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Blog Shut Down by 'Christian' Apologist's Threat Contact: Pastor Dustin Segers, Coalition of Concerned Bloggers, ChristianResearchNetwork.com, 336-848-7197 MEDIA ADVISORY, July 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pastor Dustin Segers submits the following and is available for comment: How safe are our blogs? That question was raised again when on the evening of July 26, 2008, a popular religious blog was shut down by an Internet service provider. A complaint filed by Christian author and apologist, Richard Abanes, claiming that one article on the religious opinion site, Apprising.org, had slandered him, caused the web host, IPower, to send its publisher, Ken Silva, a...

LAKE FOREST – The conversation dealt with transgendered individuals, homosexuality, and theology. Representatives of the gay community today shared their "coming out" stories and discussed religious attitudes toward homosexuality with Saddleback Church staff. "I feel the foundation is being built for other dialogue between Saddleback and the gay community," said Richard Finch... One person talked about being transgender and Christian, attendees said. Another individual talked about being in the brink of suicide because of his childhood church's views on homosexuality. ... Jeff Lutes, executive director of Soulforce — a gay rights advocacy group that organized the project — said the...

This Father’s Day, one of most popular pastors in America will open his megachurch to homosexual dads, an event that would usually signal an extreme weather alert from old guard Republican evangelical leaders. Rick Warren. (Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images for Meet the Press)But by welcoming gay fathers into his Southern California flock, Rick Warren, author of the “The Purpose Driven Life,” is not just living up to the highest standards of Christian fellowship, he’s turning the page on a particularly embarrassing part of our politics. Just to refresh: it was televangelist Pat Robertson who predicted “earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly even...

Megachurch leaders such as Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and Robert Schuller have principles like the elastic in an old woman’s drawers: It will stretch to fit almost any shape! They have problems with principle. It seems their ambition has outrun their character. In deciding right and wrong, character does not consider friends or foes, personality or position; family or faith; reputation or riches, but will apply absolute truth that comes from the Scripture. The above three leaders of aberrational Christianity are very careful to never offend anyone with such “barbaric” teachings as personal sin, repentance, judgment, hell and the like;...

TESTING THE FAITH Rick Warren: 'I always own up to mistakes' 'Purpose-driven' megachurch pastor answers evangelical EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first of a three-part series based on an interview with Rick Warren at his Saddleback Church in Southern California, which he and his wife of 30 years, Kay, founded in 1980 with one family. In part one, Warren responds to critics among his fellow evangelical travelers. In part two, published tomorrow, the senior pastor – called by Newsweek one of "15 People Who Make America Great" – discusses how he handles fame, his unconventional approach to ministry and his...

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton made what some called a “gutsy move” this past week when she appeared at a conservative evangelical megachurch to talk about AIDS. Sat, Dec. 01, 2007 Posted: 20:17:22 PM EST Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton made what some called a “gutsy move” this past week when she appeared at a conservative evangelical megachurch to talk about AIDS. Initially, some felt ill at ease over the New York senator’s appearance at the Global Summit on AIDS and the Church hosted by Saddleback Valley Community Church because of her support for abortion and gay rights, which most...

The Bible is against abortion. Hillary is for killing womb babies. The Bible is against active homosexuality. Hillary endorses sodomy. The Bible is against other gods than God. Hillary is polytheistic in that any deity is fine for her. Yet Hillary quotes then from the Bible in a sanctuary. So what’s new? Per AP, “Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton used an appearance at one of the nation’s largest evangelical churches Thursday to sketch a broad agenda to take on disease around the globe, calling it ‘the right thing to do.’ “The centerpiece of a speech laced with Biblical references and reflections...

Megachurch Aims to 'Disturb' Christians Saddleback Church’s AIDS summit kicked off Wednesday with hopes to “disturb” the hearts of those in attendance and mobilize congregations around the world to defeat the global pandemic. Thu, Nov. 29, 2007 Posted: 12:44:21 PM EST Saddleback Church’s AIDS summit kicked off Wednesday with hopes to “disturb” the hearts of those in attendance and mobilize congregations around the world to defeat the global pandemic. The third annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church has attracted about 1,000 people to the southern California megachurch to learn how churches and individuals can help fight the deadly...

A Slice alert today as the Christian Post reports this morning that Rick Warren, Leith Anderson, the head of the National Association of Evangelicals, Bill Hybels and other evangelicals have signed a document urging Muslims to “love God” together with them and to find peace between the two religions. This is where it has all been heading, folks. You’ve been warned for a long time now that this new spirituality is coming. Here’s a quote from the article: Christian leaders urged for an interfaith dialogue that moves beyond “polite” ecumenical talks between selected leaders. Instead, leaders of both faiths should...

Sun, Sep. 09, 2007 Posted: 13:36:34 PM EST The Bible says in Colossians 4:6 (RSV), “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” When you cook a meal, the flavoring is not the meat, but it sure makes the meat taste better. The same is true for your sermons. Chuck Swindoll says: “If you think that the gathering of biblical facts and standing up with a Bible in your hand will automatically equip you to communicate well, you are deeply mistaken. You must work at being interesting. Boredom is a gross violation. Being dull is a grave offense. Irrelevance...

In 1990 Saddleback was already one of the larger churches in America. On our 10th anniversary I stood up and said, “What’s next?” In our first 10 years we became one of the largest churches. But my goal now, our goal, is that we become one of the most spiritually mature churches in the nation. Spiritual maturity is not automatic. It’s got to be cultivated. This is your role and your responsibility as a leader in your church. You might be saying, Rick, that’s a pretty audacious goal! No, it’s not. It ought to be the goal of every church....

YORBA LINDA – A three-member faction of the board of Calvary Baptist Church of Yorba Linda that opposed informing members of alleged misdeeds by two former pastors gained control of the church Sunday night. The three met without the other two board members Saturday to pick five new board members, who were all approved by a vote of the congregation Sunday night. Members who wanted to nominate other candidates were silenced by board member James Hutchings, who told them, "If you can't get with us, then go."

Round Rock pastor stole at least $500,000, according to arrest report. Donald 'Roddy' Clyde turned himself in Wednesday; he's charged with felony theft. By Isadora Vail AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFFFriday, August 17, 2007A longtime Round Rock pastor was arrested after telling authorities he embezzled at least $500,000 from his church, according to court records.Donald "Roddy" Clyde, 48, turned himself in to authorities Wednesday and was charged with felony theft of more than $200,000 from the Fellowship at Forest Creek Church. Clyde's bail was set at $400,000, and he could face 99 years in prison if convicted.Clyde told police that he used the...

Huckabee is a political inconvenience, a destroyer of stereotypes. He is probably best known as the fellow who lost 100 lbs. in a year, and made living well through exercise and good nutrition one of his signature issues as Governor. But the real significance of Huckabee--and, to a lesser extent, Brownback--is that he represents the introduction of a new constituency into the political process: "Second Commandment" Christians, those more interested in salvation than damnation, people like the California pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life. Huckabee says, "Our church in Little Rock is very similar to Rick Warren's....

SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL – In perhaps the most extreme example to date of churches halting ministries during the traditionally slower summer months, Willow Creek Community Church – one of America's prototypical mega-churches – has decided to close its doors until after Labor Day.

DALLAS (ABP) -- Rick Warren, heralded as “America’s new people’s pastor,” will speak Oct. 29 at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. David Coffey, president of the Baptist World Alliance, will also speak at the meeting in Amarillo, Texas. Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, will speak about his PEACE plan, an effort for churches to lead the way in eliminating social ills like illiteracy, poverty and AIDS. His sermon will be the centerpiece of the meeting, themed “Missions -- Together We Can Do More.” Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT, said Warren’s plan is “very similar...

Pastors have asked me, "How can you use a secular song in your services? How can you let your team sing a song by Hoobastank? Or Evanescence? Or the Killers?" Let's talk a little bit about secular music in the church. First of all, we should clarify terms. There is a big debate in church circles today about what "secular" even means in relation to music. What makes a song secular or Christian? Is it the type? The lyrics? The person singing it? Madeleine L'Engle had an interesting statement in her book, Walking on Water. She wrote: "To look at...

FORT HUACHUCA — In the Bible, 40-day events have special meanings. On Sunday, a program designed to help the fort’s Christian community to strengthen their beliefs started 40 Days of Purpose on the post, Chaplain (Col.) Glenn Woodson said. “Forty days is significant. There are a number of examples of that number of days in the Bible,” he said Monday. In the Old Testament, Noah experienced 40 days of rain, and Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai before returning with the 10 commandments. In the New Testament, Jesus wandered in the wilderness for 40 days and spent the same...

Rick Warren's "Purpose-Driven" church model is being blamed in a developing split in one of the Southern Baptist Convention's most prominent churches. Two weeks ago the Wall Street Journal carried a front-page story saying Warren's church-growth methods--which include replacing hymns, choirs and pews with rock-style praise bands and laid-back sermons--were dividing the country's 50 million evangelicals. Baptist Press defended Warren, a Southern Baptist, by implying the Journal story made a mountain out of a molehill. "The 2,200-word story cites four congregations where upheaval occurred from a move toward the principles espoused by Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest,...