Battle over Florida Megachurch Pulpit

The ex-wife of Zachery Tims is suing the Orlando-area megachurch he founded because she wasn't appointed as pastor. Tims died unexpectedly in August and the church board tapped Paula White as the new pastor. Riva Tims wants the congregation of New Destiny Christian Center to vote on who takes the pulpit and says White is $26 million in debt. Tims was found in a Times Square hotel with a white substance in his pocket, leading to speculation he died of a drug overdose, since he had a history of it in his youth. His mother, Madeline Tims, has filed a lawsuit to stop the City from revealing the cause of death.

Poll on Jesus' Death Yanked

A division of Fox has removed an online poll from its Facebook pages and apologized to the Jewish community for it. The National Geographic Channel, part of Fox Latin America, asked viewers who was responsible for the death of Jesus. The options included Pontius Pilate, The Jewish People, and The High Priests. It was a promotional effort for a Christmas special.

Brawl in Bethlehem

A fight broke out at at the Church of the Nativity between monks who battled with brooms. The groups each claim the right to clean up the church after Christmas celebrations are over. Palestinian security forces intervened between Armenians and Greek Orthodox at the site, traditionally considered the place of Jesus' birth. The Orthodox church holds Christmas celebrations in early January. No serious injuries were reported. It has taken years for an agreement to be worked out between the groups over replacing the roof. Repairs on the deteriorating structure is supposed to begin in the next year.

Charismatic Growth

CNN reports on the growth of the Charismatic movement around the world here.

Maher Goes After Tebow... Again

HBO's Bill Maher is getting backlack from his tweet over the weekend criticizing Denver Bronco's quarterback Tim Tebow. After Tebow threw four interceptions during his team's lose to Buffalo, the comedian sent this message to his 872,000 Twitter followers:

"Wow, Jesus just [screwed] #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere ... Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler "Hey, Buffalo’s killing them."

Tebow did not respond but his fans are speaking out. Some are calling for viewers to cancel their HBO subscriptions in protest.

Fewer Christians in the UK

The number of people who call themselves Christians in England and Wales has fallen dramatically in the last few years. In 2005, 77% of of the people surveyed in the government-sponsored Citizen Survey identified themselves as Christians. But last year, only 70% of the 10,000 surveyed said they were Christians. The percentage who said they had no religion went from 15% to 21%.

How Luther went viral

Five centuries before Facebook and the Arab spring, social media helped bring about the Reformation. Read the story at The Economist.

Russian Cult

Here is a video in which VICE visits a commune in Siberia in hopes of meeting a man who claims to be Jesus and has a following of thousands.

SOPA Supporters

Several Christian publishers are among the groups supporting the Stop Online Piracy Act (also known as SOPA). The legislation would put more power into the hands of the federal government and copyright holders to go after internet violators. Opponents say it would dramatically change the way the Internet operates, stifling innovation and commerce. But among it's supporters are:

• Christian Music Trade Association
• Church Music Publishers’ Association
• EMI Christian Music Group
• Gospel Music Association

CNN's Piers Morgan learns to 'Tebow'

Here's a short exert of Pier Morgan on the subject of "Tebowing" on CNN.

Robertson Reacts to SNL skit about Jesus

Pat Robertson calls a Saturday Night Live skit "anti-Christian bigotry that's just disgusting." Watch the video of the 700 Club host below to get the full story.

Bible Giveaway Upsets Student's Mom

A North Carolina mother is unhappy that her fifth-grade son came home from school with a Bible. Read the story here.

Rally backs Nativity scene

Thousands gather near Dallas in support of a nativity scene outside a courthouse. Here a video report from WFAA-TV.

Tebow Meets Brain Tumor Survivor After Loss

NFL.com's Jeff Darlington detailed a brief discussion he had with Denver Bronco's quarterback Tim Tebow yesterday after his team lost 41-23 to the Patriots. The conversation was cut short because Tebow left to meet Kelly Faughnan, a 22-year-old who survived a brain tumor who has a special history with Tebow. Read the story here.

Grad Student Losses Case

A graduate student's attempt to overturn her expulsion from Augusta State University will stand. A federal appeals court has unanimously sided with a lower court and the school which both decided Jennifer Keeton doesn't belong in the school's counseling program. Keeton's lawsuit said she was told by school officials, in order to stay in the program, she would have to change her beliefs about homosexuality, which she says is based on her Christianity. But the court ruling said Augusta State only tried to get her to keep her own opinions out of the counseling process.

SNL Skit: Tebow & Jesus

Last night's episode of Saturday Night Live included a sketch where Jesus visits Denver Broncos Tim Tebow. In the sketch, Tebow tells Jesus, “The Holy Bible is my playbook" but Jesus advises, “That's great. But you need to read the regular playbook” and to “take it down a notch.” As he leaves, he tells the team "Mormonism. All true, every bit of it." Here's the video.

Suspended for Tebowing

About 40 students at Long Island's Riverhead High School joined to commit an act of “Tebowing” Wednesday. All got in-school suspensions because school administrators deemed the praying poise "a safety hazard." Here's a Fox News report on it.

Lifeway Drops Bible

LifeWay will no longer publish the Here's Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Bible. Some of the proceeds from sales of the pink Bible goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. And some Komen affiliates give money to Planned Parenthood. Although LifeWay published the Bible, it was sold at retailers like Wal-Mart, not in LifeWay's own stores. Komen has released a statement saying "under no circumstances are Komen funds used to fund abortions or other non-breast services." The American Life League says 18 chapters of Susan G. Komen for the Cure donated money to local Planned Parenthood affiliates last year.

NJ Banner Controversy

The Freedom From Religion Foundation wants the Philadelphia-area town of Pitman, New Jersey to take a banner down from Main Street that reads Keep Christ in Christmas. It was put up by members of the local fire department and paid for by a Knights of Columbus group.  The Pitman City Council will take up the issue at its next meeting on December 27th.

Christians in Iraq pray for safe holiday

CNN offers a report on Iraqi Christians.