New church movements are causing the flight of many established clergy and long-standing members.

(NewsUSA) – Over the years, the atmosphere of the church has migrated from a quiet place of worship to that of music and praise.

However, millions of people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies feel their churches have been hijacked by these church-growth movements characterized by loud praise bands, constant PowerPoint presentations and cavernous mega-churches devoid of any personal touches. They are bewildered by the changes and are dropping out after thirty, forty or fifty years in a congregation. Some consider it a crisis.

According to the Barna Group, a company who seeks to use their strengths in partnership with Christian ministries and individuals to be a catalyst in moral and spiritual transformation in the United States, the church as we know it will be gone in 20 years.

A new book called Who Stole My Church? gives pastors and church members hope that they can overcome the obstacles and accept change in the growing church.

In this fictional story, pastor and author Gordon MacDonald uses topical examples and all-too-familiar characters to reassure readers that it is possible to embrace change and to demonstrate how change can actually be a positive influence in their church.

“There are many books on church change. Usually written from the standpoint and the instruction of the change agent, the leader who has the responsibility to bring about something new,” writes MacDonald. “In this book, however, I decided to deal with the subject from the perspective of some of the people who are powerfully affected by change -; the dear people in the pew who have to live with and even support the new ways.”

While he understands the frustrations that come with change, MacDonald believes that finding a way to move gracefully into the twenty-first century is necessary for the church to survive. “Any church that has not turned its face toward the younger generation will simply cease to exist,” he says. “We’re not talking decades – we’re talking just a few years.”

Gordon MacDonald has been a pastor and author for more than forty years. He serves as editor-at-large for Leadership Journal and as a former chairman of World Relief. His most recent books include: The Life God Blesses, Renewing Your Spiritual Passion, Rebuilding Your Broken World, the best-seller Ordering Your Private World and When Men Think Private Thoughts.

For more information, visit www.thomasnelson.com.

(NewsUSA) – During the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered what would become his most famous public words. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech left an indelible imprint on hundreds of thousands of civil rights demonstrators that day and would continue to do so for generations to come. Now, more than 45 years after King’s inspirational words rang through the crowd of more than 200,000 people, plans for King’s legacy to be immortalized in a large-scale memorial are fast becoming a reality.

In early 2008, construction will commence at the site of the the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, a four-acre plot located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For the past 10 years, the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation has led this historic effort, taking the helm after it was conceived more than two decades ago. Throughout this time span, the Foundation has remained committed to King’s legacy, virtues and humanity for all people -; regardless of race, color or creed.

“This year we will see the culmination of a decade’s worth of work,” said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the MLK National Memorial Project Foundation. “We enthusiastically anticipate reaching a number of key milestones that will bring the national MLK Memorial one step closer to taking its permanent residence on the National Mall in our nation’s capital.”

The MLK Memorial will be situated adjacent to the FDR Memorial, directly between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The centerpiece of the MLK Memorial is the “Stone of Hope,” a three-story statue of King that emerges from a stone wall of granite. A grove of cherry trees will also encompass the landmark to underscore themes of justice, love and hope.

“To date, we have raised nearly $90 million for the MLK National Memorial Project -; but we are still working tirelessly to meet the $100-million goal required to actually build and maintain the memorial,” Johnson said.

For more information on the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project, or to find out how to contribute, visit www.BuildtheDream.org or call 1-888-4-THE-DREAM.

The ACG recommends that you talk to your doctor about colorectal cancer screening.

(NewsUSA) – Colorectal cancer is the number-two cancer killer in the U.S. Unfortunately, few people realize that there are a number of simple screening tests that can make colorectal cancer one of the most preventable cancers.

Most colon cancers begin as polyps which, if not removed, can become cancerous. The development of more than 75-90 percent of colorectal cancer can be avoided through early detection and removal of these pre-cancerous polyps. The digestive health specialists from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) urge you to get screened for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is most common after age 50, but it can strike at younger ages. The chance of colon cancer increases with age. It’s suggested that screenings begin at age 50 for men and women at average risk for colorectal cancer. African-Americans should begin colorectal cancer screening as early as age 45. African-Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a younger average age than whites, and African-Americans with colorectal cancer have a decreased survival rate compared with whites.

Colonoscopy is considered the best test for colorectal cancer screening and prevention because it allows physicians to look directly at the entire colon and identify suspicious growths. It is the only test that can detect and remove pre-cancerous polyps from the colon during the same examination.

For average-risk individuals, the ACG recommends colonoscopy screening every 10 years beginning at age 50 as the preferred strategy. Alternative strategies for average risk individuals include annual stool tests to detect blood and flexible sigmoidoscopic exams every five years, although unlike colonoscopy this approach does not allow visualization and removal of polyps in the entire colon. The ACG urges you to talk to your doctor about what screening tests are right for you.

There is no reason for someone to die from a preventable cancer. With improved use of colon cancer screening, we can save lives. Colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy is among the most powerful preventive tools in clinical medicine. To learn more about the benefits of colorectal cancer screening, speak with your doctor or visit www.acg.gi.org.

(ARA) – When shopping for real estate, bigger used to mean better. But preferences are changing, particularly in a tight economy where every dollar needs to go further. A new aesthetic is taking hold, and it’s been dubbed “affordable luxury.”

“Affordable luxury means living within your means, and yet surrounded by beauty, style and convenience,” says builder Russ Walthall who, with his wife Vickee, has 25 years of experience designing and building custom homes. “Many people have discovered that they love the details of high-end, expensive homes, but they just don’t need as much space, and they don’t want to deal with all the maintenance that is involved with a large, single-family home.”

What’s driving the trend towards affordable luxury? The homebuying population is graying and the number of single-person households is rising. The population of Americans 65 and older will climb 147 percent between 2000 and 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts. Meanwhile, the number of traditional households with children dropped 15 percent from 1960 to 2000, resulting in a 13 percent rise in the number of single-person households, according to a study by the Urban Affairs & Planning Department of Virginia Tech’s Alexandria campus. Another 6 percent drop is expected by 2040.

These two factors indicated an increase in the target market for affordable, yet well-appointed homes without excess space or upkeep.

What’s Hot in Town Homes

The key to reaching this growing target market, say the Walthalls, is making people feel pampered within a budget. They put their theory to the test by developing a 64-building community of four-unit town homes near Kansas City. The two- and three-bedroom units have been selling briskly, particularly among people with active lifestyles – young professionals, empty-nesters, couples without children and others looking for the flexibility and maintenance-free living afforded by a town home.

Buyers looking for affordable luxury are responding to the upscale touches at Tuscany Hills. Details such as:

* Exterior finishes that marry stone accents and maintenance-free vinyl siding that mimics the look of hand-stained wood, like warm, rich Timber Oak Ascent vinyl siding.

* Storm doors and dusk-to-dawn lighting outside homes.

* Interior details such as crown molding, bronze lighting fixtures, Hunter Douglas blinds, fireplaces and, in some cases, custom cabinets and flat-screen TVs.

* Fiber-optic networks that allow users to connect quickly to the outside world, making it easier than ever for retirees, career-changers, entrepreneurs and others to work from home.

Empty Nesters Find New Nest Well Feathered

That magic combination of style and structure is what appealed to empty nesters Doug and Marilyn Blauser, who recently moved from Colorado and purchased a two-bedroom, single-story town home in the Walthalls’ Tuscany Hills development. They feel they got a great value.

“Twice before, we’ve purchased newly constructed homes,” says Marilyn. “In those homes, we had to paint, put up trim and install shelves ourselves. In this case, we liked that all the details were taken care of. We have 1,071 gorgeous square feet. It feels like they took the amenities of a $400,000 home and put them in an affordable house. It’s perfect for us.”

The Walthalls predict that the trend of affordable luxury will continue, even beyond the current economic downturn. As Vickee says, “Downsizing doesn’t have to mean downgrading anymore.”

For more information about Tuscany Hills, visit www.tuscanyhills.info . For more information about Timber Oak Ascent, visit www.variform.com .

Funerals Evolving into True Celebrations of Life

“In recent years, funeral services have gone from a more formal or structured service with religious music, scripture, prayers and little or no information regarding the life of the deceased to a celebration of a life remembered through various means of personalization,” says Billy C. Wells, the chief executive officer at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, a premier Dignity Memorial funeral service provider in Houston, Texas. Wells has either handled or helped arrange hundreds of funerals in his nearly 50 years in the industry, and says those held in recent years are a lot more memorable than those of yesteryear.

“The key to turning a funeral into a celebration of the life lost,” he says, “is the personalization which allows and encourages the family, their friends and visitors, to talk about the deceased and how he or she relates to the personalization items on display.”

Here’s just a small sampling of some of the more unique funerals Wells has seen recently:

* At a funeral for a well-known concert pianist, instead of having a casket for the visitation, the family opted to have a Steinway and Sons piano moved to the gallery of the funeral home and the florist created a huge spray of white flowers cascading from the strings of the piano onto a large carpeting of flowers surrounding the piano.

* For one visitation family members brought in items related to the deceased’s work as a professional horseman. Saddles, boots, numerous square bales of hay, partial fence structures, even a live horse in a make-shift temporary corral, transformed much of the décor of the funeral home.

* The florist turned the funeral home chapel altar into a hunting blind because the deceased was an avid hunter, and his hunting dogs were nearby in hunting position.

“By focusing the funeral on things the deceased enjoyed, as well as the experiences shared throughout his or her life, it encourages the sharing of stories and discussions of the deceased, and in some instances, may allow the family to learn of specials things about their loved one that otherwise they may have never known,” says Wells.

In addition to personalization, other changes that characterize the modern day funeral:

* The music is no longer strictly religious hymns. It includes the favorite music of the deceased.

* Receptions at the funeral home, or the family’s home after the service are more the case today than the exception. Many times they are elaborate catered events with entertainment.

* There used to be a time when photos were considered inappropriate. Today, it is commonplace to have video tributes, memory boards with selected photos, and even interactive voice tributes from friends or uploaded video tributes made at the funeral home during the visitation.

“Funeral services are changing to meet the needs of a generation that has different ideas about life — and about death,” comments Tom Hendler of the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. “This is not your grandfather’s funeral. You can expect more, demand more and we can meet those demands. Our service standards go beyond expectation, to a level of service that actually surprises families because it is so far beyond what they imagined.”

For more information about the services available at modern day funerals, log on to www.dignitymemorial.com .

Home Updates to Help Ease the Transition of Moving in Together

“Moving in together is a huge step,” says relationship expert Dennie Hughes of USAWeekend.com. “And, if ‘commitment’ is the ultimate goal, two other ‘C words’ will come into play – communication and compromise.”

While you may be ready to share your lives together, you may not be ready to share everything. Adjusting to your partner’s habits, quirks and little annoyances can be a challenge … and learning to share space is often the biggest obstacle. Before your living situation goes down the drain, think about separating — your stuff, that is.

Here are some tips to update your bedroom and bathroom to help ease the transition of living together.

Give Your Bed Some Room
When you move in, so do all your belongings. Help prevent space wars by using separate closets and dressers. This way, you and your partner can organize clothing, shoes and personal items with your own personal style and comfort. If your new home doesn’t have two closets, be sure to update the single closet with an organization system. Companies such as California Closets will customize storage solutions that will help give you both some breathing room.

While hogging the covers or tossing and turning is acceptable when alone, this can be frustrating for your partner … and make him or her wake up on the wrong side of the bed after a night of interrupted sleep. For a simple solution, purchase top sheets and blankets that are one size bigger than your mattress. And if budget permits, invest in a mattress that absorbs motion, like a Tempur-Pedic, so you won’t be disturbed when your partner tosses, turns or gets out of bed.

Achieving Bathroom Bliss
Gobs of toothpaste left in the sink is a top bathroom annoyance, according to a research study conducted on behalf of Moen Incorporated by Harris Interactive. So, don’t sweat these small things — split them!

Separate sink space helps eliminate tensions and makes getting ready with your partner easier. Stylish choices, such as Moen’s new Muirfield bathroom faucet, available at Lowe’s, offer a variety of options from single- and two-handle designs; standard-, mid- or high-arc spouts; and a variety of finishes to meet both of your design preferences. Plus, you and your partner can feel good knowing that the water-saving Muirfield faucets are WaterSense certified, meaning they meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidelines as environmentally responsible and efficient products.

In addition to splitting the sink area, be sure to install two of each bathroom accessory, such as the Ridgedale bath accessory collection from Inspirations by Moen. Separate robe hooks and towel bars ensure you each have your own personal space for your personal belongings.

Be sure to continue your organization into the shower, especially since for men, the number one shower pet peeve is having too many items. For a quick and easy solution, install shower baskets to provide convenient storage for shampoos and soaps, and remove clutter from around the tub.

Nothing ruins your mood in the shower quite like a weak spray. So, keep your partner happy with a superior showerhead that delivers a satisfying experience every time. The Muirfield suite, available from Moen in today’s most popular finishes, also features a single-handle shower faucet and a single-handle tub/shower faucet with a large showerhead that creates a wider spray pattern for a great showering experience through full-body coverage.

Couples That Share Together …
Although dividing the bedroom and bathroom helps smooth the transition of living together, don’t forget about the little things to ease common pet peeves. Be conscientious — restock the tissues and toilet paper when low, put the cap back on the toothpaste and make sure to clear counter space after your morning routine. Place dirty clothes in the hamper and make the bed together. Finally, designate an afternoon to clean together, and then celebrate your spotless home with a relaxing and romantic evening of quality time and communication.

With just a few minor adjustments and updates to your bed and bath, you can make the transition of living together easy and move toward your happily ever after.

For more information on the Muirfield bathroom suite or other Moen products, visit http://www.moen.com   or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).

ARA) – What is the secret to a wonderful marriage? “If more people knew the answer the divorce rate in this country wouldn’t be so high,” says Gerry Leeds, 85, of Long Island, N.Y.

At a time when statistically, between 40 and 45 percent of U.S. marriages end in divorce, Gerry and his bride, 80-year-old Lilo, have been happily married for 58 years. “People often ask us what the secret to our success is and I tell them it’s simple really. The secret lies in the long lost principles of love and respect.”

Gerry and Lilo met quite by chance back in 1950 at a ski lodge in the Adirondacks. “I was there with another date when I saw a pretty girl sitting on the floor playing an obscure European game I knew with another boy,” explains Gerry. “She said, ‘Do you know how to play?’ I said, ‘Sure!’ She won the game, but I won in the long run.”

After that chance encounter at the Speculator Ski Lodge, Gerry couldn’t stop thinking about Lilo. “We had so much in common, I knew she was the one for me, and that we had to be together,” says Gerry. It took him six weeks to track her down again and, you could say, the rest is history. They were married a short time later.

Gerry and Lilo raised five children together, and now have 15 grandchildren. “Like any other couple, we’ve had plenty of squabbles over the years, but unlike most, we always kiss and make up before going to bed. That’s our golden rule,” laughs Gerry.

Over the years, they’ve been asked for advice on how to build a marriage that, like theirs, will stand the test of time so many times that they recently decided to write a book on the subject. “Wonderful Marriage, A Guide to Building a Great Relationship that Will Last a Lifetime (BenBella Books) hit store shelves on April 1, 2008, the date of their 58th wedding anniversary.

The book is divided into three sections, each offering great advice to people in the various stages of a relationship: looking for love, starting a great relationship and building a joyful life together.

“No matter what stage of the game you’re in, it’s imperative that you have a lot in common with your significant other if you want the relationship to grow,” explains Gerry. When he and Lilo first met, both enjoyed skiing, and had similar beliefs about what Gerry calls “The Big Six.”

1. Religion: You have to agree on and feel comfortable with what role religion plays in your lives.

2. Money: You have to share common views on money — how you’ll earn it, save it and spend it.

3. Sex: You both have to enjoy sex together and feel that sex between you is important and great — and be willing to make it even better.

4. Children: You need to agree on whether you plan to have children, when, how many, how and where you plan to raise them, and what to do if you can’t have them.

5. Recreational activities: You have to share ideas about how you will spend your time together — what recreational activities you both enjoy — and how you’ll sometimes spend your time on your own.

6. Unacceptable behavior: You have to be totally comfortable with each other’s behavior and agree on what is acceptable — and what is not.”

“If I had to add a 7th rule,” says Gerry, “It would be: Don’t settle for a relationship that isn’t great. Before you get married, make sure the person you are pledging to spend the rest of your life with is definitely the one for you.”

“You know you have a great marriage when 10, 20, 30, even 58 years down the road, you can still say to each other, ‘I’m glad you married me,’” adds Lilo.

“Wonderful Marriage, A Guide to Building a Great Relationship that Will Last a Lifetime” is available in bookstores everywhere, through online retailers or on the publisher’s Web site: http://www.WonderfulMarriage.com   .

Parental Involvement Pivotal for Helping Teens Make Smart Choices

(NewsUSA) – As rising prices leave Americans low on cash, many turn to credit cards to cover expenses. But people shouldn’t use credit cards if they cannot pay credit card bills -; bad credit ratings can create lifelong, devastating effects.

Banks, financial institutions and businesses use credit card ratings to establish consumers’ reliability. People with no or bad credit can find themselves unable to get car or home loans. Landlords and potential employers check credit ratings, too. So, Americans without good credit can have trouble renting an apartment or getting a job.

But people looking to recover from bad credit do not need to declare bankruptcy. With some creativity and judicious spending, people can establish or recover good credit ratings -; and end up with some high-end electronics to boot.

Companies now offer low-rate financing options, which help people buy products while also building good credit.

One company, Pay by the Day (www.abuckaday.com), allows customers to finance IBM computers, Toshiba notebooks, JVC televisions and Canon digital cameras -; along with other electronics, sporting goods and furniture -; for as little as a few dollars a day.

Buyers determine a set amount of money, which is automatically withdrawn from their bank accounts to go towards their purchase. Pay by the Day sends products to homes with no extra money down. The service has no hidden costs. Once people pay off their purchases, they own them completely.

Pay by the Day will approve customers for financing, even if they don’t have good -; or any-; credit ratings. In purchasing a computer or camcorder through Pay by the Day, people can establish or improve their credit ratings.

Having a credit card -; and the credit rating that comes with it -; has become a necessity. For people finding their loan applications and resumes continuously declined due to bad or nonexistent credit, financial recovery can seem endlessly frustrating. But with companies like Pay by the Day offering low-financing options, buying a laptop or television now can help Americans rent apartments, buy homes and cars, or get jobs later in life

Third Annual Essay Contest Gives Kids Chance to Thank Outstanding Drivers

“America’s school bus drivers are collectively doing an outstanding job of safely transporting our children to and from school every day,” says John O’Leary, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, the leading manufacturer of school buses in the United States. To recognize the contributions individual drivers make to children’s safety every year, Thomas Built sponsors an annual Children’s Choice School Bus Driver of the Year essay contest.

With their parents’ help, children in kindergarten through sixth grades can nominate their favorite drivers by submitting a 90-word essay on what makes their driver so special. Now in its third year, the contest runs until August 1, 2008. Winners earn a $1,000 educational savings bond and laptop computer for the nominating child and a $1,000 Visa gift card for the nominated driver. All winners and runners up also receive Thomas Built Buses jackets and Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus lunch boxes. To enter the contest, visit www.thomasbus.com/contest for complete rules and an entry form.

Completed forms and typed or legibly printed 90-word essays should be mailed to: Children’s Choice Essay Contest, HMH, 1435 W. Morehead St., Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28208.

School buses are the safest and largest mass transportation system in the United States, according to research by the School Bus Information Council (SBIC). Consider the following eye-opening facts about school bus safety:

* Each year, the nation’s 450,000 yellow school buses annually make 8.8 billion student trips carrying 24 million children, the SBIC reports.

*While nearly equal numbers of children ride the school bus as use other modes of transportation in getting to school, in 2003, the last year for which statistics are available, five passengers were fatally injured while riding in school buses. By contrast, every year about 800 school aged children lose their lives on their way to school while either riding in private passenger vehicles, walking or biking, according to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences.

* Long gone are the dubiously maintained and equipped school buses you might remember from your own childhood. Today’s buses have safety devices that range from specially cushioned high-backed seats, and flashing red and yellow warning lights to rollover protection, enhanced braking systems and buses can now be equipped with optional three-point lap-shoulder belts for every seat without reducing passenger capacity.

* School bus drivers undergo rigorous special training, must hold commercial drivers licenses, and submit to criminal background and substance screening tests.

“Modern school buses are outfitted with extensive safety devices but one of the most important contributors to your child’s safety is the bus driver,” O’Leary says.

To nominate your driver for “School Bus Driver” of the year, visit http://www.thomasbus.com/contest  for complete rules and an entry form.