Drastic improvements seen in Christian films

This cites "Fireproof," which I plan to see when it comes out on DVD later this month.

Pace of Bible Translation Reaches New Highs, Translators Say

Mission News Network reports that Bible translation projects are at an all time high. "We are participating in the greatest acceleration of the pace of Bible translation the church has ever witnessed. We're actually seeing, in reality, more translation programs being started today than we've ever seen in the history of the church," says President of Wycliffe Bible Translators Bob Creson. He said that Wycliffe is on target to have Bible translation projects underway in every known language that does not yet have the Bible in their native tongue by the year 2025. That means approximately 2,250 projects to go. Yet Creson is optimistic despite the global economic upheaval. "I think the work of Bible translation is one of those things that just transcend all these things that are going on around us," he said.

Faith-Based Movie 'Not Easily Broken' Makes $5.6M Debut

Christian Post reports that yet another faith-based movie about marriage is scoring big in the box office. "Not Easily Broken," based on the novel by megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes, opened at number 9 and grossed $5.6 million. Like the successful "Fireproof," another Christian film dealing with struggling marriages, "Not Easily Broken" had a relatively limited opening -- just 724 theaters nationwide. The movie focuses on the relationship between Dave and Clarice Johnson, a couple whose career frustrations and aspirations have driven a wedge in their marriage. "[I]t encourages people to fight through those struggles and to persevere and that our marital relationships are certainly worth fighting for," said Jakes, the senior pastor of 30,000-member The Potters House in Dallas, according to Charisma magazine.

RELIGION LOSING ITS INFLUENCE?

Religion News Service reports that two-thirds of Americans think religion is losing its influence on U.S. life. This shows a sharp jump from just three years ago when Americans were nearly evenly split on the question, according to a new Gallup Poll. Sixty-seven percent of Americans think religious influence is waning while just 27 percent say it is increasing. That perspective demonstrates a continuing downward trend, Gallup said. But the 27 percent figure is still higher than the record low, set in a 1970 poll, when just 14 percent of Americans thought religion was increasing in influence. The latest poll also finds that the percentage of Americans believing that religion "can answer all or most of today's problems" has reached an all-time low.

MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMA
I should have posted this earlier. Here is her obituary. She is seen in the above photo with her cousin, Bill Harris, at the McHargue Cemetery in Corbin, Ky., on June 1 of this year for the Harris family reunion/Decoration Day.

NORRIS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

Story about nearby Norris in The New York Times.

BARACK OBAMA IS PRESIDENT-ELECT
As anyone who hasn't been under a rock now knows, Democrat Barack Obama has won the presidential election and will be sworn in in January. He becomes the first African-American to win the seat.
For those who voted for him, congratulations. For those of us who didn't, sorry. But now is the time to pray for our new leader. Jesus did not preach sour grapes. He preached honoring our bosses, our leaders, etc. He and his Cabinet will need all the prayers they can get to correct some of the problems facing our world. He and his family are truly lovely and I'll be praying for all of them.

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!
Today is Nov. 4 and here in the United States it's time for each of us registered voters -- and if you didn't register, shame on you! -- to get out and vote!
I don't care who you vote for -- well, actually I do -- but what I care most about is that you get out and vote.
I voted last Thursday because I feared it would be too difficult to leave work to vote in my precinct. I'm so glad I did.
Remember, if you don't vote I don't want to hear your gripes later on!
You can just keep your mouth shut.

My Momma's body has been laid to rest
Today was the final day of the formal ceremonies honoring the life of my mother. Now it's onto life without her physically being here and all the responsibilities.
I shared with a friend that I was dreading the "receiving friends," and funeral for Mom because even though I knew that my mother wasn't inside that body, that body had been my mother. She told me something that sticks with me and she probably doesn't know how much. She told me to realize that there is more of my Mommy inside me than there ever will be inside that body again.
Thanks, Pat.

AMEN!
UK Telegraph reports that one bishop is encouraging churches to expand their horizons and use pop hits -- in their services. In a new book, the Rt. Rev. Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon, speaks of the influence of many pop music writers to convey spiritual yearning and even truth to the younger generation, asking churches to go a step beyond guitar praise-and-worship styles. "For many people the language of the Bible has become inaccessible and yet pop song writers can make a connection with people because their language is fresh," he said. ""The Bible is an amazing collection of books that we've allowed to become banal. For many people it is a closed book and asking them to read it is a lost cause, which is a tragedy." The Archbishop of Canterbury has endorsed Baines' book.

MY MOMMY
I wanted to tell you all that my mother died around 2:30 p.m. today.
She was my best friend on earth, a lovely woman and the best mother anyone could have had. I was lucky to have her for 45 of her 87 years. She was much loved and much respected. She will also be much missed, but there's no reason to grieve for her, she's not in pain anymore.

"YEA, THOUGH I WALK ..."
My mother is 87 and suffers from Congestive Heart Failure. Although she had the first bout with it about 14 years ago, she did reasonably well.
All that has changed. In December, right before going to a family Christmas gathering, we realized that she couldn't wear shoes because of the swelling in her feet. Family doctor thought it was because she sat so much because her arthritis and deteriorated knee made it difficult and painful to walk. Well, it wasn't.
We've been dealing with various water pills (diuretics) for the past several months. In the last week or so Mom has been complaining of a sore tongue, has no appetite, she's gasping for breath after walking only a few steps. I did "research" on the Internet and thought she was allergic to the latest diuretic. After explaining the plight to the cardiac nurse she got us in today to see one of the cardiologists. His answer? Unfortunately, this is the natural progression of CHF. He changed her diuretic I think just to appease me. Told me that oxygen might be needed but that would have to be assessed by the family doctor -- it's a supreme effort to get her to the doctor so I was especially "happy" to hear that.
He was a nice enough man but it seemed what I was hearing is that there's little or nothing to do and "She's 87, what do you expect?" No, he didn't say that, I "heard" that. It's what I hear from family members, too.
I want to fight but at the same time I want to savor what time we have left and help her.
I wanted to punch this cardiologist, but instead I cried all the way back to work when I was finally by myself.

WHAT NEXT?! SHOOTING AT EAST TOWNE MALL
Now comes word that there was a shooting, perhaps a shoot-out between police and a suspect at East Towne Mall. Yes, I know its called Knoxville Center now, but for me, it'll always be East Towne Mall, the place where I loved spending free time when I had such stuff.

PRAY FOR AMERICA
I was just listening to the Rev. Charles Stanley out of Atlanta speaking on how we all need to pray for America. He listed 20 issues in our country that show it's time to pray. Not just pray, but "call out to God." I think it would be great if a lot of people heard this message.
I'm not sure when this will air on TV -- today or Sunday -- but it's seen on lots of channels, including PAX and TBN. The TBN showing is at 8 p.m. every Sunday night, Eastern Time. You can go to the In Touch Web site to find out where it's airing on your television.

If you can listen or watch it on the Internet I'm including the link. Please send these links on to others if you don't mind. I wouldn't be bothering you all if I didn't think it was a wonderful message. He doesn't preach Democrat or Republican, just the word of God.

SARAH PALIN
No matter your political persuasion, you gotta admit Sarah Palin is interesting and is causing people to talk. Here's a funny about the VP candidate from one of my favorite ladies, Dolly Parton.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real by Neta Jackson

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was great. Another fine book by Neta Jackson. Imagine my surprise to find out in the study guide that lots of people -- like me -- feel so much like Jody! I'm not alone. We're all wanting to change and draw closer to God, learning to do more to actually turn more of our worries and concerns over to him rather than just give lip service.

I love these three books so much that I used part of my birthday gift certificate to order the next two. And, my plan to give the books I've read to the church has slightly changed. I'll either give them my used ones or buy the church library it's own set! LOL


View all my reviews.

NEWS OF NOTE

World Vision Warns of Southern Africa Food Crisis

The Christian Post reports that the international community must focus on more than one need at a time in Southern Africa. "As we mark World AIDS Day, the international community must focus its attention on the looming food crisis in southern Africa, whilst also addressing its long-term causes -- including the AIDS pandemic currently devastating countries such as Malawi and Zambia," said World Vision policy adviser Stephen Doughty. On wednesday the relief organization began an emergency appeal to assist the 12 to 14 million hungry who face compounded problems thanks to the AIDS pandemic, especially in Malawi and Zimbabwe. World Vision Emergency Officer Nick Wasunna in Zimbabwe said, "I saw queues of people at food distribution centers," he said, in a report on the agency's website. "After talking to them you discover they are all affected in some way by HIV." Many children must stay home to care for sick parents.

FIREPROOF
Fireproof (see below) came in No. 4 at the box office over the weekend! That's pretty great for a film that was at limited theaters and is not your usual box office-type movie. I haven't gone to see if yet.

It also sounds like it's definitely a couples movie.

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!

OK, no lions and no bears but TIGERS! There's two of them and they're cubs!

One of the advantages of my job is that I get to sometimes (but not often enough) do stories on subjects I really enjoy. I LOVE getting to go the Little Ponderosa Zoo anytime I can.

Last Saturday I went to this rural zoo for the dedication of its tiger facility to Owen K. Richardson, who is a very sweet man who worked as the county's property assessor for many years before retiring. In addition to seeing Owen, who I hadn't seen since he retired, I got a chance to see Gebel and Gunther, who I consider "my baby," since I met him about a month ago when he was six weeks old.

I think he recognized me! Or either he was trying to tell me to "spring him" from the cage via mental telepathy.

I think I'll include links to my stories about the Little Ponderosa Zoo in a future post. Got to get ready for "real life" now. Oh, the adorably cute photo at left is by pal Scott Fraker.