Bible Across America began September 30, starting at Zondervan headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. Stops range from a NASCAR race in Charlotte, N.C. to a young church leaders conference in Atlanta to the National Pastor's Convention in San Diego, as well as signing events in New York City and for legislators at the Capitol in Washington D.C. (Tour stops and real-time blog updates can be found at www.BibleAcrossAmerica.com). 

This nationwide tour is also engaging more than 31,000 Americans to hand write the NIV Bible. Writers of America's NIV will pen a single verse on actual thin-stock Bible paper. Each verse and each page will be published together and Zondervan plans to create two original editions—one will be offered to the Smithsonian Institution and the second will be auctioned off to benefit the International Bible Society in support of its Bible translation and distribution efforts around the world. 

Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan noted: "We couldn't think of a better way to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the NIV Bible than by inviting Americans to join us on this monumental tour and open more hearts to the Word of God." 

When the NIV Bible was first published in 1978, its first printing was 1.2 million copies. To date, it claims more than 300 million copies in print worldwide. The NIV was commissioned by the International Bible Society, which owns the copyright and is a long time partner of Zondervan, and was translated by a team of more than 100 scholars. 

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The latest survey from Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion, released last month, revealed some surprising data about religious and mystical experiences, according to Rodney Stark, professor of social sciences and co-director of the institute. Stark said he was surprised at the number of people who say they have heard God's voice (20%), felt protected by a guardian angel (55%) or witnessed a miraculous physical healing (23%). Back in 2005 (these surveys are conducted every other year), 67% of those surveyed said they were 'absolutely sure" heaven exists, and 17% thought it "probably" does. This year's survey showed demographic breakdowns on the question: more African Americans than whites were "absolutely sure" about heaven (86% to 60%); Southerners said yes to the question more than Easterners (76% to 50%), and Republicans more than Democrats (77% to 54%). These and more findings are in Stark's book from Baylor, What Americans Really Believe.

A touch of humor is always welcome, especially in these trying times. Doug Trouten, executive director of the Evangelical Press Association, is famous for the "Top 10" lists he presents each year at the EPA convention. On David C. Cook's Web site, he takes a crack at what's funny in Christian book publishing. Here are some: "Authors say God revealed to them in a dream that their manuscripts are perfect just the way they are.... As an art form, our industry peaked in the Middle Ages with illuminated manuscripts.... No matter how good your book is, you'll never outsell the Bible.... Gutenberg never made any money from his famous Bible—a proud Christian publishing tradition that continues to this day."

Ray Hendrickson, president of Christian Book Distributors announced that the Company will partner with Focus on the Family to take over the ministry's e-commerce site and product distribution, early next year. CBD is the largest religious catalogue company worldwide, sending out more 65 mailings of unique catalogues to millions of customers annually.

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