Lexingtonian beats drums for Christian star

By Rich Copley

When Kirk Franklin plays Questapalooza on Sunday night, a Lexingtonian will be keeping the beat.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

In his most recent work, longtime Middle East historian Bernard Lewis aims to present "a picture of Islam as it really was and is." The result is somewhat uneven, if always readable. At his best Lewis offers candid glimpses into aspects such as Islamic fashion and the problems of interpreting Arabic words.

Faith notes

The Missionary Auxiliary of The New Greater Soul Deliverance Tabernacle Ministries Inc. will host a fish fry at 11 a.m. The event will be at 424 St. Johns Court, Lexington.

Coming home

Lexington Christian alumnus returns as rock band's road boss

By Rich Copley

Jars of Clay road manager Aaron Sawyer was looking at the itinerary for the Christian rock band when he noticed an 859 area code.

This is the truth: I wrote this myself

There is no godless media conspiracy

By Paul Prather

Among the questions I frequently get is, ”How can you, being a minister, justify writing for the lying, godless-heathen, liberal media conspiracy?“

New bishop to lead United Methodists

By Jim Niemi

A minister who served two United Methodist Churches in Lexington and one in Paintsville has been named bishop of the denomination that serves most of Kentucky.

Wars changing chaplaincy

By Deborah Horan

CHICAGO — The Rev. Greg Moser keeps a stack of books on jihad in Asia next to a copy of the Bible in his office. He stores a ”battle book“ in a drawer at United in Faith Lutheran Church in northwest Chicago.

Faith notes

Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 2185 Garden Springs Drive, will sponsor a Homeless Awareness Rally beginning at 7 p.m. to raise awareness of an upcoming Multi-Faith Build, a collaborative effort from Lexington Habitat for Humanity and several area churches. Call (859) 277-6096.

Catholic prayers set to contemporary beat

Jingle writers create CDs for moving your muscles, motivating your soul or just meditating

By Corey Williams

Madonna is on Jennifer Zablocki's iPod. So is ”The Madonna.“ The Detroit-area 12th-grade teacher works up a sweat to the pop diva's music as well as songs honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus.

China's prosperity boosts Christianity

By Jim Landers

BEIJING — Although the communist government still tries to choose church leaders and keep believers in line, Christianity is growing in China because freedom is growing in China.

Beijing tries to control religious expression

By Tim Johnson

BEIJING — Christian underground activist Hua Huiqi dearly wanted to attend the same church service as President Bush last Sunday, so he got up in the middle of the night to pedal his bicycle there.

Fuel for souls: First-time churchgoers get free gas

By Jim Niemi

The Rev. Austin Abney is betting that the shortest way to a Christian's heart is through his gas tank.

Album review: Seabird

'Til We See the Shore | 4 stars out of 5 | Traveling with Seabird, we see a lot. The Northern Kentucky band's debut album is a journey from pain to ­victory, with strong images including the ­beginning of a long-delayed romance, a victim claiming victory, and a dying soul claiming its salvation.

Pastor's wife has supported church's integration policy for 50 years

By Jim Niemi

As Trinity Baptist Church celebrates Helen Brown's 50 years of service as organist and director of children's ministries this weekend, it will recognize her other legacies as well.

Company offers portable churches

By Justin Hyde

DETROIT — Starting a ministry requires little more than faith, but a Troy, Mich., company has launched a growing business by supplying all the tools the faithful need to get a new church on its feet.

Church plans celebration

By Jim Niemi

Annunciation Catholic Church in Paris is planning a week of activities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the laying of its cornerstone.

Faith notes

Saturday

Christians and torture: Two faces have thee

By Paul Prather

The most disturbing revelation about our government in quite a while is the disclosure that, after 9/11, the Bush administration embraced what Vice President Dick Cheney euphemistically called ”the dark side.“

Non-profit provides groceries at discounted prices

By Jim Niemi

Earlier this year, Glenda Miller of Lexington was barely making ends meet, feeding herself and the two adults who lived in her home.

Teens looking for modest fashions

By Jennifer Garza

Backstage before dress rehearsal, 14-year-old Mary Nye looks at the clothes she will model at the Pure Fashion Show.

Garrard church celebrates 225th anniversary

By Jim Niemi

Old Paint Lick Presbyterian Church in Garrard County will celebrate its 225th anniversary this weekend.

Faith notes

The Tibetan Buddhist Community of Lexington will hold a teaching of the Four Noble Truths. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jessamine woman to be ordained a priest

By Jim Niemi

As a young girl growing up in Milwaukee, Janice Sevre-Duszynska often fantasized about becoming a priest while helping clean the sanctuary of the church her family attended.
» Poll: Should the Roman Catholic Church ordain women?

Hill N Dale neighbors irked by church building plans

By Jim Niemi

Plans by Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish in Lexington to convert a neighborhood home into a new rectory drew fire from residents of the Hill N Dale subdivision Tuesday night.

IT'S A RAP

Reaching out in a non-traditional way

Priest turns secular music into instrument of the Lord

By Jim Niemi

Call him the Rappin' Chaplain. He won't mind. The Rev. Norman Fischer, parish priest at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, is a product of the hip-hop culture who often follows his homily at Sunday Mass with, say, a rap song that praises Jesus or comes down hard on the evils that tempt us.

Grandkid, all 1 lb. of her, a joy to behold

By Paul Prather

It's a girl! I'm officially nuts now. I'm truly unhinged. Last week, I drove my pregnant daughter-in-law, Cassie, and my girlfriend, Liz, to meet my son at the office of Cassie's ob-gyn in Winchester.

Author-speaker inspires other women

By Jim Niemi

When nationally acclaimed Christian author and inspirational speaker Beth Moore takes to the stage at Louisville's Southeast Christian Church on Aug. 1-2, thousands of women like Karen Allen will tune in.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

The latest album from Third Day opens with the relevant track, This is Who I Am. In one respect, it's a good ol' barn-burning Southern rocker.

Faith Notes

The Tibetan Buddhist Community of Lexington will host guest speaker Geshe Kalsang Samdup at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Free. 1800 Gayle Drive. (859) 396-3505.

Former president teaches Sunday school

By Jack Brammer

PLAINS, Ga. — At 10 a.m., a side door in the front of the red-bricked, one-floor church's sanctuary opens, and a former leader of the free world enters.

"You can rock it, you can roll it ... at the hop'

By Jim Niemi

You'll be able to step out to your favorite dance tunes and help Lexington's homeless residents receive medical care by attending the Community Rock Hop on July 26 at Applebee's Park.

Lutheran radio pastor to preach in Lexington

By Jim Niemi

Pastor Ken Klaus of The Lutheran Hour radio program will preach at a rally open to the public at Rupp Arena on Friday.

Faith notes

Pastor has big plans for family life center

It's quite a church. At Imani Family Life Center, the new home of Imani Baptist Church, there will be a gym the size of two college basketball courts, along with two soccer fields, three baseball diamonds and six tennis courts.

French Boys Choir at 3 Ky. churches

By Jim Niemi

The French Boys Choir, which includes two dozen students from schools, colleges and universities near Lille in Northern France, will be performing free concerts in Lexington, Richmond and Georgetown next week.

We all stand in need of God's grace

Paul Prather

My last column horrified some folks. I wrote that too often we evangelical Christians have taken our greatest gift — the most liberating, exciting message in history — and pounded it into rubble.

Catholics to attend World Youth Day

By Jim Niemi

About 70 people from the Diocese of Lexington will attend World Youth Day next week in Sydney, Australia. But for those who can't be there, Lexington radio personality Leo Brown will broadcast his daily program, Diocese Live!, from Sydney.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Music

Faith notes

Sunday

Religion important to Kentuckians

Report finds beliefs strong, church attendance high

By Jim Niemi

Charlie O'Hara attends Mass at Lexington's Cathedral of Christ the King ”every day, seven days a week.

Anglican church in Maysville to ordain its first priest

Members broke with Episcopalians over ordination of gay bishop

By Jim Niemi

A Kentucky Anglican church in Maysville that has broken ranks with the U.S. Episcopal Church will witness its first ordination July 12.

RC TALK

Group uses Internet-speak to reach out

Rich Copley

WILMORE — Hawk Nelson Is My Friend might sound like a goofball title for an album, unless you're on MySpace, Facebook or one of the other social networking Internet sites out there.

Faith Notes

Tibetan Buddhist Community of Lexington, 1800 Gayle Drive, Lexington, will have a slide show on Tibet and a short celebration for the birthday of the Dalai Lama, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

The Fourth of July ­week is an appropriate time to to praise a great ­American ­songwriter. With his Spring and ­Summer EPs, Jon ­Foreman has cemented ­himself as just that.

Family plus

Couple brought home boy from orphanage, then his best friend

By Jim Niemi

Five years ago, Ivan and Alex were best friends, living in an orphanage in the Ukraine. Today, the 14-year-olds are also brothers, having been adopted by Becky and Mike Child of Lexington.

Decline of evangelicals is not surprising

Paul Prather

Earlier this month, the Herald-Leader carried an op-ed piece that detailed a dramatic erosion in the numbers and social influence of U.S. evangelical Christians.

Presbyterian assembly votes to drop gay-clergy ban

By Eric Gorski

The Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), bitterly divided over sexuality and the Bible, set up another confrontation Friday over its ban on ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians.

Faith notes

The Consolidated District Laymen will sponsor a Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, 103 Cushionberry Lane, Keene.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

Superchick breaks the silence — as it often does — of a quiet couple of months for new releases in the Christian rock market with its fourth studio album, Rock What You Got.

In The footprints of Christ

Yes, Jesus walked here

Trail project in Israel leads tourists off the beaten path

By Laurie Copans

MOUNT OF BEATITUDES, ­Israel — A dirt path begins across the road from a bus-congested holy site on Israel's Sea of Galilee, ­winding up a hill covered with wild oat and thistle.

Military "family readiness'

Soldiers' spouses help one another

Margaret Buranen

While Matt Krupp serves in Afghanistan with other members of the 201st Engineer Battalion of the Kentucky National Guard, his wife, Kylene, and 2-year-old daughter Sarah are counting the days until he returns.

RC TALK

Violins expand sound of Christian rock

The numerous Guitar Hero controllers slung at the Ichthus Festival reinforce the electric six-string's dominance in rock and at Ichthus.

Religious drive

Associated Press

South Carolina's lieutenant governor announced last week that he is willing to put up $4,000 of his own money so his state can become the first in the nation to issue ”I Believe“ license plates with the image of a cross and a stained glass window.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

Books

Faith notes

Today

Group creates bouquets for hospice patients

By Mary Meehan

They make quick work of it, these flower ladies. Within an hour, four funeral arrangements and all manner of blooms spread across a table in the basement of the First Christian church are transformed.

Football lessons relevant today

By Paul Prather

I had lunch the other day with an old friend who was passing through Mount Sterling with his wife.

Ichthus closing a time of prayer, fun

By Rich Copley

As Ichthus winds down, here are a few festival notes for today and next year.

NOT JUST MUSIC: Films entertain between bands

OPENING DAY: Cicadas join the fun

OPENING DAY: Some face long lines, waits, delays

A GREENER ICHTHUS: Visiting teens go out of the way to help environment

LIVE BLOGGING: Rich Copley keeps you up to date on the fest

PHOTOS and VIDEO:

Writing for Christian audience

Elizabethtown conference to show authors how to reach the faithful

By Jim Niemi

Aspiring writers who hope to find an audience among Christian readers can learn how to reach them at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, June 20-21 in Elizabethtown.

Weekly offerings

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

I am taking a morning walk through my suburban neighborhood, but in my head, I am at the Ichthus Festival or anywhere TobyMac is presenting his backflipping, breathless show.

Faith notes

The Tibetan Buddhist Community of Lexington will hold a teaching today and June 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 903 Manchester St. No previous knowledge of Buddhism is necessary. Teachings are free. Call (859) 396-3505 or check the Web site (http://www.tbcl.org).

RC TALK

SOUL SHIFT

Rock-star dreams transform into heartfelt desire to help others

By Rich Copley

Stephanie Smith will be on the main stage at this week's Ichthus Festival twice, a Wednesday evening showcase of acts from her label, Gotee Records, and a 4:10 p.m. slot Thursday. But before that, she'll be in Lexington joining festival-goers who get into town early to work on a mission project organized by the festival and several Central Kentucky ministries and churches.

New Islamic center to open

It's hoped that with a capacity of 400, it will serve for years to come

By Jim Niemi

ELIZABETHTOWN — You can find the oldest free-standing mosque in Kentucky here, and in two months, you will also be able to visit Kentucky's newest Islamic center, which includes a mosque, or masjid, as well as places for gatherings such as weddings, anniversaries, lectures and sports.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

Music

Vacation bible schools combine biblical lessons with a lot of fun

By Amy Wilson

In some festooned Sunday school classroom on some weekday in July, some first-grade girl will fuss with crepe paper and foam board, silk flowers and sticky glue, and she will don herself a mighty fine skirt that wiggles just so when she does.

"Eye of God' the simplest of crafts to do

A craft often done at vacation bible school, summer camp or Sunday school is known as ”Eye of God“ or ”Ojo de Dios.“ The Huichol people of northwest Mexico are thought to have originated the art. Each point of the ”ojo“ represents earth, fire, air and water, and is to remind us that God is watching over all things.

Listings for Vacation Bible Schools

Some of the churches offer dinner before VBS, special transportation arrangements, and other activities during VBS week. Call the church for full details.

Quest to greatly expand worship center

$12.6 MILLION RAISED IN 3-YEAR PLEDGES FROM 958 FAMILIES

By Jim Niemi

In the wake of a thwarted attempt to build a megachurch outside the urban service area in south Lexington, Quest Community Church will add 46,000 square feet to its worship center off Reynolds Road.

Kenwick home, garden tour

By Jim Niemi

The Kenwick Neighborhood Association and Victory Christian Church are teaming for a tour of residents' homes and gardens on June 8.

Faith Notes

The choir of the Lexington Chinese Christian Church, 4030 Lexington Road, Nicholasville, is performing Chinese folk music to raise funds for earthquake victims in China. The concert at the church begins at 8 p.m., followed by a candlelight vigil at 9 p.m.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'

Narnia has a growing following

Books, and films, keep giving C.S. Lewis a new audience

By Christopher Quinn

The highly anticipated movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, sequel to the 2005 blockbuster The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has created another intense wave of interest in C.S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, on which the movies are based.

I'm going to be a grandfather!

I'm shocked, I'm awed, I'm giddy about grandchild

PAUL PRATHER

In late March we had a small party for my 52nd birthday. My girlfriend, Liz, cooked dinner for me and my son, John, my daughter-in-law, Cassie, and my dad.

London landmark celebrates restoration

Restoration brings St. Martin's 18th-century glory to light

Associated Press

LONDON — A church famous for its classical music concerts recently celebrated the end of two years of renovations with a grand reopening in the heart of London.

Vatican opens door to little green men

Chicago Tribune

Word that the Vatican had declared devout Catholics free to believe in aliens traveled at warp speed last week, around the globe and, quite possibly, to points unknown.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

Like the Chris Daughtrys and Clay Aikens of mainstream pop, an increasing number of American Idol finalists who didn't win the big prize are ­finding homes on Christian music labels, charts and ­concert tours.

Faith notes

Tibetan Buddhist Community of Lexington will hold a teaching titled How to Develop Bodhicitta from 10-11:30 a.m.

Garden is fertile ground for reconciliation

Empty lot is fertile ground for seeds of reconciliation

By Amy Wilson

Upon his death in 1854, London Ferrill was buried on East Third Street in the Episcopal Burying Ground's rector's plot. He was not the rector at Lexington's influential and powerful Christ Church, nor had he ever been.

I am, therefore I write

We all want to see our thoughts in print

Paul Prather

I've long tried to figure out what makes some of us want to see our thoughts set down in print, as if the things we say are so important they should be preserved.

Parents keep baccalaureates going

Services designed to be more inspirational than religious

By Jim Niemi

Graduating seniors at area high schools will have a chance to wear their caps and gowns more than once. The baccalaureate service, traditionally a religious service for graduating seniors, is surviving for at least one more class of graduates.

Joel Osteen to bring upbeat message to Louisville

Upbeat sermon, music designed to make audience leave feeling better

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Mega-church pastor, televangelist and all-around happy guy Joel Osteen is appearing in Louisville Sunday to hold a ”Night of Hope.“

Faith Notes

Today

■ The Women of St. Paul A.M.E. Church are ­sponsoring a ”My Man Can Cook“ ­competition at noon at the church, 251 North Upper Street, Lexington. There will be four categories: chili/soup, entrees, desserts and something special (anything that doesn't fit in the other categories). Tickets for the tasting are $5.Call (859) 255-7945. Also, the women will celebrate Women's Day at 11 a.m. May 25. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Maxine Thomas, the new assistant pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church. An afternoon program will begin at 4 p.m. featuring Ohio gospel recording artist Marlyce McCants and the Jimtown Male Chorus.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

music

Web sites help in difficult times

More patients, concerned friends turn to computer to stay in touch

By Margaret Buranen

It's great to have friends when you are sick. But it's not so great for the phone to ring all day long when you feel lousy.

Mission groups plan projects before Ichthus

Will plant, clean up inner-city areas before Ichthus

Rich Copley

Add the Ichthus Festival to the growing list of cultural outposts ”going green.“

Young faith-based voters can't be pegged

Social justice becoming an increasing concern

By Lillian Cunningham

CHICAGO — Liberal, religious voters are making their voices heard. And the youngest voices are often the loudest, as a new generation of believers begins to reshape the public discourse on faith in America.

Day or night, somebody is always praying

Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Hour by hour, the prayers seemed to take on a weight and importance all their own.

Faith Notes: Local events

Saturday

RELIGION BRIEF

A.M.E. church to hold convention despite pleas for boycott of host city

ST. LOUIS — The African Methodist Episcopal Church will hold its convention in St. Louis this summer despite boycott pleas by local blacks unhappy with the city's white mayor.

Mercer churches join forces to fight drugs

By Jim Niemi

HARRODSBURG — Motivated by what they perceive to be an epidemic of illicit drug use in their communities, churches in Mercer County are joining forces to combat the problem.

Congregants urged to buy pastor's silence

By Jim Niemi

How much would you pay to shorten your minister's Sunday sermon?

Faith Notes

Today

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

Highlights and reviews of new releases and publications

It's always a good sign when you're listening to an album if your fingers drift over to the volume button to turn it up. Something's caught your attention, and you want more.

Presbyterian high court rules against censure

CLERIC PERFORMED SAME-SEX MARRIAGES

By Jim Niemi

The highest court in the Presbyterian Church (USA) ordered that one of its ministers who performed same-sex marriages should not be censured by the church.

Motivational speakers: You can be whatever you want

By Jim Niemi

Improve your productivity without working harder or longer!

Now I don't judge people as much

We don't always know the factors that cause people to act

Paul Prather

Last month I turned 52. It was something of a shock. Fifty-two isn't decrepit, but it's sure a lot older than I used to be.

Presbyterians review case on gay marriage

By Jim Niemi

A Presbyterian minister sat Friday to be judged by the denomination's highest court, which will decide whether she violated church law by performing marriages for same-sex couples.

Faith notes

Awards

Methodists work hard to stay unified

Denomination sees how deep divisions have hurt Episcopalians

By Sam Hodges

DALLAS — Nearly 1,000 United Methodists lay and clergy delegates — mainly from the United States, but with a strong African contingent — have been gathered since Wednesday in Fort Worth for General Conference, a term that covers the denomination's top legislative body and the body's quadrennial meeting.

CLOSE-UP TODAY'S TOPIC: RELIGION

Scholars take new look at Islam

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MUHAMMAD'S WORDS EXAMINED

By Dion Nissenbaum

In a boxy stone building in the shadow of Ankara's central mosque, a group of scholars is spearheading a reinterpretation of the literary foundations of Islam that has been compared to Christianity's Protestant Reformation.

St. Patrick visit first for a Pope

By Verena Dobnik

The second day of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to New York took on special meaning for Roman Catholics because it was the first time that a pope has celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Pope speaks on youth, sex abuse, U.S. fervor

By Victor L. Simpson

Pope Benedict XVI focused on the future of the American church Saturday as he marked the third anniversary of his election as pontiff, rallying young people, priests and seminarians and assuring them of his support as they dealt with the damage from the clergy sex abuse scandal.