April 23 Today’s Prayer
Your words are sweeter than honey. May Your praise ever be on our lips. May we always proclaim Your goodness. Amen.
Catholics launch new initiative fitting for Earth Day
It’s Earth Day and the nation’s Catholic community has launched a new initiative that asks participants to take a special St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor.
The partners and sponsors of the new Catholic Climate Covenant include the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, Catholic Relief services, the National Catholic Education Association, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Other participating groups include the Franciscan Action Network, National Council of Catholic Women, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, National Federation of Priests Councils and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
In taking the St. Francis Pledge, Catholics promise to:
– Pray and reflect on the duty to care for God’s creation and the poor and vulnerable;
– Learn about and educate others on both the reality of climate change and its moral dimensions;
– Assess their participation –as individuals and organizations — in contributing to climate change (i.e. consumption and conservation)
– Act to change their choices and behaviors contributing to climate change and;
– Advocate Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact the poor and vulnerable.
Before Easter, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change sent resource packets including the pledge to all of the 17,000 Catholic parishes and 6,300 Catholic elementary schools in America.
“This is not just one more environmental message or one more plea to serve those in need but an urgent call and a different message: how does our Catholic community and our nation care for those most affected by impacts and remedies of climate change and reduce harmful behaviors impacting God’s gift of creation?” Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, honorary chairman of the covenant, said in a news release.
A Web site has been set up to offer concrete help in carrying out the pledge. Log on to www.catholicclimatecovenant.org for more information.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Gospel American Idol
I’ve been a fan of the reality show “American Idol” for a while now, though I don’t get to see it as often as I used to.
I thought Gospel music fans might be interested to know that a new documentary special called “From Idol to Inspiration” is scheduled to air on the Gospel Music Channel at 6 p.m. (Central) Thursday, right before the 40th Annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards.
The documentary is a production of David Lewis Productions and will explore how “American Idol” exposed the world to Gospel/Christian performers and contestants who flourished on the show. Some of those contestants with Gospel/Christian music backgrounds have included Jordin Sparks, Mandisa (pictured above), Phil Stacey (pictured below), George Huff, Chris Sligh, Jennifer Hudson, Melinda Doolittle and others.
Some of those performers share their stories along with several journalists who cover the program. 
“God has full control over everything and things happen for a reason so I lived that very much so during ‘American Idol’ … just knowing ‘OK, if I’m here another week, there’s got to be a reason because I am scared out of my mind!,’” Doolittle said.
” I hope Jesus was dancing when I was singing on ‘American Idol’”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
April 22 Today’s Prayer
Lord, we repent for our rebellion, our obstinancy and stubborn pride. Forgive us. Open our ears so we may hear Your voice. Amen.
Much ado about crowns and the (Miss USA) crownless
I have to admit that I’ve been intrigued by the furor over Miss California USA’s comments during Sunday’s Miss USA pageant.
Pageant judge Perez Hilton asked Miss California, Carrie Prejean (pictured below), whether she thought other states should follow Vermont’s example in legalizing same-sex marriage. As part of her answer, Prejean said she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Hilton was apparently outraged. After the show, he ranted that Prejean’s answer was divisive and he called her a b—-. According to several reports, he apologized for calling her that name, but then said he meant to describe her in another crude way.
Prejean was featured on NBC’s Today show this morning, where she told host Matt Lauer that she stood by her remarks because they are part of her faith beliefs.
What’s interesting is not only has Hilton lambasted her, but the director of the Miss California Pageant program, Shannon Moakler, has apologized for Prejean’s comments to the Miss USA Pageant program, and reportedly sent out a tweet through Twitter that the contestant’s remarks were exactly why they have judges to help find the person who will represent all people.
The interesting thing to me is that Prejean gave her opinion, not a politically correct one, but her opinion, just the same. Some folks would applaud that.
The other interesting aspect in all this is that the pageant judge felt inclined to call the contestant (who was named runner-up to the winner, Miss North Carolina) a crude name … and then later described her in a more crude manner .
His sense of outrage seemed a bit dramatic given the circumstances as I watched his video tirade shown on the Today show.
What is your opinion about this mini-calamity? Is it much ado about nothing ?
What do you think about the remarks that both Prejean and Hilton have made?
Let me know and let’s get the discussion started.
Oh, and there’s an interesting side note to this. Hilton told Today’s Matt Lauer that Prejean should have known that she might get such a politically stoked question because she is from the state that just voted for Proposition 8. Proposition 8 was a measure banning same-sex marriage and approved by California voters in November 2008 . Hilton said Prejean should have answered in a less divisive manner.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
April 21 Today’s Prayer
Where You go, Lord, may we go. Where Your spirit leads, may we follow, turning right or left but keeping our focus on You. Amen.
April 20 Today’s Prayer
If we would behold Your glory, we would fall facedown and worship You. May we each know this experience. Amen.
She’s playing our song: “Stand Together”
Oklahoma native and contemporary Christian recording artist Jami Smith (pictured below) is offering her new song “Stand Together” to churches, hoping congregations will help spread her message of love conquering hat through faith.
Smith is to sing “Stand Together” at today’s 14th Annual Remembrance Ceremony at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Musuem, 620 N Harvey. The ceremony is set for 8:55 a.m.
Smith, known widely as a worship leader, wrote the song after being inspired by the symbols of faith that help so many to heal after tragedies such as the Oklahoma City bombing.
“This is an act that affected an entire community, and together in faith, we have shown that there is far more good in this world than evil,” Kari Watkins, Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum executive director, said in a news release.
“Stand Together really does encapsulate the hope and the resilience this community has shown a nation in the face of terrorism. It celebrates love and unity and the power of standing together — united.”
“Stand Together” is available for download at www.jamismith.com for 99 cents per download. Churches can also request lyrics to the song. Sheet music is also being created for worship leaders to play for their congregations. Half of the proceeds for each download of the song on www.jamismith.com will benefit the memorial.
“It was really important for me to capture the faith and prayer and loving thoughts of the thousands of lives that are changed by their visit to the Memorial,” Smith said in a news release.
“You can see it in the things that are left at the fence and in the notes and comments from visitors that our community, in its faith, has shown the world God’s grace through the lessons of the memorial.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
April 19 Today’s Prayer
Lord, bring us peace and healing. May there be an end to war and strife. May we learn how to live in harmony. Amen.
Manley is surely smiling today
Everyone I’ve ever talked to who knew Scott Manley (pictured at right) has always had good things to say about him.
Not just good things, great things. They fairly gushed about Manley, who was a longtime Oklahoma ministry leader and founder of Cornerstone Assistance Network.
He was very passionate about ministry and thus he nurtured ShareFest OKC accordingly.
Manley passed away in January but ShareFest, area churches’ one-day community service blitz, continues on today.
He’s surely smiling as he sees thousands of church volunteers fan out into the metro area to perform service projects in the surrounding community (See www.ShareFestOKC.org).
I don’t think it’s a stretch of imagination for me to say that. I only have to think about Manley’s comments during previous interviews to know that he was proud of churches participating in the annual community service effort. He said it was a way for churches to show the love of Jesus in many, many ways.
Here’s what he said:
Manley speaking of ShareFest in 2008: “You have to show the ‘good news’ before you preach the ‘good news. If people can see Jesus, if they can see the love demonstrated, then they can better understand when you start talking about it.”
In 2007: ”The Gospel has two components — word and deed. The mandate is on the church to touch the people who are on Christ’s heart, which I think would be the widows, the orphans and poor and afflicted.”
In 2005: It’s a way, I think, of highlighting what the churches in the area are doing, so it’s like everyone getting their lights together to shine in the darkness.”
I doubt anyone could have said it any better than that.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
