- Christians Celebrate Earth Day
- Military foundation objects to Franklin Graham’s invitation to address Pentagon on National Day of Prayer
- Sho Baraka Releases His Highly Anticipated New Album ‘Lions and Liars’
- Atheist Group Urges Obama to Replace National Day of Prayer with National Day of Reason
| Christians Celebrate Earth Day Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:26 AM PDT This year Christians throughout the United States will be celebrating Earth Day through a live simulcast nationwide, through documentaries, lectures and seminars on God’s creation and man’s stewardship of the earth. Earth Day, slated for April 22, is intended to raise awareness and appreciation for the environment. Now on its 40th year, Earth Day is said to be founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. However its concept originated from Pentecostal minister John McConnell Jr, 95, who told the Assemblies of God (AG) Heritage magazine that he first proposed Earth Day in 1969 to promote peace and unity. He wanted it to be held in late March at the start of spring. McConnell said he submitted his proposal for Earth Day to San Francisco city officials on Oct. 3, 1969. The first governmental recognition of Earth Day was held March 21, 1970 supported by Congress and the United Nations. However, it was moved by Sen. Nelson to April 22 because he had scheduled a political protest called Environmental Teach-In Day. McConnell’s biographer, Robert Weir, said Nelson admitted that he got the idea for Earth Day from others, but he did not specify from whom. In time, he began to publicly claim full credit for Earth Day.
However now they see Earth Day as a time to renew their stewardship of God’s gift of creation, celebrate God and to witness their faith to others. McConnell said, “We love God … [and therefore should] have an appreciation for His creation.” A study in 2008 by the Barna Group, a religious research organization, found that 78 percent of self-identified Christians would like to see their fellow Christians take a more active role in caring for the earth. Some of the things that Christians are doing on Earth Day include:
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| Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:10 AM PDT The Military Religious Freedom Foundation recently objected to an invitation that was sent to Reverend Franklin Graham to address the Pentagon on National Prayer Day. The MRFF said they were objecting on behalf of members of the Pentagon’s Muslim community who wrote to the organization and objected to Graham’s invitation. After the 2003 attacks of 9/11 Graham described Islam as “evil” and “wicked.” In a forthcoming letter to the Wall Street Journal Graham wrote, “As a minister … I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching.” President of the MRFF, Mikey Weinstein said in a letter that inviting evangelist Franklin Graham to speak at the National Day of Prayer on May 6 “would be like bringing someone in on national prayer day madly denigrating Christianity” or other religious groups. It would also endanger American troops by “stirring up Muslim extremists.” The MRFF’s Web site is headed by a quote by Weinstein which says, “When one proudly dons a U.S. military uniform, there is only one religious symbol: The American flag. There is only one religious scripture: The American constitution. Finally there is only one religious faith: American patriotism.” Weinstein also objected to the Pentagon’s “noxious” affiliation with the National Day of Prayer Task Force which is headed by Shirley Dobson, although he stressed he does not object to the Pentagon Chaplain’s Office hosting an NDP event. Graham is the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and president and CEO of both Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian international relief organization in Boone, N.C., and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in Charlotte, N.C.  Franklin Graham at the podium and on the big screen at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. in 2007. Credit:Flikr-publicjill Graham, through a spokesman said, “As the father of a son serving in his fourth combat tour, I’d be glad to know someone was leading a prayer service at the National Day of Prayer, or any other day.” The spokesman also said Graham will be a guest of the Pentagon and will speak only if he’s still invited. A military spokeswoman said she was locating officials to respond to the criticism. A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled last week that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The judge did not bar any observances until all appeals are exhausted. |
| Sho Baraka Releases His Highly Anticipated New Album ‘Lions and Liars’ Posted: 20 Apr 2010 04:02 PM PDT Christian Newswire/ – On “Lions and Liars,” Sho takes on faith, manhood, and selflessness, but not at the expense of good quality music. Tracks like “Me, Myself and I,” “Liars Anthem,” “Revolutionary Died,” and “4ever is 2morrow” reflect a biblical worldview, yet still have crossover appeal. And “Lion’s Anthem,” “Famous,” “Shut Us Down,” and “I.T.W.N.O.I.” are surefire Christian anthems that fans will be gushing over. Not to mention the album’s first single, “We Can Be More ft J.R.,” which introduces a new dimension to Christian music, even more so to Gospel Rap: a love song. The single offers a pure perspective on love and relationships, and challenges men to respect and uphold true love. No topic is off limits on “Lions and Liars” as Sho weaves his own story into the album, offers his perspective on mainstream culture and even challenges the widely held Christian view that in order to truly impact society you need to be in full-time ministry. Sho inspires listeners to affect change wherever they are, whatever their vocation. “Lions and Liars” is a testament to a redeemed, yet still culturally relevant artist, whose unique approach gives the album the ability to change the perceptions about hip-hop, revolutionizing the genre and its supporters. And while Sho’s style is untraditional, his biblical convictions are strong; there’s no mistaking his motivation as he raps, “Now my only job is to make [Christ] famous.” Reach Records, which recently relocated to Atlanta, is an independent hip-hop label dedicated to producing and promoting substantive hip-hop artists like Sho Baraka. |
| Atheist Group Urges Obama to Replace National Day of Prayer with National Day of Reason Posted: 20 Apr 2010 01:13 PM PDT  The National Day of Prayer has been recognized and observed by every U.S. President since 1775. The American Humanist Association (AHA) is at it again. The group recently embarked on a mission to replace the word “God” in the national motto “In God We Trust” with “Good” (see The Underground’s article Humanist Group Unveils “In Good We Trust” Billboards). Now they have set their sights on the National Day of Prayer, arguing instead for a “National Day of Reason,” according to CNS News. The group’s movement started on the heels of last week’s federal court ruling that the National Day of Prayer was indeed unconstitutional because it violates the separation of church and state. U.S. District Court Judge Barbara B. Crabb wrote of the 1952 statute creating the National Day of Prayer that its “sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function,” according to the official AHA web site. White House spokespersons have reported that President Obama will still recognize the traditional observance of the National Day of Prayer on May 6, as the court’s appeals process will not yet be exhausted by that time. AHA Director Roy Speckhardt disagrees with the president’s decision. “The government should not be directing citizens to pray,” he said. “In addition to being unconstitutional, it’s also specifically offensive to people who don’t believe in a god and are made to feel excluded by the observance.” Historically, there have been several recorded National Days of Prayer, even before the 1952 ruling establishing the observance we now recognize as a nation. In 1775, the Continental Congress marked a day to designate “a time of prayer in forming a new nation.” Former U.S. President John Adams would later declare May 9, 1798 “a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer.” He asked Americans to pray “that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it.” The National Day of Prayer became a requirement of U.S. presidents’ recognition when, on April 17, 1952, former President Harry S. Truman signed a bill declaring that all subsequent presidents observe the day. In recent years, the National Day of Prayer was reintroduced to the nation due, in part, to the efforts of the Reverend Billy Graham and certain members of both the House and the Senate. Together, these men implemented a joint resolution to mark an annual National Day of Prayer, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” Peter Spriggs, senior fellow for policy studies at Family Research Council told CNSNews.com, “The American Humanist Association and their allied groups have every right to promote a new celebration if they want to – and if they can persuade people to participate voluntarily, that’s fine, but I don’t think they have a right to do away with a long-standing tradition that is deeply rooted in our nation’s history – which is calling the people to prayer.” Spriggs also added, “[The National Day of Prayer] is inclusive of the vast majority of Americans who believe in a Supreme Being and who do pray, and it is inclusive of the vast majority of Americans throughout the history of our country –and the vast majority of the leaders of our country through our history.” Of Judge Barabra Crabb, Spriggs concluded, “Judge Crabb was inferring that she found something in the Constitution that every president and Congress since 1775 has not.” The case is expected to have its day in the U.S. Supreme Court. |
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