Recently in Breaking news Category

The Associated Press reports that one of the tour buses in Miley Cyrus' tour caravan overturned, killing one. While the identity of the driver has not been released, reports indicate that it was a male, possibly the driver. Cyrus was reportedly traveling in another vehicle.

According to reports, at about 8:15 am this morning, the bus ran off Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, about 40 miles south of Richmond. The bus then struck an embankment and overturned. Speed and weather weren't considered factors.

Sgt. Thomas Molnar told AP News that the bus was one of four traveling together after the singer's two-show run this past Wednesday and Thursday in Long Island, NY.

Cyrus is scheduled to perform in Greensboro, NC on Sunday.

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Danny Gokey previewed his single, "It's Only," recently, but it looks like his label, RCA Records Nashville, has had second thoughts. It was reported yesterday that Gokey's new first single will be "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me." The single will be going to country radio shortly, but it's already on Danny's MySpace page and YouTube. A digital single will be available Dec. 22.

You decide: is making the switch from the ballad to the uptempo song a good idea?

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Sonicflood guitarist Phil Baquie recently received orders to report for deployment to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Baquie leaves tomorrow, Sunday, November 15, 2009, for Ft. Benning, Georgia for a one year tour.

Baquie was born in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. He's been in the U.S. for about 10 years, and became a citizen on November 3 in a private ceremony.

In a notice from the band, Baquie writes, "To say I am in shock would be an understatement & I was not anticipating this happening anytime soon as I'm in the Inactive Ready Reserve. Having said that, I will serve my country with honor & am grateful for all America has done for me & do still feel a sense of duty to serve in the areas I have been trained..."

In the note, Baquie adds that he is "believing that God is in control & has amazing things planned for SONICFLOOd & the journey he has me on."

In addition to his work with Sonicflood, Baquie has had an indie career and also worked as the Artist Relations Manager for Mission of Mercy, which serves the poor in Calcutta, India.

Keep Phil and all of our servicemen and women in your prayers.

For more about Sonicflood, visit the band's website.

This just in: rock band Mae woke yesterday morning in Philadephia to find that their trailer was stolen from the parking lot of the hotel where they'd been staying.

They lost all of their equipment, instruments and some personal belongings. The band will finish the last few dates on their tour with help from friends in Deas Vail and Jenny Owen Youngs.

Mae isn't the first band to have a trailer stolen, and they won't be the last. It's one of the hazards of the business. Most bands either don't have insurance or don't have enough insurance to cover everything (I don't know Mae's situation) but the band is open to donations to help them replace what they can.

I'm happy recommending that you help if you can. This is a band who has dedicated every day to helping others. In fact, to day they've raised almost $59,000 since January for charities like Habitat for Humanit as well as supplying educational resources for classrooms with their 12 months, 12 songs, 1 goal project. The band offers a new song and all donations to download the song go that specific charity until the band has met their goal.

You can learn more and make a donation on Mae's website, WhatIsMae.com.

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Hip hop artist Da' T.R.U.T.H. announced on his website that he is taking a sabbatical from ministry after a "moral indescrtion" in his personal life.

In the statement, Emanuel L. Lambert, Jr, - aka Da' T.R.U.T.H. - said that he has apologized to his wife and family and is working towards reconciliation with the help of his church, pastor and restoration team.

In May, hip hop artist The Ambassador was released from his label after a "moral failure in his marriage."

And currently in the news, BeBe Winans arrest in February on domestic assault charges against his ex-wife Debbie.

The first thought that came to my mind: perhaps these are the issues that the Gospel Music Association might consider helping artists address - how to be in the spotlight and hold a marriage together, maybe offer a place for artists to go for confidential counseling and support, facilitate support groups, offer marriage retreats?

Christian music artists - regarldess of genre - aren't immune to sin. They struggle with pressure and failure and falling, just like everyone else. The pressure of being held up by music fans as somehow holier than the rest of the Christian community simply because they're in the public eye can often lead artists to struggle silently with problems. There is a bit of a "stick your head in the sand and ignore the problem" mentality in Christian music.

I don't share these stories to be exploitive; I hope that you'll pray for Christians who have been called to share the gospel or encourage believers through music, as well as hold them as accountable as you would the folks sitting in church with you. Not to condemn, but to uphold in brotherly love and accountablity.

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