Category: U.S.

Many are outraged by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ Jan. 4 ruling that the cross within the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego is unconstitutional because it sends the message of “state-endorsed religion.” 

So outraged, in fact, that hundreds of citizens, alongside local and national leaders, are planning a rally to defend the memorial on Saturday, Jan. 15 atop Mt. Soledad.

“The Mt. Soledad Memorial, including its centerpiece cross, has honored our military for decades until an ‘enlightened’ judge had an epiphany which ignores such foundational truths as the fact that our nation’s Capital Building was even used — at one time — as a church, attended by no less than President Thomas Jefferson himself, one who might know something about the alleged “separation of church and state,” says Dr. Jim Garlow, senior pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, and Chairman of Renewing American Leadership in Washington D.C.

Vanderbilt University is requiring nursing residents to take part in abortions–whether it harms their conscience or not.

The Alliance Defense Fund filed a complaint on Tuesday with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) against Vanderbilt University for this action. Vanderbilt receives more than $300 million in federal tax dollars each year, and federal law prohibits grant recipients from forcing students or health care workers to participate in abortions contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Are our public colleges and universities a marketplace of ideas or a prison of censorship? ADF Senior Legal Counsel Casey Mattox is fighting to make sure educational facilities conform to the First Amendment and remain campuses of free thought.

Mattox’s latest case represents Young Americans for Freedom. Palm Beach State College banned two members of the group from distributing leaflets and talking with people on campus about their cause. The all-out literature distribution ban hindered the group from administering its “Get out the Vote” campaign before last November’s midterm elections.

In a small victory, Palm Beach State College has agreed to let Young Americans for Freedom distribute its Heritage Foundation literature several days a month while the lawsuit progresses. The college also agreed to revise its policies, including its restrictions on off-campus meetings of student groups, to ensure they comply with the First Amendment.

Reality TV isn’t all about American idols and island castaways. The NRB Network is rolling out a new Christian reality TV show as part of its winter lineup.

Starting tonight, the NRB will begin airing new Christ-centered shows across a variety of genres, including devotional, talk, fitness and its own take on reality TV on DirecTV, SkyAngel and live on NRBNetwork.tv.

“We’ve added a number of quality programs this season we think our viewers will appreciate,” says NRB Network President and COO Troy Miller. “It’s important to us to introduce new content regularly that ministers to our viewers and meets their educational and entertainment needs.”

John F. Kennedy was assassinated. President Ronald Reagan was shot. But in a peaceful democracy the attempts on the lives of public officials seem few and far between—until this weekend.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords remains in critical condition after accused gunman Jared Lee Loughner allegedly opened fire at a community political event. Giffords took a bullet to the head. Gabe Zimmerman, 30, a Giffords staff member, was killed, along with Chief Judge Roll and four others.

How can the lost call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Enter 130 young preachers.

The young men and women of God are gathering together in Louisville this weekend for the second National Festival of Young Preachers. Hosted by the Academy of Preachers, the Lilly Endowment is underwriting the event, which is open to young preachers between the ages of 16 and 28.

Remember when 88 pro-life demonstrators were arrested on the University of Notre Dame’s campus before the 2009 commencement ceremonies? The … Read More

Sen. Churck Grassley’s probe into high-profile television ministries may be over, but the ranking member of the Committee on Finance’s investigation has led to the formation of a new commission on accountability and policy issues for churches and other religious organizations.

Grassley reviewed the activities and practices of six media-based ministries’ “Joyce Meyer Ministries, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Creflo Dollar Ministries, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries, Benny Hinn Ministries, and Paula White Ministries” and found no wrongdoing.

It’s official. Zondervan’s new NIV Bible e-book has made its way onto the USA Today bestsellers list. Released on Dec. 15, the digital release marks the first time that a new Bible translation has launched in a digital format prior to publication in a print format.

Here are some additional breakthroughs: The NIV Bible made its debut as the number one e-book in the Religion & Spirituality Category of Apple’s iBookstore and rose to number 7 for all books on Apple. It is also among the Top 100 in Amazon’s Kindle Store and a Top 25 e-book in Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook Store.

As part of its Stop Abortion Funding campaign, the Susan B. Anthony List has mobilized its 280,000-member grassroots network to lobby members of Congress to vote for the repeal of the pro-abortion Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“Keeping abortion out of health care”as the antitheses to it “was the critical issue with enough votes to stop or pass healthcare. It was a dramatic caving in on abortion in health care by a group of now former Members of Congress that finally sealed the deal on the bill,” says SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.

Could short-term missions be an answer to stemming the tide of lost youth? A new Barna Research study offers good news about the ministry model.

Barna took a look at Scripture Union’s SuperKids program. SuperKids offers one- and two-week outreach missions programs that aim to make an impact on youth at a time when many are leaving the church as soon as they get old enough to drive.

“When the Vow (Almost) Breaks.” “Forgiveness That Transcends.” “The Devil in Pew No. 7.” Those are just a few of the impactful headlines in the January 2011 issue of Charisma magazine.

The new year is all about starting with a clean slate, says Charisma Editor Marcus Yoars. Beyond the resolutions that are likely to fade by the end of the month, he says, New Year’s represents a chance to start over again. That’s why the January 2011 issue of Charisma focuses on the theme of forgiveness and its power in giving people a second chance.

Undaunted by criticism over past prophetic utterances, Pat Robertson is once again sharing what he believes the Lord has spoken to him for 2011.

Before sharing the prophetic word on CBN, Robertson explained that sometimes his prophetic inspiration is “so spot on its frightening,” while other times he has put things out tentatively to see if it is what the Lord has. He made it clear that he is no psychic, but that sometimes God graciously gives him direction.

With that preface, here is some of what Robertson shared on a TV interview with Terry Meeuwsen about the Lord’s thoughts for 2011:

Have you heard about the homeless man with the golden voice who just landed a job at with the Cleveland … Read More

The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Thursday is hearing the case of a homeschooled girl who was ordered into a … Read More

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued a 3-0 decision in Trunk v. City of San Diego … Read More