Religion, Unspoken Requests, and Trust

I’ll take today’s writing as an opportunity to introduce three new songs. Before I get into that, I need to remind you of the refreshing that comes from great gospel music. Admittedly, not all new releases will not fall into that category, but as one preacher put it, “When a song is church approved…”, it passes the test. It’s not only about lyrical hooks, and musical runs, or even vocal prowess or stage presence, what I look for in a song is if it truly blesses me and can be sang in my church. So, with that, I’m often very hard on songs, but I’ll give them all a chance.

Up first is The Erwin’s new release, “The God I Know”. In this moving ballad the siblings begin with that all too often problem, unanswered prayer. Hope is given in the chorus as they describe God as the mountain mover, the holder of our souls, and calmer of storms. The second verse has a poignant line “Tell your heart to trust Him”, this may be one of the gut wrenching lines in the song. Could it be that reason for our prayers being unanswered is that we haven’t fully trusted Him? 

The Jordan Family Band have also released a song about prayer and faith. This title, “Unspoken” takes me back to my youth when our pastor would take prayer requests and always ask if there were any unspoken requests.  You see, those unspoken requests are often so dear to our hearts, so intimate in nature that we cannot publicly express them. As Randa Jordan sings, sometimes “all I offer is a groaning, inside my soul there is a knowing” that God hears our unspoken requests. 

“Religion isn’t Working” anymore is the very first line of Joseph Habedank’s brand new single. An off-putting title to say the least, but if you have followed Joseph for any length of time, you know He’s like those Fire and Brimstone preachers of yesteryear that give their convicting sermons a title to catch your ear. In the second verse, He sings, “Religion never set nobody free, it’s always made a prisoner out of me”. Let me pause and say “AMEN”, before I trusted Christ as my Savior, I tried religion, IT DOES NOT WORK. Joseph later sings, “Just give me Jesus”, that’s all you need. Jesus, just to say His name, brings peace to my heart.

This week, beginning Monday April 19, 2021 our Church will host our Camp Meeting for the 35th year. As a singer and Pastor, I can assure you that some of those “church approved” songs will be lifted under the old tent. We won’t be pushing a religion, but Jesus Christ, so drive the short distance outside of Americus, to Lighthouse Baptist Church on Hwy 280. Now, that just my Southern Gospel Point of View.

Longevity in Southern Gospel

  Let me say first, I am no historian of Gospel Music. Also, I am not a researcher into deep guarded secrets of Gospel Music. I know what I know, so the information will be cursory, some vague, and some of the info, you may already know.

Without a doubt, there is longevity in the ranks of Southern Gospel Artists. Yes, there are some that start out and finally make it to the national stage and then fall away. This may be because of the schedule demands, travel logistics, or some other internal issues or decision. There are however, many Southern Gospel group and individuals that have travelled and ministered for decades.

 

Right off the cuff is The Cathedrals, they sang into retirement for 37 years. The Hoppers are still going strong and have celebrated 63 years, while the Perry’s announced just last week that on Christmas day, they began their ministry 50 years ago.

 

Another group from just down the road in Nashville, Georgia began their 37 year on Christmas Eve, The group’s name is The Keffers, and Gary Keffer, his wife Lind, son, Paul, and daughter-in-law Jessica keep the ministry going while their daughter, Amy occasionally sings but writes songs for them and many other artists.

 

Others include the Gaither Vocal Band, Greater Vision, Karen Peck and New River. The GVB has seen many changes through the years but have been singing since 1980, that’s right, 40 years. Greater Vision began 30 years ago during this holiday season. Karen Peck began New River a year later in 1991.

 

We cannot forget the McKameys, 65 years of ministry on stages all over the country, they retired in 2019, and are still having charting success with their last album. Sue Dodge began her career in 1969, 51 years ago, she still has a powerhouse voice, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Ivan Parker began singing in 1982 some 38 years ago, Joseph Habedank began his career with the Perrys in 2003, a mere 17 years ago, but has amassed many awards, nominations and fans around the world.

 

Shortly after February of 1989, a raspy voiced Michael Combs came into the music ministry and despite many health-related setbacks, continues to sing. I could mention the Statemen, the Stamps and many others, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the longest running group in America. The Blackwood Brothers began in 1934, of course, they too have seen members come and go. Some tragically, others a transition to one place or another, but to be on the road for… 86 years, one will no doubt see a lot of changes. 

 

So, some may feel like Southern Gospel is dead, or dying, I boldly say that because of the longevity of our founders and new comers we’re in good hands, and I think this music will be around for many more years to come, but that’s just my Southern Gospel Point of View.

He Did It All for Me

Tuesday night in a fitful sleep, I was awakened with the thought “He did it all for me”. I turned over again in an attempt to fall back into a peaceful rest. My mind kept reeling, I thought about this week, the Easter Sunday coming, but above the resurrection I couldn’t help but to think about the cross.

When is the last time you thought about the cross? Maybe you’ve heard it called Calvary. Just the name evokes a sense of horror yet in some strange way…gratefulness. Calvary was called the place of the skull. It was there that Jesus of Nazareth was led; battered, bruised, and bloody up the hill to be crucified. Mind you, He did it all for me.

On Wednesday morning, I began to process my mid-night thoughts and found a verse of scripture to tie the thought together.
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2 is the verse that I settled on. In it, we find “the joy that was set before Him”, “endured the cross”, “despising the shame”. These three statements made no sense to me, so I began to search and pray for some meaning. 

What was this Joy that was set before him? After a day of contemplation, I believe it was…me. You read that right. The joy that was set before Jesus Christ was not the cross but the result of the cross. If you are a believer, you can see this in your own life. If you are reading and are not a believer, permit me to beg your attention. Jesus Christ saw something in you that is redeemable. When He saw you, he found joy. So much so that he “endured the cross”.

This next statement seemed to make sense to me, endure is to follow to completion. So, Christ completed His work on the cross. This is illustrated when He said It Is Finished. This phrase, always said victoriously, is no doubt a shout of victorious completion. Again, this was done for… me! All of the shame and pain that He endured was to provide a way for all of us to avoid that penalty of death. 

Next, we see the phrase “despising the shame”. On the surface I understood the word despising. I took it to mean he disliked the shame, but I was wrong. The word means that Jesus disregarded the shame. In other words, He thought the shame the He would endure, was a small price to pay…for me. He weighed the shame and His love for me, and His love far outweighed the depth of shame He would face. 

So, I simply ask you today as you prepare for Easter Sunday, to reminisce on the Cross. After all, He did it all for… You! This is more than my Southern Gospel Point of View… It’s the Gospel.

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