Author: Texas Gospel

The Meaning Behind ‘Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus’

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JEFF TURNER

Michael Booth on the Message Behind The Booth Brothers’ Latest Song, “Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus”

The Booth Brothers’ latest release, “Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus,” is a powerful reminder of faith and perseverance. The song, written by Jim Brady, Dave Clark, and Don Cook, carries a message that Michael Booth deeply resonates with.

Booth shared some insight into the song’s creation, highlighting the significance of its simple yet profound message. “Keep turning your eyes on Jesus. Jim Brady, Dave Clark, and I believe Don Cook wrote that together. It was one of their only times they got together and wrote some songs, big writers, and I love it,” Booth said.

For Booth, the song embodies the essence of Southern gospel music, which often focuses on delivering simple truths in a relatable way. “So much of Southern gospel is simple truth, but simple is profound,” he explained. “It’s again packaged in a joyful happy way just to remind us the constant walk with Christ is keeping our eyes on him.”

With its uplifting melody and encouraging message, “Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus” serves as a beautiful reminder to remain steadfast in faith, no matter the circumstances.

Joseph Habedank on Adapting Methods to Reach a Broader Audience

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JEFF TURNER

Southern gospel music continues to evolve, offering a spectrum of styles from deeply traditional to more progressive sounds. Joseph Habedank, known for leaning toward the progressive side, recently discussed the direction of his latest project, Autobiography, in a conversation with gospel legend Gerald Wolfe.

While Habedank’s sound may have evolved, his core message remains unchanged. “Yeah, I was just talking to Gerald yesterday about, you know, we don’t change our message ever, but we do change our method,” Habedank shared. He emphasized the need for adapting approaches to reach a diverse audience, saying, “The Bible talks about this… preach the gospel to every creature, not just, you know, young people, old people, middle-aged people, not just Americans, everybody.”

This shift in method has proven successful for Habedank, who has witnessed significant growth in his ministry. “So far, especially in the past year, we’ve watched just amazing growth and we’re so grateful, so grateful for that,” he said.

With Autobiography, Habedank continues to balance the timeless message of gospel with a fresh, progressive sound, aiming to reach listeners from all walks of life.

Tribute Quartet Revisits a Fan Favorite with “Come On Let’s Go To That Land”

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JEFF TURNER

Since their formation in 2006, Tribute Quartet has made a significant impact on Southern Gospel music, receiving multiple Dove Award nominations along the way. The group, composed of Gary Casto, Josh Singletary, Gus Gaches, and Ian Owens, has built a reputation for their tight harmonies and energetic performances.

Over the years, they’ve continued to honor the traditional sounds of gospel with their Quartet Tribute series. With three volumes under their belt, the group decided to revisit one of their earlier works for their latest radio single. The song, “Come On Let’s Go To That Land,” from Quartet Tribute, Volume 1, has made a fresh return to the airwaves.

Gus Gaches explained the decision to recut the track, sharing how much the song has resonated with the group and their audiences. “We’ve always loved that song. And when we decided that Ian and I were going to go back in and do the vocals on the Quartet Tribute Volume One project, it was one of the ones that we were the most excited about because it just always resonated live.”

The quartet had been performing the song live with Ian Owens, and the response was undeniable. “Once we got the recut, we were like, goodness, people need to hear this,” said Gaches. “And sure enough, we started playing it… and people… begin [saying], ‘Oh my goodness, there’s such an energy with that.’”

The excitement surrounding the track has only grown since its release as a radio single. “We’re excited about it—letting everybody hear it and experience what we’ve known for a while now,” Gaches said. “It’s great.”

Tribute Quartet’s decision to revisit “Come On Let’s Go To That Land” is a testament to the timeless power of gospel music and their ongoing passion for sharing it with their listeners.

Who Are the Justified?

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Justification is specifically for sinners, the ones who know they need God’s mercy. It is the ungodly, not the righteous, who are in need of justification. Often, people mistakenly believe they must be holy before coming to God, thinking that justification is for those who have already proven themselves worthy. But in truth, justification is for the broken, the lost, and the guilty. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, searches for those who know they cannot save themselves and who need forgiveness. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance and restoration.

It is important to understand that no one can earn justification by their own goodness or works. Justification is a gift, given freely to those who believe. A person weighed down by guilt and aware of their sinfulness is precisely the one whom Jesus came to save. In His mercy, God justifies the ungodly, accepting them as they are and transforming them through His grace. The promise of justification assures us that we do not have to become saints before God will receive us; instead, He makes us saints through His gift of grace.

After justification, good works naturally follow as the fruit of faith. These good works are not what makes us acceptable to God but are a response to the love and mercy we have already received. They are the evidence of a changed heart, an expression of gratitude and new life. To those burdened by guilt and striving for worthiness, the message of justification offers rest. Instead of trying to earn acceptance, we are invited to simply believe, allowing God to work in us and through us from that point forward.

Understanding the Foundation of Justification

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

The concept of justification is deeply rooted in God’s original creation and His design for humanity. When God created humankind, He did so with a vision of holy fellowship, creating us in His own image. The first humans, Adam and Eve, enjoyed a pure relationship with God, living in harmony with Him and in a state of innocence. But this perfect relationship came with a condition: obedience. God gave them a command and the ability to keep it, and through this, they maintained their unity with Him. However, disobedience shattered this bond, bringing sin and death into the world and breaking the fellowship between humanity and God.

The moment Adam and Eve sinned, death entered the picture. Not only did they face physical mortality, but they also experienced spiritual separation from God. This separation has been passed down to all humanity, making us all born into a state of spiritual death. Our natural inclination toward sin is a direct result of this break in our relationship with God. Without God’s intervention, humanity would be eternally separated from Him, unable to restore that lost fellowship. This is where justification becomes essential; it is God’s means of restoring us to Himself, a divine act of grace.

Through Jesus Christ, God set forth a plan to reconcile humanity to Himself. By sending His Son to take on the consequences of sin, God offers us a path back to Him. Jesus, the perfect representative, died in our place, bearing our sins and making justification possible. Because of His sacrifice, those who believe are seen as righteous before God. This restoration of our relationship with God, made possible through Jesus, is the foundation of justification. God’s love and grace have paved the way for forgiveness and acceptance, offering us new life through faith in Christ.