Lightning strikes Jesus statue

The landmark six storey tall statue outside the Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio was struck by lightning and destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The ‘King of King’s statue which was built in 2004 showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus by locals because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signalling a touchdown in American Football.

Cassie Browning, a church member lamented the destruction of such a recognizable landmark, "It meant so much to so many people," she said.

Officials from the 4000 strong non-denominational church which built the statues said that many had told them that America needed more symbols like it. In fact, so many stopped at the church campus to look at the statue that a walkway had to be built to accommodate them.

Darlene Bishop, co-pastor of Solid Rock Church, says she's hugely relieved that the lightning hit Jesus and not the home for at-risk women next door.

"I told them, 'It looks like Jesus took a hit for you last night,' " she says.

The Washington Post describes that religious statues like that of Christ the Redeemer, the 130 foot Jesus statue that stands over Rio de Janeiro were often struck by lightning bolts. Other religious figures were not exempt, however, because the Notre Dame de Chicago's Virgin Mary burst into flames from her perch atop the church's dome in 1978. A bolt that once struck St. Joan of Arc's statue in New Orleans sliced her brandished staff in half.

However, no one is reading into these lightning incidents as ‘acts of God.’ Religious structures, including church steeples, are often struck simply because they are often the highest point in a given area.

As for the incineration of Touchdown Jesus, Pastor Bishop isn't reading into it at all.

"Honey," she says, "it's just some fiberglass."

Pastor Bishop did stress that the statue would be rebuilt by the church.

"It will be back, but this time we are going to try for something fireproof," she said.

(To read the full article, please go to http://washingtonpost.com)

The Remarkable Growth of the Anglican Church in Nigeria

Ninety-one years after it was first established, the Anglican Church of Nigeria has become the largest active Protestant church body in the world. Most of this growth, however, has occurred during the last twenty years.

Each Sunday around 20 million Nigerian Anglicans gather together in worship.

A Christian Post reporter recently contacted the recently retired Anglican Bishop, the Right Reverend Peter Akinola to find out the story behind this remarkable growth.
In Akinola’s opinion, a significant change occurred when the Nigerian Anglican church stopped treating their bishops as ecclesiastical statesmen, and instead made evangelism their foremost priority.

“Today, every bishop (in the Church of Nigeria) is first and foremost an evangelist,” said Akinola. “And from that, other things follow.”

Rapid growth occurred when the Church created what Akinola terms “missionary dioceses.” Essentially evangelically minded bishops are appointed to strategically nominated areas where they are expected to form fully-fledged dioceses within five years.

In this way an Anglican presence was brought to “every nook and cranny of the country,” according to Akinola.

Statistics back up Akinola’s statements. While Akinola became a bishop there were 46 in office, while now there are 167 bishops operating. Akinola himself created from nothing a diocese that involves 55 separate churches.

Akinola is also convinced that good leadership is central to this growth.

He stated, “Without a leader, how much can we really accomplish? When a leader is focused, when a leader is determined, when a leader is genuine, when a leader is being led by God, I am sure that good things will result. But when a leader does not give attention to these matters or has a different agenda, of course the fellowship will be affected.”

Akinola stressed however, that none of this would have been possible without God by asserting that: “It is one thing to lead, it is another thing for what you do to be led by God. So for me again it is certainly God’s mighty blessings upon our leadership that is responsible for our achievements.”

Summarising the missionary focus of the Anglican church, Akinola stated, “We believe very strongly that when a church ceases to evangelize and to plant new churches, it will not have the right to exist.”

Akinola envisions the Anglican Church in Nigeria eventually growing to half the 150 million population of the country.

“My successor is a firebrand in the area of evangelism and orthodoxy,” he concluded.

(To read the full story, please go to http://christianpost.com).

U.K. Abortion Controversy over Jesus Ultrasound Poster

An anti-abortion advertisement that pictures the ultrasound of an unborn Jesus with a halo has generated heated controversy in the United Kingdom.

ChurchAds.Net’s “Baby-Scan Jesus” poster has been planned for use during its 2010 Christmas campaign, but debate has been raised months before the holiday season. The posters creators are insistent that it has been designed to stimulate conversation about the meaning of Christmas, but the poster’s critics say that it is far too political and see it as a counterattack on the first ever TV ad for abortion services (recently aired in the U.K.).

“It gives the impression that it was politically motivated, that they are trying to put across some sort of subliminal message,” said Terry Sanderson, director of the National Secular Society. “The image is too specifically associated with pro-lifers to be seen in a benign context.”

Sanderson further stated, “They should go back to angels and cribs.”

The Churchads.net poster message reads: “He’s on His Way: Christmas starts with Christ.” The group explained that idea for the poster came from the 21st-century convention that proud parents-to-be show the ultrasound of their baby to family and friends.

“Our new Baby-scan Jesus poster uses this convention to place the birth of Christ in an ultra-contemporary context,” the group explained. “It is highly impactful. It has a sense of immediacy. It creates anticipation. And theologically it speaks of both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ.”

ChurchAds.net said it is releasing its poster early to allow supporters to help reserve bus shelter and billboard ads and radio commercial spots before they are sold out. The group noted that by October most spots have already been sold out.

The ecumenical network aims to use the poster to reach 40 million people by displaying it on 2010 bus shelter sites and conveying the message through radio commercials aired on 200 stations.

The “Baby-scan Jesus” poster, scheduled to run from Dec. 6 to 20, is backed by the Church of England, Baptist Union, Methodist and United Reformed churches.

(To read the full article, please go to http://christianpost.com)

Pope Pleads for Forgiveness

Addressing thousands of priests in Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI pleaded forgiveness for a church scarred by various sexual abuse scandals, and assured the public that the church would do all it good to prevent priests from abusing children in the future.

“We, too, insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again,” Benedict said during a speech made to mark celebrations of the end of the Vatican’s Year of the Priest.

However, Pope Benedict did not specify exactly what actions would be taken as many have been hoping for, nor did his remarks go any further than remarks he has already made in a letter to Irish Catholics in March and in a private meeting with sexual abuse victims on Malta in April.

It was the first time that that Benedict had asked forgiveness for the crisis from St. Peter’s Square, the heart of the church itself, and on an occasion focused on priests.

The pope said the Devil was behind the scandal, saying it had emerged now, in the middle of the Vatican’s Year of the Priest, because “the enemy,” or the Devil, wants to see “God driven out of the world.”

“And so it happened that in this very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light — particularly the abuse of the little ones,” the pope added.

He said that in admitting and training men for the priesthood, “We will do everything we can to weigh the authenticity of their vocation and make every effort to accompany priests along their journey, so that the Lord will protect them and watch over them in troubled situations and amid life’s dangers.”

Various victims groups felt that the Pope did not go far enough. The lay Catholic group BishopAccountability.org, described the pope’s remarks as “a great disappointment and a squandered opportunity.”

It called on the pope to “endorse and facilitate certain external measures that would increase transparency and advance justice,” including posting all abuse cases handled by the Vatican on the Vatican Web site and ordering “his bishops to cooperate fully with secular investigations, not oppose them.”

(To read the full article, please go to http://nytimes.com)

Make the Circle Beega and Other Great Biblical Truths

From Facebook pages to newspaper columns, from office parties to school events, from townships to the suburbs, South Africa is absolutely buzzing with ‘ayoba’ world cup fever. Once again, sport is showing its particular power to unite South Africans across their differences. Like the Rugby World Cup in ’95 and Soweto Saturday a few weeks ago, we have been collectively stunned, humbled and delighted at how the sheer joy of this moment brings South Africans closer together. It is amazing how the seemingly endless Malema/Terre’Blanche racial tensions of the last few months now seem a distant memory. The positive and life-giving attitude that this World Cup has engendered is actually an incredible opportunity for our country. After the ’95 Rugby event and all it achieved, we sadly lost momentum in the years afterwards, and should strive to learn from that experience by refusing to waste this one.

Of course, we would be foolish to believe that a sporting event can solve all our deep-rooted social, political and economic problems, but we would be equally foolish to not make the most of the momentum and fresh energy this one has lent us. One of the ways we can best do this is by carefully learning our lessons – by assessing exactly what it is that has brought our country such unity, joy and freedom. Of course vuvuzelas, bright clothing, street parties, public holidays and great sporting moments all help greatly, but underpinning these are crucial and life-giving truths that seem somehow God-inspired. It is my belief that these truths are acting as foundations to the event itself, and are fundamental reasons (other than the list above) as to why we are in such a good place at the moment.

The first of these is best summed up in one of the world cup songs ‘Make the circle bigger,’ (or 'beega') which if you think about it has a lot of theological significance. Just that one line of course, I am not so sure about the rest of it, but it certainly has one of those tunes that get stuck in your head and promises never to leave. A good friend of mine, Roger Scholtz, summed up the significance of this line when he recently wrote, “’making the circle bigger’ is precisely what the love and grace of God is all about.” Jesus was remarkable for the way he actively sought out the people on the margins of Jewish society in his day (prostitutes, tax collectors, gentiles) and befriended them. Unfortunately, the church has often forgotten this vital aspect of Jesus’ mission, but moments like this World Cup are a timely reminder that God is always wanting us to make “the circle bigger” – to include in our fellowship those who are left on the outside of society.

Scripture teaches that God created humanity for acts of compassion, both large and small. Love and relationship are the great truths upon which God founded the universe and when we practice them radically by ‘widening our circles’ through acts of gracious inclusion and warm hospitality, well then we begin to spark into life part of our own reason for being. Something ‘clicks’ within us and we ourselves become ‘bigger' as a result; we become more somehow - more human, more full, more free. Viva God's circle!

Of course, it is easy to practice these truths in moments of great celebration when everyone is filled with excitement and anticipation. Where the rubber really hits the road is to maintain them as an essential part of the fabric of our society when times become tough, and the headlines are once again dominated by greedy politicians and criminals rather than sport. Yet, if we do hold onto them, both in big and small ways, as individuals and as a nation, then we can become part of something that is even more exciting than a Soccer World Cup. Having a World Cup in South Africa is a once in a life-time event, but holding onto and living out these great truths will last us a life-time.

Church Offers Help for Recovering Porn Addicts through Mobile App

The renowned “Porn Pastor” of XXXChurch, Craig Gross, has released a mobile version of a software program that assists recovering porn addicts in their efforts to be accountable. Gross founded XXXChurch (and its website XXXChurch.com) in 2002 after noting just how many people struggled with pornography addictions of various types.

The release of the X3watch app for the iPhone, iPad and Android was announced Tuesday by the community-based website, founded by “Porn Pastor” Craig Gross.

Gross stated that: “Unlike filters that just block specific websites all together, X3watch was intentionally designed to give users the freedom and power to show their friends, parents and spouses that they can be held accountable and make good choices.”

“For people frequently tempted by the accessibility of Internet porn, this app is a great tool to keep them in check and focused on who their habit may be hurting,” he added.

This mobile app is entitled the X3watch app and is designed for the iPhone, iPad and Androids. It is similar to the original X3watch software program in that it works by recording the name of any questionable sites the user visits (as well as the date and time the site was accessed), and then it sends an automated message of his activity to a person listed as an “accountability partner.”

“As our society becomes increasingly dependent upon mobile phones and technology, accessing Internet porn becomes all the more effortless,” reported Gross.

“Porn has truly gone mobile and we want to help people be accountable on any communication device they are using,” he added.

Currently, the mobile app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store.

The original computer program, to date, has been downloaded over a million times from XXXChurch.com, with around 500 to 700 downloads a day.

(To read the full story, please go to http://christianpost.com)

‘Mega Mosque’ Battle at Ground Zero

Last Sunday, protestors gathered in their thousands to oppose the proposed ‘mega mosque’ to be built near New York’s Ground Zero.

The protest, which had been organized by the ultra conservative group, Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), began at noon in order to gather support behind concerted efforts to prevent construction of Cordoba House – a 15 story facility that project leaders believe will encourage tolerance and promote unity across racial and religious backgrounds.

“This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture,” say those behind the Cordoba House project.

“Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all,” they add.

Adversaries of this Muslim-led project are challenging it because they believe that building an Islamic center on the doorstep of Ground Zero is offensive to both the victims and the families of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 2, 976 people lost their lives at Ground Zero when the Twin Towers collapsed in the attack.

“Ground Zero is a war memorial. Ground Zero is a burial ground,” said SIOA Co-Founder Pamela Geller during Sunday’s rally. “We are asking for sensitivity.”

The New York community board in charge of authorizing the center’s construction plans voted 29-1 in favour of it. In response to this setback, opponents of the Islamic center are pressurizing the Landmarks Preservation Commission to declare the intended building site (the Burlington Coat factory) as a landmark. The Burlington Coat factory is 152 years old and also contains a piece of one of the hijacked planes which crashed into it.

“We are going to sue the U.S. Government to get a designation of war memorial status,” declared Geller on Sunday.

(To read the full story, please go to http://christianpost.com)