Author: Texas Gospel

Born of water and Spirit

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JEFF TURNER

In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that a person must be born of water and the Spirit to enter God’s kingdom. Some have thought “water” means physical birth, like when a mother’s water breaks, but that idea doesn’t seem to fit the context. Others believe it means baptism alongside spiritual birth, but I believe this also misses the meaning.

I believe the right understanding comes from the Old Testament, specifically Ezekiel 36. In that prophecy, God promises to cleanse His people, give them a new heart, and put His Spirit within them. The “water” speaks of being made clean from sin, and the “Spirit” refers to God’s Spirit giving new life.

Jesus was pointing Nicodemus to this promise, showing that entering God’s kingdom requires both cleansing and renewal from God.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:5

A desperate cry for revival

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BOB RICHMOND

The church today faces a crisis deeper than most people realize. Society constantly tells believers what is now acceptable, blurring the lines between right and wrong until basic truths are disputed. Those who hold to biblical standards are often labelled hateful. This presents a real problem for Christians who are called to love everyone genuinely while standing firm on God’s word.

God’s Word never changes. It remains the same as time passes.

The church will rally around someone struggling with alcohol or drugs, but when it comes to sexual sin, many act as if this area is off limits. The idea that personal choice automatically makes something right has taken hold. This is not biblical Christianity. God’s word remains clear and unchanging. One major reason revival has not come is that believers have adopted the notion that certain choices are beyond judgment. The issue is not about condemning people but about seeing Jesus clearly. When believers truly see the holy God of scripture, everything else becomes clear.

Revival begins with a desperate cry for God to tear open the heavens and come down. God is near, right beside his people, but they often fail to recognize his presence. A spiritual battle rages constantly, and believers should cry out for God to help them believe what they cannot see. Revival cannot be manufactured. It is the presence of God himself. Nothing is too powerful for God to overcome. Even someone who has lived in terrible sin for years can experience revival. God seeks broken people so he can heal them. Where there is honest dissatisfaction with one’s spiritual state, seeds of revival are being planted.

We praise Thee O God
For the Son of Thy love
For Jesus who have died
And now is gone above
Halleluiah, Thine the Glory
Halleluiah, Amen
Halleluiah, Thine the Glory
Revive us again

Revival requires a return to godly fear. This means more than caring about what God thinks. If God fully revealed himself, mountains would bow down before him. People today are too casual about God’s holiness and his awe-inspiring power. When a church loses its respect of God, it loses its power, because its power is God himself. True revival restores the understanding that God is holy, powerful and near.

Revival does not start with the world or with politics. It depends entirely on God’s people. If they humble themselves, pray, seek his face and turn from their wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. The problem is not what others are doing but what believers themselves have done.

Revival is the reshaping of God’s people, remaking them into vessels fit for the treasure they carry, which is God himself. Revival starts with a kneeling saint. The time to respond is now.

Singing News releases nominees for 2026 Singing News Fan Awards

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PRESS RELEASE FROM SINGING NEWS

The Singing News Fan Awards, established in 1970, allows Gospel music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite Southern Gospel artists, musicians, songwriters, songs, albums, radio DJs, and more. Here are the three phases of voting:

March issue – (Nominating ballot)

May issue – (Top 10 ballot)

July issue – (Top 5 ballot)

To be able to vote, you must be a subscriber to either Singing News magazine or SingingNewsTV. If you are not yet a subscriber, you still have time to vote in the next two phases of voting. Just go to www.singingnews.com/subscribe.

The winners in 21 categories will be announced at the Singing News Fan Awards presentation, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, on the Main Stage of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Here are the Top 10 Nominees for 2026:

Favorite Quartet

  1. Anthem Edition
  2. Down East Boys
  3. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
  4. Gold City
  5. Guardians
  6. Inspirations
  7. LeFevre Qt
  8. Mark Trammell Qt
  9. Tribute Qt
  10. Triumphant Qt

Favorite Duet

  1. Austin and Ethan Whisnant
  2. Blake & Jenna Bolerjack
  3. Bryan & Yvonne Hutson
  4. Chronicle
  5. Duncans
  6. Jeff & Sheri Easter
  7. Jim & Melissa Brady
  8. Josh & Ashley Franks
  9. Reggie & Ladye Love Smith
  10. Zane & Donna King

Favorite Mixed Group

  1. Chuck Wagon Gang
  2. Collingsworth Family
  3. Craguns
  4. Endless Highway
  5. Erwins
  6. Isaacs
  7. Karen Peck & New River
  8. Mylon Hayes Family
  9. Perrys
  10. Whisnants

Favorite Soloist

  1. Adam Crabb
  2. Billy Walker
  3. Ivan Parker
  4. Jonathan Wilburn
  5. Joseph Habedank
  6. Lauren Talley
  7. Lynda Randle
  8. Michael Booth
  9. Scotty Inman
  10. Steve Ladd

Favorite Trio

  1. 11th Hour
  2. Booth Brothers
  3. Brian Free & Assurance
  4. Greater Vision
  5. Hoppers
  6. Hyssongs
  7. Peach Goldman
  8. Sound Street
  9. Southbound
  10. The Sound

Favorite Young Artist

  1. Brady Jones (Kingsmen)
  2. Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
  3. Christopher Taylor (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
  4. Elena Dubbeld (Mark Dubbeld Family)
  5. Elisha Moore (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
  6. Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
  7. Jaylie Vanderslice (Sound Street)
  8. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  9. Makayla Hyssong (Hyssongs)
  10. Priscilla Franks (Josh & Ashley Franks)
  11. Tate Emmons

(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)

Favorite Soprano

  1. Amber Eppinette Saunders (11th Hour)
  2. Brooklyn Blair (Collingsworth Family)
  3. Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
  4. Kennedy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)
  5. Kim Hopper (Hoppers)
  6. Melissa Brady (Jim & Melissa Brady)
  7. Melissa Kemper (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  8. Rachel Kramer (Kramers)
  9. Rebekah Shields (Rogers Family)
  10. Sonya Isaacs Yeary (Isaacs)

Favorite Tenor

  1. Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance)
  2. Cameron Edens (Anthem Edition)
  3. Chris Allman (Greater Vision)
  4. Chris Jenkins (Gold City)
  5. David Sutton (Triumphant Qt)
  6. Doug Pittman (Down East Boys)
  7. Ernie Haase (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
  8. Gus Gaches (Tribute Qt)
  9. Isaac Moore (Inspirations)
  10. Paul Lancaster (Guardians)

Favorite Lead

  1. Aaron Hise (Whisnants)
  2. Bill Shivers (Brian Free & Assurance)
  3. Chris Bryant (Kingdom Heirs)
  4. Gary Casto (Tribute Qt)
  5. Josh Feemster (Gold City)
  6. Nick Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
  7. Ricky Carden (Down East Boys)
  8. Rodney Griffin (Greater Vision)
  9. Roland Kesterson (Inspirations)
  10. Sean Barber (Triumphant Qt)
  11. Tim Rackley (Anthem Edition)

(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)

Favorite Band

  1. Carolina The Band
  2. Chosen Road
  3. Chuck Wagon Gang
  4. Endless Highway
  5. Gaither Vocal Band
  6. High Road
  7. Isaacs
  8. Jeff & Sheri Easter
  9. Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
  10. Joseph Habedank’s band
  11. Kingdom Heirs

(Due to a tie in votes, there are 11 in this category.)

Favorite Baritone

  1. Alan Kendall (Kingsmen)
  2. Cayden Howell (Down East Boys)
  3. Clayton Inman (Triumphant Qt)
  4. Daniel Riley (Gold City)
  5. Doug Roark (Anthem Edition)
  6. Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
  7. Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
  8. Mark Trammell (Mark Trammell Qt)
  9. Mike LeFevre (LeFevre Qt)
  10. Scott Mullins (Greater Vision)

Favorite Songwriter

  1. Dennis Murphy
  2. Jim Brady
  3. John Darin Rowsey
  4. Joseph Habedank
  5. Karen Peck Gooch
  6. Kenna Turner West
  7. Lee Black
  8. Rodney Griffin
  9. Ronny Hinson
  10. Scotty Inman

Favorite Bass

  1. Andrew Utech (Anthem Edition)
  2. Brad Smith (Kingdom Heirs)
  3. Brandon Barry (Down East Boys)
  4. Daniel Ashmore (LeFevre Qt)
  5. Eric Bennett (Triumphant Qt)
  6. Ian Owens (Tribute Qt)
  7. Jeff Chapman (Gold City)
  8. Pat Barker (Guardians)
  9. Will Lane (Mark Trammell Qt)
  10. Wyatt Austin (Inspirations)

Favorite Album

  1. 40th Anniversary (Kingdom Heirs)
  2. An Irish Christmas (Down East Boys)
  3. Forever (Tribute Qt)
  4. Go Out To The Program (Greater Vision)
  5. Good Answers (Karen Peck & New River)
  6. Here To Stay (LeFevre Qt)
  7. Jesus Can (Jonathan Wilburn)
  8. Made To Live Forever (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  9. Up Above The World So High (Inspirations)
  10. Where Healing Happens (Guardians)

Favorite Alto

  1. Courtney Metz (Collingsworth Family)
  2. Hannah Shields (Rogers Family)
  3. Kari Gooch Baucom (Karen Peck & New River)
  4. Karlye Hopper (Hoppers)
  5. Libbi Perry Stuffle (Perrys)
  6. Shaye Smith (Chuck Wagon Gang)
  7. Sheri Easter (Jeff & Sheri Easter)
  8. Susan Peck Jackson (Karen Peck & New River)
  9. Susan Whisnant (Whisnants)
  10. Wendy Hayes (Mylon Hayes Family)

Favorite Song

  1. “Every Promise Made Is A Promise Kept” Anthem Edition
  2. “I Just Stopped By On My Way Home” Kingsmen
  3. “I Speak Jesus” Karen Peck & New River
  4. “Mercy River” Down East Boys
  5. “Motel Bible” Scotty Inman
  6. “Pray” Mark Trammell Qt
  7. “That Somebody Was Me” Guardians
  8. “The Church” Joseph Habedank
  9. “Up Above The World So High” Inspirations
  10. “When My Feet Touch The Streets Of Gold” LeFevre Qt

Favorite Musician

  1. Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision)
  2. Gordon Mote
  3. Jeff Tolbert (Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road)
  4. Josh Singletary (Tribute Qt)
  5. Kevin Davis (Anthem Edition)
  6. Kim Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family)
  7. Luke Vaught (Inspirations)
  8. Matthew Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
  9. Richard Hyssong (Hyssongs)
  10. Trevor Conkle (Mark Trammell Qt)

The Paul Heil Award

  1. Bill Gaither’s Enlighten
  2. Danny Jones (The 4th Page Playlist)
  3. Greg Goodman
  4. Joseph Reed
  5. Les Butler
  6. REAL Southern Gospel Radio
  7. Rodney Baucom
  8. Singing News Radio
  9. The Gospel Greats
  10. Troy Peach

Favorite New Artist

  1. Craguns
  2. Divinity
  3. Joy Holden
  4. Lawsons
  5. Peach Goldman
  6. Phillips & Banks
  7. Right Road Qt
  8. Rogers Family
  9. Tate Emmons
  10. The Promise

Favorite Artist

  1. Down East Boys
  2. Gold City
  3. Greater Vision
  4. Guardians
  5. Inspirations
  6. Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road
  7. Joseph Habedank
  8. Karen Peck & New River
  9. Tribute Qt
  10. Triumphant Qt

Favorite Radio DJ

  1. Dan Bell (WJBZ)
  2. Dave Compton (WPET)
  3. Dave Taylor (KWFC)
  4. Duane Garren (KKBL)
  5. John Wishon (WWWC)
  6. Ken Hicks (WUSY)
  7. Lottie Squires (WCKB)
  8. Randall Hamm (WFLQ)
  9. Scott Peek (KNMG)
  10. Tom Rusk (WGOG)

Rhonda Nelon on the mend after two surgeries

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

It has been nearly two weeks since gospel music favorite Rhonda Nelon first fell ill, and her family is now sharing an encouraging update with fans and supporters.

Rhonda underwent gallbladder surgery last week, followed by a second procedure shortly after. Both surgeries were successful, though the road to recovery has not been easy. Despite the positive outcomes, Rhonda faced a significant amount of pain in the days that followed.

Her husband, Todd Nelon, spoke on her behalf to let well-wishers know how she is doing. “For those asking, Rhonda is doing well after the surgeries and improving more and more each day,” he said. “It’s been a tough week, but God has been faithful, and she’s looking forward to seeing everyone soon. Thank you for all the prayers.”

The outpouring of support from fans clearly means a great deal to the family during this difficult time. By all accounts, Rhonda is moving in the right direction, and those who love her music and ministry can take comfort in knowing she is on the mend.

Peace Comes from Union with Christ

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FLOYD ROGERS

Living as a Christian begins with trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour. This means believing in His death on the cross, where He gave His life and shed His blood to make forgiveness possible. Through this sacrifice, sin is paid for, and those who believe are made right with God.

When someone accepts Christ through faith, the Holy Spirit comes to live within them. The Spirit’s role is to express the life and character of Jesus through that person. As long as there is unity between the believer and Christ, there is peace. But when someone disagrees with God’s truth or chooses their own way, that peace quickly fades.

If you are looking for lasting peace, it can only be found in Jesus. He is faithful and will not let you down. Peace is not just a feeling; it comes from staying close to the One who gives it.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7