Well any doubts about the President’s birth place should be put to rest as the White House releases the birth certificate of President Barack Obama.  White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer released the following statement:

In 2008, in response to media inquiries, the President’s campaign requested his birth certificate from the state of Hawaii. The state sent the campaign the President’s birth certificate, the same legal documentation provided to all Hawaiians as proof of birth in state, and the campaign immediately posted it on the internet. That birth certificate can be seen here (PDF).

When any citizen born in Hawaii requests their birth certificate, they receive exactly what the President received. In fact, the document posted on the campaign website is what Hawaiians use to get a driver’s license from the state and the document recognized by the Federal Government and the courts for all legal purposes. That’s because it is the birth certificate. This is not and should not be an open question.

The President believed the distraction over his birth certificate wasn’t good for the country. It may have been good politics and good TV, but it was bad for the American people and distracting from the many challenges we face as a country. Therefore, the President directed his counsel to review the legal authority for seeking access to the long form certificate and to request on that basis that the Hawaii State Department of Health make an exception to release a copy of his long form birth certificate. They granted that exception in part because of the tremendous volume of requests they had been getting. President Barack Obama’s long form birth certificate can be seen here (PDF):

At a time of great consequence for this country – when we should be debating how we win the future, reduce our deficit, deal with high gas prices, and bring stability to the Middle East, Washington, DC, was once again distracted by a fake issue.  The President’s hope is that with this step, we can move on to debating the bigger issues that matter to the American people and the future of the country.

Contemporary gospel singer CeCe Winans, currently on what’s amounting to a farewell tour for her duo with brother BeBe Winans, is planning to make a live album for her next solo venture.

“We’re scheduling a live recording, so we’re working on the songs for that,” Winans says. The date and venue have not yet been determined, but Winans says that she’s “gathering the songs together, writing and figuring everything else out.” Her last solo release was “Thy Kingdom Come” in 2008, while she’s previously released a pair of concert videos, “Live at the Lambs Theater in New York” in 2000 and “Live in the Throne Room” in 2004.

Winans, meanwhile, is “totally on board” with the pending end of the BeBe and CeCe Winans duo act. The group won a pair of Grammy Awards for last year’s “Still,” which was their first new studio album in 15 years and topped the Billboard gospel chart and hit No. 2 on the R&B chart, and she says the success made it seem like a good time for the siblings to say goodbye.

“We both have other things that we want to do, and we’re both happy doing what we do,” Winans explains. “We both understand the commitment that it takes to continue to do BeBe and CeCe; it’s just a lot, you know? We wanted to come back, which we did with (‘Still’) and saw the people still love us, which is wonderful. But we also realized this is really the end.”

Don’t expect a big farewell show from the duo, she adds. “We’re not trying to make a big exit noise here,” she says, noting that the Oct. 19 presentation of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will likely double as their final formal event together. But Winans is also sure she and her brother will sing together again in the future.

“I don’t think at all this’ll be the last that you’ll ever hear of BeBe and CeCe — it just won’t be going in the studio or going on tour again,” she says. “I’m not sad because I know that whatever God’s will is for BeBe and CeCe, wherever we will reunite…we will fulfill what we need to do. So I’m not sad at all. We had a great ride.”

Besides the live album, Winans is also looking forward to this year’s Always Sisters Forever Brothers youth conference that she sponsors annual in Nashville and takes place July 21-23. “It’s just a time we invite young people to come and we invite speakers to speak into their lives and try to motivate them and encourage them to do the right thing in their lives,” Winans says. It’s been wonderful. We’ve had incredible people come in to share their wisdom and their knowledge, everybody from (former NFL coach) Tony Dungy to (poet and activist) Maya Angelou. That’s where my heart is. My passion is pouring into the next generation. I could do that full time, really.”

Should there be legal limitations to where someone can openly read the bible in public?  One assistant pastor and two elders from Calvary Chapel of Hemet, California, went to the Hemet DMV before it opened and one of the men started to read the Bible aloud. Less than thirty minutes later, he was arrested for “impeding an open business” under Penal Code Section 602.1(b).

Shortly after the men arrived at the DMV and began to simply read the Bible out loud, a security guard approached Mark Mackey as he was reading the Bible and told him to stop. The men believed that they had a First Amendment right to free speech as they were standing in a planter within the parking lot and were located on public property. Further, they were not interfering with any business of the DMV and were not yelling or disturbing the peace.

About ten minutes later, a California Highway Patrolman approached Mr. Mackey as he read, took the Bible out of his hands, and arrested him. As the CHP officer was arresting him and putting him in his patrol car, the two men who were with him — Assistant Pastor of Calvary Chapel Hemet, Brett Coronado, and Ed Flores — asked the officer, “What law was he breaking?” Instead of identifying a legal violation, the officer asked, “Were you preaching too?” After continuing to ask the officer for the legal violation, Pastor Coronado and Ed Flores were also arrested by another CHP officer who had come to the DMV and were also cited for “impeding an open business.” Neither Pastor Coronado nor Mr. Flores ever read the Bible out loud anywhere on DMV premises.

The charge of “impeding an open business” was enacted in large part to protect businesses against protestors who block the doors of an open business. At the time of the arrest of these men, the DMV was closed, and they were standing at least fifty feet away from the entrance.

“This is an abuse of power on the part of the CHP,” said Jennifer Monk, Associate General Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “The arresting officer could find no appropriate penal code to use when arresting these men. The purpose of the arrests appears to have been to censor them.”

After their arrests, these men were released, and the District Attorney has not at this time pursued any criminal charges. Prior to the arrest and during the arrest, Pastor Coronado and others videotaped the actions of the CHP, and a link to the edited footage can be found below. Advocates for Faith & Freedom has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of these three men for violation of their right to free speech and for unlawful arrest.

“Whether this was an intentional violation of our clients’ constitutional liberty or whether this was an act of ignorance on the part of the CHP, this lawsuit is important in order to preserve the liberty to read the Bible aloud on public property without fear of criminal prosecution,” said Robert Tyler, General Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom.

A copy of the complaint can be found here.

After God created Adam, He gave him a job. God knew Adam’s potential to name all the animals would never be released unless it was challenged. Potential must be exercised to be fulfilled. Demands must be made on potential if it is to be released and fulfilled. God has given you potential. Unless you make demands on it, you will die with it. Unless you venture to try things you’ve never done before, you’ll never experience the wealth that lives within you. Decide today, “I’m going to do something I’ve never done before.” “I’m going to get a promotion this year in my job.” “I’m going to win more people to Jesus this year than my church and my pastor ever did.” If you have a business, resolve to cut the overhead and increase service. Give your potential some demands. It needs to be maximized and challenged.

The greatest works in the world will be done by people who don’t care who gets credit. I don’t want to be famous, I just want to be faithful. I don’t want to be well-known, I want to be well-used. I don’t want to be powerful, I want to be potent. Success requires striking out on new paths instead of traveling those that are well-worn. Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. There are many people with great ideas, but they have no desire to try. There are four steps to the accomplishment of your dream: Prepare prayerfully. Plan purposefully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. Failure is the path of least persistence. 

Don’t be Afraid to Try:

No one can climb beyond the limitations he has placed on himself. Success is never final—failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts—courage and the willingness to move on. A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to the grave, obscure men, whom fear and timidity have prevented from making their first attempt to do something. Never tell a person that something can’t be done, because God may have been waiting for centuries for someone ignorant enough to believe that the impossible could be possible.

The poorest of men are men without a dream. Don’t be so afraid of failure that you refuse to try. Demand something of yourself. Failure is only an incident. There’s more than the failure—there’s success deep behind that failure. Failure is the opportunity to more intelligently begin again. When you fail, that is a great chance to start again. Learn from it and move on. Don’t be paralyzed by the failure. 

One good thing about failure is that it is proof that you tried. The greatest mistake you can make is to be afraid of making one. People who do nothing in life are usually people who do nothing. People who don’t make mistakes in life are usually people who didn’t have a chance to make any because they never tried. Challenge your potential. Demand things of yourself that are beyond what you have already done. Expect more from yourself than the accomplishments that are easily within your reach. What you have is not all you are. The limit of your potential is God. It is better to attempt a thing and fail, than to never try and not know you could succeed. 

Excerpt from the book “Understanding Your Potential” by Dr. Myles Munroe.  Article Courtesy of StreamingFaith.com

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Dr. Myles Munroe is an internationally renowned bestselling author, lecturer, teacher, life coach, government consultant, and leadership mentor. He is senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship, where his wife, Ruth Ann, serves as co-senior pastor. http://www.bfmmm.com.

Truly one of Gospel’s most influential artists, RICKY DILLARD, takes his signature choir music to new heights with the release of KEEP LIVING on Light Records.  In stores and online now.

Dillard’s significance to choir music is unrivaled. Throughout his 20-year career, he has remained committed to advancing music exclusively for the choir.  Choirs are mainstays in our churches around the world and Dillard’s music continues to provide them with relevant and contemporary music.

On the upcoming project entitled KEEP LIVING, Dillard takes his signature choir vocal arrangements and melodies to another level.  Producing songs that are mature, discriminating and wise, it is clear that he has grown in his approach to music.   Gems like “I Am Saved,” “He Turned It,” and “He Reigns,” are definitive and timeless offerings.

The title track “Keep Living” a literal command that reminds us that we always have something to live for with God on board.  Industry fave, Chrystal Rucker simply soars on the lead vocals.  The lead single, “God Is Great,” is an instantaneous classic. Lyrically, the simplicity of the drive, ‘God is Great’, to the intricate verses, the song immediately gets the listener going. Dillard himself is featured on the song giving it life while his long-time choir, New G’s, dynamic vocals and modulation are executed flawlessly.   Quickly embraced by Gospel radio and connecting with audiences, “God Is Great,” charted immediately and continues to rise.

While the moniker, ‘choir master’ is weighty, Dillard steps right into the role. “I feel the Lord shifting me into a father / mentor position,” said Dillard. “Ministers of music and choir directors are looking to me for mentorship and counsel and people look at us to see what we [New G] are doing next.”

KEEP LIVING was recorded live at Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit, MI and people can be a part of the awesome worship experience by purchasing the concert DVD along with the CD which will be available in-stores and on-line everywhere April 26^th

Fresh new music is coming from Aretha Franklin.  The album titled “Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love,” will be available exclusively at Walmart on May 3rd.

It can be pre-ordered now. The digital version is scheduled to be available on iTunes and Amazon on June 3rd.

“OK ladies take a good look at the photo of me on this album; this is how you’re supposed to look when you’re a woman falling out of love.  Don’t sit by the phone waiting for him to call you, girlfriend; I want you to listen very closely to the lyrics of the songs on this album and you’ll hear a few good tips. Go out and have a ball!” – Love always, Ree Ree

Tyler Perry’s new movie “Madea’s Big Happy Family” opened to raving reviews from movie-goers across the country this weekend. Tyler has been the subject of many headlines after his outburst against Director Spike Lee went viral last week. In response to Spike’s numerous critiques against Perry’s successful works, Perry says, “Spike Lee can go straight to hell.” Lee has been quoted as saying that Perry’s work is coonery and buffoonery, and that it represents black people stereotypically. Actor Idris Alba who even played in a Tyler Perry movie not featuring the Madea character also says that the Medea character is buffoonery.

None of that mattered as Perry’s latest film opened #2 at the box office with 25.8 million in first weekend sales. The movie ‘Rio’ narrowly held on to #1 for a second straight week with 26.8 million.  

As for Perry, The debut triumphed over Perry’s last film “For Colored Girls,” that finished with 20.1 million in its opening weekend sales. Perry doesn’t appear to be slowing down, and his fans still seem to love Madea.

Perry was quoted on the Conan Show as saying “As long as people want to see it, I’ll keep going. I’ll keep doing it,” Tyler said Wednesday on “Conan.” “If people stop coming to see the character, what will happen is that old broad will die really quickly.” In the midst of all the excitement, it looks like the playwright and cross-dressing actor is preparing to launch a new show, “For Better or for Worse.”

The new production will premiere on TBS and is based on the characters of couples flick “Why Did I Get Married?”

Sources reveal that the show will likely follow a group of college best friends as they deal with life’s issues: Carl and Leslie, a beautiful, happily married couple who want their friends to be as happy as they are; Brian, a TV sportscaster who has a volatile yet comedic relationship with his wife, Michelle, a hair salon owner; and Janice, a therapist married to a sharp, ambitious lawyer, Jordan, who’s trying to keep his secrets secret.

According to reports, Miss USA 2008, Crystle Stewart has already booked a part in the series, but it’s not known which part she will play.

In the meantime, for those of you who thought Madea was going to disappear for a while, Perry said she’s here to stay and ain’t retiring any time soon. Sorry Spike.

He also lamented about his methods of branding, saying he may have gone overboard.

“People forget that Walt Disney was a person. His name was above the title and it’s a great example. When you’re branding yourself and building a business [you] use your name. I think I just did it a little bit too much,” Tyler said.

Watch Tyler spill the beans on “Conan”:

Bishop Eddie Long preached Easter services at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church amid reports that mediation sessions could be close to an agreement in his sexual misconduct cases. Long spoke on the importance of prayer and emphasized that the Christian message is aimed at sinners.

“There’s always somebody going to be yakking at you … you don’t have to answer to anybody but God,” Long said. The resurrection “was not for perfect folk … but for the least, those who thought they failed,” Long said. Concluding, Long said, “This ain’t going to be no bad Friday for me, it’s going to be a Good Friday.”

Channel 2 Action News reports that Sunday Bishop Eddie Long seemed to have embedded messages in his sermons that referenced his accusers.

“You ain’t messin’ with me. I shall rise again and I ain’t going through this,” Long said.

His sermon comes just days after reports came in that the mega-church pastor was close to reaching a settlement with four former church members who accused him of using his spiritual powers to engage in sexual activity.

Long never directly addressed the lawsuit or any possible settlement. Instead, he imparted apparent cryptic commentary about his accusers.

“You have to go down there and let the devil know that what they thought was gonna kill you, didn’t kill you. What they thought was gonna bring terror to you, didn’t bring terror to you and you made the enemy a public spectacle,” Long said during one sermon.

On Friday, Dekalb County Magistrate Judge Johnny Panos told our Channel 2’s Tom Jones he jump started mediation between Long and the accusers and that they were close to an agreement.

“Why wait to the summer? Why wait to the fall? Get it done now and what better time to do it than Holy week,” Panos said.

If an agreement isn’t reached, the case could go to trial this summer. Channel 2 also reported there was apparently one major obstacle preventing a resolution, but that appears to have been settled and the two sides are working on resolving the remaining issues.

As apart of the settlement legal experts predict each of the four young men would get large sums of money, with a clause that prevents them from speaking publicly about the case or settlement. If that happens, we may never know the whole truth.

Hello Fear, the brand new release from Kirk Franklin, celebrates its fourth week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also sits at #4 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #14 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 #10 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #37 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. The WOW Gospel 2011 compilation holds to the #3 spot, while Church on the Moon from Deitrick Haddon maintains the #4 position. Israel Houghton‘s latest Love God. Love People: The London Sessionsjumps fifteen places to round out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Get Ready from Forever Jones jumps five spots to #17, while James Hall & The Voices of Citadel‘s latest Won’t It Be Wonderful moves five spots to #22. 

In the world of radio, “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin celebrates its second week at the top of the radio charts. Vashawn Mitchell‘s “Nobody Greater” moves to the #2 spot while “I Give Myself Away” from William McDowell comes in at the #3 position. “Walking” from Mary Mary takes the #4 spot while “Well Done” from Deitrick Haddon rounds out the week’s top five songs.

The L.A. Times reports that four years after airing a misleading video segment about Crenshaw Christian Center founder Dr. Frederick K.C. Price, ABC News has issued a public apology to Price.

In a story called “Enough!” that aired on ABC’s “20/20” and “Good Morning America” in March 2007, ABC News and then-correspondent John Stossel investigated whether ministers of several large congregations had used donations to support lavish lifestyles. The segment featured a 10-second video clip taken from a previously televised sermon that showed Price saying: “I live in a 25-room mansion, I have my own $6-million yacht, I have my own private jet and I have my own helicopter and I have seven luxury automobiles.”

In reality, Price did not own any of those things: He was preaching about a hypothetical person who was rich but spiritually unsatisfied. “Friends, to me that’s bad success,” Price added during the sermon, though that part was cut from the ABC News segment.

Newsmagazines have faced battles over how their subjects are portrayed before: NBC’s “Dateline” issued an on-air apology for staging a car-truck crash, and ABC News and “20/20” went to court over accusations that the network committed fraud in a hidden-camera expose alleging unsanitary conditions at Food Lion’s supermarkets.

“ABC News apologizes for any harm caused to you as a result of its broadcast of a video clip that ABC News stated was of you speaking about yourself when in fact you were talking about a hypothetical person,” Kerry Smith of ABC News said in her statement to Price. “ABC News regrets that it did not conduct sufficient investigation of the clip after receiving it to establish its correct context.  By presenting the footage out of context, ABC News misled its audience and failed to meet its own standards, which ABC deeply regrets.” 

“We had faith that this matter was in God’s hands,” Price replied in a statement. “And once again God has shown us that when we trust in Him and act in good conscience we are led to the truth, and to a place of abundant joy.”

A source familiar with the situation says that ABC News made a similar apology on the air in 2007, but issuing a written apology was required as part of a recent legal settlement between ABC News and Price.