Here’s a short list I’ve compiled for July 4th.? What are other songs you guys play for the 4th?

1. “Let Freedom Ring” by The Kingdom Heirs is also a great song.? It’s from their Forever Gold project.? Steve Lacey is awesome on this song.
2. “Blood Bought My Freedom” by The Primitive Quartet is another one.? It’s on their 20th Anniversary project.? This is one of the few times that they’ve used drums in their music.
3. “God Bless America” by Vestal Goodman from her Lifetime of Favorites compilation.
4. “God Bless The USA” by Lee Greenwood, The Nelons, or The Kingdom Heirs.? What’s July 4th without this song?
5. “Pray For America” by Tara Jackson is amazing.? It’s on her debut, self-titled project.
6. “America Medley” from the GVB/EHSS Together project.
7. “America The Beautiful” by Three Bridges from their Believe album.
8. “Proud Of The American Flag” by The Isaacs from their Labor Of Love project.
9. “I Still Believe In America” by Brian Free & Assurance on their So Close To Home project.
10. “We Want America Back” by The Steeles.? Although this song in it’s day was very controversial with the secular media, the message is very much needed today.

What are your thoughts?

I voted online this morning.? Here’s my ballot:

Maybe……maybe not.? I picked up a couple of CDs by Gaither alumni, Jonathon Pierce.? 2 new CDs for .97 cents a piece.? I thought they were too cheap to pass up.

I was dragged to a Family Christian Store this past Saturday so I browsed their “Southern Gospel” section (what a joke!).? ? I dee-test these stores because? they don’t really carry any study materials or music that I would ever purchase.? After getting through their section of SG which may have had maybe 10 CDs that were actually part of the genre, I saw a section? of clearance CDs.? ? Since I was stuck in the store anyway, I went and checked them out.? Of course, most of CDs were junk (another word came to mind here).? I? did however see these 2 projects from Pierce, Mission & One Love.? ?

So, did I waste 2 bucks or was this a good find?? My mind is already telling me that I won’t like the CDs, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.? Guess I’ll know in a few minutes….if I actually listen to them after importing them into iTunes.

It’s been a while since I posted about our project.? Everything got put on hold so we could participate in the Cane River Revival, but now it’s back to work on this.? We are currently mixing the tracks, getting them ready for production.? I’m listening to the first 2 tracks now.? It’s so weird when you finally get to hear what you’ve been working on.?

I’m also finishing up the artwork for our project.? I thought you would like to catch a glimpse of what? the cover is? going to look like.?

Our website will also be up and running in a couple of weeks (if I get time to design it).? I have the details in my head, so now it’s just a matter of getting it done.? Here’s a link to it, if you want to go ahead and bookmark it or add it to your favorites: www.edwardsfamilyministries.com.

Hopefully, by next weekend the entire project will be mixed and on it’s way to production.

This was in my inbox this morning and it was too good not to share:

We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, and delusional. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone –not just you!? You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. This one is my pet peeves…get an education and go to work; don’t expect everyone else to take care of you!

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but if it would turn out the same way as current public housing, we’re not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people..If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you put away for the rest of your sorry life.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away
in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times,but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an America means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language.
Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

(and last but not least….)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one God. You are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all, with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

It sure was a pleasant change this week with the? ? HOT weather.? When the meetings began 4 weeks ago, the temperatures were in the 40’s and now it’s in the 80’s.?

Monday night was pretty reserved in anticipation of the prophecy study with Bro. Ralph.? The choir sang great and then a group of bluegrass/mountain gospel singers sang a few songs.? Then the preacher got straight into the message.? He continued the study on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.?

We studied for about an hour and a half and it was great!? Bro. Ralph keeps up with current events and explains how they correlate to Biblical prophecy.? He explained of how the world was being prepared for the one-world government.? He talked of the exponential increase of natural disasters, famines and disease.? It’s sort of disturbing studying about these things but thank God the believers won’t have to face the tribulation.? I can’t imagine things getting much worse than they are now, but I don’t want to be around when it happens.

Tuesday night was just awesome.? The choir really got the crowd going and the Holy Spirit started moving in a mighty way.? ? The Shelton Family, backed by the choir, sang the final song with the campmeeting choir and it couldn’t have went better.

Then the New Morning Quartet from Madison County sang and God poured his annointing on them.? In the previous meeting in 2006, this group sang almost every night and God really used them.? Tonight was the first night the group was able to sing in the meeting, but God chose to bless us through them again.? They started by singing Kyla Rowlands’ “My Home Is Not For Sale” and then proceded to sing “When He Reached Down His Hand For Me”.? The latter song really blessed the crowd and they encored the second and third verses over 10 times.? God really poured out His Spirit and people were shouting and praising Him in a glorious way.

God kept stirring while the singing continued and Bro. Ralph came forward and gave an altar call.? I believe there was close to 2000 in attendance tonight and the altars were filled with what looked like well over half the crowd.? The aisles were full of people praying, not counting the numbers in the large altar area.? It was really overwhelming to see so many people on their knees praying at the same time.?

After a few congregational songs, Bro. Ralph closed the meetings.? This was bittersweet because you don’t want to see the meetings end, but at the same time, you are so tired in body (and so behind in your work at home) that it’s sort of a relief.? I thank God for the great meetings that? my family? got to participate in and as always it was a treat for me to get to play for all of the services.? I was honored to be asked again this year and it was something that I took very seriously.? It makes me wish that I was able to travel with the crew and do this full-time, but God has other things in store.? I don’t know exactly what yet, but so many doors have opened for my family in the recent months where we can spread the gospel that I’m anticipating what will happen next.?

Thank you to so many that came up and said you were reading my website.? It’s encouraging to actually meet the people that actually read what I have to say.?

The Kingdom Heirs have landed their 4th #1 song with “What We Needed”.? Their song tops the Singing News chart for July, 2008.? This is a great song and well deserving of the #1 slot.? If you still haven’t heard this song, you can purchase the download here:?

http://www.kingdomheirs.com/store/home.php?cat=23?

Other? notable songs this month? are “I Still Have It All” by HisSong (#3)? & “Help Is On The Way” by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (#8).?

Congratulations to HisSong? scoring their first Top 5 song? and it’s always great for me to see a Bluegrass Gospel number break into the Top 25, let alone the? Top 10 on the? Singing News Charts.?

To all of you Bluegrass naysayers, I have a quote from Ernest T. Bass……….”Nyahhh!!!”? {:-)}

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