National Day of Prayer Hijacked?

Evangelicals 'Hijacked' Day of Prayer, Critics Accuse

www.crosswalk.com

The Christian Post reports that non-Christian critics are accusing evangelicals of taking over the upcoming National Day of Prayer, which they complain excludes other religions.

"The National Day of Prayer has been hijacked!" declares Jews on First on its Web site. "What began as President Truman's declaration of a National Prayer Day for all Americans is now excluding and dividing us on religious lines."

The 57th annual National Day of Prayer is on May 1 this year. The theme is: "Prayer! America's Strength and Shield," based on Psalm 28:7.

Jews on First specifically protests against the application to be a NDoP coordinator: "The volunteers who organize the events... are required to pledge that they will only invite Christian clergy to officiate. The volunteers themselves have to ... make a statement of faith that is very narrowly drawn so that only a conservative evangelical Christian would be comfortable doing it," said Jane Hunter, co-director of Jews on First.

Worship

If you read enough material on leadership, at some point you will run across advice that goes something like this...choose your battles wisely. In other words, everything is not worth fighting for or against.

In the story of Daniel, the king sent out a decree that, for the next thirty days, anyone caught praying to any god or man other than the king would be thrown in the lion's den.

Thirty days!?!? Can't Daniel just hold off praying for thirty days? Is this really a "wise" battle? Just wait thirty days!

Evidently Daniel thought otherwise.

Worship with us, Sunday, and find out why.

Expelled

INTERVIEW with Christianity Today

Ben Stein Is Expelled!

The TV and movie personality takes on Darwinism and evolution in a new documentary about Intelligent Design—and academic freedom.

By Peter T. Chattaway

Ben Stein got his start as a lawyer and a speechwriter for Presidents Nixon and Ford, and in more recent years he has written books, offered investment advice, and hosted both a game show (Win Ben Stein's Money) and a reality TV show (America's Most Smartest Model). But he is probably still best known for playing the boring high-school economics teacher who took attendance in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Click to continue.

Worship

Was it a whale that swallowed Jonah?

Scripture just says it was a big fish.

How could a man survive for three days in the belly of a fish?

Questions we ponder...and in doing so miss the point of the story of Jonah, entirely.

Whale, fish, floating piece of driftwood...it doesn't matter. The story of Jonah is not about those things. The story of Jonah is a story of the difference between running from God and running with God.

Worship with us, Sunday, and you might find there is a little Jonah in all of us.

Annual Meeting

ANNUAL MEETING

Tonight

6:30 p.m.

Sanctuary

Tax Time

By Bryan Davis

http://www.familyfirst.net/

How generous are you?

Federal income tax returns are due tomorrow and while there is plenty to complain about, consider one positive benefit. Your 1040 gives you a clear indication of how generous you really are.

Take a look at your itemized charitable deductions on Schedule A. How does that compare with your overall income?

Did you give more to charities this year than last?

Numbers don’t lie. So are you truly generous?

If not, come up with a gameplan to get there next year.

King Saul said to David, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." (1 Samuel 17:33)

What if he had listened to Saul? We would have to come up with another metaphor for a #16 seed beating a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Seriously, like David, we all face things in our lives that are bigger and stronger than we are. Like David, as well, many people give us little encouragement for success in conquering our "giants."

David shows us how we can beat those giants, anyway.

Worship with us, Sunday, and find out how.

Favorite Book

Poll: Bible is America's Favorite Book

www.crosswalk.com

According to the results of a new survey reported by Reuters, when it comes to literary pursuits in the U.S., most people agree on at least one thing: the most popular book is the Bible.

A Harris Poll of nearly 2,513 adults ranked the Bible number one, but the second choice was not as clear. "The Bible is number one among each of the different demographic groups," Harris said in a statement.

The following demographics ranked these different books as their No. 2 favorite behind the Bible: men - J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings;" women - Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind;" 18-31-year-olds - J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series; 32-43-year-olds - Stephen King's "The Stand" and Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons."

Worship

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family...." (Hebrews 11:7)

Over the years, people have wondered what it was like to be on the ark.

The boat was huge, the water was endless, and the animals stunk.

Actually, the real question should be, "I wonder what it was like to be outside the ark when the flood came?"

Changes your entire perspective...doesn't it?

Lotion Soap Switch Angers Congregation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Members at Avalon Baptist church were angered to discover that the soap used for years in the church restrooms was replaced by a new, economical foaming soap.

"You get this bubbly mound that disappears once you rub it in your hands," one man complained as he exited the restroom. "It’s all show, this new soap."

Others agree.

"What happened to the thick, slimy stuff?" one man asked. "That really worked."

Last Sunday was supposed to be the kick-off of the church’s annual Missions Week. But the buzz in the foyer was about the soap change. Some suggested taking a special offering to restore the original liquid soap.

"You have to wonder about the leadership’s judgment, if they’re willing to make a poor decision like this," says one woman. "It signals weakness at the top."

The pastor and custodian released a joint statement on Monday saying they believe people will get used to "the new foaming action soap, and appreciate its many benefits for our church going forward." •

www.larknews.com

Comment: We laugh. However, these are the things, unfortunately, churches get upset about. Instead of things that matter...and are Biblical...we get upset about things like soap and carpet and paint and ____________ (you can fill in the blank).