Southwest

Senior Pastor Gregg Matte of Houston's First Baptist Church in Texas explained that he felt compelled by God to change his May 13 sermon, originally focused on Mother's Day, to address President Barack Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage.

"Earlier in the service I prayed and thought that God was going to give me something in the pulpit. And He did, and what happened was that I just couldn't go into the message," Matte explained in a video attached to the sermon on the Houston's First Baptist Church website.

"I just felt like God stopped me. I just felt like there was a wall between me and the message. And at that point I was just like, 'Lord, what are you going to do?" he added. more >>

Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers decided to turn a battle with addiction around this season after recently breaking records in the MLB, a feat he says was only possible with the grace of God.

Tim Tebow, 24, and Jeremey Lin, 23, rose to the top of their NBA and NFL markets respectively with public images that showcased more of their Christian faith and not so much their flaws. However, the road for 30-year-old Hamilton has been different.

The Christian and Texas Rangers power hitter has been dominating MLB headlines after having what The New York Times calls "the most productive seven days in major league history." more >>

Country pop star Carrie Underwood, famous for her hit 2005 Christian song "Jesus, Take the Wheel," has opened up about her faith in an interview in the upcoming June issue of Glamour magazine, while the OWN Network is set to air an interview between Oprah Winfrey and Underwood and her husband.

Underwood, who recently released her new album "Blown Away," shared in the magazine that her songs, sometimes focused on God, Jesus and faith, are part of her "Bible Beltness," where such themes are popular. She noted that she was not the first, nor will she be the last, to sing about God.

The country star also shared that day-to-day religion is an important part of her life. more >>

An abortion law in Oklahoma signed by Gov. Mary Fallin last year has been ruled as unconstitutional by a district court judge because it violates a woman's privacy.

House Bill 1970, which placed restrictions on a drug used by women to induce abortions, was found by Judge Donald L. Worthington to be "an unconstitutional law in violation of the fundamental rights of women to privacy and bodily integrity." Worthington, an active retired district judge from Payne and Logan counties who was assigned to hear the case, gave his decision on May 11.

Arguing that the restrictions on the abortion-inducing drug served no other purpose but to make it harder for pregnant women to receive this option, Worthington deducted that the law was "so completely at odds with the standard that governs the practice of medicine that it can serve no purpose other than to prevent women from obtaining abortions and to punish and discriminate against those women who do." more >>

Bishop T.D. Jakes has started a new campaign offering free prescription drug discounts that will purportedly give patients up to 75 percent off medications at thousands of pharmacies across the country.

Jakes, who leads The Potters' House in Dallas, Texas, is promoting a pre-activated RxRelief Card that he argues can save struggling families hundreds of dollars a year on prescription medications.

"I am offering a FREE pharmacy discount card to you and your family. This is an opportunity you do not want to miss," the megachurch pastor said in a public letter. "With discounts on virtually every medication sold at over 500,000 pharmacies nationwide the RxRelief Card can save you and your family an average of $400." more >>

Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, stated that society is treading on "thin ice" after President Barack Obama declared his support for same-sex marriage.

Christian leaders across the nation have voiced their opinions on the president's comments, emphasizing that the Bible defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Pastor Young made his views known Thursday by calling in to Dr. Drew Pinsky's "On Call" show on HLN.

"I totally disagree with our president. I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman, in this commitment and covenant ordained by God. So, I disagree with what he says," Young began. more >>