Video on Rick Warren’s civil forum
I can’t say enough about tonight’s civil forum at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church.
If you’ve got time, watch the forum (which is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lake Forest, Calif. church) online at www.saddleback.com or on TV’s CNN (7 to 9 p.m. on Cox Channel 44) or Fox News (7 to 9 p.m. on Cox Channel 43).
This is an opportunity to see presumptive presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama in a forum setting moderated by Warren, Saddleback pastor and best-selling author of “The Purpose-Driven Life.”
Check out an ABC News video about the upcoming forum by clicking here: Rick Warren talks about forum.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
P.S., if you came looking for more info on Chris Sligh read the previous posting.
Chris Sligh trivia … and fall/winter concert update
“American Idol” season 6 contestant Chris Sligh is bringing his blend of contemporary Christian to Oklahoma today and Sunday so I thought I’d share some Sligh trivia I’ve obtained during my research and a recent interview with the singer.
Did you know?…
– When Chris was growing up he traveled with parents who were missionaries in Germany.
– Chris’ father banned non-classical music in the home.
– Growing up, Chris was enthusiastic about sports.
– Chris was invited to audition for the Metropolitan Opera in New York and The Julliard School.
– Chris was expelled his senior year at Bob Jones University in Greenville, N.C., for attending a Christian rock concert.
Here’s hoping the talented singer-songwriter gets a taste of our famed Oklahoma hospitality this weekend.
There are more contemporary Christian concerts on the horizon. Take a look:
Decemberadio,5 p.m. today, New Life Christian Center’s Mud Fest in Chickasha (see yesterday’s “Faithful Five” posting on this blog)
Skillet,7 p.m. Aug. 23, Mabee Center, Tulsa.
Natalie Grant, Shane & Shane and Bethany Dillon,6 p.m. Aug. 29, Venue 68 ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa.
Santus Real and Tenth Avenue North, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15, State Fair of Oklahoma (Toyota Stage), Oklahoma City (free! … with fair admission).
Newsboys, 7 p.m. Sept. 29, Tulsa State Fair (free! … with fair admission).
Music Builds Tour with Third Day, Switchfoot and Jars of Clay, 6 p.m. Oct. 5, Ford Center, Oklahoma City.
Big Daddy Weave and Rush of Fools,Oct. 10, Venue 68 ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church, Tulsa.
Tobymac’s Winter Wonder Slam 2008 with tobyMac (pictured below), RelientK, Family Force 5 and B Reith, 6 p.m., Nov. 23, Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City.
Casting Crowns,7 p.m. Nov. 30, BOK Center, Tulsa.
Point of Grace, 7 p.m. Dec. 16, Northwest Baptist Church, Oklahoma City.
And one more thing …
The Christian rock band Delirious? recently announced that it is taking a break from recording and touring after 2009.
The group is known for favorites like “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” and “Majesty.”
The decision for the band to take a break was sparked by the lead vocalist Martin Smith’s request to be released from the band to pursue his work with Compassion Art and to be at home more with his wife, Anna, and his children.
After traveling the world for more than a decade, the band honoured this request and made a decision together to end this chapter of their lives.
Go online to www.delirious.co.uk for more information.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Faithful five for Aug. 16-17
Here’s my “faithful five” — five events going on in the faith community this weekend. If what you read below intrigues you, go check it our for yourself:
1. Get in the mud-dle.Saturday, Head to Chickasha for New Life Christian Church’s annual “Mudfest” at the Chickasha Sod and Grass Far, 1 mile west of the Chickasha Airport. The family event features the contemporary Christian recording artists Decemberadio in concert.The mud events start at 3 p.m. and live music starts at 5 p.m.
For more information, call 222-5433 or go to www.mudfest.tv. It’s all free — and yes there will really be mud. Get prepared to sling a little dirt, er mud.
2. Go fish.Fisher DeBerry, retired head football coach for the U.S. Air Force Academy, will lead the Fishers of Men Conference set for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church of the Servant, 14343 N MacArthur. Cost is $10, which includes lunch and refreshments. Call 721-4141 or go to www.churchoftheservant.com for more information.
3. Tibetans in Oklahoma City.Hear Tibetan lamas discuss Buddhist rituals and other aspects of their faith Saturday and Sunday at the GiacQuang Temple at 2625 SE 44. The lamas will give a talk from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday and 9:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Sunday. All events are free and open to the public, however donations will be accepted to the lamas’ Dzongkar Choeda Monastery.
4. Backpacks and burritos. Does that just sound yummy or what? Actually that’s the theme of OKC Faith Church’s annual “Feeding the 5,000 and More” back-to-school supply give-away which begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. Families that include students needing backpacks and the usual round of school supplies can get them for free at the church, 800 S Portland. Free breakfast burritos filled with meat donated by the No Name Ranch will be given away as well.
5. Happy Anniversary! St. John Missionary Baptist Church is honoring its senior pastor, the Rev. Major Jemison, this weekend. Jemison and his family are celebrating 25 years of “A Life of Milestones and Miracles” at St. John, 5700 N Kelley. The church is hosting a banquet tonight, but festivities continue with a concert and worship service at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by services at 10:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. Congratulations Pastor Jemison!
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Faith perspectives on “Tropic Thunder”
Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr in “Tropic Thunder”
Judging from some of the latest critics’ reviews, lots of folks think the new comedy “Tropic Thunder” is really funny.
Other people have said the movie is offensive, particularly because of its depiction of people with disabilities and its use of the “R word” — retard. The film has been targeted by several groups like Special Olympics for this very reason.
What do people of faith think about the film starring Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr.?
I wondered as much myself.
If you are curious as well, see what a reviewer for Crosswalk.com has to say about the film by clicking here: Tropic Thunder Skewers Cliches.
To see the review posted onf MovieGuide.com, another faith-themed Web site, click here: Tropic Thunder: Foul-Mouthed Hollywood Spoof.
I haven’t gone to see the film and don’t know if I will.
I must tell you that Ben Stiller is my favorite comedian, so I think I do want to see the movie eventually.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Calling all praying moms
Betty A. Van Horn, state coordinator of Oklahoma Moms in Touch International recently sent an e-mail encouraging Oklahoma moms to listen to MITI founder and president Fern Nichols (pictured at left) on the syndicated radio program “Revive Our Hearts.”
Moms in Touch is an international Christian organization of mothers who gather in local groups to pray for their children and schools. Revive Our Hearts is a faith-themed radio program hosted by inspirational speaker and author Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
The Moms in Touch leaders are sharing their thoughts and information about MITI with DeMoss through Tuesday, Aug. 19 on the radio show.
I used to listen to the show on KQCV 800 AM in the Oklahoma City area, but according to the Revive Our Hearts’ Web site, the program is no longer available on that 800 station.
It is available in Oklahoma, according to the site, on the following stations:
11: 3o a.m. — Oklahoma City KQCV 95.1 FM, 95.5 FM and 94.1 FM.
11:30 a.m. — Tahlequah MBN 88.7 FM
9 p.m. — Tulsa KCFO 970 AM
5:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. – Woodward KREJ 107.9 FM
9:30 a.m. — Frederick KSYE 91.5 FM
I happened to see Nichols in action at the Prayerforce gathering hosted last October at First Baptist Church of Mustang.
I went to the event with several ladies from my church and it was pretty powerful. Nichols firmly believes that all children need someone praying for them.
She’s written a book to that end: “Every Child Needs a Praying Mom.”
She urged the women gathered in Mustang to pray not only for their own children but for other children in their communities.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Rick Warren’s much-anticipated civil forum
Earlier I shared information about the Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion being hosted on Saturday by Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in California.
The forum is to feature presumptive presidential nominees Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama and Warren, Saddleback’s pastor and best-selling author of “The Purpose-Driven Life” will be moderator for the event.
I learned that Saddleback will show the forum live via its Web site at www.saddleback.com.
Since that first posting, I’ve received numerous e-mails from various religious groups and organizations featuring commentary about the upcoming forum and more information.
Today the Oklahoma City-based International Pentecostal Holiness Church Ministries sent me a news release that says that the forum will also be broadcast live on CNN and Fox News.
According to the IPHC news release, Warren has said the two-hour event will be held in a non-debate format and will be open to all media.
Both candidates have requested that questions be posed exclusively by Warren, instead of a panel or members of the audience. Each will converse separately with Warren for about one hour.
Warren is to deliver a special sermon on Sunday entitled “Making Up Your Mind: Questions to Consider before the Election,” which will be streamed live on the church Web site and made available for use in small group discussions within churches across the country.
Incidentally, the IHPC reports that about 6,500 tickets to the forum will be allotted for seating in six different venues throughout the Saddleback campus.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Edmond mayor appreciates church
Edmond Mayor Dan O’Neil
It always nice to be appreciated.
I say that because one of the first people I ran into at Wednesday’s big school supply give-away in Edmond was the city’s Mayor Dan O’Neil.
He was walking with the Rev. Kim Swyden in the entry gathering area at Henderson Hills Baptist Church, which organized and hosted the community give-away.
There were tons of parents and their children there, but I spotted Swyden, the church’s executive pastor, right away and he introduced me to the mayor.
Before I could say anything, O’Neil said he appreciated the church for its efforts on behalf of the community.
From the chatter of excitement of the crowd around him, I gathered that he was not the only one grateful for the church’s generosity.
The Rev. Jeff Wilson, church spokesman, said he estimated at least 1,000 people had already gathered for the give-away — and this was fairly early in the evening.
The line of families snaked across the entry way and down into the gym, where students picked out backpacks and everything from tissue paper to highlighters.
After choosing the free supplies, families got free vision check-ups and a presentation by a local nutrition expert about proper nutrition.
Then there was fun to be had. I saw a dunk tank (which Swyden jokingly thought I might like to get into), moon bounce and other fun activities, plus free hot dogs.
Wilson said he estimated that about $30,000 worth of supplies were given out, thanks to church members, businesses and invidiuals in the community who generously donated.
Watch a related video by going to www.newsok.tv and look for the title “Church donates supplies.”
Incidentally, the new office for the Ministries of Jesus free health clinic is quickly taking shape there on the Henderson Hills’ grounds. The Rev. Jeff Wilson, church spokesman, said construction should be completed by November and the church is planning an open house at some point.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
All this fuss over candy canes
I love candy canes — the look of them on Christmas trees and the feeling I get when I can hand some out to little kids during the holiday season.
The sweet treat has apparently caused a ruckus in Michigan and the flap has now gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Religion News Service reported that the court was asked on Monday to consider whether a fifth-grade student’s religious expression on a classroom project can be considered “offensive” and subject to censorship by school officials.
According to the news service’s story, in December 2003 Joel Curry (who was 11 at the time) made candy cane-style Christmas ornaments with a note that officials at his school considered religious literature. The note was titled “The Meaning of the Candy Cane” and referred to Jesus six times and God twice.
The news service reported that Joel copied the message from an ornament at a Christian bookstore. He is now a sophomore at Heritage High School in Saginaw, Mich.
“It’s unfortunate it has to be pushed this far,” his father, Paul Curry to RNS. “When children step out in the world, they have to deal with different faiths and religions. It’s a good way for teachers to educate students as long as no one is proselytizing or pushing it down someone’s throat.”
Joel made the ornaments as part of a class project in which students develop and “sell” products, but school officials told him to remove the message, even though he received an A on the assignment.
Attorneys filed a lawsuit against the Saginaw School District and the school’s principal in 2004, arguing that school officials violated the boy’s right to equal protection because students previously had been allowed to sell religious-themed items.
In 2005, a federal judge ruled in favor of the boy, but a three-judge panel for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned that decision.
According to RNS, the new suit seeks reimbursement of legal fees and clarification of the district’s policy on religious speech.
“Penalizing Christian students for expressing their beliefs in the classroom is unacceptable under the Constitution,” said Jeff Shafer, the senior legal counsel with the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, which petitioned the high court to hear the case.
“The First Amendment exists to protect private speakers, not to enable religious discrimination by government officials. The court of appeals’ unprecedented classification of student religious speech as an `offense’ worthy of censorship should be reversed.”
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OK, so my posting title may have been exaggerated. It’s actually the religious-themed note that has caused the furor. Still, it’s interesting to thing that a little boy’s candy cane class project has caused such a stir.
Lighting candles for Tibet
AP PHOTO/Gurinder Osan A Tibetan exile, wearing a “Free Tibet” headband, re-lights blown out candles after a candle-lit vigil at a peaceful anti-China protest in New Delhi, India, on Aug. 8.
Organizers of the grassroots Candle for Tibet campaign are preparing to hold public candle light vigils outside Chinese embassies around the globe on the night before the Olympics closing ceremonies.
According to campaign information provided to the media today, millions have already joined their cause to light candles for freedom in Tibet.
Organizers said their peace vigils on the eve of the Olympics opening ceremonies in Beijing, China represented ”the greatest light protest on earth.”
The candle light vigils were held in places like Dharamsala, India; Sydney, Australia and Atlanta, Ga., here in the United States to raise awareness of China’s oppression of Tibet.
The peace vigils on the eve of the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, China, are to be held in front of the Chinese embassy’s at about 9 p.m. at each embassy’s local time.
David Califa, who started the campaign four months ago, said he does not want people to forget about Tibet after the Olympics are over.
“We realize that Tibet is in the news because of the Olympic Games, but we will not allow the world to forget Tibet just because the Olympic Games have ended,” he said in the group’s prepared statement.
People interested in the program are encouraged to find a nearby public vigil or light candles at home with friends and family on Aug. 23.
Organizers said the campaign is grassroots. Started as an event in the social networking Web site Facebook, it quickly moved into an independent Web site at http://www.candle4tibet.org.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Roadblock for church communicators
Who creates those church banners you often see from the roadway?
How about those church Web sites that draw people from different generations?
What about the postcard from the local church that intrigued you so much you put off reading your latest copy of TIME/GamePro/Woman’s Day/Sports Illustrated (insert your favorite magazine here) to read it first?
Chances are a church communicator helped create the banner, postcard or Web site that captured your attention.
I’m gearing up for a story about church communication — the ways churches connect with the communities they serve.
I asked one local expert what is the single most significant roadblock for today’s savvy church communicators.
Can you guess what it is?
Think about it and comment below or send me an e-mail at chinton@oklahoman.com.
It may not be what you think it is…
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
