OUR COLUMNISTS Democrats -- The GOP's Best Friends? Commentary by Matt Friedeman Democrats have assumed that being merely livid will be enough to overtake the Republicans. Alas, the party of reaction isn't going to get it done -- at least not this year. Lower Than the Dust Commentary by Jane Jimenez As Americans work to pursue our careers and succeed professionally, we are compelled to accentuate our strengths and rise above the crowd. Survivor instincts are honed. We rise as the dust settles. Bibles and Football; Easter and Earnhardt Commentary by Brad Locke God can use any means He wishes -- including football teams and race cars -- to bring sheep into His fold. But we mustn't think the Gospel needs burnishing or adornment. God's Word doesn't need our help. The Gospel of Judas: A Betrayal of the Truth Commentary by Mark Creech It's being hailed as the greatest archaeological find in the last 60 years. But those who either promote or embrace extra-biblical revelation such as the Gospel of Judas betray the truth, even as the real Judas Himself did, and crucify the Son of God afresh.

...At age 87, Rev. Billy Graham can no longer stride to the pulpit and must use a walker to get around. But a bronze statue to be unveiled by the Southern Baptist Convention will recall the evangelist in his prime. Sculpted by Rev. Terrell O'Brien of Wyoming, the figure of Graham will stand larger than life with a Bible in one hand and arms outstretched before a giant cross. The statue will be presented in June at the Southern Baptists' annual meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, before being permanently installed at the denomination's headquarters in Nashville. Graham did not sit for the statue, so O'Brien used photographs to sculpt and mold the piece. When finished, the statue of Graham will be more than nine feet tall while the cross will be 17 feet. At the foot of the cross is a stone inscribed with John 3:16 and three nails. [AP]

... According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, regular church attendance is an effective way to increase life expectancy. Specifically, people who attend a religious service on a weekly basis tend to prolong their life 1.8 to 3.1 years. In comparison, regular physical exercise prolongs life 3.0 to 5.1 years, while proven therapeutic regimens add 2.1 to 3.7 years to a person's life. Since the study is a review of existing research, it does not explain the link between faith and health. But Daniel Hall, leader of the study and a resident in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, speculates that the social aspect of religion may have something to do with the results. "There is something about being knit into the type of community that religious communities embody that has a way of mediating a positive health effect," Hall said. Therefore, being religiously active may decrease your stress level or increase your ability to cope with stress. "Being in a religious community helps you make meaning out of your life," he added. In addition to health data, Hall also examined the annual cost of these typical life-gaining activities. He found that people spend about $4,000 a year on physical exercise, $10,000 a year on therapy and $7,000 a year per household on contributions to religious institutions. "[Yet] there is no evidence that changing religious attendance causes a change in health outcomes," Hall warned. [AFA Journal]

...Danbury, Connecticut, was the site for a "separation of church and state" rally last week, but it wasn't held to promote the controversial "policy" that originates from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Baptist church in Danbury. Coordinator Bob Cutting says the rally was sponsored by Minuteman United and begins a campaign to end the policy which he claims goes against the wishes of the nation's founding fathers. "The forefathers intended that God could be in government," says Cutting, "but [that] government couldn't mess around with churches or favor any churches over another." Cutting says it was Justice Hugo Black and his Supreme Court that reversed 200 years of God in government by introducing a policy based on a letter to a church. "That's why prayer is gone," he explains. "That's why the Ten Commandments can't be in courtrooms because it can't be a basis of law; and this is why they're trying to take 'In God We Trust' off the money." The rally coordinator says he hopes the campaign educates the American people and helps return faith to the nation. [Bill Fancher]

...Walt Disney Company's Buena Vista Games, Inc. recently announced plans to release a computer game inspired by the Golden Globe-winning ABC television series Desperate Housewives. A game player takes on the simulated personality of a new Wisteria Lane housewife who works to unlock juicy dark secrets and create new scandals while being as nice or as nasty as she wants to be to her neighbors – Bree, Lynette, Gabrielle, Edie and Susan. As the "new housewife," gamers can do anything from decorating a house to playing poker. Gamers are guided through a virtual life that includes bathing, dating and working. "This game allows players to move to Wisteria Lane and live all the gossip, drama and intrigue of a true desperate housewife," said Graham Hopper, the senior vice president and general manager of Buena Vista Games. Video game makers are targeting the game to females in an attempt to expand their $25 million global market beyond that of young males. The game is expected to hit retailers this fall. [AFA Journal]

...A Christian scientist says a recent fossil find at the North Pole is being over-emphasized due to the debate on intelligent design. Dr. Fazale Rana of the organization Reasons to Believe says the claims that evolutionary scientists recently found a significant "missing link" are really much ado about nothing. "The significance of this fossil find was way overblown, and partly it's because of the intelligent design / evolution controversy that's currently raging in our country," Dr. Rana explains. "So I think evolutionary biologists have used this rather ordinary fossil find, in a sense, to make a lot of noise about the validity of evolution." Rana says the claims that the fossil -- dubbed "Tiktaalik" -- bridges the evolutionary gap between fish fins and feet is a stretch. "From my perspective, when you actually look at the details of what's been found, it raises serious questions about evolution," he says. "And in fact, you could even argue that it makes the case for intelligent design or for creationism." Rana insists the evolutionary community approaches every find with a variety of preconceived notions, as opposed to an open, inquiring mind. (See related story) [Bill Fancher]

... For decades now homosexual activists have been painting members of the their community as suffering economic discrimination due to their sexual orientation. But at least in the U.K., that picture seems different from reality. According to The Advocate, a magazine targeting the homosexual community, a recent survey indicates that British homosexuals "have fatter paychecks compared with their straight counterparts." Measured in annual salary, homosexual men earn $60,992 while straight men earn $43,213. A similar gap, although not quite as wide, appeared for women: lesbians earned $44,185 a year, compared to $33,059 for straight women. "The constant complaint of discrimination just doesn't ring true because homosexuals actually do quite well economically," said American Family Association president Tim Wildmon. "In fact, the well-financed gay lobby groups are simply making the discrimination claims in order to win sympathy from a kindhearted but unsuspecting American -- and, no doubt, British -- public." [AFA Journal]

...Shares in the Ford Motor Company suffered their worst loss in four years on Friday. As the New York Stock Exchange closed, Ford's stock was down more than seven percent. The big drop came after the company reported a $1.2 billion loss in the first quarter. As Associated Press noted, the Ford report was in stark contrast to General Motors, which the day before reported record quarterly revenues. The American Family Association, a pro-family advocacy group, announced in early March it was launching a one-year boycott of the automaker because of its continued financial support of organizations the promote homosexual "marriage." [Fred Jackson]

...The president of the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA says an estimated 200,000 Christians are imprisoned in North Korean labor camps, where many face torture and execution. Rev. Carl Moeller says escapees will testify this week at congressional hearings and demonstrations in Washington as part of North Korea Freedom Week. The goal, he says, is to appeal for prayer and international pressure on the communist regime. For the fourth year in a row, Open Doors has ranked North Korea as the worst violator of religious rights in the world. Moeller calls it "one large concentration camp, with the entire population trapped in a nightmare that doesn't end." He urges American Christians in particular to pray for their fellow believers in North Korea. [AP]

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