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The inspiration behind Donna Ulisse’s new song

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Jeff Turner / Daywind Records News Release

Highly-acclaimed Bluegrass Gospel artist Donna Ulisse says her grandmother is the inspiration behind her new song “Don’t Bury This Bible With Me.” She said the the lyrics revolve around a box of items her grandmother left for her.

“Everything I describe, the blanket, her picture, her broken pearls, I have all this stuff.” she said

“The thing that really brought me to my knees when I pulled it out of the box was a white leather Bible that she loved. She just always said I don’t wanna take this with me when i go I want to leave it on this earth. So I wrote he song Don’t Bury this Bible With me, in honor of Miss Martha.”

Don’t Bury this Bible With Me is the second release from Donna’s thirteenth studio album Livin’ Large. The CD is the second released by Billy Blue Records. It’s also the third album she’s produced by the legendary Doyle Lawson.

Listen for Don’t Bury this Bible With me on Texas Gospel Canada’s Southern Gospel and Country Gospel streams!

Mission Network News

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Daily audio update from Mission Network News

3/25/2022 Bibles arrive as China locks down – China (MNN) — A shipment of Bibles and Christian books reaches believers in China amid harsh coronavirus lockdowns. [Read More]

3/25/2022 U.N. chief warns members not to forget the MENA – Middle East/North Africa (MNN) — Will Ukraine take priority over crises in the Middle East and North Africa? See our full coverage of the Ukraine crisis here. [Read More]

3/24/2022 Ukraine refugee influx overwhelms Eastern Europe – Ukraine (MNN) — Russian advances may have slowed, but the Ukraine crisis is far from over. [Read More]

3/24/2022 WMP sends booklets to Ukrainian refugees – Poland (MNN) — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent a wave of refugees out into Europe. Most have crossed the Polish border. [Read More]

Pastor Robb Tripp, son of LaVerne & Edith Trip, dies at 57

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Janet Johnson

Robb Tripp, pastor of the Fireplace Fellowship Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, passed away the afternoon of December 7, 2021.  He was the son of LaVerne & Edith Trip and well-known among Southern Gospel artists.

A post by the family on the church’s Facebook page says, “Robb will truly be missed but we will continue the work he has been faithful to do these last 18 years!”

A home going Celebration of Life Service is set for Friday, December 10. A livestream will be provided.

Pastor Robb Tripp was 57.

Dianne Wilkinson, loved Southern Gospel songwriter, passes away

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Jeff Turner

Southern Gospel music lost one of its most prolific songwriters late Tuesday.  Dianne Wilkinson went to be with her Lord after losing a a battle with an illness.

“She is going to the place she has written about to see the One who came to save us and all those that she loves that have gone on before, pray for us. It’s hard to say goodbye but we have the blessed hope of seeing her again. I’ll update everyone when I can. Would be a good day to kick up gold dust for this precious Saint,” said her niece in a post to Dianne’s Facebook page.

Dianne quickly rose to the attention of Southern Gospel fans and singers in the 1970’s. By December 2016 she had published her 1,000th song. Through the years she’s been nominated for prestigious awards including SGMA songrwriter of the year, Singing News fan awards, NQC Songwriter of the year, and others.  In 2013 she received the Southern Gospel Music Guild Lifetime Achievement Award putting her in the company of artists such as Ronnie Hinson, Rodney Griffin, Phil Cross and Squire Parsons.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

ON THE WEB:

Singing News: Beloved Award-Winning Songwriter Dianne Willkinson passes away

Southern Gospel Scoops: Heaven just got sweeter

What are your thoughts on Christian apologetics?

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Floyd Rogers

Apologetics literally means to “speak in defense,” and there are plenty of authors with books about apologetics. It’s something I find fascinating because as I dissect anti-theist arguments, I find new understand of how God’s creation affirms His presence, something I’m sure those who oppose our faith don’t realize their words do. But is apologetics something on which we are told to spend a lot of time?

I have to admit, I probably spend more time than I should reading atheist writings so I can understand their complaints, and scripture to find the shortfalls of anti-theist criticisms. I could justify doing this with 1 Peter that tells us to always be ready to give answer for our faith. This brings me back to the question at the end of the first paragraph.

Our first calling as Christians is to spread God’s Word to as many people as possible. We do this so that by hearing God’s message they are, for those few precious moments, not distracted by the things of this world. I believe we don’t win people to Christ through argument springing from cognitive skill. If salvation was something we achieve through our own efforts, it would be the result of works and not faith.  But Ephesians seems to tell us it’s the other way around; salvation is a gift. By sharing the Gospel, are we not simply removing the distractions of this world for those few precious moments; that is, removing the static between God’s people and salvation? It is His call after all, that leads to salvation, and not something we’ve done.

I think it’s important to note here that some Christians seem more eager to win internet debates than lead someone to God.  How would winning a debate at such a cost honor God? Studying apologetics is being ready to give answer about our faith, but not that which results in saving faith.  

When you give answers to non-believers, especially those in the anti-theist set, are you helping them understand or causing them to dig their heals into the dirt of non-belief?

What are your thoughts?