Author: Texas Gospel

Anthem Edition Unveils New Gospel Music Collection

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AMY TURNER

Anthem Edition, a quartet with a rich musical history, is set to release their latest project “Promises Kept” on January 10.

The new EP represents a fresh chapter for the band, featuring two new members: Cameron Edens on tenor and Andrew Utech on bass, joining founding members Tim Rackley and Doug Roark. This lineup change brings renewed energy and passion to their musical ministry.

“Promises Kept” showcases seven songs that highlight the group’s commitment to delivering messages of faith and hope. The collection includes their recent singles “Graveyard” and “Still Under His Feet.”

Producer Roger Talley notes the project’s distinctive sound, emphasizing its high-energy approach. The album features a mix of musical styles, from country-flavored tracks to arrangements punctuated by horns and harmonica.

The opening track, “Every Promise Made Is a Promise Kept,” sets the tone with its spirited message of God’s faithfulness. Other standout tracks include the contemplative “I Am Loved” and the closing song “They Need To See,” which offers a powerful testimony.

Anthem Edition’s journey began in 2003 as The Old Paths, and they have since become a recognized name in Gospel music. Their previous album “Right Now” produced two number-one hits and earned them a Singing News Fan Award for Favorite New Quartet.

Paul Confronts Peter: A Lesson in Moral Courage

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JEFF TURNER

In a remarkable display of moral courage, the apostle Paul once publicly confronted his fellow apostle Peter over hypocritical behavior – a moment so significant it was documented in the letter to the Galatians. This confrontation perfectly illustrated Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 18:15, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.” While Paul’s approach was more public due to Peter’s leadership role, it followed the principle of addressing sin directly.

Paul’s actions weren’t born of personal animosity but stemmed from this biblical mandate for accountability. He demonstrated that spiritual leadership carries heightened responsibility, a principle he later emphasized in his guidance to Timothy about public rebuke of church elders.

Perhaps most instructive was Peter’s response. Despite his prominent position as a leading apostle, he showed true spiritual maturity by accepting the correction gracefully. This interaction highlights a crucial truth about religious leadership: those who guide others must be prepared for their lives to serve as open books, subject to scrutiny and, when necessary, public correction for the benefit of the broader community.

Finding Hope Beyond Loss: The Story Behind “I Know There’s A Heaven”

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JEFF TURNER

In times of deep loss, many find comfort in God’s promise of eternal life. This truth is the backbone of The Kramers’ latest release, “I Know There’s A Heaven,” a song born from personal grief .

Maria Kramer Wolfe, a member of The Kramers, shares the touching story behind their current single.

“I Know There’s A Heaven is a song that we did to honor my grandma that passed with COVID,” she explains. Yet through the pain caused by the loss of her grandmother, Maria found a greater purpose.

“That’s a special unique situation that brought a lot of people together because it was so traumatic,” she continues. “But I do find that it’s so comforting for people who are mourning to just focus on this earth not being our home and that heaven is our home.”

This message of hope aligns perfectly with 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” NASB.

The song serves as a reminder that while grief is real and loss is painful, there is comfort in knowing that death is not the end for those who believe.

God’s Unbreakable Love: Insights from John 10

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

For many Christians, the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John has served as a source of hope and reassurance during moments of uncertainty. In this passage, Jesus refers to himself as “The Good Shepherd” and to his followers as his flock. He makes a profound promise in verse 28, saying that no one can take his sheep away from him. He continues, emphasizing that his Father, who entrusted the believers to him, is greater than all, and thus no one can remove them from the Father’s grasp.

However, some interpret this comforting passage to mean that, while God won’t abandon his people, a believer might still choose to abandon God. In response to this interpretation, one might ask: where does the text say that a person can slip away from God’s care? Such an idea doesn’t align with what the passage actually communicates. The scripture clearly states that no one—not even the believer themselves—can be taken from Jesus’ or the Father’s hand. The promise is about absolute security, not conditional protection.

This passage from John parallels the assurance found in Romans 8: if God is on our side, who can oppose us? If Christ has purchased our redemption, who has the power to undo it? Neither life nor death, nor any other power or force, has the ability to separate us from God’s love through Christ Jesus our Lord. The message throughout scripture is consistent: the embrace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is unbreakable and irrevocable. That’s the guarantee believers have from God’s word.

A Simple Question Sparked a Musical Legacy

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JEFF TURNER

A chance conversation between two gospel music artists led to the creation of what would become the Quartet Tribute series. Gary Casto of Tribute Quartet shares how a brief exchange with Gerald Wolfe at the Great Western Fanfare in Visalia, California changed their musical direction.

After performing on stage, Casto sought Wolfe’s opinion about their program. Wolfe’s straightforward advice was that they needed to include some old quartet songs in their performances.

“Gerald was sitting in the artist’s circle and when we walked out off the stage, he walked out with me and I said, ‘Gerald, what are we missing in our program?'” Casto recalls. “He says, ‘You’ve got to do some old quartet songs.'”

What happened next shows how quickly good ideas can turn into action. Casto immediately asked Wolfe to produce the project, then walked straight to Day Wynn, the A&R director of their record company. The entire plan came together in moments.

The enthusiasm was clear on all sides. When Casto approached Wynn with the concept, the response was immediate and positive. The project moved from idea to reality at remarkable speed, with plans to begin within a week of that initial conversation.

This spontaneous exchange between artists backstage would lead to a significant project, showing how sometimes the biggest ventures can start with just a simple question.