Award-winning and beloved Gospel duo Mary Mary will deliver a special holiday performance alongside BeBe & CeCe Winans on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  The show will air tonight December 23, 2010 on NBC starting at 11:35/10:35c.

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday and their special appearance, Mary Mary have also launched their “Tweet N’ Meet” Christmas Contest engaging fans to tune into The Tonight Show for a chance to receive an autographed Mary Mary Christmas CD and a personal telephone call from the ladies on Christmas day.  CLICK HERE to enter the contest.

Mary Mary is gearing up for their new album due in stores tentatively called “Something Big.”  The single “Walking” is available on online for purchase.  Congratulations to Mary Mary and Bebe & CeCe.  Getting put on such a big outlet is good for Gospel music. 

Related: VIDEO: BeBe & CeCe and Mary Mary on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Related: Mary Mary Chats LIVE with Fans: Says BET is Canceling Show “Sunday’s Best”

Related: Mary Mary Releases New Single “Walking”

The old expression “when it rains it pours” seems to fit Bishop Eddie Long.  Bishop Long is now facing another legal battle, the U.S. Secret Service is investigating him for being linked to a “questionable mortgage venture” that caused many church members to lose their homes.

Long is accused of using his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to assist in a corrupt mortgage scheme. Fred Lee, the frontman for Matrix Capitol Mortgage Company held mortgage payment seminars at New Birth, promising to lower homeowners’ payments.

Each week the company would collect thousands of dollars from church members promising to lower their mortgage payments but instead many of the homeowners lost their homes in foreclosure.

A spokesperson for Long says New Birth only provided Matrix Capitol with a room to hold his meetings. This latest investigation comes on top of a lawsuit filed by four men that claim Long seduced them sexually while they were teens.

ALSO READ: Bishop Eddie Long Case Gets Trial Date: Early Mediation Set For February

Brian Courtney Wilson recently posted on his facebook page that he’s going to be preaching his first sermon this weekend at Houston’s St John’s UMC.  Before the post I text him to find out if it was true.  Brian humbly texts back that he’ll be doing “more singing than preaching.”  Brian is one of the most celebrated new artists of 2010.  His singles “Already Here” and “All I need” are still on the Top Gospel song charts a year later.

I’m sure Brian will do just fine ministering in whatever way God leads him.  I’ll be in Houston this Sunday, so we’ll see if I can sneak in my camera!

Donald Lawrence is one of the hottest Gospel artist on the planet.  Everything he touches seems to turn to gold or platinum for that matter.  Lawrence a Grammy-nominated and Stellar Award-winning gospel music artist, songwriter and producer wants Gospel music fans to pick the cover artwork for his upcoming album, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), due in stores on March 15, 2011.

Be sure to visit http://www.DonaldLawrence.com to place your vote from among three potential covers for the new project.  My favorite is the one shown below.

The album’s first single (and title track), “YRM,” features a guest appearance by legendary gospel music artist Dorinda Clark Cole and is already gaining significant airplay at radio. You can listen to the single that was premiered on The Yolanda Adams Morning Show by clicking right here.  The song also features Dorinda Clark-Cole.

You can get the gospel song “Your Righteous Mind” at Amazon.

Dallas-area police have dropped an investigation into allegations of extortion made by the founders of Daystar Television Network, concluding that they have not found any unlawful activity.

Despite the end of a police investigation into the blackmail allegations, two lawsuits over the extramarital affair are still in play.

Jeanette Hawkins, a former Daystar marketing director, sued Marcus Lamb for fraud and defamation, alleging that claims of extortion against her and two other colleagues are false. The television network filed a countersuit alleging Hawkins played a leading role in the plot to extort the company.

Daystar Television Network said in a statement obtained by The Christian Post on Friday that it “will continue to aggressively pursue its legal claims to prevent former employees and their legal counsel from capitalizing on the personal crisis experienced by co-founders, the Lambs.”

The Daystar founders went public with the story of Marcus Lamb’s affair, which took place several years ago, during an appearance on the network’s “Celebration” TV program in late November.

On Thursday, the couple appeared on the “Dr. Phil” show to again recount their journey of recovery and healing.

Joni Lamb told host Dr. Phil McGraw that the couple had one motive in their decision to come as guests on his show.

“One reason: while we do what we do everyday and that is to encourage people that you can make through even something what we’ve gone through, and marriage is worth fighting for,” she said.

“For so long, we pretend that these kinds of things don’t go on in the church but they do. I think it’s time for us to speak up, speak to it and talk about it and try to help people.”

On the show, Marcus Lamb reiterated remorse over his decision to have an affair, calling it “the worst decision of my life.”

Lecrae’s latest release Rehab stays atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts for a seventh consecutive week. The album also enters at #20 on the Top Rap Albums Charts and #17 on the Independent Albums Charts. I Believe: Live, the latest from James Fortune & FIYA debuts at the #2 spot. Marvin Sapp’s Here I Am enters this week at the #3 spot, while William McDowell’s As We Worship: Live comes in at #4. Triumphant from VaShawn Mitchell rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Under An Open Heaven from Wess Morgan moves eight places to #17.

In the world of radio, “Nobody Greater” from VaShawn Mitchell returns to the top spot on the radio charts. “I Believe” from James Fortune & FIYA featuring Shawn McLemore and Zacardi Cortez enters at the #2 spot while “He Wants It All” from Forever Jones moves to the #3 position. “I Choose to Worship” from Wess Morgan holds to the #4 spot while William McDowell’s “I Give Myself Away” rounds out the week’s top five songs.

We live in a day and age where obligation, and not love, begets servitude. People make the right choice with their actions while in their hearts they hate the choice they feel they had to make. This attitude and mindset is equivalent to filet mingon on a trash can lid. Many of us have found ourselves settling for the right actions even though our hearts did not purpose that action. Currently, I am writing a series called Living In Denial. The series is all about denying the flesh. However, when we deny our flesh we must cheerfully choose to go after God and not grudgingly give up our desires. When we grudgingly serve Him it changes everything. Our service is not pleasing even though the job is done. We are not happy even though we are living in righteousness. It all goes back to the fact that your heart is not in the same place as your choice. When your heart is not in the same place, you will revile everything that is birthed out of your choice.

It is through choice that we receive power. Once a choice is made, we are able to submit to an authority. Once an authority has been established, it is that authority that endues us with power. We must learn to make our choice our treasure. We must cherish our choice as an opportunity and not an obligatory inconvenience of righteousness. Until you began to operate in love, you and God will be unhappy. You will loathe the work you do for Him because your heart is elsewhere. He will loathe it because He does not eat off trashcan lids. Make a choice! Operate in love! Tap into the power of a fully submitted life! Stay on the Path!

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’ inspirational novel.  Email calvinwalkerauthor@yahoo.com

Visit www.TheGospelView.com to Watch the hit web-show produced by the staff of Path MEGAzine.

About the Gospel View:

The hit web show “The Gospel View” returns for season two on January 3rd with an all new website. The website will have a new home independent of its Path MEGAzine.com sponsor, which was the former resting place of season ones opinionated discussion talk-show.

Season 2 will tackle more topics effecting the African American and faith-based communities. Interviews, current news and events will be presented by The Gospel View panel, and producer/host Kris Patrick. Patrick is the creator of the ground–breaking magazine called Path MEGAzine. Returning to the panel is LaKeshia Citizen, Paige Patrick, and newly added Christin Gordon.

You can catch The Gospel View every Monday at 9am/est. at www.TheGospelView.com beginning January 3, 2011.  For sponsorship and advertising opportunities call 713-516-6555 or email info@thegospelview.com

Acclaimed gospel duo Mary Mary has a new single out, and they want you to be a part of it.

Their latest song, “Walking,” is from their pending 2011 album release, but is currently available via digital download sites like iTunes. But, like any successful music act, they need a video for it – and they want their fans to be involved.

If you’re over 18, you can potentially appear in the video for “Walking,” being shot in the Los Angeles area this Saturday, Dec. 18th.

Since that’s soon, you’d better get on it now. Please visit marymarycasting@sonymusic.com, and do the following:

• Submit a recent photo of yourself.
• Submit your age, email address, address and phone number.
• Confirm your availability on Dec. 18.
• If you are one of the people chosen to appear in the video, you will have to arrange your own transportation to the set, the location of which will be sent to you. It will be somewhere in the Los Angeles or Orange County areas.
 
Erica and Tina Campbell, the blood sisters known as Mary Mary, are Stellar and Grammy Award winners, who released their platinum-selling debut, “Thankful,” in 2000. The two have become a one of gospel’s most popular acts and have hosted BET’s popular gospel competition “Sunday Best.”

They faced a bit of controversy when their last big hit, 2008’s AutoTune-tinged “God In Me,” with Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, faced criticism for some for being too secular, a complaint that was compounded when rapper Kanye West and his then-girlfriend, Amber Rose, appeared in the video.

The Celebration of Gospel took place over the weekend and Hollywood celebrities, and Gospel artists hit the red carpet in good spirits.  Check out the videos below to see your favorite artists, actors, and pastors express their love for Christ and Gospel music.  The Celebration of Gospel airs January 30, 2011 on BET.

Related: Whitney Houston Makes Surprise Appearance at BET Celebration of Gospel