Even Rick Warren is struggling

Check this out; when even megachurch pastor Rick Warren has a funding shortfall, you know things are tight in the world of religion. Actually, $900,000 is loose change for places like Saddleback Church. And the end of December is truly vital for houses of worship, as that's the drop-dead time for everyone to get in their charitable contributions. If the weather is bad and people don't get to church (which is what happened on our part of the woods on Dec. 20), then the giving falls off.

Ten years ago today, I was standing on the Mount of Olives, covering the turn-of-the-century celebrations in Jerusalem for this newspaper and wondering if Y2K would decimate us all. So much has happened since then and 2009 has not been the happiest year for many of us.

As many of you may now know, my newspaper has had massive cuts and just this week laid off 65 percent of the newsroom. Fortunately for me, I am staying on but my heart goes out to so many of my colleagues for whom today is their last day. I've been spending most of today saying good-bye to them all. Most have no idea where they will land.

May 2010 be a better year for us all.

- Julia Duin, religion editor