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
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
Call for fasting causes Passover concern
An Army chaplain is being criticized for calling a day of prayer and fasting today, the first day of Passover.
The Religion News Service reports that Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, a Southern Baptist and Army Chief of Chaplains, issued his call for prayer and fasting in response to the rising suicide rates among soldiers.
Last year, the RNS reported, the Army reported the highest suicide rate since record-keeping began in 1980.
“I therefore call the Chaplaincy to a Day of Prayer and Fasting, in keeping with your religious traditions, to be observed on 8 April 2009 that the united cry of our Corps will be heard and answered regarding the protection, preservation, and peace for our Soldiers and Families,” Carver said in his proclamation, which was issued March 2.
The RNS reported that Carver told Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention’s official news agency, that “April 8 is a Wednesday and prayer meeting night for Southern Baptists, so we really encourage not only Baptists but all local churches to pray for the military.”
The Religion News Service pointed out that Carver, as chief of chaplains, has oversight of Army chaplains of all faiths, including Jewish rabbis.
The news service said dozens of Jewish soldiers and chaplains have filed complaints with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a watchdog group that advocates religious neutrality in the military. Mikey Weinstein, president of the group, told the RNS that there has been a “tsunami” of complaints against the Day of Prayer, and believes the conflict with Passover is inexcusable.
“The fact that this would fall on this same day is not just wrong or bad, but unforgivable, and Carver should be severely disciplined,” Weinstein said.
Weinstein’s group is currently suing the Department of Defense for a “pernicious and pervasive pattern and practice of unconstitutional rape of the precious religious freedoms” of those in the military, and the group believes the Day of Prayer is just the latest example, the RNS reported.
The Jewish holiday of Passover begins at sundown. It commemorates the Israelites exodus from Egypt. A seder, a ceremonial meal traditionally held during Passover, is typically held on the first and second nights of the holiday.
(PHOTO above taken by Jaconna Aguirre, The Oklahoman)
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Me and Mack
Talking to author William Paul Young for our recent interview about “The Shack,” I couldn’t wait to ask the question that had been on my mind since I finished the book: How much of the main character, Mackenzie “Mack” Allen Philips, was crafted from William Paul Young’s own personality, life history and testimony?
I wasn’t surprised when Young said that the character is a lot like himself. What did intrique me was exactly what parts of Mack’s persona came from the author.
Young said his family has known death, but nothing like the tragedy that envelopes Mack and his family. However, Young said things like the camping trip to Wallowa Lake and the Multnomah Princess story, real legend, are aspects of his own life that he brought to Mack’s story. Young said the story reads so real that two forensics detectives once called him looking for the case files on the Ladykiller.
Obviously the question of how much of Mack’s story is Young’s story has another, more sensitive layer to it. It’s obvious to readers that Mack experienced some sort of trauma in his childhood that impacts the way he views “Papa” — God. It’s also obvious that Mack learns much about forgiveness and redemption during his visit to the shack. I believe that Young will likely share his testimony related to those issues in his presentations in Tulsa (April 2) and Enid (April 4-5).
Meanwhile, here are more excerpts from my recent interview with Young:
Q: What were your thoughts when you started getting the initial e-mails from people who wanted to meet Mack after reading “The Shack”?
A: “I was blown away. I like the book but I didn’t have any idea that it would resonate like this. You get close to something and you don’t see it like other people see it. It just literally surprised me in every sense of the word and it continues to do that. It’s very surreal.”
Q: Are you working on another book?
A: “Yes. Kim’s (Young’s wife) already told me what she wants. I have some fiction that I’m working on but the next major piece will be sort of a story form narrative, autobiographical piece: What’s the pain, what’s the story, where did this book (”The Shack”) come from. I have a very odd background and history. MacKenzie’s weekend in the shack represents 11 years of my life.”
Q: How has your life changed since “The Shack” was published?
A: “Nothing that matters has changed. Everything that mattered to me was in place before I wrote the story, so the story hasn’t added to my significance. I don’t care about fame and all that stuff. I care about relationship with Jesus. I care about my relationship with my wife and my kids and my friends and I care about living inside the grace of one day. It’s changed that I don’t work three jobs anymore. It’s changed that we are in an environment that is very different than it was a year and a half ago because we get exposed to people’s stories constantly; stories that are so full of redemption, transformation and pain. That continues to just soften you on the one side and tear your heart out on the other and gives cause for rejoicing.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Feast or fundraiser? Church offers both for Lent
Christ the King Catholic Church has come up with a fundraiser designed with the Lenten fast in mind.
Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, the 40 days before Easter Sunday.
Christ the King is selling Lenten enchilada dinners from 3 to 6 p.m. today and Friday, April 3. The dinners include 12 cheese enchiladas, rice, beans, chips and salsa. Cost is $20 per order and folks interested in the Mexican fare can pick their orders up at the church in drive-thru fashion. The church is at 8005 Dorset Drive in Nichols Hills.
All proceeds benefit the church’s Peru Mission Trip Maintenance/Expenses Fund.
For more information, call the church at 842-1481.
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Meat-less recipes for Lent, courtesy of Humane Society
Many Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Friday’s during Lent.
The Humane Society of the United States offers meat- and dairy-free recipes on its Web site.
A message on the site reminds those who fast thatchoosing meat-less meals during Lent “is not only a symbol of self-sacrifice but is a means to proactively help millions of animals who suffer on factory farms in the United States each day.”
For meat-less recipes from the Humane Society’s kitchen, click here: Veggie recipes for Lent. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Leaders offer Lenten reflections
Read what religious leaders in Oklahoma and others are saying about Lent:
– Read the Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran’s remarks about Lent, go to the Sooner Catholic Online: The liturgical season of Lent. Beltran is archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. – The Rev. Robert Hayes Jr., bishop of the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference, discusses the Lenten season in his recent online column: Bishop Hayes on Lent. – The Rev. David Nehrenz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Norman had this to say: “Our Epiphany Light — Jesus!.”
– The Rev. Mark McAdow, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City, blogged about Lent … or ist it lint?: Lent or Lint.
– Father Hamilton at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kingfisher offered general Lenten comments: Time for Lent.
– A Lenten Devotional Booklet is offered on the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma’s Web site. To read the devotional, created by Daughters of the King at St. John’s Episocpal Church in Tulsa, go to the diocese’s Web site: Lenten Devotional.
– The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers information about Lent information on a Web site: Lent.
(PHOTOS: From left to right, the Rev. Mark McAdow, the Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran and the Rev. Robert Hayes Jr.)
Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Hispanic Christians plan prayer vigils
Officials with the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders recently announced that they plan to hold monthly prayer vigils on Capitol Hill with a focus on immigration reform.
Specically, the group said the prayer vigils are being held in the hopes of spurring Congress to pass an immigration reform bill.
According to the Religion News Service, leaders from the group joined with Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., to urge the government to stop deporting illegal immigrants and focus on more pressing security threats.
“Go after those who are a threat, but leave our families alone until this Congress, and very importantly, this president, fulfills his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform, so that we don’t have these problems anymore,” the Rev. Miguel Gutierrez, president of the national coalition, said.
The RNS reports that Gutierrez said the prayer vigils will continue once a month, plus town hall meetings and legislative hearings will be held across the country by the Hispanic Congressional Caucus to collect petitions and gather testimonies about what Gutierrez called a “broken immigration system.”
Interfaith family survey
InterfaithFamily.com wants to know what interfaith families are doing for Passover and Easter.The two holidays will coincide this year. The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover, begins at sundown April 8. The Christian holiday of Easter is on April 12.
Interfaith families can fill out InterfaithFamily.com’s survey at Passover-Easter Survey by March 3. InterfaithFamily.com offers resources and services for interfaith families exploring Jewish life.
Survey participants will be eligible to win a $250 American Express giftcard.
The winner of the drawing will be announced March 17. InterfaithFamily.com will announce the results of the survey in late March. 
For more Passover and Easter resources, check out othe Web site’s Passover and Easter Resource Page.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
On TV: The Last Templar
“The Last Templar,” a four-hour mini-series set for 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 and Monday, Jan. 26 on NBC, might be of interest to people familiar with the history of the templars.
This is not an endorsement, simply an update.
According to NBC’s Web site, the templar knights were a wealthy military force, serving as protectors of Christian pilgrims who traveled to the Holy Land in the Middle Ages.
The templar knights were said to be about nine in number, according to templar history.com. The men gathered together after the First Crusade (1095-1099) and were lead by Hughes de Payens. They offered their help to the Patriarch of Jeruselam and had the mandate of protecting Christians attempting to visit shrines sacred to their faith in the Holy Land, according to the site.
It will be interesting to see how TV translates author Raymond Khoury’s book “The Last Templar” to the small screen.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
