LIVE Michael W. Smith Online Sunday, Nov. 15

Michael W. Smith and HearItFirst.com Present

the "New Hallelujah Word Tour" Live from Wichita Sunday, November 15.

Before wrapping up the fall leg of the "New Hallelujah World Tour," Michael W. Smith and HearItFirst.com bring the show live to your home on Sunday, November 15 at 10pm eastern.

For the first time ever, Smith's "New Hallelujah Tour" will be broadcast online live at HearItFirst.com

(http://e2ma.net/go/2572395954/2349278/88190616/23788/goto:http://www.hearitfirst.com/live). Fans can tune in before the show to watch exclusive video interviews with Michael W. Smith and the tour's special guests Matt Maher, Phil Stacey, and Meredith Andrews. Smith's tour mates will all be joining him on stage during his performance Sunday.

Previously, Smith has shared his enthusiasm about his tour mates, saying, "I'm excited about the artists traveling with me. Matt Maher, Phil Stacey and Meredith Andrews are all artists whose music I really enjoy personally, but they're also artists I respect because they each have something special to share. I'm thrilled to be sharing the stage with them."The "New Hallelujah Tour" kicked off October 22 in Orlando, Fla. and will wrap up in Albany, NY on November 21.

Michael W. Smith has toured extensively this year both on the "United Tour" with Steven Curtis Chapman and the "New Hallelujah World Tour" which took Smith's live show to Europe this summer.After multiple successful broadcasts, including a live interview with Michael W. Smith in support of his CD A New Hallelujah last fall, HearItFirst.com is thrilled to partner again with Smith to bring this unique opportunity to the fans.

Tune in Sunday, November 15, 2009 at approximately 10pm eastern (7pm pacific) to watch Michael W. Smith perform live!

Watch other videos with Michael W. Smith on HearItFirst.com/MichaelWSmith.

UPDATE ON STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

I just received an email from the Steven Curtis Chapman organization that I felt I should share with you. Please continue to keep the family in your prayers.

Thank You
A sincere thank you from Steven and Mary Beth Chapman to each of you for your prayers and condolences. The family has been overwhelmed with the response and is very grateful. We'd ask that you continue to support this family as you think of it, particularly through this year of firsts." Perhaps a reminder on your calendar on each Wednesday? or each 21st? The Chapmans believe in the power of prayer! And feel certain that the prayers of so many like you have sustained them in these trying days.



Media Appearances Upcoming

The Chapman family will be appearing on...

Good Morning America on August 5th
Larry King Live on August 7th
People Magazine issue of August 15th

Opportunities with outlets of this sort of reach would normally be reason for wild celebration... on this occasion though, I think you'd understand why we would rather not even have the coverage. The Chapmans didn't seek these appearances, and these were cautiously and prayerfully considered with input from the family, pastors, counselors, and Steven's team. When these many opportunities came, the discussion quickly centered around the opportunity to use them to remember and celebrate Maria, to thank the tens of thousands of you who have sent condolences as well as the the hundreds of thousands or more that have prayed for this family, to highlight adoption and orphans...and most importantly that the Hope of the Gospel be proclaimed.It's our hope that this is what will be accomplished, that as many as possible will be reached, especially those that would not hear of it any other way... and we seek your prayers as the family endeavors to do so in these interviews.

Follow live blog updates from Steven's manager, Jim Houser on August 7th at StevenCurtisChapman.com.

The United Tour

Likewise, a tour announcement of this historic nature would normally be wildly promoted. You know at first though, there were moments after the loss of Maria on May 21, Steven wondered if he would ever return to stage. It has become clear to him though that if he has ever believed what he has written and sung about these past 20 years, then it Must Still Be True Now. And the Chapmans believe that the Gospel is true!

So, return to stage Steven has. And now we are announcing that this October 9 - November 9, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman will tour together for the first time ever. It is an evening not to be missed. And we are excited!

Tour information is at StevenCurtisChapman.com now.

Heartfelt Condolences to Steven Curtis Chapman Family

This is an email I received a while ago regarding the death of Maria, youngest daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman. I decided that it would be better than trying to put it into my own words. I feel as though a member of my own family has died, as I imagine many other Christians do, having watched the Chapman family grow up over the years.

Maria Sue Chapman 2003 - 2008

Last night Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter of Mary Beth & Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed in a tragic accident in the family driveway. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him... not back to Franklin as we all so desperately wanted.



We are all humbled by the incredible outpouring of love and support at this difficult time. I have watched you, the Chapman friends, overwhelm website servers and jam phone lines with your gracious words and heartfelt prayers. The Chapman family is so grateful. Obviously, we cherish your prayers for all in the Chapman family, and we welcome you passing this along to others to pray and encouraging them to sign up for Steven's e-mail list to receive continuing updates.
If you'd like to express your condolences and get a glimpse of this beautiful little girl through a short video clip, click here.

Mail to PO Box 150156 Nashville, TN 37215.

In lieu of flowers, the Chapmans request any gifts be directed to Shaohannah's Hope, click here.

In closing, as many of you know, the song "Cinderella" was written by Steven to help him (and us all) grab a hold of the special moments with those we love we might otherwise rush by. It was inspired by a bath time that Steven tried to "hurry," Maria and her sister Stevey Joy were not exactly cooperating. : ) Let us all be reminded again today what Steven compels us to with the lyric of this special song.

Maria, we already miss you so much, and we only take comfort in The Hope that assures us we'll see you again soon.


On behalf of the Chapman team and family, Jim Houser (Manager)

Goodbye, Righteous Rocker Larry Norman. "They thought he was an outlaw"

April 8. 1947-February 24, 2008

At the age of 6o, Larry Norman, the pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, has left this world behind. You may know some of his songs: "I Wish We'd all Been Ready," "The Outlaw," "Why Should the Devil Have all the Good Music," and "Sweet Song of Salvation."

This comes directly from his official website, written by his brother Charles.

Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art.

Several of his friends got to come and visit with him in the last couple of weeks and were a great source of help and friendship to Larry. Ray Sievers, Derek Robertson, Mike Makinster, Tim and Christine Gilman, Matt and Becky Simmons, Kerry Hopkins, Allen Fleming and a few more. Thank you guys. Larry appreciated your visits very much. And he greatly appreciated the thoughts, wishes, support and prayers that came from all of you Solid Rock friends on a daily basis. Thank you for being part of his small circle of friends over the years. Yesterday afternoon he knew he was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed these words into Larry's computer:
________________________________

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

Larry
________________________________________

Thank you to all of you who were so nice to my brother over the years. Kristin and I will post funeral information in the next day or two. Right now we're not able to function very well, but the whole family is here... our mother Margaret, our sisters Nancy and Kristy, Mike Norman and his new wife Tiffany, and Silver.

We miss him beyond words. Thank you for everything.

Peace to you all in Christ,

Charles Norman