Author: Texas Gospel

Absolutely Gospel award nominations

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SPECIAL DAYWIND RECORDS

Absolutely Gospel has announced its 20th annual Fan Favorite Award nominees.

The Nelons have the honor of having the most nominations, at 12. Karen Peck & New RIver is the most awarded group in the history of this event and picked up 10 nominations. The Isaacs received 8, with LeFevre Quartet and Triumphant Quartet receiving 6. Tribute Quartet, The Down East Boys, The Old Paths, Joseph Habedank and Jim & Melissa Brady each received 5 nominations. The Perrys, Talleys, High Road, Collingsworth Family and Legacy Five each received 4 nominations. Gold City, The Crabb Family, Master’s Voice, The Sound, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, 11th Hour, The Erwins and The Jordan Family Band each received 3 nominations. Greater Vision, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Riley Harrison Clark and Endless Highway were among the artists earning 2 nominations.

Fans are invited to vote at AbsolutelyGospel.Com. The winners will be announced in a virtual ceremony, to be announced at a later date.

US investigators suspect arson in Texas church fire

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JEFF TURNER

An arson inspector in the US said one person is in custody following a fire that heavily a church building Friday evening.

A news release from the Amarillo Fire Department says the fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. at the Community of Christ Church.  The building was heavily involved with fire when the first crew arrived and they called for seven additional fire units. Firefighters were unable to enter the building because of the severity of the fire.

All nearby homes and structures were spared.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Ernesto Pena, 24, of Amarillo. A motive has not been announced.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Texas media outlets report the temperature in Amarillo at the time of the fire was 18°F/-7°C.  It is not uncommon for homeless people to start fires in buildings in an attempt to stay warm. We mention this because it is likely the motive is not anti-Christian bigotry. 

Gospel music trailblazer Carman dies at 65

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Gospel artist Carman has died after battling an illness.

A statement from his representative says, “GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame member, CARMAN, passed away Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at a Las Vegas, Nevada hospital, after fighting a series of complications resulting from surgery to repair a hiatal hernia.”

Carman received the House of Hope of Humanitarian Award for his positive influence in the lives of American youth in 2006, other noted recipients of this award include Ronald & Nancy Reagan and Billy Graham.

The Gospel Music Association honored Carman with induction into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018. Billboard named Carman “Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year” in 1992 and 1995, and in 1993, his album, Addicted to Jesus, earned the distinction of Contemporary Christian Album of the Year. Carman was Grammy-nominated multiple times as the Best Pop Contemporary Gospel Artist. His recording, “A Long Time Ago in a Land Called Bethlehem” was nominated for “Album of the Year” by the Recording Academy in 1986.

In 1985, the release of his first #1 song, “The Champion,” solidified his place in music history and defined his soul-winning career as one of endurance, grit, dedication, and pure talent. Anyone who knew Carman knows that he counted only this as his greatest lifetime achievement – winning millions of souls to Christ.

Carman Dominic Licciardello was 65.

Loren Harris, Kingdom Heirs baritone, sent to hospital after 1-car accident

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Members of The Kingdom Heirs are asking fans to pray for their baritone singer Loren Harris who was sent to hospital with three fractured ribs and three compound fractures in his back after an auto accident.

A post on to the group’s Facebook page says the accident happened February 4, 2021 as he was driving to meet the Kingdom Heirs’ bus in Johnson City, TN, USA.

At last report Lauren was in stable condition.

When love is called hate

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Floyd Rogers

Do Christians hate people who reject the Bible?  This may sound like a strange question, but there are people who would have you believe that Christians hate anyone who doesn’t follow God’s teachings. Is this a fair way to portray all who believe disobeying God’s word is harmful? Could what they see as hate be a sign of something quite the opposite? Think about this as we consider something that has nothing to do with religion.

I know a few health-food nuts. They eat a very restrictive diet and they are convinced that anyone who doesn’t do the same is harming themselves. At times they seem very motivated to warn their friends about what they perceive as self-destructive behavior. If one of them told you that you were putting yourself in danger by eating a cheeseburger, would your first thought be that they must hate you? Would you assume they hate anyone else who consumes junk food? Would it be rational to refer to promoters of healthy eating as a hate group? The point I’m making with this analogy is that warning someone about a hazard is a sign of love, not hate. It doesn’t matter if you are talking about health food or sin.

History has taught us that hate is often disguised as protection.  Governments have hidden their oppressive policies under this banner. Because of this, it’s important to question anyone who asks for help enforcing protective actions. But there is a very important difference between forcing others to be safe and warning others about potential dangers caused by the choices they make. It’s easy for those who are eager to find malice in their opponents to overlook this distinction. It’s also something that can be purposely ignored by anyone motivated to deceive. Consider that some who spend an excessive amount of their time, money and resources trying to convince you that people of faith are hateful, just might be the ones who need to check some of their own hate at the door.

Deception is not a sign of love. Warning others of danger is not a sign of hate.

What are your thoughts?