Happy Easter!

I hope the sun is shining brightly wherever you may be celebrating your Easter Morning. Sadly, for us it is a cloudy drizzle, (but we trust that the Easter bunny is equipped with a raincoat so that he can still deliver his wares).

Rejoice and be glad! Christ is risen!

You Gotta Get Up

Did my sister get a baby doll?

Did my brother get his bike?

Did I get that red wagon

The kind that makes you fly?

Oh I hope there’ll be peace on earth

I know there’s good will toward men

On account of that baby born in Bethlehem…

Merry Christmas yous guys!

Gaudete Sunday: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Today is Gaudete Sunday in the church season of Advent. Our family attends an Anglican church, and each week of Advent we light a candle and pray the appropriate collect from the Book of Common Prayer. Here is today’s collect:

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Most of the candles are purple (the color of penitence), but this week’s candle is rose, the color of joy. Our joy heightens as we approach Christmas. “Gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice.”

So rejoice. (Linked is my favorite version of the carol, by the Haven of Rest Quartet. It’s short, clean and uplifting. Take a couple minutes to enjoy it today.)

[Update: It took me a little longer than usual to embed this song because Grooveshark has changed their code. Somebody gave me a new model and it's all good.]

Met Jeff Taylor In the Flesh Last Night…

Well. My weekend just got way cooler. On Saturday I saw Keith and Kristyn Getty in concert with a live band and mass choir. Suffice it to say, you would have had to be blind and deaf not to enjoy yourself thoroughly. The quality of music was absolutely top-notch. And among the band musicians, who should I see but Jeff Taylor!

But wait, it gets better. Afterwards, he and two of the other (fantabulphenomelomenal) musicians came out and did a casual jam session in the reception room, up-close and personal. I caught video of two performances which I hope to post on Godtube (unfortunately we’re having camera issues which I hope we can resolve—there’s something hogging the battery). I even got to chat a little with him about Kevin Williams’ _Acoustic Sunday_.

So next week I hope to meet Buddy and Kevin, because… I’m going to a Gaither Homecoming concert this Friday! That’s right. Pray that we’ll resolve camera issues BEFORE then.

A Simple Word From Confucius

It’s been said that a disciple of Confucius asked him, “What would you think of a man who was loved by everybody in his village? Would you want to be that man?”

Confucius responded, “No I would not. It is not enough to be loved by everyone. One must be loved by the good people and hated by the bad people.”

This is my life motto, and recent circumstances have brought it back to mind. I thought others might profit from it as well.

Welcome a new SG blogger

There’s a new kid in town. Please make welcome fridaynightrevival as he enters the heart-pounding, harrowing world of SG blogging. (Just kidding, it’s not that bad. ) He brings lots of knowledge and a passion for music of all kinds to his writing. We look forward to his future insights.

Advertisement and New Page: Copy Editing Services

Hey folks, I’m going to set up a new page here just for artists that offers my proof-reading services at a price to be determined for anyone who wants me to go through websites, lyrics, etc. and give corrections. This is something I’ve already been doing for free in a couple cases for a while, but since I wouldn’t mind a bit of extra money, I’ve decided to turn it into a paid service. All who are interested can contact me at the address given on my contact page.

Greetings!

Hey everybody! Welcome. This blog is a bit of an experiment, to see, quite simply, whether I can do it. I’ve never done it before, so this is a new venture for me. Your patience is appreciated as I bumble through. I cannot promise to post daily, but I will attempt to be regular as I share my observations on faith and music—specifically, southern gospel music.

As many of you know, I was a contributor at southerngospelblog.com for a number of months, and folks got to know me as New SoGo Fan. I got a lot of kind feedback on what I wrote from you readers and from some artists as well. Daniel J. Mount has graciously put all my reviews and columns in one place here.

In my review of Wes Hampton’s album A Man Like Me, you can read part of the story of how I became a southern gospel fan after listening predominantly to CCM. Be watching for some upcoming posts where I revisit key moments in my discovery of the genre. I can enjoy a broad range of musical sounds and styles, but this blog will naturally focus primarily on SG. However, don’t be surprised if I occasionally discuss other types of music as well.

A word on comments: To all who come with respectful disagreements and constructive criticism, welcome. Honest opinions are not out of place here as long as they are not worded in a personally nasty or mean-spirited way.

A little bit about me: I’ve loved music all my life, and I can play the piano, sing, arrange, and write a little bit (still working on that last part!) My piano style owes more to the pop stylings of Michael W. Smith and Jim Brickman than to convention music, though I enjoy trying my hand at the likes of “Mansion Over the Hilltop” every so often.

If I were to put together a list of my very favorite songs, it would be a mix of styles, though all would fall within Christian music. A few that would find spots at the top are “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” “I Will Be Here,” “How Beautiful,” “Find Us Faithful,” and “Give Me Jesus.” Favorite gospel songs include “I Stand Redeemed,” “We Shall See Jesus,” “Had It Not Been,” “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary,” and many more. I also enjoy many singers, although there it’s easier to pick a favorite: Without a doubt, Steve Green. As for quartets, I’m picky about tenors, but I’ve always been a sucker for a good bass singer.

Personality: I am a VERY funny person. No, really, I’m hilarious! I am also VERY opinionated. I even have strong opinions about colors: Blue is gorgeous, and chartreuse should be retired. I might even write a post about it: “Retire the Color Chartreuse.”

So that’s me. Hang on, folks. Here we go!