The Bible reached a new milestone today with 1 million units sold across Blu-ray, DVD and DigitalHD. The epic 10-part miniseries from co-executive producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey continues to dominate records everywhere with its unprecedented sales performance. It's the fastest selling TV title in the past 2 years and the #1 TV Miniseries of all time in home entertainment.
During its run, The Bible propelled History® to number one in all of television from 8-10 PM on Sunday nights with over 100 million viewers. The Bible series will air internationally later this year, followed by its international home entertainment release.
“We are thrilled that The Bible series continues to be enjoyed by millions across the country. The response to the series on television was overwhelming and clearly families are now wanting to own the DVD and enjoy it with family and friends,” said co-executive producers, husband and wife team Roma Downey and Mark Burnett.
“Millions of people embraced The Bible, not only making it the television event of the year but also bringing it to unprecedented success with the home entertainment release in the US,” said Mary Daily, president and chief marketing officer of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. “We are excited about introducing this project to millions more as we launch internationally later this year.”
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Skillet, August Burns Red Currently in Top 10 on iTunes
Skillet, one of the top selling rock outfits in recent years, is currently in the top 5 with its latest release and metalcore band August Burns Red joins them in the top 10.
Developing...
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson Still Has the #1 Book in the Country
Duck Dynasty's Robertson family has two books currently on the New York Times best-seller list, including Phil’s memoir (co-written by Mark Schlabach), which has been No. 1 for six weeks.
(Phil, however, admits he hasn’t read it. “I dictated it, why should I read about it? I’m sick of hearing those stories,” he says.)
The clan has three more books coming out this year — Si’s memoir, “Si-cology,” in September, “Dynasty Devotional” in October and a cookbook by Kay in November.
But things are just getting started. Phil says he’s been offered a lucrative deal for another book called “Phil-osophy,” and Alan and Lisa are already writing a book about marriage before they even make their TV debut. Alan is the oldest Robertson son and a minister. Lisa, 47, also says some of the family members have received offers for spinoff shows.
And yet she is still hesitant about stepping into the limelight.
“I’m just worried about coming in and not being able to perform on the spot,” the soft-spoken blonde says. “Everyone else has three years of experience filming.”
Si, sitting next to her, says he was camera-shy when they filmed the pilot. “In the beginning, when we went duck hunting, they would have to hide the camera because every time I’d see it, I’d just freeze up!” he says.
“I guess you’ve come out of your shell now, son!” Phil cracks back.
“When Si messes up it becomes a slogan on a T-shirt,” Alan adds, laughing. In fact, Bass Pro Shops makes a shirt with Si’s picture and his quote, “Hey, hey, all of my stories are 95 percent true, Jack.”
Family dinners are a big part of the show, and at the end of each episode, the Robertson family prays before the meal — a tradition they insisted on continuing when A&E began filming.
“From Day 1, Dad held up his Bible and said, ‘This is part of our lives, is this going to be in?’ ” Alan says. “And they were like, ‘That’s in, that’s part of who you are.’ ”
And he thinks viewers will see more of the family’s faith now that he’s signed on. During Sunday’s sermon, titled “The Family of Cultural Warriors,” he assures his congregation he will continue the work he started at White’s Ferry Road, the church his father has been attending since he was 28.
“All those years we preached sermons about ‘Grow where you’re planted,’ ” Alan says, as he steps behind the pulpit. “And God has planted us all over the place.”
(Phil, however, admits he hasn’t read it. “I dictated it, why should I read about it? I’m sick of hearing those stories,” he says.)
The clan has three more books coming out this year — Si’s memoir, “Si-cology,” in September, “Dynasty Devotional” in October and a cookbook by Kay in November.
But things are just getting started. Phil says he’s been offered a lucrative deal for another book called “Phil-osophy,” and Alan and Lisa are already writing a book about marriage before they even make their TV debut. Alan is the oldest Robertson son and a minister. Lisa, 47, also says some of the family members have received offers for spinoff shows.
And yet she is still hesitant about stepping into the limelight.
“I’m just worried about coming in and not being able to perform on the spot,” the soft-spoken blonde says. “Everyone else has three years of experience filming.”
Si, sitting next to her, says he was camera-shy when they filmed the pilot. “In the beginning, when we went duck hunting, they would have to hide the camera because every time I’d see it, I’d just freeze up!” he says.
“I guess you’ve come out of your shell now, son!” Phil cracks back.
“When Si messes up it becomes a slogan on a T-shirt,” Alan adds, laughing. In fact, Bass Pro Shops makes a shirt with Si’s picture and his quote, “Hey, hey, all of my stories are 95 percent true, Jack.”
Family dinners are a big part of the show, and at the end of each episode, the Robertson family prays before the meal — a tradition they insisted on continuing when A&E began filming.
“From Day 1, Dad held up his Bible and said, ‘This is part of our lives, is this going to be in?’ ” Alan says. “And they were like, ‘That’s in, that’s part of who you are.’ ”
And he thinks viewers will see more of the family’s faith now that he’s signed on. During Sunday’s sermon, titled “The Family of Cultural Warriors,” he assures his congregation he will continue the work he started at White’s Ferry Road, the church his father has been attending since he was 28.
“All those years we preached sermons about ‘Grow where you’re planted,’ ” Alan says, as he steps behind the pulpit. “And God has planted us all over the place.”
Unbearded Son Joins Hit Show Duck Dynasty
You may not know who Alan Robertson is, but come August 14 when “Duck Dynasty” returns for its fourth season on A&E, he’ll be a household name.
The full-time Louisiana pastor is leaving the pulpit to join his family as the newest cast member of the hit reality series. Alan will manage public relations and speaking engagements for his parents, Phil and Kay Robertson, his Uncle Si and the rest of the family.
Alan told the New York Post he decided to sign up for his family’s reality show so he could spread his religious beliefs to a larger audience.
“What I do for our church — you see, it’s a pretty good-sized church — impacts a lot of people, but because of my association with the show, I’ll get to minister to a lot more people,” Alan told The Post.
And he noted that one thing that separates him from the other male members of his family is his clean shaven face.
“The beards are so iconic,” Alan told The Post. “All this time I’ve been flying under the radar; I can go to Starbucks and get Mama coffee.”
“That is about to change,” Phil added of his eldest son.
The Robertson family has gained fame, and lots of attention, since “Dynasty” began airing, something Alan admitted he may not be fully prepared for.
“My children are grown, but all of my brothers’ children are teenagers now, so how is this crazy world going to impact them?” Alan told the newspaper. “We think about John Luke and Sadie, who are such a big part of the show and they’re teenagers, you know? They need to be just normal teenagers. We pray about that.”
The full-time Louisiana pastor is leaving the pulpit to join his family as the newest cast member of the hit reality series. Alan will manage public relations and speaking engagements for his parents, Phil and Kay Robertson, his Uncle Si and the rest of the family.
Alan told the New York Post he decided to sign up for his family’s reality show so he could spread his religious beliefs to a larger audience.
“What I do for our church — you see, it’s a pretty good-sized church — impacts a lot of people, but because of my association with the show, I’ll get to minister to a lot more people,” Alan told The Post.
And he noted that one thing that separates him from the other male members of his family is his clean shaven face.
“The beards are so iconic,” Alan told The Post. “All this time I’ve been flying under the radar; I can go to Starbucks and get Mama coffee.”
“That is about to change,” Phil added of his eldest son.
The Robertson family has gained fame, and lots of attention, since “Dynasty” began airing, something Alan admitted he may not be fully prepared for.
“My children are grown, but all of my brothers’ children are teenagers now, so how is this crazy world going to impact them?” Alan told the newspaper. “We think about John Luke and Sadie, who are such a big part of the show and they’re teenagers, you know? They need to be just normal teenagers. We pray about that.”
Ja Rule, Adrienne Bailon, Stephen Baldwin and TobyMac Star in New Christian Movie
'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' will open domestically on October 18, 2013 with an international release to follow.
Based on a true story, the film stars 'Ja Rule' who, as a successful entrepreneur haunted by a criminal past and surrounded by old friends still “in the life,” finds faith, redemption and inspiration when God puts a woman of faith (Adrienne Bailon) in his life. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, Michael Madsen, T-Bone, Martin Kove and TobyMac.
“We are extremely pleased to have been able to put together such a world-class team for our very first film,” said Galley Molina, CEO of Reverence Gospel Media.
Molina wrote 'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' and has produced the film alongside Christian music superstar and RGM vice president Israel Houghton, who also contributed to the “Church Girl” soundtrack.
Houghton, who also shares screenplay credit on Reverence Gospel Media’s next two films, is a multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award winner, and was honored most recently at the 2013 Grammys with the award for Best Christian Music Song. Israel is also a Worship Leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas – the largest congregation in the United States, where he serves alongside “America’s Pastor” Joel Osteen.
“We feel extraordinarily blessed to have been able to make this movie and can’t wait to see the impact it has on people’s lives,” said Houghton. “This is completely unlike any ‘faith-based’ movie anyone has ever seen. The characters face believable situations with real faith in a real God.”
“I’ve seen this movie, and am both moved and inspired by the story, the characters, and the quality of both movie and music,” said Donnie McClurkin, Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist and Senior Pastor of the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY. “This is not what people have come to expect from Christian films, and I know it will resonate deeply with viewers – even those who would never have gone anywhere near a movie that touches on the subject of faith.
Based on a true story, the film stars 'Ja Rule' who, as a successful entrepreneur haunted by a criminal past and surrounded by old friends still “in the life,” finds faith, redemption and inspiration when God puts a woman of faith (Adrienne Bailon) in his life. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, Michael Madsen, T-Bone, Martin Kove and TobyMac.
“We are extremely pleased to have been able to put together such a world-class team for our very first film,” said Galley Molina, CEO of Reverence Gospel Media.
Molina wrote 'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' and has produced the film alongside Christian music superstar and RGM vice president Israel Houghton, who also contributed to the “Church Girl” soundtrack.
Houghton, who also shares screenplay credit on Reverence Gospel Media’s next two films, is a multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award winner, and was honored most recently at the 2013 Grammys with the award for Best Christian Music Song. Israel is also a Worship Leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas – the largest congregation in the United States, where he serves alongside “America’s Pastor” Joel Osteen.
“We feel extraordinarily blessed to have been able to make this movie and can’t wait to see the impact it has on people’s lives,” said Houghton. “This is completely unlike any ‘faith-based’ movie anyone has ever seen. The characters face believable situations with real faith in a real God.”
“I’ve seen this movie, and am both moved and inspired by the story, the characters, and the quality of both movie and music,” said Donnie McClurkin, Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist and Senior Pastor of the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY. “This is not what people have come to expect from Christian films, and I know it will resonate deeply with viewers – even those who would never have gone anywhere near a movie that touches on the subject of faith.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Kanye West's Lunacy Escalates: I Made That Song Because I Am god
Kanye West has caused some controversy after naming one of his new songs "I Am God" and now the 36-year-old rapper is revealing the inspiration behind the title.
West's "I am God" is a song featured on his recent album "Yeezus." The rapper recently revealed that the song's inspiration came about when he was denied access to some shows at last year's Paris Fashion Week.
"So the next day I went to the studio with Daft Punk, and I wrote 'I Am a God'... Cause it's like, Yo! Nobody can tell me where I can and can't go," West told W Magazine recently."
The rapper likened the shunning in Paris to blasphemy.
"You can't say that you love music and then say that Kanye West can't come to your show! To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn't go is just ludicrous," West told W. "It's blasphemous- to rock 'n' roll, and to music."
West outright explained that the song title was a literal reflection of his feelings about himself.
"I made that song because I am a god. I don't think there's much more explanation," West told W. "I'm not going to sit here and defend (expletive). That (expletive) is rock 'n' roll, man. That (expletive) is rap music. I am a god. Now what?"
While West has not been willing to open up to the media in the past few years, he explained the controversial decision to name is album "Yeezus" recently.
"I wanna explain something about the title Yeezus, simply put West was my slave name and Yeezus is my god name," West said at his recent New York City listening party, according to MissInfo.tv.
West's "I am God" is a song featured on his recent album "Yeezus." The rapper recently revealed that the song's inspiration came about when he was denied access to some shows at last year's Paris Fashion Week.
"So the next day I went to the studio with Daft Punk, and I wrote 'I Am a God'... Cause it's like, Yo! Nobody can tell me where I can and can't go," West told W Magazine recently."
The rapper likened the shunning in Paris to blasphemy.
"You can't say that you love music and then say that Kanye West can't come to your show! To even think they could tell me where I could and couldn't go is just ludicrous," West told W. "It's blasphemous- to rock 'n' roll, and to music."
West outright explained that the song title was a literal reflection of his feelings about himself.
"I made that song because I am a god. I don't think there's much more explanation," West told W. "I'm not going to sit here and defend (expletive). That (expletive) is rock 'n' roll, man. That (expletive) is rap music. I am a god. Now what?"
While West has not been willing to open up to the media in the past few years, he explained the controversial decision to name is album "Yeezus" recently.
"I wanna explain something about the title Yeezus, simply put West was my slave name and Yeezus is my god name," West said at his recent New York City listening party, according to MissInfo.tv.
Anne Rice Christian Novel to Be Made into Movie
Anne Rice, of Interview with the Vampire fame, will have another of her book turned into a movie, but this time the subject will be very different: Jesus Christ.
Rice's bestseller, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, first published in 2005 after Rice's return to the Catholic Church, depicts the life of Jesus at 7-years-old and his struggle with being the son of God. The book will be adapted to a film and distributed in the U.S. by FilmDistrict.
The bestselling author tells The Christian Post on Monday that she wanted to depict Jesus' story in the most vivid way possible. "I didn't want to water down Jesus in a novel. I wanted to portray Him as we believe in Him – as the Son of God, God incarnate, living in a complex and turbulent First Century world," she said.
Slated for distribution in March 2015, "Christ the Lord" will be directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, who helped make the controversial miniseries "The Path to 9/11," and his wife, Betsy Nowrasteh.
According to Rice, the film's directors "have shown great sensitivity and concern for biblical and theological accuracy in their screenplay."
"Frankly, I think that Christians are going to be thrilled with this movie," Rice tells CP. "They will see the Jesus of faith portrayed in fictional situations that are all entirely realistic for the times. This is new, I think, presenting the Lord accurately theologically but in new fictional situations. I think it's going to be wonderful," she added.
Best known for writing vampire-centered literature, Rice has had a turbulent experience with her Christian faith. Growing up Roman Catholic, she didn't question her faith until college when she became a self-professed "Christ-haunted atheist." During her time away from the church, she penned a slew of erotic-filled, vampire-themed books like Interview With The Vampire – which was made into a film starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas – and Queen of the Damned.
read full article
Rice's bestseller, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, first published in 2005 after Rice's return to the Catholic Church, depicts the life of Jesus at 7-years-old and his struggle with being the son of God. The book will be adapted to a film and distributed in the U.S. by FilmDistrict.
The bestselling author tells The Christian Post on Monday that she wanted to depict Jesus' story in the most vivid way possible. "I didn't want to water down Jesus in a novel. I wanted to portray Him as we believe in Him – as the Son of God, God incarnate, living in a complex and turbulent First Century world," she said.
Slated for distribution in March 2015, "Christ the Lord" will be directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, who helped make the controversial miniseries "The Path to 9/11," and his wife, Betsy Nowrasteh.
According to Rice, the film's directors "have shown great sensitivity and concern for biblical and theological accuracy in their screenplay."
"Frankly, I think that Christians are going to be thrilled with this movie," Rice tells CP. "They will see the Jesus of faith portrayed in fictional situations that are all entirely realistic for the times. This is new, I think, presenting the Lord accurately theologically but in new fictional situations. I think it's going to be wonderful," she added.
Best known for writing vampire-centered literature, Rice has had a turbulent experience with her Christian faith. Growing up Roman Catholic, she didn't question her faith until college when she became a self-professed "Christ-haunted atheist." During her time away from the church, she penned a slew of erotic-filled, vampire-themed books like Interview With The Vampire – which was made into a film starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas – and Queen of the Damned.
read full article
Rick Santorum Becomes New CEO of Christian Film Company
Former GOP presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Rick Santorum has accepted the position as CEO of the Dallas-based Christian film company EchoLight Studios, saying in a statement that he believes that in a similar way to politics, entertainment can work to reinforce one's religious values.
"This is the right place and right time, and I've jumped in with both feet," Santorum said in recent press release by EchoLight, which describes itself as "America's fastest-growing faith & family film company."
"I often say that culture is upstream from politics, and I know entertainment also can be strength and light for people who want to be uplifted and reinforced in their values," Santorum added.
Santorum added in an emailed statement to Patriot Voices, a website he launched in 2012, that he believes it is important for the Christian film industry to have a greater impact on America's youth than the morals associated with many mainstream Hollywood films.
"For too long, Hollywood has had a lock on influencing the youth of this country with a flawed message that goes against our values. Now, we can change that," Santorum said.
EchoLight Studios, which has released eight films since its 2011 founding, describes itself as the "first movie company to produce, finance, market and distribute faith-based, family films across all releasing platforms."
The company currently has four films in post-production, including "The Redemption of Henry Myers," which is slated to hit theaters this fall.
The former GOP presidential candidate, who also officially endorsed Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election, told The Wall Street Journal that while working at EchoLight he will do everything from read scripts to arrange meetings with influential conservative and Christian leaders.
Bobby Downes, a former missionary who founded EchoLight in 2011, told the WSJ that the marketing, production and distribution company hopes to tap into the extensive church network in the U.S.
read full article
"This is the right place and right time, and I've jumped in with both feet," Santorum said in recent press release by EchoLight, which describes itself as "America's fastest-growing faith & family film company."
"I often say that culture is upstream from politics, and I know entertainment also can be strength and light for people who want to be uplifted and reinforced in their values," Santorum added.
Santorum added in an emailed statement to Patriot Voices, a website he launched in 2012, that he believes it is important for the Christian film industry to have a greater impact on America's youth than the morals associated with many mainstream Hollywood films.
"For too long, Hollywood has had a lock on influencing the youth of this country with a flawed message that goes against our values. Now, we can change that," Santorum said.
EchoLight Studios, which has released eight films since its 2011 founding, describes itself as the "first movie company to produce, finance, market and distribute faith-based, family films across all releasing platforms."
The company currently has four films in post-production, including "The Redemption of Henry Myers," which is slated to hit theaters this fall.
The former GOP presidential candidate, who also officially endorsed Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election, told The Wall Street Journal that while working at EchoLight he will do everything from read scripts to arrange meetings with influential conservative and Christian leaders.
Bobby Downes, a former missionary who founded EchoLight in 2011, told the WSJ that the marketing, production and distribution company hopes to tap into the extensive church network in the U.S.
read full article
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Surf's Up This Summer for Eric Roberts and Jason Castro in The Perfect Summer
On July 13 UP premieres its original The Perfect Summer, an inspirational sun-and-surf family drama, starring Academy, Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables), Daytime Emmy-nominee Sydney Penny (“All My Children,” The New Gidget), Adam Horner (“The Valley,”), Katie Garfield (The Carrington Event, “Under the Dome”), Louis Mandylor (My Big Fat Greek Life) and singer/songwriter Jason Castro (“American Idol” finalist, season 7) in his TV acting debut. Newcomers JD Banks and Justin Barnhill also star.
Broadcast Networks Want More Sex and Cursing on TV
All four of the major broadcast TV networks – ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC – filed statements last week with the Federal Communication Commission seeking an end to government oversight of indecency standards on television, according to a Dateline New York report.
The broadcasters want to be able to show just as much sex, violence and obscenity as the cable networks, and they don’t want it limited to after 10 p.m. ET.
The networks argued that the regulations violate their First Amendment rights and that the rules are archaic because families don’t just sit down and watch broadcast television anymore.
The Los Angeles Times reported Fox, for example, argued that the FCC’s rules are “stuck in a bygone era” and unfair to broadcasters because cable and online outlets do not face the same regulations.
“The FCC should affirm that it has no right to deny broadcasters the same First Amendment protections enjoyed by every other medium of communication,” Fox said.
Parents Television Council President Tim Winter, however, opposes eliminating decency standards.
CBS, however, assured the FCC it needn’t worry that relaxing its enforcement will make “broadcast television some sort of red-light district.”
Besides, the network added, “The day when a child watching television was almost certain to be watching broadcast television has long since passed.”
According to Dateline, Fox elaborated on CBS’ argument: “Americans today, including children, spend more time engaged with non-broadcast channels delivered by cable and satellite television, the Internet, video games and other media than they do with broadcast media.”
NBC agreed: “Broadcast TV is not a uniquely pervasive presence in the lives of 21st century Americans.”
The network filings came in response to an April request from the FCC – since expired – for comments on a proposed change in policy to allow “fleeting” or “isolated” instances of nudity and cursing on public airwaves without subjecting the networks to fines.
Several news outlets reported more than 101,000 consumer comments poured in, while the networks filed just under the deadline, asking the FCC to go even further in abolishing all decency standards.
Yet Winter and the Parents Television Council argues the FCC must heed the people.
“The outpouring of the American people to the FCC is tremendous on the issue of broadcast indecency. The over 101,000 comments received over this FCC proposal dwarfs the number of people communicating to the FCC about any other matter,” Winter said. “The American people (those without armies of lobbyists) are concerned about the volume of indecent material on TV that is targeting their children and grandchildren. The FCC and Congress must not ignore their voices.”
read full article
The broadcasters want to be able to show just as much sex, violence and obscenity as the cable networks, and they don’t want it limited to after 10 p.m. ET.
The networks argued that the regulations violate their First Amendment rights and that the rules are archaic because families don’t just sit down and watch broadcast television anymore.
The Los Angeles Times reported Fox, for example, argued that the FCC’s rules are “stuck in a bygone era” and unfair to broadcasters because cable and online outlets do not face the same regulations.
“The FCC should affirm that it has no right to deny broadcasters the same First Amendment protections enjoyed by every other medium of communication,” Fox said.
Parents Television Council President Tim Winter, however, opposes eliminating decency standards.
CBS, however, assured the FCC it needn’t worry that relaxing its enforcement will make “broadcast television some sort of red-light district.”
Besides, the network added, “The day when a child watching television was almost certain to be watching broadcast television has long since passed.”
According to Dateline, Fox elaborated on CBS’ argument: “Americans today, including children, spend more time engaged with non-broadcast channels delivered by cable and satellite television, the Internet, video games and other media than they do with broadcast media.”
NBC agreed: “Broadcast TV is not a uniquely pervasive presence in the lives of 21st century Americans.”
The network filings came in response to an April request from the FCC – since expired – for comments on a proposed change in policy to allow “fleeting” or “isolated” instances of nudity and cursing on public airwaves without subjecting the networks to fines.
Several news outlets reported more than 101,000 consumer comments poured in, while the networks filed just under the deadline, asking the FCC to go even further in abolishing all decency standards.
Yet Winter and the Parents Television Council argues the FCC must heed the people.
“The outpouring of the American people to the FCC is tremendous on the issue of broadcast indecency. The over 101,000 comments received over this FCC proposal dwarfs the number of people communicating to the FCC about any other matter,” Winter said. “The American people (those without armies of lobbyists) are concerned about the volume of indecent material on TV that is targeting their children and grandchildren. The FCC and Congress must not ignore their voices.”
read full article
U2's Bono: Jesus is the Son of God And Beware of Death by Cupcake
Bono, the lead singer of U2, is declaring that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God.
In a brand-new interview with Focus on the Family set to air Tuesday, the rock star and activist sounded like “Mere Christianity” author C.S. Lewis who argued Jesus was a lunatic, liar or Lord.
“When people say ‘Good teacher,’ ‘Prophet,’ ‘Really nice guy,’ … this is not how Jesus thought of himself,” Bono said. “So, you’re left with a challenge in that, which is either Jesus was who He said He was or a complete and utter nut case.”
“And I believe that Jesus was, you know, the Son of God,” Bono said, according to a transcript provided to Religion News Service. “I understand that for some people and we need to … if I could be so bold, need to be really, really respectful to people who find that ridiculous.”
Bono also discussed one of the most famous biblical characters, King David, who authored many of the Bible’s psalms, which are actually songs in the original Hebrew.
“First of all, David’s a musician so I’m gonna like him,” Bono said.
“What’s so powerful about the psalms are, as well as they’re being gospel and songs of praise, they are also the blues. It’s very important for Christians to be honest with God, which often, you know, God is much more interested in who you are than who you want to be.”
While Bono praised David’s “honest language with God,” Jim Daly of Focus on the Family noted that “sometimes it gets you into hot water with the more orthodox folks, because they see you as edgy, maybe too edgy at times.”
“You’ve gotta be very careful that grace and politeness do not merge into a banality of behavior, where we’re just nice, sort of ‘death by cupcake,’” Bono responded. “Politeness is, you know, is a wonderful thing. Manners are in fact, really important thing. But remember, Jesus didn’t have many manners as we now know.”
The rock star talked about Scripture openly, including the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus told a man not to wait and bury his father, but to follow Jesus immediately.
When Daly noted, “Seems cold-hearted,” Bono replied: “No, seems punk rock to me. He could see right into that fellow’s heart. He knew he wasn’t coming and he was just, it was pretense. We’ve gotta be a bit more cutting edge, not look to the signs of righteousness. Look to the actions.”
Bono, a native of Dublin, Ireland, says his faith has prompted him to fight disease and poverty with the ONE Campaign, a humanitarian group he founded.
“It’s very annoying following this person of Christ around, because He’s very demanding of your life,” he said, laughing. “You don’t have to go to university and do a Ph.D. to understand this stuff. You just go to the person of Christ.”
Since the early 1980s, U2 has dominated rock music across the planet with many songs that include lyrics about God and His coming kingdom.
On U2′s 1983 album “War,” one of the songs was simply titled “40,” and was based on Psalm 40 from the Old Testament, with lyrics stating:
Bono has occasionally expressed his Christianity in previous interviews, as have his bandmates.
In 1985, U2 guitarist the Edge, told Star Hits, “People seem to think Christians are incredibly pious, arrogant, superior individuals, but that’s not true at all – I’m a very normal, very real person.”
Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. told Time magazine in 1987: “I am a Christian and not ashamed of that. But trying to explain my beliefs, our beliefs, takes away from it. I have more in common with somebody who doesn’t believe at all than I do with most Christians. I don’t mind saying that.”
U2 has released 12 studio albums and are among the all-time best-selling music artists, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. The group has won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility.
Also in 2005, U2 topped Billboard’s inaugural Money Makers list, bringing in more than $255 million that year, ranking the band ahead of the Rolling Stones, which generated $152 million.
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In a brand-new interview with Focus on the Family set to air Tuesday, the rock star and activist sounded like “Mere Christianity” author C.S. Lewis who argued Jesus was a lunatic, liar or Lord.
“When people say ‘Good teacher,’ ‘Prophet,’ ‘Really nice guy,’ … this is not how Jesus thought of himself,” Bono said. “So, you’re left with a challenge in that, which is either Jesus was who He said He was or a complete and utter nut case.”
“And I believe that Jesus was, you know, the Son of God,” Bono said, according to a transcript provided to Religion News Service. “I understand that for some people and we need to … if I could be so bold, need to be really, really respectful to people who find that ridiculous.”
Bono also discussed one of the most famous biblical characters, King David, who authored many of the Bible’s psalms, which are actually songs in the original Hebrew.
“First of all, David’s a musician so I’m gonna like him,” Bono said.
“What’s so powerful about the psalms are, as well as they’re being gospel and songs of praise, they are also the blues. It’s very important for Christians to be honest with God, which often, you know, God is much more interested in who you are than who you want to be.”
While Bono praised David’s “honest language with God,” Jim Daly of Focus on the Family noted that “sometimes it gets you into hot water with the more orthodox folks, because they see you as edgy, maybe too edgy at times.”
“You’ve gotta be very careful that grace and politeness do not merge into a banality of behavior, where we’re just nice, sort of ‘death by cupcake,’” Bono responded. “Politeness is, you know, is a wonderful thing. Manners are in fact, really important thing. But remember, Jesus didn’t have many manners as we now know.”
U2's 1983 album "War" features the song "40," with lyrics from Psalm 40 of the Bible.
The rock star talked about Scripture openly, including the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus told a man not to wait and bury his father, but to follow Jesus immediately.
When Daly noted, “Seems cold-hearted,” Bono replied: “No, seems punk rock to me. He could see right into that fellow’s heart. He knew he wasn’t coming and he was just, it was pretense. We’ve gotta be a bit more cutting edge, not look to the signs of righteousness. Look to the actions.”
Bono, a native of Dublin, Ireland, says his faith has prompted him to fight disease and poverty with the ONE Campaign, a humanitarian group he founded.
“It’s very annoying following this person of Christ around, because He’s very demanding of your life,” he said, laughing. “You don’t have to go to university and do a Ph.D. to understand this stuff. You just go to the person of Christ.”
Since the early 1980s, U2 has dominated rock music across the planet with many songs that include lyrics about God and His coming kingdom.
On U2′s 1983 album “War,” one of the songs was simply titled “40,” and was based on Psalm 40 from the Old Testament, with lyrics stating:
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay …
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
Bono has occasionally expressed his Christianity in previous interviews, as have his bandmates.
In 1985, U2 guitarist the Edge, told Star Hits, “People seem to think Christians are incredibly pious, arrogant, superior individuals, but that’s not true at all – I’m a very normal, very real person.”
Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. told Time magazine in 1987: “I am a Christian and not ashamed of that. But trying to explain my beliefs, our beliefs, takes away from it. I have more in common with somebody who doesn’t believe at all than I do with most Christians. I don’t mind saying that.”
U2 has released 12 studio albums and are among the all-time best-selling music artists, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. The group has won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility.
Also in 2005, U2 topped Billboard’s inaugural Money Makers list, bringing in more than $255 million that year, ranking the band ahead of the Rolling Stones, which generated $152 million.
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Former American Idol Finalist Danny Gokey Shares Inspiration of New Book
When former "American Idol" finalist, now country music singer, Danny Gokey's first wife Sophia died just a month before he auditioned for the iconic show in 2008, he wanted to wallow in the pain of a loss he thought he would never get over.
"It was almost like, at that point I doubted everything I knew about God, I doubted everything that I've ever walked [spiritually] for because you don't understand that me and Sophia, my first wife, we believed that God was gonna do a miracle and He didn't show up," Gokey told an audience on Sunday.
"It really messed me up on the inside because everything I believed all of a sudden I started questioning," he added. Gokey didn't understand what was happening with his life then because he was in the middle of a story for a book that God had told him he was going to write in 2007.
This fall, Gokey is expected to deliver the book God spoke into his life five years ago titled Hope In Front of Me.
Hope In Front of Me is expected to take readers on a very personal journey into Gokey's loss.
"When I tried out for 'American Idol' it was a month after she (Sophia) passed away. People asked, 'why'd you do that?' Believe me, I didn't want to try out for this show. But I had made a promise to my wife that year that I was going to try out for 'American Idol' and when she passed away, everything inside of my heart said I don't want to try out for the show because I had nothing to say to anybody," Gokey recalled.
"I was so hurt, I wish I could go the next year but if you don't understand my story, is that I was 28 at the time and you only have until 28 years old to try out. So I was placed in a rock and a hard place and little did I know that God was writing my story before I got there. He put me in that place."
"And so I tried out for the show, very broken, very hurt," he continued. "I remember I started going through the 'American Idol' process. I remember when I woke up it felt like this depression came around me, like I was falling in a black hole … I was falling because I had nothing to stand on."
Despite his depression, Gokey soldiered on as he continued advancing on the show, finally making it into Hollywood week. "Hollywood week was probably the most difficult weeks of my depression going through the loss of Sophia. I remember right after Hollywood week, I told God, 'God, I do not want to be on the show. Because I have nothing to say to anybody and I was mad and I was angry," he said.
"I was mad at God and I didn't want to be mad at God. I mean you could accuse me of being a horrible person but that's what I was. And literally, this is what the Lord told me, He said, 'let go,'" noted Gokey.
"He gave me the verse, 'be still and know that I am God.' And I kept hearing it but didn't know what it meant. So I looked it up and saw it in the original Hebrew format that it literally was giving a picture. Sometimes, we hang onto stuff. And sometimes the things that we hang onto are the very things that drag us down."
The word became Gokey's turning point out of depression and put him on the road to recovery and reconciliation. "I remember I sat down on the end of my bed because this thing was destroying me. I sat down on my bed with tears coming from my eyes. I said 'God, I refuse to let this thing destroy me,'" said Gokey who explained that he was literally "hanging onto her casket being buried with her" by holding onto his depression.
Gokey now believes God allowed him to go through what he went through in preparation for writing Hope In Front of Me.
"I'm not trying to be cheesy, but I talk about this in the book, your heart is your real set of eyes and if your heart is poisoned with bitterness you start seeing the whole world through that lens. And the more I started to let it go I had a new look on life," he said.
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"It was almost like, at that point I doubted everything I knew about God, I doubted everything that I've ever walked [spiritually] for because you don't understand that me and Sophia, my first wife, we believed that God was gonna do a miracle and He didn't show up," Gokey told an audience on Sunday.
"It really messed me up on the inside because everything I believed all of a sudden I started questioning," he added. Gokey didn't understand what was happening with his life then because he was in the middle of a story for a book that God had told him he was going to write in 2007.
This fall, Gokey is expected to deliver the book God spoke into his life five years ago titled Hope In Front of Me.
Hope In Front of Me is expected to take readers on a very personal journey into Gokey's loss.
"When I tried out for 'American Idol' it was a month after she (Sophia) passed away. People asked, 'why'd you do that?' Believe me, I didn't want to try out for this show. But I had made a promise to my wife that year that I was going to try out for 'American Idol' and when she passed away, everything inside of my heart said I don't want to try out for the show because I had nothing to say to anybody," Gokey recalled.
"I was so hurt, I wish I could go the next year but if you don't understand my story, is that I was 28 at the time and you only have until 28 years old to try out. So I was placed in a rock and a hard place and little did I know that God was writing my story before I got there. He put me in that place."
"And so I tried out for the show, very broken, very hurt," he continued. "I remember I started going through the 'American Idol' process. I remember when I woke up it felt like this depression came around me, like I was falling in a black hole … I was falling because I had nothing to stand on."
Despite his depression, Gokey soldiered on as he continued advancing on the show, finally making it into Hollywood week. "Hollywood week was probably the most difficult weeks of my depression going through the loss of Sophia. I remember right after Hollywood week, I told God, 'God, I do not want to be on the show. Because I have nothing to say to anybody and I was mad and I was angry," he said.
"I was mad at God and I didn't want to be mad at God. I mean you could accuse me of being a horrible person but that's what I was. And literally, this is what the Lord told me, He said, 'let go,'" noted Gokey.
"He gave me the verse, 'be still and know that I am God.' And I kept hearing it but didn't know what it meant. So I looked it up and saw it in the original Hebrew format that it literally was giving a picture. Sometimes, we hang onto stuff. And sometimes the things that we hang onto are the very things that drag us down."
The word became Gokey's turning point out of depression and put him on the road to recovery and reconciliation. "I remember I sat down on the end of my bed because this thing was destroying me. I sat down on my bed with tears coming from my eyes. I said 'God, I refuse to let this thing destroy me,'" said Gokey who explained that he was literally "hanging onto her casket being buried with her" by holding onto his depression.
Gokey now believes God allowed him to go through what he went through in preparation for writing Hope In Front of Me.
"I'm not trying to be cheesy, but I talk about this in the book, your heart is your real set of eyes and if your heart is poisoned with bitterness you start seeing the whole world through that lens. And the more I started to let it go I had a new look on life," he said.
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Monday, June 24, 2013
'Skywire Live': Nik Wallenda Talked to God While Crossing Grand Canyon on Tightrope
In "Skywire Live With Nik Wallenda," which aired yesterday, June 23, on Discovery Channel, fans who saw high-wire walker Nik Wallenda stride carefully and successfully on a two-inch-thick cable 1,500 feet in the air over Arizona's Colorado River Gorge, not far from the Grand Canyon, heard what amounted to a 22-minute prayer.
Before the walk, Wallenda and his family prayed with noted preacher Joel Osteen. Then, wearing no safety harness and buffeted by powerful winds up on the wire, the 34-year-old husband and father of three spoke occasionally to his own father via an earpiece, but spent most of the rest of his time praising and thanking Jesus Christ, asking help with the swaying wire and to stay calm during the traverse.
Speaking to Zap2it before the walk, Wallenda - who also has released an autobiography, called "Balance: A Story of Faith, Family and Life on the Line" - talks about the role of faith in his life and career.
"Faith plays a huge role in my life," Wallenda says. "In my career, other than it is a huge piece of my life, I don't feel like it plays a huge role in my career. One of the questions I get often is, 'Are you testing God when you walk the wire?' Well, my answer to that is, 'No, to be testing God would be to get on the wire and have no training, no experience whatsoever.'
"I believe God's given me a unique talent, but it's up to me to train properly and prepare properly. I'm not stuck up there because of Him."
Asked if there is a spiritual component to being up in the air, Wallenda says, "There is. There is. You're in a place where no one's ever -- people say, 'How do you stay calm?' 'Often, I talk to God,' I say, 'and that keeps me calm. Who else am I going to talk to up there?' Very often, I'm not connected to my dad or reporters. I have a conversation with God."
"I feel like there's a will for all of our lives, and the most religious people in the world can be killed tomorrow. Was that because they weren't religious enough? No. When it's your time, it's your time. That's just the reality.
"In my opinion, not to get too religious, if God wanted us to be robots, we would be robots. We all have our own will and make our own choices."
The stakes couldn’t have been higher on June 23, when Nik, 34, walked a quarter-mile across the Grand Canyon, almost 1,500 feet above ground. The high-wire act had stars like Kaley Cuoco, Phillip Phillips and more biting their nails, and exuding extreme joy and relief when Nik successfully crossed the gap after a tense 23-minute journey.
The Big Bang Theory star could not believe that Nik actually ran the last bit of the wire act. “Did he just ‘jog it in’?!?!” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Phillip was just happy to see him make it to the finish line: “Wow! Absolutely amazing!!! Congrats @NikWallenda ! #skywire #toldyounottolookdown,” he wrote.
And Suze Orman said, “Now that was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.”
Nik also got some love from the sports world. Eric LeGrand, the football player who was paralyzed during a college game but has inspirationally worked regain movement in his shoulders, actually found inspiration in Nik: “Wow he did it. Live your dreams but only once don’t try that mess again lol congrats Nick. I’m good crossing in a plane #skywire,” Eric tweeted.
And baseball player Bryce Harper wrote, “Good for him! So happy for him! To God be the glory! #SKYWIRE.”
Before the walk, Wallenda and his family prayed with noted preacher Joel Osteen. Then, wearing no safety harness and buffeted by powerful winds up on the wire, the 34-year-old husband and father of three spoke occasionally to his own father via an earpiece, but spent most of the rest of his time praising and thanking Jesus Christ, asking help with the swaying wire and to stay calm during the traverse.
Speaking to Zap2it before the walk, Wallenda - who also has released an autobiography, called "Balance: A Story of Faith, Family and Life on the Line" - talks about the role of faith in his life and career.
"Faith plays a huge role in my life," Wallenda says. "In my career, other than it is a huge piece of my life, I don't feel like it plays a huge role in my career. One of the questions I get often is, 'Are you testing God when you walk the wire?' Well, my answer to that is, 'No, to be testing God would be to get on the wire and have no training, no experience whatsoever.'
"I believe God's given me a unique talent, but it's up to me to train properly and prepare properly. I'm not stuck up there because of Him."
Asked if there is a spiritual component to being up in the air, Wallenda says, "There is. There is. You're in a place where no one's ever -- people say, 'How do you stay calm?' 'Often, I talk to God,' I say, 'and that keeps me calm. Who else am I going to talk to up there?' Very often, I'm not connected to my dad or reporters. I have a conversation with God."
"I feel like there's a will for all of our lives, and the most religious people in the world can be killed tomorrow. Was that because they weren't religious enough? No. When it's your time, it's your time. That's just the reality.
"In my opinion, not to get too religious, if God wanted us to be robots, we would be robots. We all have our own will and make our own choices."
The stakes couldn’t have been higher on June 23, when Nik, 34, walked a quarter-mile across the Grand Canyon, almost 1,500 feet above ground. The high-wire act had stars like Kaley Cuoco, Phillip Phillips and more biting their nails, and exuding extreme joy and relief when Nik successfully crossed the gap after a tense 23-minute journey.
The Big Bang Theory star could not believe that Nik actually ran the last bit of the wire act. “Did he just ‘jog it in’?!?!” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Phillip was just happy to see him make it to the finish line: “Wow! Absolutely amazing!!! Congrats @NikWallenda ! #skywire #toldyounottolookdown,” he wrote.
And Suze Orman said, “Now that was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.”
Nik also got some love from the sports world. Eric LeGrand, the football player who was paralyzed during a college game but has inspirationally worked regain movement in his shoulders, actually found inspiration in Nik: “Wow he did it. Live your dreams but only once don’t try that mess again lol congrats Nick. I’m good crossing in a plane #skywire,” Eric tweeted.
And baseball player Bryce Harper wrote, “Good for him! So happy for him! To God be the glory! #SKYWIRE.”
Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton and Alex Kendrick Star in Moms' Night Out
Principal photography has wrapped on Moms' Night Out, a film that celebrates real family life—where everything can go wrong and still turn out all right.
“We wanted to make a film that the whole family could enjoy,” said Kevin Downes, the film's producer who also acts in the movie.
In the film, all Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours—what could go wrong?
“I feel like everything in the script happened at my home last week,” said Jon Erwin, who co-wrote Moms' Night Out with Andrea Nasfell and co-directed with his brother Andrew. “It’s a light-hearted look at the joys and challenges moms and dads face today, giving all the time kids need while still finding time for each other.”
Coming to theaters in 2014, Moms' Night Out chronicles one night out gone awry, as three harried moms, their husbands, a sister-in-law with a misplaced baby, a tattoo parlor owner, a motorcycle gang and one bewildered cabbie learn to embrace the beautiful mess called parenting.
“We grew up watching great family comedies,” said Andrew Erwin. “We felt it was time to bring the genre of clean family comedy back to the big screen, and we brought a powerful comedic cast with us to do it.”
Moms' Night Out also loops in a little wholesome passion between a wife and her husband, played by Grey’s Anatomy’s Sarah Drew as Allyson and Sean Astin as Sean.
"I love that the film is not just a comedy but also a love story between Allyson and Sean,” Drew said.
Moms' Night Out spotlights the unfulfilled expectations and serial self-doubts many moms feel . . . then reassures us that the key is raising kids in a loving home.
“I’m excited to be a part of the group of women in a comedy that is reality for families everywhere,” said Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle star, two-time Emmy winner and mom of four Patricia Heaton from the MNO set. “I’ve had so many people come up to me over the years and say, ‘Your show got us through a very difficult time in our family and raised our spirits.’ I think sometimes in a family the only way to diffuse a tense situation is to make a joke or mock yourself or the situation. At some point you just have to laugh about it. That’s what we hope will happen with Moms' Night Out.”
Heaton is an executive producer on the film along with her husband, David Hunt, who joins her onscreen as well, playing a local cabbie caught up in the fun.
This second feature film from Andrew and Jon Erwin follows on the buzz created by their 2012 hit October Baby that surprised the film industry with a No. 8 box office debut against big-budget competition and drew page 1-A coverage in The New York Times.
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