Here is the review of the best links of 2009’s 8th week.

America’s Religious Gap
The importance of religion in Americans’ lives has interesting geographical differentiation. States whose residents are least likely to report that religion is important tend to be concentrated in New England and the far West (with the exception of Utah). (Via)

Students do not know the Bible
It is becoming increasingly difficult to teach English Literature because students do not know the Bible or classical mythology.

Children get 1st mobile phone at average age of 8
In the UK, 35% of children own a cell phone by age eight, according to the Personal Finance Education Group. Children as young as seven were offering to do chores in exchange for cash to buy ringtones. (Via)

Anti-social Behavior In Girls Predicts Adolescent Depression Seven Years Later
University of Washington social scientists tracked first- and second-graders for seven years and found that anti-social behavior among girls and anxiety among both sexes predicted depression in early adolescence. Surprisingly, early signs of depression were not predictive of adolescent depression. Boys with early anti-social behavior typically go on to show more anti-social behavior while girls may turn inward with symptoms, morphing into other mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety and suicidal behavior during adolescence.

Bond with Mom Helps Kids Make Friends
A child who has a strong relationship with Mom during preschool years tends to form closer friendships in grade school. Children who were securely attached to Mom at age three showed more open emotional communication with mothers and better language ability at four and a half. Open emotional communication in turn predicted fewer hostile attributions at first grade, which predicted greater teacher-reported friendship quality at third grade.

10 Reasons Why Web Ministry Applications and Initiatives Fail
(1) Never Built. (4) Bad Modeling. (8) Strategy. Read the post for the other 7 reasons.

Digital Evangelism Issues
The people behind Internet Evangelism Day launched a blog. This year’s Internet Evangelism Day is April 26, 2009.

Facebook has 175 million active users
This includes people in every continent–even Antarctica.

The Internet has 1 billion users
According to the comScore World Metrix audience measurement service, the Internet surpassed 1 billion visitors in December 2008.

Top 10 Twitter Tips for Beginners
(1) Shrink you URLs. (4) Use the @ sign. (9) Pick a good desktop client. Read the post for the other 7 tips.

Study finds recession associated with increases in minority victims of crime
The victimization of both female and male blacks and Latinos increases during or after periods of economic recession, according to a study by researchers Karen Heimer of the University of Iowa and Janet Lauritsen of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

How the Average U.S. Consumers Spend Their Income
It includes a comparison of the spending habits of different age groups.

The Middle Class Majority
For the first time in history more than half the world is middle-class—thanks to rapid growth in emerging countries.

Download NewSpring Church’s Communications Manuals
Get copies of NewSpring Church’s (Anderson, SC) Visual Identity Standards manual and Communications Standards manual for free.

50 Free High-Quality Icon Sets
Get 50 beautifully designed, free and professional high-quality icons for desktop and Web design.

Book Cover Design Inspiration
A collection of 1000+ fairly well-designed book covers. (Via)

MemberHub for Churches
MemberHub was designed specifically to help churches provide and manage private, online homes for each of their sub-groups.

MinistryQuestions.com
A new place to ask questions and get answers for ministry.

THE REVIEW OF 2008
- Rick Warren’s 12 Insights on Worship
- Q+A :: Meth Statistics

THE REVIEW OF 2007
- Sand Communication :: Advertising on Oceanfront Beach
- The Power of a Positive Environment
- Charles Stanley on Doing Church
- Donald Miller on Wasting Time
- Leading Change Through Emotions
- Top American Christian Leaders :: How Likeable Are They?