OD Today: 26 December 2008

So much for peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Here are the links for today:

• Christian Research Network picks up the story of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Christmas message on the United Kingdom’s Channel 4, but with a twist: the author draws a straight line between Ahmedinejad’s message and socially-minded Christians like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, and Rick Warren.
• Job at Jesus Christology asks whether contemporary Christian music worships God; concludes instead that most of the music is focused on the worshiper instead.
• James White wades further into his discussion of KJV Only Christians, including Peter Ruckman and Matt Thomas, shares an email message from KJV Only missionary Thomas.
• John Baker comments on Prospero Bonzani and the controversy surrounding his decision to include a model mosque in the skyline of Bethlehem in his church’s nativity scene: “As a False faith will use every carnal mechansim it can to advance itself, even dialogue with other false religions.”
• Christian Research Network asks why Rick Warren needs a Public Relations team. “Warren’s Biblical job description is very simple. But when did pastors begin needing to employ security teams and P.R. experts?” This as part of the continuing story of his visiting an AIDS charity thrift store. YouTube clip here. 
• John Baker on a CNN story regarding a Saudi court’s refusal to annul the marriage of an eight-year-old girl to a 47-year-old man, arranged as part of a debt payment. “If that does not prove Islam is a sick cult, there’s no way to prove it.” Neither the man nor the girl are named.
• John Baker on Tonia Thomas, who claims she was fired for saying “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays:” “Seriously, what are we supposed to gain for the gospel of Jesus Christ by insisting that the world indulge our imposing this man made holiday on them?”
• John Baker copies without comment a press release regarding a Chinese crackdown on house churches during Christmas.
• Defending Contending and P J Miller on Kansas City churchgoers dressing up as Jesus as part of the War on Christmas.
• Ingrid Schlueter tells the story of a former pen pal becoming a Christian, takes a passing shot at unnamed people who treat the Gospel as narrative, etc.
• Defending Contending recaps some recent stories involving Ravi Zacharias, concluding with the Margaret Manning/Henri Nouwen letter.
• Gay Christian Movement Watch shares a link to a post at Dunamis Word regarding an unnamed celebrity preacher who blackmailed people.
• Dwayna Litz links to Our Eyes Are Open, a paperback/e-book and DVD by Carrington Steele, which is devoted to Oprah Winfrey, her relationship with Eckhart Tolle, and her New Age leanings. Lighthouse Trails accuses Carrington Steele of plagiarism in assembling the book and in failing to make a sufficiently strong connection to Barack Obama here.
• Michael Davis picks up the story of members of Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship dressing up as Jesus for Christmas. “An great example of Christians fighting back in the continuing ‘war on Christmas’. A good idea that can maybe be expanded on next year.”