The prophet Isaiah this Sunday speaks the rousing words through which the Lord gives strength to the people of Israel so they will be a light to the nations. The husband of hospitalized Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords spoke of her fighting spirit . . .

John came baptizing with water so that the Lamb of God might be made known to Israel. Australians wish there were such a noble justification for their own “baptism by water” this past month. . . .

The psalmist “waited, waited for the Lord” and the Lord heard and responded, we read this Sunday. One year after an earthquake devastated their island, Haitians continue to wait for much of the aid and reconstruction promised in response to the disaster. . . .

“Extravagance” is the title of Alice Camille’s Prepare The Word.com commentary on the “high-flying exuberance and over-the-top promises” of salvation on display in this week’s texts. After what many Illinois residents believe was years of extravagant state government spending . . .

“People just don’t have the same respect for churches that they used to.”

70 percent of Americans say religion is losing its influence on life in the U.S., and 61 percent say they belong to a church or synagogue, the lowest percentage ever recorded in polls.