OUR COLUMNISTS Religious Communities Hardly Score with TIME Commentary by Matt Friedeman You'd think that in trying to identify a hundred people who have had a positive influence in the world over the past year, that TIME Magazine could drum up a healthy list of those known for their relationship with God and service to those less fortunate. Think again. GOWYL (Get On With Your Life) Commentary by Jane Jimenez Much of the dialogue about marriage is focused on the problems of modern marriage. Is marriage doomed to failure ... even extinction? My 'Worthless' Job Commentary by Brad Locke Ever wonder why you are doing what you're doing? Not all of us are given lead roles. But God does not look down on the supporting actors, if you will, or think them less important than anyone else. 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.

...Fifty years ago this summer "In God We Trust" officially became America's national motto -- and one year later the phrase began appearing on the nation's paper currency. But Michael Newdow, who may be the most widely known atheist in America, is challenging the constitutionality of the motto as its golden anniversary approaches. Newdow, the man who was almost successful in his bid to have the Pledge of Allegiance declared unconstitutional when recited by school children in California, has filed a 162-page complaint against Congress and the president, seeking to have the motto declared unconstitutional. But the Thomas More Law Center says Newdow has no constitutional ground to stand on -- and has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Sacramento asking the federal district court to dismiss the case. "Newdow's attempt to eliminate the mere acknowledgement of our religious heritage by our National Mott has no basis in constitutional law," states the Law Center's chief counsel, Richard Thomas. "Even the Supreme Court, in past decisions, has understood there is an unbroken history of official invocations of Divine guidance beginning with our Founding Fathers and continuing to our present-day leaders." Oral arguments in the case are scheduled to be heard in a California federal district court on May 19. [Jody Brown]

...Brett Kavanaugh has fielded questions about religious rights and homosexual "marriage" from senators weighing his nomination to the nation's second-highest court. He noted that the Supreme Court has ruled "that private religious speech, religious people, religious organizations should not be discriminated against." But Kavanaugh declined to say whether courts should redefine marriage, because the issue could come before him if he is appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Kavanaugh appeared at a rare second confirmation hearing after Democrats criticized him as being unseasoned and partisan. They blocked a confirmation vote after his first hearing in 2004. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says he intends to give Kavanaugh a vote before Memorial Day. [AP]

...The huge defense authorization bill awaiting House approval this week includes a provision that would allow military chaplains to pray as they see fit. Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, who faces a possible court-martial after praying in Jesus' name in uniform outside the White House, said he is "thanking God" for the legislation. But senators could yet strip the language from the final defense bill. The provision, sponsored by Republican Todd Akin of Missouri, says, "Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain's own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible." Tony Perkins of Family Research Council explains that the term "military necessity" allows commanders to maintain discipline, but "allows chaplains to express themselves in their public duties." The House Armed Services Committee, which crafted the provision, voted down an amendment that would have denied chaplains the right to pray in the name of Jesus. That amendment was offered by Democratic Congressman Steve Israel of New York. [AP/Jody Brown]

...A pro-life advocate says it is outrageous that a respected doctors' group is promoting a campaign to encourage use of a pill that causes abortions. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is sponsoring the "Ask Me" campaign, which encourages women to get advance prescriptions for the "morning-after" pill so that the abortion-causing drug can be readily available when they have unprotected sex. The theme of the campaign is "Accidents happen. Morning afters can be tough." An ACOG spokesman says the campaign is his group's way of "standing up for our patients." Dr. Iffath Hoskins says "one of our goals is to make awareness of [emergency contraception] so widespread that it's no longer a best-kept secret in medicine." Jim Sedlak with American Life League says he cannot believe a group of medical doctors would support such irresponsible behavior. "We think it is absolutely irresponsible for this group of physicians to push products that work, according to the manufacturer, by preventing implantation, which means that they kill already created human beings in the womb," states Sedlak. "And also, these products have not been tested for their long-term health effects on the women and girls who take them. So it is just absolutely ridiculous that this kind of a campaign should be started." Sedlak says the campaign simply encourages promiscuity. [Rusty Pugh]

...A scientist who happens to be a Christian is disputing the claims by some in his field who are looking at the planet Saturn as the site of the origin of life. The recent discovery of water on one of Saturn's moons has some scientists challenging the biblical account of creation. But Dr. Jeffery Zweerink of Reasons to Believe says this significant discovery is no revelation on the creation of life. He points out that temperatures on the moon are 100 to 200 degrees colder than those on Earth. "So that really does diminish the chemical processes that can go on just simply because there is not enough energy there for the rates to be sufficient," Zweerink explains. "So, while there is liquid water on this moon, there really is no chance for this to be an origin of life or a life-sustaining environment." Despite claims by some scientists, Dr. Zweerink says the biblical creation account is not damaged by this discovery. [Bill Fancher]

...An international organization has launched a series of lessons on the growing threat posed by Islam. Dr. J.L. Williams of New Directions International authored the series of studies that are designed to educate Christians on Islam. Unlike Islamic nations, the U.S. has been tolerant of other religions -- and Muslims are taking advantage of that, says Williams. "We have well over 2,000 mosques and training centers in America already, and they're growing weekly -- and anywhere between four and six million Muslims who are already citizens in America. So they're here," he says. "The Trojan horse is loose. They are among us." Williams believes the situation must be faced head-on. "The greatest threat to Christianity, locally and globally, is Islam," he states. "And conversely, the greatest threat to Islam is Christianity." Dr. Williams claims Islam is a "religion of the sword" which teaches its practitioners to kill those who will not convert to its beliefs. [Bill Fancher]

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