In the article written by Time’s Jeffrey Kluger and Elizabeth Dias, Warren says the plan has helped his congregation lose a collective 260,000 pounds.

The Time writers said Warren launched his “Daniel Plan” health and fitness program in January 2011 at his Saddleback Church.

Oh, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, known simply as “Dr. Oz” nowadays, also weighs in, pun intended.

Oz also is included in the Time, sharing his perspective on Warren and his fitness plan.

Read more on the subject here:

TIME: “Does God Want You to Be Thin?” 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

The blog described Tressel (pictured in a March AP photo) as a “Bible is my playbook” coach.

It’s an interesting commentary about ethics, faith and sports.

Since I know I’m not the only sports fan in these here parts, I thought I’d share the USA Today link with you so you can read the commentary for yourselves.

USA Today’s Faith & Reason Blog: “Is Tressel’s OSU exit a scandal for evangelism via athletics as well?.” 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The evangelism campaign, started early this year, encourages Oklahoma’s Southern Baptists to share the gospel and their own faith testimony using a familiar and beloved passage of Scripture, John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

To get the app for iPhone, go to the app store on your phone and type in my316 and hit the search button. It will take yo to the My316 app.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

Dobson’s decision was expected, but it still has people wondering what’s next for Focus on the Family and who will take his place as a leader in the evangelical community.

New America Today is a magazine launched on the day of Pres. Barack Obama’s inauguration. According to its Web site, it was created to “start a new and exciting discussion about religion, culture and politics that glorifies God, proclaims Jesus Christ, and promotes Biblical principles, and hopefully brings together what is still the most segregated institution in America, the Christian church, to fulfill its divine purpose.”

To read New America Today’s story “Evangelicals Ponder ‘Who Will Be The Next Dobson?,” click here: Next Dobson.     

(AP PHOTO ABOVE: James Dobson, Christian evangelical leader and founder of Focus on the Family, listens to President Bush address the National Religious Broadcasters 2008 Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.)  

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

His wife, National Day of Prayer Chairman Shirley Dobson, has also left the Focus on the Family Board of Directors.

According to the ministry, the Dobson’s have been elected to the positions of founder and chairman emeritus and director emerita, respectively.

In a statement provided by the ministry, the board of directors said the Dobsons’ decision represents the next step in a transition plan begun six years ago, when James Dobson stepped down as president in order to lessen his administrative burden. Executive leadership was handed to Don Hodel in 2003, and then to Jim Daly in 2005. James Dobson had been board chairman until today.

“One of Dr. Dobson’s objectives during the last decade has been to help identify the next generation of leadership for the ministry, and to see it established securely before he stepped away from administrative oversight. That purpose has now been fulfilled, and we applaud Dr. Dobson for this concern for the future of the ministry.”

James Dobson will continue the “Focus on the Family” radio broadcast, and handle other duties as in the past. He will also continue to write the ministry’s newsletter, sent to 1.6 million people per month.

“One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority,” Dobson said. “I have wanted not to make that mistake with Focus on the Family, which is why I stepped back, first from the presidential duties six years ago, and now, from board chairmanship. Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do. ”

For more information, visit the ministry’s Web site: Dobson Steps Down.  

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

“The Trials of Ted Haggard,” a HBO documentary about disgraced evangelist Ted Haggard, has caused a firestorm of sorts for Haggard’s former congregation, New Life Church of Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Religion News Service — and a host of other news media outlets — is reporting that there is a new sex scandal involving Haggard and the church.

New Life Pastor Brady Boyd, according to the RNS, reportedly told the New Life congregation that the church’s insurance company arranged a settlement with a young man who claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Haggard, who was forced to resign in 2006 after a male escort came forward with charges of gay sex and drug use.

Boyd told worshippers that none of their weekly offerings had been used to pay the settlement, and admitted that church leaders had long known about the allegations.

“For the last two years, we carried the burden, the weight, of this information to protect you,” Boyd said. “We’ve been diligent, faithful, pastoral, honest … every step of the way.”

Boyd, according to the RNS, said church leaders were forced to keep quiet because of the settlement’s terms, and also because “I have to use discretion, our staff has to use discretion, and sometimes we have to use confidentiality … especially when it concerns people we’re trying to help heal. There’s nothing being held secret here.”

“There’s no secret. I’ve known every single bit of information for 18 months as your pastor. I’ve held it. I know how to handle it. I’ve walked it out.”

The RNS reported that Boyd, who took over after Haggard resigned in disgrace, apologized for the new round of allegations against Haggard.

“It’s been my hope as your pastor for the 18 months I’ve been here that this wound would heal and we wouldn’t have to revisit the unpleasant parts of our past, but unfortunately this week we’ve had to do that,” he said, adding later, “The wound will not always be with us, the wound will not always define us.”

“The Trials of Ted Haggard” documentary is scheduled to air on Thursday 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Here’s the news that is making headlines in Florida and beyond.

Evangelist Billy Graham’s grandson,Tullian Tchividjian (pictured above), has been chosen to lead the Presbyterian megachurch formerly led by the Rev. D. James Kennedy.

According to the Religion News Service, Tullian Tchividjian, 36, will assume the pastorate at Fort Lauderdale’s Coral Ridge Presbyterian, if approved by a congregational vote.

Kennedy died in September 2007 at age 76, and is widely believed to have been an ”architect of the Christian right,” the RNS reported.

Tchividjian is one of seven children of Gigi Tchividjian, the eldest daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham. His grandfather preached the dedication sermon for the Coral Ridge sanctuary in 1974.

“This will be an exciting legacy for both Dr. Kennedy and Billy Graham,” Dan Westphal, head of Coral Ridge’s search committee, told the RNS. “I’ve come to know Tullian well, and he is a godly man.”

Born in Jacksonville and raised in South Florida, Tchividjian was named after Tertullian, a theologian of the second and third centuries. He earned degrees in philosophy at Columbia International University in South Carolina, and in divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

To participate in the meeting, which is to occur all day today, click here: Virtual Inaugural Prayer Meeting.

After logging in you will be transported to one of the rooms in the White House. Rev. Moore asks that participants use this time for prayer for America.

Prayer Force One, a bus ministry but also an Internet ministry, also has a prayer guide for folks who can’t participate in the united virtual prayer effort, but who want to be involved in some way.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

The documentary, “The Trials of Ted Haggard,” is to air on HBO on Jan. 29.

The evangelical faith community was rocked when a former male prostitute came forth in 2006 to say that the pastor had paid him to have sex with him and to acquire methamphetamine.

Haggard subsequently confessed to ”sin” and he and his church, New Life Church in Colorado Springs, parted ways.

Haggard, apparently still is married to his wife. He is reportedly promoting the new documentary. It reportedly gives a glimpse of Haggard’s life and  reexamines the scandal.

(AP PHOTO: Ted Haggard is shown in a 2005 photo.) 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

Many Oklahoma Southern Baptists are in the midst of the 40/40 Prayer Vigil which began Sept. 24 and continues through Nov. 2, right before the presidential election on Nov. 4

The prayer effort is to culminate with 40 hours of around the clock intercession during the last three days of the vigil. This 40-hour finale is to begin at 4 p.m. Oct. 31 and end at 8 a.m. Nov. 2.

Participants have been encouraged to focus personal spiritual revival, then to expand their circle of prayer concerns. 

More details are located on the Southern Baptist Convention’s Web site at www.sbc.net.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor