There is an old adage that says you never really miss somebody until they’re gone. This is true of Nate Dogg. Most of us have come to know him as the hip-hop partner to Warren G and for the hit song “Regulate” in the 90’s.

His untimely death sent fans of the G-Funk era spinning. In an interview with hip hop dx, Warren G says that Nate Dogg was turning over a new leaf in his career at the time he passed.

Warren G: “He was trying to get better and get out of there. He was a child of God and he was raised in the church.” He had just started work with Gospel groups. He was getting into Gospel music and there wasn’t going to be no more “I got hoes…” He was going to the church side of music.  He brought people from the church to my studio and had them singing on one of my tracks. We didn’t finish it.

Video of Nate Dogg’s choir can be seen performing below. For the full interview with Warren G click here.

The man who played Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson’s much criticized “Passion of the Christ,” says the role has been his “cross to bear,” and that Hollywood has shunned him ever since making the film.

Jim Caviezel, who, before taking the role of Jesus, was a rising Hollywood star with strong reviews for his work in “Frequency,” and “The Thin Red Line,” told an audience at First Baptist Church of Orlando on Saturday that Gibson begged him to reconsider taking the gig.

“He said, ‘You’ll never work in this town again,'” Caviezel remembered. “I told him, ‘We all have to embrace our crosses.'”

Caviezel recounted a similar story in 2004, when he spoke of the encounter in an interview with the 700 Club.

“The next day, he said, ‘I want you to be aware of what you are going to go through. You may never work again.’ He said that several times publicly. I told him, ‘Mel, this is what I believe. We all have a cross to carry. I have to carry my own cross. If we don’t carry our crosses, we are going to be crushed under the weight of it. So let’s go and do it.’ And we began with the film.

The filmmaker proved prophetic; the film was slammed for perceived anti-semitism, and roles have been hard to come by, as Caviezel says he was “rejected by [his] own industry.”

Following “Passion,” he starred in the small thriller “Unknown,” had a supporting role in the Denzel Washington film “Deja Vu,” and headlined absolute bombs “Outlander,” and “The Stoning of Soraya M.”

Still, he seems to have no regrets. “We have to give up our names, our reputations, our lives to speak the truth,” Caviezel reasoned to the audience.

In the 700 Club interview, Caviezel gave more insight into his reasons for doing the film.

“I felt like a great presence came within me at times when we were filming,” he said. “This prayer that came from me was, ‘I don’t want people to see me. I just want them to see Jesus. And through that conversions will happen.’ That’s what I wanted more than anything, that people would have a visceral effect to finally make a decision whether to follow Him or not.”

Deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians in the north of Nigeria following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan has brought the death toll to over 500, according to a local civic group.

At least 516 people have died with the violence being the worst in Kaduna state, according to Shehu Sani, executive director of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress.

Muslim opposition supporters of Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim and former military ruler, began rioting after the April 16 victory of Goodluck, a Christian from the south. Outraged over the 57 to 31 percent defeat, armed protesters took to the streets, chanting Buhari’s name and attacking Christian supporters of the president. The violence which took place at churches, homes, and police states, also triggered retaliatory attacks by Christians.

Buhari, candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, alleged widespread fraud in the election outcome. International observers, however, have called the National Assembly election fair and the outcome credible.

Relief officials estimate that at least 65,000 people have been displaced as a result of the tensions.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Jonathan is beefing up security forces to some northern states where post-election violence was most severe.

“Sadly, some misguided elements do not share in the spirit of our democratic achievement,” said Jonathan last week. “They formed into groups of miscreants and struck with deadly and destructive force in some parts of the country. They killed and maimed innocent citizens. They set ablaze business premises, private homes, and even places of worship.”

Click Here to Read Full Report on ChristianPost.com

Hello Fear, the brand new release from Kirk Franklin, celebrates its sixth week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also sits at #4 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #19 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Mary Mary’s latest release Something Big holds to the #2 position this week. The album also sits at #12 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #49 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Keep Living, the brand new effort from Ricky Dillard & New G debuts at the #3 position and #58 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts, while newcomer Preashea Hilliard’s debut Live Out Loud enters at the #4 position and #68 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. The WOW Gospel 2011 compilation rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Make It Loud, the latest from Martha Munizzi debuts at #6, while Juanita Bynum’s More Passion re-enters the charts at #7.

In the world of radio, “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin celebrates its fourth week at the top of the radio charts. Vashawn Mitchell’s “Nobody Greater” holds to the #2 spot while “Walking” from Mary Mary moves to the #3 position. “Well Done” from Deitrick Haddon moves to the #4 spot while “My Heart Says Yes” from Troy Sneed rounds out the week’s top five songs. (May 8, 2011)

Bishop T.D. Jakes has expanded his brand tremendously, from being founder of TDJ Enterprises, to author of more than 30 books, to film producer of the box office feature, Jumping the Broom.  Spreading a message of faith and hope, Jakes, also head of his Dallas-based church, The Potter’s House, proves that one can take their vision into a diversity of ventures, cultivating an empire that speaks volumes.  Jake’s new movie Jumping the Broom finished 3rd at the box office opening week with 13.7 million in sales.  The movie Thor was first with 66 million in it’s opening week, and Fast Five finished second with 32.5 million. 

Bishop Jakes’ mega-church, The Potter’s House, had humble beginnings as a storefront house of worship with just 10 members, and transformed into a 191,000 square foot, 8,000-seat worship center, built for $45 million. It now has more than 30,000 members and has created jobs for hundreds in its more than 50 active not-for-profit ministries.

Under TDJ Enterprises, the spiritual powerhouse produces plays, TV shows, and mega conferences; develops real estate including the $150 million Capella Park; releases Grammy award-winning music via a record label, Dexterity Sounds; writes best-selling books; and manages a multi-million dollar deal with Sony Pictures to produce movies, one of which is the soon-to-be released Jumping the Broom. Also released were NAACP Image Award winner, Woman Thou Art Loosed, starring Loretta Divine and Kimberly Elise, and Not Easily Broken, starring Taraji P. Henson and Morris Chestnut.

Jakes ventured successfully into the literary world as a best-selling author, with books that infuse spiritual guidance and real-life issues. Two nonfiction reads reached No. 3 on The New York Times Best Sellers list, Before You Do: Making Great Decisions That You Won’t Regret, and Reposition Yourself. Reposition Yourself remained on the list for 23 weeks, and spent 20 weeks on USA Today’s best-sellers list. He’s also the author of fiction novels including Cover Girls.

May we keep our brother in prayer.

For more than six decades, The Blind Boys of Alabama have been one of the leading lights in the area of gospel music. That hasn’t stopped the group from dabbling in other genres from time to time, often collaborating with mainstream rock stars. On its latest record, “Take the High Road,” which was released this week, the Blind Boys were joined by some of the biggest names in country music and the results are astonishing. Founding member Jimmy Carter wasn’t surprised at the album’s positive reception. “We had some of the best musicians in Nashville and I think it came out good,” he said from a tour stop in Wellington, New Zealand. “With the musicians and with the producers we had, they knew what they were doing, so we trusted them completely. I think everything worked out very well.

“We have Vince Gill on there, and Hank Williams Jr., The Oak Ridge Boys, Jamey Johnson, Lee Ann Womack.

“And Willie Nelson, too. Can’t forget Willie.”

Though Carter has been singing strictly gospel music since the Blind Boys formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind, he has always been a big fan of country music. “I always have been and I still listen to it all the time,” he said. “My favorite country singer of all time is Jim Reeves. Now my favorite country singers that are living today are Merle Haggard and George Jones. Those are my two favorites.” In fact, Jones attended one of the sessions, but couldn’t take part in the album for health reasons.

“I did (ask him), but at the time we made the record, he was suffering with an allergy problem,” Carter said. “He wanted to, but he couldn’t do it at that particular time.”

One particularly moving number on “Take the High Road” is the Blind Boys’ take on Hank Williams’ classic country gospel song, “I Saw the Light.” Carter also was an admirer of Williams, so it was a natural pairing to do the song with Hank Williams Jr.

“He came in and fit right in with it,” Carter said of that recording session. “I think he did it in one take.”

The group will perform at StageOne at the Fairfield Theatre Company Saturday night, May 7, and Carter promised that “when we come to Connecticut, we’ll be singing some material from that album.”

For Carter, these collaborations are part of their mission to bring gospel music to the attention of people who may not be exposed to it. In the past, the Blind Boys have recorded and performed with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Tom Petty and Prince. The group also is featured in the hit children’s movie “Hop,” which is in theaters now.

“That was a great experience to be on the same show as Peter Gabriel and Tom Petty and those guys,” Carter said. “They love gospel music and they love the Blind Boys and we were honored to be chosen to go on tour with them.

“You want to involve as many people as you can. We want to get more young people involved in our music, that’s why we collaborate with people like Ben Harper and people like that. These people relate to young people, that’s why we don’t mind collaborating with anybody.” Carter only has one rule when it comes to doing a project with another recording artist: “There has to be the gospel message to it,” he said. “We don’t accept material unless we can put it in the gospel context.”

Though the Blind Boys have been releasing albums since 1948, it wasn’t until 2002 that the group won its first Grammy Award as “Spirit of the Century” won in the best traditional soul gospel album category. The Blind Boys won the same award for the following three years and then again in 2009, the same year it was rewarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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We must learn to be strategic in how we fight against the enemy. Knowing your enemy is the most important part of being strategic. So, who is your enemy and what does he want? He wants your soul. Plain and simple, the enemy could care less about your house, your car or your kids. The reason why I say that he is not offended by these things is because he uses some of these same objects to lure you. It is not the things you have that he is after, no, he is after your purpose. Many of us have been praying in hopes of keeping our car and not our salvation. We have been praying desiring to keep our house and not our hope. We believe that we are praying strategically not understanding that it is not the stuff that he cares about. He wants your soul and he will attempt to get it through the stuff that is attached to you.

We have been on our faces far too long crying out for everything that devil stole from us naturally. As we worry more and more about the things that he has taken from us naturally, we began to deplete spiritually. That is his goal. His goal is to make you lose focus on what is valuable. Once you have lost focused, you are no longer on guard for the spiritual attack because of the attack that has manifested physically.

If you would stand strong in faith, he would flee. Also, in the midst of you standing, you would also gain greater faith and be able to produce a greater level of God’s glory. So that in the end, that which was lost would only have been a trade in for the greater that was gained through your faith in God. Deny the enemy any room to move you from your place in God. He is not after your earthly possessions. He wants your soul. Resist him! Stay on the path.

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About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007.  Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God.  An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010.  Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’  

The song “Miracles” is in heavy rotation across the country, but few know the lady behind the uplifting tune. Her name is Tonya Baker. Hardly a new artist, Tonya is carving out a spot in Gospel music with her incredible song and CD titled the “The LIVE Experience” available in stores and online now.

As a vocalist, this young lady is a much sought after psalmist who ministers the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ across the country. She has previously released two recording – “Life In Him” and “Since He Came In” under her independent production company Bakehouse Music Group, LLC. of which she is President. She has appeared on tapings of The Bobby Jones Show, local broadcasts of TBN, The Gospel SuperFest, The Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Conference Women’s Choir; numerous gospel music showcases such as The Stellar Awards Music Showcase, I Hear Music in the Air Conference, The Gospel Music Workshop of America and the Gospel Heritage Foundation New Artist Showcase. She counts it an honor to have ministered in several of the country’s mega-ministries such as Valley Kingdom Ministries (Apostle H.D. Wilson) of Chicago, Illinois, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Bishop Joseph W. Walker) of Nashville, Tennessee. Her music ministry has reached nations as she ministered on a 15 city European (France) tour in 2007. Her most recent France Tour 2009 has reached an additional 15 cities including the prestigious International Music Festival 2009 – Jazz at Juan!

She has served as emcee and host for many events, concerts and showcases throughout the Midwest. Tonya ministers the Word of God in workshop sessions on topics such as Worship and Integrity in Music Ministry.

As a songwriter, she has written songs that have been recorded by such national recording artists as the phenomenal Tonex, and the legendary Helen Baylor with others yet to be released. As a background vocalist, she has traveled with Byron Cage, Percy Bady, Lisa McClendon among others. She has shared the stage and opened for such artists as Shirley Caesar, CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Isreal Houghton, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Mary Mary and Tye Tribbett to name a few.

Tonya is now signed as an artist with Kingdom Records Inc. based in Chicago Illinois along with label mates Shekinah Glory Ministries, Elder Phil Tarver, Cynthia Jones and The Brown Sisters and most recently the legendary soul group The Whispers! She is excited about this next season of her life as the recording, “Special Friend”, has been released nationally and is available in stores and online right now! This project is distributed through the Universal Music Christian Group.

Prepare your hearts to receive her ministry… Mrs. Tonya Baker.

The Word Network, the largest African American religious network in the U.S. and the world, has just finalized an historic partnership with Juanita Bynum Enterprises.

Together, The Word Network and Dr. Juanita Bynum will be producing quality, innovative, urban programming. All this excitement and new direction will coincide with the completion of The Word Networks world headquarters expansion later this year.

As the new Director of Special Programming, Dr. Juanita Bynum will be on The Word Network Monday through Friday at 5:00 a.m. ET; in addition, she will be producing monthly special events that are EXCLUSIVE to The Word Network. You can also tune in to Dr. Bynum LIVE Monday through Friday from midnight to 1:00 a.m. ET, at www.radio1000.org.

The Word Network is excited about this new partnership and says it will continue to bring you the best in urban ministry and gospel music.

Bishop TD Jakes is set to release the second installment of Sacred Love Songs on May 31, 2011.  The project, titled Sacred Love Songs 2, is a 12-track compilation of music inspired by the new movie Jumping the Broom on Sony Pictures.

With guest artists ranging from Fred Hammond to Karen Clark Sheard, El DeBarge to Joe, Bishop Paul Morton to Ledisi, this project promises to have a little something for everyone.

The first single from Sacred Love Songs 2 is a modern remake of Kirk Franklin’shit “Love,” recorded by Anaysha Figueroa.

Td Jakes’ Jumping the Broom hits theaters Friday May 6th. 

Here’s a full track listing…

1. The Vow featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes
2. Let’s Stay Together featuring Ledisi
3. Back At One featuring Micah Stampley
4. Just Take My Heart featuring Crystal Aikin
5. Closer featuring Joe
6. The Homily featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes
7. Inseparable featuring Karen Clark Sheard & Kirk Whalum
8. My Lady And Myself Featuring Fred Hammond
9. Love featuring Anaysha Figueroa & Bishop T.D. Jakes
10. Finally featuring Bishop Paul Morton
11. How Can You Love Me featuring El Debarge
12. Don’t Go To Bed Mad featuring Terry Thomas 

Jumping the Broom Movie Trailer