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In the news this week, album to benefit the AIDS epidemic in Africa releases next week; “The Passion of Christ” will open on over 2,000 screens next month; artist birthdays; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; Things You'll Never Hear a Southern Man Say; and much more!

IN THE NEWS:

The much anticipated project “In The Name of Love: Artists United for Africa” hits stores on January 27^th. with proceeds being earmarked specifically for the Mwakankomba Village in Zambia, Africa.  The album’s label, Sparrow Records, has made an initial $10,000 donation to this village which has been devastated by the HIV/AIDS virus.  This contribution has been augmented by over $40,000 in retail commitments from sponsors including Family Christian Stores, Handleman, Borders, The Parable Group, Hastings, Mardel, Berean Christian Stores, Musicland, Value Music Concepts, TransWorld Entertainment, Circuit City, and other anonymous donors. 

Also Sparrow will donate 50 cents to World Vision for each album sold domestically with Family Christian Stores committing an additional 50 cents per sale in their stores nationwide throughout 2004.  The contributions will focus on improving basic long-term health needs in the village, which includes “providing caregivers who will work with the infected, those at risk of infection, and those left behind when loved ones die,” according to a news release from the label. <><

The New York Times reports that Mel Gibson's film “The Passion of Christ” will open on more than 2,000 screens nationwide on Ash Wednesday, February 25^th.  The newspaper article also reports some theatres have received requests for as many as 10,000 tickets at a time and one multiplex in Dallas, Texas will devote all 20 of its screens to the movie with showings starting at 6:00 AM and running all day and night.

“The Passion of Christ”, filmed mostly in Aramaic and Latin, will include subtitles and is rated R for the film’s intense and graphic scenes of suffering and violence in producer Mel Gibson’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. <><

DOWNHERE band members Jeremy Thiessen and Glenn Lavender recently ran in the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Florida, which takes runners through all four Disney World theme parks during the course.  The over 26 mile run was the first marathon for both Thiessen and Lavender.  The idea to run in a marathon came from their small group Bible study at The People's Church in Franklin, Tennessee, with group leader Randy Elrod even running the Disney Marathon with them.  Also Thiessen's father participated in the event as well, traveling from Canada, where the group hails from. <><

Grammy nominee ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND will perform live at the 46^th. annual Grammy Awards on CBS-TV on February 8^th.  The group has been nominated for two awards:  “Best Rock/Gospel Album” for their latest release “Unclassified” and “Best Rock Instrumental” for "Squeeze," a track from the same project.  Also Rolling Stone magazine recently named the 25-year-old Randolph as one of the Top 100 guitarists of all time and listed “Unclassified” as one of the "50 Best Albums of 2003," writing:  "Randolph is a genuine holy terror on the pedal steel guitar.  The devil may have the best rock & roll tunes, but God has this man on the battlefield."

All of this is pretty impressive for the New Jersey native who began playing pedal steel guitar at his father's church when he was just 16-years-old.  The Family Band is comprised of Randolph and his two cousins, bassist Danyel Morgan and drummer Marcus Randolph, who have released two earlier CDs, their debut album in 1999, “Sacred Steel Live!”, followed by “Live At The Wetlands” in 2002. <><

SOUNDBYTES: 

REBECCA ST. JAMES recently wrapped up the recording sessions on her new live worship project and is now taking some time off in Colorado to work on her second book.  The Tyndale Publishers book will be “a collection of stories from women who are impacting our culture in the 21^st. century.” <><  The Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be broadcast live on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on Wednesday, February 11^th.  The event will be televised from TBN’s Trinity Music City in Hendersonville, Tennessee with PAT BOONE hosting the extravaganza that will induct the Reverend AL GREEN, SANDI PATTY, and the late VESTAL GOODMAN into the GMA’s Hall of Fame. <>< Leigh Nash, lead vocalist of SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, and husband Mark are proud parents of a little boy born January 9^th.  This is the happy couple’s first child, who was named Henry Bingham Nash. <>< LUNA HALO is releasing their second EP in the U.S. this month with the project including four brand new songs.  The band is set to go back into the studio in a few weeks to record a full album produced by Matt Mahaffee from the group SELF. <><

CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTIST BIRTHDAYS:

Mon., Jan. 19^th. - Carman

Fri., Jan. 23^rd. - Rick Heil (formerly of Big Tent Revival, SonicFlood), Jason Davis (Between Thieves)

Sat., Jan. 24^th. - Matt Gingrich (Bleach)

Sun., Jan. 25^th. - Matt Odmark (Jars of Clay), Josh & Marty Penner (Jake), Nathan Barlowe (Luna Halo, Reality Check)

UPCOMING SOUTHWESTERN U.S. CONCERTS:

1/26 - Louisiana Baptist Conference w/Charles Billingsley--First Baptist Church, Lafayette, LA

1/26 - Fernando Ortega--Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX

1/30 - David Crowder Band--First United Methodist Church, Arlington, TX

2/5 - Casting Crowns--Cornerstone Baptist Church, Harrisburg, AR (7:00 PM)

2/8 - Sacred Right To Life benefit w/ Testify & Not By Sight--House of Prayer International Church, Monroe, LA (6:00 PM)

2/12 – MercyMe, Amy Grant, & Bebo Norman--CenturyTel Center, Shreveport, LA

2/13 – Switchfoot--Harding University, Searcy, AR

2/21 – ApologetiX--Eastwood Baptist Church, Haughton, LA

2/27 & 2/28 - Women of Faith Conference w/Natalie Grant--CenturyTel Center, Shreveport, LA

2/27 - P.O.D.--Alltel Arena, North Little Rock, AR  

2/28 - Gaither Homecoming Tour--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

3/04 - Shane Barnard & Shane Everett w/Ginny Owens--Pine Lake Baptist Church, Brandon, MS  (7:00 PM)

3/09 - Shane Barnard & Shane Everett w/Ginny Owens--UCA Ida Waldren Auditorium, Conway, AR

3/14 – “Adoration Tour” w/Newsboys & Rebecca St. James--The Oil Palace, Tyler, TX

3/20 – Selah--McClendon Baptist Church, West Monroe, LA

3/31 - FFH w/Big Daddy Weave--LA College, Pineville, LA (6:30 PM)

4/2 - Chris Tomlin--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

4/8 - Third Day, TobyMac, & Warren Barfield--Civic Center, Monroe, LA

4/8 – Salvador--Pentecostal Campground Tabernacle, Tioga, LA

4/9 – Newsboys & Jeremy Camp--Six Flags - New Orleans, New Orleans, LA (6:00 PM)

4/10 – Kutless, Thousand Foot Krutch, & Ryan Dobson--Six Flags - New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

4/10 - Jars of Clay & Chris Tomlin--Six Flags over Texas, Arlington, TX

4/24 - Big Daddy Weave--Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS

4/30 & 05/01- Women's Conference w/ Tammy Trent--First Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA

5/15 – Bleach--Downtown Festival Plaza, Shreveport, LA 

6/6 - Paul Colman Trio--Galloway Memorial UMC, Jackson, MS

6/19 - Rebecca St. James & Casting Crowns--Timberwood Amphitheater (Magic Springs), Hot Springs, AR

7/17 – Selah--Southside Baptist Church, Stuttgart, AR

7/17 - O.C. Supertones & Paul Colman Trio--Union County Fairgrounds, New Albany, MS

8/28 - Audio Adrenaline--First Bossier Church, Bossier City, LA (7:00 PM)

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & CHRISTIAN DVD RELEASES:

1/27 - Bill & Gloria Gaither, T.D. Jakes, and Friends--Build A Bridge (CD & DVD) (Gaither Music Group)

1/27 - Bill & Gloria Gaither, T.D. Jakes, and Friends--We Will Stand (CD & DVD) (Gaither Music Group)

1/27 - Hugs Series--Hugs for Daughters (Here to Him Music)

1/27 - .Rod Laver--Rudolph Wayne vs. The Man (Uprok Records)

1/27 - Matt McGee--Worship Through the Valley (Crowne Music Group)

1/27 - The Praise Baby Collection--Praises and Smiles (Big House Kids)

1/27 - Starflyer 59--I Am The Portuguese Blues (Tooth & Nail Records)

1/27 - Thank You Series--Thank You Friend (Here to Him Music)

1/27 - Thank You Series--Thank You Mom (Here to Him Music)

1/27 – Various--Here I Am To Worship - Volume 1 (Worship Together)

1/27 – Various--In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa (Sparrow Records)

1/27 – Various--iWORSHIP @Home DVD, Vol. 3 (Integrity Music)

1/27 – Various--Mammoth City Messengers (ForeFront Records)

2/2 - Kathy Shooster--Garment of Praise (Galilee of the Nations)

2/3 – Various--Homecoming Series, Vol. 1-3 - Come Just As You Are; I Love You, Lord; & The Power Of Your Love (Maranatha! Music)

2/7 – VeggieTales--An Easter Carol [DVD/VHS] (Big Idea Productions)

2/7 – VeggieTales--Dave and the Giant Pickle [DVD/VHS] (Big Idea Productions)

2/7 – VeggieTales--Lyle the Kindly Viking [DVD] (Big Idea Production)

2/7 – VeggieTales--The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown [DVD] (Big Idea Productions)

2/7 – VeggieTales--Where's God When I'm S-Scared?!? [DVD/VHS] (Big Idea Productions)

2/10 - Jeremy Camp--Carried Me: The Worship Project (BEC Recordings)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

Things You'll Never Hear a Southern Man Say--

I'll take Shakespeare for “1000”, Alex.

Honey, I think we should sell the pickup and buy a family sedan.

Has anybody seen the sideburns trimmer?

The tires on that truck are way too big.

I thought Graceland was tacky.

Wrestling's fake.

I'll have a bagel and some grapefruit instead of biscuits and gravy this morning.

Just give me a small bag of pork rinds.

I just couldn't find a thing at Wal-Mart today.

Trim the fat off that steak, O.K.?

Would you like your fish grilled or broiled?

Little Debbie snack cakes have too many fat grams.

Does the salad bar have any bean sprouts?

Hey, here's a rerun of "Hee Haw" that we haven't seen yet.

I’ll have the butter for my baked potato on the side.

You all.

Duct tape won't fix that.

© January 19, 2004; Glory2Glory Productions; Chuck Halley, publisher; Monroe, Louisiana.  All rights reserved.  No part of this e-zine may be reproduced without prior written consent.  Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals because we value each subscriber and respect their privacy. 

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