Christian Publisher leaving NRB because of the book God and the Gay Christian

The NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) is parting ways with WaterBrook Multnomah because of its association with a new book called God and the Gay Christian. Even though WaterBrook Multnomah handles many best-sellers, including books by Kay Arthur, John Piper and David Jeremiah, the company that owns WaterBrook Multnomah choose to publish Matthew Vines' book God and the Gay Christian under the Convergent Books imprint. In the book, Vines argues for same-gender sex, claiming it is not sinful. Convergent Books and WaterBrook Multnomah are both owned by Penguin Random House.  The Convergent staff wrote an explanation about why God and the Gay Christian was published here.

Singer in Christian Metal Band Gets 6 Years

A San Diego judge sentenced Tim Lambesis of the Christian metal band As I Lay Dying to serve six years in prison after he was convicted of trying to kill his wife, Meggan Lambesis. Tim Lambesis plead guilty earlier this year--and he returns to court soon to face a $2 million lawsuit filed by his wife. Read more details from San Diego's KGTV here and from the local newspaper, UT San Diego here.

Bill Gothard resigns

Conservative Christian leader Bill Gothard is being accused of making unwanted sexual advances--by more than two dozen women including some underage teenagers. He resigned from the Institute in Basic Life Principles after denying the allegations. In a statement he said that when he touched women, it was never with sexual intent. He spent more than half a century leading the Institute, which has produced materials for home-schoolers. A group called Recovering Grace published the allegations against Gothard online here. Gothard is 79 years old, has never been married and not been charged with a crime. His brother, Steve Gothard, resigned from the organization in the 1980s after being accused of having affairs with several employees.

Can Christians make funny movies?

A new movie genre debuts at the box office this weekend: the Christian comedy, writes Eric Marrapodi at CNN.com. "Moms’ Night Out" starring Patricia Heaton and Sean Astin is opening on more than 1,000 screens, and it aims to do something no other Christian major motion picture has endeavored to do: make you laugh. On purpose. Read more here.

Ben-Hur remake

Paramount/MGM is remaking the 1959 classic Ben-Hur. It is scheduled to debut in February of 2016. The studio is enlisting the help of the makers of the recent miniseries The Bible and the Son of God.

Boy's love of gospel music may have saved his life

A young boy's love of gospel music may have saved his life. WXIA-TV has the story in this video report.

Christian golfer rejoices after second Masters win

Golf champion and professed Christian Bubba Watson is praising God after winning his second Masters jacket in three years. Read more at Christianity Today.

State of the Bible

As many Americans say they are skeptical about the Bible as those who say they are engaged with it. That's the finding of a survey by the Barna Group. The number of skeptics among adult Americans has grown by 10 percent in just the last three years. While nearly 9 out of 10 Americans have a Bible in their home, only about about a third read it on a regular basis. Read more here.

Does Religious behavior match what people do?

A new study explores why people exaggerate their religious behavior. Hear the story from NPR below.

Pastor Resigns

A Florida megachurch pastor stepped down from the pulpit today. Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale confessed to a "moral failure" to his congregation of about 20,000 people. He resigned Thursday after talking to the church board about it the day before.

TV Preachers Avoid Tax Scrutiny

NPR takes a look at how some prosperity TV preachers like Kenneth Copeland are doing after a congressional investigation into their fundraising fizzled. You can listen or read the report here.

Scientists: Noah's Ark would have floated

Researchers at the University of Leicester in England say Noah's Ark could have carried 70,000 animals without sinking. They based their conclusion on the dimensions listed in The Bible. The considered the weight of the animals, not whether they would have had enough space or not. The graduate students are studying in the school's Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Atlanta Archbishop gets mansion

Catholics in Georgia are upset that the Archdiocese of Atlanta spent roughly $2 million of church money on a new mansion for the archbishop. WGLC-TV has this video report.

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Noah opens big

Paramount's Noah movie did well on its opening weekend in the US--as well as in places like Russia and Australia. Paramount says the US domestic take is going to come in around $44 million. The film has already earned more than $50 million overseas.

Paisley, Gilbert & N. Grant get hoaxed

Actress Melissa Gilbert, country music star Brad Paisley, and Christian singer Natalie Grant are victims of dying daughter hoax. Here's a video report from ABC News.


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Christian College Prof says discovery supports believe in God

Leslie Wickman, director of the Center for Research in Science at Azusa Pacific University, writes in an Op/Ed piece for CNN, "The remarkable discovery, announced this week, of ripples in the space-time fabric of the universe rocked the world of science – and the world of religion. Touted as evidence for inflation (a faster-than-the-speed-of-light expansion of our universe), the new discovery of traces of gravity waves affirms scientific concepts in the fields of cosmology, general relativity, and particle physics. The new discovery also has significant implications for the Judeo-Christian worldview, offering strong support for biblical beliefs." Read more here.

World Vision flip flop hits bottom line

World Vision back out of plans to start hiring legally married gays after more than 3000 sponsors pulled out their support for the relief group. Among those protesting World Vision's initial decision: The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Franklin Graham and the Family Leadership Council led by Tony Perkin. Based in Seattle, World Vision has more than 1000 employees. Some of the denominations World Vision represents have decided to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Emma Watson talks religion

Even though Emma Watson is a star in the Biblical epic Noah, she doesn't have Christian views. She tells The Telegraph , "I already, before I did the movie, had a sense that I was someone that was more spiritual, than specifically religious. I had a sense that I believed in a higher power, but that I was more of a Universalist, I see that there are these unifying tenets between so many religions."

Pastor says he accidentally flooded Texas by praying too hard

An Oklahoma pastor this week said that his attempt to remove demons from the United States had worked a little too well, causing a severe drought to turn into massive flooding. Read more here or watch the video below.

Theives take $600k from Megachurch

Houston's Lakewood megachurch says about $200,000 in cash and $400,000 worth of checks is missing. KPRC-TV has a video report.