Culture

A handsome man with a dark secret, a vulnerable heroine and a love story make Thirsty, at first glance, your typical vampire novel. But then God shows up.

With Thirsty having hit shelves just weeks before the release of highly-anticipated vampire flick “New Moon,” some might think the novel is just feeding off the success of the Twilight saga. But author Thirsty author Tracey Bateman says she had not even read the best-selling books by Stephenie Meyer until after she started writing Thirsty.

Furthermore, the focus in the Bateman novel is not on the passionate romance between the vampire and a human woman (though the author does entertain the classic plot) but on human weaknesses and the dependence on God for strength. more >>

WASHINGTON – Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic leaders who unveiled the "Manhattan Declaration" Friday insisted the document is not a political ploy.

Rather, it is a testament to their common Christian witness as they stand to uphold what they believe are the three most foundational issues in society – the sanctity of life, the historic understanding of marriage, and religious liberty.

"This is not a politically motivated agenda," Dr. Timothy George, one of three leaders who drafted the document, said as he addressed the media. "We are talking out of deep religious principles grounded in the holy Scriptures and the use of reason as we understand it as a God-given gift." more >>

ALBANY, Ga. – After much anticipation, the makers of runaway hits “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants” announced Sunday night that their next film project will be about the need for godly fathers.

“Courageous,” the fourth film by movie-making church ministry Sherwood Pictures, will follow four police officers as they wrestle to make different decisions that will impact the lives of their families. The four men will go through a tragedy together that will challenge them to fulfill the role of fathers as God intended it to be.

“We believe God is calling us as a church family and through a movie to call men to rise up to spiritual leadership in their families,” announced Stephen Kendrick, co-screenwriter of “Courageous,” to about 1,300 people gathered at Sherwood Church in Albany, Ga. more >>

WASHINGTON – The production company behind "The Road" is reaching out to the faith-based community, asking them to consider the much-anticipated film as something that could possibly be of value for ministry.

An adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Road" is rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language.

Though the rating alone may be reason enough for some Christians to skip the film, some are giving it a chance and even calling it a more powerful tool than Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" because of its wider appeal. more >>

A conservative pro-family group is urging Christians to boycott Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic from now until December 25 for “censoring” the word Christmas in its ad commercials and promotions.

The American Family Association said that despite “tens of thousands of consumer requests to recognize Christmas” and requests by the organization, San Francisco-based Gap Inc. has refused to use the word.

“Christmas is special because of Jesus,” maintains AFA in its e-mail newsletter. “It’s not just a ‘winter holiday.’ For millions of Americans the giving and receiving of gifts is in honor of the One who gave Himself. more >>