Gospel legend Albertina Walker will be celebrating her 80th birthday with a two-day gala. A scholarship foundation named in Walker’s honor is hosting the event on August 29th in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Special guests will include Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, The Caravans, Joe Ligon, Amy Rush and Joshua’s Troop.

A second celebration concert is slated to honor the gospel legend at the Apostolic Church of God, also in Chicago, hosted by Dr. Bobby Jones and Pam Morris. That event will feature gospel icons Revs. Shirley Caesar and Donnie McClurkin with the Clark sisters, to name a few.

“Making His Band” is Sean “Puff Daddy” “Diddy” Combs latest reality show. In this spin-off of Making the Band, Diddy is looking for musicians and singers for his new album. The album is set to be different as Puff Daddy attempts to sing using talk boxes.

I found it interesting that 3 of the final contestants are strongly rooted in the Gospel community. Beginning with Chris Kee who competes for the drummer position. Chris Kee is the Son of Gospel Star John P. Kee. Mike Moore who plays keys/drums, son of the late James Moore. Also making an appearance is Gospel Producer Gerald “Rick” Robinson, who competes for the keyboard position in the band. Rick along with Gospel artist VaShawn Mitchell recently produced Bishop Larry Trotter’s new CD project.

This report broke by Path MEGAzine comes on the heels of CNN’s interview with P.J. Morton, who argues there’s nothing wrong with Gospel artists singing about love. I wonder what Puff Daddy is going to be singing about?   Making His Band airs Mondays at 10est. on MTV.  

Chris Brown’s mother Joyce Hawkins, has broken her silence about his assault case, and spoken for the first time since her son left Rihanna battered and bruised in February. She speaks openly about the goodness of God, and the promises she made to God concerning her son.  Chris Brown was sentenced to 5 years probation, 6 months community service, anger management classes, and ordered to stay away from singer Rihanna for 5 years.

Chris Brown’s mother Joyce Hawkins Statement:

         I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you for your continued support. I’m sorry I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone as this case was on going. I can now say this has been the most painful moment in my entire life, but knowing that you were still standing by Chris’ side in his time of need made this a little easier for us. Because of all your prayers God brought him through. I just want to say God has never failed me and never will. All moms and dads please stand by your children and pray for their goodness each and everyday. Chris and I love you so much, as the tears fall from my eyes and the pain lingers in my heart I still say thank you God, thank you thank you almighty God. If any of you wonder why I continue to speak of God it’s because I know no other way. I made a promise to him I would never be ashamed of him no matter where I am or who I talk to. You see this whole thing isn’t about Chris it’s about God. He wants to show all of you the goodness of him through Chris. Chris will be addressing all of his fans very soon. We love you so much and so does God. "

Thank you.

L.A. County coroner’s officials found lethal levels of the powerful anesthetic propofol after examining Michael Jackson’s body, according to a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The search warrant states that Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, told Los Angeles Police Department detectives that he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks. He had been giving Jackson 50 milligrams of propofol every night using an intravenous line, according to the court records.

But Murray told detectives he felt Jackson was becoming addicted to the substance and began trying to wean the pop star off the drugs. He lowered the dosage to 25 milligrams and mixed it with two other sedatives, lorazepam and midazolam. On June 23, two days before Jackson’s death, he administered those two medications and withheld the propofol.

 On the morning Jackson died, Murray tried to induce sleep without using propofol, according to the affidavit. He said he gave Jackson valium at 1:30 a.m. When that didn’t work, he said, he injected lorazepam intravenously at 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., when Jackson was still awake, Murray administered midazolam.

Over the next few hours, Murray said he gave Jackson various drugs. Then at 10:40 a.m., Murray administered 25 milligrams of propofol after Jackson repeatedly demanded the drug, according to the court records.

Although Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities said they could find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. However, police detectives saw about eight bottles of propofol in the house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.

Other drugs that were confiscated in the search included valium, tamsulosin, lorazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, trazodone and tizanidine. They also found propofol in Murray’s medical bag. Murray told detectives that he was not the first doctor to administer the powerful anesthetic to Jackson.

At least two unidentified doctors gave Jackson propofol in Germany. Between March and April 2009, Murray said he called Las Vegas doctor David Adams at Jackson’s request to arrange for Adams to administer propofol. Murray said he was present at a cosmetologist’s office, where Adams used propofol to sedate Jackson. Since he began treating Jackson, Murray said he repeatedly asked the pop star what other physicians were treating Jackson and what drugs they were prescribing. But Jackson declined to provide the information, Murray told authorities.

Grammy, Dove, and Stellar award winning writer P.J. Morton promoted his new book on CNN last Sunday. P.J. Morton is the son of Mega-Church Pastor’s Paul S. Morton and Debra Morton. The debate is centered on P.J. Morton’s new book, "Why Can’t I Sing About Love?" with the sub-topic being "The Truth about the Church against Secular Music."

P.J. explains on CNN that there is a place for love songs and a place for Gospel music. None of which are against the word of God. Former R & B artist and now Gospel artist Tye Tribbett was also on CNN opposing P.J. Morton saying, "No man can serve to masters." "At some point you’re not going to be comfortable doing both, and I couldn’t."

In The Gospel View’s interview found on The Path MEGAzine, Tye expanded on his CNN statements saying, "There’s a purpose for love songs, but I don’t believe they should be sung in the church." Now both camps are hitting the Internet blogs, and social networking sites claiming to be in the right. Who do you think is right? Visit www.thegospelview.com episode 10 for the Tye Tribbett interview.

 UPDATE: P.J. Morton’s Response to Tye’s Comments and Critics

President Obama accused those actively opposed to his drive for healthcare reform of "bearing false witness" Wednesday during a teleconference organized by members of the "Religious Left."

In a ten-minute pitch to an estimated 140,000 people from various faith communities, Obama spoke out against what he branded "fabrications" whipped up by opponents of his policy, including claims that it would expand abortions, give health care to illegal immigrants and ration end-of-life care.

"This notion that somehow we are setting up death panels that would decide on whether elderly people get to live or die … that is just an extraordinary lie," Obama said.

"You’ve heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortions. Not true," he added.

"These are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation – that is that we look out for one another, that I am my brother’s keeper and I am my sister’s keeper," insisted the president.

In reframing the health care debate as "a core ethical and moral obligation," Obama implored the coalition of progressive religious leaders and lay – which included Faith in Public Life, PICO National Network, Sojourners and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good – to help promote his plan to lower costs and expand insurance coverage for all Americans.

Obama cited the role of religious organizations in earlier legislative fights for civil rights and programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

"Men and women of faith have helped to show us what’s possible when we’re guided by our hopes, and not our fears," Obama said. "That’s what you can do again today to help us achieve quality, affordable health care for every American."

According to organizers, Wednesday’s "40 Minutes for Health Reform" teleconference included members of the faith community from more than 30 religious denominations and organizations, representing millions of people from the Evangelical, Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Jewish and Muslim traditions.

The call-in was part of a massive faith-based, pro-health care reform campaign that launched last week. The campaign, "40 Days for Health Reform," involves faith leaders, mainly associated with the "Religious Left," from across America who have committed to urge their local and state representatives to support health care reform.

Their efforts contrast starkly with those of many conservative, pro-life groups and their leaders, who have been vocal opponents of the health care reform bill because they believe its ambiguous language on abortion coverage would leave the door open to the government funding the procedure.

Following Wednesday’s teleconference, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins accused Obama of having "deliberately misled the American people" as he "knows very well that pro-abortion House and Senate Committees rejected every single amendment to keep abortion funding out of the health care overhaul."

"With this President, you must look at his actions because his rhetoric doesn’t match his deeds," the conservative leader stated. "He fully intends to fund or subsidize abortion services in the health care overhaul."

Other groups that have criticized the proposed health care bill include Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America and Traditional Values Coalition.

A San Diego dance teacher who was fired over a song she played in class will have her day in court. After a five year wait Kathy Villalobos hopes a court will rule her dismissal was a violation of her rights.

According to Christian Newswire, Villalobos played a song in dance class to her students that had "Christ" in it. And within five days she was fired. Jury selection and her trial begin this week at the El Cajon East County Courthouse.

"This is a tremendous injustice and violation of religious liberties" said Mary Kuper, Protest Organizer. "Our Country was founded upon ‘In God we Trust’ and ‘One Nation Under God’, mentioning the name of Christ is an honor and a blessing, certainly not a reason for termination of employment. We hold the public school system accountable for this unreasonable act of injustice."

Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is representing Ms. Villalobos.

August 17, 2009 – Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth is scheduled to begin her journey toward a doctor of ministry degree today at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

As previously reported, the reality TV villain recently revealed her plans to enter seminary school after saying she has been hearing the calling for some time.

Ivan Hicks, the school’s associate dean for African-American studies, says Omarosa, a Youngstown, Ohio, native, has a heart for Christian ministry and has done work on behalf of the homeless and the poor in Haiti.

He says Omarosa’s reputation for both good and bad will help her as a minister, because people will relate to her, according to the Associated Press.

SOURCE: EUR Web

Tyler Perry is footing the bill to send 65 Black and Hispanic children to Walt Disney World. After learning that the inner city kids who attend a day camp run by Creative Steps were refused entry at a private swim club because of racism, he took matters into his own hands.

"It broke my heart and I wanted to do something. I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them. Show them they are just as good as anyone else that they can do or be anything they want to be no matter what anyone says. This is all about the kids" Tyler Perry.

"I am ecstatic for the children," said Alethea Wright, the Creative Steps day-care center director.

The kids will take their trip at the beginning of August.

Proving that there can be life after divorce, Bishop Thomas Weeks is seemingly preparing to launch the next chapter in his life with a new bride.

With his former wife, Juanita Bynum, obviously moving on with her life with new speaking engagements and a return to the popular preaching circuit, Bishop Weeks posted on his Facebook page last week that his status as a single bachelor and objective of his online reality show, "The Next Mrs. Weeks" are both over and part of his past.

Last September, Bishop Weeks announced a search for a new soul mate on his website that included 10 webisodes. According to Weeks, the idea came to him after he was flooded with thousands of emails and letters from people who wanted to advise him on what to look for in his next wife. Some of those who contact Bishop Weeks even expressed an interest in filling the role themselves.

"There are some very adamant women," says Weeks associate, Minister Guy Reeves of Global Destiny. "A lady from Belgium flew all the way here to meet him. She came to the campus. She wanted to be the next Mrs. Weeks like many others who have approached me about their strong desire to be Bishop Weeks’ wife."

Now the search seems to be over as the accompanying pictures display the excitement and enthusiasm that Bishop Weeks has with his new love interest, Prophetess Christina Glenn. Recently the two were photographed at a birthday celebration for Bishop Weeks. The quotes below are from the Facebook message that Bishop Weeks recently posted on the wall of Prophetess Glenn.

"Bishop Thomas Weeks III I Love You and want to enjoy every moment we can spend together creating the life that is ‘Abundantly Kingdom’! Love You More BTWIII P.S. Thanks for blessing my life in ways that the world will never be able to know-but God.. he knows.

source: Gospel Today