A great evangelistic opportunity, and more

A great evangelistic opportunity

Evangelical churches around the nation are reporting a surge in attendance and new memberships, a trend church leaders attribute to harder economic times. “It’s a great evangelistic opportunity for us,” said the Rev. A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. “When people are shaken to the core, it can open doors.”

The New York Times

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President Bush's all-time records

President Bush has experienced the biggest swing in approval ratings—more than 70 points—of any president since such figures have been tracked. His 92 percent approval rating after 9/11 was an all-time high for any president, while his current approval rating near 20 percent is an all-time low.

CNN.com

Americans change driving habits

Driving in America has undergone its most dramatic decline in history, as Americans drove 100 billion fewer miles during the 12-month period ending October 2008 compared with the prior year. “The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping,” said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, “confirms that America’s travel habits are fundamentally changing.”

Associated Press

U.S. is world's top arms dealer

American companies sold $32 billion in weapons on the world market last year, making the U.S. the planet’s top arms dealer, the nonpartisan New America Foundation reported. More than half of the top 25 U.S. customers in the developing world are listed by the State Department as undemocratic or engaged in human-rights abuses.

Newsday