Tag: Christianity

Ernie Haase on Faith, Passion, and Authenticity in Gospel Music

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

For decades, Ernie Haase has been a familiar name in Gospel music. As tenor of Earnie Haase and Signature Sound and founder of StowTown Records, Haase has dedicated his life to sharing his faith through song. In a recent interview, he shared his thoughts on why he does what he does, the best advice he has ever received, and how he stays true to himself.

When asked about his motivation for singing Gospel music, Haase emphasized the importance of purpose. “Why I do what I do is because people need the gospel. They need to know that there is more to life than just living and dying and just trying to make it through another day another night,” he said. For Haase, music is more than entertainment—it is a way to share the message of faith and hope with others.

The wisdom passed down to Haase by his grandfather has also played a significant role in his journey. “Find something you love and you have passion for, and whatever you do in life, if you do that, you probably will never consider yourself working,” he recalled. This advice has shaped his career, helping him stay dedicated despite the challenges that come with life on the road. The love and passion for Gospel music have been his driving force, making the work feel less like a job and more like a calling.

Authenticity is another key aspect of Haase’s life and career. He believes that staying true to oneself requires reflection and prayer. “When you humble yourself and you kneel before the Lord, and you don’t come to him with any request as far as blessings, you come to him just as a servant, and you are totally transparent before him,” he explained. According to Haase, this kind of humility allows one to see what is truly aligned with faith and purpose.

When asked what three words he would share with a large audience, Haase’s answer was simple yet profound: “God is love.” He acknowledged that while this message may seem familiar, its true meaning is powerful. “When you feel the divine smile of God’s love on you, all earthly frowns are inconsequential,” he said.

Through his music and message, Ernie Haase continues to inspire Gospel music lovers. His dedication to faith, passion, and authenticity serves as a reminder that music can be a powerful tool for sharing hope and love with the world

Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 – February 2025

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DAVID INGRAM

Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of February 2025! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (January.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.

1 On The King’s Shoulders – Steeles – StowTown/Provident-Sony
2 Grateful For The Gospel – Brian Free & Assurance – Daywind/New Day
3 When It’s Gone For Good – Gold City – New Haven/Provident-Sony
4 Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus – Booth Brothers – StowTown/Provident-Sony
5 Big Ole Stone (Victory) – Triumphant Quartet – StowTown/Provident-Sony
6 More Than You Know – Tim Livingston – Diamond Mill Music
7 The Good, Bad And The Ugly – Justified Quartet – Big Picture Records/New Day
8 What Are You Waiting For – Tim Menzies (with The Isaacs) – ARS/New Day
9 You’ll Find Him There – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – StowTown/Provident-Sony
10 Glory Up Ahead – Hoppers – Gaither Music/Capitol Christian
11 Come On Let’s Go To That Land – Tribute Quartet – Daywind/New Day
12 No One Greater – Browns – StowTown/Provident-Sony
13 Jesus Walked In – Joseph Habedank – Daywind/New Day
14 Bigger On The Inside – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
15 Rock Bottom – 11th Hour – Sonlite/Crossroads
16 I Left It In The Water – Southbound – Daywind/New Day
17 Everything Good – Zane & Donna King – StowTown/Provident-Sony
18 Thank You Jesus For The Blood – Lauren Talley – Horizon/Crossroads
19 By Grace – Lore Family – Horizon/Crossroads
20 We Still Believe – Hyssongs – ARS/New Day
21 I Just Stopped By On My Way Home – Kingsmen – Horizon/Crossroads
22 I’d Rather Hear Preachin’ – Greater Vision – Daywind/New Day
23 Things We Cannot Change – LeFevre Quartet – New Day Records/New Day
24 My Name’s Already There – Inspirations – Horizon/Crossroads
25 If Not For Christ – Whisnants – Independent
26 Jesus 1 Death 0 – TrueSong – Daywind/New Day
27 Dear Lord – Darin & Brooke Aldridge – Billy Blue Records/New Day
28 Can He, Could He, Would He – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
29 When The Saints Begin To Pray – Heart 2 Heart – Independent
30 Count For Something – Jay Stone Singers – ARS/New Day

Dollywood Mainstays The Kingdom Heirs Announce Summer Tour Plans

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JEFF TURNER SR.

After 39 years of consistent performances at Dollywood, The Kingdom Heirs are changing things up in 2025. The group will mark their 40th consecutive year at the Tennessee theme park starting 14 March, but with an unexpected twist – they’ll be absent from the park for most of June and July.

Dennis Murphy of The Kingdom Heirs sees this schedule change as an opportunity. “We’re taking advantage of this situation by booking a limited summer tour which will be taking us to places we’ve been unable to visit for quite some time, especially up north,” Murphy explains.

The group plans to return to once regular stops on their performance circuit.

The Kingdom Heirs, who recently released their latest single “No Better Time” – the title track from their current album – are maintaining their strong connection with Dollywood despite this temporary absence.

For those interested in catching one of their summer performances, Murphy can be contacted directly at Dennis@kingdomheirs.com.

Thru the Bible: Matthew 14-17

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In Matthew chapter 14, Dr. McGee begins by discussing Herod’s reaction to the fame of Jesus, believing him to be John the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod’s superstitious nature and guilt over the beheading of John are highlighted. The circumstances surrounding John’s death, influenced by Herodias and her daughter, are recounted as a “sadistic sad sorted sorry account”. Following this, the narrative shifts to Jesus withdrawing and then performing the miracle of feeding the 5,000. This miracle is emphasized as being recorded in all four gospels, highlighting its importance. The disciples’ initial suggestion to send the multitude away contrasts with Jesus’ command to feed them.

Dr. McGee then details the event of Jesus walking on the water, which occurs after he sends the multitude away to pray. The disciples’ fear at seeing him, believing him to be a spirit, is mentioned. Peter’s attempt to walk on water and his subsequent sinking when he loses focus on Jesus are described, emphasizing the importance of keeping one’s eyes on the Lord. The disciples’ eventual worship of Jesus as the Son of God after the wind ceases is noted. The speaker then transitions to Jesus healing multitudes in the land of Gennesaret.

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Jesus’ confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees who questioned his disciples about not washing their hands before eating. Jesus rebukes them for prioritizing their traditions over the commandments of God, using the example of honoring parents. He accuses them of hypocrisy, quoting Isaiah to highlight the disparity between their outward actions and inward hearts. Jesus clarifies that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, proceeding from the heart, listing evils such as evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc.. This confrontation is described as the real break between Jesus and the religious leaders.

Dr. McGee then delves into the Transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17. This event is presented as a vision shown to Peter, James, and John, where Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and Moses and Elijah appeared talking with him. The speaker emphasizes that the Transfiguration sets forth the perfect humanity of Christ and the hope of humanity for future glorification. God the Father’s voice from the cloud declaring, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him,” is highlighted as God’s ultimate testimony and the final authority. The disciples’ fearful reaction and Jesus’ reassuring touch are mentioned, culminating in them seeing “no man save Jesus only”.

Finally, Dr. McGee covers the healing of a demon-possessed boy that the disciples were unable to cure due to their unbelief. Jesus’ powerful rebuke of the demon and the subsequent healing are described as the “worst case” he dealt with. Jesus reiterates his impending betrayal, death, and resurrection to his disciples, who react with sorrow. The chapter concludes with the incident of the tribute money, where Jesus instructs Peter to catch a fish containing the necessary coin, demonstrating his power and provision. The speaker concludes by noting that the disciples were slow to believe and understand, and that Jesus is patient with believers today.

The Unique Significance of Pentecost in Acts 2

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

The book of Acts gives a remarkable account of the day of Pentecost in chapter 2. This event marked a pivotal moment in history when God sent His Spirit in an extraordinary way. The apostles boldly proclaimed God’s message, and the world around them paid attention. Some people today suggest that every church gathering should aim to recreate such experiences. But is that expectation realistic given the unique context of Pentecost? And how should this passage influence the church now?

Pentecost was an exceptional, one-time event. It was not intended to set a recurring pattern for Christian worship. The Holy Spirit visibly descended like tongues of fire, and the apostles spoke in real, identifiable languages—not meaningless sounds but known languages that people understood in their native tongues. Acts 2 makes it clear that this miraculous sign served a distinct purpose: to demonstrate the Spirit’s arrival and signal the beginning of the church.

Similar events occurred later in Acts, such as among the Gentiles in chapter 8 and followers of John the Baptist. These moments introduced different groups into the church but were not meant to define the regular Christian experience. These miraculous signs were God’s way of confirming His work during that unique time in history.

While Christians today may not witness such dramatic signs, the message of Pentecost remains vital. It reminds us that God’s Spirit empowers His church to proclaim the gospel to all nations. As Paul wrote, “For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). The church’s focus should be on living out this unity and sharing God’s word, not on seeking miraculous signs as a norm.