Coming Home - Martins Concert Recap

As I grow older, the times at home in the house I grew up in with my family become less frequent but more precious. It's not that I live very far or travel all the time, but there's something about being back home, where you grew up with the people who watched you grow.

The Martins (Joyce, Jonathan and Judy) made a stop in Arkansas a few weeks ago. They are from Hamburg, Arkansas, so the concert was like one big homecoming and you could tell that they had similar feelings of how sweet it can be to come "home." The church was full of family and friends who had watched and supported the group from their beginnings and had seen them in the best of times and the worst.

Their parents were, of course, in attendance. At one point as they were singing, their dad walked from the back down the center aisle to get a photo. It was such a sweet moment and a reminder that it doesn't matter who you are or how far you've made it, dads will always be proud dads.

It was good to hear so many songs from their Still Standing project. That was one of my favorite releases of the year last year. They talked about how they went skydiving with the Army Golden Knights. And then played a video of them skydiving along with the song "Still Standing." I love how they did "Beautiful." It's so much their testimony song that the siblings sing to one another. They talked about how they had a hand in writing several of the songs on the new project. They also sang their new version of "Wherever You Are," which has been one of my favorites of their songs.

Of course, highlights from a Martins' concert will always include their a cappella numbers. Their sibling harmony is the best. I love hearing their cover of "You'll Never Walk Alone."

If I were listing my all-time favorite gospel songs, "The Promise" would definitely be in the top three. I'm so glad they still stage this song. This song always ministers to me and seems to be just what I need to hear.

If you've read my blog for any time, you know that the Martins are the first professional group I saw and the group that really opened the door to my love for Southern Gospel. It's always so good to see them live, and it's especially special to see them in Arkansas. I'm thankful they made the trip home.

In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - January 5

Here are recent news items in Southern Gospel -

• Jim and Melissa Brady announced the departure of Layke Jones. Jim and Melissa will now be traveling as a duo. 
• Nominations are now open for the Absolutely Gospel Music Fan Favorite Artist of the Year. You can vote online here. 
• Daywind Music Group has announced its partnership with Abraham Productions on the upcoming “Beyond Amazing” tour. The multi-city tour features Brian Free & Assurance, Karen Peck & New River, Joseph Habedank, Emily Ann Roberts and evangelist C.T. Townsend. The tour kicked off on December 30 in North Carolina. 
• Common Bond Quartet announced the addition of Bink Mooney as its new bass singer. Additionally founding member Mike Bradshaw announced that he would like to spend more time with his family and reduce his time on the road. The group is accepting applications for the baritone position.
• Chapel Valley artist TRIO has added their daughters to the group and thus had a name change from TRIO to The McMurrays.
• The 2019 Singing News Songwriters Search is now open. Get all the details here. 

Anything I've missed?

Fun Clip Friday - The Chitans

I remember this young family group taking the stage at NQC last year. I was so impressed by this family of five siblings. Matt Fouch interviewed them as part of his "On the Couch With Fouch" series. Be sure to watch and hear how they got started and them singing at Gaither Family Fest. And watch until the end to hear them sing a cappella.

Playing Catch Up

I'm doing a little bit of catch up today after a blog hiatus. I'm hoping in 2019 I can get back to blogging more regularly. I've got a stack of CDs to review and several concert events coming up in early 2019.

But for today, there are several big news items I've missed over the past couple of months -

• Gospel music lost two legends in Les Beasley and Ernie Phillips. Les passed away on Saturday, Nov. 17 at age 90. He was the president of the National Quartet Convention and the longtime owner/manager/singer of The Florida Boys and a producer of "The Gospel Singing Jubilee." Ernie passed away on Nov. 29 at age 68. He was a legendary tenor and former Kingsmen Quartet member.
• Gary Casto of Tribute Quartet announced that Riley Harrison Clark is stepping down as the group's tenor to pursue a solo career. Riley has been with the group for nine years. He will be replaced by Gus Gaches, formerly of Legacy Five. 
• Squire Parsons had heart bypass surgery to repair blockages in his heart. He is now at home recovering well.
• The 2019 Grammy nominations were announced. For the first time in a while, the nominations for the Roots Gospel category were all Southern Gopsel artists: Unexpected by Jason Crabb, Clear Skies by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Favorites:Revisited by Request by the Isaacs, Still Standing by the Martins and Love Love Love by Gordon Mote. 
• 2nd Generation based in Oak Grove, Arkansas announced the group's retirement. They will do two final concerts in Arkansas in January. The group consists of Brenda Denney, Elaine Robinson and Randy Barnes. 
• A new group has been formed, Redemption’s Promise. The group consists of Chuck Pettyjohn on tenor, Shannon Yates on lead, David Emery on baritone, and Paul Hyde on bass. They are based on Morristown, Tennessee.

Your Ways Are Higher Than Mine - When Lyrics Speak

You know those times in when God is trying to teach you something and He keeps over and over putting a verse in front of you. Maybe you read it in a daily devotional, you see someone post it on Facebook, the pastor preaches on it at church, whatever the case may be, you know that God is using that verse to speak to you.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

This is the verse God keeps reminding me of lately. I don't mind telling you life has been a little crazy lately. It's been unpredictable in a few ways. It's been super busy, and I'm constantly trying to figure out how to get everything done and always worrying about the next step. It's not been what I would have chosen. It makes me question the path I'm on. It makes me wonder what the future holds. Sometimes situations can just shake your foundation and cause you to question so much about life, that's where I am.

I've had the song "Your Ways Are Higher Than Mine" on repeat a lot lately. I saw Rachel McCutcheon at a concert recently and told her how much I loved this song. We talked about how it just fit so many life situations, it's a song we all can relate to. His ways are higher than ours. When we don't understand life circumstances and know that God could fix it, we have to trust Him. His ways are higher. He sees the end and the beginning of all life situations, and He is using this situation to grow us and draw us closer to Him. Sometimes the easy thing is to pray for the situation to just be magically fixed but then we'd miss the growth process. We'd miss the journey that ultimately brings us closer to Him.

I have to trust that His ways are higher. I trust what He is doing because above all He is trustworthy. God, when I start to doubt help me believe and reassure me that You are working in my situation. God, I trust Your work, Your will and Your time as the song says. As high as the heavens are above the earth, Your ways are higher than mine.