This challenge was given to worshippers at the Christian Booksellers Association Convention in Orlando by author Rick Warren: “In the next 365 days, 2.3 million Americans and 54 million people around the world will die without knowing Christ. Is anybody going to heaven because of you?” On Mission Magazine Sept/Oct 2003

“Two Romanian astronomers claim to have pinpointed the exact time and date of the crucifixion of Jesus. According to Liviu Mircea and Tiberiu Oproiu of the Astronomic Observatory Institute in Cluj, Romania, Jesus died at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. According to their reading of the New Testament data, Jesus was crucified on the day after the first night with a full moon after the vernal equinox. If the Crucifixion took place some time between the years 26 A. D. and 35 A.D., this could mean either Friday, April 7, 30 A.D., or Friday, April 3, 33 A.D. But it was only in the latter year that astronomy records show a solar eclipse as having occurred in Jerusalem (‘And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,’ according to Mark 15:33). The two astronomers had also timed the Resurrection precisely as having occurred at 4 a.m. the following Sunday, April 5.” Crosswalk.com

“‘Revolve’ is the New Testament in the New Century Version—geared toward a fifth-grade reading level—with added magazinelike features. It’s the latest hip effort to reach teenage girls, with Scriptures sculpted to look like a magazine anyone can stuff in her backpack…

Does it sell? ‘Not really,’ said the saleswoman at a local Family Christian Bookstore that stocks the item. ‘People really don’t know what it is.’

But Thomas Nelson Publishers, the Nashville, Tenn.-based company that produces ‘Revolve,’ says more than 40,000 copies have been shipped and 50,000 more have been printed since July. On Labor Day weekend, it was No 47 on the Amazon.com list.

‘The market is not your traditional evangelical teenager,’ spokeswoman Laurie Whaley said. ‘Girls are buying this who have no former affiliation with the Bible. They find it fascinating that something seemingly archaic can be so relevant and modern.’” For information call 1-800-777-8806. Julia Duin, The Washington Times

“In an annual report issued by the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom, a commission formed by Congress in 1998, Saudi Arabia has been named the world’s top violator of religious rights. Commission Chairman Felice Gaer stated after the release of the report, ‘It’s time to apply the same standards to Saudi Arabia that are applied elsewhere.’” Elwood McQuaid, Israel My Glory

Josh Mcdowell recently presented some “startling statistics that bear out a troubling truth: Christian teens are abandoning the concept of ‘absolute truth.’

In 1991, 52% of our bornagain church kids said there is no absolute truth.” By 1994, that percentage had risen to 62%. In 1999, it was 78%. In 2002 a staggering 91% of church kids who said “there is no absolute truth.”

McDowell added: “‘The very basis on which we build our faith is truth—and when we allow truth to erode, we gut the faith.’

While values drive a young person’s behavior, McDowell said, it is beliefs that form their values…

Relationships can reverse this decline, he added. ‘We are losing our kids—not because they’re not hearing the truth, but because we’re not building loving, intimate, caring relationships with them,’ McDowell said.” AgapePress

“Christianity is exploding in China… It is estimated that 10,000 to 25,000 people accept Christ as Savior every day in China…

Jerry Dykstra, a spokesman with Open Doors USA…says the situation in China presents a paradox. ‘The good news is that people are finding the Lord Jesus as their Savior. The sad news is that we can’t get God’s Word to them fast enough…’”

Revival’s Golden Key: Official Training Manual For End—Time Believers, by Ray Comfort with Kirk Cameron

Although prayer is without question a great key to revival, this 236-page book is not about prayer. It’s about a key that much of the Church doesn’t even know exists. It was lost around the turn of the twentieth century (keys have a way of getting lost). All who truly yearn for revival and have a burden for the lost must rediscover this God-given key. This book tells you how to do that. See order form (PDF).