Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

A thought about AI

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DON HEBERT

As I write this, artificial intelligence is changing the world. It has been compared to the printing press, electricity, and the smartphone in terms of its impact. Whether you notice it or not, AI is already part of daily life through search engines, social media, smart devices, and digital assistants. If these systems suddenly stopped working, a lot of modern society would slow down or even stop.

Although we may think of AI as machines doing the thinking for us, AI doesn’t understand. It can process data, predict patterns, and generate responses based on information created by people. Think of it this way. If I said, “Good morning ladies and…” and stopped right there, you would know I was most likely going to say, “… ladies and gentlemen.” AI does something similar. It can look at thousands of sentences that began the same way as the sentence in my example and determine the next word was gentlemen. Today’s most advanced tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, and Copilot, are often called large language models. They are powerful prediction systems, not living minds, meaning, they can be used to streamline research or see the sum of what others have said about a topic. Some pastors even use it in writing their sermons. AI brings both promise and concern.

For Christians, a question of concern is not about what AI can do, but what it may do to our understanding of ourselves. The Bible begins by teaching that human beings are made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26–28, people are described as bearing God’s likeness and given responsibility over creation. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes life into humanity. This means human life is not mechanical. It is personal and spiritual. No machine shares this breath of life. Because of this, I’m skeptical of any Christian writing that is written solely by AI. A computer may reflect the inspiration in a human’s writings, but it has no inspiration.

In this changing age, technology can be useful. Yet it must remain a tool, not a master. Our calling remains steady: to worship God, love others, and live as people made in His image.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

A pastor concerned for true faith

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JEFF TURNER

Imagine hearing from a pastor you respect that he is troubled about your spiritual condition. That kind of message would be serious. This is what happened to the believers in Galatia. Paul wrote to them with deep concern about their walk with Christ.

In Galatians 4, Paul called them his little children and said he was suffering as if in childbirth until Christ was formed in them. He even admitted that he had doubts about them and wished he could be with them and speak in a different tone. Paul was not being harsh for no reason. A faithful pastor cannot ignore the spiritual state of the people under his care. His role is not to flatter or simply make people feel at ease. Just as a shepherd protects sheep from danger and leads them to safe places, a pastor must protect believers from false teaching and harmful choices.

When Paul spoke of labour pains, he was describing deep inner struggle. He felt anguish as he waited to see Christ fully shaped in their lives. His care was not distant or cold. In his letter to the Corinthians, he wrote about feeling pain when others fell into sin. It is also true that among those in the churches, there were some whose salvation Paul questioned. A pastor must remind people that it is possible to be mistaken about their standing with God. Self-examination is necessary.

When someone shows signs of doubt or spiritual confusion, loving confrontation is needed. A shepherd who never warns the sheep is not protecting them.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

2 Corinthians 13:5

Understanding the firstborn of all creation

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JEFF TURNER

You may have had someone come to your door dressed neatly and ready to debate. They may argue that Jesus is not God. Often, they turn to a verse in Colossians 1 to support their claim. In that passage, Paul writes that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Some say this wording proves that Jesus is a created being and not the Creator.

It is true that single verses can be taken out of their setting and misunderstood. When a line of Scripture is separated from its full meaning, confusion can follow. That is why it is important to look closely at the words Paul used.

When Paul calls Jesus the image of the invisible God, he is saying far more than that Jesus reflects God in a small way. The term means an exact likeness. It carries the idea of a perfect copy or full expression. Since God is unseen, Jesus makes Him known. This description points to deity, not to a created being. God is not created, and if Jesus is the exact representation of God, then this speaks of His divine nature.

The phrase “firstborn of all creation” also needs careful thought. The Greek word translated “firstborn” is prototokos. In this context, it does not refer to being born first in time. The word does not focus on order of birth. Instead, it speaks of rank and status. It refers to the one who holds the highest place, the chief or premier one.

So when Paul uses this term, he is not saying that Jesus was the first thing God made. Rather, he is declaring that Jesus holds authority over all creation. He stands above it in position and honour.

At the same time, Jesus did enter the created world. He was born in human form. In that sense, He became part of creation through His incarnation. Yet this does not cancel His divine identity. The passage presents both truths together. He is the full and exact expression of God, and He also took on human flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Living out the salvation God has given

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JEFF TURNER

Every Christian understands that salvation is a gift from God. It is not gained by effort, good deeds, or personal merit. We are saved by grace. Yet in Philippians 2:12, Paul writes, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” At first glance, these words may seem to suggest that salvation depends on human effort. They may even sound as if fear plays a part in earning eternal life. But that is not what Paul means.

The key is to read the verse carefully. Paul does not say to work for salvation. He says to work it out. In other words, believers are to express outwardly what God has already done within them. Salvation is already theirs. It has been received. Now it must be shown in daily life.

This command is a call to live in a way that matches the change God has made in the heart. It is about obedience, worship, and honour toward God. A Christian should take sin seriously and should respect the Lord with a humble spirit.

The words “fear and trembling” speak of deep reverence. They describe a heart that understands who God is and responds with respect. In Book of Isaiah, the Lord says He looks to the one who is humble, who has a broken spirit, and who trembles at His word. This kind of attitude shows true faith.

The next verse in Philippians explains that God is already at work within the believer. He is the One who gives both the desire and the strength to do what pleases Him. Because God has acted within, the Christian now responds in faithful obedience.

Salvation is not earned through effort. It is revealed through a life that reflects the grace already given. As James writes, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17

Lauren Talley releases “Mercy” from Elevation Worship’s Grammy-winning album

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Lauren Talley has released a new single, “Mercy,” taken from Elevation Worship’s GRAMMY- and Dove Award-winning album Old Church Basement. The release follows last month’s “Walls,” her first new music for Horizon Records since A Lauren Talley Christmas in 2024.

The recording was produced by Jason Webb. Talley’s version keeps the keyboard-driven feel of the original but pulls back on its larger sound, holding instead to the quieter, confessional tone of the song’s opening. Even as Webb brings in a supporting vocal chorus, the arrangement keeps the listener close to the words, a lyric that speaks plainly about personal redemption and the grace of God.

Talley has said the song became personal to her long after she first heard it. She recalls being asked by a young woman at her church to play piano while the woman sang it. “I loved the song then,” Talley said, “but I didn’t live it until later.” Now, she says, the song belongs to her in a different way. “When you live a song, you have to sing it. It’s my story; it’s everyone’s story of redemption.”

Talley is no newcomer to Gospel music. Born into a musical family, she sang her first solo at age two, stepping onto the stage during a family concert. She went on to become a member of the family group The Talleys, contributing lead vocals to eleven number one hits. In 2015, The Talleys received a Dove Award for their song “Hidden Heroes.”

Her solo career has been equally productive. She has recorded seven solo albums, including a 2019 release of two albums at the same time — Glorious God: Songs of Worship and Wonder and Loudest Praise: Hymns of Mercy, Love and Grace. Her 2017 album The Gospel reached number one on Billboard’s Southern Gospel chart. She is also the author of Songs in the Night, a devotional book connected to her 2010 album of the same name. In 2014, she received an honorary doctorate in Worship Arts from John Wesley University.

Beyond her own recording work, Talley is well known to audiences through her appearances on Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts, RFD-TV’s The Music City Show, and In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. She also performs at women’s conferences and events across the country, both as a singer and a speaker.