Monthly Articles

Family Music Group

Family Matters – July 2005

Summertime is upon us! The daily forecast says it's hot and humid and there's a chance of late afternoon thunderstorms. What day? Take your pick! They're all the same!

The weather isn't the only thing heating up. Studio activity for Family Music and Butler Music artists has been heating up as well. As I write this, the latest CD from the Glovers is making its way toward completion. Look for Out of the Darkness to be available at your Christian bookstore soon. This will be the Glovers debut project on the Butler Music Group label.

Living Waters Trio, a fantastic young bluegrass group from East Tennessee , is getting ready to hit the studio next month for their debut project on the Family Music Group label. They describe their style as a “Mountain Gospel” sound, so called because it sounds like a mixture of bluegrass and Southern Gospel. Watch for this group to hit the ground running with this new CD.

Don't miss our artist showcase on Saturday, July 30, at the 6th Annual Gospel Music Fan Festival. It will be at River of Life Church on Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna , Tenn. , and will begin at 10 a.m. You'll have the opportunity to hear Christlike, Sharron Kay King, the Glovers, Living Waters Trio, Jamie Farmer, Cheri Taylor, the Morris', and others, including some great surprise guests. And it's free!

Speaking of the forecast, I'm reminded of a song that Sharron Kay King wrote and recorded on her CD, One Step At A Time . In this song, appropriately titled “The Forecast,” Sharron Kay wrote, “Here's a forecast for you, I guarantee it to be true; I don't know the day or hour, but I know He's comin' soon!” Now there's a forecast you can really believe!

When we look around us, we see more of an interest in the Second Coming than ever before. Books and songs are being written about it, movies, radio and television programs are offering speculations, and many pastors preach about it frequently. We all want to know when it's going to be.

This is nothing new, however. In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus the same question, “…Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel ?” (Acts 1:6b, KJV) Do you remember his answer ? “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:7b, KJV)

Instead, Jesus refocused their attention on the mission He had outlined for them on several other occasions: “… ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem , and in all Judea, and in Samaria , and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8b, KJV) Those were the last words the disciples heard Jesus say during His time here, and you know what? He's still saying that to us today!

We who work in Gospel music have such an opportunity to be witnesses for Jesus. Artists can witness as they sing and give testimonies; songwriters can witness when they take care to make their songs line up with the Scriptures; and industry professionals can make decisions that can cause the Gospel to be spread abroad. One thing every one of us can do is make sure that everything we do and say is a positive witness for our Lord.

See you next month!

Henrietta Brown
Media Director,
Butler Music Group
Family Music Group