Police Call on Pastors to Keep the Peace

In Indianapolis police have recruited a growing number of ministers to help calm individuals involved in volatile crime scenes.

Pastors are often known as peaceseekers. In Indianapolis, a growing group of them are being enlisted at homicide scenes for that very reason reports the Indianapolis Star.

Police from that city have recruited more than a dozen ministers so far to help calm individuals involved in volatile crime scenes.

According to Deputy Chief Patricia Holman, pastors will serve as liaisons between police and the community at the scenes of homicides, police-action shootings or any other potential crisis situation the newspaper said.

“They have a connection to the neighborhood,” said Holman, who also serves as an assistant pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Indianapolis. “They are the very people that people are looking to for answers.” Police hope to eventually have a pastor on call in every district.

Only Two Ministries Meet Grassley Deadline

Only Joyce Meyer Ministries and Kenneth Copeland Ministries complied with the Dec. 6 deadline to submit financial records to the U.S. Senate.

Only two of the six charismatic ministries asked to submit financial data to the ranking Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee complied with their Dec. 6 deadline.

Last month, Sen. Charles Grassley sent letters requesting detailed information about perks, salaries, compensations and board-meeting minutes to Randy and Paula White, Benny Hinn, David and Joyce Meyer, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Eddie Long, and Creflo and Taffi Dollar. Grassley said his interest was in determining whether or not the nonprofits were operating in compliance with their tax-exempt status and gave the televangelists 30 days to respond.

Because the letter was sent from Grassley’s office and not from the Senate Finance Committee, the law does not require compliance. Nonetheless, Joyce Meyer Ministries and Kenneth Copeland Ministries mailed in their documents by the deadline. “Our timely response to the senator’s efforts to ensure the financial accountability of all nonprofits is a decisive demonstration of the high standard of fiscal responsibility that we hold ourselves to,” said a spokesman from Joyce Meyer ministries.

Benny Hinn Ministries asked for an extension until Jan. 30. Grassley said representatives for Randy and Paula White spoke with his office, but there had been no further response.

Long’s ministry did not release the requested information because Grassley’s letter was “not a subpoena or a formal inquiry by the Senate Finance Committee,” his attorneys said in a statement. The ministry sent Grassley a letter instead, saying the church will fully comply with all laws applicable to churches but that Grassley’s request disregards the ministry’s privacy protections.

Creflo Dollar, who has been vocal in the media in saying that the inquiry was an invasion of privacy, also sent a letter stating that it would not voluntarily turn over documents, Grassley’s office said. In a letter written by Dollar’s attorney, the ministry stated that the “religious doctrine and practices of a church should not be held out for the world to evaluate as a result of responding to Congressional inquiries,” the Atlanta Journal Constition reported.

Grassley has said issuing a subpeona is an option open to the finance committee, but that he would rather not have to pursue it. The senator noted that the only time he has had to pursue a subpoena was when he was gathering information from charities connected to Jack Abramoff, the political lobbyist now in prison for fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion.

“It’s good that some of the ministries are cooperating,” Grassley said in a statement released shortly after the 5 p.m. deadline. “I hope all of them will cooperate in the end. For the focus of this inquiry, ministries are the same as any other nonprofit organization. It’s a question of abiding by tax laws just like any tax-exempt group.”

Church Planting in US Hits Record High

New research shows that church planting in the U.S. is at a record high. Thousands of evangelical churches are planted yearly and 68 percent of those are still functioning four years later.

New research shows that although denominations have seen decline, church planting is showing signs of new life.

LifeWay Research’s “State of Church Planting USA” found that approximately 4,000 churches are being planted in the United States each year—an all-time high. The study also discovered that the churches being planted are more diverse than in the past.

Many new missional, seeker-sensitive, “purpose-driven” and ethnic churches are springing up. Dave Travis, managing director at Leadership Network, which assisted in the study, sees a new generation driving the trend.

“There is this bulge of young adults that come up and begin to create new forms of institutional faith,” Travis said. “There will always be a need for new churches and new church plants to serve those needs.”

The study also debunked the common perception that new churches usually fail: 68 percent of the 4,000 churches planted each year are still functioning four years later.

Huckabee Surges Ahead in Iowa

Christians lack consensus on who they will support for president, but this week’s results in the Iowa polls is showing that many are rallying around Mike Huckabee.

At the start of the primary season conservative Christians are united in their anxiety over the possibility of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton becoming president. But their harmony ends there.

No presidential candidate has managed to rally the complete support of the evangelical voting bloc, which in 2004 comprised 40 percent of the vote for President Bush. And although polls show that most Americans believe it is important for a president to have strong religious beliefs, the two front-runners—Clinton and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani—are seen as the least religious candidates from their respective parties.

Yet an increasing number of evangelicals are rallying behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has long been considered a dark horse for the Republican nomination. This week, Huckabee attracted heavy media attention when he overtook Gov. Mitt Romney in Iowa, placing first in a Des Moines Register poll. He hit double digits in a CNN national poll last month.

Adding to the Huckabee momentum, actor Chuck Norris, Life Today host James Robison and American Family Association founder Don Wildmon have all endorsed the one-time Baptist pastor while Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren, who has known Huckabee for nearly 30 years, said he is “definitely presidential material.”

But more than 20 percent of evangelicals said they did not have a favorite presidential candidate. The recent Associated Press/Ipsos poll also found that 24 percent would vote for former Sen. Fred Thompson, and 20 percent supported Giuliani despite his failed marriages and support of abortion and gay rights.

The lack of consensus has been most evident among ministry leaders known for their political activism. In November Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson announced his support for Giuliani, saying he was the best candidate to defend the nation against terrorism.

Meanwhile, the National Right to Life Committee, the nation’s largest pro-life group, endorsed Thompson, while Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich, Bob Jones University Chancellor Bob Jones III and pro-life leader John Willke threw their support behind Romney, despite his Mormon faith. And former GOP candidate Sam Brownback endorsed Sen. John McCain, who once called right-wing Christian leaders “agents of intolerance.”

Among conservative Hispanic Christians, Huckabee and McCain stand out, said Samuel Rodriguez, a Pentecostal minister and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

The immigration debate will sway Hispanics away from the Republicans, he noted, but Huckabee’s positions on immigration, social justice, life and marriage make him “not your typical white conservative” but one “in the vein of Ronald Reagan.”

He added that McCain also has appeal because he “has spent more political capital on immigration than any other.”

On the Democratic side, Clinton has yet to attract any prominent evangelical support, but her main contender, Sen. Barack Obama, has made inroads into Christian circles. Obama garnered an endorsement from popular pastor and singer Donnie McClurkin and the Rev. Stephen Thurston, president of the National Baptist Convention of America. He also was invited to Warren’s annual summit on AIDS, as were Clinton, Huckabee, Romney and Giuliani.

However, despite Obama’s emphasis on faith, some socially conservative black Christians perceive him as too liberal because of his support for abortion and gay rights, said Harry Jackson, an African-American pastor and the chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, a group promoting faith-based leadership among blacks and Hispanics.

Last fall Christian leaders, including James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Gary Bauer, a Christian activist and 2000 presidential candidate, organized a meeting in which they agreed that if neither major party nominated a candidate “who pledges himself or herself to the sanctity of human life,” as Dobson later wrote in a New York Times op-ed, they would vote for a minor party candidate.

“Voting according to the possibility of winning or losing can lead directly to the compromise of one’s principles,” Dobson wrote. “Winning the presidential election is vitally important, but not at the expense of what we hold most dear.”

The group even considered creating a third party, but reached no consensus.

Bauer said differences among Christians are understandable given the unprecedented way the candidates are reaching out to evangelicals. “The one thing I’m worried about is that as Christians we will be angry with each other because we’ve picked different candidates and that’ll make it harder for everybody to join together once there’s a final nominee,” he said.

Jackson said despite the apathy among many conservative Christians, evangelical voters may still decide the election. “At the very least we’re going to be a spoiler vote,” he said. “For example, if Hillary Clinton was the person we all said ‘we’re not voting for Hillary no matter what,’ it would be hard … for her to win.” —AMY GREEN

Government Gives Pentecostal Ministry $3.5 Million in Food

Convoy of Hope was recently given an unexpected $3.5 million of Meals Ready to Eat from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Convoy of Hope, a humanitarian ministry that has responded to global catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina and the floods in Bangladesh and Chile, was recently given an unexpected $3.5 million of Meals Ready to Eat from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), reported the Assemblies of God (AG) News Service.

“It’s a marvelous resource to help us better serve people in need following a disaster,” Randy Rich, operations director for Convoy of Hope, told AG News. “We are thankful for the good working relationship that we have with FEMA, and for being considered one of the most efficient and effective first responders.

The AG-affiliated organization said that much of the food, which has already filled 35 semitrailers, will be stored in their warehouse to be used for future international and domestic relief response; 350,000 pounds will be given to other nonprofits.

Global Vigil Held for AIDS Orphans

This past Friday concluded the first-ever Global Vigil for AIDS Orphans, which sought raise awareness of the 6,000 children left without a parent every day due to the AIDS.

This past Friday concluded the first-ever Global Vigil for AIDS Orphans, which sought to honor and raise awareness of the mostly forgotten 6,000 children worldwide left without a parent every day due to the AIDS pandemic ravaging entire nations.

Sponsored by the Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, the vigils, which began in Toronto on Nov. 29, were held in 17 different cities around the globe before finally concluding in New York 24 hours later.

AIDS activists, musicians, students and other leaders joined to speak out about the children affected by the deadly disease.

“This disease is killing millions—and destroying the lives of millions more,” said World Vision employee and AIDS activist Bwalya Melu, who lost three of his brothers and their wives to the virus in his native Zambia. “But each of those millions is a real life. My brothers and their wives had real children who feel the tragedy of their loss every day. We must safeguard their futures as well.”

In addition to speakers giving their testimonies, musicians like the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and Shane and Shane ministered at events while volunteers helped assemble AIDS caregiver kits to give AIDS workers.

During the vigils, participants read the names of children who had lost a parent because of AIDS; by the last vigil 6,000 names had been read, representing the amount of children that had lost a parent that day.

“This event is like nothing we’ve ever done before,” said Richard E. Stearns, president of World Vision. “But then this crisis is like nothing we’ve ever addressed before. A crisis like AIDS demands a response of enormous scale, both in our programs for those affected by the virus, and in our call to affect change.”

Photo Credit: ©2006 Paul Bettings/World Vision
Country:Uganda

Evangelicals OK With Divorce

Recent events and research indicate that evangelicals are becoming more tolerant of divorce among clergy and more accepting of divorce in general.

Recent events and research indicate that evangelicals are becoming more tolerant of divorce among clergy and more accepting of divorce in general.

An article in USA Today noted that when charismatic televangelists Randy and Paula White recently separated, “the most remarkable part of the reaction was that there wasn’t much reaction at all.”

The same seemed to be true for the split between Thomas W. Weeks and televangelist wife Juanita Bynum. A recent poll from the Pew Research Center for People and the Press found the divorce records of GOP presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and John McCain have not hindered their popularity among white evangelical voters.

After writing a recent Christianity Today cover story, David Instone-Brewer is being criticized for concluding that adultery, physical and emotional neglect, abuse and abandonment are all biblically justified reasons for divorce reports USA Today.

Mark Galli, managing editor of the magazine, said, “I think conservative Christians are becoming more liberalized in … making more room for the acceptance of divorce and remarriage. You'll see a lot of churches that plunge right in and have divorce ministries. … Marriage is a really difficult thing in our culture right now.”

Catholic Church Leaders Combat Declining Membership

Catholic Church leaders say the Church must undergo a “self-critical pastoral examination of conscience” to confront the “exponential” rise of Pentecostalism.

Catholic Leaders Combat Declining Membership

The Vatican is worried. There’s an exodus of Catholics around the world to Pentecostal churches, and they want to stem the tide reports the Associated Press (AP).

At a meeting of the world’s cardinals, Walter Kasper, who heads up the Vatican’s office for relations with other Christians, said the Church must undergo a “self-critical pastoral examination of conscience” to confront the “exponential” rise of Pentecostalism.

According to the AP the losses of the Catholic Church have been especially pronounced in developing countries.

In Brazil, Roman Catholics used to comprise 90 percent of the population; by 2005, it was down to 67 percent.

Kasper added that the activity of “aggressive” evangelical movements has complicated the Catholic Churches dedication to ecumenism, which he nevertheless called “not an option but an obligation.”

FeedBack

My Turn

Unfortunately I cannot give a hearty amen to Harry R. Jackson’s prescription for improving public education (“America’s Education Crisis,” October). Jackson seems to put the emphasis on improving the teachers.

As a former pastor and current high school teacher, I’ve found that almost all the teachers I’ve met know how to handle discipline problems. They also understand the culture of their geographic areas and know how to help kids master the basics. The problems lie primarily with students themselves and their families.

Teachers and school officials need students who will take individual responsibility for their education and parents who will establish education as a priority for their children. Students need to be taught deferred gratification. Parents need to eliminate the “part-time” jobs students work in order to pay for cars, car insurance and cell phones. Parents and students together need to establish study time, track assignments and monitor grades. Parents need to tell their kids that C’s, D’s and F’s aren’t acceptable.

Although teachers and schools can have some influence over students, they can’t give them the values that must come from family and church.
Jonathan Massey
Chandler, Arizona

Good News From Ukraine

I am happy to hear about pastor Sunday Adelaja and the work of the Holy Spirit in Ukraine (“The Unlikely Ambassador” by Valerie G. Lowe, October). Adelaja’s ministry seems different from many of the ministries in the United States, where so much focus is placed on celebrity and money. No wonder God is moving in a miraculous way in that part of Europe.
Jamie T. Taylor
Boston, Massachusetts

I heard Sunday Adelaja speak when he was in the United States, and his message about impacting the culture brought me to tears. I am a Pentecostal pastor and want God to move in my church the way He is moving in the churches in Kiev.
J. D. Smith
Brooklyn, New York

Divorce in the Pulpit

I read your report on Randy and Paula White’s plans to divorce (News, October). If the pressures of ministry are affecting your marriage, then you leave the ministry—not the marriage. The body of Christ has a decision to make about supporting religious leaders who believe that life should go on without any consequences for their decisions. It’s time to take a stand for God’s Word and what He says about marriage.
Deedee Merando
Coos Bay, Oregon

It’s getting to the point where it’s easier to say who is married than who is not. We’ve made our ministers celebrities, and many believe the hype. Randy and Paula White said they “grew apart.” What about Matthew 5:32, which warns about the sin of divorce? Does this verse not apply to people in ministry? Except for incidents of sexual sin or physical abuse, there are no grounds for divorce. What kind of example are the Whites setting for others?
D. Ayannali
Albuquerque, New Mexico

I’ve been a Christian for more than 30 years. I’ve been taught that when you are in ministry and face family-crisis situations, such as a possible divorce, you step down and allow others to take over while the problem is solved. I do not feel the Whites should stay in ministry. I will not respect either of their ministries in light of this situation.
Ron Acord
Chillicothe, Ohio

I do not condemn Randy and Paula White for giving up on their marriage, but I am exasperated because they think they should remain in their lofty roles, preaching a message they refuse to adhere to and continuing to declare a gospel that doesn’t have the power to work in their own situation. That is shameful.
Francis P. Martin
Lafayette, Louisiana

Our hearts are heavy and broken after reading the news of Randy and Paula White’s divorce. It sounds as if they both are going to continue their ministries as usual. What’s worse is that it doesn’t seem as if they’re going to even take a break, let alone step down.

We do not believe that God approves or overlooks this kind of behavior. Examples like this make it more difficult for other women who are in ministry. The saddest part of all is that this mars the name of Jesus. It could cause people to give up on God.
Donna, Louise and Nancy Warner
Mount Airy, North Carolina

The news about Randy and Paula White’s divorce was sad. However, what I found especially disappointing was that it was reported quite matter-of-factly. There was no sense of remorse. God created marriage to be a lifetime commitment. He said He hates divorce. We are not here to judge, but we must be faithful to God’s Word.
name withheld
Kansas City, Kansas

News of Randy and Paula White’s divorce was a double shock. A few weeks ago, the ABC news show 20/20 exposed the personal wealth of many TV preachers. Does the Lord want us to finance multimillion-dollar homes, yachts and jets with the money He has blessed us with? We need the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Don Hebard
Lake Oswego, Oregon

Can prominent ministers who end up divorcing claim to be models of leadership in the body of Christ? How much less can they if they inevitably remarry after only a short “break”? If God hates divorce because of how it misrepresents Him, then how much more does remarriage frustrate and grieve Him, especially when the reasons are unbiblical.
Sean Brouillet
Charlotte, North Carolina

I always thought that there are only two biblical grounds for divorce: adultery and an unbelieving spouse. If there is another reason divorce is allowed, please let me know. If not, it seems that Randy and Paula White are showing that it is OK to divorce outside the boundaries of God’s Word.
Otto Roder
Grants Pass, Oregon

Spooky Speculations

I was appalled by what Mark A. Pearson taught in his article about ghosts (“The Truth About Haunted Houses,” October). The theory that people who die without being “commended to God” might be trapped on earth is both illogical and unbiblical. Scripture clearly teaches that after death comes judgment (see Heb. 9:27).

Besides this, what is the assumption? That Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu funeral services “commend people to God,” and the God of the Bible at that? If Christians are the only ones who can do this act, then most people who have died are still wandering the earth. That is ridiculous.

Finally, it is sad that Pearson recognizes his concept is not found in Scripture but says that as charismatics and Pentecostals we experience many things not found in the Bible. Evangelicals recognize that Scripture alone is the authority of our faith and practice. I am charismatic because charismatic faith and experience are clearly taught in Scripture. Obviously, believers practice things not found in Scripture in everyday life. But to say we can have any experience that does not line up with Scripture is dangerous.
Elisabeth Dyvig
Roanoke, Texas

Author’s response: Elisabeth raises four points regarding my article. First, she cites Hebrews 9:27, which teaches that after death comes judgment. Does Scripture teach that judgment comes immediately after death or on the Last Day? If it comes on the Last Day, then there is a time between death and judgment about which we know very little.

Second, she suggests that if what I wrote is true, then most people who have died are still wandering the earth. This is not true. In some particular situations, especially if a death is somehow unresolved, a soul might be “trapped.” Christian committal prayers (a funeral) are one proven way to bring healing and release.

Third, she states that for evangelical Christians Scripture alone is the authority of our faith and practice. Scripture is the chief authority, but there are many other authorities in the evangelical church (see Heb. 13:17 and similar passages).

Finally, she says having an experience that does not line up with Scripture is dangerous. But many experiences Christians have are not mentioned in Scripture. In those cases we need the gift of discernment and the wisdom of the church to help us understand which experiences are of God and which aren’t.
Canon Mark A. Pearson
Plaistow, New Hampshire

Clarification: In our October news brief about the resolution of an indictment accusing evangelist Morris Cerullo of under-reporting taxes, we reported that Judge Roger T. Benitez dismissed the case because prosecutors did not correctly explain the criteria for determining if a minister’s income is taxable. We failed to note that the judge said prosecutors’ “misconduct” created doubt about whether the indictment should have been brought at all. Benitez said clergy who get money after delivering a sermon face the same specter of tax prosecution, so prosecutors must carefully consider such cases lest they violate ministers’ First Amendment rights.

Vibes

The Ten-Minute Marriage Principle
By Douglas Weiss, FaithWords,
Softcover, 256 pages, $14.99.
Readers will find Douglas Weiss’ latest work refreshing, as it is devoted to helping couples strengthen their marriages while also acknowledging the time pressures they are under on any given day. Executive director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Weiss said his goal in The Ten-Minute Marriage Principle: Quick, Daily Steps for Refreshing Your Relationship is to help spouses use even small portions of time-perhaps only 10 minutes a day-to come together. The author advises readers to reconnect with their mates each day using the Ten-Minute Exercise Menu, which includes exercises such as “gazing,” in which spouses are encouraged to spend time making direct eye contact with each other. Weiss’ comparison of marriage to types of government also may help readers understand the dynamics of the marriage relationship according to God’s plan. The Ten-Minute Marriage Principle is filled with practical ideas for quick and easy reconnecting between spouses. Weiss writes in a no-nonsense, how-to style that will resonate with readers yearning to build their marriages.
Julie Daniel

BOOKS

Living as if Heaven Matters
By David Shibley, Charisma House,
Softcover, 224 pages, $14.99.
Just getting through each day is sometimes hard enough. Who has time to think about heaven? But according to David Shibley, president of Global Advance, every Christian should. In Living as if Heaven Matters, he points out that many Christians seem unaware that earthly life should be preparing them for life in heaven. Shibley unveils the intricate intertwining of our daily challenges and opportunities with their eternal significance. His vivid description of heaven is motivating enough, but each chapter also exposes more gems of encouragement as he shares insights on the Christian’s blessed hope. Shibley provides plenty of biblical accounts and Scripture references to reinforce his call to more heavenly thinking. If you want to improve your outlook on life and further God’s kingdom now, then set your mind on your eternal home and start living as if heaven matters.
Jeff Friend

Confident Parenting
By Jim Burns, Bethany House,
Hardcover, 192 pages, $19.99.
It’s here—a guide to help you be more confident as a parent. Jim Burns offers essential tools and biblical principles for parents today. Burns humbly admits that he too is in the process of learning to be a confident parent, and he imparts the wisdom God has given him. He encourages parents to stand strong and decide that they want a godly family and gives biblical principles to equip them. He addresses generational patterns and actually gives hope to those parents who are dealing with “the sins of their fathers.” All parents will be encouraged to get back to essential basics such as honoring the Sabbath, using affection in communicating with their families, offering warmth and encouragement, and building a solid foundation to leave a lasting legacy for their children and their children’s children. Parents who read these wisdom-filled pages will be inspired and encouraged as they become more confident parents.
Kristi Shores

The Divine Mentor
By Wayne Cordeiro, Bethany House,
Hardcover, 224 pages, $19.99.
Wayne Cordeiro knows a secret—for real intimacy with God, consistent daily devotions are not an option. In The Divine Mentor, he not only explains the need for and importance of devotions but also provides a sensible plan based on Scripture reading and journaling. Cordeiro understands that the journaling aspect is the most intimidating for many people, so he gives plenty of examples and encouragement as starting points. He writes honestly and passionately but never in a condemning tone. Cordeiro wants his readers to mature in Christ and even anticipates some of their doubts and concerns (“But what if I just don’t have the time?”) in an appendix of frequently asked questions. Whether devotions are done individually or in a small group, Cordeiro provides all the insights and instructions needed to make them a refreshing time of spiritual growth.
Jeff Friend

MUSIC

Christmas: From the Realms of Glory
By Bebo Norman, BEC Recordings.
Bebo Norman waited years to release a Christmas album because he wanted just the right songs to go with foundational track “The Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Browne. Though this song is not a traditional holiday song, it carries a much-needed message. Listeners are challenged to live generously all year, not only at Christmastime when they might feel compelled to drop some coins in red, metal buckets. Norman surrounds this track with new songs and familiar carols to help celebrate this beloved season. New tune “Christmas Time Is Here” wishes us peace and laughter, and hope for the hopeless. “Joy to the World” is wrapped in a different rhythm and acoustic melody, offering a lovely rendition of this classic. “What Child Is This,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Silver Bells” and other favorites get the Norman treatment. Lullaby “Mary’s Prayer” is Mary’s description of her Son’s future: “Your feet will walk on water / Your eyes will pierce the dark / Your heart will save the souls of men / And Your hands will bear the scars.” The songs on Christmas…From the Realms of Glory not only will help listeners celebrate the season but also may serve as a reminder that Jesus is the true gift, and we are to be that gift to others throughout the year.
Leigh Devore

Do You See What I See?
By Todd Agnew, INO Records.
Todd Agnew and friends offer a collection of new songs packaged between “Do You See What I See?” and “In the First Light.” Agnew wrote each new song from the perspective of different people involved in the Christmas story. “No Room” features Joy Whitlock singing for the innkeeper. “This Is All I Have to Give,” with Vince Lichlyter of Jonah 33, describes how Joseph might have felt as Jesus’ earthly father: “I’d always hoped You’d have my eyes / And maybe a bit of the skill of my hands / But as I look into Your eyes / I see Your hands created mine.” The gospel-tinged “Glory to God” features Anthony Evans and describes the angels’ need to sing and shout because the Son had come to earth (be ready to feel chills listening to this one). Simeon, Elizabeth, the shepherds and others also share their songs. Agnew has packaged the Christmas story into one album, offering a special glimpse into the lives of those involved in this unfolding miracle.
Leigh Devore

All That Is Within Me
By MercyMe, INO Records.
MercyMe returns with an album of songs accessible enough to appeal to nearly every fan of Christian pop music. Lead singer Bart Millard has a wonderful pop-country style that seems to get better as this album goes along. His vocals excel most notably on “Grace Tells Another Story,” a moving track with the lyric, “We’ve been told the heart is just too far gone to save, but grace tells us another story.” “All Right,” a light, upbeat number, makes listeners want to tap their feet. Although the group’s lyrics and music are sometimes straightforward, at other times they’re more reflective, such as on “My Heart Will Fly,” a song in which the band asks: “Why write the script with such an aching pain? Could there not have been an easier way?” The album ends with “Finally Home,” a beautiful acoustic guitar number that describes how Millard will greet his father in heaven: “I’m gonna wrap my arms around my daddy’s neck / And tell him that I’ve missed him.” All 10 songs on this album prove that it’s no accident MercyMe has sold millions of records. This is a talented band that reminds one of Third Day and Steven Curtis Chapman—artists whose lyrics meet evangelical pop music fans exactly where they are in life. All That Is Within Me is no exception. It’s catchy pop music with a clear gospel message that will resonate with all of MercyMe’s fans—a considerable group—and should win them a few new ones, too.

Cameron Conant

Everyone Overcome
By Desperation Band, Integrity Music
With the exception of one song, Everyone Overcome is a live recording by the Desperation Band—three worship leaders from New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. Unlike on some live albums, the passion and immediacy of the live show translate well here. The show gets off to a great start with haunting vocals and a big guitar intro, before settling into a fairly standard set of praise and worship songs. The lead vocals are a bit weak early on, but seem to find their way on “Counting on God”—a pop-style praise and worship song. “Counting on God” is followed by “Overcome,” an emotive 12-minute song that doesn’t feel nearly that long. Other notable songs are “Good to Me,” a delicate piano ballad with female vocals, and “I Will Go,” which features clips of individuals making declarations such as, “I will go, I’ll live the life … I’ll tell the world that you are God.” Overall, this album suffers from uneven vocals and too many predictable songs, but its strength lies in translating the emotion and energy from the live experience to the listener at home.
Cameron Conant

This Moment
By Steven Curtis Chapman, Sparrow.
After winning numerous awards and selling a gazillion records, Steven Curtis Chapman has earned the right to rest on his laurels. Fortunately, instead of taking a break, the singer-songwriter-musician extraordinaire just keeps writing great songs and singing them with his signature crystal-clear tenor voice. On his 16th studio album, This Moment, Chapman manages to take his fans on journeys to both the familiar and the unexpected. “Yours” finds Chapman waxing philosophical about his international travels, utilizing the trademark driving acoustic rhythm he introduced 20 years ago. “Something Crazy” puts a new twist on his popularized, bouncy, pop-rock style as he describes the unpredictable nature of love. Chapman continues his quest to prove he’s got some rock left in him on songs such as “Children of God,” “You Are Being Loved” and the rhythmically quirky “Broken.” Another surprise is the Beatles-like number “Definition of Me,” which could just as easily have been found on a Michael W. Smith record. Of course, there are still plenty of tender moments, including the anthemic ballad “One Heartbeat at a Time” and the tearjerker “Cinderella,” which follows Chapman as he watches time fly by through the life of his oldest daughter, Emily. This Moment will please longtime fans and may earn Chapman a new generation of supporters as well.
Chad Bonham

Songs 4 Worship: Country
By various artists, Time Life.
Mainstream country artists have long been apt to interject faith into their music. That’s why no one should be surprised to learn of the popular genre’s foray into the worship scene with a various artists project simply titled Songs 4 Worship: Country. A slim majority of the songs can be categorized as corporate-worship favorites—classics such as Diamond Rio’s bluegrass-flavored take on “Open the Eyes of My Heart,” Rachel Robinson’s graceful rendition of “You Are My King” (complete with steel guitar and flawless fiddle instrumentation) and Bryan White’s interpretation of “God of Wonders.” Several other songs are simply Christian-themed narratives such as Collin Raye’s fun-loving, church house toe-tapper “Get Up in Jesus’ Name” and mega-band Rascal Flatts’ country-rock power ballad “He Ain’t the Leavin’ Kind.” With plenty of big names contributing (including Ricky Skaggs, Marty Raybon, The Oak Ridge Boys and Emerson Drive), Songs 4 Worship: Country provides the genre’s true fans with some spiritual meat that has been sorely lacking in recent years.
Chad Bonhan

The Word of Promise New Testament Audio Bible
Thomas Nelson.
The Word of Promise New Testament Audio Bible is a dramatic recording of the New King James Version of the New Testament, featuring more than 120 actors’ voices, including Marisa Tome as Mary Magdalene, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, Michael W. Smith as Cleopas, John Schneider as James and James Caviezel as Jesus, which is particularly fitting in light of his stellar performance as Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. This is a complete theatrical reading, with sound effects and an original soundtrack, creating a whole new way to experience the Scriptures. Especially moving are the miracle stories such as the woman with the issue of blood and verses in Luke about Jesus’ crucifixion. This 20-disc set includes 21 hours of audio and behind-the-scenes footage.
Leigh Devore

FICTION

CONTEMPORARY

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out
By Neta Jackson, Thomas Nelson,
Softcover, 288 pages, $13.99.
Jodi Foster is prepping for family holiday festivities and a New Year’s party with her Yada Yada sisters. But in the midst of all this she has to deal with a former student, a crime, a quickly planned wedding and a child who forever changes her family. Now more than ever these praying friends need each other.

HOLIDAY

Boo Humbug
By Rene Gutteridge, WaterBrook Press,
Softcover, 176 pages, $11.99.
It’s Christmastime even in Skary, Ind. Lois Stepaphanopolis is directing her own stage version of A Christmas Carol. While preparing, she learns that a team member hates Christmas. Then Lois discovers that the audience is expecting a different play and the actors have to improvise. But the new show might help the town’s own Scrooge understand the true meaning of Christmas.

SEASONAL

Unwrapping Christmas
By Lori Copeland, Zondervan,
Softcover, 160 pages, $14.99.
Rose wants everything to be perfect for Christ-mas, but she is feeling overworked and overwhelmed. And at a time when families should feel the most connected, Rose’s family seems distant and aloof. Even so, God uses unexpected circumstances to teach Rose to slow down, and she discovers the true meaning of giving.