Gossip

Gossip Free

This morning we talked about a Pastor who is taking a big stand on what many people view as a small issue. Here is the story from http://www.cbn.com/.

A Michigan pastor is challenging his congregation and Christians across the country not to gossip for at least eight days. The campaign is called, "Gossip Free" and is set to begin on Friday, Aug 8.

Gossip is a timeless problem that is warned about in the Bible, fills the pages of countless magazines and even glamorized on television shows like "Gossip Girl."

Pastor Kevin Hester of The Sancutary Baptist Church in Coloma, Mich. believes there is nothing attractive about gossip. "Gossip is very devastating and the Bible says we shouldn't do it, in fact God mentions it right next to murder in the scripture," Hester explained.

Three years ago the rumor mill turned personal for Hester. He became a victim of malicious gossip and the experience changed his life. Now he is launching a campaign against it.
Hester and his church have distributed some 2,000 "Gossip Free" bracelets along with his "Gossip Free" booklet.

"We're challenging people to go eight days, from speaking gossip and from listening to it," he said.
While many believe that gossip is just harmful chatter, Hester begs to differ. He commented, "It can be like cancer. If you don't take care of it early, it just grows and grows until ultimate destruction occurs."

Response to Hester's "Gossip Free"challenge has been tremendous and has attracted national media attention, and scores of emails from people across the country.

"Every few hours I check my cell phone and I'll read emails and one came across how a lady who's been a chronic gossipper for 40 years was just so encouraged by the movement that we're doing right now that it's changing her life," Hester said.

Residents of Coloma know going gossip free is not going to be easy.

Jennifer Moore said, "It's hard to keep from it completely, but this reminds me everyday."
Moore's 14-year-old son, Joey sees gossip as a sin.

"I see gossip as a sin, I see it as a bad thing too, but God forgives sins and if you're ready to be forgiven for them I think the first step would be try going gossip free," he said.

Some local businesses are also embracing the challenge to rid their workplaces of toxic talk.

Rebekah Trosper is a member of Hester's church and a department manger at the Benton Harbor Walmart. She introduced the "Gossip Free" challenge to her co-workers.

"We have associates trying to go against each other trying to see who's going to gossip first," she said. "They are taking it seriously. It's already reduced the gossip in the store."

Gossip may seem like a small issue to some, however God may have a different view. I appreciate all your takes and view points and look forward to hearing more again soon.

Carlos

Nevertheless

Many Thanks to Nevertheless

The Big Big Morningshow had a huge surprise this morning when the Christian rock band Nevertheless camped outside our studios! Yes, literally camped out. Tents, sleeping bags, lantern, the works. It was a very cool surprise and they made us breakfast so no complaints from me.

I hope you enjoyed them playing for us two new songs of the new album "In The Making" dropping to stores nationwide September 16th. For more info on Nevertheless check out: www.myspace.com/nevertheless.

ALSO!

Do not forget tonight Third Day will take the stage of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. My TiVo is set since that is a little past my bed time. Waking up at 4:00am every day will put you to sleep around 9:30pm.

Anyway, as always thanks for listening and may the Lord Bless YOU!

Carlos

Music News :: Brandon Heath

Brandon Heath Sets Digital Sales Records

Christian music’s New Artist of the Year Brandon Heath debuts his digital single “Give Me Your Eyes” at the top of the Christian music digital charts, reaching No. 1 on iTunes and Amazon.com. With nearly 6,000 downloads of the song, Heath has achieved the highest first-week sales for a Christian track in 2008, surpassing previous leaders Chris Tomlin’s “Jesus Messiah” and Third Day’s megahit “Call My Name.”

On Aug. 19, Heath will release his anticipated sophomore album What If We which features the week’s top-downloaded song, “Give Me Your Eyes”.

Teaming up again with producer Dan Muckala, Heath’s What If We follows up his breakthrough debut project, Don’t Get Comfortable, which delivered the No. 1 smash-hit, and Song of the Year nominee, “I’m Not Who I Was,” granting Heath his first nomination for Songwriter of the Year, and a win in the New Artist of the Year category at the GMA Dove Awards in April.

Brandon Heath quickly became a fixture at Christian radio with the release of his debut project. His mega-hit “I’m Not Who I Was” raced to No. 1 and ended 2007 as one of the year’s most played radio singles. Heath has been a respected writer in the Nashville music community for years, collaborating with well-known artists like Bebo Norman, Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes, to name a few. The Nashville native first began writing at age 13 and credits the town’s legendary hotspot for songwriters, the Bluebird Café, as the place he first experienced music that moved him. Heath currently resides in Houston, Texas, and is a worship leader at The Loft church located in The Woodlands, just north of Houston.

Check out a LIVE version of "Give Me Your Eyes"


Carlos

Krystal Meyers

“Make Some Noise”

Krystal Meyer's new project “Make Some Noise” will drop Sept. 9th!

This is the now 19 year olds third studio album and the 10-track project, was entirely written or co-written by Meyers. It was recorded in Brentwood, Tenn. at Dutchland Studio, and was produced by Doubledutch (Mat Kearny, Toby Mac).

Krystals’ brand-new music video, “Make Some Noise,” is being featured on Yahoo Music right now. It was filmed in late April, in her hometown of Nashville, Tenn. Check it out…




Krystal is back and all grown up. Sounding very different from her punk rock past and is looking to leave a new mark in the Christian music industry.

Carlos

Grocery Games

What Just Happened?

That was the only thing I could say to myself tonight after my visit to the grocery store. What? How? Where did I go wrong? Those questions kept coming, but the answers did not.

I wanted to grab a quick bite to eat after my workout tonight. Didn't really feel like whipping anything up in the kitchen so I decided to hit up Publix. For me, it's the best place to grab a quickie meal and still stick to the healthy eating kick that I've been on the past month. Besides, it's harder to cheat when you're not in the drive-thru of your favorite In and Out with calorie packed and fat drenched combos of love staring you down, tempting you with their juicy goodness. So I run in, grab a health conscience meal and head to my favorite line, the Express Line, 10 Items or Less.

So I'm in line, waiting my turn, when a there's a tap, tap, tap on my shoulder. Who's behind me? A "sweet" little old lady who's maybe in her mid 80's, no taller than 5'1'', silver haired and did I mention she had that patented sweet little old grandma face working for her. She asks me if I didn't mind letting her go ahead of me. Quickly, I scan her, no cart, no kids, no accomplice, 1 loaf of bread, no problem, so I say "Of course, go right ahead". She thanks me and then mentions how she is in a rush to get home and watch her favorite TV show. Feeling conversational I was just as I was about to ask her what that show was, when she yells like a banshee, "Come on Marv, move your sorry self, this nice young man is letting us through!". No lie, this really happened, today 7:00ish at Publix. Marv by the way, has a cart, with over 10 items.

At this point reference the Top line of this post. That question kept running through my head. How did this sweet little old lady pull a fast one on me like that. All I had was 1 item. She on the other hand had 17. I know this because I counted them. Twice. Why? How? And what show was that important? I'll never know. I wondered how Jesus would react in that scenario. First thought, thunderbolts and lightning and the opening up of an abyss! Second and most prevailing thought, love. Let it go. Pray for her. Move on. She knows what she did was wrong, why did I feel the need to tell her so. So I did just that. I bit my tongue, blessed her instead, and let the Lord deal with her later. Now looking back, I find it pretty funny. I wrote this in hopes that you may have had similar situations and this would make you laugh as well. Was I taken advantage of...maybe. That time. But doing things God's way will pay off in this life or in eternity. But it always pays off.

Be blessed.

Carlos