BCNN 4 Youth

How Cool Are You?

2010-09-05T04:05:27Z

If I could write you a song to make you fall in love,

I would already have you up under my arm.

I used up all of my tricks, I hope that you like this,

But you probably won't, you think you're cooler than me.

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Shh, see I got you all figured out,

You need every one's eyes just to feel seen.

Behind your make up nobody knows who you even are,

Who do you think that you are?

How about you? Ever thought that you were cooler than someone else? At some point in life I think we all have classified groups of people into the "way cool" crowd all the way down to the "LOOOOOSER!" people at the bottom of humanity's scrap heap - right? And isn't it funny how we always compare up the cool chain, not down? We're always focused on the group that we want to move up to in order to further our popularity agenda, instead of down at the groups who apparently aren't worthy of our time and attention.

And that's about the time that God looks down at us and wants to puke...

Why? Because He made everyone the same, and when we endorse and even further the popularity social structure that is on every school campus in America, we become part of the evil that comes out of the "How cool am I? And how can I move up the chain?" mentality?

Did you know that the "who's cool and who's not" mentality started way long before America was even a nation? Over 2000 years ago in Jesus' day, the coolest crowd in his world was actually the religious teachers. They were given these great positions to help people, but instead they let it go their heads and they changed into spiritual bullies - and that earned them a seriously strong rebuke from Jesus:

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best--the sun to warm and the rain to nourish--to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you" (Matthew 5:43-47).

Put simply, Jesus is saying that if you follow Him, you do not play favorites. You do not have an agenda to climb the popularity ladder, and you have permanently dropped out of the "I think I'm cooler than you" way of thinking.

God is singing an unconditional love song to everyone on the planet, and the lyrics tell us that His affections have no exceptions, no exemptions, and no requirements.

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SOURCE: Dare2Share - Greg Stier

If 40 Is the New 30, Is 20 the New Junior High?

2010-09-05T03:52:44Z

Donald Miller offers 7 tips to growing up successfully.]]> A recent article in The New York Times Magazine asks why so many people in their 20s are taking so long to grow up. In the article, Robin Henig proposes:

"It's happening all over, in all sorts of families, not just young people moving back home but also young people taking longer to reach adulthood overall. It's a development that predates the current economic doldrums, and no one knows yet what the impact will be--on the prospects of the young men and women; on the parents on whom so many of them depend; on society, built on the expectation of an orderly progression in which kids finish school, grow up, start careers, make a family and eventually retire to live on pensions supported by the next crop of kids who finish school, grow up, start careers, make a family and on and on. The traditional cycle seems to have gone off course, as young people remain untethered to romantic partners or to permanent homes, going back to school for lack of better options, traveling, avoiding commitments, competing ferociously for unpaid internships or temporary (and often grueling) Teach for America jobs, forestalling the beginning of adult life."

My friend Bob, who is about 10 years older than I am, told me recently that, at least in our culture, your 20s are about getting educated, your 30s are about accumulating resources (becoming financially sustainable), your 40s are about building (families, houses, careers, ministries, impact) and your 50s are about enjoying what you've built (and perhaps pressuring your kids to get married and make babies). He did not intend this as advice, he was only making an observation. But I tend to think it's a pretty good path. It takes time to build influence, to establish connections and to build confidence in others at your abilities. But delay the process and, well, you are in what psychologists call "suspended adolescence."

To be honest, most of my friends who are in their 20s are seriously ambitious and enormously accomplished. I think of my friend Justin Zoradi over at These Numbers Have Faces, or Chase Reeves who is building his little blog empire, or Joshua DuBois who runs the president's Faith-Based Partnerships and Community Initiatives Program or Jenny White who is heading up Charlie Peacock's Art House Program in Dallas. It's hard for me to see twentysomethings as kids (unless we start talking about music! Twentysomethings trade in bands like children with baseball cards, hardly taking time to actually listen to the music! Call me an agist. I know I am an agist), but apparently the phenomenon is real. So if you're in your early 20s and it's just after noon and you're crawling out of the bed, you grew up sleeping in and surfing the Internet with a laptop on your belly, here are some tips:

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SOURCE: Relevant Magazine - Donald Miller

Israel Gets Real

2010-09-05T03:47:40Z

If you'd asked Israel Houghton in 2004, before his debut project Live from Another Level catapulted him into the spotlight, 'What is your definition of success?' it's likely he would've given you the title of his August 31 release: Love God, Love People.

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That much hasn't changed.

What has changed is the size of Houghton's platform. With three GRAMMYs, six Dove Awards, two Stellars and a Soul Train Award, performances on the MTV Music Awards, the GRAMMY Awards and screen time on ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, BET and more, Israel Houghton is one of those rare artists who transcends cultural and musical barriers. He's traveled the world, performed before hundreds of thousands who speak a different language, and made it his mission to do more than make music.

gmclife.com caught up with Israel just before the new album's release to talk about what real strength looks like, what keeps him grounded and the shoulders he's standing on to make the music he's making today.

gmclife.com: So... the GRAMMY...Is that as good as it gets in terms of career highlights? If not, what has been the highlight of your music ministry/career thus far?

Houghton: That's a tough one. Obviously, when you're 16 years old and you're practicing guitar in your room day and night, you always think 'How cool would it be to get a Grammy?!' Every aspiring musician dreams of that. As much as winning though, performing on the 50th GRAMMY Awards in 2008 with Aretha Franklin and BeBe Winans, and then winning a GRAMMY that year for Deeper Level, from the standpoint of accomplishment, that would have to be the highlight.

But more than winning awards, to me, longevity is the highlight. Just being around this long, still making music that connects with people. I mean, this could easily go another 20 years, and I hope it does.

gmclife.com: Does the GRAMMY add weight or release weight when preparing new material for a new record? Does it make you expect more of yourself, or is that never part of the process?

Houghton: The GRAMMY [factor] really isn't part of the process. For Deeper Level to win in the category it won in was a total shock. That was our second one, so it brought validation to the first one. We felt this sense of, 'Okay, so the first one wasn't a fluke!' We've been able to connect with our peers, you know.

But with Power of One, from the beginning, it felt like an epic record, big and bold, with a different approach. It was technically my first solo record, and we were just so happy to be nominated. But [winning] doesn't play into the process at all. It never even enters the equation.

gmclife.com: What does the process look like for you...choosing songs, choosing players, where to record, etc.

Houghton: We don't do records for awards. We do records to connect with people. I always approach it with, 'Let's just do the best job we can possibly do with these songs.'

As strange as it may seem, when we went to Abbey Road, we knew exactly which songs we were going to do. The 12 we came away with in our writing sessions were what we recorded. This one was pretty laser pointed in terms of what we wanted to say.

gmclife.com: This CD seems to drill down on the theme of Power of One and talk about what that power looks like: Love and the power it has to change people. You travel all over the world and are involved in CompassionArt. Why do you think such simple concepts like 'love your neighbor' and 'help the poor' and 'walk humbly with your God' are difficult for us humans to 'get'?

Houghton: It's because for over 25 years in the Western evangelical church, the emphasis has been on, 'What's in it for me?' And 'Let's get blessed!' with a very small emphasis on the fact that we're 'blessed to be a blessing.' Many times, the inspiration for my songs comes from sermons I've heard, from that buzz of 'Hey it's a new season, God wants to prosper you...' But I think at some point, I started asking questions like 'What's all this for? What's the end game for?' That whole 'we're Christians and we're blessed' never sat right with me.

If the church is as blessed as we are, then our strength is for service, not status. We're here to serve, not to be served. That's a real mind blower. And it flies in the face of the American dream.

Romans 15, in The Message, says, "Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status..."

We've been empowered to serve others, not to be entitled. This record has returned to a simplistic message: "What's in your hand? Use that and give it away."

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SOURCE: Gospel Music Channel - Melissa Riddle-Chalos

Dare to be Different

2010-09-05T03:46:21Z

It's not easy; most times when you feel like you're getting somewhere, you look back and notice that you've got so much to do and you're far away from where you need to be and so you want to give up.

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I remember when I started to develop a relationship with God and I was so confused because I felt like I had two personalities. I knew that there was a God and I was just so sure of it but I couldn't really tell people (well the people who are not in my church). And even today I still sometimes feel like when I see other Christians I can be myself and talk about His goodness but when I'm not with Christians, I just don't say anything because I don't want to be different. Have you ever felt like that?

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SOURCE: Streetbrand

'Flipped' Movie Review

2010-09-05T03:42:35Z

In the 1960s, a girl and boy meet in second grade, and navigate a romantic relationship over the next five years--but it never finds the magic of Rob Reiner's best films.

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Can it be love at first sight if you're seven years old? Flipped proposes that, yes, it can, if you're a bold and lively little girl; the little boy who is the object of her affection might need a few more years to catch on. When Juli Baker spots the Loski family moving in across the street, she strides right into the moving van and tries to lend a hand. Bryce and his dad are put off by her intrusiveness, and Bryce escapes under the pretense that his mother is calling him. From Bryce's perspective, goofy Juli just can't take a hint and runs after him, pursuing him to the point that he has to hide behind his mom.

But then the episode is run through again, this time from Juli's point of view. What Juli sees is that Bryce is just as smitten as she is. When he pushes her hand away, he's trying to hold it, she thinks. She reads in his "dazzling eyes" a love that is fully requited. He's "walking around with my first kiss inside of him," she tells herself.

Thus begins "a half-decade of strategic avoidance and social discomfort," Bryce tells us. Juli continues to get starry-eyed whenever Bryce is around, even leaning forward from her school desk to sniff his hair, to his overwhelming embarrassment. Through the years Bryce continues to be discomfited and irritated by her attentions. It doesn't help that Juli's family is weird: her overworked mom cooks, cleans, and holds down a job while her dad stands outside painting landscapes. Their front yard is a wreck, the embarrassment of the neighborhood, and Juli develops a habit of spending hours sitting in a sycamore tree.

Then, when Bryce is in 7th grade, his recently-widowed grandfather Chet comes to live with the family. About this time Juli learns that her tree is going to be cut down, to make way for a house. She occupies the tree in order to save it, and the newspaper runs a story headed "Local Girl Takes a Stand." For Chet, this is the kind of spunkiness his dear wife would have shown, and he begins to encourage Bryce to get to know Juli better. For Bryce, however, tree-sitting is more of the weirdo behavior that has had him running in the opposite direction for years.

The novel Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen, has been a hit with kids in that 10-14 age bracket for whom feelings about romance are new--exciting, confusing, and seldom efficiently in synch. Van Draanen's technique of telling an incident from both points of view amounts to a tutorial in adolescent romantic communication.

But director Rob Reiner has brought the story to the screen aiming, I think, at a different audience. Youthful fans of the book can be taken for granted, but Reiner has transposed the action from the present day (as it is in the book) to 1963, angling for a catch of baby boomers as well. The result is a relentless exercise in nostalgia--clothes, hair styles, cars, and doo-wop soundtrack--that begins to feel manipulative.

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SOURCE: Christianity Today - Frederica Mathewes-Green

Rising Star Britt Nicole Delivers Acoustic Album to Enthusiastic Reviews

2010-09-05T03:37:59Z

Available now, and with much critical acclaim, is the latest project from Sparrow Records' rising recording artist Britt Nicole, Acoustic.

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Unveiling a stripped down, more intimate side of Britt, Acoustic showcases her unique vocal style and powerful lyrics. The disc is making an impact on listeners as it has already placed in the Top 5 on iTunes ® Christian & Gospel album chart and is delivering enthusiastic reviews from critics all over, including Jesusfreakhideout, Gospel Music Channel and more.

"Her signature teen pop sound is transformed into a mature contemporary style. Each of these songs sounds almost entirely different from their original forms...is a must-have for all of Britt's fans." - Jesusfreakhideout.com

"This is a solid collection from one of Christian pop's newest leading ladies, and we're getting to see her come into her own with each new project." - GMCLife.com

"Hearing the songs stripped down allows for a deeper focus on her beautiful lyrics as well as a chance to hear her uplifting voice shine even brighter." - HollywoodJesus.com

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SOURCE: CM Spin

The Church Search

2010-09-05T02:57:33Z

Tips to help find and get settled into a new place to worship.

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If you're like most new students at Christian colleges, finding a church during your freshman year may be one of the greatest challenges you'll face. After all, you've probably never had to choose a church on your own before. Maybe you've attended the same church with your parents since the week you were born, or maybe you became a Christian in high school and went to church with some friends who invited you. No matter what your church situation was at home, going away to college in a new town means you'll be looking for a new church. Here are some tips to help you in your search.

Make It a Priority
Don't let that first Sunday go by without being in church. It takes about six weeks to establish a habit, good or bad. Every week you don't go, you're creating a habit: to forget about finding a church. This is especially true on a Christian college campus, where you may be tempted to think that chapel, small groups, Bible studies or Bible classes replace your need to get involved in a local church.

"Finding a church is a major struggle for college students," said a campus pastor at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. "Many students try to make campus ministries their church, and that's a problem."

While campus ministries are great, they can't replace the importance of the local church as your primary place to serve and worship.

Plan Ahead, Find a Fit
One of the best ways to take the stress out of finding a new church is to plan ahead. Don't wait until Sunday morning to decide which church you're going to visit--chances are, you'll end up not going at all. Instead, decide earlier in the week where you want to visit, so you'll have time to find the website or call the church office to get directions and service times. Some churches even have buses or carpool groups that will give you a ride if you call in advance. Plus, if you know where you're going to church, you'll be able to invite your new college friends to join you. They'll probably be glad someone took the initiative to find a church to visit, and you'll be more comfortable in a new church if you have a few friends with you.

During each visit, think about what you're looking for in a church. For example: Do you want a church where the minister goes through an entire book of the Bible over a series of weeks? Or would you be happier with a "topical sermon," where the pastor explains what the Bible says about a specific topic or issue? As for music, do you prefer guitar-driven praise songs or more traditional hymns accompanied by organ? Are you looking for a denominational or non-denominational church?

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SOURCE: Christian College Guide

What's So Different About Jesus?

2010-09-05T02:56:25Z

Is he really who he said he was, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the World?

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People who met him then didn't know what to make of him. Some believed he was God in the flesh. Others thought he was the devil himself.

Now, 2,000 years later, people still don't know what to make of Jesus. Is he really who he said he was, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the World? Or was he just a smooth-talking philosopher, a great teacher with a radical view? Or was he simply insane, a man whose revolutionary ideas were merely demented delusions?

What do we make of this guy Jesus?

And what's so different about him, anyway?

Some say:
Jesus was nothing more than just a great teacher. But God? No way. Yes, Jesus was a great teacher. But he was much more. He claimed to be the Son of God, to have the power to forgive sins, heal diseases and raise people--including himself--from the dead.

Anyone who makes such claims can only be one of three things: A liar, a kook, or truly the Son of God.

Christians believe Jesus was telling the truth for this reason: He said he would come back to life three days after he died. And he was true to his word.

Jesus walked out of the tomb. Only God could pull off something like that.

Some say:
Jesus didn't really come back from the dead. That's just a fairy tale. It is hard to believe. But there's just too much evidence to dismiss the resurrection as a hoax. If Jesus wasn't resurrected, why didn't anyone find his body?

Some say his body was stolen. But by whom? It couldn't have been his disciples; there's no way a handful of unarmed men could've stolen a body from a tomb guarded by well-armed Roman soldiers. And it couldn't have been stolen by the religious leaders, those who opposed Jesus. If they had stolen the body, once Jesus' followers started claiming he was alive, the leaders would've said, "Nope. Here's the body. So there." But that didn't happen.

Some say his body was stolen. But by whom? It couldn't have been his disciples; there's no way a handful of unarmed men could've stolen a body from a tomb guarded by well-armed Roman soldiers. And it couldn't have been stolen by the religious leaders, those who opposed Jesus. If they had stolen the body, once Jesus' followers started claiming he was alive, the leaders would've said, "Nope. Here's the body. So there." But that didn't happen.

Why were they so bold, even in the face of death? Because they knew that what they said was true: Jesus had come back to life.

Some say:
Jesus never really did any miracles. That's all made up. Assuming he pulled off the ultimate miracle--coming back to life--it's pretty easy to believe Jesus could do "routine" miracles, like giving sight to the blind, healing the sick, and making the lame walk.

But here's another reason to believe the miracles actually occurred: Thousands and thousands of people followed him around--and it wasn't just to hear his sermons. Jesus also said a lot of controversial things, like this: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and his sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). And this: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away" (Matthew 5:29). Certainly, not everyone was following Jesus around just to get the warm fuzzies inside.

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SOURCE: Ignite Your Faith

Selena Gomez Releases New Album Track Listing

2010-09-05T02:55:38Z

Selena Gomez is amping her fans up for the release of her next album. On Monday she took to Facebook to share with fans the complete official track listing for her upcoming album A Year Without Rain, due September 21.

]]> "Hey Everyone-- I wanted to share with you the official tracks off my upcoming album 'A Year Without Rain' as well as the bonus features on the deluxe album. I can't wait for you all to hear the album," Gomez wrote.

The 10 songs on the new album are: current single "Round & Round," title track "A Year Without Rain," "Rock God," "Off the Chain," "Summer's Not Hot," "Intuition," "Spotlight," "Ghost of You," "Sick of You" and "Live Like There's No Tomorrow." The deluxe version of the album will include two remixes of "A Year Without Rain," as well as a remix of "Round & Round."

While Gomez didn't let on about any previously reported collaborations in her Facebook message, earlier this month some websites reported that "Off the Chain" features Miley Cyrus and "Rock God" features Katy Perry. There were also murmurings of a Demi Lovato duet, "The Begging of the Road," but that song didn't make it to the official list.

Fans may have to wait to see if Cyrus' vocals ended up on "Off the Chain," however, Gomez has said that Perry contributed to her album. "Katy Perry gave me a song, and she did background vocals on it," she said. "The whole experience was really fun."

As for some of the announced songs, Gomez recently spoke to MTV News about the album and gave some insight into what people can expect. "['A Year Without Rain' is] basically one of my favorite songs on the record. It's kind of got a more feel-good dance beat and feel. I love it. It's different; [it] kind of shows my growth of my music," she said. "There's a song called 'Intuition' that's one of my favorites. The message is basically every decision that you regret or second-guess, [just] do it [anyway]. I love that message so much."

Are you looking forward to Selena Gomez's new album? Tell us in the comments!

SOURCE: MTV - Jocelyn Vena

Cindy Trimm and Vanessa Miller Top September 2010 BCNN1/BCBC National Bestsellers List

2010-09-02T06:27:14Z

Black Christian News: www.BCNN1.com / Black Christian Book Company: www.BlackCBC.com (Based upon Amazon.com rankings, BarnesandNoble.com rankings, and BlackCBC.com rankings.)

]]> Bestselling authors, Cindy Trimm (The Art of War for Spiritual Battle--Nonfiction) and Vanessa Miller (A Love for Tomorrow--Fiction) lead the bestsellers list of Black Christian authors on the September 2010 edition of the Black Christian News/Black Christian Book Company National Bestsellers List.

The next BCNN1/BCBC Bestsellers List will be published on Friday, October 1, 2010.

September 2010 Top 50 Black Christian Bestsellers List (Non-fiction)

1. The Art of War for Spiritual Battle, by Cindy Trimm (Charisma House) - Only $15.99

2. The Mentor Leader, by Tony Dungy (Tyndale) - Only $24.99

3. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (Zondervan) - Only $6.29

4. Led By Faith, by Immaculee Ilibagiza (Hay House) - Only $14.95

5. Letters to Young Black Men, by Daniel Whyte III (Torch Legacy Publications) - Only $8.99

6. The Blueprint, by Kirk Franklin (Gotham) - Only $25.99

7. The Blueprint, by Ken Blackwell & Ken Klukowski (Lyons Press) - Only $20.19

8. One in a Million, by Priscilla Shirer (B&H Books) - Only $14.99

9. The Power to Prosper, by Michelle Singletary (Zondervan) - Only $14.99

10. Understanding the Purpose and Power of Women, by Myles Munroe (Whitaker House) - Only $11.04

September 2010 Top 50 Black Christian Bestsellers List (Fiction)

1. A Love for Tomorrow by Vanessa Miller (Whitaker House) - Only $9.99

2. Sins of the Mother, by Victoria Christopher Murray (Simon & Schuster/Touchstone) - Only $15.00

3. The Best of Everything, by Kimberla Lawson Roby (Harper Collins) - Only $13.99

4. Holy Rollers by ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Simon & Schuster) - Only $10.20

5. The Memory Quilt by T.D Jakes (Atria) - Only $19.99

6. The Pastor's Woman by Jacquelin Thomas (Kimani Press)

7. Holy Ghost Corner by Michele Andrea Bowen (Grand Central Publishing) - Only $6.99

8. Dreams That Won't Let Go (Jubilant Soul), by Stacy Hawkins Adams (Revell) - Only $12.99

9. Sweetest Gift (Payton Skky #4) by Stephanie Perry Moore (Lift Every Voice) - Only $5.99

10. Goodness and Mercy by Vanessa Davis Griggs (Kensington Books/Dafina) - Only $15.00

September 2010 Top 50 Black Christian Independent Publishers Bestsellers List (Non-fiction)

1. Letters to Young Black Men, by Daniel Whyte III (Torch Legacy Publications) - Only $8.99

2. Who Stole My Joy? by Sandra Steen (Bridge-Logos Publishers) - Only $14.99

3. World War Me, by Jamal Bryant (Empowerment Publishing House) - Only $15.99

4. Parenting and Partnering with Purpose, by Natalie A. Francisco (St. Paul Press) - Only $11.99

5. Gay Children, Straight Parents: A Plan for Family Healing, by Richard Cohen (IHF) - Only $18.95

6. Life Illustrated, by Jeffrey Johnson (St. Paul Press) - Only $17.99

7. Letters to Young Black Women, by Daniel Whyte III (Torch Legacy Publications) - Only $9.99

8. Lord, I'm Ready to Be a Wife, by Christine Pembleton (Josephine Communications) - Only $12.99

9. Real: The Truth about Being Single by Kelly Chapman (Pleasant Word) - Only $14.99

10. Successfully Raising Young Black Men, by Kevin D. Barnes Sr (Torch Legacy Publications) - Only $8.99

September 2010 Top 25 Black Christian Independent Publishers Bestsellers List (Fiction)

1. The Sunday Morning Wife by Pamela D. Rice (Peace in the Storm Publishing) - Only $15.00

2. Forgiven, by Vanessa Miller (Urban Christian) - Only $14.95

3. Song of Solomon by Kendra Norman-Bellamy (Urban Books) - Only $14.95

4. Secrets and Lies, by Rhonda McKnight (Urban Trade)

5. In the Midst of It All by Tiffany L. Warren (Grand Central Publishing)

6. Forsaken, by Vanessa Miller (Urban Christian) - Only $14.95

7. A Woman's Revenge by Tiffany L. Warren, Sherri L. Lewis, and Rhonda McKnight (3 Sisters Books)

8. The Rose of Jericho by Vanessa Davis Griggs (Free to Soar)

9. Guilty of Love Pat Simmons (Urban Christian)

10. Battle Of Jericho by Kendra Norman-Bellamy (Urban Christian)

September 2010 Top 50 Black Christian E-BOOK Bestsellers List (Non-Fiction)

1. The Blueprint, by Kirk Franklin (Gotham)

2. The Mentor Leader, by Tony Dungy (Tyndale)

3. One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer (Moody)

4. Uncommon, by Tony Dungy (Tyndale)

5. Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza (Hay House)

6. Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy (Tyndale)

7. The Prayer Motivator, by Daniel Whyte III (Torch Legacy Publications)

8. The Blueprint, by Ken Blackwell & Ken Klucowski (Lyons Press)

9. DO Something!: Make Your Life Count by Miles McPherson (Baker Books)

10. Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (Zondervan)

September 2010 Top 50 Black Christian E-BOOK Bestsellers List (Fiction)

1. Sins of the Mother, by Victoria Christopher Murray (Touchstone)

2. Be Careful What You Pray For, by Kimberla Lawson Roby (HarperCollins)

3. The Pastor's Woman by Jacquelin Thomas (Kimani)

4. Holy Rollers by ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Pocket)

5. The Sunday Morning Wife by Pamela D. Rice (Peace in the Storm)

6. The Ideal Wife by Jacquelin Thomas (Pocket)

7. One in a Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby (HarperCollins)

8. Samson by Jacquelin Thomas (Pocket)

9. The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams (Revell)

10. The Best of Everything by Kimberla Lawson Roby (HarperCollins)

Click Here to view the rest of the Top 50 Black Christian Bestsellers List: http://www.bcnn1.com/bs/september2010/

Click Here to view the rest of the Top 50 Black Christian Independent Publishers Bestsellers List: http://www.bcnn1.com/bs/september2010/

Click Here to view the rest of the Top 50 E-BOOK Bestsellers List:

http://www.bcnn1.com/bs/september2010/

Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers Rock Out One Last Time In 'Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam'

2010-09-01T19:59:51Z

If you liked "Camp Rock," you're going to love "Camp Rock 2," says star and teen pop sensation Demi Lovato.

]]> "And if you didn't like 'Camp Rock'?'" Lovato adds. "You're still going to love 'Camp Rock 2.' "

"Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," premiering Friday at 8 on Disney, is the sequel to 2008's No. 1 cable movie, featuring Lovato and Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas. In the new installment, the gang is back for another summer of fun, but when the flashier, state-of-the-art Camp Star sets up shop across the lake and starts luring away campers and instructors, the future of Camp Rock is put in jeopardy.

"There's an interesting ending, very unexpected, which I love," says Kevin Jonas. "It's not about winning or losing, it's about who you are on the journey. And it's not about one person trying to be great, it's about a group of people coming together, trying to make a difference."

As in the first movie, there is plenty of singing and dancing going down at Camp Rock. All the dance numbers were choreographed by Rosero McCoy, who has worked with Usher and 'N Sync. The songs were written by such talents as "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi.

There's one particular song, "Introducing Me," that Nick's character, Nate, sings to a new love interest to tell her about himself. The lyrics include, "I eat cheese, but only on pizza, please/ And sometimes on a homemade quesadilla/ Otherwise, it smells like feet to me."

Fans should take note, however, that the song is about Nick's character, not the JoBro himself.

"There's a line that says I like checks with lots of zeroes on them, and I'm not necessarily concerned with that," Nick says. "He also says he doesn't like cars, and I love cars. Those are the main differences. But other than that, I guess we're pretty similar."

Kevin and Nick figure more heavily in the action in "Camp Rock 2" than they did in the original. Each of the three brothers has his own story line: Shane (played by Joe) resumes his relationship with Mitchie (played by Lovato) after a year apart. Nick, as Nate, falls for a classical pianist at rival Camp Star, and Kevin, as Jason, tries to counsel Camp Rock's youngest talent.

"It's cool that each one of us has an individual journey we're going on, because that happens in our own personal lives as well," says Kevin. "But we always come back together as a band."

The biggest challenge of the shoot, according to pretty much everyone involved, was the fact that "Camp Rock 2" is a summertime movie, while the weather on-set was near freezing. At one point, as everyone ran around in shorts and T-shirts, it started to snow.

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SOURCE: The New York Daily News

Christina Kinon

Ft. Hood, Texas Gets a Sneak Preview of Vanessa Miller's New Book, A Love for Tomorrow Available Nation-wide September 7

2010-09-01T02:23:47Z

ATLANTA, (August 31, 2010) - With the heat of summertime in Texas at its peak, the murder of 13 fellow soldiers still a painful memory, and the war escalating in Afghanistan as troops return from Iraq, soldiers at Ft. Hood were ready for a little love this month.

]]> And bestselling Whitaker House author, Vanessa Miller had a whole lot of love to share during her recent visit to the U.S. army base near Killeen, Texas, where she received a warm response to her latest book, A Love for Tomorrow, second in her Second Chance at Love series (available September 7, 2010).

An ordained exhorter for her Dayton, Ohio church, Miller is known for her creative plotlines and well-crafted characters. What's not as well known is that she's constantly on the road, speaking to groups on college campuses, churches, and community centers, along with meeting her readers one-on-one as she did at Ft. Hood.

The prolific novelist regularly began including military bases on her schedule after receiving letters from soldiers about her books. Besides Ft. Hood, she's recently visited Wright Patterson, Andrews and Scott Air Force Bases and will visit more this fall.

"I was surprised by the positive letters from soldiers at first - you wouldn't think romance novels, especially Christian romance, fits in with the military stereotype," she said. "But I've learned many of our troops - men and women--love a good romance."

Besides the romantic elements, Vanessa's readers say they personally relate to her multi-dimensional characters, often caught between good and evil forces and facing difficult choices. A Love for Tomorrow involves Christian television host Serenity Williams, a preacher's kid, who is jilted by her ego-driven boyfriend, a popular preacher. Serenity decides to get even with men in general by humiliating yet another pastor, Phillip McKnight, a former NFL player, whom she assumes is a self-consumed egomaniac.

But Serenity discovers that Phillip possesses a loving, humble spirit. He's likewise suffered a broken heart, and by the grace of God, is reaching out to others with a message of hope and faith. Serenity must wrestle with the decision to embarrass or embrace Phillip.

Early reviews are enthusiastically positive. Nancy Kanafani in Christian Retailers and Resources Magazine (September, 2010) writes: "Trust, forgiveness, and faith, the core of author Miller's message, are woven into a light love story that offers help and healing," and recommends the book "to readers who enjoy a good romance that ministers."

Yesterday's Promise, the first book in the Second Chance at Love series, topped the Black Christian News Network's bestseller's list earlier this year. Bob Whitaker Jr., vice president of Whitaker House, said pre-release orders for the new book are good and predicts A Love for Tomorrow will reach even more readers than its predecessor.

"We're so pleased with reader response to Vanessa Miller", he said. "Not only has she received critical acclaim, but her stories are capturing people's hearts. Her fans know they'll be inspired and entertained."

For more details, go to her website: www.VanessaMiller.com or www.WhitakerHouse.com.

To schedule an interview or request review copies, please contact Cathy Hickling at chickling@whitakerhouse.com or 800-444-4484 x283.

What Makes You Happy?

2010-08-29T18:59:20Z

If your happiness is tied to stuff that's only temporary, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. So what's the alternative? ]]> It's easy to be happy when everything's going right--you ace your geometry test, your crush notices your new hair cut, your parents tell you it's time to go car shopping. But if your happiness is tied to stuff that's only temporary, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. So what's the alternative?

Find your happiness in the only thing that will last. That's what a twelfth-century monk named Bernard said. In one of his writings, On Consideration, he encouraged readers to find joy in Christ alone rather than things like the opinions of others and material possessions.

You have begun to see how easily you are unsettled when others irritate you, and how gross offenses nearly drive you off track. I want to help you understand why this is so . ...

It is our attachment to the things of this world that is the problem. We feel such a drawing to people and possessions, hoping they will give us the security and love we need. When they fail to fill our soul's deepest needs we are confused. We feel such affection for these people, these things--but they do not love us back as much as we need to be loved. Our own body betrays us, because in the presence of these objects of desire we feel some measure of comfort. But never enough. Thus we are attached as if by ropes to things that pull our souls down into the miry clay of earth.

Those who are stuck in this rut may come away for a time of spiritual reflection. They get a glimpse of the rest and peace that can be theirs when they relinquish their worries and attachments to God. But. ... they fail to recognize the Source of their spirit's life--they fail to recognize that all of life flows from our full embrace of [Christ] alone.

They go back to their attachments to things that can never give them life within.

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Source: Christianity Today | Ignite Your Faith - - Amber Penney

Why Spelman College Is Ranked the #1 College in the Country

2010-08-29T18:42:08Z

When U.S. News and World Report came out with their ranking of the top 20 HBCUs in the country, I became curious. I was wondering if my personal perception of the best schools matched the views of those who make these lists.

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I couldn't afford to attend an HBCU out of high school (not to mention that my grades were terrible), and although I'd love to teach at an HBCU, it's become difficult for African American professors to get jobs at campuses that have been taken over by people who aren't black (thats another interesting story). In fact, many HBCUs don't have any African American Professors in their business schools or Science departments - and it's not because black scholars aren't applying.

At any rate, the school at the top of the list was Spelman College, the university I love and hate, all at the same time. The funny thing about my love/hate relationship with Spelman is that my disdain is actually driven by my extreme admiration for the university. In fact, it may even be rooted in jealousy. I had a relative I wanted to send to Spelman, but the massive tuition bill was so high that she couldn't attend. To make matters worse, the school doesn't seem to care much about giving scholarships, but demand for admission is so high, they don't have to give away anything.

I've always stated to others that Spelman College is not just the best school in the country for black women, it's the best school in the country, PERIOD. Unlike Harvard, Yale and all the other schools with multi-billion dollar endowments, I am hard pressed to think of any Spelman grad I know who isn't a doctor, lawyer, professor, or successful professional in some other field. Spelman College is nothing less than a factory of greatness, and the women who come out of this institution are typically second-to-none.

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Source: NewsOne.com | Boyce Watkins

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the book, "Black American Money."

See You at the Pole Student-led Prayer at School is Coming on September 22, 2010

2010-08-29T18:36:00Z

"'See You at the Pole' unites students in prayer at the beginning of the school year. Challenging youth to take leadership on their campus is always a good idea. Every year, it offers a fresh challenge for them to minister to their friends."]]>

"REVEAL" (Matthew 6:9-13) is the theme for See You at the Pole 2010, the Annual Global Day of Student Prayer. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, at schools across the United States and in other countries.

Many Other nations have launched SYATP movements with their own promotional efforts, including Australia (where it was observed in 2010 on May 20) and Canada (on the same date as U.S.).

This is the 20th anniversary for See You at the Pole, a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.

Everything necessary for students to plan and promote a successful SYATP is available free at www.syatp.com. Additional promotional resources can be ordered online or by calling (817) HIS-PLAN (447-7526) between 9-5 (Central Time), Monday-Friday. Brochures, a promotional DVD, and posters are some of the materials available for 2010.

The San Diego-based National Network of Youth Ministries coordinates SYATP promotion. Paul Fleischmann, president of the Network, commented: "For 20 years, we have seen this day serve as a springboard for unity for teenagers on their secondary and college campuses. See You at the Pole unites students in prayer at the beginning of the school year. Challenging youth to take leadership on their campus is always a good idea. Every year, it offers a fresh challenge for them to minister to their friends."

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Source: Breaking Christian News