OUR COLUMNISTS The Most Consequential Body in the World -- Your Local Church Commentary by Matt Friedeman There are many things that compete with that local expression of Christ in our evangelical culture today -- TV preachers, great books, dynamic Christian singers. But the local church is God's primary method to channel holiness to the world. Sex Without Value Commentary by Jane Jimenez Some would have us believe that condom-friendly programs will teach our children exactly what they need to know about sex. Think again. Fading Aura Commentary by Brad Locke Coaching is a job saddled with increasing demands but decreasing gratitude. This imbalance has driven many a fine man to desperate measures, which in turn has stripped him of his dignity and uprightness in the eyes of players, owners, athletics directors, fans and the media. Who's in First? Commentary by David Sisler Spring is when a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of baseball. And with opening day in sight, that means Barry Bonds is his old surly self. Protecting Christian Health-Care Providers Commentary by Mark Creech What happens if a pharmacist elects not to sell the "morning-after pill"? If over-the-counter sales of the drug become legal, will they be forced to provide it? Amazingly, pharmacists across the country are already dealing with this issue because they have decided not to fill birth-control pills.

...A pro-life leader is convinced that a growing mentality among liberal jurists threatens all disabled people. Judie Brown of the American Life League says the court-ordered starvation of the brain-injured Terri Schiavo is the latest evidence that liberal judges are trying to take on the role of God. "The problem with the court system is that they are moving closer and closer to condemning severely disabled Americans, as a group, to death," she says, "and that ought to frighten everyone." The ALL spokeswoman is concerned that the Schiavo case is establishing a legal precedent for a point at which a court can decide some innocent person's quality of life is such that his or her life is no longer worthy of protection. "The court is setting another one of those precedents that it's not going to back away from," Brown says, "and as it continues to push the envelope, more and more of the severely disabled are going to be threatened." [Bill Fancher]

...Reports say Pastor Jerry Falwell is expected to be released today from the Virginia hospital where he has been treated for viral pneumonia. According to Associated Press, Falwell's son has said his father will probably need several more weeks to regain his strength and his voice after spending most of the last week on a ventilator. Meanwhile, prayers are being sought for another well-known evangelical, Joni Eareckson Tada. On February 28 she was admitted to a hospital and underwent treatment for pneumonia as well. The latest reports indicate that she too is doing better and is expected to make a full recovery. [Fred Jackson]

...Lutheran scholars are opposing relaxed rules on homosexuality proposed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The U.S. denomination's proposal states that the ELCA would still stand against same-sex marriage ceremonies and homosexual clergy, but would tolerate dissent from the church's policy. However, the statement released by 17 Lutheran scholars from 12 campuses claims this idea will threaten church unity as well as the church's biblical teachings. Although the task force that recommended the relaxed church rules claimed enacting the recommended measures would not change any actual ELCA policy, the scholars contend that the proposal advocates a fundamental shift in policy by asking the church not to punish homosexual clergy. Also, the scholars say the task force's claim of support for their position in the Bible and the teachings of Martin Luther is an erroneous assertion. A church-wide assembly of the ELCA will take up the measure in August for an official vote. [Mary Rettig]

...Churchgoers and religious volunteers could receive special discounts on their home and car insurance under new policies being offered by an Iowa insurance company. GuideOne currently specializes in insuring churches and private schools. But the Iowa Civil Liberties Union says offering lower rates to churchgoers appears to violate laws barring discrimination on the basis of religion, and predicts that a lawsuit could be filed. Under the policies, the faithful would not have to pay a deductible if they are in a car accident on the way to church activities of if they lose personal property while at church. The policies also would provide up to $750 to cover a policyholder's church donations. [AP]

...School board members from around Louisiana have opened their annual convention with prayer, in defiance of a federal judge who banned public prayer at school board meetings in a district north of New Orleans. The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association said, "Let it be known, and let the ACLU know, that this meeting started with the Pledge and a prayer." Last Friday, Judge Ginger Berrigan -- a former president of the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union -- ruled in favor of a parent who sued to ban school board prayers. An attorney for the state school boards association says it will help the district appeal Berrigan's ruling, which also has been denounced by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. [AP]

...A founding member of the heavy metal band "Korn" says he has finally found true peace and fulfillment in a personal relationship with Christ. Last Sunday 34-year-old Brian Welch gave his testimony at Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, California. "I thought I had everything," the former rock band member said. "Money was pouring in, women, everything that, like when you were a teenager, you thought was life; but through the years, I found that it was nothing, because money can't buy happiness. Happiness comes from one place, and that's the Lord." Welch, who recently left Korn after his conversion six weeks ago, says shortly before his conversion he realized his longtime addiction to drugs had robbed all the joy from his life, but when he prayed to the Lord to "Show me how to quit," he was empowered and enabled to quit. Now, with plans to embark on a solo career, Welch says he wants to help reach the rock-and-roll culture for Christ. [Allie Martin]

...A military watchdog says she is not surprised that huge enlistment bonuses are being paid to soldiers in key military specialties. She says America's armed forces -- the Army in particular -- is struggling to keep good people on hand to fight the war on terror. USA Today recently reported that the Pentagon is offering bonuses of up to $150,000 for long-serving special operations troops who agree to stay in the military for up to six more years. Some other critical needs include truck drivers and bomb disposal specialists, who can receive bonuses of up to $50,000. Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness says pay rates in the U.S. military, as with any civilian employer, are constantly fluctuating according to the objectives of the organization and are influenced by civilian competition as well. She notes that private concerns such as Halliburton that "need experienced people to do jobs that are privatized in war zones are offering very high salaries." Meanwhile, the Pentagon must deal with other staffing issues, such as encouraging the over-strength Air Force's personnel to transfer to the under-strength Army. Donnelly says the military has various means of overcoming its personnel problems, and "increasing compensation is one way." Meanwhile, she says America's Armed Services offer many other benefits and incentives "that are being constantly adjusted and juggled," either to get military personnel to stay on, transfer, or leave military occupations as necessary. [Chad Groening]

...Opponents of cloning have been applauding the United Nations decision last month in favor of a comprehensive ban on cloning. While the ban is not legally binding, opponents of cloning feel the U.N.'s anti-cloning resolution is the right kind of ethical statement in the face of efforts from countries, like France and Germany, that were lobbying for U.N. approval of human experimental cloning. Dr. David May with the Christian Medical Association says he hopes the United States will follow the U.N.'s lead. "I'm hoping that our Congress takes the initiative to ban all forms of human cloning, including the therapeutic cloning," he says. But despite the international body's ban, May notes that there are labs in at least two U.N. member countries that still intend to continue there cloning research. [Ed Thomas]

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