(Photo: Stateline Area Crime Stoppers)
STAFF
A congregation in Stephenson County, Illinois had to spend time cleaning obscene graffiti off of the church walls after vandals damaged the building in the late-night hours.
A sheriff’s office news release says the vandalism was discovered around 8 a.m. on July 14 at the Cedarville Baptist Church. The spokesperson said there were no other reports of vandalism in the area.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the criminal act.
Floyd Rogers
There are people today who confuse love and hate. The idea of confusing the two may seem odd, but bias and prejudice lead to this kind of confusion and it’s something we see happening more often as society strays away from God’s word. Let’s consider an example.
When a doctor tells a patient that they risk lung cancer if they smoke, or heart attack if they overeat, it’s generally understood that telling a patient these things is an act of concern for the patient. But isn’t it interesting when a Christian tells someone they risk eternal separation from God if they engage in something forbidden in God’s word, it’s often portrayed as an act of hate? The doctor and the preacher are both warning people about the harmful effects of their actions. But since some sins have not only become accepted by society, and even praised by modern society, there are those who will project hate onto anyone who speaks out against them.
Let me say that another way. Some people so firmly believe that specific sins are a good thing, they conclude that hate is the only reason you would want them to avoid it. Their belief is so strong, it blinds them to their own intolerance, even to the point that the see an act of love as an act of hate.
Could this be the god of this age blinding the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel?
What are your thoughts?
CROSSROADS RECORDS
Arden, North Carolina (July 15, 2022) — Since the late 2019 release of their Horizon Records debut, Who We Are, the 3 Heath Brothers — Nicholas and twins Clayton and Christian — won a coveted Favorite New Artist award in 2020’s Singing News Fan Awards, joined labelmates, the Kingdom Heirs, on their 2021 single, “A Good Day Coming On,” and released their own highly-anticipated single, “It Ain’t Over Yet” at the beginning of 2022. Now, the 3 Heath Brothers release more new music with their full-length follow-up, Into The Deep, out now.
With producer Roger Talley on board once again, the collection places the Brothers’ youthful energy, sibling harmonies and appreciation for contemporary sounds in the service of the same truths that have inspired generations of Southern Gospel artists before them. The approach is announced right from the album’s first notes, as a swirling opening leads into the boldly modern feel that underpins the album’s title and cover theme:
I’m diving in, into the water
I’m swimming out, farther and farther
Where Jesus is calling me into the deep
Now I’m going in with Jesus
I’m going in all the way
From there to the closing number, an anthemic reminder that “Jesus Is Coming Back,” Into The Deep offers a set that speaks to the Brothers’ generation with an emphasis on bold, fresh sounds, new songs — including one written by the Brothers, another written by Nicholas himself, and two more from Nicholas, labelmate Kenna Turner West and Jason Cox — and lyrics that offer the eternal Gospel of hope, encouragement, worship and faith in contemporary language. Indeed, underlining the forward-looking nature of the Brothers’ approach, only two of the eleven songs — John Peterson’s “Oh Glorious Love” and “Love Won,” both coming via The Talleys — have been previously recorded.
“Some of these songs are serious and some are fun,” note the Brothers. “Whether you are young or old, we hope that this record encourages your heart, gives you hope for the future, and inspires you to pursue a deeper relationship with God. We wrote five of these songs, but we don’t create music to make a name for ourselves. We do what we do because we truly believe that at the end of the day, ‘it’s not about us…it’s all about Jesus.'”
With a ministry that speaks with special clarity to an urgent task for today — reaching out to youth with the Word of Jesus in the musical terms they can best relate to — the 3 Heath Brothers have delivered a set that will both meet the needs of the moment and stand the test of time.
Listen for Into the Deep throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!
Floyd Rogers
God’s Word tells us to go into all nations and preach the Gospel. I’ve worked in Christian Broadcasting for decades, and I’ve met a lot of people who say radio and television fulfills that charge because it broadcasts God’s Word throughout the world. But does it really?
Consider, sometimes a whisper is more effective than a shout to get someone’s attention; that is, for them to both hear and understand. I’m sure at some point you’ve had someone grab your attention with a shout even though you had no idea what they said. The shout had their attention, not the message. In the same fashion, I often wonder if people who listen to Christian radio have their attention on the friendly voice coming through their speakers and the upbeat song with little regard for what the singer is saying. The same can be said of Social media. Do people really read debates between Christians and Atheists to seek truth, or is their attention focused on which side will crush the other?
I think it’s possible we’re told to go into the nations and preach the Gospel because one-on-one sharing of God’s word eliminates the distraction other modes present. There’s no worrying about what some third party may think of our presentation, no entertainment drawing our thoughts away from what is being said, and just like a whisper, no loud attention getter distracting from the message.
Do you witness only online behind a keyboard, or do you go out and preach the Gospel?
What are your thoughts?
SPECIAL CROSSROADS RECORDS
Arden, North Carolina — In April, Horizon Records’ Lauren Talley released “Shut Him Up,” her first song in almost two years. The high-energy song put a fresh twist on a familiar story, and marked the beginning of a new era for the Gospel singer as she works on her first record as a full-time solo artist.
Now, Talley follows that with the release of another song, “Lord’s Prayer,” which shows another side of her multifaceted talents.
With an arrangement as simple, and yet as rich as the text it accompanies, “Lord’s Prayer” revisits the beloved invocation, setting each of its parts and themes to music that traces the prayer’s arc of faith and daily spiritual renewal. Talley’s moving vocal brings more power to the familiar words, highlighting the importance of prayer in a close relationship with God.
“In a world full of noise, it’s important to carve out a moment to stop and whisper, ‘Father in heaven, we love You,'” says Talley. “‘Lord’s Prayer,’ invites quiet worship and reflection, just my vocal supported only by producer Gordon Mote’s piano accompaniment. Natalie Cromwell’s haunting melody brings new beauty to the words of Jesus, as He gives us all the example to follow amidst all the distractions and busyness of life.”
