Copyright National Geographic, December 2011 issue

National Geographic’s cover story this month focuses on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. (You can read it here.)

It’s written by Adam Nicholson, author of God’s Secretaries, one of the best books available about the creation of the King James Version.

The photos by Jim Richardson are beautiful.

Odis Floyd, 71, died in Michigan Monday. The Flint Journal has a nice tribute here.

Floyd remembered living with his aunt and uncle in Arkansas. The family covering its windows with newspapers because they couldn’t afford curtains. There wasn’t running water or electricity. He moved from Arkansas to the Flint area and got a job at an automobile plant, before going into the full-time ministry.

These lines stood out from the Journal story:

As a teenager, he stole, joined a street gang and spent time in jail before praying for God’s forgiveness, he told The Flint Journal in a 2008 article.

“I preach about my past a lot, ” he said at the time. “I want young people to know that God will give them a second chance. I try not to preach fire and brimstone all the time. People need hope, and that’s always what I want to give them.”

SC Episcopal bishop cleared by national panel

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A committee of the national Episcopal Church says its investigation of the conservative bishop of one of the oldest Episcopal dioceses in the United States concluded he has not abandoned the church amid the ongoing schism over the ordination of gays and other issues.
(more…)

George Gallup, Jr. died earlier this month at age 81. In addition to being an extraordinary pollster, the son of the Gallup Poll founder was also someone who proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ.

Over the years, he noted the the difference between orthodoxy and orthopraxy — the gap between what American Christians say and do, the divide between their beliefs and their practices. And he noted their biblical illiteracy.

Terry Mattingly has a fantastic column this week that pays tribute to Gallup. He also focused on Gallup in this 1990 column (courtesy of the Houston Chronicle.

In 1990, Gallup said this about Americans while addressing the Evangelical Press Association:

“We revere the Bible, but don’t read it. We believe the Ten Commandments to be valid rules for living, although we can’t name them. We believe in God, but this God is a totally affirming one, not a demanding one. He does not command our total allegiance. We have other gods before him.”

A major Christian publisher is searching for the world’s ugliest Christmas sweater — and the winner will get more than notoriety.

WaterBrook Multnomah is offering $500 in cash to the contest winner. (Details here.)

This is the second year WaterBrook Multnomah has held the contest. Last year’s homely selections are still postedonline.