Merry Christmas

May you have a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year.

Song Of The Month - Christmas Medley by Bela Fleck

Tis the Season, so of course it is time for some Christmas music as only Bela Fleck can play it on the Banjo.  Enjoy

Song Of The Month - Doug's Tune

The Song of the Month is The Dillards as the Darlings performing Doug's Tune on the Andy Griffith Show.  You might think that sounds confusing, but in reality it sounds good.  Enjoy.

Song of The Month - Waterfall, by Todd Taylor

Todd Taylor is one of my favorite banjo players, and Waterfall is a song he wrote while sitting by a creek.  I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind sitting by the creek with a banjo from time to time.  Enjoy the song of the month.

Blessings: by Laura Story is the song of the month

It is not blue grass, but it is a song we need to hear.  Listen to the words.

Hell Is Real ( But I Hate To Admit It )

Fresh out of seminary Brian Jones did not believe Hell existed, but his view has changed.  Click the title above and read his story.

Sleepy Man Banjo Band

Saw these guys were going to be on Huckabee's show, so we taped it and I was quite impressed.  The young man playing the banjo is 9 years old and has been playing for 3 years.  I hope to one day be able to play like him.  Enjoy.

Have We Left Our First Love

The President of the Southern Baptist Convention asked those attending their annual convention have they left their first love.  I think that is a question we all need to ask ourselves.  Click on the title above and read the article.

Song of The Month-The Statler Brothers - Shenandoah

Yes it is in black & white, this is from 1969 most TVs were still black & white and programs were not filmed in color. I know there are no banjos involved, but I like this song and I like this group. Enjoy the song of the month Shenandoah by the Statler Brothers, if you get a chance watch the movie which stars Jimmy Stewart.

In Honor of all who have fallen.

All gave some, some gave all.  Be mindful of the sacrifices made on our behalf as you go through this weekend.  Be in prayer for those who have lost loved ones and be in prayer for those in harms way.

Still Here

Now what?  It is May 22 as one person put it the world did not end, and all the good people I know are still here so the rapture must not have taken place either.  I figure along with relief there are a lot of people who are really mad right now.  There were people who spent their life's saving to share the message that the rapture would take place, and woke up still here this morning.  Somewhere in their anger they end up being mad at God.  How could you let this happen after all I did for you, after all I gave up for you.  How does this happen how do we end up like this?

In this case they were guilty of focusing on a man, Harold Camping, who said for the second time in his life that he knew the end was coming.  First time, when it did not occur,  was a miscalculation, now we hear that he is bewildered because the rapture did not take place.  Harold Camping made a convincing case and sounded good, but if people would have just looked at God's word they would have seen the errors. 

Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."  That does not leave room for one man to figure out not only the day, but the hour as well.  Jesus, Himself, was saying at that point that even He did not know.  I know Camping explained this away in his teaching, making it sound like a believer could figure this out.  If a person would have truly looked at this passage, if they would have looked at what the Bible says will occur after the rapture, they would have seen the weakness in his teaching from the start.

Instead of being mad at God, and asking Him how this could happen, it is time to be answering these questions for ourselves.  When someone comes along teaching something that is "new" and sounds really good check it out.  Look at the Bible and see what God has to say about it.  In fact maybe we need to follow the instruction of Ephesians 4: 14-15 as we face the coming days.  Not sure what that says look it up and see for yourself.  Have a great day.   

Five Core Values Of A Church In Decline

Churches in decline is a topic that we could spend a lot of time discussing and many could speak from experience.  The problem is most of that time is spent pointing at individuals or situations that we feel is the problem, but if we are honest that is all just the surface stuff.  In fact it it probably time we start being honest about where the real problems lie, even though we may not like the answer.  In this article Pastor Perry Noble addresses five core values of a church in decline, it may seem that most of the problems are a little deeper than we may have originally thought.  Click on the title above to read this article.

Song of the month - Matterhorn

For the second month in a row The Country Gentlemen  are performing the song of the month, Matterhorn.  Enjoy.

Song Of Month- House Of The Rising Sun

I know we are a few days in, but here is the song of the month The Country Gentlemen singing House of the Rising Sun.

Mark Driscoll Gets It

Over the last weeks there has be debate going on over the existence of Hell.  Is it real, is it eternal, would a loving God actually send people there?  This all started over a book that Pastor Rob Bell wrote.  In a sermon to his church on Sunday Mark Driscoll shared the truth, without Jesus, you go to hell.  It is made clear in the article that it was not an easy sermon to preach, but he did it so they would know the truth.  Click the title above and read the entire article, you will hear the truth as well.

The Next Billy Graham

Most people have asked through the years who will be the next Billy Graham, this article makes it even more interesting.  It starts off asking the question is there a next Billy Graham?  I know a lot of names are always thrown around to follow in his footsteps, but what he did may never happen again here in the United States.  I think the writer takes that into account as she concludes with a thought that may surprise you.  Click on the title above to read the article.

Greg Laurie: End Of the World Is Near

It is interesting to hear what others are saying about the events of the past couple weeks and how they tie in with Christ's return.  Click the title above to read the article.

The Day The Earth Moved

In regards to power of Earthquake that rocked Japan, it was powerful enough it not only moved the country but moved the earth as well.  Click on the title above to see the article.

Earthquake In Japan A Sign Of The Times?

I have already heard it said, the earthquake in Japan are another sign pointing to the End Times.  If you are beginning to think that way you are not alone, even noted pastors around the country are beginning to say that as well.  So what should our response be click on the title above and see how John Piper responded.

Some of the Scariest Verses In the Bible

Perry Noble a pastor in South Carolina, has listed what he considers to be some of the scariest verses in the Bible.  They are not talking about hell or anything like that, but about us not listening to the words of God.  When God begins to speak we should listen, instead we usually harden our hearts, as Noble states that tends to lead to bad things.  Read the article and heed the words.

Song of the Month - Fireball Mail

The Song of the Month Fireball Mail played by Flatt & Scruggs on their Grand Ole Opry Show, sponsored by Martha White Flour. You can get the videos on Netflix, they are worth checking out. Enjoy.

Song of The Month - Bury Me Beneath Willow

Featuring Roy Clark and Bobby Thompson, enjoy the song of the month.

To Offensive To Show During The Super Bowl.

The following commercial was deemed to offensive to show during the Super Bowl, watch it at your own desecration.  If you do watch it and watched some of the commercials they did show, it will cause you to scratch your head.  Click on the title above to read the accompanying article.

Greg Laurie: What Every Last Days Believer Needs to Know

There is a gentlemen in our church that a Sunday does not go by where he does not mention something about the Rapture, be it I'm ready or pointing to something that shows it could be near.  I have had a couple of conversations with different people each thinking along the same lines, it may be near.  Whether it is today or years a way we need to be living knowing it could happen be you finish this article.  With that in mind click on the title above and read what Greg Laurie says every last days believer needs to know.

5 Reasons to share your faith in 2011

I know we are a couple weeks into the new year and I am sure that some of the things we really wanted to do this year have already fallen by the way side.  So now maybe we sit down and think about things that are important, that really would matter.  Look around you and see the needs, people struggling with every kind of situation and really thinking no one cares.  It is important that we begin to show those people that we do care, not just about what they are facing here and now, but what happens when they leave here.  This needs to be the year we decide to tell those around us about Jesus.  If you are not sure click on the title above and read the 5 reasons Greg Stier gives for sharing your faith this year.

Taps- The Full Version

I have found that most any kind of music can catch my attention, and the song in this video just such a song..  According to the information sent the original version of Taps was actually called Last Post, but because of its length it was shortened to the version we know today.  This is the original version and it is played on the Trumpet by 13 year old Melissa Venema. Click on the title above and enjoy.

Why the Creation-Evolution Debate Is So Important - Albert Mohler

In this commentary Dr. Albert Mohler talks about the importance the creation-evolution debate, and how the leader of one foundation is striving to influence the church's way of thinking.  One part that seems to the norm, Mr. Falk not only does not believe the creation account but has problems accepting other parts as well.  I have stated this on several occasions over the past year that you cannot reject Genesis 1and not have it effect how the person views the rest of the Bible.  Click on the title above to read Dr. Mohler's commentary.

Christians At It Again

In Fort Worth Texas a group began running ads on buses that read "Millions of Americans are good without God".  This is where we as Christians tend to be short sighted, because they were offended Christians in that area boycotted public transportation and demanded the ads be removed.  They got results; the transportation authority removed the ads, and both sides cheered.  Strange reaction, not really both sides got what they wanted.  Christians got the ads removed, and in the process all religious ads are now banned on public transportation.  The Atheist got what they really wanted all along, the possibility of ever mentioning God in that forum removed.  At some point in Fort Worth will be screaming made because they cannot advertise some city wide crusade or other event.  Sometimes we need to think a little before we react.  Click the title above to read Albert Mohler's thoughts on the subject

The New Year

HAPPY NEW TO ALL

May you and your family be richly blessed in the coming year.