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Today's News
Bush begins tour of Middle East
US President George Bush is travelling to Israel to take part in celebrations for the country's 60th anniversary.
He also hopes to inject some momentum into the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
In a BBC interview ahead of his trip the US president said the current status quo between the Israelis and Palestinians was unacceptable.... read the story
Parents losing custody for homeschooling kids
A German couple already being threatened with jail time because they have been homeschooling their children say their nation has taken a turn for the worse, with a new federal law that gives family courts the authority to take custody of children "as soon as there is a suspicion of child abuse," which is how that nation's courts have defined homeschooling.
"The new law is seen as a logical step in carving up family rights after a federal court had decided that homeschooling was an abuse of custody," said a letter from Jurgen Dudek to officials with the U.S.-based Home School Legal Defense Association, an international advocacy organization in support of homeschooling.... read the story
Wives of slain missionaries sue Chiquita for complicity in the murders
When Chiquita Brands International pleaded guilty last year to violating anti-terrorism laws—and was fined $25 million for its payments to Colombian terrorists—Tania Julin and Nancy Hamm felt betrayed and angry.
Though Chiquita's plea did not involve the group that murdered their husbands 12 years ago, the women learned through the case that Chiquita had also paid protection money to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).... read the story
Bernanke talks big picture as inflation looms
Ben Bernanke sure can talk, but others seem to think its time to act -- possibly including a reversal of the Federal Reserve's easy-money policy of the past year.
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve chairman voiced his theoretical concerns about the potential moral hazard that could be posed if the U.S. central bank bailed out financial companies that had made mistakes. While Bernanke waxed about the Fed's rich philosophical history, other Fed officials chirped about more Main Street issues like rising inflation and the mortgage crisis.... read the story
The latest twist in student loans
Because of the credit crunch, conventional lenders are making it tough for any but the most creditworthy borrowers to qualify for private college loans. Now, a new breed of student lender is trying to get students to return the snub—by writing off the Sallie Maes and Citibanks of the world in favor of relying on friends, family, and even perfect strangers to finance their college loans. "It's not a solution to the credit crisis in student loans by any means," says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of financial aid Web site finaid.org. "But the idea of using peer networks to raise money is intriguing."... read the story
Clinton's West Virginia win highlights Obama's weakness
Hillary Clinton's projected blowout win in today's West Virginia primary - by an expected 2-1 margin - may largely serve to highlight her opponent, Barack Obama, and his perceived political Achilles heel: a weakness with white voters.
Clinton was immediately declared the projected winner seconds after polls closed in a state where the median home price is just $66,000 and whose voters are among the poorest in the nation - 95 percent white, older, with 7 in 10 lacking college degrees.... read the story
C12- America’s leading resource for Christian CEOs
Reporters give glimpses of massive destruction in China
Today, several news correspondents narrated a grim scene from some of the Chinese cities and townships hit hardest by the magnitude 7.9 quake that devastated the country this Monday.... read the story
Suing for reconciliation
A small Chinese congregation in Colorado Springs is suing the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) for proceeds from the sale of its sanctuary—and, perhaps, for an explanation.
Chinese Alliance Church of Colorado Springs (CACCC) completed the purchase of its storefront property in 2002. However, denominational bylaws allowed the C&MA to seize the property in 2006 and sell it to a karate studio in 2008 for $550,000.... read the story
Does your healthcare plan fund abortion?
Leading conservative expert on healthcare reform, Dr. Robert Moffitt, says personal freedom and the preservation of human dignity are the most important issues in the national debate over healthcare.
Dr. Moffitt, former deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during the Reagan administration, warns that since the healthcare plans of most families are controlled by insurers, employers, or government officials, many Americans are unknowingly being forced to subsidize immoral procedures or unethical treatments.... read the story
Emerging business trends
There are few people as well placed and well qualified to see emerging business trends unfold as the world's most influential executive recruiters.
Just consider the experience and perspective they gain from working with a variety of corporate clients to scope the competitive landscape, court exceptional management leaders, and shape succession plans that are both solid enough to ensure continuity but adaptable enough to compensate for challenges looming just over the horizon.... read the story
Tens of thousands dead or missing in China quake
China was reeling Tuesday from its worst earthquake in three decades which left tens of thousands of people dead, missing or trapped under crushed houses, schools and factories.
Rescuers were struggling to reach towns and villages devastated by Monday's huge 7.8 magnitude quake in southwestern Sichuan province, which is still being pummeled by wave after wave of terrifying aftershocks.
The death toll was officially nearly 10,000, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency, but that figure was expected to rise dramatically with at least 10,000 people alone buried in Mianzhu city in Sichuan.... read the story
McCain breaks with Bush on climate policy
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made a sharp break with President Bush on Monday, saying that the United States should adopt mandatory curbs on greenhouse gas emissions as well as issue tradable emissions credits to polluters to spur technological innovation.
"The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington," he said, speaking at a Portland training facility for Vestas Wind Technology. "We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great. The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge."... read the story
US offers help for Lebanon army
The US is prepared to help strengthen Lebanon's army so it can disarm Hezbollah, US President George W Bush said in an interview with the BBC.
He said the Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement had acted against its own people and was destabilising Lebanon.
He made the remarks ahead of a trip to the Middle East later this week.
At least 60 people have died in clashes in the capital Beirut and other cities between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.... read the story
8 myths about Evangelicals
It is a myth that evangelicals succeed because of conformity and unity, according to one author.
Identifying one of eight myths about evangelicals, Dr. Michael Lindsay said there are many issues, such as global warming and the priority of abortion, that make the faith group’s division apparent, according to Time magazine’s “Swampland.”... read the story
Hezbollah rocks eastern villages
Control of several villages loyal to Lebanon's pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has been handed to the army after an attack by Hezbollah.
The group's fighters used heavy weapons and small arms to attack the mountain settlements south-east of Beirut.... read the story
'Lost' Christians greatest risis in American church
The inability of the church to discuss a topic that has become taboo among many Christians is one of the root causes why millions of Americans are leaving the church and never to return, says one author.
There are "Christians who have experientially lost their faith" but have no one to turn to since church culture shuns the topic, Dave Samford said Thursday.... read the story
'Ark of the Covenant altar' found in Sheba's palace
The queen of Sheba's palace at Axum in Ethiopia, purported to once have been the home of the Ark of the Covenant, has been found, archaeologists from the University of Hamburg report.
The Ethiopian queen was the friend and ally of King Solomon of Israel in the 10th century before the Christian era.... read the story
Evangelicals lament a politicized faith
Evangelical Christians should be defined by their theology — and not their politics — to avoid becoming "useful idiots" of a political party, a group of leaders said Wednesday in a new statement.
The document, "An Evangelical Manifesto," reflects the frustration of some within a movement that claims about one in four Americans over how they are perceived by others and who can speak for them. The 19-page document declares that evangelicals err when they try to politicize faith and use Christian beliefs for political purposes.... read the story
Mom: an entrepreneur's secret to success
Richard Branson's parents told him to never criticize anyone. He still tries to apply that rule at Virgin Group. When Bobbi Brown was struggling to decide what to do with her life, her mother suggested a mental exercise that lead to the creation of her eponymous cosmetics business, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Napoleon Barragan, founder of 1-800-Mattress, remembers his mother washing his family's clothes by hand in the river, an image that inspired his drive to succeed.... read the story
Democrats attack Bush energy policy, oil industry tax breaks
Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow attacked the Republican Bush administration's energy policy and tax breaks for the oil industry, urging investment in alternative energy.
Gasoline prices have risen as high as $4 a gallon, from $1.50 when President George W. Bush took office, Stabenow said today. The rise in energy costs has gone from ``annoyance'' to ``crisis,'' affecting everything from the price of groceries to home-heating bills.... read the story
Death toll climbs from Missouri, Oklahoma storms
At least 20 people were killed as tornadoes and severe weather swept the Midwest before rumbling into the Southeast on Sunday morning, according to emergency management agencies.
In the central Georgia town of Dublin, storms killed at least one person, Lisa Janak of the state Emergency Management Agency said.... read the story
Manifesto seeks to clarify the 'evangelical' label
A new document purports to "set the record straight" about what it means to be an evangelical Christian.
Drafters of "An Evangelical Manifesto" say they are trying to clear up the "confusion" and "consternation" that surrounds the term "Evangelical" in the U.S. The document was unveiled today at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, by a collection of theologians and religious leaders, including Dr. Os Guinness, Christianity Today editor-in-chief David Neff, and public relations expert Larry Ross.... read the story
Economic slump hitting men the hardest: here's why
They eat from the same dishes and sleep in the same beds, but they seem to be operating in two different economies. From last November through this April, American women aged 20 and up gained nearly 300,000 jobs, according to the household survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). At the same time, American men lost nearly 700,000 jobs. You might even say American men are in recession, and American women are not.... read the story
A really, truly terrible investment
There are bad investments, and then there are really, really bad investments.
In the $330 billion world of auction-rate securities, put bonds backed by education loans in that latter category. Not only are investors stuck with about $80 billion of the unsellable bonds, many of them are now getting paid zero interest for their troubles.... read the story
Iraqis report capture of al Qaeda in Iraq leader
The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq was captured early Thursday in the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi officials said.
U.S. military officials were surprised about the report of Abu Ayyub al-Masri's capture -- first reported by Iraqi media and picked up by The Associated Press. And intelligence officials said they were skeptical, even though Iraqi officials said al-Masri was already in U.S. military custody.... read the story
UN 'disappointed' at Burma access
The UN says it is extremely disappointed at the slow progress made in securing access to victims of last weekend's cyclone in Burma.
Humanitarian chief John Holmes told reporters that Burma's response was "nothing like as much as is needed".... read the story
Senators to test McCain's independent clout
As a presidential candidate, Republican John McCain made his political name with independent voters in states such as New Hampshire.
Four GOP senators facing tough re-election battles because of the unpopular Iraq war, President Bush's sagging approval ratings and the shaky economy will put McCain's independent appeal to the test in November.... read the story
Legal group defends students' pro-abstinence T-shirts
A religious freedom and civil liberties legal group has come to the defense of two public high school students in central Virginia after they were reportedly reprimanded by school administrators to cease wearing pro-abstinence t-shirts.
The students – who wore shirts that proudly displayed messages such as “Virginity Rocks” and “I’m loving my Husband And I haven’t even Met Him!” – were allegedly ordered by school officials to change or turn their shirts inside out.... read the story
Bush begins tour of Middle East
US President George Bush is travelling to Israel to take part in celebrations for the country's 60th anniversary.
He also hopes to inject some momentum into the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
In a BBC interview ahead of his trip the US president said the current status quo between the Israelis and Palestinians was unacceptable.... read the story
Parents losing custody for homeschooling kids
A German couple already being threatened with jail time because they have been homeschooling their children say their nation has taken a turn for the worse, with a new federal law that gives family courts the authority to take custody of children "as soon as there is a suspicion of child abuse," which is how that nation's courts have defined homeschooling.
"The new law is seen as a logical step in carving up family rights after a federal court had decided that homeschooling was an abuse of custody," said a letter from Jurgen Dudek to officials with the U.S.-based Home School Legal Defense Association, an international advocacy organization in support of homeschooling.... read the story
Wives of slain missionaries sue Chiquita for complicity in the murders
When Chiquita Brands International pleaded guilty last year to violating anti-terrorism laws—and was fined $25 million for its payments to Colombian terrorists—Tania Julin and Nancy Hamm felt betrayed and angry.
Though Chiquita's plea did not involve the group that murdered their husbands 12 years ago, the women learned through the case that Chiquita had also paid protection money to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).... read the story
Bernanke talks big picture as inflation looms
Ben Bernanke sure can talk, but others seem to think its time to act -- possibly including a reversal of the Federal Reserve's easy-money policy of the past year.
On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve chairman voiced his theoretical concerns about the potential moral hazard that could be posed if the U.S. central bank bailed out financial companies that had made mistakes. While Bernanke waxed about the Fed's rich philosophical history, other Fed officials chirped about more Main Street issues like rising inflation and the mortgage crisis.... read the story
The latest twist in student loans
Because of the credit crunch, conventional lenders are making it tough for any but the most creditworthy borrowers to qualify for private college loans. Now, a new breed of student lender is trying to get students to return the snub—by writing off the Sallie Maes and Citibanks of the world in favor of relying on friends, family, and even perfect strangers to finance their college loans. "It's not a solution to the credit crisis in student loans by any means," says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of financial aid Web site finaid.org. "But the idea of using peer networks to raise money is intriguing."... read the story
Clinton's West Virginia win highlights Obama's weakness
Hillary Clinton's projected blowout win in today's West Virginia primary - by an expected 2-1 margin - may largely serve to highlight her opponent, Barack Obama, and his perceived political Achilles heel: a weakness with white voters.
Clinton was immediately declared the projected winner seconds after polls closed in a state where the median home price is just $66,000 and whose voters are among the poorest in the nation - 95 percent white, older, with 7 in 10 lacking college degrees.... read the story
C12- America’s leading resource for Christian CEOs
Click to learn more about "Building GREAT Businesses
for a GREATER Purpose" or starting a group in your area. Start a C12 Group Now!
Reporters give glimpses of massive destruction in China
Today, several news correspondents narrated a grim scene from some of the Chinese cities and townships hit hardest by the magnitude 7.9 quake that devastated the country this Monday.... read the story
Suing for reconciliation
A small Chinese congregation in Colorado Springs is suing the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) for proceeds from the sale of its sanctuary—and, perhaps, for an explanation.
Chinese Alliance Church of Colorado Springs (CACCC) completed the purchase of its storefront property in 2002. However, denominational bylaws allowed the C&MA to seize the property in 2006 and sell it to a karate studio in 2008 for $550,000.... read the story
Does your healthcare plan fund abortion?
Leading conservative expert on healthcare reform, Dr. Robert Moffitt, says personal freedom and the preservation of human dignity are the most important issues in the national debate over healthcare.
Dr. Moffitt, former deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during the Reagan administration, warns that since the healthcare plans of most families are controlled by insurers, employers, or government officials, many Americans are unknowingly being forced to subsidize immoral procedures or unethical treatments.... read the story
Emerging business trends
There are few people as well placed and well qualified to see emerging business trends unfold as the world's most influential executive recruiters.
Just consider the experience and perspective they gain from working with a variety of corporate clients to scope the competitive landscape, court exceptional management leaders, and shape succession plans that are both solid enough to ensure continuity but adaptable enough to compensate for challenges looming just over the horizon.... read the story
Tens of thousands dead or missing in China quake
China was reeling Tuesday from its worst earthquake in three decades which left tens of thousands of people dead, missing or trapped under crushed houses, schools and factories.
Rescuers were struggling to reach towns and villages devastated by Monday's huge 7.8 magnitude quake in southwestern Sichuan province, which is still being pummeled by wave after wave of terrifying aftershocks.
The death toll was officially nearly 10,000, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency, but that figure was expected to rise dramatically with at least 10,000 people alone buried in Mianzhu city in Sichuan.... read the story
McCain breaks with Bush on climate policy
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made a sharp break with President Bush on Monday, saying that the United States should adopt mandatory curbs on greenhouse gas emissions as well as issue tradable emissions credits to polluters to spur technological innovation.
"The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington," he said, speaking at a Portland training facility for Vestas Wind Technology. "We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great. The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge."... read the story
US offers help for Lebanon army
The US is prepared to help strengthen Lebanon's army so it can disarm Hezbollah, US President George W Bush said in an interview with the BBC.
He said the Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement had acted against its own people and was destabilising Lebanon.
He made the remarks ahead of a trip to the Middle East later this week.
At least 60 people have died in clashes in the capital Beirut and other cities between supporters of the government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.... read the story
8 myths about Evangelicals
It is a myth that evangelicals succeed because of conformity and unity, according to one author.
Identifying one of eight myths about evangelicals, Dr. Michael Lindsay said there are many issues, such as global warming and the priority of abortion, that make the faith group’s division apparent, according to Time magazine’s “Swampland.”... read the story
Hezbollah rocks eastern villages
Control of several villages loyal to Lebanon's pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has been handed to the army after an attack by Hezbollah.
The group's fighters used heavy weapons and small arms to attack the mountain settlements south-east of Beirut.... read the story
'Lost' Christians greatest risis in American church
The inability of the church to discuss a topic that has become taboo among many Christians is one of the root causes why millions of Americans are leaving the church and never to return, says one author.
There are "Christians who have experientially lost their faith" but have no one to turn to since church culture shuns the topic, Dave Samford said Thursday.... read the story
'Ark of the Covenant altar' found in Sheba's palace
The queen of Sheba's palace at Axum in Ethiopia, purported to once have been the home of the Ark of the Covenant, has been found, archaeologists from the University of Hamburg report.
The Ethiopian queen was the friend and ally of King Solomon of Israel in the 10th century before the Christian era.... read the story
Evangelicals lament a politicized faith
Evangelical Christians should be defined by their theology — and not their politics — to avoid becoming "useful idiots" of a political party, a group of leaders said Wednesday in a new statement.
The document, "An Evangelical Manifesto," reflects the frustration of some within a movement that claims about one in four Americans over how they are perceived by others and who can speak for them. The 19-page document declares that evangelicals err when they try to politicize faith and use Christian beliefs for political purposes.... read the story
Mom: an entrepreneur's secret to success
Richard Branson's parents told him to never criticize anyone. He still tries to apply that rule at Virgin Group. When Bobbi Brown was struggling to decide what to do with her life, her mother suggested a mental exercise that lead to the creation of her eponymous cosmetics business, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Napoleon Barragan, founder of 1-800-Mattress, remembers his mother washing his family's clothes by hand in the river, an image that inspired his drive to succeed.... read the story
Democrats attack Bush energy policy, oil industry tax breaks
Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow attacked the Republican Bush administration's energy policy and tax breaks for the oil industry, urging investment in alternative energy.
Gasoline prices have risen as high as $4 a gallon, from $1.50 when President George W. Bush took office, Stabenow said today. The rise in energy costs has gone from ``annoyance'' to ``crisis,'' affecting everything from the price of groceries to home-heating bills.... read the story
Death toll climbs from Missouri, Oklahoma storms
At least 20 people were killed as tornadoes and severe weather swept the Midwest before rumbling into the Southeast on Sunday morning, according to emergency management agencies.
In the central Georgia town of Dublin, storms killed at least one person, Lisa Janak of the state Emergency Management Agency said.... read the story
Manifesto seeks to clarify the 'evangelical' label
A new document purports to "set the record straight" about what it means to be an evangelical Christian.
Drafters of "An Evangelical Manifesto" say they are trying to clear up the "confusion" and "consternation" that surrounds the term "Evangelical" in the U.S. The document was unveiled today at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, by a collection of theologians and religious leaders, including Dr. Os Guinness, Christianity Today editor-in-chief David Neff, and public relations expert Larry Ross.... read the story
Economic slump hitting men the hardest: here's why
They eat from the same dishes and sleep in the same beds, but they seem to be operating in two different economies. From last November through this April, American women aged 20 and up gained nearly 300,000 jobs, according to the household survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). At the same time, American men lost nearly 700,000 jobs. You might even say American men are in recession, and American women are not.... read the story
A really, truly terrible investment
There are bad investments, and then there are really, really bad investments.
In the $330 billion world of auction-rate securities, put bonds backed by education loans in that latter category. Not only are investors stuck with about $80 billion of the unsellable bonds, many of them are now getting paid zero interest for their troubles.... read the story
Iraqis report capture of al Qaeda in Iraq leader
The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq was captured early Thursday in the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi officials said.
U.S. military officials were surprised about the report of Abu Ayyub al-Masri's capture -- first reported by Iraqi media and picked up by The Associated Press. And intelligence officials said they were skeptical, even though Iraqi officials said al-Masri was already in U.S. military custody.... read the story
UN 'disappointed' at Burma access
The UN says it is extremely disappointed at the slow progress made in securing access to victims of last weekend's cyclone in Burma.
Humanitarian chief John Holmes told reporters that Burma's response was "nothing like as much as is needed".... read the story
Senators to test McCain's independent clout
As a presidential candidate, Republican John McCain made his political name with independent voters in states such as New Hampshire.
Four GOP senators facing tough re-election battles because of the unpopular Iraq war, President Bush's sagging approval ratings and the shaky economy will put McCain's independent appeal to the test in November.... read the story
Legal group defends students' pro-abstinence T-shirts
A religious freedom and civil liberties legal group has come to the defense of two public high school students in central Virginia after they were reportedly reprimanded by school administrators to cease wearing pro-abstinence t-shirts.
The students – who wore shirts that proudly displayed messages such as “Virginity Rocks” and “I’m loving my Husband And I haven’t even Met Him!” – were allegedly ordered by school officials to change or turn their shirts inside out.... read the story