The following is another installment of the Friday Church News Notes:

POPE SEEKS TO EXPAND POPULARITY OF THE ROSARY. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Pope John Paul II, one of the most Marian popes in history, has proclaimed this the Year of the Rosary and has added a new set of "mysteries" to the rosary. The rosary is a series of repetitious, rote prayers that are recited while keeping count on a string of beads. Most of the prayers are directed to Mary, but in the midst of the prayers to Mary, there are also reflections on events in the life of Christ. The latter are called the "mysteries." Since the 1500s, there have been 15 mysteries associated with the rosary. The pope has added five new ones, including one that recalls "the institution of the Eucharist as a sacrament." Of course, Bible believers know that Jesus did not institute the Catholic mass. The pope's aim is to get more young Catholics interested in the rosary. A national survey taken in 2001 found that about 60% of Catholics in America say the rosary at least occasionally, but the practice is not as popular among young people. In celebrating his 24th anniversary as pope on October 16, John Paul II "asked the Virgin Mary for strength" and entrusted his future to the "Blessed Virgin." When he survived an attempted assassination a few years ago, the pope gave glory to Mary for his recovery. On the pope's garments the words "Totally Yours" are embroidered in Latin, testifying to his complete devotion to Mary.

IRANIAN MUSLIM LEADER CALLS FOR DEATH OF GRAHAM, ROBERTSON, FALWELL. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - In a sermon on October 11, an Iranian Muslim leader called for the death of three prominent Christian leaders who have spoken against Islam. Ayatollah Mohsen Mujtahed Shabestari called for the killing of Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell. All three have warned about the error of Islam.

FALWELL APOLOGIZES FOR STATEMENT ABOUT MOHAMMED. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - On October 12, Jerry Falwell apologized for the statement he made earlier that Mohammed was a violent man and a terrorist. Falwell said: "I sincerely apologize that certain statements of mine made during an interview for the September 30 edition of CBS's '60 Minutes' were hurtful to the feelings of many Muslims. I intended no disrespect to any sincere, law-abiding Muslim." Falwell's previous statement about Mohammed led to riots in some parts of India that left at least nine people dead.

THE VEGGIETALES MOVIE ON JONAH. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - VeggieTales new movie on Jonah is drawing Christians to wicked movie theaters to have their minds filled with rock music and ultra silliness (as well as whatever filth is contained in the trailers advertising other movies). I believe the ultra silly VeggieTales approach to teaching spiritual truths cheapens the things of God. It brings the blessed truth down to the level of worldly cartoons. Further, the movie is not faithful to the Bible account. It claims that the king of Nineveh didn't know that the things they were doing were wrong and pretends that their chief sin was slapping each other with fish. What a fearful example of trivializing sin! Beware of VeggieTales.

CHRISTIANS GIVEN GREATER VOTING RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - For the first time since 1985, Christians in Pakistan have been given the right to vote for any candidate in the upcoming elections. Previously, they were allowed to vote only for the four National Assembly seats reserved for Christian candidates, under the segregated electoral system established by former military ruler Zia-ul Haq. The current Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, the military ruler who overthrew the government of Nawas Sharief in 1999, scrapped the separate electoral system earlier this year.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED AT FIRST BAPTIST AND HYLES ANDERSON. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, where the late Jack Hyles pastored, held a Teenage Soul Winning Marathon on October 5, 2002. According to baptist-city.com, "over 9,500 souls were saved" through the efforts of the 300 teenage soul winners that day. Some have written to us to claim that things have changed at First Baptist since Hyles died, but it is obvious that "quick prayerism" continues to operate in overdrive at this church. Yes, they might speak of repentance and perhaps even define it properly in theory, but in practice it is obvious that they ignore it completely. For more information about "quick prayerism" see "Fundamental Baptists and Quick Prayerism" (Sept. 17, 2002) and "How to Avoid Quick Prayerism" (Sept. 27, 2002) at the Way of Life web site.

THE DIVINE POTATO. Friday Church News Notes, October 18, 2002 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Pilgrims are flocking to a house in Bombay, India, where they believe the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh has appeared in the shape of a potato (Ananova.com, Sept. 4, 2002). The potato was purchased by Najmuddin Jessani, and as the family was about to eat it, he noticed that it bore a resemblance to Ganesh. He subsequently turned the living room into a shrine to the potato, and dozens of people are visiting each day to worship and leave gifts.