Author: Gordon Govier

In the days leading up to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Americans have shown up in droves at rallies across the country in a show of solidarity against abortion.Today marks the 37th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Pro-lifers, who assert that life begins at conception, say this year’s collective efforts are even more significant than ever as Congress considers health care reform legislation that could allow taxpayer dollars to cover abortions. Conservatives and Christian groups warn that passage of a bill with abortion coverage would be the greatest expansion of government-backed abortion since Roe…

Dr. James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family and an influential voice for Christian conservatives, is about to depart from the organization he created and is starting a radio program that will give him greater leeway to hold forth on politics.Beginning in March, Dr. Dobson, 73, will co-host the radio show with his son, Ryan, 39, a tattooed surfer and skateboarder who wrote a book called “Be Intolerant” and who has honed an identity preaching to youths.

Five lines of ancient script on a broken piece of pottery, first spotted by a 17-year-old excavation volunteer in the summer of 2008, have been proclaimed as one of the oldest known examples of Hebrew writing. An Israeli historian believes they also testify to the formation of the kingdom of Israel and the writing of Hebrew Scriptures.The ostracon (a piece of pottery with writing on it, the ancient equivalent of note paper) was found at Khirbet Qeiyafa, the 3,000-year-old ruins of a city on a ridge above the Valley of Elah. The ruins overlook the valley where the Bible says…

America’s oldest state celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. takes place every third Monday in January at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Befitting Dr. King’s status as a religious leader, the faith factor has always been unapologetically a large part of the ceremony. "I am here today because of the power of God that lifted me up," said this year’s guest speaker, Victor Woods. Woods went to prison at age 19 on an armed robbery charge and returned to a life of crime on his release. Imprisoned a second time on charges of orchestrating a 40-million dollar credit card fraud…

  Twice in the past ten years Madison churches have emerged from their separate silos and worked broadly together to accomplish a greater goal to benefit the entire community. Most recently it was church members from all across the community who helped finance the building of Elizabeth House, a residential home for pregnant single women. Before that it was pastors from these churches who signed the Madison Community Marriage Covenant in 2002. “That we have pastors from liberal churches, conservative churches, black churches, white churches, Catholic and Protestant, coming together to say we are going to take extra steps to…

Jenny Hakes is not an artist, but about a year ago, she put felt-tip markers to poster board and set down her thoughts in wobbly letters.The mother of five carries that sign — “Pray to end abortion” — every Saturday morning on the sidewalk in front of the Madison Surgery Center, 1 S. Park St.Since news leaked one year ago that UW Hospital, its doctor group and Meriter Hospital were proposing to add abortion procedures to the surgery center, which they jointly own, opponents have kept up a near-daily presence at the site and begun measures intended to hurt the…

INTERVIEWWashington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary invites you to start 2010 right by curbing the need to consume. She lays out a 21-day financial fast to curb debt and stress in her book, The Power to Prosper.

APPLETON, WISCONSIN (ANS) — Two missionaries from a Calvary Chapel in Wisconsin credit God’s hand of protection for their narrow escape from danger in the Port-au-Prince earthquake.Pastor Huguener “Bastia” Bastia and his wife Betty minister at a Calvary Chapel located in rural Caneille, Haiti. They had arrived in Port-au-Prince to celebrate their wedding anniversary on the day the earthquake struck, according to Mary Danielsen, a secretary at their home church in Wisconsin.

Obama’s faith council is finalizing its draft report this week, and one of the key debates that emerged from the phone conference yesterday was whether there should be rules requiring religious groups to cover up religious symbols if they receive federal funding for services. For example, if a church gets money for a soup kitchen, would it have to remove or put a cloth over all crosses, pictures, etc., every time it gets ready to feed the hungry?

One of the nation’s largest churches has begun the new year with an emphasis on strengthening families.At a time when a lot of people are disillusioned about marriage, Willow Creek Community Church’s Bill Hybels wants Christians, at least, to know that the institution of marriage was designed by God.