Church plans Quran-burning event

in protest of what it calls a religion "of the devil," a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, plans to host an "International Burn a Quran Day" on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The Dove World Outreach Center says it is hosting the event to remember 9/11 victims and take a stand against Islam. With promotions on its website and Facebook page, it invites Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at the church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it's causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times," Pastor Terry Jones told CNN's Rick Sanchez earlier this week.

Jones wrote a book titled "Islam is of the Devil," and the church sells coffee mugs and shirts featuring the phrase.

Muslims and many other Christians -- including some evangelicals -- are fighting the initiative.

The church launched a YouTube channel to disseminate its messages.

"I mean ask yourself, have you ever really seen a really happy Muslim? As they're on the way to Mecca? As they gather together in the mosque on the floor? Does it look like a real religion of joy?" Jones asks in one of his YouTube posts.

"No, to me it looks like a religion of the devil."

The Islamic advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations called on Muslims and others to host "Share the Quran" dinners to educate the public during the monthlong fast of Ramadan beginning in August. In a news release, the group announced a campaign to give out 100,000 copies of the Quran to local, state and national leaders.

"American Muslims and other people of conscience should support positive educational efforts to prevent the spread of Islamophobia," said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper in the release.

The National Association of Evangelicals, the nation's largest umbrella evangelical group, issued a statement urging the church to cancel the event, warning it could cause worldwide tension between the two religions.

"The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbors of other faiths. God created human beings in his image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect," it said in the statement.

Dove's Facebook page, set up for the September event, has more than 1,600 fans.

"Eternal fire is the only destination the Quran can lead people to, so we want to put the Quran in it's [sic] place -- the fire!" the page says.

Even pastor’s old church condemns Quran-burning

It's increasingly looking as though the only spiritual or political figure who will not denounce Florida pastor Terry Jones' plan to commemorate Sept. 11 by burning copies of the Quran is Jones himself. Wednesday brings the news that even the church Jones founded in Germany in the 1980s is condemning the upcoming Quran-burning at his small place of worship in Gainesville, Fla.

"We are surprised and shocked at the extreme radicalism being displayed [by Jones] right now on this issue," Stephan Baar of the Christian Community of Cologne told the Associated Press. The 60-member church kicked out Jones in 2008. Jones' estranged daughter says the eviction arose from her father's reported penchant for dipping into the church's till to pay his own expenses.

Jones' wish to burn hundreds of copies of the Islamic holy book has drawn a wide chorus of protests. Gen. David Petraeus said on Monday the action could hurt U.S. troops, while hundreds of Afghans protested in Kabul and burned Jones in effigy. The Gainesville Fire Department has denied Jones a permit for the event -- but the pastor says he plans to go ahead with it anyway.

Indeed, so many high-profile people have spoken out against the plan that they may now outnumber the fringe church's 50-member congregation, raising the question of whether the condemnations are magnifying the cause of a very small group of extremists.

Here's a partial list of people who have condemned the planned bonfire:

• "It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," top commander in Afghanistan Gen.David Petraeus told the media. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems.

• As "an act of patriotism," the media should not cover the burning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. She also said, "It's regrettable that a pastor in Gainesville, Florida, with a church of no more than 50 people can make this outrageous and distressful, disgraceful plan, and get the world attention

Alleged Bomber of Christian Boy in Israel to Stand Trial

An Israeli man accused of planting a homemade bomb that almost killed the son of a Messianic Jewish pastor in Ariel, Israel has been declared competent to stand trial.

Jack Teitel, 37, who in November was indicted on two charges of pre-meditated murder, three charges of attempted murder and numerous weapons charges, is expected to enter a plea on Sunday.

David and Leah Ortiz, parents of the teenage victim, said that the 10 months since the indictment have been difficult but their stance toward Teitel remains the same; they have forgiven him for the attack but want him to face justice before a judge and seek salvation from God.

Pastors Question Francis Chan's Decision to Leave Megachurch

Popular author and preacher Francis Chan was recently questioned by fellow pastors who tried to wrap their heads around Chan's decision to leave his megachurch.

"I'll be honest. Everybody thinks you're cuckoo for cocoa puffs. You got a good church going on and you hit the eject button and now you're the international man of fu Manchu mystery," said Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle.

Francis Chan, former senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, Calif., addresses questions about his decision to let go of his church and follow a stirring in his heart. The discussion included Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and Pastor Joshua Harris of Gaithersburg, Md.

First Army Chaplain Killed in Action Since Vietnam

Capt. Dale Goetz of the 4th Infantry Division stationed at Colorado's Fort Carson has become the first U.S. military chaplain killed in action since the Vietnam War.

Goetz and four others were killed in Afghanistan on Monday. They were traveling in a convoy that was attacked by insurgents, who used an improvised explosive device.

Goetz left the First Baptist Church in White, S.D. in 2003 to begin training for his work as a chaplain. Church trustee David Lucas said he was concerned about a shortage of chaplains in the military.

"I know for sure he was there asking them, 'Where are you at with the Lord' and do you know the Lord is your personal Savoir?'" Lucas said. "'And if not, I can help you get there.'"

Goetz joined the U.S. Army in 2000 and was previously deployed to Iraq in 2004. He leaves behind a wife and three sons.

Va. School Principal Rebuked Over 'Candid' Response to New Christian Club

A middle school principal who sought to avoid controversy over the formation of a Christian club on campus created some when he sent an e-mail to his staff warning them against supporting or participating in religious activities while they are involved with students.

The e-mail from Principal Don Curtis was widely circulated Wednesday to parents, students, and members of the local community though its intended audience was teachers at Wilson Middle School in Fishersville, Va.

In the e-mail, Curtis wrote in a “candid style” that many interpreted as belittling and threatening toward his staff.

“There are students attempting to organize a ‘Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ organization here at school,” he wrote. “As I trust common sense and your elementary knowledge of the law should remind you, the Constitution includes an amendment that expects ‘The government will not establish any religion.’

Muslims Resume Building on Christian Graveyard in Pakistan

Muslims led by a hard-line cleric on Friday resumed building on a Christian cemetery in Mandi Bhawaldin, desecrating more graves in spite of a local government order to halt construction, according to the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA).

Radical Muslim cleric Mirza Abdul Ghani had built a mosque on the Christian graveyard off New Rasool Road in Mandi Bhawaldin after allegedly occupying the land 16 years ago, when area Christians were too intimidated to object, said Salamat Zia of APMA.

“No one could object to the construction of the mosque, as it is in the constitution of Pakistan that no religious worship place could be demolished,” said Zia. “Therefore all the Christians remained silent then.”

The cleric’s alleged desecration of more of the graveyard land around the Masjid Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat mosque began three months ago, Zia said.

“This Christian graveyard was earmarked before the Indo-Pakistan partition on Aug. 14, 1947,” Zia added, “and their forefathers were buried there.”

Thousands Expected to Attend End Times Scholar's 5th Annual Prophecy Conference

Southern California megachurch pastor Phil Hotsenpiller will be hosting a three-day seminar over the Labor Day weekend to discuss theological perspectives of current events and their relation to the “last days.”

The free event, which will feature an interview with “Son of Hamas” Mosab Hassan Yousef, will be held Sept. 3-5 at the Friends Church in Yorba Linda, Calif.

The event has been held each year around the same time for the past four years and last year drew over 8,000 attendees.

Conservative Leaders Mobilizing Christians to 'Pray & A.C.T.' for America

Christians across America are being called upon to unite in prayer and fasting for the nation from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30 as America faces “unprecedented challenges.”

“We call on all faithful Christians to join us in the fight to defend life, protect and revitalize marriage, and preserve religious liberty and the rights of conscience,” says Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, who is spearheading the prayer effort.

“We must work tirelessly in all the ‘seven spheres of cultural influence,’” he adds, referring to the home; the church; civil government, law, and military; business and technology; education; media; and arts, entertainment and professional sports.

“The foundational moral principles of life, marriage and conscience need to be preached in our churches, affirmed in our daily conversations and demonstrated in our private decisions and our personal lives,” Garlow states.

Garden Tomb believed where Jesus rose from death Threatened by Muslim Construction

JERUSALEM - More than a quarter of a million Christians visit Jerusalem's Garden Tomb every year. The holy site is believed by many to be the place where Jesus rose from the dead.

But now, the sacred ground is in danger of being damaged by a Muslim construction project. Garden Tomb Director Richard Meryon showed CBN News the 15-foot wall being built above the tomb.

"In the last few weeks the cemetery above has built this wooden construction into which they are now ready to pour hundreds of tons of concrete on top of our wall," he explained.

Jerusalem's Islamic waqf is building the wall to enlarge a Muslim cemetery. However, Meryon fears the construction could bring a catastrophe.

Poll: New Yorkers Want Ground Zero Mosque Moved

New York City residents do not want a Muslim mosque to be built near Ground Zero, according to a new poll.

A New York Times poll found that two-thirds of New Yorkers said the 13-story complex should be built farther away from Ground Zero. Those opposed to it say if the Islamic center is built, it should be at least 10 or 20 blocks from Ground Zero.

"My granddaughter and I were having this conversation and she said stopping them from building is going against the freedom of religion guaranteed by our Constitution," said Marilyn Fisher, 71, who lives in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn. I absolutely agree with her except in this case. I think everything in this world is not black and white."

Suicide Bombing Targets Protesters in Pakistan

An explosion at a Shiite protest in Quetta, Pakistan, killed more than 40 people Friday.

Protesters were expressing their support for Palestine and speaking out against Israel. The attack is the second in only three days.

On Wednesday, three suicide bombers targeted a Shiite procession in Lahore, killing more than 30 people. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but officials said it is still unclear who is behind it.

"We proudly take its responsibility. Our war is against America and Pakistan security forces, but Shiites are also our target because they too are our enemies," Pakistani Taliban commander Qari Hussain Mehsud said.

N.Y. School District Changes Its Anti-Rosary Policy

A school district in New York has decided to eliminate a policy that prohibited students from wearing rosary beads following a months-long battle with a Christian legal group.

The decision from the Schenectady school district followed a suit filed by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) on behalf of then-seventh grader Raymond Hosier challenging the constitutionality of the no-rosary policy.

"This policy change represents a critical victory for religious freedom as well as our client and all students in the school district," said ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow in a statement Thursday. “It's our view that this discriminatory policy violated our client's constitutionally protected rights of free speech and free exercise of religion.”

Kansas Pastor deals with sexual impropriety in church.

Christian leaders shouldn't pretend that they are not susceptible to moral failure, particularly sexual impropriety, one pastor has warned.

In fact, being in Christian leadership "actually increases the likelihood that you're going to be struggling with these things," said Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

Pastors, church staff, lay leaders and volunteers often work long hours, dealing with heart matters and working on visions that they're passionate about and on "change the world kind of things," Hamilton explained. Mixed in with that is the fact that human beings are involved.

A Malaysian rapper is being investigated for sedition

A Malaysian rapper is being investigated for sedition, police said today, after posting a YouTube video which drew allegations he was stirring up ethnic tensions in the multicultural nation.

Wee Meng Chee, 27, better known as Namewee to his fans, made national headlines three years ago over another YouTube clip mocking the national anthem which authorities also said was seditious. He apologised for that incident, but is in fresh trouble for posting a three-minute rap titled "Nah" criticising a Muslim Malay headmistress accused of making racial slurs against her ethnic Chinese and Indian students. "We are investigating him under the Sedition Act," Bakri Zinin, the Federal Criminal Investigation chief, told AFP, adding that Wee will soon be called to give a statement. Wee faces up to three years in prison if he is charged and convicted. The rapper removed the video from YouTube on yesterday, after prompting criticism from various parties including Prime Minister Najib Razak who reportedly urged action against those who try to stoke racial tensions. "We don't care whether he has removed the video or not, the harm has already been done, we will continue with the investigation," said Bakri.In the video, which is still available on other websites, Wee used obscene language and rapped in a mixture of English and the national language Malay.