Oftimes, you may hear the voice of God speaking to you.  It may come at the time of your conversion or when you’ve been saved for 60 years;  The time frame does not matter.  What matters is that when you hear the Voice of God calling you to a task, that you say, “Yes, Lord!”  Yet, all too often, when WE (myself included) hear that calling, we tend to say “Yes” with our mouths, but internally we start formulating a list of things that have to “fall into place” before we can undertake this mission the Spirit has placed on our heart.  We have to finish school.  We have to get our finances in order.  We have to wait until the kids are older and out of the house.  The list goes on and on, and that list is not a bucket list, it’s an “Excuses list.”
No, I am not telling you to shirk your responsibilities;  I’m telling you to prayerfully consider where you stand, and ask yourself if you are reacting on faith or in doubt.
The reaction of FAITH will cause the believer do everything within their power to move forth with the cause that God has given them.  The reaction of DOUBT will find excuses, and live a guilt-ridden life for not doing what they know they are to do.
You may squelch that guilt, or moreso, you may be desensitized to the imperitive nature of the task by an onslaught of graphic movies or negative media.  But, when all is quiet, you still hear it.  And, when you pray, it gets a little louder;  and yet again you (we) stall.
Most of us have heard the phrase, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.”  Those are the people who are neglecting the tunnel, or as in the case of the ‘Paralytic born of four,” in the second chapter of Mark, the ROOF!:
1When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? 10“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11“I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Those four men, who remain nameless in scripture, still illustrate my point;  When you know what you must do for the Lord, act.  Don’t pause, don’t stall…  other people’s eternities are at stake, as we are a witness to His power!

In this episode of Gospel Music Roundup:
Canaan Bound        Build An Ark
Instruments Of Faith    We Will Follow
Dan Adkins        You Can’t Take It With You
Signature Quartet         Go Far
The Burneys        You’ll Never Walk Alone
The Crownsmen        Faith Unlocks The Door
Colonial City Quartet     Didn’t It Rain?
Tim Kessee        Christian Soldiers
Wendell Austin        If I had My Life To Live Over
Country Cousins Music    Melt Me
John Paulus        A Few More Miles
Mickey Alexander Ministries    Where The Guilt Stops
Mark Cable        Came So Far
Lottie Collier        Mountain Movin’ Man
Gary Mott            What are ya tryin’ to tell me?
Circle Of Friends        Soul Winner

For more information on our guest author, today,

check out this page or call:

Pete Billac  800-392-1180

This week, in tribute to a great man of the banjo and a friend of the faith, we say goodbye to Earl Scruggs.

Life passes through a series of stages; You go from Growin, to Grown, to groan, to growin’ old…
If you try to skip any of the above, you will be required to go back and repeat it.
Some folks try to stay in stage one, some try to head straight for stage 4; but as with any stage, your acts define when it is over.

Earl Scruggs decided to stay in the “Growin’” stage, ever growin’ ON the stage.  His life consisted of his music, always trying to bring Banjo into every genre.

We will not attempt to make a biography nor an anthology, here, just a salute to the man and his instrument, showcasing some of the people who try to emulate the man.

Ephesians 4:11-16

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

How often it is, we set out to do the work of the Lord; that which HE gave us to do, and wind up feeling like we’ve been strung out and stranded, because our old, sinful nature wants to rear its ugly head and shout out, “I deserve BETTER than this!”

The truth is, we’ve already been given that which is better than we will ever hope to have of our own frail, human thinking or power.  We have the “Hope Of Glory,” that being eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.  This, of course, being if you have indeed accepted His free gift of salvation.

I have a friend whose yard sustained some wind damage, many years ago.  One of his favorite trees had suffered a bad split, where two main branches had joined.  Not wanting to give up on this tree, my friend set about to try to save it, by using a cable hand-winch to pull the lower, weaker branch back up to meet it’s larger brother branch where the two had split, then covered the injury with pruner’s patch to give it time and space to heal.  As time went on, his work called him to another town, and his house and yard pretty much set empty for a number of years.  For every storm that came upon us, that cable held.

Upon one of his return visits, he invited me over to take a look at his tree.  Looking at the area where it had once been broken, we could clearly see that the branches stood strong and true, but had grown so much over the years that the winch was now broken, and its cable enveloped by the branches!

We had done what we could for the little tree;  but our little part became overpowered by God’s own design and healing.  WE did not heal the tree, but had only helped it along in a way that came alongside God’s plan and design.  Even moreso, we had tried to help TOO MUCH, as God’s healing far exceeded that which we had attempted.

In Luke 12:27, Jesus says, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”

Yes, we may feel lost and alone;  we may feel parched and thirsty in a foreign land;  we may feel that (as we attempt to the will of the Father) we are alone and even conspired against, or that our little bit of influence is of no difference in God’s plan.  Yet, we each must realize that God’s plan involves and utilizes us as he sees fit, as each has need, and as His Will calls for.

Let us yield to His service, today and everyday, knowing that our own limitations are destined for His Glory.

In This Episode:

Terrance Alan-         I Will Instruct You
Wendell Austin        Stumble and Fall
Tim Keesee        Christian Soldiers
John Paulus        God Tied A Knot
The Victorymen        Victory’s On The Other Side
Instruments Of Faith    We Will Follow
The Missourians        Did Angels Cry
Billy Sea Jr.        I’ll Give You Rest Tonight
Eric Gordon        I Need My Lord
Timothy Charles        Lead Me Lord
Micky Alexander Ministries    Where the Guilt Stops
Mary Alice Vanderwaters    Til The Day That I Fly
Cross Connections        His Mercy Endureth Forever
Signature Quartet        Someone Who Cares
The Burneys         Lord Send Your Angels
Won Heart        I’ve Had Enough
Chuck Clark         He Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Wild Heard        Farther Along

Obviously, God must reign supreme in your life. Above all others, above all possessions, above all interests, above offices and organizations. Yet, the Author of all creation desires a closer relationship with you than you ever dreamed possible! Yet, you may be asking yourself, “How do I draw closer to God?”

Proverbs 3:5-6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

And in Psalm 37:4, it reads,

“Delight yourself in the LORD;

And He will give you the desires of your heart “

So, if you are delighting yourself in the Lord and trusting Him with all your heart, it only stands to reason that the desires of your heart are, in fact, being met! When doing His Will, and knowing Him better, gives you great joy, then we can rejoice in knowing that our lives, our hearts and actions are aligned with the center of His will.

Suffice it to say, I personally think the aspect of “Making our paths straight” has some deeper implications than many will give it; Straighter does not always mean easier. And, not many want to accept this. Yet, the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line, and sometimes that straight line leads over mountains and through valleys. All too often, staring down a straight line leads to a “vanishing point,” beyond which we can see no further. Yes, sometimes a straight line is hard, but He is there, leading us on that way. He knows what we can or cannot handle, He knows where He is leading us, and this is where our faith is tested at its highest level.

By “Walking Closer” we keep God in sight. And God has promised ;

Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. “ (also found in Hebrews 13:5 & Deut. 31:6 )

Philippians 3: 7-14;

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

      12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

In This Episode of Gospel Music Roundup:

• Alisa Jones
• Colonial City Quartet
• Chosen Few
• John “Legs” Lawrenzi
• The Crownsmen
• Steel City Quartet
• Golden State Quartet
• The Missourians
• Timothy Charles
• The Victorymen
• Circle Of Friends
• Still Waters
• Signature Quartet

And as always, so much more!

It has now been 7 weeks since a Tornado ripped through Joplin, changing the lives of people all across the country.  No, Joplin is not back to “Normal;”  If you consider “normal” to be anything like it was before the devastation, it never will be.  We are not back to normal, but we are back to work.
Back to work rebuilding our own lives and the lives of our friends and neighbors.  Back to work making plans to rebuild.  But most of all, back to work showing the Love of God through actions towards our fellow man.
Those of us who know Christ know the hand of protection that was on the great majority of us all.  Yes, there have been losses, and tears come to my eyes when I think of those whom I will never see again nor have the chance to share the wonders of God with them, but what is amazing is to see the people who have diligently worked on into this summer with its blazing heat and humidity.
If God has placed it on your heart to help, by all means contact me and I will connect you with a church or organization that can use what you have to offer!

In This Episode:

Instruments of Faith                       Land of the free
Blessed Assurance Ministries    He Whispers Sweet Peace
Eric Gordon                                           In Eternity
Eric Gordon                                           Sunday Mornin’ Sun
Eric Gordon                                           Power in Prayer
Canaan Bound                                   Flowers Will Bloom
Colonial City Quartet                     I’m Not Givin’ Up
Faith Of Joplin                                    Rainbow
Golden State Quartet                     I Remember The Time
Jeff Buckles                                          There’s A Blessing Coming Down
Mark Stephen Smith                     Things Are Gonna Change For Me
Mary Alice Vanderwater          It’s Just So Beautiful Here
Canaan’s Road                                 We Will Rise
Dan Adkins                                        Wounded Healer
Dotson Family Quartet            Heaven Is a Beautiful Place
Mark High                                           How Long Has It Been
Of One Accord                                  Call To Jesus
Pure Heart                                          He Delivered Me
Rebecca J Huseby                         Alright
The Williamsons                             Keep Movin’ On

I have said it before, and it bears repeating:

There are those who would change us, and actively try to do so.

But even if they were to crash into all of our buildings, tear down every monument, burn every flag, come from every land and try to take over our government and label us with every derogatory term imaginable, the interminable spirit of America, ONE nation, under GOD, will never die.

A few of those responsible for the FIREWORKS in this episode:

Dave Berland, with 2 songs!

Roy Harris

Martin Adams

The Burneys

Dan Adkins

David James

Firesong

Rick Brady

Kathy Wedvick

The Crownsmen

Still Waters

70 x 7

Canaan’s Road

A Circle of Friends

“Legs” Lawrenzi

Also, thanks to these fine gentlemen for their great quotes:

– George Washington

–Thomas Jefferson

– Benjamin Franklin

– Patrick Henry

– Abraham Lincoln

– Andrew Johnson

– Franklin Roosevelt

– Ronald Reagan

And above all else, Thanks Be To God, for the opportunity he has granted me to be in the shelter of his wings and the forgiveness he gives me through the blood of Jesus Christ! To Him be the Glory, Forever!!!

Praise the Lord and pass the high munitions!

This is the second half of Bob Durham’s Celebration 2010, featuring great patriotic music by some of the country’s TOP Gospel Music Stars!

As I stated in the first half, I have not recorded these shows, but Bob has been so gracious as to share them with you, HERE on Gospel Music Roundup!

The second part of a special presentation this weekend, I would like to share with you some shows from my good friend Bob Durahm, of Gospel Music’s own “Make Mine Southern”, an awesome show available each and every week on KKOW 860 AM from 6:00am to 8:00am (CST) and at Heirwave Internet Radio on Saturdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm (CST). It features the latest releases from today’s Hottest Southern Gospel acts as well as local and regional artists.

In THESE shows, however, Bob and friends pay tribute to this great land of ours, and this Holiday, Independence day!

Remember, there are four shows in all, so be sure to follow along and listen to each one!

In the service, of the King,

Tom Whiteman

MAKE MINE

SOUTHERN

Fourth

of

July

Re-Broadcast!

Featuring local artists:

The Crusaders for Christ

Singers

Jim Setser

and

The Missourians

For more information:

The Missourians – Contact Us
2621 Matthews
Joplin, Mo. 64801
417-825-1202

TWO SHOWS!  Make sure to download BOTH and LISTEN!!!

Bob and the Missourians have done such a fine job, I’m staying

out of these and enjoying the show

Have an AWESOME Independence Day Weekend!

Crawford and company (formerly Canaan Bound) and Friends join together again for a First Friday Sing, Friday, June Third, 2011 at Fairview Christian Church in Carthage, Missouri.

Joining Crawford and Company this week will be the LeCroy Sisters (Tiffany Patton and Tara Dalton) and Bill Burns, penman of praise for such names as JD SUMNER & THE STAMPS, THE HOPPERS, THE FLORIDA BOYS, THE KINGDOM HEIRS, JOANNE CASH YATES , PERFECT HEART, THE CUMBERLAND BOYS, THE BLACKWOODS, THE CROSSMEN, THE WILBURNS, WILLIS CANADA, QUINTON MILLS, KIRK TALLEY, THE OLD TIME GOSPEL HOUR QUARTET & 3 of the GAITHER HOMECOMING VIDEOS

Psalm 34:8

O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Everyone is welcome, and there is no admission charge! Come and see the energy, the love, and the Praise that this gathering lifts up to the Lord!

Tonight, June 3rd 2011 and just about every First Friday

Fairview Christian Church

2320 South Grand

Carthage, Missouri

417-529-9569

I LOVE FIREWORKS!!! Especially Mortars and Skyrockets! There is a quiet reassurance in the aftermath, that we are not bound by these earthly containments, and that once we break free, we will shine with a brilliance never before seen, leaving only our earthly hulls behind while our entrance to heaven lights up the sky!

This weekend is the Fourth of July, 2010.  It’s been awhile, since the last podcast,  due to technical issues and the shaping of a heart, here in my own self.

It’s not about me, though; it’s about the Lord, and the love he has for us.  This weekend I would like to share with you some shows from my good friend Bob Durahm, of Gospel Music’s own “Make Mine Southern”, an awesome show available each and every week on KKOW 860 AM from 6:00am to 8:00am (CST) and at Heirwave Internet Radio on Saturdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm (CST). It features the latest releases from today’s Hottest Southern Gospel acts as well as local and regional artists.

In THESE shows, however, Bob and friends pay tribute to this great land of ours, and this Holiday, Independence day!

Remember, there are four shows in all, so be sure to follow along and listen to each one!

In the service, of the King,

Tom Whiteman

The heartbeat and the soul of Patrick was the Gospel of Christ. He wrote in his testimony,

“I am imperfect in many things, nevertheless, I want my brethren and kinsfolk to know my nature so that they may be able to perceive my souls desire. I am not ignorant of what is said of my Lord in the Psalm: You destroy those who speak a lie and a lying mouth deals death to the soul. Likewise the Lord says in the Gospel, In the day of judgment, men shall render an account for every idle word they utter.

So it is that I should fear mightily, with terror and trembling, this judgment on the day when no one shall be able to steal away or hide, but each one shall render account for even our smallest sins before the judgment seat of Christ.”

These words of Patrick are as a prophetic trumpet of the Lord. It is most serious to steal the legacy from the people of the nation, particularly when that heritage was life and light in Christ Jesus!

Many Irish have grown up engrossed in the rites and rituals of Roman Catholicism. Many of us, turning from those dead things and having drunk deeply of the Biblical grace of God that is in Christ Jesus, now want to stand on Patricks words,

“no one shall be able to steal away or hide, but each one shall render account for even our smallest sins before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Surely this day so many use to indulge and party, can be taken back by the believer as yet another day to Honor God, and to glorify Him.

Take rest in His greatness, and enjoy the sounds of the Boatrights as they bring the Gospel with a Celtic Flavor

to This edition of Gospel Music Roundup!

As of the recording of this podcast, it’s 3 below zero in the Ozarks.  The early morning sky is ablaze in the glory of the Lord in a picture only He can paint, and I can only stand amazed in His presence.

Leading up to this moment has been an honor for me-  to get acquainted with so many talented people and share the fruit of their efforts in the name of the Lord with whosoever will listen!  It’s a new day, a new year, a new DECADE.  To the world, it may not seem any different than any other, but He holds the power to make all things new, and he HAS.

Today’s songs blessed me beyond belief.  The words of the Lord always bring me such peace, but today it seemed like an extra measure, and a great dose of heart-warming thrown in as well!

Relax and listen to the sounds of these artists, praising His name in song!

Mark Cable
Signature Quartet
The Burneys
Dave Berland
Jacki Wheeler
The Missourians
Colonial City Quartet
Canaan’s Road Gospel Group
Canaan Bound
Mary alice Vanderwater
Blessed Assurance Ministries

If a song blesses you, please let the singers know.  Your feedback is the only way they have to measure the value of the work that the Lord has placed for them to do.  Better yet, support them, by purchasing a CD or offering a donation.

If you have any comments about this podcast, you may enter them here, or you can contact me, Tom Whiteman, by writing:

Thomas Whiteman

20055 Nutmeg Road

Jasper, MO 64755

or email me at gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

This is it! The night before the Birthday of our KING! 

I’ve got a great group of artists here, ready, willing and able to join with you as you reflect and celebrate this evening!

It is my prayer that each of you have a most blessed evening, and as you listen to this podcast in the background of your evening’s activities that you be blessed beyond measure and feel the attitude of worship and joy that is intended.

In Honor of the King,

Tom

In This Episode:

Tracy Heaston

Chosen Few

Signature Quartet

The Missourians

Lori Bianco

The Boatrights

Dan Adkins

Just Over Yonder Bluegrass Band

Nancy Good

Dave Berland

And So Much More…

Jesus Christ is my Hero!

Apart from that, there are but a few men I would like to point to and ask Jesus to make me a little more like “THAT GUY”.

There’s  My Father,  Marvin Whiteman, of course.  And my Pastor Darin.  Several of my good friends (you know who you are) and this man, Dave Berland.

Dave will be the first man to tell you that this music is not his, but God’s.  That the blessings that come through making and listening are not of his talent, except by the talent that God placed in Him.  And Dave LOVES Christmas, as do many of us-  but not for the presents, the lights and the trees, but for the gift of God it represents:

Luke 2:09 behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Luke 2:10
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Luke 2:11
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

also, as Isaiah prophesied, in Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

THIS is the awesome magnitude we face when grasping the concept:  The WORLD may look at this as nothing more than a time for gifts and parties and hanging decorations, but for us, it means the Birthday Of The King (also one of the titles in this edition~!).

The worldliness of men will try to shoot down the accuracy of the dating with claims that it was moved to superimpose a pagan holiday, and that may be true.  but the date is inconsequential, in that Christendom chose this time to celebrate the arrival of our King.  No matter WHAT date or time or hour, that deserves celebration!  And with the meaning of Christmas inextricably tied to the birth of Christ, I’d say the naysayers are simply upset that the tools of the devil have been overturned with good.

That’s what Christ came for;  to eradicate the works of sin and death and satan and his minions!  And Dave Berland’s heart is to spread that word, that message, in song.  He prepares his heart for the worship services he and his praise team lead each sunday, praying first that God lead, We follow.

To this end, I’ve put together many of my Favorite “Dave Berland” Christmas songs for this special edition, with many old classics and even a few you might not have heard before.  Songs Like:

• Oh Holy Night

• What Child is This

• Birthday Of The King

• Hark The Herald Angels Sing

• Comfort and Joy

• I saw Three Ships

• Look There He Lays

• The Conditions Are Right

• Should Jesus Come This Christmas?

• and many more.

You are more than welcome to download this and any episode of Gospel Music Roundup, but if you prefer I send you a CD version, simply write to me at:

Gospel Music Roundup

20055 Nutmeg Road

Jasper, Missouri, 64755

or E-mail me at:

gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

Part II of my experience, visiting with Bob Durham of “The Missourians” and “Make Mine Southern”, a weekly radio show on KKOW pittsburg, KS

If you haven’t done so yet, please be sure to check out Part ONE of this visit by clicking this link:

http://gospelmusicroundup.org/2009/10/08/gmr-co-hosts-make-mine-southern-part-1/

Listen to Bob Durham and Make Mine Southern

on HeirWave Internet Radio

Make Mine Southern is a weekly variety program featuring the ministries of regional artists in the tri-state area near Joplin, Missouri area. the program has aired for many years on AM 880, KKOW in Pittsburgh, Kansas. The host group for the program is Heir Wave Internet Radio Featured Ministry, The Missourians Other groups featured on “Make Mine Southern” are the Crusaders For Christ and Soloist Jim Setser.

LISTEN TO “MAKE MINE SOUTHERN”

Mondays: 8PM Eastern
Saturdays: 6PM Eastern

God bless!

Tom Whiteman

What an amazing feeling it is to be in the presence of the Lord!

No, I may not be a current resident of the heavenly places, but I do know my mansion is waiting there, and all of heaven rejoices every time someone joins the family.  I have had the chance to witness a few such events, recently.

As some of you know, I recently joined a Gospel Quartet called “The Victorymen” as a Bass singer.  We typically sing in 2-3 churches in a weekend.  It is a true JOY for me, as I have had a desire to do this very thing for most of my life.  It is also a joy as I get to watch faces light up over some of the songs we sing.  But the biggest joy I get is when we see someone come down the aisle and give their hearts and their lives to Jesus!

We didn’t cause these events;  In most cases, these were people who had been clutching the pew ahead of them for many services before we ever came along, nervous to “Take the walk”,  We were just in the right place at the right time, and the spirit of the Lord moved in a big way on the hearts of these people to LET GO of the pew and tell the world they are ready to give their life over!

Losing some of our fears and worries that life brings our way involves a very similar process for many people;  We fear giving them over to God wholly would take our control away, and some even feel that would be irresponsible.  Nothing can be further from the truth, though;  As long as we cling to our problems and fail to yield them up to God, we are essentially forbidding God to work on them.  For Him to give us the desires of our hearts, we must fully trust Him, and hanging on to our fears and doubts (as much as most people hate to think so) is a sign to God that you don’t yet trust Him.

It’s funny to think that we can stick a plug into a wall, push a button and expect something to happen.  We have more faith in the electric company than we do in God, and when you stop to think about it, can be offensive to God, who is always faithful.

His power is awesome;  His abilities are endless and His wisdom surpasses anything known to man.  His word has outlived generation upon generation and a myriad of social structures, yet we hesitate to TRUST.

When we finally give our hearts and our lives to Him, we begin the process of developing a living, growing relationship with Him that is constantly evolving and moving to higher levels. Each level is designed to bring us to complete reliance on Him through knowledge gained by the reading of His word and the Experiences gained in weathering  our trials.

I still battle with trust issues;  I was always able to do so much until I slowly began to lose those abilities.  Then and only then did I really begin to learn that I had really been trusting myself and using God as my “safety net” to bail me out when things got too hairy.

God has us here on earth to prepare for our eternal relationship with Him in heaven.  One day, once we reach that point of fully trusting, we will be ready to join the throngs in Heaven who rejoice when someone NEW “walks the aisle”!

In this edition of Gospel Music Roundup, I have songs for you by the Victorymen, Canaan Bound, The Signature Quartet, The Missourians, Blessed Assurance Ministries, The Burneys, Chosen Few, Dave Berland, Dan Atkins, The Barkley Family, The Dotson Family Quartet, and as always, SO MUCH MORE!

Please, if you find it in your heart to partner with us in this ministry, you can contact us at

Gospel Music Roundup

20055 Nutmeg Road

Jasper Missouri 64755

email: gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

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Yes, I know I’m a tad late in wishing you all a blessed and fruitful New Year!

But, had I done so on the first of the year, it might have gotten lost in the hooplah, right?  And this way, I can be more personal about it.

Unfortunately, I fall victim to the human condition way too many times.  I allow every other distraction to get in the way of my sitting down and recording these.  It’s not that I don’t want to, but rather that I want everything to be “just right.”   I need quiet, and there hasn’t been much, what with winds and storms and animals kept indoors.  I have also been plagued with a few health issues and even more HOUSE issues, such as frozen  pipes, roof sections blowing away, and other things.  This relates so much to one of the songs in today’s podcast, called “Leavin’ on my mind” by the Victorymen.

The more I deal with the problems of this aging house and aging body, the need for solid maintenance schedules becomes glaringly obvious.  Heat Tape, used to protect pipes from freezing in the winter, generally lasts only 3-4 years.  One would think that one would replace said tape while the weather outside was temperate about every 3 years, just to be on the safe side.  But no, I had to try to eek that last year out of it, and am now forced to deal with a situation where I cannot replace it safely for want of having to leave it exposed to the elements while I work on it.  This would mean the pipe freezing while I worked, which is not good.

I say all this, because as I said before, our spiritual “House”, or where the Lord resides in our heart, is also something we should maintain on a regular basis.  Digging into the word, replacing the problems of our days with his amazing grace, is something we need to be constant and diligent about.  I love to lay my problems at the foot of the cross every night when I go to bed, knowing that God through Christ will take care of them, and some mornings I even forget to try to pick them up again!  (There is no need to pick them up, for if we truly lay them down and ask Him to take them, then TRUST requires that we leave them there)

This episode also marks 6 years of Gospel Music Roundup as a Podcast!  What a wonderful thought!  Praising God in song and hymn and spiritual songs with wonderful friends, like Dave Berland, the Victorymen, The Missourians, Signature Quartet, The Barkley Family, Canaans Road, The Dotson Family, and so many others…

SPECIAL NEWS!!!

I have recently been asked to join “The Victorymen” and am currently singing and practicing with them as their Bass singer!  This edition includes a few songs that I sing along with them on, and also includes some songs made by the Victorymen a few years earlier, when they were a trio.  You’re going to hear Rogers Littlefield, Rocky Biggers, Randall and Myself, of course, but you will also hear songs that include Cherie Riley and Shawn Riley as well as some that include Nate Davis on lead!

This is going to be a wonderful, busy  and exciting year for Gospel Music, and I hope you come along for our small part of it here, on Gospel Music Roundup!

In Christ,

Tom Whiteman

gospelmusicroundup@yahoo.com

This is our favorite time of year!!!

The wonderful sights and smells, the friends, the warm greetings… And the COOKIES!!!

But most of all, the Gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ, the Holy Child born in Bethlehem!

Join Donna and I as we share the sounds, wonders and insights to this marvelous night of nights,and King of Kings!  Includes music from Dave Berland, Tracy Heaston, The Signature Quartet, Chosen Few, The Boatrights, The Missourians, Tom Whiteman, and so much more!

WOW…  I am so excited about God’s Gift to mankind, Himself come to earth in the Baby Jesus!

To think of the buzz going on in Heaven prior to this Glorious Night:  The majesty of the angelic celebration over the birth of our newborn KING!  This was the Promised One, the Salvation of Man come to earth,  yet he entered quietly in the equivalent of a barn, a stable… Yet even in his quiet surroundings, the angels burst out rejoicing!  Knowing what they knew, I’m sure I would have done the same.

My prayer for you, is that in this season of parties and get-togethers, concerts and fanfare, that you are able to take the message of the songs in this podcast to heart, and imagine what life before Christ was like;  The anticipation of eons, culminating in the miraculous birth of our KING, who would a short lifetime later lay down his life as a sacrifice for all men…  He first gave up his seat of Glory to live among men, then laid down his earthly life, that we might have that chance at eternal life with Him, back in Glory!

The songs for this podcast once again just flowed with the spirit, and I was so blessed just playing the songs, listening to audio celebration and having the chance to share it with you, it was a double-blessing!

Thanks so much to The Missourians, Dave Berland, The Boatrights, Homeward Bound, Signature Quartet, Steel City Quartet, John Lawrenzi, Belinda Gail, Pure Heart, and so many other willing servants who have contributed their time and talents to singing the praises of our Lord, the reason for the seasons, Jesus Christ!