Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

Singing for God! The Cantinas Ranch Foundation’s 2nd Annual Cantinas Music Festival, to be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, will feature three-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum selling artist Michael W. Smith and Dove Award-winner Francesca Battistelli.

With RayLynn Records as a sponsor, the Cantinas Ranch Foundation has invited aspiring artists to enter the Worship Song Talent Search by recording a video singing their original worship song then submitting it to the Cantinas Music Festival website.  From hundreds of national entries, 3 contestants will be chosen to perform at the festival with all expenses paid.

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 of The Today Show, actress Candace Cameron Bure, and T.V./Feature Literary Agent Michael Van Dyck. 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.

To enter go to www.cantinasmusicfestival.com/cmfsongcontest.html

Deadline: August 6, 2013 at 12:00 AM (US/Central)

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Speaking of music, check out this hot new video for AJ Michalka’s All I Ever Needed. The song will be featured in the 22-year-old former Disney star’s new Christian-themed film Grace Unplugged 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.

Together these items remind me of the Leo Buscaglia quote: “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11