"Not Today"

Producers of "Not Today" are hoping to raise awareness about sex slavery, one of the most critical problems in society today. Today, there are more slaves than at any other time in human history. Roughly 27 million slaves around the world are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will. Women and children are the primary victims in this industry, which is estimated to make profits of over $32 billion. The film is a feature film and not a documentary with a story that centers on a 20-year-old American youth, Caden Wells, played by Cody Longo, who is greatly disconnected with the suffering of the world before he randomly decides to travel to Hyderabad, India, with a group of free-spirited friends for a vacation. Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated singer Kari Jobe believes the draw for her to fight human trafficking is because she is a woman and she sees such tremendous suffering as the result of the illegal trade. Her song, "What Love Can Do", is featured in the movie's soundtrack. Along with Kari Jobe, there is an impressive array of ministry partners who have pledged to promote the film. "Our Christian faith compels us to lift our hands up with conviction and stretch our hands across with compassion," said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference Hispanic Evangelical Association. "'Not Today' moves us to reconcile sanctification with service, faith with action and righteousness with justice. Whether it's creating a firewall against a caste system that does not recognize the image of God in every human being or lifting a clarion call against human trafficking, 'Not Today' is more than a movie. 'Not Today' stands as a clarion call to do justice in the name of Jesus."

Amish Beard-Cutting Attacks

The leader of a dissident Amish sect was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of bizarre beard- and hair-cutting attacks on other Ohio Amish. Samuel Mullet Sr., 67, the leader, was sentenced in Federal District Court in Cleveland for coordinating assaults that prosecutors argued were motivated by religious intolerance. Fifteen of his followers, including six women, were given lesser sentences, ranging from one year and one day to seven years. The breakaway Amish were convicted last year of multiple counts of conspiracy and hate crimes, which carry harsher punishment than simple assault. The series of attacks in 2011 spread fear through Amish communities in eastern Ohio. Followers of Samuel Mullet broke into homes, restrained men and women, and forcibly sheared their victims, sometimes with tools used to clip horse manes. For Amish, descendants of 18th-century German-speaking immigrants, long beards and flowing women’s hair represent religious devotion and cultural identity. Prosecutors argued that because of the religious symbolism of the attacks, they were hate crimes.

"The Testament of Mary"

Fiona Shaw, perhaps best known for playing Harry Potter's aunt, is re-imagining the life of the mother of Christ in Irish writer Colm Toibin's New York premiere stage adaptation of his novella "The Testament of Mary," a haunting, provocative work, at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Fiona Shaw is alone onstage – except for the early presence of a real-life vulture – as she tells her version of "The Greatest Story Ever Told," one that often sharply veers from traditional Christianity.

Pope Francis Advisory Council

Pope Francis named eight cardinals from around the globe Saturday to advise him on running the Catholic Church and reforming the Vatican bureaucracy, marking his first month as pope with a major initiative to reflect the universal nature of the church in key governing decisions. The advisory panel includes only one current Vatican official. The rest are cardinals from North, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. It was reported that Pope Francis got the idea to form the advisory body from the pre-conclave meetings where complaints had been made about the fact that there was not an advisory group like this. The cardinals are to help advise him in the governing of the universal church. The advisory group will meet for its first session October 1-3, however, Pope Francis is already in contact with the members of the group. It was also noted that the cardinals are a consultative body, NOT a decision-making one. 

Pope Francis Advisory Council To Reform Church With Permanent Panel Of 8 Cardinals

Jesus>Religion

This video came out a little over a year ago, but I just came across it again. Just two days after this video had been posted on YouTube it had more than 2 million views. Jefferson Bethke, the video's creator, draws on his own experiences and the Bible to argue that "Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums," when people don't practice what they preach.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

Rick Warren

Pastor Rick Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Saddleback is a megachurch and at the weekend services there are usually around 20,000 people attending. Pastor Warren is also the author of the bestseller book The Purpose Driven Life. I have attended many services at Saddleback Church, and absolutely love this church family! Some sad news appeared this weekend as word broke that the Warren's youngest son, Matthew, committed suicide. I met Matthew a few times at Saddleback, so for me this news was a HUGE shock. Many people are asking how such a tragedy could happen to such a devout Christian family.

Prays for the Warren family......

KKK

The Ku Klux Klan is America's oldest, most visible and most (in)famous hate group. They consider themselves a Christian organization and base their doctrines upon their own reading of the Bible. Their theology is strongly influenced by Christian Reconstructionism - they hope to "reconstruct" the United States along biblical (primarily Old Testament) lines and to establish a white-dominated theocracy. A cross burning is the most well-known symbol of the Klan. Many Christians consider it sacrilege to burn or otherwise destroy a cross. Klan Christians, however, state that it is not destroying the cross, but "lighting" it, as a symbol of the members' faith. 

Now, why am I talking about the KKK? Well, in Memphis on Saturday there was a KKK Rally. That is right, the KKK STILL exists. I was just as shocked...