Tess Starts College
Our oldest daughter, Tess, started college last week at Campbellsville University, a Baptist college here in Kentucky. It has been a great, new experience for her. She will be majoring in music at Campbellsville, which is about 30-40 minutes from our home. Campbellsville has a reputation in our area as a fine school, and so far she is really enjoying her classes. This semester she is taking Music Theory, Music Lit., English Composition, History of the U.S. since 1877, Applied Piano, and Concert Chorus. She has also signed up as an accompanist for others on the piano. Since Campbellsville is so close to our home, she is driving back and forth. So we are happy to have her home with us each night. Along with her busy college schedule, Tess is still traveling with the family on the weekends, singing and playing.
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Brooke Is Driving!
Believe it or not, Brooke is now 16 years old. Where has the time gone? She recently went down to the LaRue County courthouse with her mother and took the written test to become a driver....she passed. Here in Kentucky, a new driver goes through a succession of 3 or 4 phases to become a full-fledged driver. Brooke is now in Phase1, which means she can drive on the highway, but only with another licensed driver over age 21. Since Kathy & I are over 21 (way over), guess what? We are seeing lots of action as observing drivers. My knuckles are white from gripping the dashboard, and my knees are sore from stomping the floorboard.....
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Ben Speer's School of Music (Stamps-Baxter) Finale for 2010 this Friday Night
We are heading down to the Stamps-Baxter School's closing ceremony for 2010 this Friday night. Tess has been attending this two-week school again this year. This will be a special event, as the Stamps choir will be focusing on the music of Harold Lane, the great singer & arranger who sang with the Speer Family for many years. This event will be held in Murfreesboro at Middle Tennessee State Univ. If you get a chance and are within driving distance, come down to Murfreesboro and enjoy some great gospel music. Starts at 6:30 central.
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Southern Gospel Music School of America Closing Ceremony this Friday Night
If you live within a couple of hours of Chattanooga, you won't want to miss the closing ceremony of the Southern Gospel Music School of America (SGMSA) this Friday night, July 9. A choir of ~80 students & faculty will be singing some new, annointed songs that you've likely never heard before...Held on the campus of Southern Adventist Univ. in Collegedale (just outside Chattanooga), it starts at 7 pm eastern. If you are an artist looking for new material or just want to hear some fresh gospel music that will be a blessing to you, I suggest you consider attending this event. Our daughter, Tess, attended the school this year, and will be singing in the choir. Hope to see you there.
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"Singin' On The Farm"
Hey, everybody. I want to invite you to an event we will be singing in this weekend. It's called "Singin' On The Farm", located near Munfordville, KY. On Friday night the talent includes The Barbour Family, In His Image, Curt Piel, Becky Smith, and the host McCubbins Family. On Saturday night, the Milby Family will be singing, along with the Commonwealth Quartet, the Munfordville Baptist Church choir, and the McCubbins Family. Raluca Bojor, a talented young classical pianist from Romania, will also be making an appearance on Saturday evening.. The singing starts at 6:30 pm central each night. Directions to "Singin' On The Farm": Take I-65 to Munfordville, KY (~ halfway between Bowling Green & Louisville), exit toward town, in Munfordville turn on Hwy. 88 and the farm will be about 3 miles outside town with signs prominently posted. Bring a lawn chair. They usually have a tent w/ ...pork tenderloin (to die for), beans & cornbread. Stop by our table; we would love to visit w/ you.
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Our Biggest Fan
Brooke, Tess, and Grace pose after our concert on Saturday night at Beech Grove
Sep. Baptist Church with four-year-old Ella Lawhorn. Her Dad, pastor Matt Lawhorn,
calls Ella our "biggest fan". We think she is the prettiest fan, too! We love Ella.
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Milby Family Returns to Stage this Friday Night in TV-31 Fundraiser
We are SO excited to be back on stage again singing beginning this coming Friday night, Feb. 19. This event will be a fundraiser for TV-31 (Proclaim Broadcasting), which is a station based in Scottsville, KY This will be our group's first singing date since Tess's back surgery in December!
Along with the Milby Family, you can hear some great groups from around Kentucky including the Sneed Family, Nale Family, Jerry Patton & Golden Keys Quartet, Inheritance, McCubbins Family, the Sullivans, and Heartfelt. This event will be held at the Cave City Convention Center in Cave City, KY, just off Interstate 65 a mile or so. This event starts at 6 pm central and will run until around 9 pm. There will be a $5 donation at the door and a love offering will be taken.
Come enjoy a great night of Southern Gospel music!
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Top 40 Songs for 2009
I'm happy to present my 3rd annual Top 40 Songs of the Year in Southern Gospel Music. Here's how I arrive at my rankings: I take a look at the Top 80 for every month of the year in the Singing News magazine. Equal weight is given to a song that peaked at #80 in any given month and a song that went to #1. A song is eligible for both 2008 year-end honors and 2009 year-end honors if it was charting in both years. So you will recognize some of these songs from last year's Top 40...if they were good enough to make the cut both years.
Basically, these are the 40 songs that I like the best in 2009. Some I like for their lyrical content, some for the music, some just for the overall groove of the song....Hope you enjoy.
1. The Difference Is In Me--Gaither Vocal Band
2. Whispered Prayers--Karen Peck & New River
3. Stand By The River--Greenes
4. The Blood Of Jesus--Collingsworth Family
5. If You Knew Him--Perrys
6. The Funeral Of Jesus--Big Mo
7. Loving The Lamb--Mark Trammel Trio
8. Somebody Like Me--Martins
9. I'll See You Soon--Mercy's Well
10. Between 12 and 33--McKameys
11. I Get To--Three Bridges
12. In A Million Years--Legacy 5
13. What Salvation's Done For Me--Booth Brothers
14. He Never Sleeps--Mark Bishop
15. The Old White Flag--Triumphant Quartet
16. The Potter Knows The Clay--Perrys
17. Jesus Made A Believer Out Of Me--Kingdom Heirs
18. I Believe God--Brian Free and Assurance
19. King's Kid--Browders
20. You Don't Have To Answer To Me--Reggie Saddler Family
21. Why Can't All God's Children Get Along?--Karen Peck and New River
22. Eternity Has Two--Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
23. It Pays To Pray--Greater Vision
24. Something Visible--Mitchel Jon
25. What Children Believe--Gold City
26. The Old Path--Steve Warren
27. Hello After Goodbye--Legacy Five
28. God's Not Through With You--Mike & Kelly Bowling
29. That's Enough--Talley Trio
30. The Word--Kingsmen
31. The Son Came Down--Inspirations
32. The Story Of My Life--Stutzman Family
33. In Everything Give Thanks--Charlotte Ritchie
34. He Will Remember Me--Archie Watkins
35. A Little Good News--Dove Brothers
36. The Cloud He's Coming Back On--Kingsmen
37. I Cast My Bread Upon The Waters--Gold City
38. Blame It On Love--Hoppers
39. I'm Movin' Out Of Here--Skyline Boys
40. When God Ran--Kingsmen
Honorable Mention: Die Another Day (Brian Free & Assurance), Breath That Gives Me Life (Pathfinders), Already On My Knees (LeBeaus), That's When God Steps In (HisSong), When I Lay My Isaac Down (Mike Upright), Walk Away Free (Naomi & The Segos)
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New Year's Resolutions
Well, it's that time of year again. Time to make some resolutions for the upcoming year. Things you are going to do that will enhance your life or the lives of those around you. How did you do with the 2009 resolutions? Rather not talk about it?
I'm usually not a resolution-maker. It seems that people make resolutions each year, then their resolve fizzles out by about February or March. Then, around December, they come up with new resolutions (or maybe dust off the same old resolutions they made the previous year) and say to themselves, "I'm really going to do it this year! I really mean it this time!" It's pretty comical, isn't it?
Good intentions. The Bible does say that without a vision the people will perish, so I guess it's good to have a plan, a goal, a vision.
I think God likes it when we resolve each year to draw closer to Him, to treat our friends and neighbors better, to be a stronger Christian example in the workplace. To be honest, I certainly have my work cut out for me in all these areas, because, friends, I am far from perfect. But these are noble goals and scriptural goals, too, for each of us to aspire to.
However, this year I find myself thinking along the lines that thousands of others across the world are thinking about this cold December day....I'm making resolutions for 2010. Ones that will be difficult to keep. Ones that won't mean near as much to me in mid-February when I am tired of the discipline of keeping them. But at least I'm making the effort. My resolutions for 2010? Pretty simple. Besides trying to do more for the Lord, I want to become more physically fit and learn to play the guitar. I figure if I only set these two extra goals for myself they should be pretty easy to keep. Only two. And I really am going to keep them this year. I really mean it this time...
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Tess Comes Home
Tess came home from the hospital today. We are so excited and feel blessed to have her home..I told the family this afternoon that having Tess home is the best Christmas present I've ever gotten! She still has a long way to go in her recovery, so keep remembering her in your prayers, please. She has been through a lot in the past week, but she is making progress every day. We are thankful.
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