Author: Texas Gospel

The Importance of Fathers: Raising Children with Love

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Today, about 20 million children don’t have their fathers in their lives – that’s almost half as many people as live in all of Canada. These children are missing more than just having their dad at home. They’re missing the love, money, and emotional support that fathers should give. Many fathers are too busy living for today to take care of their children’s needs, and this problem is hurting our whole society. Children need their fathers, and fathers need to show their children they are loved and wanted.

Billy Graham once told a story that shows us what good fathers should do. He was lost in a town and asked a little boy for directions to the post office. After getting directions, Billy invited the boy to church to learn how to get to heaven. The boy replied, “No thanks – you don’t even know how to get to the post office!” This simple story teaches us that good fathers must lead by showing, not just by telling. Children watch what their fathers do – they notice if their father prays, goes to church, reads the Bible, and lives right. They see how their father treats other people and whether he stands up for what he believes in.

The Bible says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” and this is what good fathers live by. They don’t just send their children to Sunday School – they take them there. They don’t just tell their children to pray – they pray with them. They show their children that God is important by making God important in their own lives. Just as important, the Bible tells fathers to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Good fathers show their children what love looks like by how they treat their wives. They are kind and thoughtful, showing their children what good relationships look like through their own marriage.

Being a good father isn’t about being perfect – it’s about trying your best each day to show love, lead well, and live right. When fathers do these things, they give their children a gift that lasts forever: the example of a father who cares. They help make society better by raising children who know they are loved, and they show what God’s love looks like in everyday life. Through their actions, they teach not only their own children but also influence others around them, creating a legacy of good fatherhood that can help heal our society.

The Lore Family Marks Two Decades of Ministry with New Album

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JEFF TURNER

What began as a humble family singing ministry in a small Southern Ohio congregation has evolved into a two-decade journey for The Lore Family, who released their fourth Horizon Records album “Faith Over Fear” on November 15.

The collection marks the group’s tenth overall project, a milestone that lead vocalist Darren Lore reflects on with gratitude. “Those first few years of recording, singing and ministry went by so quickly,” he says, recalling how his children Fayth and Samuel grew up performing alongside him and his wife Sandy on various stages.

This video is a YouTube link

Today, The Lore Family consists of Darren and Sandy Lore, their daughter Fayth, and her husband Jake Whisnant. Based in Portsmouth, Ohio, the quartet has expanded far beyond their initial tri-state regional circuit of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia to perform across the United States.

Their latest album showcases the group’s musical versatility while maintaining their Christ-centered message. The project features four singles released throughout 2024, opening with “God Said You’re Gonna Make It,” a decades-old favorite performed as a duet by Darren and Sandy Lore. The collection moves through various musical territories, from Fayth Lore Whisnant’s soulful ballad “By Grace” to Jake Whisnant’s bluegrass-influenced rendering of the title track.

The album’s scope extends to orchestral arrangements on tracks like “There Was A Day When” and “I Wish They Could See Me Now,” while Sandy Lore delivers an energetic performance on the rhythmic “Shaking Off The Dust,” slated to be the next focus track. Darren Lore’s songwriting features prominently, contributing half of the album’s material.

The group’s evolution has earned them appearances on prominent stages including the National Quartet Convention, Dollywood, and Silver Dollar City. Their radio releases consistently rank in the Singing News Chart’s top 20 and receive regular airplay on Sirius XM’s enLighten channel. For two consecutive years, fans voted them among the top 5 Favorite New Mixed Groups in the Singing News Fan Awards.

Despite these accolades, Darren Lore maintains that the group’s focus remains on ministry rather than achievements. “Change is inevitable in every life and ministry—but God has remained faithful and true,” he reflects. “We pray that this project outlives us. Each song has a specific message that will stand the test of time.”

The Lore Family’s “Faith Over Fear” is available now on all major music platforms.

The Evidence All Around Us

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JEFF TURNER

There’s a profound irony in how we humans often view our relationship with God. The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, points out that the evidence of God’s existence isn’t hidden in obscure philosophical treatises or locked away in ancient mysteries – it’s written in the very fabric of creation itself. From the intricate patterns of a snowflake to the vast expanse of the starry heavens, God’s “invisible attributes” are on display for all to see.

Yet despite this overwhelming testimony, some people have a remarkable capacity for spiritual blindness. They look at the masterpiece and praise the canvas. They study the poetry and credit the paper it’s written on. Paul described a tragic progression: though people recognize God’s existence, they refuse to honor Him as God. Instead, they exchange the worship of the eternal Creator for the worship of created things – whether physical idols or the modern idols of success, pleasure, or self-determination.

The consequences of this exchange are severe. Three times in Romans 1:18-32, Paul uses the phrase “God gave them up” or “God gave them over.” When we persistently reject truth, we don’t become neutral – our capacity to recognize truth itself becomes distorted. Like eyes that have stayed too long in darkness, we begin to prefer the shadows to the light.

Today, let’s pause to really look at the world around us with fresh eyes. In every sunrise, every heartbeat, every breath, we find evidence of a Creator who has revealed Himself to us. The question is: Will we respond with worship, or will we turn away to lesser things?

Understanding the Message of ‘Dear Lord’ by Darin & Brook Aldridge

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WILLIAM DESJARDINS

Darin & Brooke Aldridge’s song “Dear Lord” has reached #4 on The Singing News Bluegrass Chart for November. The song’s lyrics echol the message of 2 Corinthians 12:9, where the apostle Paul writes about his “thorn in the flesh” and God’s response: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

“It’s kind of just a prayer almost,” says Darin Aldridge about the song. “It’s just talking and coming and humbly asking the Lord for His help and guidance, like we always do.” He explains that each verse continues this prayer format.

Brooke Aldridge explains the song’s main message. “God will bring you out of anything that you’re ever going through,” she said. She adds that the song reminds listeners to include God in their daily activities.

“We all go through those times and really should hit our knees more every day,” she says.

The song’s connection to Paul’s biblical account is clear. While Paul’s prayers for relief weren’t answered as he hoped, the text suggests his thorn in the flesh served a purpose. Similarly, the Aldridges’ song discusses how faith can help during difficult times.

“This song definitely speaks to people,” Brooke notes, pointing to its message about God’s help during challenges.

The Power of Spirit-Led Prayer: Lessons from John Knox

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JEFF TURNER

John Knox was a famous Scottish reformer in the 16th century. He was deeply concerned for the spiritual state of his country. Knox prayed with great intensity, crying out, “Give me Scotland, or I die!” It is said this passionate prayer was driven by the Holy Spirit working through him.

Romans 8:26 tells us, “Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with [a]groanings too deep for words” NASB. This speaks of the Holy Spirit’s role in helping us pray, even when we may not know what to pray for.

When the Spirit takes over our prayers, something extraordinary happens. Our prayers are no longer limited to our own perspective or goals. Instead, they align with the will and purposes of God. In these moments, we become co-laborers with the divine, our finite lives elevated to participate in God’s boundless creativity and redemptive work.

Knox’s Spirit-led prayers were not in vain. His travail was rewarded with a profound spiritual awakening that transformed the nation of Scotland. Knox’s life showed that when we yield ourselves fully to the leading of the Holy Spirit in prayer, our impact can extend far beyond what we could ever accomplish alone.

Such Spirit-led prayers know no boundaries. They can leap across oceans, speed through deserts, and penetrate the darkest corners of the world with the healing power of the gospel. This is the essence of “praying in the Spirit” – allowing the divine Intercessor to work through us, empowering our words with supernatural potency.

When we surrender our own agendas and let the Holy Spirit guide our petitions, we become conduits of God’s will.

Jesus Himself prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”