The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

Randy Alcorn,
Eternal Perspective Ministries, Blog
Oregon author of Heaven

Sunday night Nanci and I returned from the Christian Book Expo in Dallas where I did a number of book signings, and was involved in three upfront presentations/panels. One was with Alex and Brett Harris, authors of Do Hard Things who have the great site www.therebelution.com, and Tullian Tchividjian, the new pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian (where D. James Kennedy was for many years). Three great guys. Really enjoyed our time together.

Then in the afternoon Liz Curtis Higgs and I did a presentation about drawing people to Scripture through fiction.

By Traci Scott,

An Ashland church can import and brew a hallucinogenic tea for its religious services, according to a U.S. District Court ruling.  Judge Owen Panner issued a permanent injunction on March 26 barring the federal government from prohibiting or penalizing the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen from sacramental use of “Daime tea.”

Weekend National Religion News Focus:

Institute on Religion and Democracy – According to the HIV and AIDS Network of the United Church of Christ (UCC), Condoms should be distributed at places of worship. The March 19 statement, issued at a presentation to the UCC Wider Church Ministries Board, also called for making condoms available at faith-based educational settings.  According to UCC executive Michael Schuenemeyer, “The practice of safer sex is a matter of life and death. People of faith make condoms available because we have chosen life so that we and our children may live.”

Weekend National Religion News Focus:

Idaho Pastor Claims Successful Answer to Famous Atheist’s Easter Challenge. MEDIA ADVISORY, Mar. 24 /Christian Newswire/ –   Dan Barker was once a preacher and writer of popular Christian songs, but in 1984 he told friends he did not believe in God any longer and walked away from ministry. He is now co-president of the largest atheist group in the U.S., the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF, Inc.) in Madison, Wisconsin.

An upcoming conference “Faith and the Arts” merges creativity with the creator along with many probing questions
By Kelsi Johns,
New Wineskins Ministries, Portland

What Makes Art “Good”? This is a loaded question for the Christian community.  The appreciation of art does not rely solely on aesthetic properties, or on how enjoyable the piece may be. The piece tends to be judged, rather than openly experienced, and often becomes a sort of morality litmus test. The upcoming April 25th “Faith and the Arts” conference will explore art and culture in relation to Christ. Is there such a thing as “Christian” art? Since there are so many forms of art, I will explore how, as believers, we tend to view and judge printed art.

Bend physician’s medical mission a success
By Medical Teams International
Tigard, Oregon

Dr. Randy Jacobs cared for thousands of Congolese refugees; now ready to talk about experiences.  Dr. Randy Jacobs, a Medical Teams International volunteer, helped save 150-300 lives a day for a month in southwest Uganda. This emergency room doctor from Bend, Ore., cared for thousands of displaced Congolese families who fled severe violence and intense rebel fighting in their homeland.  Most have witnessed shocking atrocities and traveled dozens of miles on foot into the safety of neighboring Uganda.

By Sheila Allen
NW Baptist Convention

“I believe that a lot of times our worship ‘service’ is more of a barrier to God than a bridge to God,” said Tim Brown, pastor of First Baptist Church in Clovis, Calif.

Brown and Ken Hendrix, worship and financial pastor at First Baptist, spoke to pastors from across the Northwest who are in cluster groups sponsored by the Northwest Baptist Convention.  Invited guests to the recent meetings were worship leaders who serve alongside these pastors and set the tone for weekly corporate encounters with God in their churches.  “In many churches we worship the style of music and order of worship more than the God we are worshiping,” Brown said. “We should always be looking for better ways to engage people in worship.”

A Reflection on Ethnic Division and Reconciliation Within the Church
Kevin Rogers
Pastor of Community, Imago Dei Community, Portland, Oregon

Witnessing Racism

I’ve witnessed racism. I’m sure of it. I’ve had in-laws drop racist jokes in my lap and been faced with the awkward scenario of whether or not to laugh. Yet if I’m honest I have to admit that I probably don’t recognize the racism I witness on a regular basis. My pastor calls this “passive racism.” I’m sure I witness it. I’m sure I’m guilty of it. And I hate it.

Racism is division. Whenever there is a racist thought or action (whether explicit or implicit) there is an implied “us” and “them.” This assumes a distance between the two. Division. When I read God’s word, it is full of division. But this was not part of God’s plan in the Genesis story. And this is not a part of God’s plan in the redemption story. We live between two bookends of perfection, and unfortunately division is part of the church. Sunday mornings truly are still one of the most segregated hours of our week. I witness it. I’m guilty of it. And I hate it.

By Luis Palau,
Palau Ministries, Beaverton

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, Mar. 17 /Christian Newswire/ — On the heels of a 10-day, region-wide evangelistic campaign that brought international evangelist Luis Palau face-to-face with Guatemala’s top leadership, the two-day Guatemala Festival at Parque de la Democracia (March 13-14) proved just as historic — reaching hundreds of thousands of individuals with a clear Gospel presentation.

Guatemala’s president, first lady, vice president, and three ministers of state all attended the festival, a first in the history of Palau festivals. President Alvaro Colom addressed the crowd from the main stage, sharing his feelings toward evangelicals in Guatemala and his appreciation toward Palau and his team.

CARROLLTON, Texas, Mar. 19 /Christian Newswire/ — A large mob of anti-Christian extremists brutally attacked two Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries in Himachal Pradesh, India, on Saturday, March 14. After stripping them naked and beating Murari Jay and Atul Rajesh, the vicious group burned all their belongings and then had the missionaries arrested.

The mob of about 30 people barged into the place where Murari and Atul were staying. Humiliating the missionaries, the group tore the men’s clothes off and beat them. Murari sustained severe injuries to his back after mob members repeatedly kicked him, and Atul suffered acute head trauma. Other members of the mob set fire to everything the missionaries owned.

Dennis Smirl,
Movie reviews with a faith perspective

I can’t recommend ‘Watchmen’ although it got a lot of advertising and build up via TV commercials. I was warned at the box office the first 15 minutes or so was very violent. It was. In the beginning ‘The Comedian’(one of the Watchmen), is violently murdered. The rest of the movie is one of the Watchmen trying to figure out who killed the Comedian while all of the Watchmen- actually 1980′s superheroes- trying to figure out their inner selves and ward off nuclear war. The script takes great liberties with altering history- claiming Nixon won a third term in office when we all know he was forced to resign in his second term.

100 Critics Score: 65%
My Grade: D
Things to Like: Special Effects Galore.
Things to Caution: Blatant nudity, Graphic Violence and ‘Adult Situations.’

Oregon author releases Dear Mom: Everything Your Teenage Daughter Wants You to Know but Will Never Tell You,
By Melody Carson,

If there were ever an ultimate guide for moms to understand their teen daughters, Dear Mom: Everything Your Teenage Daughter Wants You to Know but Will Never Tell You, the latest book by Melody Carlson, is it. Moms, you know how it is: it’s likely that since your daughter became a teen you are often left to shake your head in wonder at the stranger who now lives in your home.

Best-selling teen novelist Carlson helps moms cut through all the drama, read between the lines, and really hear what their teen daughters are saying. Dear Mom gives you a look inside their minds and gives you practical, helpful, and hopeful information for raising your teen girl.

By Alyssa Williams,
Oregon Report Author,

The world premiere benefit “Rabbis Gone Wild,” a celebration of the Jewish festival Purim, raised nearly $4,000 for the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in Portland and is sure to be featured again next year, if not every other year, as the Mini-School’s new fundraiser.   350 people attended this standing-room only event to watch the talents of six local rabbis from three major Jewish movements give comedic duo acts, lead yoga stretches, present a chicken development PowerPoint, and impersonate Elvis (in leather pants). An orthodox rabbi even sang The Ramones hit “I Want to Be Sedated.”

By Randy Alcorn,
from Eternal Perspectives Minsitries
Oregon author of Heaven

Not long ago I spoke at a conference of several thousand evangelical college students. Most were from Bible-believing churches like my own.  My message concerned the promise of a New Earth and the biblical principle of continuity. From Scripture, I pointed out that just as our old bodies will be destroyed, then made new in the resurrection, so the old earth will be destroyed, and then made into a New Earth.  I cited Genesis 1 concerning God’s original job description for human beings living on this planet. I’ll break right into the message here, quoting directly from the audio transcript, so you know exactly what I said (it’s important to the story):

- Religions increasing as percentage:Evangelical/Non-Denominational, Islam, and non-religious
- Religions decreasing as percentage: Baptist, Eastern, Jewish, Methodist, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Epicopalians, United Church of Christ:
- Religions remaining Static as percentage: Mormonism

American Religious Identification Survey. – The Catholic population of the United States has shifted away from the Northeast and towards the Southwest, while secularity continues to grow in strength in all regions of the country, according to a new study conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College. “The decline of Catholicism in the Northeast is nothing short of stunning,” said Barry Kosmin, a principal investigator for the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS). “Thanks to immigration and natural increase among Latinos, California now has a higher proportion of Catholics than New England.”

By Christian News Northwest,

PORTLAND — Planned Parenthood has filed a complaint with the state alleging wrongdoing by a Portland teacher who for two years has led a campaign against the abortion agency’s plans for a clinic in Northeast Portland. As reported by The Oregonian, Planned Parenthood claims that Bill Diss, a Benson High School math and electronics teacher who founded the anti-abortion group Precious Children of Portland, improperly took banners and signs from the clinic’s groundbreaking in October.

With the strong support of local churches and Christian groups, Precious Children has sponsored a series of marches and protests against the planned clinic on city urban renewal land at the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Beech Street. The latest such march took place Jan. 24 and attracted 400 people.

By Rick Anderson,
Church Security Solutions, Salem

SALEM, Ore., As the tragic events unfolded at the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois a nation already suffering from economic turmoil struggled to understand how a symbol of peace and hope could be a target of such tragedy. Pastor Fred Winters was shot three times and ultimately died from his wounds. A community and a nation now mourn this senseless act and wonder where peace and hope can be found
As our perilous economic times continue to raise anxiety in the heart of our nation we look to the church for solace. The church has historically been a beacon of benevolence and a place of emotional support when everything around us is failing. Now, this historical safe haven is being assaulted with targeted acts of violence.

Weekend National News Focus:

CHICAGO, Mar. 9 /Christian Newswire/ — Life can sometimes be painful and lonely for adults, but even more so for children. Many unavoidable, hurtful circumstances can break a child’s spirit and leave a lot of emotional scars. The lessons, however, that await readers in Keoni’s Big Question, an endearing new picture book authored by Patti B. Ogden, teaches children how to reach out and communicate with God in times of need. It gives parents inspiration, encouragement and a gentle way to show their children that God is not as distant as He seems.

Weekend National News Focus:

ENUMCLAW, Wash., Mar. 13 /Christian Newswire/ — In 1962, after serving as a pastor for nine years, John Imler walked away from God, the church, and everything religious. Fed up with the behavior of hypocritical self-professing Christians, Imler turned his attentions towards the business world and didn’t look back.  Throughout the next 45 years, Imler immersed himself in work, and succeeded beyond his expectations. And while outwardly successful, Imler admits to a continuing emptiness.

By Randy Alcorn,
Eternal Perspectives Ministries
Oregon author of Heaven

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). A few years ago, my wife Nanci showed me an article she had found in her Family Circle magazine. The article was titled “What You Pass On.” It was written by author Stephen King. He’s not a writer known for his theological insights, but what he wrote echoes the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 5:15 in his assessment of the futility of materialism. Buffet, Gates and Jolie will weigh in afterward. Here’s what King has to say: