Statement on Palin

The Wasilla Assembly of God has released a statement about Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. It describes her involvment with the church, the congregations support of her political career and asks that believers pray for her.

Palin & Prayer

Sarah Palin asks her church for prayer involving an energy deal:

Defining Evangelicals

An “evangelical Christian" is someone who:

36% - I have no idea
18% - tries to spread his or her faith
9% - Christians who are particularly devoted or zealous about their faith
8% - Evangelicals are people who are focusing strongly on the Bible
8% - People who are saved by Christ, saved by grace, believe in a born again experience, and believe in eternal life through Christ, etc.
6% - Someone with a conservative view of politics
5% - fanatical about their beliefs
4% - hypocritical, bigots, stupid, manipulative, etc.
4% - close-minded about religion
3% - focuses on money rather than God
3% - wants to impose their beliefs or standards on others

Source: Ellison Research

Jewish Groups Balk at Palin Selection

Some Jewish groups are upset with the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate. The National Jewish Democratic Council calls her "a poor choice" while an op-ed piece in the Jerusalem Post says she is “out of step with public opinion in the Jewish community.”

One of the criticisms of Palin has to do with her church. She was in the audience recently when a speaker for the group Jews for Jesus told the congregation that violence in the Middle East should be partly blamed on Israeli Jews who have not accepted Jesus as their Messiah. A campaign spokesperson says Governor Palin does not share the views he expressed.

McCain Gets Boost from VP Choice

Obama and McCain are tied at 42% in a poll by CBS News conducted after the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate. McCain was down by 8 points just a week earlier in the same poll. It doesn’t take into account Palin’s Wednesday night speech or McCain’s own acceptance speech. The poll also found Evangelical support for McCain jumped from 57 to 67%.

Hazing at Christian College

A private Christian college is in an uproar over the hazing of some freshman. Point Loma Nazarene University has apologized to the students who were awakened by upperclassmen from their all-male dorm and told to swim in the ocean naked. Some of the students say they were hit and one claims someone urinated on him. The San Diego school says it will hand out discipline after an investigation is completed.

Ancient Jerusalem Wall Unearthed

Archaeologists working in Israeli say they have found new sections of Jerusalem's ancient wall located south of the Old City, built in two different time periods. The project that began more than 100 years ago and has uncovered sections built more than 2000 years ago by the Hasmonean dynasty and second section built some 1500 years ago by Byzantine rulers. These walls are about 10-and-a-half-feet tall.

Protestors at Focus on the Family

Police took protesters off the campus of Focus on the Family today when they refused to leave. The American Right to Life Action demonstrators complain that Focus founder James Dobson isn’t living up to his pledge to never back a candidate who supports abortion. Dobson recently endorsed John McCain for president. Even though McCain has said he is against abortion and has a “pro-life voting record”, ARLA says Dobson shouldn’t support McCain because he makes an exception for rape or incest.

"Then I Went to Hell"

A sign outside Havens Corners Church near Columbus, Ohio is turning heads. In a take on the hit song by Katy Perry called I Kissed a Girl, the message reads:

I kissed a girl and I liked it -- Then I went to hell.

Pastor Dave Allison says he’s just reminding people that the Bible condemns homosexuality.

Fired for Mormon Beliefs?

Mormonism will go on trial September 15th in California. Mobile-home saleswoman Judy Clark claims she was fired for being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now, she has filed a lawsuit and wants $90,000. Clark says a memo turned up in the office before she was let go that called the group a cult and two other Mormons lost their jobs after she did. Her former employer says Clark was suspended for poor performance and chose to not return to work.

Deacons Go After Same Seat in Congress

Two deacons from the same church are running for the same congressional seat in Alabama's 2nd District. Democrat and Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright is up against Republican Representative Jay Love of Montgomery both attend Montgomery's First Baptist Church. They have avoided negative mud-slinging so far and seldom see each other at the 5000 member megachurch because they attend different services.

Palin Speech from this Summer

Here is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin giving a commencement address in June to a class at the Wasilla Assembly of God. It will give you an idea as to who she is and what she believes. Some liberal bloggers are criticizing her comments as eyeraising. Among other "controversial" commments, Palin told students to pray our country's leaders are sending troops "out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Pastors in Trouble with the IRS

The IRS which has issuing a set of guidelines that bar electioneering on the Web by churches. Here are some churches who have gotten in trouble recently with the agency for it because watchdog groups have filed complaints.

The pastor of a church in Harlem, New York, James David Manning posted a sermon online calling Barak Obama a pimp and his mother a “trashy white woman”. The clip from Atlah World Ministries made the rounds on YouTube with more than 2 million hits.

A St. Petersburg televangelist put a sermon on his website calling a vote for Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon, a “vote for Satan”.

Maury Davis, pastor of a megachurch in Nashville called Cornerstone Church, told the congregation he wasn’t supposed to tell them he supported three members who were running for seats on the school board. He went on to name them and the video was posted on the church website.

Survey of Catholics & Evangelicals

Church-going Catholics:
John McCain 49%
Barack Obama 42%
Undecided 9%

Evangelical Christians likely to vote:
John McCain 61%
Barack Obama 34%
Undecided 5%

The survey was taken last month, before the VP choices were made.

Source: The Catholic Association

Palin's Faith

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin was baptized as a child in the Roman Catholic church. As a teenager, she began attending the Wasilla Assembly of God Church where she made a profession of faith and was baptized by founding pastor, Paul Riley. Now in his 80’s, Riley still serves as a prison chaplain. Palin attended that Pentecostal church until she was 38 years old, when she switched to Wasilla Bible Church because of the church's ministry for children. Senior pastor Larry Kroons says the Palin family has attended for six years and their new baby was dedicated at the church two weeks ago. Nevertheless, the McCain-Palin campaign says Palin attends many churches and does not consider herself to be Pentecostal.

Christians in India Face Riots

Rioting against Christians continues in eastern India where several churches and homes have been burned. As many as 50 people may have been killed. Thousands have come to refugee camps to avoid the Hindu mobs. Most of those who have been attacked are Catholic. The violence started when a Hindu religious leader and several followers were found murdered.

Former Obama Pastor is Back

All three services of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in downtown Houston were packed this morning, as the predominately black congregation got a message from Barack Obama's controversial former pastor. Jeremiah Wright spoke positively about Obama despite their falling out. Obama eventually denounced Wright following a firestorm over his messages. Obama called them “devisive”.

Concerts Go Head to Head

Orlando has competing Christian Rock concerts set for next weekend. Universal's Rock the Universe is set for Friday and Saturday of this week. Down the street, Walt Disney World's Night of Joy takes place on the same two days. Universal will feature on two stages Switchfoot, Relient K, Newsboys, Skillet, Grits, Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay, Stellar Kart, along with Brian "Head" Welch, the former lead guitarist of Korn. Over at Disney, concert-goers can hear artists like Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, TobyMac Rebecca St. James and BarlowGirl.