And one more thing: Carrie Underwood has connection to “Voyage of the Dawn Treader”
How is the upcoming “Chronicles of Narnia” movie linked to Oklahoma native and country music superstar Carrie Underwood? 
Well, a new single by Underwood will be featured on the “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” soundtrack to be released in November. That tidbit of news comes from the Facebook page for the “Voyage” film set for a Dec. 10 premiere. 
According to the movie’s Facebook page, Underwood’s song will be featured on the movie’s end credits. The song is called “There’s A Place for Us” according to David Hodges (He was one of the co-writers with Underwood and Hillary Lindsey), one of the people related to the project, and is to be released as an iTunes exclusive on Nov. 16.
The soundtrack is set for release on Dec. 7, according to Amazon.com.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Thursday hodgepodge
Thursday is one of those days that always gets too busy before I even realize what’s going on.
Perhaps it’s because Friday is just around the corner.
Whatever the deal is, I find that on Thursdays I can take a little more time than usual to search out some of the religion news of the week that you may or may not have read about:
1. Just found out that Johnny Cash is to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Here’s a link for more information about Cash and his connection to gospel music: Cash and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
2. The Washington Post’s “On Faith” blog has launched a new video series about religion and politics. The series discusses “The God Vote” in its first foray into faith and politics: “The God Vote” video.
3. I’m an avid fan of ”Top Chef,” the BRAVO reality TV series that pits chefs against one another (all in good fun) for cash and prizes. Just found out that Gail Simmons, the host and consulting producer of the new “Top Chef: Just Desserts” is Jewish. I saw her name on the Forward 50, an annual list released today by the Forward, a national weekly Jewish newspaper covering current, national and international news. The weekly put together the list of 50 men and women who the editors have chosen as people who have made a significant impact on the Jewish story in the past year.
According to Forward, Simmons speaks passionately about her mother’s Jewish cooking though her love of Jewish food is rarely evident on “Top Chef.”
Here’s a link to the list: Forward 50.
Incidently the list includes an additional two people who the editors think might surprise some folks. I featured them a few months ago on this blog. Look at the list to find out who they are and why they made the Jewish weekly’s list.
4. This isn’t news yet, or at least the story has made it to the newsstands or computer screen just yet, but it’s coming. Look for information about the new pastor of Crossroads Church in Saturday’s Oklahoman. The Rev. Terry Barriss was elected pastor by the south Oklahoma City congregation in September. Longtime Oklahoma City residents may remember that Crossroads Church is also known as Crossroads Cathedral, one of the first megachurches in the metro. It was founded by the late Rev. Dan Sheaffer, who died in September.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: Marvin Sapp
TULSA — Gospel recording artist Marvin Sapp (pictured) is set to headline the Most Powerful Voices Gospel Concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis.
The concert is part of a seven-city tour featuring Sapp, Myron Butler and Levi, Ted Winn and Brian Courtney Wilson. The event is sponsored locally by St. John Hospital. 
The Most Powerful Voices Gospel Tour is designed as an evening of empowering music fused with healthy lifestyle messages. It is part of the American Heart Association’s Power to End Stroke campaign to educate the black community about its increased risk for stroke.
Sapp’s 2007 hit single “Never Would Have Made It” held the No. 1 spot on gospel radio for nearly one year. His latest hit single is “The Best in Me” from his 2010 album “Here I Am.”
Cost is $20. People who purchase their tickets before Oct. 27 will receive $5 off the ticket price.
To purchase the tickets by phone, call (918) 495-6000; online at www.MabeeCenter.com or in person at the Mabee Center Box Office.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
‘Glee’ gets religion
If you are a die-hard Gleek, you know that last night’s “Glee” episode tackled the weighty subject of spirituality?
What did you think about the show?
Let me know by posting a comment in this blog’s comment section or send me an e-mail at chinton@opubco.com.
And yes, just so you know, I would probably be catergorized as a Gleek. I sang in the school choir in middle school and high school, took show choir my senior year (lots of singing and dancing — at the same time!) and I have sung in the church choir for many years. We didn’t have a Glee club at my high school, but I identify with the characters on the show … well, some of them.
Here’s what some other folks are saying about last night’s “Glee” episode:
USA Today’s Faith & Reason blog: “Glee mashes up God, music, religion — and Satanic Sue”
The Atlantic: “Glee gets religion … with mixed results”
The TV Column, The Washington Post: “Glee tackles religion, swallows grilled cheese”
The Deacon’s Bench, Beliefnet.com: “Don’t stop believing: Glee gets religion”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Israel Houghton coming to Oklahoma
Contemporary Christian recording artist Israel Houghton is set to perform in Oklahoma City on Oct. 5 and in Tulsa on Oct. 6. 
Houghton, who just released his new album, “Love People. Love God,” will be at a night of worship set for 7 to 9 p.m. at LifeChurch.tv, 2001 NW 178. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
He will be at Victory Christian Center, 7700 S Lewis, in Tulsa at 7 p.m. Oct. 6.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: Amy Grant
Contemporary Christian recording artist Amy Grant will perform in concert Oct. 28 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. 
Grant brings her “Pieces of Our Lives” tour to the city to benefit Compassion International’s Leadership Development Program. The program is designed to take young people out of poverty by equipping them with a college education and empowering them to return home as leaders who can influence their own families, churches, communities and nations.
A “Pieces of Our Lives” Art Gallery Reception will open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. The concert will be limited to 300 guests and some items from the art gallery will be available for auction after the concert.
Tickets are $250 for the concert and art gallery reception, meet and greet with Grant, an exclusive gift book and preferred seating at the concert.
Tickets for the concert only are $150.
All tickets may be purchased by calling (615) 829-8472 or online at www.PiecesOfOurLives.com. Special prices are available for groups.
Oklahoma City is one of only 10 cities across the country being targeted for the tour.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
More on “Eat Pray Love”
OK, judging from everyone’s comments on the posting about Julia Roberts’ conversion to Hinduism, I’d say I struck a nerve.
I wanted to let you know that I’m working on a story about Roberts’ conversion and what local Hindu leaders think about that and her new movie “Eat Pray Love.” Specifically I am asking them if they think the movie has made people more curious about Hindu faith beliefs.
So stay tuned.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Concert alert: NewFire, 33 Miles, Tenth Avenue North and more
Chris Tomlin and tobyMac started the Christian concert summer season off with a bang last week.
Good news is there are more concerts coming.
Contemporary Christian rock band Tenth Avenue North (pictured) will perform at the State Fair on Sept. 20. That info was just released. 
Here are more concerts, many of them coming to an arena near you soon:
The contemporary Christian duo NewFire is making their way across the state in a series of concerts. I’ve listed several here.
NewFire
July 4, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Cushing;
July 11, Interactive Ministries, Sapulpa;
Aug. 8, Lakeside Church of God, Norman;
Aug. 29, First Baptist Church, Newkirk
–
Food for the Hungry Block Party with 33 Miles, Aaron Shust, Among the Thirsty and NewFire
July 17, 5:30 p.m. Southern Hills Baptist Church, Tulsa. Tickets: $5 at the door.
–
Lincoln Brewster (pictured) with Leeland and Group 1 Crew
Aug. 14, Christian Family Day at Frontier City.
–
Stay tuned — I’ll share information on other concerts as I receive it.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Miley Cyrus: From bubbly tween star to video vamp?
Writing about Disney star Miley Cyrus (pictured at right) is a bit surreal for me.
My daughter grew up watching Cyrus as “Hannah Montana” and she still hasn’t quite forgiven me for never taking her to see the singer when she appeared in concert several times here in Oklahoma.
So when I got an e-mail news release about Dannah Gresh (pictured below) and her concern about Cyrus’ latest music video, I was immediately intrigued. I had written a story about Gresh and her “Secret Keeper Girl” ministry tour for young girls and their moms when the tour stopped in Tulsa last fall.
Here’s the thing: Gresh said she has tried to stay positive about Cyrus for many years and even wrote that she was a good role model in her new book that is set for a September release. But in our recent interview, Gresh told me that she stopped the presses in order to include her updated opinion of the megastar after watching the “Can’t Be Tamed” video.
Gresh said she’s concerned about the “violently sexual” nature of the music video. It shows a provacatively dressed Cyrus dancing and interacting suggestively with male and female dancers.
Rock and Worship Roadshow Revealed
As promised, I thought I would share more information about the Rock and Worship Roadshow headed to Oklahoma. The concert featuring several contemporary Christian recording artists is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at downtown Oklahoma City’s Ford Center, and then move on to Tulsa’s BOK Center on Saturday. Cost is $10 at the door.
Here are some facts you should know:
1. This is the second annual roadshow. Last year, more than 170,000 fans attended the Rock and Worship Roadshow at cities across the country.
2. The roadshow was created by MercyMe (pictured). “We are so excited to be back for this tour with such an incredible group of artists. We’re going to have a great time,” MercyMe’s Bart Millard said in a news release.
3. The tour is dedicated to a charitable purpose. The tour hopes to help children with juvenile diabetes through “Imagine a Cure,” a nonprofit organization that raises awareness. Also the concert hopes to raise awareness about Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry.
4. Sidewalk Prophets and Remedy Drive will perform 40 minutes before the show’s scheduled start in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. That’s incentive to get there early.
———
And just in case you forgot, here’s the lineup for the roadshow: MercyMe, the David Crowder Band, Family Force Five, Fee, Francesca Battistelli, Remedy Drive and Sidewalk Prophets.
For more information, visit www.rockandworshiproadshow.com.
