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"When they are actually engaged in this whole very intense spiritual practice...their frontal lobes tend to go down in activity. It is very consistent with the kind of experience they have, because they say that they're not in charge. [They say] it's the voice of God, it's the Spirit of God that is moving through them." Vicki Mabrey, Roxanna Sherwood/TN (Mar 21st, 2007) ABC's Nightline this Thursday will cover the phenomena/gift of speaking in tongues. At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Andrew Newberg has been conducting a scientific study of the phenomenon for a long time. According to an ABC report, Newberg found that brain scans show quite different results with Christians praying in tongues compared to Buddhist monks meditating and Franciscan nuns praying. The frontal lobes—the part of the brain right behind the forehead that's considered the brain's control center—went quiet in the brains of tongue-speakers...

"I want them to see and hear that being a Christian, and singing about it, isn't weird!" Adelie M. Banks, Sally York, Kevin Jackson/TN, AH (Mar 14th, 2007) Reporters Adelie M. Banks and Sally York, writing a report on how often American Idol (AI) contestants have grown up in the church, note that churches (especially African American) have often been the training ground for artists who make it to America's most prominent stages. One example listed is current contestant Melinda Doolittle, who attends the same Nashville church as Gospel artist CeCe Winans. "Though she's doing the majority of everything in the secular realm, in the secular field, right now, she's bringing the cross over instead of crossing over," said Ternae Jordan Jr., a worship leader at Mount Canaan Baptist Church, in Chattanooga. Doolittle was quoted as saying her personal goals are to "represent Christ well and do everything 150 percent....

"How could this great land of plenty produce too few people in the last 30 years? Here is the brutal truth that no one dares to mention: We're too few because too many of our babies have been killed." AJC Staff/TN, JM, AH (Mar 14th, 2007) In Macon, Georgia, this week, former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller declared that abortion "has contributed to the military's manpower shortage, the Social Security crisis, and the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States." That, according to a report in The Atlanta Journal Constitution. "How could this great land of plenty produce too few people in the last 30 years? Here is the brutal truth that no one dares to mention: We're too few because too many of our babies have been killed," Miller said. "Over 45 million since Roe v. Wade in 1973. If those 45 million children had lived, today they would be defending our country, they would be filling our jobs, they ...

"We're not going to let this generation fade away. We're not going to let this generation be won by MTV, [or] by all these things that Hollywood is feeding us." Lillian Kwon/AH (Mar 12th, 2007) Writing for the Christian Post, Lillian Kwon shares on this weekend's BattleCry event, sponsored by Teen Mania, and attended by more than 22,000 youth. (Photo by: The Christian Post / Gospel Herald, Hudson Tsuei) Although San Francisco city officials imposed new "amplified sound" restrictions on the two-day gathering, held in AT&T Park, the young people reportedly made their voices heard. Founder of Teen Mania, and leader of the BattleCry movement, addressed the tens-of-thousands of teens filling the park on Saturday, exclaiming, "When you're ready to surrender, take up the sign of commitment...by passionately—with everything you've got, with all the lights on, with no music and no emotionalism, just as if you ju...

"As we clean, we will also pray." Inspire Staff/TN (Mar 11th, 2007) On April 28, the final of the World Cup will be played in Barbados. Looking ahead to that event, 50 Christians with the Christian Action Team, led by Eroll Griffith, organized a prayer and worship walk —called "March forth on your knees" —to ask God's blessing on the region's biggest ever sporting occasion. A series of similar events will continue up to, and after, the World Cup. "This is all about prayer," Griffith, told the Daily Nation . "It was the idea of a group of Christians who are praying that God manifests Himself so that all the people here for the World Cup realize that He exists, and know He is God." "It's open to anyone with a heart for prayer, and for this World Cup. We want to thank God for the blessing the sport of cricket has given us all in the Caribbean," Griffith added. According t...

"It helps reduce stress hormones like cortizol and adrenaline, and plumps up immune system activity by increasing interferon, T-cells and white blood cells." WebMD Staff/AH (Mar 11th, 2007) A video report on WebMD maintains that laughter is not only "good for the soul," but studies have shown it to be advantageous to your physical health as well. "Research shows laughter can improve your health," says the report. "It helps reduce stress hormones like cortizol and adrenaline, and plumps up immune system activity by increasing interferon, T-cells and white blood cells." The report also states that a good "belly-laugh" can "boost heart rate, improve blood flow, and stabilize blood pressure." One study revealed lower blood-sugar levels in diabetics who ate their meal at a comedy show. According to the WebMD video, "laughing one hundred times-a-day or more had the same benefit...

"We will abide by the law, but I guarantee you our voices will be heard as we take a stand for our generation and our God!" News Staff/AH (Mar 9th, 2007) Although officials in San Francisco have imposed stiffer restrictions on this year's gathering of young Believers, more than any secular rock concert, the teens are determined to meet together for worship and prayer over the "city-by-the-bay." Government leaders imposed customized noise restrictions on the event known as BattleCry —a massive teen rally and worship service—not allowing any amplified sound before 10am and after 10pm for the duration of the two—day assembly. One of the BattleCry organizers, 18-year-old Charlotte Hamilton, declared, "We will abide by the law, but I guarantee you our voices will be heard as we take a stand for our generation and our God!" An initiative of Teen Mania, one of the world's largest youth organizations, BattleC...

"God is shaking the foundation of Islam in Iran. We have been praying for some of the main government officials to come to Christ and God is answering us." Mark Ellis/AH (Mar 7th, 2007) One of the top Islamic leaders in Iran accepted Christ and left the country after facing death threats and imprisonment, according to an Iranian pastor living in the U.S. "This man has been watching Christian TV programs for the past two years," said Pastor Elnathan Baghestani, founder of Iran for Christ Ministries (ICM). Pastor Baghestani and his wife provide Christian programming to the Mohabat Network satellite, which broadcasts 24/7 into Iran and other Middle Eastern countries. (Photo: Pastor Baghestani of ICM) The Imam called one of the phone counselors connected to Iran for Christ Ministries and prayed to receive Christ in early February. "The man has been watching Christian TV programs for the past two years," Baghestani said. ...

"A nation which kills its children is a nation without a future. A continent which kills its children will be settled by people who do not kill theirs." Hilary White/TN (Mar 6th, 2007) According to LifeSitenews , Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Education minister, Roman Giertych, told European news reporters that Poland would not back down on plans to oppose abortion, saying: "Abortion needs to be banned immediately." Calling abortion "a new form of barbarism," Giertych said, "A nation which kills its children is a nation without a future. A continent which kills its children will be settled by people who do not kill theirs. If we will not use all our power to strengthen the family, then as a continent there is not a future for us. We will be a continent settled by representatives of the Islamic world who care for the family." He said. Giertych also reportedly called for a serious discussion o...

"...the action, even if merely symbolic, is designed to demonstrate in a way that is obvious to all that the expectation of Temple rituals [resuming] is real, and not just talk." Nadav Shragai/AH (Mar 6th, 2007) According to a recent article in Haaretz, the Jewish Sanhedrin, reformed and established several years ago, has reportedly purchased a herd of sheep which they hope to use for ritual sacrifice at the site of the Temple on the eve of Passover this year. Sanhedrin member, Professor Hillel Weiss, told Haaretz that "the action, even if merely symbolic, is designed to demonstrate in a way that is obvious to all that the expectation of Temple rituals [resuming] is real, and not just talk." The report states that a symbolic sacrifice was performed a few years ago, on Givat Hananya—overlooking the Temple Mount. A young goat, donated by a Tekoa resident, was sacrificed, while residents built a 2-meter-tall oven, according to s...

"What we've seen on Capitol Hill, and in state capitols, is that both parties...love Wilberforce." Pete Winn/AH (Mar 5th, 2007) The new film depicting the life and inspirational stand of William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, is apparently making an impact on members of the U.S. Congress. Giving the movie a standing ovation, is Sen. Sam Brownback from Kansas. "Wilberforce has been a model for me for many years," said Brownback. "I've studied his life and what he did—and bringing, in a positive way, his active faith into the public square and the fight for human dignity." "It is a fabulous film," he added. "It is a modern-day story of commitment and grit, and active faith in the public square." Likewise, Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado, agreed that the film was an "inspiration" to fight for what is right—for as long as is needed. "It may take years, it may even take decad...

"Most people wouldn't be willing to go to a meeting on a motorcycle dressed in an Armani suit but they would be more than happy to arrive in a VentureOne." Daily Mail Staff/TN (Mar 4th, 2007) A fully enclosed , 360 degree glass canopied roof vehicle, so slender (40 inches) that two of them can drive side-by-side on a highway, is being designed and built by US-based Venture Vehicles, which hopes to put it on sale in the UK soon. Called the VentureOne, the three-wheeled, hybrid auto-bike drives like a car, can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds, and when negotiating curves it leans 45 degrees like a motorcycle. According to a report in The Daily Mail, Ian Bruce, co-founder of the Venture Vehicles, said: "The VentureOne will achieve 100mpg with a top speed of over 100mph. It looks similar to a closed-in motorcycle but it is much more than that. It will have more features than a basic car including a steel roll bar, air-condit...

"I must come out of the closet again. I have recently experienced the power of change that came over me once I completely surrendered to the teachings of Jesus Christ." Meg Jalsevac/TN (Mar 1st, 2007) LifeSiteNews reports that due to the inspiration of a pastor who counseled Charlene Cothran (a prominent black lesbian in the forefront of the fight for equal rights for gays and lesbians, and publisher of a successful magazine geared to black homosexuals) to use her gifts for Christ, Cothran has left her homosexual lifestyle and is making it her mission to offer help to other homosexuals who want to do the same. Cothran said, "I must come out of the closet again. I have recently experienced the power of change that came over me once I completely surrendered to the teachings of Jesus Christ." Notes reporter Meg Jalsevac: Cothran offered hope to her "gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who want real peace" saying, ...