Susan Molinari, a former rising star in the Republican-led House during the 1990s, has been hired to head Google's Washington operations.

Some pundits see the choice as a smart move in hiring a moderate Republican and someone who most Democrats will not object to. Molinari, the new vice president of public policy and government relations for the Americas, will oversee all aspects of government relations and policy throughout North and South America for Google.

"The Google office in Washington has not had someone with the visibility of a former member of Congress, and with her understanding of the complexities of the legislative process," said former Sen. John Sununu in an interview with Politico. "Google is receiving a higher level of scrutiny…when you're such a large and growing company, you have to have a strong, visible, capable leader in Washington. more >>

NASHVILLE – Popular pastor and international best-selling author Max Lucado gave a sermon at the National Religious Broadcasters convention earlier this week, sharing his view on the nature of God's grace, which is also the subject of his upcoming book, GRACE: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine.

Lucado offered a fresh interpretation of the biblical story about the adulteress whom the people of Jerusalem wanted to stone. When the angry mob dragged the woman in front of Jesus, he said: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). But Lucado focused on the episode that follows, which, he suggested, reflects grace in a heart-gripping way. As the crowd dispersed, Jesus asked the woman: "Where are your accusers?" This question, Lucado said, can be applied to every Christian, every day.

"Any voices of accusation wake you up this morning?" he asked a hushed room at the Gaylord Opryland convention center. "Any voices of condemnation? You're not good enough? Strong enough? Able enough? Faithful enough? You're not good looking enough?" more >>

NASHVILLE – An Americans United for the Separation of Church and State official told Vanderbilt University Christians to "stop whining" about the institution's all-comers policy and hold their meetings in private homes like Christians in communist China.

During the 2012 National Religious Broadcasters Convention's public policy debate on Tuesday, AU Executive Director Barry W. Lynn defended Vanderbilt's right as a private institution to impose a campus-wide nondiscrimination policy that could potentially drive religious student organizations off campus.

Those who oppose the policy, he said, should "get over it" and "stop whining." more >>

NASHVILLE – National Religious Broadcasters president on Monday praised the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous decision to protect ministries' employment rights and urged action against online piracy legislation.

Frank Wright, NRB president and CEO, heralded the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling favoring the religious liberty of Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School as a "rare" but welcomed occurrence during an interview with The Christian Post.

"The Hosanna-Tabor case was an amazing affirmation of what we've always felt were First Amendment rights guaranteed," he said. more >>

NASHVILLE – National Religious Broadcasters officials are watching in anticipation to see if the Internal Revenue Service will launch an investigation into whether or not watchdog group Media Matters violated its 501(c)(3) status when it accepted money from a special interest group to attack religious conservatives.

Joni Eareckson Tada, president of Joni and Friends and a prominent disabilities advocate, expressed a sense of awe and humility at being named to the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

The well-known artist and author noted that despite her ministry she feels weak in her faith at times but relies on her best friend Jesus to help her overcome all her trials.

"I wondered why is it that they chose me for such an award and all I could think of is that it's been 30 years since I started in radio with the Joni and Friends," she told The Christian Post. more >>