Mar 26

DVD Review: Song Of A Lifetime


Song Of A Lifetime
The Art & Soul Of Gospel Music

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (I would give it more, if possible)

Phil Cross had the vision to put together a showcase at the National Quartet Convention which would enable the songwriters to tell in their own words the reasons behind their songs and to let today’s prominent artists perform them.? Fortunately for us, he also had the vision to record the showcase and make it available to everyone.? I can’t really put into words how magnificent this project is.? As I watched the DVD, I simply sat in awe at the inspiring stories from the songwriters and from hearing their ‘babies’ in the hands of the singers.? No one can put their heart into singing or telling the story of a song like the writer and seeing the passion from these gifted individuals is inspiring beyond measure.

Phil Cross has done what few have done in the past and put the songwriters in the spotlight.? I am confident that most of them never get the credit they deserve for their writing and most likely, the songwriters don’t want the credit for what was written.? They want God to have the glory for using them to simply write what He gives them.? So many times the songwriters stay in the background unseen, but Phil Cross has given the Southern Gospel community a project that not only gives God the glory, but also recognizes the hands that God has used to convey His message.

Notable stories were given from Mosie Lister, Ronnie Hinson, Rodney Griffin, Kyla Rowland and of course, Phil Cross and the artists included on this project were spectacular.? Some of the most touching moments for me were from Tommy Mosely who can’t walk or stand, but must use a wheelchair to get around.? To see him sing “I Will Stand” was deeply moving.? “Amazing Grace” by 12-year old Mallory Ledford was beautiful.? All performances were top-notch.? Here is the complete song list:

  1. “Welcome to the Family” (Booth Brothers)
  2. “Let the Rocks Keep Silent” (Atlanta First Baptist Choir & Orchestra)
  3. “Safe on the Glory Side” (Mark Trammell Trio)
  4. “His Life For Mine” (Talley Trio)
  5. “I Will Stand” (Tommy Mosely)
  6. “Praying Man” (Brian Free & Assurance)
  7. “The Lighthouse” (Ronnie Hinson)
  8. “Let Me Be a Rock” (The Dartts)
  9. “You Were Working For Me” (Mark Bishop)
  10. “Amazing Grace” (Mallory Ledford)
  11. “Grace Will Always Be Greater Than Sin” (Hoppers)
  12. “Hey Jonah” (Triumphant Quartet)
  13. “It Pays to Pray” (Greater Vision)
  14. “He Looked Beyond My Fault” (Pfeifers)
  15. “The Sweetest Words” (Hemphills)
  16. “There’s a Miracle in Me” (Greenes)
  17. “The Rose” (Inspirations)
  18. “Behold the Lamb” (Phil Cross & Crossing)
  19. “Ten Thousand Years” (Jim Brady)
  20. “Where No One Stands Alone” (The Crist Family)
  21. “Holy Shore” (Perrys)

The production quality of this project is top-notch and it is one of the best Southern Gospel DVDs that I have seen that wasn’t a Gaither release.? If you are an aspiring writer or simply a fan of Southern Gospel music, this DVD is a must-have project for your library.

Here is a trailer for you to enjoy:

This project can be purchased directly from Phil Cross here.

Mar 24

I missed my anniversary…

…not from my marriage (that happened once, never to happen again :-p), but for the launch of this blog.? Last Tuesday was the 2nd anniversary of SG Critique.? It’s been an interesting ride, to say the least.? Here was my very first post concerning the passing of a legend, Roger Bennett.

My Tribute To Roger Bennett

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Year 2 stats:
309,193 page views (5,946 avg. per week)
261,476 unique page views (5,028 avg. per week)

Here are some fun stats for all of you technofiles:

User Operating Systems:

  1. Windows? (91.15%)
  2. Linux? (6.98%)
  3. MacOS? (1.86%)

User Browsers:

  1. Internet Explorer 7.0
  2. Mozilla 5
  3. Internet Explorer 6.0
  4. Firefox 2.0
  5. Safari
  6. Netscape
  7. Firefox 1.5
  8. Internet Explorer 5.5
  9. Internet Explorer 5.0
  10. Firefox 1.0
  11. Opera 9.2
  12. SeaMonkey 1.1
  13. Opera 9.0
  14. Opera 8.0

Mar 24

The Pitfalls of Gospel Music

This has been a subject that I’ve pondered for years now, but has really been on my heart lately.? I started writing this post almost a year ago but let it set as a draft because I haven’t felt lead to post it until today.

For many years I’ve listened to and loved Southern Gospel music, but during the early years (circa. 1999), this love of Southern Gospel music blinded my eyes to my spiritual needs.? I kept flooding my ears with the sweet harmonies of gospel music, but my heart wasn’t full at all.? In fact, there was an emptiness that I couldn’t seem to explain.

During this time I was extremely faithful to church, traveled part-time with a group singing and playing this music, and lived my life as a Christian was supposed to.? This was part of the problem.? Being raised in church, I knew how to play the part of a Christian.? I knew what to say and how to dress, and so often times I thought that the emptiness in my life might be attributed to my lack of prayer, study, or time alone with God.? I was so blinded by the Devil and absolutely convinced that since I listened to ‘Gospel’ music all of the time, I must be a Christian.? I would tell myself that since I sang in a group and listened to SG all of the time, that surely everything was OK between me & God.

One of the scariest, but most treasured moments in my life came in 2000 when my heart was humbled by realizing that I had never asked Christ to come into my life.? I was 23 years old when I finally realized that being a Christian was more than listening to and singing Gospel music and I asked Jesus to come into my heart and take control.? It took more than a head-knowledge of Christ to truly be born again; it took a heart-knowledge.? Oftentimes since that day I have been scared of what could have happened should my life have ended before I came to this realization.? Today I can stand and sing with a full heart and know who I am singing about.

I can’t help but wonder how many people traveling and singing Gospel music today are in the same condition that I was in?? How many people, fans and artists alike, are so wrapped up in the music, that they are blinded to their spiritual needs?? How many are true believers and how many are just great actors?? I am not writing this to? point fingers at anyone or any group because I can’t see what is in their hearts.? I say this because I want all who read this to ask yourself this question… “Am I truly born again or am I just a pretender?”

I still love SG music as much today as I did when I first fell for it.? I think it is the greatest music in the world.? But can you point to a place where you humbled your heart and asked Christ to take control of your life or are you just playing the part of a believer?? Has there ever been a time in your life that you humbled yourself before God?

….or are you so in love with the music, whether you just listen or you perform it, that you are blinded by it?? What is your heart’s condition?

Mar 19

For all of you B-ball fans at work….shhhhh!

http://mmod.ncaa.com/

(The video quality is awesome, it’s free, & there’s even a Boss Button in the video player.)

Mar 10

It’s time…

…diet time, that is.? Oh dear Lord, I stepped on the scales this morning and about passed out.? Now I am 6′ 5″ and stocky, so I can distribute weight pretty well, but I have packed on over 30 pounds in a year.? I knew I had gained some weight, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.? 267 pounds is just ridiculous even for my height and build, but I only have myself to blame.? Poor eating habits and lack of exercise are bad habits I’ve picked up in the past year.

About 2 weeks ago, my preacher nailed me in a message about burning your candle at both ends and destroying our bodies by lack of exercise and poor eating habits.? It’s not God’s fault that I am overweight and out of shape….it’s mine!? It’s up to me to use what God has given me for his glory and that includes my health.? Bro. Darrin doesn’t know it but he was preaching straight to me, so today is the day I begin to turn all of these poor habits around.? I want to be the best reflection of Christ possible and for me personally, I can’t weigh this much and be all that I can be.

The only reason I am posting this is for accountability.? I don’t do so well when it’s just me so I plan on posting a weekly update of my progress, but I appeal to all of you to pray for me while I ‘remodel’ this vessel that God has given me.? I am not foolish enough to think that this will be an easy road, but I want to do all I can to live as long as God allows so that He can get glory from my life.

Thanks for letting me share this with you!

Mar 06

The King’s Heralds Concert in Burnsville, NC


The King’s Heralds

For all of you local readers, The King’s Heralds are scheduled to be at the Burnsville Town Center this Sunday, March 8 at 4:30 PM.? It should be a wonderful evening with the group.

It really is a shame that this concert wasn’t advertised much.? Whoever booked the group should have promoted the concert a little better.? I heard about it today and I live and work in the town.

(NOTE: My family is scheduled to sing that evening in Erwin, TN, or I would be there.)

Mar 06

Singing News Nominations Online

For those who thought you were left out, the Singing News has made the ballot available online for Digital Subscribers to the magazine.? For those interested, here were my picks for 2009: