The Perrys with David Ragan

I got the chance to see the Perrys Friday night in Monticello, Ark. There will be a full concert recap, but I couldn't wait to share this clip with you. Here's a video of David Ragan taking one of the Perrys' most beloved songs "If You Knew Him."

David, Leah and Bryan are doing an incredible job carrying on as the Perrys. Check back tomorrow for more on the concert, but for now enjoy this!

Fun Clip Friday - Jeff Easter and Gaither Homecoming Band

Happy Friday to all! Hope you all have had a great week and have a great weekend!

I found this older clip on YouTube of Jeff Easter and the Gaither Homecoming band and friends having a little fun during a taping! Enjoy!

For All He's Done - Greater Vision - CD Review

Greater Vision's latest project is For All He's Done which was released May 21, 2013. The project is solid and is exactly what fans have come to expect from Greater Vision in the last 20 plus years.

Rodney Griffin is one the most awarded songwriters in gospel music, so it's no doubt that several of his songs are on the album. He has five that he either wrote or co-wrote. However, Chris Allman is also quite the songwriter and also has four cuts on the project, all written solely by him. This only leaves one song that a member of Greater Vision didn't have a hand in writing, which I think is a strength of the project!

One song that immediately caught my attention was "Looking for the Grace." It's a strong, up-tempo song that's sure to be a great one to see live. It features Rodney, who has several nice features on the album. This is the first single from the project.

"This Is Mercy" is a ballad that also features Rodney. The first verse tells the story of the sign being nailed above Jesus' head on the cross and what it might have said instead. It's from the same story-song vein that "No Longer Chained" is that Rodney is so masterful at!

"I Can Trust You" comes from the pen of Chris. The message and lyrics of this song are so powerful and relate to so many people. And Chris' vocals on this song take the song to a new level! Chris continues to solidify his position as one of the best tenors in gospel music. Definitely one of my favorites!

"Seeking for Me" is a cover of a Cathedrals' song. Gerald Wolfe and Chris are both featured on this one. It's another personal highlight. The orchestration and buildup to when Chris' voice soars on the second verse is incredible!

"Preacher Tell Me Like It Is" has one of the most unique concepts. We need more preachers who don't try to sugar coat their messages on Sundays, but preach and speak the truth in love. The song has a country flavor.  It's a Rodney song, both written by him and featuring him.

"For All He's Done," the title track of the project, is one that Chris Allman released on his most recent solo CD. It fits really well with on a Greater Vision project though. I also really enjoyed them recutting "The Blood Hasn't Ever Changed" that was on Greater Vision's 1996 project The Shepherds Found a Lamb.

One thing that does seem to be missing is a strong feature for Gerald. He's featured on a verse of "Seeking for Me." His voice is heard all through the project, but Chris and Rodney are featured much more on this project.

Album Rating - 4.75 stars - I think this is one of the best projects Greater Vision has released. None of the songs stand out as "filler songs." And from what I've heard they seem to be staging most of these songs live. Each song brings a strong and different message to the project, but each one brings the focus to God for who He is and "for all He's done."


Song List:

1. "Come Unto Me"
2. "Looking for Grace" **
3. "This Is Mercy" **
4. "The Blood Hasn't Ever Changed"
5. "Forever Is Sure"
6. "Seeking for Me" **
7. "Preacher Tell Me Like It Is" **
8. "I Can Trust You" **
9. "I Will Take Care of You"
10. "For All He's Done"

**Personal favorites

Took It All Away - When Lyrics Speak

God can take you down some unexpected paths in life. I don't understand the way God works, and I don't pretend to. I recently had to watch a friend go through an unexpected change in life. It wasn't a welcome change, but a life change that left you standing there wondering why. When things are taken away in life, it can really cause us to question and wonder where God is in everything.

I couldn't help but put myself in the same situation. How would I react? What if God took the same thing away in my life? Would I still praise Him? How would I handle the situation?

The song "Took It All Away" by Crossway and written by Annie McRae came to mind. The first verse talks about being numb from the shock of devastation, being confused and your faith just barely hanging on. But God, if you took it all away, not just one thing, not just a couple, but all, I will still stand and praise Your Holy Name.

So many times when one bad thing happens, we find it difficult to praise Him. We are left questioning, but what if we believed in His plan praised Him for the very things we don't understand.

The second verse of the song talks about how these trials allow God to try us so that we can come out stronger in the end relying on God's strength to make it through. How much better off would we be if we stood firm in our faith praising Him when He takes it all away?

As I listened to this song again, I thought about all God has blessed me with and couldn't even grasp the devastation I would experience if all of those blessings were suddenly taken. Not only, but it what if He never chose to bless me again? I pray that I would have the strength to "rise up from the ashes of my despair" and declare that if He took it all away I would still stand and praise His Holy Name.

Memphis Quartet Show

Apparently those of us who were not at the Memphis Quartet Show missed a great event! Several videos have been circulating on YouTube and SocialCam from the event that shows us just how much we missed out on! Here are a few of the clips and highlights that people have shared from the event.

There are several more on YouTube and SocialCam, so be sure to search for them and check them out!

Elvis and Triumphant Quartet

Booth Brothers Quartet (courtesy of Lynn's Chronicles' SocialCam)



Dove Brothers