Casting Crowns comes up six for six.  The GRAMMY-winning band recently received its sixth consecutive Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) milestone with the Gold certification of the group’s third live DVD/CD release, The Altar and the Door Live (Beach Street Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution). The RIAA Gold recognition represents more than 500,000 units sold. Both of the band’s previous live DVDs—Live From Atlanta in 2004 and Lifesong Live in 2006—received Platinum certification, which signifies U.S. album shipments exceeding 1 million units. Casting Crowns—the group’s debut album in 2003—and Lifesong in 2005 also reached Platinum status, while The Altar and the Door in 2007 received Gold certification.

Speaking of top-sellers, more than 4 million units of products tied to 3:16: The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson)—including a million copies of the book—have been sold since the title was released in September 2007. Nelson and a group of licensed partners distributed a variety of 3:16 products, including greeting cards and wearable items.

Dove Award-winning artist Mark Schultz performed on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show, Oct. 26.  The episode of the popular reality series featured Schultz performing his song “He’s My Son” from his 2005 album Mark Schultz Live ... A Night of Stories & Songs (Word Records/Word Distribution).

Featuring the text of the New Living Translation, the Hope for Today Bible—with notes and encouragement from pastor and author Joel Osteen and his wife, Victoria—is to be released in March by Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Osteen—author of the best-sellers Your Best Life Now (FaithWords) and Become a Better You (Free Press)—pastors Lakewood Church in Houston with Victoria, author of Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy & Whole (Free Press).

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