Gospel Soundcheck

They graced the July 7, 2008 cover of Billboard Magazine, performed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and broke their own first-week sales records with their 10th studio album, Revelation. Now Third Day makes their second late night TV appearance in three months when they perform their hit song "Revelation" tomorrow, Thursday November 20, on "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson".

Check local listings for airtimes in your area, or visit www.lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/latelate.

Radiator

Check out the latest video from "Dance-derived alternative rockers" (that's what their press release says ...) Family Force 5. The band is currently on the Winter Wonder Slam tour with TobyMac, Relient K and special guest B. Reith. The tour runs through December 14th and is collecting toys for Toys for Tots. You can get complete tour dates on the Winter Wonder Slam website.

In a press release about the tour, tobyMac noted his pleasure at the artists assembled for the Winter Wonder Slam mission, commenting, "During the holidays, everyone needs a break from studying for exams and Christmas shopping. I wanted to put together a diverse tour that rocks in many musical directions but always points to Christ. The Winter Wonder Slam Tour does have a Christmas theme, but every band will be playing their hits and doing it the way they do!"

I admit I'm a little cranky this morning; I woke up to several inches of snow and I'm definitely not ready for winter. But ...

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is offering customers an exclusive new CD featuring 12 hymns personally selected and sung by Southern gospel legend Bill Gaither and special guests.

"These songs of faith, many of which I fell in love with as a kid, are just as solid and true today as they have ever been", said Gaither, "and they will keep holding true for the days to come, no matter what the future holds!"

The album, Bill Gaither's Homecoming Hymns, features songs like "God Will Take Care of You" (with The Oak Ridge Boys); "Yes, I Know" (with The Gaither Vocal Band); "Amazing Grace" (with Russ Taff & The Booth Brothers); and "Rock of Ages" (with Reggie Smith, Joy Gardner, Stephen Hill & Vestal Goodman).

Bill Gaither has won 28 Dove awards and four Grammy awards. In 2000, Bill and his wife Gloria were named the first-ever Christian Songwriter of the Century by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) .

Bill Gaither's Homecoming Hymns is the latest project in a collection of exclusive music available only at Cracker Barrel.

Today marks the release of Jeremy Camp's latest album, Speaking Louder Than Before. With three RIAA Gold albums and more than 3.5 million albums sold, Camp, who has always been solidly devoted to his Christian faith and sharing that with fans, steps out of entertainer mode even more to emphasis to fans the importance of getting back to the basics of the faith.

I chatted a few weeks ago by phone with Jeremy, and we talked about how people are sometimes treating their faith like a checklist to click off. Yup, went to a Christian concert on Tuesday so I don't have to read my Bible. Went to church on Sunday so I don't have to pray. That's not what a relationship with Christ is all about.

Jeremy found a way to make this project not just about songs by creativing video devotionals that go along with the tracks on the album, all designed to share a spiritual truth and challenge people to dig into God's word for themselves.

I thought we'd try something a little different this time and I'd share an audio excerpt of our interview. In this, Jeremy and I are talking about sharing truth in love, and being desensitized by all of our Christian "stuff." (Excuse my coughing and my dog barking. The perils of working from home.) Just

Nominations were announced yesterday for Beliefnet's 8th Annual Most Inspiring Person of the Year Award, and on the list is Christian music icon Steven Curtis Chapman.

The nomination is an annual recognition by Beliefnet readers and editors of noteworthy humanitarian actions that inspire and encourage us all to live better lives. The Most Inspiring Person of the Year Award is bestowed upon someone who has risen above expectations. He or she may have countered stereotypes and demonstrated courage, forgiveness, self-sacrifice or love under difficult and challenging circumstances.

Voting began yesterday; readers can vote once a day through December 5th.

Chapman and his family suffered a tragic loss this past May when their youngest adopted daughter, Maria, was accidentally run over in the family's driveway by their oldest son, Will.