Mary Mary tops Billboard charts

Mary Mary's The Sound released last week and claimed the #7 spot on the Billboard Top 200, the week's third highest debut, behind AC/DC and the High School Musical 3 soundtrack. This is their second Top 10 debut.

Fireproof Passes $23 Million

Fireproof has passed $23 million in ticket sales and just missed remaining in the Top 10 for the fifth straight week!

This total doubles the amount their last movie, Facing the Giants, pulled in and eclipses their budget 40-fold.

The music effectively uses music by Christian artists.

Extreme Home Makeover and Christian Artists

Mark Schultz will be appearing this month on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The show has a history of featuring Christian Artists including:
Mark Schultz
Sanctus Real
Sandi Patty
David Phelps
Yolanda Adams
CeCe Winans

Believers such as:
LeAnn Rimes
Randy Travis
Jeff Foxworthy
Martina McBride
Laura Bush
List here

They have also partnered with Christian organizations such as Focus on the Family and Lifeway

Newsboys Concert Before Intimate Crowd Premieres on TV

The Newsboys concert filmed before an intimate crowd premiered this weekend on Gospel Music Channel. It was an entertaining viewing, but infinitely more compelling live. Unfortunately, GMC also cut out Peter's testimony/call-to-action - apparently for length.

We attended the taping earlier in the year.

Christmas CDs on the radar

Upcoming Christmas CDs I'm interested in checking out:

Casting Crowns - Peace on Earth
BarlowGirl - Home for Christmas
Faith Hill - Joy to the World
Kristin Chenoweth - A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas
Mandisa - It's Christmas
pureNRG - a pureNRG Christmas
Sara Groves - O Holy Night
Shane & Shane - Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Album
Sixpence None the Richer - The Dawn of Grace

You can view the 10 Best Christmas CDs of all time here - will one of these make it into the Top 10?

Obama - I already have a Messiah

Glenn Beck brought to light a video on his show that again demonstrates the unnatural ardor that Obama's followers have for him. It's been removed from YouTube, but you can see it here:



A nice analysis of this offensive and creepy video can be found here.

Top 10 Rock CDs

The 10 Best Rock CDs from the last two years

10. Pillar "For the Love of the Game"
9. Sanctus Real "The Face of Love"
8. BarlowGirl "How Can We Be Silent"
7. DecembeRadio "DecembeRadio"
6. Kutless "To Know That You're Alive"
5. Sanctus Real "We Need Each Other"
4. Fireflight "Unbreakable"
3. Third Day "Revelation"
2. DecembeRadio "Satisfied"
1. Red "End of Silence"

Not in consideration is Pop-Rock (more traditional rock) such as Jeremy Camp, Downhere, Needtobreathe, Jars of Clay, The Afters, The Elms, Future of Forestry, Turn Off the Stars, Starfield etc

I also didn't include older titles, otherwise, Switchfoot, Anberlin, DC Talk, TobyMac, Audio A, Day of Fire, Stryper, Tait, P.O.D., and others would be listed.

Huntley Brown isn't voting for Obama

There's an email written by before-now-little-known Christian pianist Huntley Brown making the rounds in which he eloquently explains why he will not be voting for Obama in November.

In the email, Brown says,

"Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ ... I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second."

Interesting post here.

Natural Fit: MLB Uses Pillar's "For the Love of the Game"

MLB.com is currently using Pillar’s “For the Love of the Game” to help showcase some of baseball’s biggest and best highlights. The video can be viewed here.

On a related note, longtime bassist Kalel Wittig and drummer Lester Estelle are leaving the band.

Delilah, Radio's Oprah, Draws 25 Million Audience

Delilah Luke syndicated host of "Delilah After Dark" has an audience of 25 Million.
Known to her fans as simply, "Delilah.". Delilah is a devoted Christian, single mother, Point Hope founder, author, and public speaker, as well as being a famous syndicated radio host. Her radio show is an uplifting mixture of conversation, insightful thoughts, sharing, song requests, and pop music.

Jeromy Deibler from FFH has MS

Jeromy Deibler from FFH has revealed that he has advanced Multiple Sclerosis.

Crossovers - Take 3

MercyMe - "Hold Fast" (#27 AC), "Here with Me" (#12 AC), "Homesick (#9 AC) & "So Long Self" (#16 AC)

Needtobreathe - "More Time" (#9 Billboard Triple A Radio)

Red - "Breathe Into Me" (#15 Mainstream Rock), "Let Go" (#21 Mainstream Rock), "Already Over" (#18 Mainstream Rock & #26 Modern Rock)

Steven Curtis Chapman - "Cinderella" (#23 Hot AC), "Remembering You" (#22 AC), "How Do I Love Her" (#27AC)

See much more extensive Crossovers 1 and 2.