European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday March 25 2007 s t a r 8 an p s t rip e s Pace 23 religion photos Courtesy of Gotee records reliant is new cd five score and seven years ago reveals a band that maturing but still has fun the band consists of from left Dave Douglas Matt Hoopes Jon Schneck Matt Thiessen and John Warne reliant k scores again with latest Pun pop album by Brian Bowers stars and stripes fans have Learned to rely on re Lient k for Good music a message and fun that probably what propelled the Pun pop bands five score and seven years ago to sixth place on billboards Overall album sales Chart when it debuted earlier this month those who rushed out to buy the bands fifth disc in seven years probably expected front Man Matt Thiessen to deliver whimsical wordplay backed by energetic music they found some of that but also found much More with the Guys now in their late 20s the stakes Are higher and con Cerns much deeper As a result five score today is More mature and reflective than previous albums its also the bands most musically diverse disc opening with Beach boy style harmonizing on the Brief plead the fifth and offering some Punk and Rock before wrapping up with an intriguing Ballad the disc really gets rolling with come right out and say it an assertive track that urges honesty amid conflict that followed by i need you an edgier Rocker that Calls out for help and Security the first Christian radio sin Gle forgiven explores guilt and the need for forgiveness on the lighter Side the Best thing and must have done something right joyfully de scribe relationships that Are going Well those yearning for the old reliant k will love bite my Tongue which admits to a Lack of tact and being too ticked to talk the old Orne riness is Proba Bly to blame for faking my own suicide a strange song about prompting a girl to proclaim her love by faking a suicide while Many tracks examine the Joys and Pitfalls of human relationships five score is Proba Bly the most spiritual of the bands efforts the driving devastation and Reform thanks god for provid ing the insight to make wrongs right the soaring up and away maintains Hope Praise despite problems and missteps the theme continues in the finale deathbed an 11minute epic that Marks a dra Matic change for reliant k wailing guitars and pounding Drums Are replaced by a simple piano driven Melody verbal acrobatics Are replaced by an intense portrait of a Man reflecting on a truly sad life As he lies dying of cancer abandonment drinking and a bad marriage Are just some of the sad memories still haunting me however the mood be comes hopeful and triumphant As he recalls giving his life to Christ the song closes with the voice of Jon Foreman of switch foot playing the part of Jesus its a terrific statement about redemption that Marks True growth thematically lyrically and musically its solid stuff for a band that tells myspace fans that its music sounds like Dennis the men aces Sling shot hitting or Wilson right on the Shin on the web  today Praise is a Roundup of news and reviews from the contemporary Chris Tian music Industry Are us evangelicals shifting to the Middle by Rachel Zoll the associated press As they court the evangelicals who have become so crucial to their party Republican presiden tial candidates Are stepping into the Middle of a family fight Christian conservative activists Are More split than Ever Over whether to keep the movements focus on abortion marriage and sexual chastity or scrap that approach As too narrow the founders of the religious right now in the Twilight of their leadership see even the Sugges Tion of expanding the Agenda As a dangerous distraction in pub Lic and sometimes in personal ways they Are trying to beat Back the Challenge its an ongoing debate within the House of evangelicals said Michael Cromartie vice presi Dent of the ethics and Public pol icy Center a conservative Washington thin tank its about How evangelicals present them selves in the Public Arena in november some Christian conservatives condemned Pas Tor and bestselling author Rick Warren for inviting sen Barack Obama to speak at an aids sum Mit at his Church Obama campaigning for the democratic presidential nomination sup ports abortion rights just this month focus on the family founder James Dobson and 24 other top Christian conservatives pressured the nation Al association of evangelicals to silence its Washington director the Rev Rich Cizik the reason Cizik tried to convince Evangeli cals that global warming is real the Board of the association not Only stood by Cizik it then moved on to endorse a critique of us policy toward terror detainees called an evangelical declaration against torture protecting human rights in an age of terror evangelicals who mostly have a conservative world View to match their theology rarely speak out against the policies of a Republican presi Dent especially one at War its unclear who will win the evangelical Power struggle but Michael j Gerson a former speechwriter for president Bush says candidates in the 2008 race must consider the Sions when crafting an Appeal to evangelicals according to National exit polling White evangelicals or born again christians were about on Quarter of the electorate in 2004 nearly 80 per cent voted for Bush i think there is a Little bit of an element of revolt against the tone of some political engage ment of the religious right in the past which seemed quite harsh says Gerson who sup ports taking on a broader set of issues i think conservative Candi dates for president Are going to have to have a Strong International Agenda of compassion whether its aids or malaria or girls education or other issues in order to Appeal to a significant portion of evangelical opinion the one leading presidential contender who appears to comprehend this Gerson says is Obama the democratic Sena tors appearance at Warrens aids conference demonstrates that yet it would be wrong to Dis miss the older generation and its tighter focus just yet even though the moral majority is gone and the Christian coalition is floundering the revs Jerry Falwell 73 and Pat Robertson 76 who formed the groups still have clout Falwell Liberty University is thriving educating thousands of conservative christians Robert son still has his to ministry and the american Center for Law Justice which Robertson founded to advocate for religious Freedom is popular in conserva Tive circles focus on the family founder James Dobson 71 Only recently started a political advocacy group but has quickly become one of the most influential evangelicals in that area gop candidates Many Lack ing Strong evangelical Back grounds have been flocking to the men Arizona sen John Mccain gave last years commencement address at Liberty University former new York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts gov Mitt Romney Are scheduled to soon speak at Robertsons Regent University former House speaker Newt Gingrich just went on do sons radio program to confess and seek forgiveness for an extra marital affair As Gingrich Pur sued president Clinton impeachment in the Monica Lewin sky scandal Gingrich is consid ering a presidential run and will be Liberty commencement speaker in May these figures Are moving off the stage but there by no Means inconsequential there symbols in their own right said John Green a senior fellow with the Pew for urn on religion Public life still none of the men can be Kingmaker delivering the evangelical vote and the gop nomination to a favored Candi Date the organizational muscle of the movement now lies with local pastors who were key to Bush 2004 reelection win a Large number of Christian conservatives have become gop in siders White evangelicals form More than on third of the Par Tys base