Tag: Faith

Caleb Banks of Phillips & Banks Shares His Health Journey

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CAROLYN TURNER

Caleb Banks, a member of Phillips & Banks, has recently opened up about his ongoing health challenges. Banks, who grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee, has always had a strong connection to music and ministry, performing with his family’s group, the Banks Family, from a young age.

Banks has faced health issues throughout his life. He has lived with diabetes for many years. However, in recent times, his health problems have become more serious. Banks shared, “If you follow our ministry page, you can see that I’ve been going through a lot of health problems in the last couple of years. I’ve been a diabetic my whole life, but just recently I’ve been diagnosed with stage four kidney disease and diabetic retinopathy and things with blood pressure and the list goes on.”

These new diagnoses have brought many difficulties. Banks has also struggled with mental health during this time, “You know, through it all, I’ve had bouts of depression and anxiety and things that I’ve never experienced before…”

Despite these struggles, Banks says he has found comfort in his faith. He said, “…but let me tell you this, that I’ve also experienced the grace of God and the faithfulness of God like I never had before. It’s funny when we walk through these trials and things, we have to trust the Lord with things that we’ve never had to before. And not once has he ever left me and once has he ever forsaken me. And I don’t believe that he ever will. I know the Lord is good and that he’s working all things for my good. And I want to encourage you, he’s doing the same thing for you today.”

Banks asks for continued prayers and remains hopeful for the future.

Understanding Identity in Christ Through Obedience

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AMY TURNER

When we hear God’s word but do not follow it, we lose sight of who we really are. James 1:23 compares this to someone who looks in a mirror and then quickly forgets their own face. It sounds strange, because most people remember what they look like after looking in a mirror. But James is making a deeper point—not about how we look, but about our spiritual life.

This verse warns us that simply listening to the Bible is not enough. If we do not act on what we learn, we become spiritually confused. Just like a mirror shows us our physical appearance, God’s word shows us who we truly are. But only when we live out what the Bible teaches do we stay rooted in that truth.

Obeying scripture helps us understand our identity in Christ. Without obedience, our faith becomes weak, and we forget our purpose.

Jesus said in John 14:23, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” Living by God’s word keeps us strong in faith and clear about who we are.

“That’s What Faith Looks Like”: Karen Peck Gooch Reflects on Belief Through Song

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DAVID INGRAM


In the landscape of Gospel music, faith is often not only the subject of the songs—it is the driving force behind their creation. This includes Karen Peck and New River’s song “That’s What Faith Looks Like.” You may remember it from Southbound, but it’s been re-imagined by Karen Peck and New River. Through its lyrics and the testimony of Karen Peck Gooch, the song paints a picture of what it means to live by faith amid life’s uncertainty.

At its core, “That’s What Faith Looks Like” brings us through a series of human interactions that illustrate belief in action: a mother praying for her child’s safety, a mourner offering praise at a graveside, a believer clinging to divine promises during private struggles. The song does not attempt to define faith in theological terms; rather, it shows how faith is lived out in quiet, often painful, moments.

The lyrics begin by acknowledging the difficulty of articulating faith to someone who has never experienced it.

“If you’ve ever tried to tell an unbeliever what it means to put your faith in a God you have never seen… They still wonder how your heart can be so sure.”

From there, the song transitions to more grounded examples, suggesting that the evidence of faith is not found in abstract ideas but in real-life choices—trusting, surrendering, and praising in the face of adversity.

Karen Peck Gooch, longtime member of Karen Peck and New River, offers insight into the message through her personal life.

“I’m gonna live what I believe. You know, the thing is, I believe that Jesus is Lord. I believe that I am not alone. I believe that God placed me on this earth for a reason and that’s to serve him and to glorify him.”

Her sentiment is found in the final lines of the song.

“I’m going to live what I believe. Trust what I can’t change. Follow where He leads. Unafraid and unashamed.”

This is the intersection of personal conviction and lyrical content for a gospel sinner.

“There are circumstances beyond my control. And I am not gonna understand everything that happens in my life. And you know what—I’m not supposed to. Because if I understood everything that happened in my life, there would be no reason to live by faith.”

The lyrics give us familiar examples—grief, prayer, and perseverance—”That’s What Faith Looks Like” connects with listeners who find themselves navigating similar paths. Rather than offering explanations, it offers identification. The refrain,

“I can’t explain it any other way, except to say that’s what faith looks like,”

Listen for That’s What Faith Looks Like throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!

Navigating Faith: Living with an Unbelieving Spouse

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JEFF TURNER

Living with an unbelieving spouse can be one of the hardest challenges a Christian may face. It might feel lonely or confusing, especially when faith is a core part of your life. But the Bible offers clear direction and encouragement for those in this situation.

In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul tells Christians not to leave their unbelieving husbands or wives. He explains that the believing partner brings a kind of spiritual blessing into the home. Paul writes, “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband” 1 Corinthians 7:14, ESV.

Doesn’t this tell us that God’s presence in the life of the believer has an effect on the entire household? His grace and blessing spill over, even reaching those who do not yet know Him. Instead of being influenced by the unbeliever’s lack of faith, the believer becomes a channel of God’s grace.

Some early Christians felt they had to leave their spouses in order to stay pure, but Paul corrects this thinking. He reminds them—and us—that God protects and sanctifies His people, even in difficult situations. In fact, a believer may be the very tool God uses to draw their spouse closer to Him.

Staying in a mixed-faith marriage, when possible, is not just about commitment; it’s about being a light in someone else’s life.

Exploring the Message of “The God You Are”: A Reflection on Surrender, Faith, and Identity in God

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STEVE MORGAN

When Sound Street was searching for music for their project Good Seed in 2023, lead vocalist Jaylie Vanderslice recalls that the group was looking for songs with a personal connection—songs that moved listeners on a deeper level. That search led them to “The God You Are,” written by Adina Bowman, Wendy Ferguson, and Rhonda Fry.

“In 2023, when we were searching for new songs to put on our new project at the time, Good Seed, we were searching for songs that I could relate to and I could really connect with,” Vanderslice shared. “And we weren’t having much luck until Adina Bowman sent us a song… from the moment that I heard the intro I fell in love with it and it was ‘The God You Are.’”

Now performed by Southbound, “The God You Are” continues to carry the emotional weight that Vanderslice described. The lyrics are centered on surrendering personal control, affirming God’s attributes, and aligning one’s will with divine purpose. The bridge—highlighted by Vanderslice as her favorite section—reads:

“The God of salvation, of mercy and grace,
The God of all power, you’re still God today.”

These lines enforce the song’s central message: the enduring and unchanging nature of God’s power, mercy, and authority. In the broader context of the song, this declaration follows a personal plea for help, beginning with uncertainty and vulnerability:

“I know you can do what no one else can do.
And I know that you can see just what I’m going through.
So why do I still fight this fight alone
When I should know by now that I can’t make it on my own?”

There is a struggle between human instinct for self-reliance and the spiritual call to trust. The words acknowledges God’s omnipotence and insight, but still confesses to wrestling with the need for control. The chorus follows with a deliberate act of surrender:

“So give me faith to step out of the way.
Surrender my whole life enough to say
I lay it all here at your feet.
I trust with all my heart,
Believing you to be the God you are.”

This is both a prayer and a declaration, shifting from uncertainty to resolve. It marks a turning point in the song—an active decision to yield to divine authority. It underscores a recurring theme in Southern Gospel music: that of personal transformation through trust in a higher power.

The song closes by repeating its key affirmation: “Believing you to be the God you are.”

Vanderslice’s reflection on singing the bridge—particularly her emotional response. “The God of salvation, like he saved me and he’s saved people who thought that they’re too far gone,” she said. “But you’re never too far gone for God.”