Tag: Love

How a small North Carolina church shaped Darin & Brooke Aldridge’s new album

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ANDREW TAYLOR SR.

Darin & Brooke Aldridge have spent their career singing about faith, family and home, but on their new album “Soul Condition,” out now on Billy Blue Records, they went looking for something a little more specific: the sound of where they actually come from.

The eleven-track record marks the duo’s 11th studio album and brings in some serious bluegrass and gospel firepower, with Grand Ole Opry members Sonya Isaacs and Becky Isaacs of The Isaacs joining alongside GRAMMY winner Jason Crabb. But for Darin Aldridge, the album’s emotional center didn’t come from a Nashville studio. It came from a small church in Avery County, North Carolina.

“Speaking of our heritage back in western North Carolina, we got to go up to my uncle’s church that he’s pastored at now in Linville Falls, North Carolina,” Aldridge says. He and Brooke called in family for the occasion, pulling together as many aunts, uncles and cousins as could make it on short notice. “We called a bunch of our aunts and uncles and cousins that we could get together in one afternoon,” he recalls. “And we all come to that little community church and sang several hymns that day.”

The session had the feel of a family reunion as much as a recording date. Aldridge played guitar, his cousin Tommy and his mother took turns on piano, and Brooke’s parents rounded out the room. “I played a little guitar. My cousin Tommy played piano and my mom played piano. Brooke’s mom and dad were there,” he says, before turning to his wife to confirm the memory. “Wasn’t it, Brooke?”

The goal was simple: capture one of the songs from Soul Condition sung by an actual family choir, voices that had known each other, and those hymns, for generations.

For Brooke Aldridge, the afternoon delivered more than they expected. “It turned out so very special in that little church there,” she says, “and I think it’ll give people a good taste of where we come from and how we were raised.” That, she adds, is exactly what she and Darin set out to do with the record. “That’s exactly what we were trying to capture in Soul Condition.”

Living with confidence in God’s promise

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CONNIE WILLIAMS

We can approach God like a child approaches his father. Our sins lie on the ground like a broken chain. IRS Images, 2025

Fear does not help love grow. If someone lived in fear that their partner might leave them for small mistakes, they could not feel close to them. They would be nervous all the time. In the same way, a person cannot feel close to God if they are always afraid He will push them away. The message of the Gospel gives a different picture. Those who trust in Jesus can know they are held safe by Him. This confidence does not encourage wrong behaviour. It encourages obedience because believers know God is a loving Father, not someone waiting for them to fail.

Jesus said that His followers belong to Him and that no one can pull them from His care. If a believer could still end up in hell after trusting Jesus, it would damage the honour of Christ. He promised eternal life, and He keeps His promises. Knowing this gives believers courage to face hardship. They can remember that they belong to God, and that He will not let them go.

Christians are no longer under the control of sin. Sometimes people hear that they are only human and must give in to anger, revenge, or sexual sin. Some even believe it is unhealthy to show restraint. But the Bible teaches that Christians do not have to obey these desires. God accepts people as they are when they come to Jesus, but He does not leave them unchanged. The Holy Spirit begins shaping them into a new person.

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

To stay strong, Christians must remember what God has said. Verses like those that promise eternal life can help when doubt appears. Other verses help when temptation comes. Believers can choose to use their lives to serve good instead of evil. Remember: When Jesus covered our sins with His blood, he knew every sin you ever committed. He also knew every sin you would commit from that time on.

When Jesus faced temptation in the desert, He quoted Scripture each time. Satan did not run away because the verses harmed him. He left because he saw that God’s word strengthened Jesus to keep following His Father. That is what the word of God does. It gives strength to keep choosing what is right.

At the centre of all of this is a simple question: Do you know you belong to Jesus?

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Colossians 2:6

Living as a Caring Neighbour

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NELSON NOLAND

Neighbors – IRS Images, 2025

Romans 13 teaches that Christians are called to show love to the people around them. The passage explains that faith is not only about knowing what is right, but also about how we live each day. Being a good neighbour matters everywhere. It matters at home, at the store, on the job, and in the community. God expects His people to respond to others with care, even when it is not easy.

Doesn’t this tell us that love is an ongoing responsibility. Financial debts should be handled wisely, but there is one debt that never disappears, the debt of love. When followers of Jesus see a need and can help, love calls them to act. People who do not think like us or live like us are still neighbours. Differences in culture, age, politics, or lifestyle do not remove the command to love.

The passage lists commandments such as not stealing, not committing adultery, and not coveting. These rules show how love behaves. Love does not harm another person. Love seeks their good. Loving others is a clear way to follow what God commands. When believers treat those nearby with kindness and fairness, they reflect the heart of God.

Christians are urged to live with urgency. Life is short and the time to do good is now. The future return of Christ draws closer every day, so believers should stay awake, alert, and ready to serve. Good news is only good if it is shared in time. A neighbour may need help or hope today, and delaying may mean a lost opportunity.

I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.

The Scripture warns against living in darkness. Believers should not fall into habits that lead away from God, such as drunkenness, sexual sin, jealousy, and constant conflict. These actions damage relationships and weaken our ability to love. Instead, Christians are called to live in the light, choosing honesty, purity, peace, and right behaviour. The world notices when love replaces selfish actions.

Finally, the passage says to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” This means living each day with intention, allowing Christ to shape our choices. We should avoid situations that encourage sin and make decisions that help us follow God. Loving our neighbours is not only physical help, but also spiritual care. It means praying for them, sharing faith, and being present when life becomes difficult. When trouble comes, people often look to the neighbour who lives with hope and peace.

God places every person where they are for a reason. By living compassionately, urgently, rightly, excellently, and spiritually, Christians play a part in healing the hurt found in the world.

Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

Romans 15:2

The Cross as the Lasting Proof of God’s Love

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FLOYD ROGERS

The depth of God’s love was made clear when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for humanity’s sins. No request a person makes in prayer, no matter how important it seems, will ever require a greater act of love than what God has already shown through the sacrifice at Calvary. The offering of Jesus was a selfless and unmatched gift, showing the extent of God’s care for people.

Since God has already given His greatest gift, every other blessing or need we bring to Him is smaller in comparison. This truth makes it difficult to doubt His love. When faced with uncertainty about God’s care or goodness, one need only reflect on the cross to see undeniable evidence of His love.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

God’s Perfect Love and Unchanging Holiness

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FLOYD ROGERS

God’s nature is, above all, loving. Love is not something God does occasionally — it is a constant part of who He is. The Bible describes God as light, with no trace of darkness in Him. This means there is no evil, sin, or imperfection within God’s character. Everything about Him is pure, holy, and right.

Because God is completely holy and perfect, it is impossible for Him to act unjustly or harmfully toward any of His children. His holiness ensures that all His actions are good, and His love guarantees care and fairness. No situation would ever cause God to mistreat those who belong to Him.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5