A plethora of books have been written on the subject of manhood and what it means to be a father, husband, leader and more – and Pastor Eric Mason of Epiphany Fellowship has just added his own title to the list. But the Philadelphia minister says Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole is unique in offering both a timely and theologically sound discussion on what it means to be a man in today's culture.

"I think there's a crisis in manhood in our culture and I believe Jesus is the answer to that," Dr. Mason told The Christian Post.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/philly-pastor-eric-mason-talks-cultural-crisis-of-manhood-95239/#8Q8Ouc2zp9wwMUSS.99

During the second weekend in April, the Vatican hosted what the Wall Street Journal called an "unusual conference."

At this "unusual conference," scientists, including a Nobel Laureate, theologians, and entrepreneurs came together to discuss one of the most contentious issues of our time: stem cell research.

This, the second annual "International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference" along with various related efforts had as a primary goal to "lay the groundwork for a collaborative network of scientists, educators and patrons who embrace the promise of adult stem cells."

Another goal was to promote what the head of the Pontifical Council for Culture called the "necessary union between science and faith." As Robin Smith, the CEO of NeoStem, a biopharmaceutical company, told conferees, "to address global suffering, one does not have to choose between faith and science . . . . These two ideas fit together symbiotically."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-overblown-war-between-faith-and-science-95268/#JBqkKWqTiPbG3MXa.99

I have never met a person who didn't want to experience peace. I am guessing you haven't either. We all long for it deep within our being. Our souls need peace the way our bodies need oxygen. There is no substitute for it.
It should come as no surprise to us that our Creator knows what will bring us peace. This is what He had to say on the subject when speaking to His children in the Old Testament: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river." (Isaiah 48:17,18)

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-to-have-peace-like-a-river-94945/#J0c2txYzWOmU0zV4.99

Pastors Mark Driscoll and Andy Stanley stressed the importance of preaching a sermon that carries a "sensitivity to the lost" while advising pastors on how to deliver better sermons during a web seminar hosted by The Rocket Company on Wednesday.

Mark Driscoll, founder and senior pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., and author of the bestselling book Real Marriage, said that he thoroughly enjoys angling the "hard truth of the Bible" to those lost and struggling with their faith because he did not find a relationship with God until he was 19-years-old. "I remember what it's like to be lost," Driscoll told the "Preach Better Sermons" conference's host, Jeff Henderson, lead pastor of Gwinnett Church in Duluth, Ga.

"The whole point [of Christianity] is God is making room for more," Driscoll said, adding that we as Christians are "on a mission to see more people become God's people."

Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/news/pastors-mark-driscoll-and-andy-stanley-preach-with-a-sensitivity-to-the-lost-95105/

More than 1,000 active hate groups are operating across America and California has more of them than any other state, according to a controversial list produced by the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center.

From church groups opposing homosexuality, to groups that promote racial superiority, the SPLC's hate map has identified and included 1,007 organizations on their hate list based on beliefs or practices they conclude "attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/california-has-most-hate-groups-in-america-says-controversial-splc-hate-list-95079/

One time baseball great Joe Garagiola stepped up to the plate when his turn to bat came. Before assuming his stance, however, fervent Roman Catholic Joe took his bat and made the sign of the cross in the dirt in front of home plate. Catcher Yogi Berra, also a devout Catholic, walked out and erased Garagiola's cross. Turning to the astonished Garagiola, Berra smiled and said, "Let's let God watch this inning."

We laugh. But when it comes to the matter of politics, much of the church today, sadly, is divided into two separate camps. One group seeks to bring a Christian worldview to bear on the political process. The other group says the church needs to stay out of politics and just be concerned about winning others to faith in Christ.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/understanding-the-churchs-cultural-mandate-and-great-commission-94941/#XcRMjwA7aM75JrAM.99

Some memories of our childhood remain persistent reference points the rest of our lives. For me, being the "school dummy" for six and a half years – kindergarten through the first half of 6th grade – is a reality that has helped shape every day since. An even deeper influential reference point is the miracle awaking initiated by an angel from heaven, Ethel Smith, who also happened to be my 6th grade teacher.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/reflections-from-the-school-dummy-how-one-teacher-changed-my-life-94940/#jGrDls57SxvVbCJP.99

The 24th annual U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon began Sunday evening as a way to celebrate First Amendment freedoms, encourage Americans to read their Bibles and prepare for the National Day of Prayer later this week.

Pastor Michael Hall, who has co-directed the event with his wife, Terry Shaffer Hall, for the last 20 years, told The Christian Post that the Scripture is read non-stop "without commentary or comment" until every verse, from Genesis through the Book of Revelation, has been read aloud.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/90-hour-bible-reading-marathon-underway-at-us-capitol-94933/#ofR5OG9cVCDcKWVG.99

When was the last time you watched a little child listening and responding to the comments of a parent? The simplicity of a child's worldview is astounding. Sure they have their moments of rebellion and fussing, but don't we all? Their innocent faith, on the other hand, is something we adults seem to rarely exhibit in our own lives.

As we grow older, we tend to mistake knowledge for wisdom. The more we know, (or think we know) the more we tend to be skeptical and doubting. We lose that innocent faith in others we once had way back in our own childhood. Whenever people disappoint you, and theories bombard you, the temptation is to stop placing full confidence in God.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/childlike-faith-isnt-just-for-little-children-94741/

Atheism changes over time and is a reaction to the dominant religious beliefs of the time. Today's atheism is, in part, a reaction to the political activism of conservative Christians, or the "Christian Right." This is one of the conclusions found in a new study of American atheists, There is No God: Atheists in America, by University of North Texas sociologists David A. Williamson and George Yancey.

For their research, Williamson, associate professor of sociology, and Yancey, professor of sociology, used an online survey, with open-ended questions, of 1,451 atheists and conducted face-to-face interviews with 51 atheists from two separate regions of the country.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/modern-american-atheism-is-reaction-to-christian-right-sociologists-argue-94946/#HIY7YvYGXxYe3jJi.99