Bible Bending Item of the Day: "Virtue" perfume
"We turned to the Bible to seek inspiration about which items to include and became convinced that a formulation would reveal itself," explains Rick Larimore, IBI's chief executive officer. "Creating Virtue(R) has been an adventurous journey through fragrance and scripture, with remarkable miracles confirming our choices."

Reiten Television KXMB Bismark (ND): A North Dakota citizen urges other citizens to write their state senator in order to ensure that their right to preach the message of the Bible will remain protected. This is a response to fears that have arisen in some Christian communities following Canada's inclusion of "sexual orientation" among the "identifiable groups" protected by the Canada's Genocide and Hate Crimes legislation. Under section 319 (2), "Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction."

Because of the inclusion of "sexual orientation" among the protected groups, some Christians warn that pastors will be banned from speaking out against homosexuality and "The Bible, at least certain portions of the Bible, may be declared 'hate literature.'"

Washington Times (DC): Tony Campolo recently published "Letters to a Young Evangelical" because: "A lot of young evangelicals were turning away from evangelicalism because they saw evangelicalism as being synonymous with gay bashing and anti-environmentalists, anti-women, pro-war, pro-gun. They were saying, “If that’s what evangelicals are, then we’re out. We’re not going to be a part of that movement. I felt it was time to say, “Hey, wait a minute. There are a whole mob of us out there who believe in the Apostles’ Creed, who believe the Bible is an infallible thing, who believe that Jesus is the Savior and you can have a personal relationship with Him who are not into those kinds of attitudes." Campolo discusses why he thinks women should preach, his fear that Christians are beginning to worship America rather than Jesus, and the need for pastors to talk to their congregations about abortion.

CBS Chicago (IL): A art student in Chicago has created some discussion with his depiction of Barack Obama as Jesus.

Variety: The 168 Hour Film Project annual marathon was held in Glendale, California last week. The 168 Hour Film Project is a competition where producers have 168 hours (1 week) to film and edit a 10-minute movie based on a theme and a Bible verse. This year "A Good Day," a film about father-son relationship drama inspired by Matthew 6:20-21, swept the awards.

North Country Times (CA): Gay-rights activists asked administrators at a university affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren church Monday to change the school's policy opposing homosexual sex among students. Officials at Fresno Pacific said the Bible guided their policies, and the student handbook would continue to oppose any sex outside of marriage.

Jamaica Gleaner (JAMAICA): Do not use the Bible to justify hate.

Pascagoula Mississippi Press (MS): The Ocean Springs Board of Education is taking a long look at instituting a Bible as literature course at Ocean Springs High School. "The Bible has informed so much of who we are as Americans," said John Brenke, the school board member who proposed the course. "The founding fathers knew (the Bible). When you listen to the presidential inaugural, you hear it. A well educated person ought to know what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. They may not agree with it, but they ought to know it."

The Tribune Democrat (PA): A high school in Pennsylvania will also begin to offer a course on the Bible using the Bible Literacy Project's textbook "The Bible and Its Influence." “I think we’re on the cutting edge with this in the area,” Principal Tom Fleming said.

Amarillo (TX): "We can, and we certainly do, argue about whether the Bible is the inspired word of God, literally true in all it contains, and a sound basis for both criminal and civil law in America. But when it comes to the question of homosexual marriage, labeled any way you prefer, there is a document that trumps the Bible in this country. It's called the Constitution."