The Opus movie is another movie in a similar vein as The Secret with many of the same teachers including Jack Canfield, Dr. John Demartini, Dr. Joe Vitale and Marci Shimoff.  However, this movie is a little different than The Secret because it focuses more on taking action to achieve your goals.   Additionally, its reference to The Opus serves as a reminder for us not to die with our music left inside of us.  Many people will probably know most of the information in The Opus.  However, the visual scenes and emotional connections that take place when a person watches a movie helps one to know and really get the information on a much deeper level.  The homepage for the movie is http://www.theopusmovie.com.

Fox is launching a networkwide public service campaign: “Green it. Mean.”  The campaign starts today and will lead up to Earth Day on April 22.  Some of its stars including Kelsey Grammer and Omar Epps will offer viewers green tips.

Viewers are often skeptical that these green tie ins are just for promotional and marketing initiatives.  Regardless of its reasons, some parts of the entertainment industry are trying to use its visibility to raise awareness for issues that have a great impact on our world.  This Fox campaign may only be an attempt to draw in more advertising revenue and increase ratings, but it also serves a greater purpose in helping people become more environmentally conscious. 

Russell Simmons recently wrote a book Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success.  Russell Simmons is known for his work with Def Jam Records, Phat Farm, and Def Comedy Jam and referred to as “The CEO of Hip Hop.”  While most people know him as an entertainment mogul, he attributes his success to spiritual principles that he lays out in his book.  In the introduction he says, “Instead of The Prince or The Art of War, these laws are rooted in books like Autobiography of a Yogi or The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.”

The book is an interesting example of how an entertainment mogul applies spiritual principles to his work.  Russell explains that he is able to be focused through daily mediation and yoga and also how important it is for him to give back.  There are many interesting antedotes throughout the book that give a glimpse into the daily business operations of his life and how he approached these challenges from a spiritual perspective. 

The Conscious Media Network is a website that offers free videos on enlightenment, consciousness and spirituality.  The site offers videos of interviews with many experts on topics ranging from mysticism to spiritual filmmaking.  Most of the content is free, but there is a fee to subscribe for some of the information.  Additionally, there is a membership section that requires an email address to register.  Overall, it provides a lot of interesting free videos online.  The website is:

http://www.consciousmedianetwork.com/

Ben Stein is releasing a documentary this Friday, April 18th, Expelled No Intelligence Allowed.  This movie is about how academy ridicules people who suggest the possiblity of an intelligent design for the origin of our world.  He points out that Darwinism, while being a valid scientific theory, offers no explanation for the origin of life and that some professors have even lost their jobs for advocating that an intelligent designer or God may play a role in the origin of life. 

This movie points out some of the great questions that we often ask ourself such as Who are we?  What is our origin? and Where did we come from?  Stein suggest that the spiritual answers to these questions may be absolutely consistent with Darwinism, but many intellectuals are ridiculed for even mentioning the possibility that religion and science are not mutually exclusive.

You can watch the trailer for the movie at http://www.expelledthemovie.com/

On Tuesday night, the contestants on American Idol sang inspirational songs.  David Archuleta picked a song titled “Angels”, which Simon Cowell proclaimed was the best song choice of the night.  The first line of “Angels”, is

“I sit and wait.  Does an Angel contemplate my fate?” 

It’s interesting that Simon who is known for being very critical of contestants acknowledged that “Angels” was the best song choice of the night. 

This song raises some interesting question about what role Angels may play in our life.  Archangel Gabriel is likely the most well known Angel.  It was Gabriel who was responsible for giving Mary the message about the coming of Jesus.  If a person is open to the possibility that this story is based on truth and Gabriel delivered a message to Mary, then might it also be possible that Angels are capable of giving us guidance today?  For example, why would the Angels be active in people’s lives 2000 years ago, but remain silent now.  Our world today faces just as difficult of problems than any time in history.  So, it appears that these same Angels may be just as likely to offer us guidance and support.  Although their exsistence will never be proven, the sense of peace and direction that some people have reported experiencing will remain very real and powerful. 

Yesterday, Oprah did a show about the impact that her webinar with Eckhart Tolle is having. People from all over the world including someone serving in Iraq and a woman dying of cancer wrote in to say how Tolle’s book is providing them with peace during times of great stress and anxiety. A common question that came up is whether Tolle’s book contradicts religion. One response was that Tolle’s book helps people from all religions because it empowers people to experience and know their spirit or soul on a much deeper level. One commentator even compared Tolle’s book to adding honey to tea because Tolle’s book increases ones experience of their own religious beliefs.

Tonight at 10/9c Randy Pausch will be doing an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC News.  Randy has become well known because of his Last Lecture, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” he gave at Carnegie Mellon.  In August 2007, Pausch was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and was told to expect 3-6 months of good health.  Since then, he has been following his dreams including practicing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and also sharing his inspirational messages with others.  Disney-owned publisher Hyperion paid $6.7 million for rights to publish a book about Paush.  Below is a link to clips of his interview with Diane Sawyer.

http://abcnews.go.com/gma/lastlecture

American Idol is having a charity show this Wednesday night.  Celebrity appearances include Billy Crystal Robin Williams, Peyton and Eli Manning, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman, Reese Witherspoon and Brad Pitt.   Pitt told the crowd after is was taped Sunday, “Tonight isn’t just about raising money.  Sometimes, to help people, we’ve got to travel outside of our comforone to really understand another situation.”

The show includes performerances by Snoop Dogg and Charlie Wilson, John Legend, Miley Cyrus, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan and Sheila E.  Underwood remarked,  “It’s not about self-promoting.  It’s not about singing your latest single. It’s not about trying to be the most-downloaded whatever on iTunes. It’s all about getting people to call in and do something.”

Additionally, there are pre-taped segment appearances by David and Victoria Beckham, Kiefer Sutherland, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey and Whoopi Goldberg  encouraging viewers to make donations. Hillary Rodham Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama also appeared in pre-taped messages.
      

Beneficiaries this year include the Global Fund, Malaria No More, Children’s Health Fund, Save the Children, Children’s Defense Fund and Make It Right, Pitt’s campaign to help New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina.  Last year, “Idol Gives Back” raised $76 million for underprivileged children. Producers anticipate this year’s event will raise $100 million