network will use the title track on TobyMac's latest project for its spring training series. The song Tonight hit number six on Billboard's Top 200. The Christian singer kicked off his Awake Tonight tour last week. For tour dates check his Web site.

AFA: Kill the Whale

The death of a trainer at Orlando's SeaWorld by a killer whale named Tillikum has Biblical implications, according to the American Family Association. Donald Wildmon’s Mississippi organization is calling on the whale to be put to death here. AFA’s director of issue analysis for government and public policy, Bryan Fischer, says the Book of Exodus requires the execution of any animal that kills a human being. Plus, since Tillikum killed more than once, his owner is now culpable and should be sued.

Winans Connected to Scam

Gospel music's Winans family may be facing a major scandal. Michigan regulators say Michael Winans Jr. led a Ponzi scheme that left hundreds of investors with more than $11 million in loses. The investment involved a Saudi Arabian crude oil bond and used the family name to "prey on church members" according to officials. The people involved, and that may include pastor Michael Winans Sr, did not have the proper licenses to sell securities in Michigan.

Palau in China

Luis Palau will preach to an audience of up to 20,000 people in mainland China March 20 at Chong Yi church in the eastern city of Hangzhou. He spoke to some 8000 at the same church in 2007. Paulau will meet with government officials in Beijing as well. He hopes one day to hold an open-air festival in China, as he does in other countries.

Atheists Offer College Students Porn For Their Bibles

Jonas Brothers And Rick Warren

The Jonas Brothers will perform at a special Easter service in Angel Stadium in Anaheimto mark the 30th anniversary of Rick Warren's Saddleback Church. The April 4 event will be broadcast live online.

Wildmon Resigns

Donald Wildmon has resigned as chairman of the American Family Association based in Mississippi. The 72-year-old founded the organization in 1977 but has been hospitalized for months and is battling encephalitis and cancer. His son, Tim, is expected to lead the ministry that owns some 180 radio stations and has a $20 million annual budget that owns 180 radio stations.

Court Turns Down Commandments Case

The Supreme Court has decided not to review a Ten Commandments case out of Oklahoma. It involved a monument on the lawn outside the county courthouse in Stigler, Oklahoma. That lets stand an appeals court ruling that will remove the display from public property. A local pastor put the monument up in 2004 and the ACLU challenged it in court. Nine states had asked justices to hear the Haskell County appeal.

Denver Megachurch Gets New Pastor

Chris Hill will become the new pastor at the Potter's House Church of Denver, formally the Heritage Christian Church. It has a 3,500-seat sanctuary. Hill once served as youth and associate pastor at The Potter's House of Dallas where TD Jakes is pastor. Hill succeeds founding pastor Dennis Leonard.

Bible controversy at Wisconsin School

A high school student in Milwaukee says he was punished for bringing Bible to class. WTMJ-TV reports.

Accused Arsonist Attended Church

One of the two suspects in a series of Texas church fires was still attending churches services as authorities closed in. They say Jason Robert Bourque also joined Tyler Junior College's Baptist Student Ministry for a free meal before his arrest. Bourque grew up attending the First Baptist Church in Ben Wheeler, Texas along with other man arrested for the crime, Daniel George McAllister. Authorities found weapons and books at Bourque's house, some relating to atheism and devil worship. The pair are being held on $10 million bond could get life in prison if convicted.

Missionary Lawyer Wanted

The lawyer for American missionaries held in Haiti faces charges in El Salvador.

Dobson's Last Broadcast

What James Dobson had to say as he leaves Focus on the Family: The Colorado Gazzette, The Washington Post, NPR.

Accidental Link

Parents in Provo, Utah are upset over a link on the Alpine School District's Web site that went to a essay by William Meyers. His ideas include the belief that Jesus is one in a long string of "historic vampires." The link has since been removed and district officials say it was an accident. This is just the latest in a string of controversies between parents of students in the district and school officials.

Accused Arsonist Discovery

One of the men arrested for a string of church arsons in east Texas had books on demons and atheism in his home. Jason Bourque also carved an upside-down cross topped by flames into the bathroom wall at Little Hope Baptist Church - the first of 11 churches that were torched.

Game Merger

Two Christian video game makers, Digital Praise and Left Behind Games, are merging. Digital Praise has produced Adventures in Odyssey, Guitar Praise and Dance Praise.

Copeland Wins Tax Battle

A northern Texas tax appraisal district is backing down on its demands on Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Tax officials have agreed to exempt Copeland's $3 million jet from property taxes and drop its demand that the ministry reveal the salaries of its directors.

IRS Asked to Investigate Liberty

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is asking the IRS to look into whether Jerry Falwell's Liberty University violated its nonprofit status by using the university's student newspaper to influence the outcome of an election for the state's House of Delegates. The watchdog group did the same thing last year when the school revoked the status of the student Democratic Party club then changed its rules the next month.

Ancient Wall Discovered

Israeli archaeologists say they have uncovered a wall that dates to the 10th century BCE in Jerusalem. That's the period of King Solomon and the major construction on the First Temple as described in the Bible. The massive wall is more than 200 feet long and 32 feet high. A gatehouse and tower was also discovered. One of the archaeologists says it fits with the Biblical descriptions of King Solomon's construction in Jerusalem. The effort is being conducted by a team from Hebrew University, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

Disabled children "God’s Punishment"?

A Virginia politician has created an uproar by saying last week that disabled children are God’s punishment to women who aborted their first pregnancies. Prince William County delegate Bob Marshall made the comments during a press conference in opposition to state funding for Planned Parenthood. Marshall’s office says his comments have been taken out of context. Marshall has issued a statement here.

Church Burglaries

A half dozen churches in the Winchester, Indiana area have been burglarized in the last two months. This morning, someone stole equipment from the New Lisbon Church of Christ and the Jericho Church. Burglaries took place in December at South Salem Church of Christ, in January at the Pleasant Hill Church and earlier this month at the Trinity Lutheran Church and the Community Fellowship Church.

Accused Texas Arsonists Under Arrest

Star Spangled Ban

An Indiana college is lifting its ban on the national anthem after more than a century. The Star Spangled Banner was forbidden at Goshen College which is associated with the Mennonite Church. Goshen College will begin playing an instrumental version of the national anthem before some sporting events. Some at the school complain it puts love for county above love for God. Some 900 people have joined the Facebook group Against Goshen College Playing National Anthem. Mennonites are pacifists and have historically avoided the song because its lyrics describe using war and military might to defend the country. But nearly half of the student body is not Mennonite.

Accused Arsonists Behind Bars

Texas authorities are charging two men with a string of church fires in the eastern part of the state. Jason Robert Bourque and Daniel George McAllister were arrested today and charged with setting a fire at the Dover Baptist Church in Tyler. Officials believe they may be connected to nine other church fires set since January first that have caused millions of dollars in damages. The pair is being held on a $10 million bond.

New Prez at Wheaton

Wheaton College has a new president. The Evangelical school has appointed Philip Ryken to the position. He's senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and begins July first. Wheaton, Illinois is Ryken's hometown and he graduated from the college. in 1988. He holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and philosophy from Wheaton, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Oxford.

College Hits 50k Students

Jerry Falwell's Liberty University has reached its enrollment goal of 50,000 students. But only a small portion are actually on campus. Enrollment is 57,371 at the Lynchburg, Virginia school this semester but 45,000 of those students are learning online.