As of the recording of this podcast, it’s 3 below zero in the Ozarks.  The early morning sky is ablaze in the glory of the Lord in a picture only He can paint, and I can only stand amazed in His presence.

Leading up to this moment has been an honor for me-  to get acquainted with so many talented people and share the fruit of their efforts in the name of the Lord with whosoever will listen!  It’s a new day, a new year, a new DECADE.  To the world, it may not seem any different than any other, but He holds the power to make all things new, and he HAS.

Today’s songs blessed me beyond belief.  The words of the Lord always bring me such peace, but today it seemed like an extra measure, and a great dose of heart-warming thrown in as well!

Relax and listen to the sounds of these artists, praising His name in song!

Mark Cable
Signature Quartet
The Burneys
Dave Berland
Jacki Wheeler
The Missourians
Colonial City Quartet
Canaan’s Road Gospel Group
Canaan Bound
Mary alice Vanderwater
Blessed Assurance Ministries

If a song blesses you, please let the singers know.  Your feedback is the only way they have to measure the value of the work that the Lord has placed for them to do.  Better yet, support them, by purchasing a CD or offering a donation.

If you have any comments about this podcast, you may enter them here, or you can contact me, Tom Whiteman, by writing:

Thomas Whiteman

20055 Nutmeg Road

Jasper, MO 64755

or email me at gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

This is it! The night before the Birthday of our KING! 

I’ve got a great group of artists here, ready, willing and able to join with you as you reflect and celebrate this evening!

It is my prayer that each of you have a most blessed evening, and as you listen to this podcast in the background of your evening’s activities that you be blessed beyond measure and feel the attitude of worship and joy that is intended.

In Honor of the King,

Tom

In This Episode:

Tracy Heaston

Chosen Few

Signature Quartet

The Missourians

Lori Bianco

The Boatrights

Dan Adkins

Just Over Yonder Bluegrass Band

Nancy Good

Dave Berland

And So Much More…

Apart from that, there are but a few men I would like to point to and ask Jesus to make me a little more like “THAT GUY”.

There’s  My Father,  Marvin Whiteman, of course.  And my Pastor Darin.  Several of my good friends (you know who you are) and this man, Dave Berland.

Dave will be the first man to tell you that this music is not his, but God’s.  That the blessings that come through making and listening are not of his talent, except by the talent that God placed in Him.  And Dave LOVES Christmas, as do many of us-  but not for the presents, the lights and the trees, but for the gift of God it represents:

Luke 2:09 behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Luke 2:10
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Luke 2:11
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

also, as Isaiah prophesied, in Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

THIS is the awesome magnitude we face when grasping the concept:  The WORLD may look at this as nothing more than a time for gifts and parties and hanging decorations, but for us, it means the Birthday Of The King (also one of the titles in this edition~!).

The worldliness of men will try to shoot down the accuracy of the dating with claims that it was moved to superimpose a pagan holiday, and that may be true.  but the date is inconsequential, in that Christendom chose this time to celebrate the arrival of our King.  No matter WHAT date or time or hour, that deserves celebration!  And with the meaning of Christmas inextricably tied to the birth of Christ, I’d say the naysayers are simply upset that the tools of the devil have been overturned with good.

That’s what Christ came for;  to eradicate the works of sin and death and satan and his minions!  And Dave Berland’s heart is to spread that word, that message, in song.  He prepares his heart for the worship services he and his praise team lead each sunday, praying first that God lead, We follow.

To this end, I’ve put together many of my Favorite “Dave Berland” Christmas songs for this special edition, with many old classics and even a few you might not have heard before.  Songs Like:

• Oh Holy Night

• What Child is This

• Birthday Of The King

• Hark The Herald Angels Sing

• Comfort and Joy

• I saw Three Ships

• Look There He Lays

• The Conditions Are Right

• Should Jesus Come This Christmas?

• and many more.

You are more than welcome to download this and any episode of Gospel Music Roundup, but if you prefer I send you a CD version, simply write to me at:

Gospel Music Roundup

20055 Nutmeg Road

Jasper, Missouri, 64755

or E-mail me at:

gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

]]> http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2009/12/23/a-special-gospel-music-roundup-with-dave-berlands-christmas-songs/feed/ 0 53:50 Jesus Christ is my Hero! Apart from that, there are but a few men I would like to point to and ask Jesus to make me ... Jesus Christ is my Hero! Apart from that, there are but a few men I would like to point to and ask Jesus to make me a little more like "THAT GUY". There'snbsp; My Father,nbsp; Marvin Whiteman, of course.nbsp; And my Pastor Darin.nbsp; Several of my good friends (you know who you are) and this man, Dave Berland. Dave will be the first man to tell you that this music is not his, but God's.nbsp; That the blessings that come through making and listening are not of his talent, except by the talent that God placed in Him.nbsp; And Dave LOVES Christmas, as do many of us-nbsp; but not for the presents, the lights and the trees, but for the gift of God it represents: Luke 2:09 behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Luke 2:10 Then the angel said to them, ldquo;Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. also, as Isaiah prophesied, in Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. THIS is the awesome magnitude we face when grasping the concept:nbsp; The WORLD may look at this as nothing more than a time for gifts and parties and hanging decorations, but for us, it means the Birthday Of The King (also one of the titles in this edition~!). The worldliness of men will try to shoot down the accuracy of the dating with claims that it was moved to superimpose a pagan holiday, and that may be true.nbsp; but the date is inconsequential, in that Christendom chose this time to celebrate the arrival of our King.nbsp; No matter WHAT date or time or hour, that deserves celebration!nbsp; And with the meaning of Christmas inextricably tied to the birth of Christ, I'd say the naysayers are simply upset that the tools of the devil have been overturned with good. That's what Christ came for;nbsp; to eradicate the works of sin and death and satan and his minions!nbsp; And Dave Berland's heart is to spread that word, that message, in song.nbsp; He prepares his heart for the worship services he and his praise team lead each sunday, praying first that God lead, We follow. To this end, I've put together many of my Favorite "Dave Berland" Christmas songs for this special edition, with many old classics and even a few you might not have heard before.nbsp; Songs Like: Oh Holy Night What Child is This Birthday Of The King Hark The Herald Angels Sing Comfort and Joy I saw Three Ships Look There He Lays The Conditions Are Right Should Jesus Come This Christmas? and many more. You are more than welcome to download this and any episode of Gospel Music Roundup, but if you prefer I send you a CD version, simply write to me at: Gospel Music Roundup 20055 Nutmeg Road Jasper, Missouri, 64755 or E-mail me at: gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com Artist,Spotlight,,Music,,Podcast,,Uncategorized,,comments,,southern,gospel,music,,southern,gospel,podcast Thomas Whiteman no No http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2009/12/23/a-special-gospel-music-roundup-with-dave-berlands-christmas-songs/http://gospelmusicroundup.org/podpress_trac/feed/229/0/Dave_Berland_Christmas.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gospelmusicroundup/uDKq/~3/fZPbceSNm34/ http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2009/10/15/part-ii-of-gmr-co-hosting-make-mine-southern-with-bob-durham/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:39:11 +0000 admin http://gospelmusicroundup.org/?p=215 Part II of my experience, visiting with Bob Durham of “The Missourians” and “Make Mine Southern”, a weekly radio show on KKOW pittsburg, KS

If you haven’t done so yet, please be sure to check out Part ONE of this visit by clicking this link:

http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2009/10/08/gmr-co-hosts-make-mine-southern-part-1/

Listen to Bob Durham and Make Mine Southern

on HeirWave Internet Radio

Make Mine Southern is a weekly variety program featuring the ministries of regional artists in the tri-state area near Joplin, Missouri area. the program has aired for many years on AM 880, KKOW in Pittsburgh, Kansas. The host group for the program is Heir Wave Internet Radio Featured Ministry, The Missourians Other groups featured on “Make Mine Southern” are the Crusaders For Christ and Soloist Jim Setser.

LISTEN TO “MAKE MINE SOUTHERN”

Mondays: 8PM Eastern
Saturdays: 6PM Eastern

God bless!

Tom Whiteman

Bob Durham started with The Missourians in April, 1989, as their Pianist.
I’ve always really enjoyed ALL the songs the Missourians have ever sung, and have never gotten tired of any of them. Probably the song I enjoy the most right now is “Long As I Got King Jesus.” It has an infectious energy and I can’t sit still when playing it. Anything is truly OK as long as I got King Jesus!

How did Bob come to The Missourians?
Bob says, “They started singing in November, 1988 and used soundtracks. I knew Charlie (Burnett) and Jareld (Burnside) after having heard them sing many years with the Calvarymen, and I knew Richard (Crow), because of being with him several years in the Regents. They asked me to play with them, but I could only do it part time at first because of a lot of schedule conflicts. They started scheduling more so I could come and play, and I never even officially became full-time! So you see—I’m still just filling in until they can find someone!”

Bob’s past Singing History is as follows:
The Good News Quartet: 1976-1978; (I started with them when I was in 8th grade)
The Regents Quartet: 1978-1983;
The Albert E. Brumley Singers: 1983-1985;
The Missourians: 1989-present.

I asked Bob the most interesting thing about him.  His reply, “ I’ve never had a boss! I don’t count the time I was working for Dad on the farm, because I was getting “room and board.”   I have over 100 piano students that I teach each week; I taught part-time throughout college and I’ve been full-time since June, 1988. My job is music, and my hobbies are music!   Southern Gospel is my favorite, but I also enjoy Classical, Jazz, and Christmas music.   My most intense “other” hobby is the Dallas Cowboys! I go to a game every year in Dallas and see all the other games on satellite TV.”

In honor of Bob’s 20 years with The Missourians, I thought it only fair to share this as  episode 1 of a 2-part series, with all of you, as this edition of Gospel Music Roundup!

Be sure to catch Bob Durham on Heirwave Internet Radio!

Make Mine Southern

Make Mine Southern is a weekly variety program featuring the ministries of regional artists in the tri-state area near Joplin, Missouri area. the program has aired for many years on AM 880, KKOW in Pittsburgh, Kansas. The host group for the program is Heir Wave Internet Radio Featured Ministry, The Missourians Other groups featured on “Make Mine Southern” are the Crusaders For Christ and Soloist Jim Setser.

LISTEN TO “MAKE MINE SOUTHERN”

Mondays: 8PM Eastern
Saturdays: 6PM Eastern

Over a year ago,  I was injured in a way that has forever changed my ability to work and provide for my family.  I tried to keep my spirits up, prayed about it, went to all the meetings to deal with the physical pain, but deep inside I had begun to let depression kick in.  Finding Joy became more and more difficult, as I struggled to find the inner strength I needed.

I sent out hundreds of resumes, trying to start some kind of new career, and after months of trying, it seemed I had found one- One that I truly loved and enjoyed.  I threw myself into that work with all that was in me, only to have it suddenly cut off when the folks I worked for ran into big problems in their own lives, and I was out of work again.  I grieved over that job, and wondered how this could have happened after the struggles I’d already gone through. Storms came through here and tore away a large portion of my roof that I’d been trying to put on our house.  My son got hospitalized.  Slowly, I found it harder and harder to crank the mike open and create new shows here on GMR.  I essentially turned my back on God’s work.

This was so much sin, I don’t know where to start-  It was “all about me” and not about God.  I recall thinking that I must be getting some kind of punishment for something, and just felt all the more self-pity.  Many of my brothers and sisters who share with me in this ministry would call and check in on me, and I would try to be positive, and I told them that I would be back soon, only to continue to find it hard to open the microphone.

Eventually, money got to be so tight that we have had to cut back in every possible way, and the pain that I saw I was causing my family made me grieve all the more. I even began to find “reasons” (read that, “Excuses”) to stay away from church services. I still prayed, but they were very self-centered prayers and I knew it.  Finally,  I sought counsel with my pastor one day, as I had awakened that morning with a voice in my head, saying “Go see Darin.”  I had some meetings in town, but as drove past my church, I found myself swinging in and heading for his office.  We talked for two hours and prayed together, and while I would love to say that enlightenment hit me like a ton of bricks, it didn’t.  At least, not then.

Enlightenment actually came only recently, actually;  but in that meeting with my pastor, it did become clear that no matter what, I had to PRESS ON.  Sure, it can sound like going through the motions, but if they are the RIGHT motions, what of it?

The first thing I had to do was to renew my daily prayers, then shut up and listen.  Second, I had to renew my involvement in the family of God. Next I had to yield to the spirit, and that was a bit tough due to my pity party, but I just had to keep saying to myself that God HAD this.  The bills kept getting worse, no new job came, no external changes happened, but internally God WAS working.  He began to make it clear that I had been trying to make my life happen the way I wanted, not the way he wanted.  Systematically, I had shut him out of my life!  I still believed, but in my hurting and self-pity I had become TOM-centered, and not God centered.

Being back in the fellowship has had so much to do with healing for me, I cannot begin to describe it.  Even though the problems were still going on, I began to see how much JOY there was to be had, just being with the family of God again.  But, as I healed, the enemy just turned up the heat all the more, and I still had lessons to learn.  I was still trying to bear up under the financial burdens all by myself, because I was convinced that if I just kept pushing on, God would provide.  He DOES provide, but sometimes I had trouble seeing it, and all the phone calls coming in didn’t help any.  The lesson I had to learn HER was that He wants us to cast our cares upon HIM,  that alone I am powerless, and that I needed to let my brothers and sisters in Christ in on what struggles I was going through so that they can lift them up in prayer!  Previously I’d shared my worries with only a few select people-  I honestly felt that since there were so many other BIGGER problems in other’s lives, they didn’t need to hear about my petty money woes.   But, I was wrong (again) and had to learn that lesson.  The more I opened up to the family of God and had people pray for me and with me, the more things began to change.  That brings me to where I am today, asking you all to pray with me over some things that I am powerless to change.  See, while I have been on this journey of recovery, the path has really taken a toll on my wife of 25 years as well.  This was recently made very obvious when I finally got a new job-  and she didn’t share my enthusiasm.  It pains me so much to think I could have discouraged her this way…   As I prayed about it in preparation to return to GMR, this particular show came to mind.  I love you all, and thank you for reading and listening!

In the service of the King,

Tom

Psalm 62
Song of Trust in God Alone

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

Time and again, I face the question, “How can I trust God, with so many problems in my life?  Why doesn’t he just take them away, if he wants me to trust Him?”

Truth is, if you find yourself in the midst of a struggle, God DOES have his eyes on you.  Not to save you or heal you so much as to draw your attention to Him.  I have quite a few struggles going on in my life, and I never had PEACE about them until I laid them at the foot of the Cross that bore our savior, who took away the sins of the world to all who would receive it.  And as a result I am able to laugh in the midst of crisis, to dance for joy that He is faithful, and no matter what darts the enemy throws at me, I am safe in His arms.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.

Satan Knows what will get to you, because he has seen you do it a thousand times before;  He saw that time you fell into the pity pool, that time you burst out in a rage, that important fact you withheld out of self-protection…  Yet he stands at the ready for you to repent of those things and draw unto HIM.

It’s not a fix-all, nor even does it bear the promise of a cure.  Our promise comes in Glory, and once we have left this earthly vessel behind to run to him crying “Abba! Father!”  And, our home in heaven is going to be so far superior to anything our eyes have beheld on earth, we can laugh in the face of the devil and proclaim the victory that is already won!  He CANNOT take that from us!

Special thanks to today’s praise team:

Dale Harper

David James

John Eric Anderson

Burneys

The Son Set Refuge(Still waters)

Dave Berland

Phillip Andrew Newman

Pure Heart

The Missourians

Circle Of Friends

The Crownsmen

Diane Marie Gillaspy

Blue Coyote Band

And SO MUCH MORE!

No, I may not be a current resident of the heavenly places, but I do know my mansion is waiting there, and all of heaven rejoices every time someone joins the family.  I have had the chance to witness a few such events, recently.

As some of you know, I recently joined a Gospel Quartet called “The Victorymen” as a Bass singer.  We typically sing in 2-3 churches in a weekend.  It is a true JOY for me, as I have had a desire to do this very thing for most of my life.  It is also a joy as I get to watch faces light up over some of the songs we sing.  But the biggest joy I get is when we see someone come down the aisle and give their hearts and their lives to Jesus!

We didn’t cause these events;  In most cases, these were people who had been clutching the pew ahead of them for many services before we ever came along, nervous to “Take the walk”,  We were just in the right place at the right time, and the spirit of the Lord moved in a big way on the hearts of these people to LET GO of the pew and tell the world they are ready to give their life over!

Losing some of our fears and worries that life brings our way involves a very similar process for many people;  We fear giving them over to God wholly would take our control away, and some even feel that would be irresponsible.  Nothing can be further from the truth, though;  As long as we cling to our problems and fail to yield them up to God, we are essentially forbidding God to work on them.  For Him to give us the desires of our hearts, we must fully trust Him, and hanging on to our fears and doubts (as much as most people hate to think so) is a sign to God that you don’t yet trust Him.

It’s funny to think that we can stick a plug into a wall, push a button and expect something to happen.  We have more faith in the electric company than we do in God, and when you stop to think about it, can be offensive to God, who is always faithful.

His power is awesome;  His abilities are endless and His wisdom surpasses anything known to man.  His word has outlived generation upon generation and a myriad of social structures, yet we hesitate to TRUST.

When we finally give our hearts and our lives to Him, we begin the process of developing a living, growing relationship with Him that is constantly evolving and moving to higher levels. Each level is designed to bring us to complete reliance on Him through knowledge gained by the reading of His word and the Experiences gained in weathering  our trials.

I still battle with trust issues;  I was always able to do so much until I slowly began to lose those abilities.  Then and only then did I really begin to learn that I had really been trusting myself and using God as my “safety net” to bail me out when things got too hairy.

God has us here on earth to prepare for our eternal relationship with Him in heaven.  One day, once we reach that point of fully trusting, we will be ready to join the throngs in Heaven who rejoice when someone NEW “walks the aisle”!

In this edition of Gospel Music Roundup, I have songs for you by the Victorymen, Canaan Bound, The Signature Quartet, The Missourians, Blessed Assurance Ministries, The Burneys, Chosen Few, Dave Berland, Dan Atkins, The Barkley Family, The Dotson Family Quartet, and as always, SO MUCH MORE!

Please, if you find it in your heart to partner with us in this ministry, you can contact us at

Gospel Music Roundup

20055 Nutmeg Road

Jasper Missouri 64755

email: gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

or use the PAYPAL button on the home page!

But, had I done so on the first of the year, it might have gotten lost in the hooplah, right?  And this way, I can be more personal about it.

Unfortunately, I fall victim to the human condition way too many times.  I allow every other distraction to get in the way of my sitting down and recording these.  It’s not that I don’t want to, but rather that I want everything to be “just right.”   I need quiet, and there hasn’t been much, what with winds and storms and animals kept indoors.  I have also been plagued with a few health issues and even more HOUSE issues, such as frozen  pipes, roof sections blowing away, and other things.  This relates so much to one of the songs in today’s podcast, called “Leavin’ on my mind” by the Victorymen.

The more I deal with the problems of this aging house and aging body, the need for solid maintenance schedules becomes glaringly obvious.  Heat Tape, used to protect pipes from freezing in the winter, generally lasts only 3-4 years.  One would think that one would replace said tape while the weather outside was temperate about every 3 years, just to be on the safe side.  But no, I had to try to eek that last year out of it, and am now forced to deal with a situation where I cannot replace it safely for want of having to leave it exposed to the elements while I work on it.  This would mean the pipe freezing while I worked, which is not good.

I say all this, because as I said before, our spiritual “House”, or where the Lord resides in our heart, is also something we should maintain on a regular basis.  Digging into the word, replacing the problems of our days with his amazing grace, is something we need to be constant and diligent about.  I love to lay my problems at the foot of the cross every night when I go to bed, knowing that God through Christ will take care of them, and some mornings I even forget to try to pick them up again!  (There is no need to pick them up, for if we truly lay them down and ask Him to take them, then TRUST requires that we leave them there)

This episode also marks 6 years of Gospel Music Roundup as a Podcast!  What a wonderful thought!  Praising God in song and hymn and spiritual songs with wonderful friends, like Dave Berland, the Victorymen, The Missourians, Signature Quartet, The Barkley Family, Canaans Road, The Dotson Family, and so many others…

SPECIAL NEWS!!!

I have recently been asked to join “The Victorymen” and am currently singing and practicing with them as their Bass singer!  This edition includes a few songs that I sing along with them on, and also includes some songs made by the Victorymen a few years earlier, when they were a trio.  You’re going to hear Rogers Littlefield, Rocky Biggers, Randall and Myself, of course, but you will also hear songs that include Cherie Riley and Shawn Riley as well as some that include Nate Davis on lead!

This is going to be a wonderful, busy  and exciting year for Gospel Music, and I hope you come along for our small part of it here, on Gospel Music Roundup!

In Christ,

Tom Whiteman

gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

This is our favorite time of year!!!

The wonderful sights and smells, the friends, the warm greetings… And the COOKIES!!!

But most of all, the Gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ, the Holy Child born in Bethlehem!

Join Donna and I as we share the sounds, wonders and insights to this marvelous night of nights,and King of Kings!  Includes music from Dave Berland, Tracy Heaston, The Signature Quartet, Chosen Few, The Boatrights, The Missourians, Tom Whiteman, and so much more!

To think of the buzz going on in Heaven prior to this Glorious Night:  The majesty of the angelic celebration over the birth of our newborn KING!  This was the Promised One, the Salvation of Man come to earth,  yet he entered quietly in the equivalent of a barn, a stable… Yet even in his quiet surroundings, the angels burst out rejoicing!  Knowing what they knew, I’m sure I would have done the same.

My prayer for you, is that in this season of parties and get-togethers, concerts and fanfare, that you are able to take the message of the songs in this podcast to heart, and imagine what life before Christ was like;  The anticipation of eons, culminating in the miraculous birth of our KING, who would a short lifetime later lay down his life as a sacrifice for all men…  He first gave up his seat of Glory to live among men, then laid down his earthly life, that we might have that chance at eternal life with Him, back in Glory!

The songs for this podcast once again just flowed with the spirit, and I was so blessed just playing the songs, listening to audio celebration and having the chance to share it with you, it was a double-blessing!

Thanks so much to The Missourians, Dave Berland, The Boatrights, Homeward Bound, Signature Quartet, Steel City Quartet, John Lawrenzi, Belinda Gail, Pure Heart, and so many other willing servants who have contributed their time and talents to singing the praises of our Lord, the reason for the seasons, Jesus Christ!

Art was one of the most amazing men I have ever met. He never spoke very loud, in the time I have known him, but when he DID speak, you’d best listen, because if you didn’t you’d miss some powerful wit or deep wisdom.

Never once, when I would step up to him after Church or stop by his home, would I feel like I was interrupting anything or keeping him from something he’d rather be doing. Art had a decisive way about him that may have, at times, exhibited itself as stubbornness, but truth be told, it just meant that he had already thought the subject through and had made up his mind.

Even in his later years, I would see Art and his wife, Margaret, out in the garden. Weeding, tilling, planting and harvesting was the work they did together year after year for most of their lives. Outside of that garden, they continued to till, to plant and to harvest, but then for the Kingdom of God.

I loved Art, but I’m not sure he knew it. Funny, how we can say something of how we feel about someone when they have gone away, but are hesitant to say those things to their faces, but I do… I love Art, and his presence on earth is going to be missed. I can only hope he is up there, advisin’ the Lord on the behalf of all his friends and family he left behind.

I have had several personal struggles of late, so for those of you who kept the torch of the Gospel Light burning in my absence, I praise God for you!  As some of you know, financial and physical hardships tried to wedge between me and this wonderful outlet of praise, and yet God has stood faithful, even though I was lacking.

Even now, as I went through all the great songs I have at my disposal, it wasn’t until I started putting them together for this ‘cast that I realized how dark and lacking the world outside of Life in Christ is!

There are stations abounding that are playing “Christmas” or “Holiday” music, and more than one locally playing it 24/7.  But there is no greater blessing than to hear music of this season that is directed at the REASON for the Season, that being Jesus Christ!

For the next few weeks, I hope to provide you with a depth of worship aimed at celebrating the birth of our Savior, and to that end provide you with the tools to surround you and your workspace or vehicle with a ministry in audio…  Music that Celebrates the birth of JESUS.

Join me as Dave Berland, The Signature Quartet, Higher Ground, Lori Bianco, Mark Steven Smith, and many others REJOICE in the remembrance of the most wonderful night EVER!

Feel free to download this episode to CD:  Play in your office, in your car, at your next holiday gathering… LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW that Jesus STILL is the reason for this season, and none of the commercialization or attacks of satan are ever going to conquer that!

You see, when I was listening to their songs for this podcast, something happened.  I know, you are thinking to yourself, “Tom, that ALWAYS happens to you”.  But this time is certainly one for the books.

Often I will be putting together the songs for this show, and the Lord kind of “Takes over”, putting everything in the place it needs to go-  a most awesome experience, to be sure.  But this time, it was so much MORE than that!  I truly FELT the ministering of the Holy Spirit in my heart throughout this cast.

So much has happened recently, and most of it has kept me away from the microphone.  Satan was craftily using his darts and distractions.  But when I started to record this evening, I felt God working on my heart, tuning it up and speaking to the hurts that it was hanging on to.

I didn’t just record, this time;  As I say within the show, I FELLOWSHIPPED!  Sweet communion as God worked in me through the words of the songs.

My prayer, is it does the same for you!  Enjoy!

This podcast serves as a reminder; Not of WHO to vote for, or WHAT to vote for, but HOW to select your vote, and to help heal our land.  You must SEARCH the Word of God for guidance, PRAY for the leading of the Spirit, and Trust that He will lead you in the right direction.

It is estimated that there will be a record voter turnout this year, and I pray that YOU are one of them.  Again, I am not here to tell you who or what to vote for, but to instead remind you to seek out God’s will for you and for this country.  She needs all the prayer she can get, right now, and we as Christians and Americans need to stand for a change… GOD’S Change!

The only CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN or LEADER we can believe in is JESUS, HE can CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Just imagine what He can do for our country!

Here are some of the artists standing with you in prayer:

70×7

• Barkley Family

• Benge Family

• Brian Mace

• Cross Road Quartet

• Country Cousins Music

• Dale Harper

• Dan Adkins

• David James

• Firesong

• Mark High

• Rekindled Quartet

• Golden State Quartet

• Canaan’s Road Gospel Group

• Burneys

• Roy Harris

• Dave Berland

• Martin Adams

• Pure Heart

• The Missourians

• Lottie Collier

• Rod Burton

• Thomas James Ministries

• & every other artist on the Blogrolls, plus so much MORE~!

Please, if this episode means anything to you, PASS IT ON!

The Singers you hear also wrote the songs.  Yet every one of them will tell you that GOD gives the song, and not man. 

The sounds are awesome, and each of these artists have a very special place in my heart.  I have been honored to meet them and to share their music, while getting to know them better in the process.

Some of the singers have been used of God to bring me to tears;  Some have brought my joy to new heights.  ALL of them have in one way or another brought me to my knees in the wondrous glory of Christ, and I hope they do the same for you.

Originally, I thought one show was going to be able to cover about all of them, but boy, was I wrong!  You can look forward to this special episode being continued shortly, since there are many more Singer/songwriters yet to be shared beyond this episode.

Please, take the time to write them share with them the feelings that God has shared with you through their music, and encourage them to continue to minister in Jesus’ Name!

Thank YOU, too, for being a part of that which makes my heart GLAD, the worship and praise for a Holy God in the embodiment of Christ Jesus, and His wonderful work on the cross!

Dave Berland

Lottie Collier

Jim “Curly” Musgrave

Michelle Cupit

Mary Alice Vanderwaters

Mark Steven Smith

The Son Set Refuge (Still Waters)

And so much more, with more to come!

Bring your covered dish and don’t forget the Cobbler! You can smell the barbecue and Fried Chicken in the air, the laughter of children playing and the spirit of God in the hearts of all.

There’s quite a lineup today of folks waiting to sing for you, but they all are united in the purpose of Praising our God, and Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross!

Also, if you are interested in BLUEGRASS GOSPEL, check out these events!

Lottie Collier

Still Waters

Dale McKay

Old School Bluegrass Band

Bill Monroe

Gospel Grass

Mark High

John “Legs” Lawrenzi

Marvin Whiteman

Goin’ Home Gospel Bluegrass

Dave Berland

Lori Bianco

Finley Duke

The Missourians

John Eric Anderson

And as always, soooooo much more!

Take the name of Jesus WITH you!

]]> http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2008/09/21/gospel-music-roudnup-all-day-bluegrass-gospel-sing-dinner-on-the-grounds/feed/ 0 60:01 It's the Gospel Music Roundup Sunday Service All Day Bluegrass Sing and Dinner on the ground! Bring your covered dish and don't forget the Cobbler! ... It's the Gospel Music Roundup Sunday Service All Day Bluegrass Sing and Dinner on the ground! Bring your covered dish and don't forget the Cobbler! You can smell the barbecue and Fried Chicken in the air, the laughter of children playing and the spirit of God in the hearts of all. There's quite a lineup today of folks waiting to sing for you, but they all are united in the purpose of Praising our God, and Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross! Also, if you are interested in BLUEGRASS GOSPEL, check out these events! Lottie Collier Still Waters Dale McKay Old School Bluegrass Band Bill Monroe Gospel Grass Mark High John ldquo;Legsrdquo; Lawrenzi Marvin Whiteman Goin' Home Gospel Bluegrass Dave Berland Lori Bianco Finley Duke The Missourians John Eric Anderson And as always, soooooo much more! Take the name of Jesus WITH you! Music,,Podcast,,Sunday,Service,,Uncategorized,,comments Thomas Whiteman no No http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2008/09/21/gospel-music-roudnup-all-day-bluegrass-gospel-sing-dinner-on-the-grounds/http://gospelmusicroundup.org/podpress_trac/feed/124/0/GMRsunSvcBGsing.mp3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gospelmusicroundup/uDKq/~3/R1_hDRw9m50/ http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2008/09/14/the-sunday-service-whats-on-top/#comments Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:31:02 +0000 admin http://gospelmusicroundup.org/?p=117 Hurricane Ike, or the remnants thereof, just passed over last night.  We’ve had a few roofing problems (Leaks) so my son, my wife and myself got out on the roof to try to cover the bad areas in preparation.  About the time the rain hit, we had gotten a decidedly hurried job done.  I had to have help down the ladder, since my knee isnt so good, but praise God, we all got down safely!

It rained hard and it rained long…  but I gotta say, I know what hit us was nowhere near what got Texas and Arkansas on the way here.  we still had leaks, and even a couple new ones, but in spite of it all, only one leak seemed a bother, overall, because it was one of the new ones, and we really hadn’t expected it.

This morning I rose to check out the damage, and there really wasn’t any.  Instead, this is what I saw:

Can anyone paint a better or more beautiful picture than God?  The awesomeness of his work overwhelmed me.

Have you ever heard the story of the new preacher, who delivered his first sermon to his congregation with a fire and a passion that made people raise their hands and applaude?  People shook his hand on the way out, and gave lavish compliments about the sermon.

The next sunday, the preacher stood this time and delivered that exact same sermon, all over again.  This time, those who had missed the week before were pretty excited, but the ones who’d heard it before were left wondering and discussing it among themselves  afterward, musing,”maybe it’s just the jitters, a new church and all…”

On the third Sunday, He began to deliver that exact same sermon, all over again!  A couple of the elders glanced at each other, and knew right away this needed to be addressed.  One of them stood up, right there in the middle of his sermon.

“Pardon me, preacher?” he asked, “But isn’t this the same sermon you preached to us before, both on your first sunday, and this last one?”

The preacher smiled a big smile and said, “Why, YES!  Of COURSE it is!”

The Elder scratched his head for a moment and then eyed the preacher carefully, as he posed his next question: “Well, what gives?  Don’t you KNOW any other sermons?”

The preacher stepped away from the podium and got down on the level of the congregation. “You brought me here to teach you.  As soon as the Lord tells me you have learned the FIRST lesson, we will move on!”

23 people were saved that day.

God sometimes allows repeat difficulties or problems to come our way in order that we might fully learn the lesson that has been placed before us.  The first time, we may cry out, and our prayers are answered, so we rejoice and move on.  Then the same thing happens again, and not only do we cry out, but now we are a little confused because we thought we had overcome the situation.  God will then use his word or another believer to bring you through.   But the truth may be that you haven’t quite GOT it yet, and you again become complacent.  AGAIN the storms come, and you find yourself at odds with GOD!  You get upset, depressed, angry, and overly sensitive, feeling like you are being singled out or picked on.  But God is faithful, and patiently waits for you to sort out the pieces of the puzzle.  If you believe him and love Him, you know the answer lies somewhere, so you start looking.  Opening His word, the answer comes.  This was an extreme faith building exercise.

Recently in my own troubles I got so absorbed in them that I failed to look outside myself at the bigger problems going on around me.  People needed hope, prayer and healing.  Major catastrophes were occurring all around, and my eyes were only on myself.  I was a self absorbed brat, where my Father was concerned.

I sat during this time and looked at my desk.  The bills were piled up.  There were no Job offers coming in, and I had been scammed, mistreated and injured.  All the evidence of my foolish selfish efforts lie before me;  The bills, the documentation from Unemployment denied and appeals, the medical records, medicines I’d been taking and various resumes intermingled with cover letters and such…

Underneath it all was the Bible.  I reached over, pushed the offal aside and picked it up.  Not headed to any book intentionally, it opened to here:

Philippians 2

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Once again, my own pitiful puny pity party had been exposed.  the words hit me, one of the leaders of the Faith, pouring himself our as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of our faith.

No matter what comes, my eyes are to be fixed on ministering to others, not playing catch-up in the arena of the world.  Satan will continue to try to busy me, but I must leave the temporal behind, and press on. God WILL take care of these things, so long as I persevere in what he would have me to do.

Our Praise Team today’

WIGTUNES

Dave Raymer

Dave Berland

The Missourians

Pure Heart

The Burneys

Jeff T

and so much more!

that was scheduled for this time can not be aired.

check back tomorrow and say a prayer for the heroes!!!!!

V1
(I heard )many a tale
and a story or two
about a vessel that was bigger than life
with Sails of spun gold
And a Wake white as snow
Cutting thru the sea like a knife
Her captain, He was
A strong and passionate man
Holding her steady and true
With an eye thru the night
Like a bright guiding light
This voyage was his mission to do

V2
There was a serpent ahead
Who left a trail of the dead
pirating the souls of mankind
The seas had turned red
From the blood that it shed
And the wreckage it had left behind
From the depths he arose
Bringing darkness to those
Whose vessels had strayed from their course
Man alone could not fight
Ol’ Leviathan’s might,
Feeding on the sin and remorse

V3
Oh, Our captain he knew
That his time was now due
To redeem what the serpent had done
There were souls to be saved,
And sin’s debt to be paid
The battle was his to be won
The redemption of man
Was placed in his hands
It required a blood sacrifice
With purpose and prayer,
He found satan’s lair
And gave up his life as the price

V4
The serpent grabbed hold
Of our captain so bold
And nailed him to the ship’s mast
As He sank that ship down
He watched our captain drown
He was certain that he’d breathed his last
For three days he stayed
at that watery grave
To be certain that the deed was done
But on that third day
Our Captain did raise
With the power of “The Path Of The Son!”

Dave and I worked together on this song….  but it could not have happened without the force of the spirit being there banding us together in Him!

As time has passed, I began to see the deeper meanings behind this song and behind this ministry.  I see the wonders of Friends joining across the lands…  and the waters,   In this episode, Lottie Collier sings her song, I Know The Water Walker…  a great testimony about the relationship with our savior;  a man who could not only calm the sea with a wave of his hand or a soft rebuke, but could walk upon it at the same moment.

I thank those of you who took upon themselves the ministry of Christ, and reach out to those in need, lifting them up in prayer and support as they attempt to walk upon the water as well.

Pray for me as well…  I started a new Job this week, and am having to load up my old brain with a ton of new facts I am having to memorize!

Love and blessings

Tom

The Burneys

Lottie Collier

Thomas James

DAVE BERLAND

Pure Heart

Dan Adkins

Mark High

The Missourians

The Burneys

Canaan’s Road

Rekindled

And so much more!

7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

What a week..no, even a month, it has been. Seems like a roller coaster ride at times, with challenges in my home and in the homes of others.

Larissa’s condition has not changed much, but that may be a GOOD thing. Take a moment to pray once more, please… I will keep you all updated as I know more.

One of the things I love best about working with this program, is being so close to so many of you. You have been my support, my encouragement, and the compass that has pointed me to the cross with all my problems, and Lord Knows, there have been many.
Some of you have faced some serious challenges as well. Maybe even had your service in Him challenged, leaving you wondering if you are doing the right thing… All I can say, is… Stay the course, finish the race. He will not leave you or forsake you, and Christ hung on a cross to put an end to that a long time ago!

The praise team:  Chosen Few, Anne Erhardt & Dave Raymer, The Missourians, Still Waters, WigTunes, The Burneys, Lottie collier and Mark Cable!