|
Archives
|
- Thursday, June 10, 2004
- Monday, June 14, 2004
- Tuesday, June 15, 2004
- Wednesday, June 16, 2004
- Thursday, June 17, 2004
- Friday, June 18, 2004
- Monday, June 21, 2004
- Tuesday, June 22, 2004
- Wednesday, June 23, 2004
- Thursday, June 24, 2004
- Friday, June 25, 2004
- Monday, June 28, 2004
- Tuesday, June 29, 2004
- Wednesday, June 30, 2004
- Thursday, July 01, 2004
- Friday, July 02, 2004
- Monday, July 05, 2004
- Tuesday, July 06, 2004
- Wednesday, July 07, 2004
- Thursday, July 08, 2004
- Friday, July 09, 2004
- Monday, July 12, 2004
- Tuesday, July 13, 2004
- Wednesday, July 14, 2004
- Thursday, July 15, 2004
- Friday, July 16, 2004
- Monday, July 19, 2004
- Tuesday, July 20, 2004
- Wednesday, July 21, 2004
- Thursday, July 22, 2004
- Friday, July 23, 2004
- Monday, July 26, 2004
- Tuesday, July 27, 2004
- Wednesday, July 28, 2004
- Thursday, July 29, 2004
- Friday, July 30, 2004
- Monday, August 02, 2004
- Tuesday, August 03, 2004
- Wednesday, August 04, 2004
- Thursday, August 05, 2004
- Friday, August 06, 2004
- Monday, August 09, 2004
- Tuesday, August 10, 2004
- Wednesday, August 11, 2004
- Thursday, August 12, 2004
- Friday, August 13, 2004
- Monday, August 16, 2004
- Tuesday, August 17, 2004
- Wednesday, August 18, 2004
- Thursday, August 19, 2004
- Friday, August 20, 2004
- Monday, August 23, 2004
- Tuesday, August 24, 2004
- Wednesday, August 25, 2004
- Thursday, August 26, 2004
- Friday, August 27, 2004
- Monday, August 30, 2004
- Tuesday, August 31, 2004
- Wednesday, September 01, 2004
- Thursday, September 02, 2004
- Friday, September 03, 2004
- Monday, September 06, 2004
- Tuesday, September 07, 2004
- Wednesday, September 08, 2004
- Thursday, September 09, 2004
- Friday, September 10, 2004
- Monday, September 13, 2004
- Tuesday, September 14, 2004
- Wednesday, September 15, 2004
- Friday, September 17, 2004
- Saturday, September 18, 2004
- Monday, September 20, 2004
- Tuesday, September 21, 2004
- Wednesday, September 22, 2004
- Thursday, September 23, 2004
- Friday, September 24, 2004
- Monday, September 27, 2004
- Tuesday, September 28, 2004
- Wednesday, September 29, 2004
- Thursday, September 30, 2004
- Monday, October 04, 2004
- Tuesday, October 05, 2004
- Wednesday, October 06, 2004
- Thursday, October 07, 2004
- Friday, October 08, 2004
- Monday, October 11, 2004
- Tuesday, October 12, 2004
- Wednesday, October 13, 2004
- Thursday, October 14, 2004
- Friday, October 15, 2004
- Monday, October 18, 2004
- Wednesday, October 20, 2004
- Thursday, October 21, 2004
- Friday, October 22, 2004
- Monday, October 25, 2004
- Tuesday, October 26, 2004
- Thursday, October 28, 2004
- Friday, October 29, 2004
- Monday, November 01, 2004
- Tuesday, November 02, 2004
- Wednesday, November 03, 2004
- Thursday, November 04, 2004
- Monday, November 08, 2004
- Tuesday, November 09, 2004
- Wednesday, November 10, 2004
- Monday, November 15, 2004
- Wednesday, November 17, 2004
- Thursday, November 18, 2004
- Monday, November 22, 2004
- Tuesday, November 23, 2004
- Wednesday, November 24, 2004
- Tuesday, November 30, 2004
- Wednesday, December 01, 2004
- Monday, December 06, 2004
- Tuesday, December 07, 2004
- Friday, December 10, 2004
- Monday, December 13, 2004
- Tuesday, December 14, 2004
- Wednesday, December 15, 2004
- Thursday, December 16, 2004
- Friday, December 17, 2004
- Monday, December 20, 2004
- Wednesday, December 22, 2004
- Monday, January 03, 2005
- Tuesday, January 04, 2005
- Monday, January 10, 2005
- Tuesday, January 11, 2005
- Wednesday, January 12, 2005
- Tuesday, January 18, 2005
- Wednesday, January 19, 2005
- Thursday, January 20, 2005
- Friday, January 21, 2005
- Monday, January 24, 2005
- Wednesday, January 26, 2005
- Thursday, January 27, 2005
- Monday, February 07, 2005
- Tuesday, February 08, 2005
- Wednesday, February 09, 2005
- Friday, February 11, 2005
- Monday, February 14, 2005
- Tuesday, February 15, 2005
- Wednesday, February 16, 2005
- Thursday, February 17, 2005
- Friday, February 18, 2005
- Saturday, February 19, 2005
- Monday, February 21, 2005
- Tuesday, February 22, 2005
- Wednesday, February 23, 2005
- Thursday, February 24, 2005
- Sunday, February 27, 2005
- Monday, February 28, 2005
- Wednesday, March 02, 2005
- Thursday, March 03, 2005
- Monday, March 07, 2005
- Wednesday, March 09, 2005
- Thursday, March 10, 2005
- Friday, March 11, 2005
- Monday, March 14, 2005
- Tuesday, March 15, 2005
- Monday, March 21, 2005
- Tuesday, March 22, 2005
- Wednesday, March 23, 2005
- Thursday, March 24, 2005
- Monday, March 28, 2005
- Tuesday, March 29, 2005
- Monday, April 04, 2005
- Tuesday, April 05, 2005
- Thursday, April 07, 2005
- Monday, April 11, 2005
- Wednesday, April 13, 2005
- Monday, April 18, 2005
- Tuesday, April 19, 2005
- Wednesday, April 20, 2005
- Thursday, April 21, 2005
- Friday, April 22, 2005
- Monday, April 25, 2005
- Tuesday, April 26, 2005
- Wednesday, April 27, 2005
- Thursday, April 28, 2005
- Monday, May 02, 2005
- Wednesday, May 04, 2005
- Thursday, May 05, 2005
- Monday, May 09, 2005
- Wednesday, May 11, 2005
- Thursday, May 12, 2005
- Friday, May 13, 2005
- Monday, May 16, 2005
- Tuesday, May 17, 2005
- Wednesday, May 18, 2005
- Thursday, May 19, 2005
- Friday, May 20, 2005
- Monday, May 23, 2005
- Tuesday, May 31, 2005
- Wednesday, June 01, 2005
- Tuesday, June 07, 2005
- Wednesday, June 08, 2005
- Thursday, June 09, 2005
- Friday, June 10, 2005
- Monday, June 13, 2005
- Tuesday, June 14, 2005
- Wednesday, June 15, 2005
- Thursday, June 16, 2005
- Monday, June 20, 2005
- Tuesday, June 21, 2005
- Thursday, June 23, 2005
- Friday, June 24, 2005
- Monday, June 27, 2005
- Wednesday, June 29, 2005
- Tuesday, July 05, 2005
- Wednesday, July 06, 2005
- Thursday, July 07, 2005
- Friday, July 08, 2005
- Monday, July 11, 2005
- Thursday, July 14, 2005
- Monday, July 18, 2005
- Tuesday, July 19, 2005
- Thursday, July 21, 2005
- Tuesday, July 26, 2005
- Thursday, July 28, 2005
- Monday, August 01, 2005
- Wednesday, August 03, 2005
- Monday, August 08, 2005
- Wednesday, August 10, 2005
- Thursday, August 11, 2005
- Friday, August 12, 2005
- Monday, August 15, 2005
- Wednesday, August 17, 2005
- Tuesday, August 23, 2005
- Thursday, August 25, 2005
- Tuesday, August 30, 2005
- Thursday, September 01, 2005
- Monday, September 05, 2005
- Wednesday, September 07, 2005
- Friday, September 09, 2005
- Tuesday, September 13, 2005
- Wednesday, September 14, 2005
- Thursday, September 15, 2005
- Saturday, September 17, 2005
- Wednesday, September 21, 2005
- Monday, September 26, 2005
- Wednesday, September 28, 2005
- Wednesday, October 05, 2005
- Monday, October 10, 2005
- Tuesday, October 18, 2005
- Wednesday, October 26, 2005
- Tuesday, November 01, 2005
- Thursday, November 03, 2005
- Wednesday, November 09, 2005
- Monday, November 14, 2005
- Thursday, November 17, 2005
- Wednesday, November 23, 2005
- Wednesday, November 30, 2005
- Monday, December 05, 2005
- Thursday, December 08, 2005
- Wednesday, December 14, 2005
- Wednesday, December 21, 2005
- Tuesday, January 03, 2006
- Friday, January 06, 2006
- Tuesday, January 10, 2006
- Thursday, January 12, 2006
- Tuesday, January 17, 2006
- Monday, January 23, 2006
- Thursday, January 26, 2006
- Tuesday, January 31, 2006
- Thursday, February 02, 2006
- Friday, February 03, 2006
- Tuesday, February 14, 2006
- Thursday, February 16, 2006
- Tuesday, February 21, 2006
- Wednesday, February 22, 2006
- Tuesday, February 28, 2006
- Thursday, March 02, 2006
- Wednesday, March 08, 2006
- Tuesday, March 14, 2006
- Friday, March 17, 2006
- Tuesday, March 21, 2006
- Monday, March 27, 2006
- Wednesday, March 29, 2006
- Tuesday, April 04, 2006
- Wednesday, April 05, 2006
- Tuesday, April 11, 2006
- Thursday, April 13, 2006
- Monday, April 17, 2006
- Wednesday, April 19, 2006
- Tuesday, April 25, 2006
- Friday, April 28, 2006
- Tuesday, May 02, 2006
- Thursday, May 04, 2006
- Tuesday, May 09, 2006
- Thursday, May 11, 2006
- Wednesday, May 17, 2006
- Tuesday, May 23, 2006
- Tuesday, June 06, 2006
- Thursday, June 08, 2006
- Tuesday, June 13, 2006
- Monday, June 19, 2006
- Tuesday, June 27, 2006
- Wednesday, July 05, 2006
- Sunday, July 16, 2006
- Sunday, July 30, 2006
- Monday, August 07, 2006
- Friday, August 18, 2006
- Monday, August 28, 2006
- Wednesday, August 30, 2006
- Thursday, September 07, 2006
- Friday, September 08, 2006
- Sunday, September 10, 2006
- Tuesday, September 12, 2006
- Wednesday, September 13, 2006
- Thursday, September 14, 2006
- Friday, September 15, 2006
- Thursday, September 28, 2006
- Friday, October 06, 2006
- Thursday, October 12, 2006
- Thursday, October 19, 2006
- Monday, October 23, 2006
- Friday, October 27, 2006
- Friday, November 10, 2006
- Friday, November 17, 2006
- Monday, November 27, 2006
- Thursday, November 30, 2006
- Monday, December 11, 2006
- Saturday, December 16, 2006
- Tuesday, December 26, 2006
- Tuesday, January 02, 2007
- Friday, January 12, 2007
- Thursday, January 18, 2007
- Monday, January 22, 2007
- Tuesday, January 30, 2007
- Tuesday, February 13, 2007
- Monday, February 19, 2007
- Monday, February 26, 2007
- Thursday, March 01, 2007
- Monday, March 05, 2007
- Saturday, March 17, 2007
- Thursday, March 29, 2007
- Saturday, April 07, 2007
- Monday, April 09, 2007
- Saturday, April 21, 2007
- Monday, April 30, 2007
- Wednesday, May 09, 2007
- Monday, May 21, 2007
- Thursday, May 31, 2007
- Monday, June 11, 2007
- Monday, June 18, 2007
- Monday, July 02, 2007
- Wednesday, July 11, 2007
- Monday, July 23, 2007
- Monday, August 06, 2007
- Friday, August 17, 2007
- Tuesday, August 28, 2007
- Tuesday, September 11, 2007
- Wednesday, September 12, 2007
- Thursday, September 13, 2007
- Saturday, September 15, 2007
- Monday, September 24, 2007
- Tuesday, October 02, 2007
- Monday, October 08, 2007
- Tuesday, October 16, 2007
- Tuesday, October 23, 2007
- Tuesday, November 06, 2007
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007
- Wednesday, November 21, 2007
- Wednesday, November 28, 2007
- Monday, December 10, 2007
- Tuesday, December 18, 2007
- Wednesday, January 02, 2008
- Wednesday, January 09, 2008
- Wednesday, January 16, 2008
- Wednesday, January 23, 2008
- Monday, January 28, 2008
- Thursday, February 07, 2008
- Friday, February 15, 2008
- Friday, February 22, 2008
- Thursday, February 28, 2008
- Thursday, March 06, 2008
- Thursday, March 13, 2008
- Thursday, March 20, 2008
- Wednesday, March 26, 2008
- Monday, April 07, 2008
- Tuesday, April 15, 2008
- Tuesday, April 22, 2008
- Tuesday, April 29, 2008
- Tuesday, May 06, 2008
- Tuesday, May 13, 2008
- Photo Archives
|
|
|
|
|
Several years ago, in April of 1997 I believe, I attended one of the Hurting Hearts Need A Helping Hand Tour stops in Bluefield, WV. As so often is the case with concerts in that area of the country, the audience was made up of people from all walks of life. There were just as many people in suits and ties as there were people wearing overalls and John Deere caps. Among those people was an elderly lady who, with the assistance of a walker and a younger woman I assume was her daughter, slowly crossed the auditorium floor to a seat on the last row. Though I don't know what ailments had entered this woman's life, it was painfully obvious to all who saw her that her time with us would soon come to an end. Battles unspoken had taken their toll, leaving lines of worry and sorrow across her face.
But yet, there was a gleam in her eye - the gleam that only comes from peace and contentment. As the program began and the artists gathered together to sing a few of the older songs, those worry lines seem to fade away and a new countenance came across her. For the next two hours, she would, even with genuine discomfort, lift her hands in praise and tears of joy would stream down her cheeks as every song sang by Amy Lambert, Karen Peck & New River, the Pfeifers and Poet Voices seemed to aim themselves directly toward this lady's heart. She was enjoying what she was hearing - and what she was feeling. As I was sitting at the sound and lighting board directly behind the last row, I could hear this lady as she turned to her daughter and said, "This is so wonderful. Can't you just feel His presence?"
For those of you who may not remember the Helping Hands tour, it concluded with an invitation led by Phil Cross. As the invitation began, Phil encouraged any who wanted to pray for any need to join them at the front of the stage. The lady's daughter leaned over to her mother and asked, "Do you want me to go pray for you?" Instead, with an effort that could honestly be called heroic, this lady struggled to her feet and began started towards the stage. Though her daughter protested by claiming she shouldn't make the long walk, the lady turned to her and said, "You know, these people have done so much for me. They've given me so much happiness. I want to pray for them."
Think about that for a minute. Here was a woman who would probably not live to see the first day of that summer, yet she wanted to say a prayer for those who had entertained and ministered to her. She set aside her "self" and worked hard to walk - in pain, no doubt - a hundred or so feet to pray for people she had never met. It's a very humbling thought, isn't it?
With everything that we do in Southern Gospel Music, it can be very easy to forget what this industry is truly about. Sometimes audience members become numbers or just faces that blur from one city to the next. It's too easy just to come into a building, set up, sing, tear down and leave. But behind every face is a heart - and behind every heart is a soul.
We in Southern Gospel Music have an awesome responsibility. We are skilled workers with a tool that will make an eternal difference. Though music will never take the place of God's chosen method of spreading His message (preaching), it is a proven instrument that prepares the heart to receive the message.
I wonder how many times we loose sight of our responsibility in an effort to "sound good?" How many times have we set aside the Great Commission to sell a few hundred more CDs? I wonder if there have been times we've not ministered to those who really need it to "work a better date?"
Please understand I'm not fussing. I'm only asking questions that I've asked of myself. We've all let unimportant details get in the way of significant things on occasion.
But you know, sometimes it takes a lady with a walker to help run the race.
Posted by Danny Jones at 8:54 AM - Send Comments
|
|
|
