Here\u2019s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.<\/p>\n
Singing for God! <\/strong>The<\/strong> Cantinas Ranch Foundation’s <\/b>2nd Annual<\/strong> Cantinas Music Festival<\/b><\/a>,<\/b> to be held\u00a0on Saturday, August 24, 2013, will feature three-time Grammy Award<\/strong>-winner and multi-platinum selling artist Michael W. Smith<\/b> and Dove Award<\/strong>-winner Francesca Battistelli<\/b>.<\/strong><\/p>\n With RayLynn Records<\/b> as a sponsor, the Cantinas Ranch Foundation has invited aspiring artists to enter the Worship Song Talent Search<\/b> by recording a video singing their original worship song then submitting it to the Cantinas Music Festival website.\u00a0 From hundreds of national entries, 3 contestants will be chosen to perform at the festival with all expenses paid.<\/p>\n Three finalists will be given the opportunity to sing their original content during the performance-filled festival in front of an all-star celebrity panel of judges that last year included Kathie Lee Gifford<\/strong> of The Today Show<\/strong>, actress Candace Cameron Bure<\/strong>, and T.V.\/Feature Literary Agent Michael Van Dyck<\/strong>. The judges will choose one winner who will take home the grand cash prize of $2,000 and a coveted recording contract with the festival sponsor, RayLynn Records.<\/p>\n To enter go to\u00a0www.cantinasmusicfestival.com\/cmfsongcontest.html<\/a> <\/b><\/p>\n Deadline: August 6, 2013 at 12:00 AM (US\/Central)<\/b><\/p>\n ______<\/p>\n Speaking of music,<\/strong> check out this hot new video for AJ Michalka’s All I Ever Needed<\/em><\/strong>. The song will be featured in the 22-year-old former Disney star’s new Christian-themed film Grace Unplugged<\/em><\/strong><\/a> which is set for release on October 4th. Michalka plays Grace Trey, as idealistic Christian teenager who, at the age of 18, gets a big break which thrusts her into the showbiz spotlight while also putting faith to the test. You can visit the film’s website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n