Have you hear of National Marriage Week?

You have now. And it's the week leading up to Valentine's Day. Hundreds of events are planned across the country.

To find out how you or your church or ministry can get involved

Pro-life group targets GOP in new video

National leaders from pro-life groups across the country are in D.C. this morning to both protest Planned Parenthood and release a video that calls out Republicans for funding abortion.
One leader says Speaker Boehner can no longer call himself pro-life.
Read more

If you live in the north

You have a greater likelihood of not knowing or believing the Bible.
That's the latest from Barna.
Read the full story on Word News.

Word News' latest series ... Saturday's with Jamie Grace

In case you missed it, Word New has started another series ... and you might be surprised where the lyrics for Jamie Grace's hit song Hold Me came from.
Or You Lead.
She opens up with Word News.
Click here to read more

New legal ministry lauched to fight for 'life and liberty'

The attorney representing the parents in Terri Schiavo case has launched a legal ministry.
It's called the National Center for Life and Liberty.
To read more

When words lose their meaning, man I ‘hate’ that

So Pastor Louie Giglio decided not to deliver the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Now he’s being labeled “anti-gay” for a sermon that “surfaced” from 15 to 20 years ago.

Louie Giglio

A couple things about words here. Use of certain words give a reader a certain feeling, a sense. When something “surfaces” it gives the impression it was bad and was meant to remain hidden or buried. And through some digging, it was unearthed. Some dirty laundry in a person’s past, or some such thing.
Preachers aren’t hiding anything. They broadcast their message, they post their sermons, etc. I would expect someone could unearth a similar message or one with similar themes in Giglio’s preaching that was delivered not that long ago.
But the word I really want to focus on here is anti-gay. Anti- means again. Opposed to, etc. It has a sense of hatred. Is this an accurate description of Giglio? The Washington Post quotes Giglio’s sermon from 15 or so years ago urging Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” of some in the gay community and warns that widespread gay marriage  ”would run the risk of absolutely undermining the whole order of our society.” [The message can be found here].
This New York Times picked this section of the sermon to highlight: “That movement is not a benevolent movement. It is a movement to seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day, to the point where the homosexual lifestyle becomes accepted as a norm in our society.”
When word spread that Giglio would be delivering the inaugural benediction, author Gabe Lyons writes, “an extreme and small faction of outspoken gay activists” that helped end Giglio’s appearance.
Lyons, who is also the founder founder of Q Ideas, which is a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society, wrote that “within hours of the second inaugural committee’s announcement, blogs started firing. Someone had uncovered a mid-1990’s era sermon Giglio had given on homosexuality and mined it for their narrow agenda,” Lyons wrote. “The website Think Progress denounced Mr. Giglio as ‘vehemently anti-gay.’ A petition to the White House gleaned a meager 900 signatures demanding the committee replace the minister. Media outlets took the bait and echoed claims Mr. Giglio was anti-gay (though he holds the same historic position on sexuality as an overwhelming majority of American Christians, Jews and Muslims).”
In short, Giglio’s comments from 15 years ago proved true: Beware of a movement to "seize by any means necessary the feeling and the mood of the day." The feeling of the day, according to this just released Lifeway Research report, is fewer Americans believe homosexuality is a sin.
So Giglio is out and according to Christianity Post, a pro-homosexual pastor is in.
But now back to the word anti-gay. Here’s what Giglio said when announcing he’d not be delivering the benediction:
“The issue of homosexuality (which a particular message of mine some 20 years ago addressed) is one of the most difficult our nation will navigate. However, individuals’ rights of freedom, and the collective right to hold differing views on any subject is a critical balance we, as a people, must recover and preserve.”
Does this sound anti-gay?
He continued:
“As a pastor, my mission is to love people, and lead them well, while lifting up the name of Jesus above anything else. I’m confident that anyone who knows me or has listened to the multitude of messages I have given in the last decade would most likely conclude that I am not easily characterized as being opposed to people—any people. Rather, I am constantly seeking to understand where all people are coming from and how to best serve them as I point them to Jesus.”
Does this sound like a “hater”?
He concludes:
“In all things, the most helpful thing I can do is to invite each of us to wrestle with scripture and its implications for our lives. God’s words trump all opinions, including mine, and in the end, I believe God’s words lead to life.”
God’s words trump all opinions. Even those 43 percent of Americans who don't view homosexuality as as in.
Of course, some have called Him anti-gay too. What He actually is is anti-sin. Big difference. As Mark Twain once said: "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."

-- Word Smith

Life ...

A new poll says more than 80 percent of Americans support stricter restrictions on abortion. And nearly 60 percent say they think abortion itself is morally wrong.
You can read more on that here.
 Then you come across a video like this one, and see this love a mom has for her child. Look at how her face lights up during the happy news of having a child. She radiates. How her face grows sad when receiving troubling news or when her child becomes the object of unkind stares and comments.
Ahh, but then watch that radiance return. Her son, named Christian, is a blessing. She recognizes it, and others are too.
This is worth watching to the very end. Amazing, how the power of a story is so much more important that the glitz and glamor of some high tech production. This video is low-tech and it doesn't matter.
I promise it will be worth your time.
Life. Precious. Short. A gift.
It's much more than a cereal, board game or defunct magazine.

Billy Graham's not slowing down at 94

The world's most famous evangelist has launched a new grassroots initiative using the latest technology that will take him to every corner of the world.
It's called My Hope with Billy Graham and it runs through the year, ending in November when Graham turns 95.
Find out more here

Christians being persecuted in growing numbers

Brother Andrew

And the surprising finding of a new Open Doors report is that persecution of Christians continues to drop in China but is growing in African countries.
The Arab Spring, one Open Doors pastor told Word News, is quickly becoming the Arab Winter.
Find out what countries are on this notorious Top 10 list.

Second annual ‘Water Sunday’ initiative launched

Last year, more than 30 churches participated in Water Sunday, raising $100,000 that went to water projects worldwide.
Organizers are hoping this year, Water Sunday will draw 100 churches and raise $500,000.
Will your church participate?
To read more

What are the top religous trends to look for in 2013?

The Institute on Religion and Democracy has given this question some thought. Issues such as the continued rise of Mormonism and the sexual liberalization of Christian colleges make the list.
Take a look at the story.
How about you? What are your predictions for 2013 as it relates to church and religious news? Sign in and give us your comments.

No margin for error anymore?

Richard Mourdock said something stupid the other night. 

He knows it. Everyone knows it.

But I also think everyone knows what he meant to say but not many want to give him a little leeway or grace. Even among some evangelicals who preach grace are not offering any here.

Here's what Mourdock said during Tuesday's debate:

 "I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

Some in the pro-life movement are using this as a rallying cry and the abortion supporters also see an opportunity.

We live at a time when there are just a lot of words out there. Sure, Twitter only gives us 140 characters, but nothing's stopping me from filing 7,000 Tweets.

Then posting them on Facebook.

Then commenting on stories on the web and other people's FB postings and re-Tweeting, etc. etc.

Ahh, we love to see people make missteps. It makes us feel a little better about ourselves.

Ha ha. President Obama mistakenly tells a crowd in Colorado that he wants wind turbines to be made in China.

Really?

No. But it's caught on video.

Forever.

And Vice President Joe Biden's latest gaffe is to tell the good people in Ohio about all the negative ads being run "here in Iowa."

So we get former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman telling Romney to ditch his support for Mourdock, calling it a sign that Romney lacks leadership because Romney won't.

Really?

Isn't it leadership to stick with your convictions and provide some grace for a misstep?

Huntsman goes on to say in the Huffington Post: "I cringe -- it's like fingers on a chalkboard every time I hear men talk about women's health issues."
Funny, I cringe every time I see someone take on a superiority pose. [And, yes, this applies to me, too].

But Huntsman's criticism may have been less on Mourdock's misspeak and more on some strange view that only women can speak on women's issues. Men can't talk about women's issues? Blacks can't talk about whites, etc.? Capitalists can't speak about Communists? 
Strange logic. Does Jon have daughters?

Radio commentator Laura Ingraham tweeted a "thanks" to Huntsman. 

Let the pile-on begin. [But don't look for support when you make a misstatement, folks].

But the bigger frustration I have isn't political opportunists looking for an chance to be relevant again but Christians who should know better.

People like Richard Lintz, dean of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. He told the Christian Science Monitor that Mourdock's comments were offensive

"The clumsiness is [to] so align God with evil that God becomes a horrific figure."

We know that's not what he meant. 

I was reading in the book of James today how "mercy triumphs over judgment" (2:13) and "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check (3:2)."

We know there ain't such a man walking the planet these days.

Huntsman made a mistake earlier in his losing bid to be the Republican candidate for president when he didn't qualify for the Arizona state primary because of a "paperwork mishap," the Associated Press reported.

And there was the goof on his boast that he spoke fluent Chinese.

I'm not going to throw stones. Remember, mercy triumphs over judgment.

--Word Smith

Fast2Feed campaign

Two ministries have joined together to allow people to fast a meal and donate money that would have been spent to feed kids in Zimbabwe. Read the story here http://wordnews.org/2012/08/20/forgo-it-childrens-hunger-fund-launch-fast2feed-campaign/

A new survey says women overwhelmingly are pleased with their experiences at church? Check out the story here.
And tell us your experience by emailing Word News here: wordnewsnow@yahoo.com.

Praying for Christian athletes at the Games

I had a good conversation with Steve McConkey of 4 Winds Christian Athletics last night. His ministry targets track and field athletes and he's got a real passion for these athletes [like Christian Taylor, pictured]. He rattles off their names like they're members of his family.
And they are. Members of God's family.
Take a look at WordNews.org's story on McConkey's ministry and the folks who are now taking center stage at the Olympic Games in London.

Street preacher released

A street preacher arrested for calling on police to repent has had his charges dismissed.
The story is here.

What was Oral Roberts' legacy?

The answer probably won't surprise you.
Hear what his daughter, Roberta Roberts Potts thinks here:
http://wordnews.org/2012/07/28/by-the-book-my-dad-oral-roberts-part-2-a-lasting-legacy/

The theater's a "innocent, hopeful place'? Really?

Following the tragedy last week when a gunman open fired on a movie-going crowd attending the latest Batman film The Dark Knight Rises--killing 12 and injuring dozens-- the director said in a statement. "I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theater is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. "
In the past that may have been true. I remember as a kid seeing films like Rocky and Star Wars on the big screen. But check out this PluggedIn review that describes the darkness, evil and violence this movie is heaped with and tell me where the hope or innocence are.

Office Depots' gay agenda targeted by AFA

Office Depot is providing $1 million as part of a promotion featuring Lady Gaga and and a concept backing the idea that people are born gay.
But AFA is launching a campaign to combat it. http://wordnews.org/?p=1983

Man forgives wife's, daughter's killer

Check out this extraordinary story of forgiveness. Man forgives his wife's and daughter's killer. Forgiveness is not a choice, he says.

The story is here