Acappella, which just gave a free concert at Oklahoma Christian University, is participating in a contest that has them now in a tight race with a group from the University of Connecticut to win it all.

The group with the most votes wins and people can online vote once per day through Oct. 19.

Here’s where you can link to view Acappella’s audition video and vote for the group, if you so choose: Acappella

Members of Acappella are Zac George, Malcolm Himes, Anthony Lancaster, Wes McKinzie and Raymond Mobley. McKinzie, who is OC’s director of communications/marketing, said the group’s tech director Justin Elliott, does vocal percussion on the video. McKinzie also said he and Elliott and the other four men mentioned here are OC alumni or current students.  

I did a Sept. 29 story featuring Acappella’s founder Keith Lancaster discussing the group’s beginnings.  The members of Acappella have changed over the years but many of the group’s former members participated in the Oct. 7 concert at OC as “Acappella Classic.” Lancaster said the men who currently make up the group are doing a great job reaching a whole new generation with a capella music. 

One of my favorite songs by the group is “Rescue,” written by Lancaster. He told me that particular song seemed to resonate with many people.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

Oklahoma Celebrate Recovery Inside/Out Ministries will host its second annual Celebrate Freedom Car, Truck & Bike Show at 10 a.m. at the church, 301 NE 27. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

The event is being held to raise money for purchase biles, support materials and workbooks for Oklahoma Celebrate Recovery Inside/Out ministries, ministries that reach out to individuals in prison and those who need assistance and recovery support after being released from prison.

This is an open class show for all cars, trucks and motorcycles. Show fees are of $20.00 per entry. 

For more information, call Jeff Aynes at 204-6961 or email celebrate_freedom@yahoo.com.  Also, visit the Celebrate Freedom Car Show page onn Facebook.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Groeschel is founder and senior pastor of Edmond-based LifeChurch.tv. He and I recently discussed his latest book “Soul Detox” and he was candid about the book’s premise and some of his own life situations.

“Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World (Zondervan, $19.99) hit bookstore shelves on May 1.

I’ve included more of our interview in this posting, in question-and-answer format:

Q: In “Soul Detox,” you say that the challenge to live clean goes out to all Christians, even those who obey the rules of the faith. Why do you think it’s hard for Christians to recognize their own spiritual toxins?

A: Well, I think we have a limitless capacity for self deception. Someone said “We don’t know what we don’t know” and just like I’m colorblind and so I have a real hard time with certain colors. Just because I can’t see them, doesn’t mean that there’s not a difference or a truth to it. I think just because we can’t see that there’s something hurting us, doesn’t mean that there’s not something hurting us. And so as Christians, I think we can blend into what’s going on in the world and in culture sometimes without even realizing it and just because everyone else says “Hey, this isn’t a big deal,” I’m trying to raise the question “Is this a big deal?” Sometimes the answer is “Yes, it is” and we need to deal with the things that are harmful.

Q: You make an argument that we accept as normal things that our harmful to our souls. One example of that is when you call worry a sin. I think a lot of people will be interested in that. Can you talk about that?

A: Someone said “Worry is distrusting the promises and power of God” and I think that is a good definition of it. One of the things I’m trying to help readers realize is that what we worry about or what we fear really reveals two things. First of all, it reveals what we value the most. For example if we’re worried about our kids’ safety, we value our kids. If we worry about financial stability, we value financial stability. But on a deeper level, what we fear reveals what we value the most and, too, it reveals where we trust God the least. If I’m always worried about my kids, I’m not trusting God with my kids. If I’m always worried about financial stability, I’m not trusting God to provide for me. And so what I try to do is get beyond the surface of “Hey, everybody worries” to say that worry is a sign of a deeper spiritual problem that we need to take to God and let Him cleanse. 

Q: As a parent, how do you and your wife keep your children away from these toxins, short of locking them away? As a parent myself, I’ve had that thought. You can’t really do that.

A: No. That’s a great question and a little bit complicated one as well. One, we have to realize there’s so many things in the world that are considered acceptable that in God’s eyes probably aren’t acceptable and so I think it’s about giving our children the wisdom to know and make wise decisions in this world. I think there are some basics that we need to watch out for: help them choose the right friends. Help protect them from the wrong types of influence — wrong movies or going to wrong websites and listening to the wrong types of music. At the same time, we can’t protect them from everything. We can arm them with the ability to say “no” to something that is harmful and then if they are exposed, to learn how to cleanse their mind with God’s word and to think on things that are pure and helpful rather than to dwell on things that are harmful.

Q: Where can “Soul Detox” be purchased?

A: “Soul Detox” is pretty much available at book stores and online. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

OK, I’m not going to do that.

We do have a religion year in review story that will run in Saturday’s Life section.

I said I wasn’t going to do a Top 10 list but I didn’t say I’m not going to offer my list of some of the top religion stories in Oklahoma for 2011. My list likely will include more or less than 10 stories because I don’t want to be confined to the number 10. So it’s not a Top 10 list, right? 

Look for a blog posting with my list (which will be drawn from my opinion)  in the days ahead.

And check out some of those other 2011 lists. Some really are pretty interesting…

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

LIfeChurch.tv’s Stillwater campus at 1917 N Country Club Road will be the site of the Passion University Tour stop at 8 p.m. Oct. 4.

The event will feature worship leaders Charlie Hall (pictured) and Kristian Stanfill, plus a video message by “Passion” founder Louie Giglio (pictured below).    

The university tour is part of a 12-campus tour prepping for “Passion 2012″ set for the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 2-5.  The 2012 event in Atlanta is expected to draw more than 35,000 university-aged adults.

The event is Stillwater aims to bring together students at Oklahoma State University, including those involved with several campus ministries. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

I visited Camp Chaverim, the summer day camp operated at Temple B’nai Israel and coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City. 

I got there just in time for lunch and the youths were being treated to the blintzes with today’s meal.

It’s all because of Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelities.

By tradition, many Jewish families eat dairy products and foods made with dairy products during this time.  This custom is related to the verse in the Torah that says the Lord gave them the land of milk and honey. Besides blintzes, cheesecake and ice cream are favorite treats during Shavuot.

Marcy Price, programs director for the Jewish Federation, coordinates Camp Chaverim each summer. She said the campers will have ice cream sundaes tomorrow in conjunction with Shavuot.

Look for more information on Camp Chaverim in a future edition of The Oklahoman.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The movie tells the true story of young surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack, and her return to surfing afterwards.

Well, in the middle of everything else going on last week, I got a chance to talk with Sarah Hill, the young woman who was Hamilton’s youth ministry leader and friend at North Shore Christian Church in Kauai, Hawaii. 

In “Soul Surfer,” Oklahoma’s own Carrie Underwood portrays Hill.

Hill visited Oklahoma City to speak at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma’s women’s conference  April 15-16 at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center near Davis. The conference was held the same weekend as the Women of Joy conference at the Jim Norick State Fair Arena.

I covered Sarah Palin’s presentation at the  Women of Joy conference and I know there were thousands of women there. I know some of them might not have been able to attend the Baptist conference because of that.

I’m sharing my chat with Hill in Saturday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. I found that she has an interesting story all her own.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor        

The evangelism campaign, started early this year, encourages Oklahoma’s Southern Baptists to share the gospel and their own faith testimony using a familiar and beloved passage of Scripture, John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

To get the app for iPhone, go to the app store on your phone and type in my316 and hit the search button. It will take yo to the My316 app.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

In these days leading up to the game, a “pro-life” ad featuring Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s mother Pam (pictured at right with Tim in a 2009 AP photo) continues to provoke some folks who are angry with CBS for agreeing to give it some air time on Sunday.

That’s right, it hasn’t aired yet but it’s causing a stir.

Several news releases on the topic are being sent out via the Christian Newswire every day. The New York Times has written an opinion piece on the issue and today I learned that  the NFL is being pressured by some “pro-choice” advocacy groups to demand that CBS drop the ad.

Apparently the ad in question is sponsored by the Christian organization Focus on the Family. It reportedly features Pam Tebow telling about her decision not to follow a doctor’s advice to terminate her pregnancy when she was pregnant with son Tim. The doc reportedly gave this advice because of  her difficult pregnancy and illness.

The National Organization for Women is one of the ”pro-choice” group that is incensed that CBS still plans to run the ad.

“Make no mistake about this ad: it’s offensive to women. Yes, it features Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother, who had been advised to have an abortion after a serious illness. Standing alone, it sends the message that all women who give birth are heroes; it sends a message that abortion is always a mistake; and it is insulting to the one in three women in this country who have abortions,” Erin Matson, NOW Action vice president, wrote in a posting on the organization’s Say It Sister blog.

Matson said CBS is accomodating Focus on the Family after previously denying ads from the United Church of Christ which depicted “a welcome environment for same sex couples.”

Meanwhile, several pro-life or anti-abortion organizations, are trying to counter opposition to the ad.

Catholic Families for America has started a petition in favor of the Tebow ad.

“It doesn’t take long for the pro-abortion crowd to mobilized their members so those of us on the pro-life side need to be sure we do the same,” Kevin Roberts, executive director of the Catholic grassroots advocacy group, said in a news release.

What are your thoughts? Should CBS run the ad?

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

Franklin’s concert will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7. The concert is free and will feature guest appearances by local Gospel artist Sean Johnson and Wings of Harmony, a performing arts ensemble.

The tour is in partnership with the American Heart Assocation’s Power to End Stroke initiative. Franklin performed in concert in Tulsa over the summer. An Oklahoma City concert was planned, but officials were working with Franklin’s busy schedule and trying to find an Oklahoma City  location to host the event. Many people had been asking me if a date had been set for the Oklahoma City concert so I’m glad that I can finally give them some facts. 

I just saw Franklin perform at the 2009 Woman Thou Art  Loosed Conference at Bishop T.D. Jake’s church The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. He was, as usual, outstanding. As part of the upcoming health tour, the Grammy Award-winning artist will encourage concert-goers to pledge to take control of their health, reduce their risk of stroke and learn the warning signs of stroke.

Save the date.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor