Jan. 31 Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to forgive those who make mistakes that affect us. Amen. 
New posting: Celibacy and the priesthood
The issue of celibacy and the Roman Catholic priesthood was the subject of a recent USA Today story.
The shortage of priests has brought the priests’ celibacy requirement to the fore again. Catholic priests are forbidden to marry but the USA Today report ponders whether the pope (pictured) would consider eliminating that prohibition to solve the priest shortage.
The Sunday Oklahoman features a story about the priest shortage in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. In the story, the Rev. William Novak, vocations director for the archdiocese, shares his thoughts about the impact the celibacy requirement may be having on men considering the priesthood.
Check out the Sunday Oklahoman for his comments.
To read the USA Today story, click here: Might Pope Benedict Consider Married Priests Again?
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Jan. 29 Today’s Prayer
Lord, thank You for listening to our prayers and surrounding us with love. Amen.
Jan. 28 Today’s Prayer
Thank You, dear Lord, for Your loving care during our gloomy times. Amen. 
New posting: Sarah Palin to speak at OKC faith event
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be a featured speaker at an Oklahoma City Christian women’s conference in April.
The former vice-presidential candidate is set to speak on the first night of the Women of Joy conference set for April 15-17 at State Fair Arena. 
Palin spoke about faith and family at a September 2010 Women of Joy event in San Antonio, Texas. At that time, evangelist Phil Waldrep, whose Phil Waldrep Ministries sponsors the women’s conference, said he was glad that Palin had agreed to talk about how her faith impacts her life.
“The event is nonpolitical. It is simply a gathering for Christian women to rejoice in their faith, renew their spirits and fellowship with their sisters in Christ,” Waldrep said in a 2010 news release.
Palin drew a large crowd to a 2009 booksigning for her book “Going Rogue” at Hastings in Norman. She spoke at an Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ annual Liberty Gala in September 2010 in Tulsa.
Other speakers and performers at the Women of Joyconference include author and radio show host Kay Arthur, contemporary Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith, author Karen Kingsbury, Christian comedianne Anita Renfroe and Christian recording artist Charles Billingsly.
Phil Waldrep Ministries is headquartered in Trinity, Ala. Waldrep is host of the syndicated “Living With Joy” radio show.
For more information about the Women of Joy conference, go online to www.womenofjoy.org.
(Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman: In this December 2009 archive photo, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visits with a young man at a book signing for her book “Going Rogue” at Hastings in Norman.)
Carla Hinton
Jan. 27 Today’s Prayer
O Lord, please help us change a poor attitude into one of gratitude. Amen. 
Winter Jam’s Sidewalk Prophets
Just talked to Dave Frey of the contemporary Christian band Sidewalk Prophets.
Frey said the group is looking forward to their upcoming visit to Oklahoma City as part of the 2011 Winter Jam concert set for 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Oklahoma City Arena. 
Sidewalk Prophets will perform at the Pre-Jam Party so concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early.
Winter Jam is promoted as “10 for $10″ — meaning there will be 10 bands for the price of $10.
By the way, this is the second year in a row that the popular concert has been held in downtown Oklahoma City. For many years, it was offered at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.
For more information, check out: www.jamtour.com.
Oh, I almost forgot: Look for stories about the Sidewalk Prophets and other recording artists featured at 2011 Winter Jam in future editions of The Oklahoman.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Jan. 26 Today’s Prayer
Wednesday, Jan. 26
Thank You, dear Lord, for Your loving care when we grow weary. Amen.
New posting: Richard Land withdraws from mosque coalition
Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, has withdrawn from a national coalition designed to support the right of Muslims to build mosques in their communities.
Land (pictured) has visited Oklahoma City several times over the last several years, with his last visit at the Capital Baptist Association’s Pastor’s Conference in August 2010. He talked mainly about the 2010 Congressional election , but he and I discussed the big topic of the day at that time, which was the mosque proposed to be built near Ground Zero in New York City.
Land said he felt it was bad manners for the mosque proposal’s proponents to continue with the project when some relatives of the 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks were against the idea.
This week, he told The Associated Press that he has withdrawn from the Interfaith Coalition on Mosques because Southern Baptists have objected to his participation on the board.
Read more on the issue here: “Southern Baptist Leader Leaves Mosque Coalition”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Wisdom from Billy Graham
I know lots of Oklahomans have been inspired by evangelist Billy Graham over the years.
Due to his health and age, he doesn’t appear at events or speak before large crowds like he used to. However, ever-faithful, he is still imparting words of wisdom and advice gleaned from his own life and experiences.
He does so in a question-and-answer session recently posted on ChristianityToday.com.
Here is the Q&A. Perhaps like me, you will find some useful words of advice.
Christianity Today: “Q&A: Billy Graham on Aging, Regrets and Evangelicals”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
