News

On April 19, the national BSA leadership announced a proposed change to its current policy of banning openly homosexual men and boys from participating in Scouting. The proposed policy would walk a tightrope by banning homosexual adult leaders but welcoming boys who identify as gay, while affirming that "Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting."

About 30 kilometers outside Syria's western border, the Lebanon town of Zahle is full of refugees. Many make it across the Syria-Lebanon border and not much farther.

Sudan has stepped up its arrests and deportations of Christians, with interrogation including threats to bury them alive.

The horrific stories from the abortion clinic of Kermit Gosnell are the brutally logical spawn of Roe v. Wade.

For its annual report of violators, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom counts 15 nations where abuse of religious liberty is "systemic, egregious and ongoing."

Millions of believers will gather to pray on Thursday, May 2, in observance of the 62nd annual National Day of Prayer in thousands of public venues across the country. As many as 42,000 events are expected to take place. Christians will unite to pray for government, military, media, business, education, church and family.

The honorary chairman of this year's National Day of Prayer (May 2) talked about prayer, grief and what not to say when a friend's loved one dies.

With countries like North Korea, Pakistan and Somalia topping the list as some of the world's worst persecutors of Christians, it's hard to imagine that none of these countries hold the highest Christian death toll. In 2012, that shameful distinction went to Nigeria, where almost 70 percent of Christians killed globally were murdered.

The key question we now face is this: Does recognition of civil rights for all people require the normalization of homosexuality and the legalization of same-sex marriage?

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings that left three dead and more than 260 injured, perhaps none face more significant adjustments or a longer road ahead than the 14 amputees who lost a limb.

Official reports indicate that nearly 1.5 million people have been affected by the massive April 20 earthquake, with many homeless in the mountainous Lushan county region close to the city of Ya'an, nearly five years after a devastating quake hit the same region, killing more than 70,000 people.

Depression was the third-most frequent disease in the world in 2004, and will be the most common disease globally by 2030. Now there's good news: A new study has found that regular attendance at religious services offers "significant protection" against this terrible disease.

Lou Zinnanti, lead pastor of Christ the Rock Church Boston, said he's seen a resurgence of prayer as a primary avenue to bring about healing. Gatherings of Christians have not only prayed for bombing victims, health care works, government leaders and first responders, but also those who were on the scene and filled the role of emergency workers.

Most Germans who home-school, many of whom are Christians, do so in secret. It's estimated that hundreds or thousands of German children are home-schooled, according to interviews with advocates and lawyers.

Aid organizations, churches and individuals are at work in West, Texas, this week as the small town of only 2,500 people begins the long road to recovery. The community is mourning the loss of 14 lives in last Wednesday's explosion while more than 200 wounded victims recuperate.

In a week when Boston hospitals cared for more than 170 bomb victims, staff chaplains were suddenly in great demand. They moved calmly from emergency departments to waiting rooms and employee lounges, offering a compassionate ear and much-needed comfort to anxious patients, family members and staffers.

To the names of Timothy McVeigh and Theodore Kaczynski we can now add the Tsarnaev brothers. Their story is the worst-case scenario in the struggle against terrorism.

The annual return of Earth Day (April 22) challenges all of us to consider whether we're exercising godly or ungodly dominion. Over the past few decades, many Christians have thought a lot about that.

"You've shown us, Boston, that in the face of evil, Americans will lift up what's good. In the face of cruelty, we will choose compassion," Obama said.

I am heartbroken for the families, furious at the evil, and more resolved than ever to give my life to Christ's mission.