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Sunday Edition

2007

December

SAMTSIRHC

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is CHRISTMAS spelled backwards. Isn't that the way we have it? Backwards...Santa and gifts first and then Christ. We've turned things around to the point that the word is unrecognizable. I'm not pointing fingers, otherwise I'd be looking straight into a mirror. But It is our neglect of the true meaning of Christmas that has allowed other holidays to try to become it's equal. And Heaven forbid retail clerks mention the ever-offensive name Christmas. Because now we must include everyone, even those that push for the demise of Christmas and exalt their anti-Christ religions. The battle lines have been drawn for a long time so why do we keep retreating? Why rock the boat I guess.?.. Because they are trying to make us walk the plank and besides, my Father owns the boat and the water it sails on. "The earth is the Lord's and fullness thereof." We are supposed to be meek in spirit but not passive. When God commanded Joshua to cross the Jordan and to possess the Promise Land, He didn't tell him to go in with a peace treaty and negotiate. He was told to fight for it. In Ecc. 3:8 it says - "there is a time for war and a time for peace." Can you guess what time it is? Go ahead, look at your Mickey Mouse watch - those hands are pointing to war.

I intend to do my best to fight this hostile takeover of a Christ-centered holiday. I'll begin at home by apologizing to my children for allowing more emphasis to be placed on the gifts rather than the Giver. Then, I will try my very best to love those that are offended by Christmas and the Jesus it represents. But I'll not back down when they try to push their false-god religion in the name of equal rights. Equal rights might be okay for men, women, children, and every race - but not for gods. There is only one, true God and He doesn't share the top-billing with anyone or anything.

So Merry CHRISTMAS!!!! Say it loud and say it proud...

Until next year,
Karen
http://www.darylwilliamstrio.net

thanks for requesting the Daryl Williams Trio new radio single "He Laid His Hand On Me"

That Christmas Gift, Will You Get It?

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Most of us that follow gospel music were probably raised in Christian homes and have known as far back as we can remember what Christmas is all about. If you are over 25, you realize that the world today has drastically changed from when we were kids. Most kids today don't know what the true meaning of Christmas is. Don't believe me? Go to your local public school and take a survey with one simple question; what is the true meaning of Christmas? You'll be shocked at how few mention the birth of Christ.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a big movie buff. There have been some great Christmas movies through the years, but rarely do any of them even refer to the real story of Christmas. Even in the most memorable Christmas movies like "It's A Wonderful Life" (Which I love), the closest it gets to the definition of Christmas is that we should appreciate our family and friends and somehow see that things aren't as bad as they seem the other eleven months of the year.

Do you remember the first time you heard the real story of Christmas and you got it? Not the one where a Santa leaves the North Pole to bring us gifts, but the one where God Himself left heaven to give us all the ultimate gift! As I walk through the mall this year full of busy shoppers in their frantic search for the perfect gift, I wonder how many of them will get it? How many will hear the true story of Jesus and get it?

I am so proud of my kids and their simple, innocent understanding of the scriptures. All three times we found out we were going to be parents, our prayer was that God would save each of them at an early age. For my son who is the oldest, he was seven years old. I was asked to play the roll of Jesus in our church's Easter musical. I had a dvd of the entire thing and that is what I used to help me memorize my lines. The only thing that terrified me more than forgetting my lines was that cross scene where the only thing I had on was a piece of cloth that was small enough to make any out of shape man sweat. So I would watch that dvd learning my lines while frantically doing sit ups. At the end of the dvd, a preacher came on and explained the plan of salvation. Well I watched that thing about 5 times one Saturday trying to memorize my lines. Each time I watched it, before the preacher would come on, I'd usually start it over again. I had left the room on the last time and didn't stop the dvd. The preacher went through how to become a Christian and when I walked into the living room, my son was glued to the television. It went off and he said, "Dad, I've got a question". After a short Q&A, I prayed with my son because that day he got it!

My little girl Grace who is five years old and loving kindergarten came home from her afterschool Good News Club. If you don't know what Good News Club is, I encourage you to google or go to http://www.cefonline.com and get it in your local school. It is a major outreach afterschool program that can not be kept out of public school IF there are enough Christian parents from local churches that want it there. It is like a high energy, Sunday school on steroids for kids and in my opinion could quite possibly be the greatest ministry used in changing the next generation. Each child gets a book and they read a little from it each night. The other night as my wife was reading from that little book about what Jesus did for us on the cross, she looked over at Grace whose eyes were welling up with tears. When my wife asked her what was wrong, that little 5 year old girl said, "mommy, nothing's wrong. These are happy tears. I'm just so thankful that Jesus did that for us". Could it be that she gets it? Could it be that God has heard our prayers and He is preparing her heart for Himself?

It doesn't matter if you're five or ninety five. It doesn't matter if you've heard the true story of Christmas once or a thousand times. What matters is this year when you hear about the ultimate, priceless gift that God gave to us all and what it cost Him; will you get it?

David Staton
LeFevre Quartet
http://www.lefevrequartet.com

The Herald’s Christmas

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Have you ever noticed that everyone this time of year seems to be asking the age old question, Are you ready for Christmas? More often than not the answer is usually no. The thing that has always disappointed me about Christmas is that you spend all month getting ready, and then in a matter of a few short hours it's over.

However, as gospel singers we have the privilege of telling over and over again about the ultimate gift that was given to our world. It's an old story that never gets old. As the old saying goes it's the gift that keeps on giving all year long. As a matter of fact it will be the theme throughout all of eternity. The only reason that our Lord came to this earth was to redeem fallen man. Because that little baby was born in a manager, we can enjoy eternal life with our Lord. Our prayer this Christmas is that you know this Jesus that we all sing about. If you will make Him the Lord of your life, Christmas will have a much deeper meaning than it ever has. Just do it, you'll be glad you did!

Many of us slow down this time of year and relax with family and friends. The King's Heralds are no exception. We also use this time to reflect upon the events of the past year. So may wonderful doors opened for us this past year, and from the looks of it, next year the Lord has blessed us with even more opportunity! We are truly blessed!

Please continue to pray for our ministry. God has blessed us to be able to spread His gospel to several parts of the globe. From the looks of it, next year is no exception. Invitations have already come from all parts of the world. People are hungry for the gospel! We believe that he harvest is ready! Pray that the Lord will give us the resources we need to be able to answer these calls. We pray a merry Christmas on each and look forward to seeing you next year.

For our updated schedule please visit our website http://www.theheralds.org . We are in the process of updated and rebuilding our website so very soon it will have a whole new look.

King's Heralds
http://www.theheralds.org

From Where I Sit

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How amazing God is! It’s always funny to see how He works sometimes. As the title conveys, this is an honest account of how much God does for us every weekend. I am sure you can imagine how it affects four to six people depending on the weekend to leave their families and go where God leads them. I don’t think that God could have brought together 4 other people that were any more different, but I am thankful that God uses us together to accomplish His work.

God has had us learn the hard way that humor is the best way to get through the tough times. One such example of this happened about 6 or 7 months ago. Me and the guys were on our way back from Georgia and were headed back to the middle of North Carolina somewhere. About an hour before midnight I looked up and saw a black object in the middle of the road. I am not talking about a shoe or a piece of tire. This thing was the size of a person wrapped into a ball! We didn’t have any reaction time whatsoever before we hit this suspected human ball. As soon as we hit it, we lost oil pressure and we all were able to hear the unwelcome sound of oil hitting the pavement. As we crossed three lanes with no engine, we pulled over to the side of the road and checked underneath. To our surprise, we saw nothing but a huge hole in the oil pan and nothing to prove what it was. We began to look closer and noticed a tarp that was trailing at least 30 feet behind the trailer! By this time, the 40 degree weather had begun to sink in and we were chilling. Jon and I walked back to where we first hit the tarp to see if we could find anything that had the ability to make a huge hole in an oil pan. After several minutes of looking, we found the solid metal rod that made the hole. By this time Tim had called his father to see if we could borrow his van and his services to come and pick us up. He agreed and finally found us after two hours. After switching over a trailer, clothing and luggage, we started down the road. About five minutes later his father’s van began to smoke and lose power! I lifted up the hood and for a brief moment I saw flames. I prayed and God put the flames out and helped us get to that next gas station. Needless to say, God made a way for us to get home and to the next date.

Although it can be hard and demanding sometimes, I feel thankful for the things that I have experienced. We have seen a lot of things that I have always hoped to see since I was little. Whether it be the Florida everglades, the Smoky mountains, or Music City USA, we have all desired to see the attractions and incredible buildings as well as the historical landmarks but never have the time to.

One of the latest places that we have gone is Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.

We were honored to sing at the celebrity theater for two days. The celebrity theater seats around 2500 people when it is completely full. The FOOD was incredible! If you ever go, make sure that you stop by a stand they call “Mater’s and Taters”. They have the best country-style potatoes that are cooked out in the open with peppers, onions, and spices. They also have fried green tomatoes that are to die for. One of the best parts of Dollywood is the incredible views from several places. I thank God that we finally got the time to stop and enjoy the mountains and the leaves turning as well as the atmosphere. God is incredibly at work there in Dollywood by having a place that the lost can come and not feel threatened or pressured but yet be presented with the gospel. My hats off to the Kingdom Heirs and the ministry they have there. I am thankful for the hearts that have been touched and the lives that have been changed by God and God alone. We have been able to see over 157 precious people that God has changed their lives at Anchormen concerts since January 1st. Keep praying for us and I will do my best to scribble it all down from where I sit.

Karl Rice
The Anchormen
http://www.theanchormen.com

A Quick Christmas

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Our family began the traditional viewing of Christmas movies the week before Thanksgiving this year. We usually start the movie festival the day after when we also put up our tree, but we just couldn’t wait. We’ve seen Home Alone One, Home Alone Three, (we need to get the second one), The Nativity Story, The Family Man, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bishop’s Wife, (We plan to get The Preacher’s Wife), Elf, Penny Serenade, Fun with Dick and Jane, The Santa Clause, Last Holiday, You’ve Got Mail, and we have a stack left to go. My favorite – It’s a Wonderful Life – is always seen after we have finished with the hustle and bustle of shopping and when our singing schedule winds down. That will be after the Wilburn Christmas Dinner and Concert on December 4th. We’ll also watch the four gospels: 1. Santa Clause is Coming to Town 2. Frosty the Snowman 3.Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer 4.The Little Drummer Boy – followed by A Christmas Carol – the good one with George C. Scott and Mickey’s A Christmas Carol. Then we’ll watch Pride of the Yankees, Bright Eyes, Fried Green Tomatoes, and any movie that even mentions Christmas. Rebecca says we need to add The Quiet Man (John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara) but it doesn’t even have anything to do with Christmas. She says it just seems like it should.

Other traditions include putting up the Christmas Tree with ornaments I have been getting for the girls each year. Many are those gold ones from Wal Mart and they even let me engrave the girls’ names and the year on them. We hang their decorative stockings made when they were babies and put out the other decorations I’ve had for years. I started a Nativity collection a few years ago – I found one that I had not opened. (Probably bought it on clearance last year.)

We’ve been to a couple of Christmas events at MTSU – Handel’s Messiah and the Women’s Chorale Christmas program. We’ll go to Tuba Christmas December 18th in downtown Nashville – our Producer Tommy Cooper plays this thing with a double bell. We’ll probably join my sister who usually drives up to Nashville to see the lights at the Opryland Hotel – that is always a sight. We’ll spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family and Christmas Day with Tim’s bunch. We’ll also be on the lookout for more festive activities.

What does all of this have to do with a baby in a manger? Not much on the surface, but these activities have kept us drawn to Christmas. They have provided a refuge from the huge list of problems piling up like a blown transmission and septic system repairs on to bigger things like Rachel’s first Christmas away from home. She and Aaron are doing great by the way. When the girls were little, their birthdays were not just celebrated one day, but they became week long events with several activities. The birth of Christ is celebrated on December 25th. It’s been exciting making it more than just a one day celebration. So jump on in on the fun! Take the night off and order a pizza or try Rebecca’s Hot Wing recipe. Sit down with your family and watch a movie or go walk around the mall to see the decorations. Go Caroling, give to missions, participate in your church’s Christmas program – whatever you do, enjoy this Christmas. It marks the beginning of our salvation – the birth of Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world.

The Quicks
P.O. Box 581
Smyrna, TN 37167
http://www.thequicksonline.com


Winter Is Upon Us

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The time of year most groups do not look forward to is the winter season. Several reasons come to mind. Most of the reasons revolve around the rough weather that plagues the midwest and the northern parts of the country. SNOW!! Being from Michigan, snow brings to me mixed emotions. It is beautiful, but certainly causes more than its share of problems for folks not used to it.

COLD!!! Now that is the part of winter that I especially don't care for. Cool is okay, but cold...you can have it! Many groups book southern states for the winter time. We enjoy at least two trips to Florida during January and February. It is a great opportunity for us to see some of our northern friends again as many migrate south as 'snowbirds'.

Stan, Penny, Julie and myself are looking forward to spending some 'home time' with our families over the holidays. We want to wish all of you a most blessed Christmas season. We also want you to know how much we love you and appreciate your prayers and support throughout the year. We look forward to seeing many of you again in 2008. Of course, as you can see by our schedule, we leave out again two days after Christmas for Louisiana, Missouri, and finally for New Year's in our favorite venue, the Blue Gate Restaurant and Theater in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Right now, there is choice seating available for our second annual CWG Reunion Concert April 12, 2008, so if you want to attend, call Harold at 888-319-1021 and reserve your seats.

I want to say thanks to everyone who is sharing with us in the worthy cause of the Convoy of Hope. You may check the organization out at: http://convoyofhope.org/. Again, if you would like to contribute, call Harold at 888-319-1021.

We are delighted to welcome several newcomers to our discussion board at: http://www.chuckwagongangblog.com. You can learn a lot about the history of the CWG from several knowledgeable and longtime fans. If you have questions about the current or former CWG groups, our products, and future plans, Harold Timmons will be happy to take care of you. You can call him at 888-319-1021. Thanks and God bless,

Dave

A Biblical Perspective
"...we must be about the Father's business."

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been giving some thought to the concept of 'letting go'. Of course, the phrase can be applied to a lot of different aspects in life. It can refer to a tug-of-war between brothers who may fuss over the TV remote or a certain toy. It could refer to a boyfriend or a girlfriend finding it difficult to say good-bye when they are trying to break up. It certainly applies to the 'empty nest syndrome of a mother's difficulty in 'letting go' of her child when they leave home for the first time to go to college.

The phrase 'letting go', as applied to our thoughts today, refer to releasing of 'wrongs' in our lives that we have done or that have been inflicted upon us. It is interesting to read secular psychologists who admit much of their therapy revolves around helping people come to grips with 'letting go' of guilt, wrongful deeds, emotional wounds, remorse, etc... . I think sometimes we don't realize how much our 'past' experiences, bad or good, come to play on our present or future lives. We often use the term 'baggage' to pretty much describe this plight of humanity. While Christians have the wonderful reality of 'forgiveness' by God, and the fact that our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus and cast into the sea of God's forgetfulness, we still have to deal with the forgiveness of others and of ourselves.

I am sure all of us could pretty quickly bring to mind something that we did or that was done to us that we regret or remorsefully remember. The apostle Paul sets the standard for us in Philippians 3:13 when he states "...forgetting those things which are behind,..." is the perspective that one must have in order to move forward in life. The analogy is that of a foot race, and the only way to win is to forget the success and progress, as well as the failures and lost time. We must only focus on the objective before us, and that is winning the race of life, fulfilling God's will and purpose for which he put us on this earth.

In Romans 12:1-3 we are given the process by which we can accomplish God's purpose for our lives and 'let go' of the past sins and failures that hound us, along with wounds that someone may have caused in our lives. We are to simply be 'transformed by the renewing of our minds'. This can be done only by doing two things: Reading our Bibles and having a diligent prayer life. By these two means, God has given us the psychological, emotional and spiritual exercise that we are to undertake on a daily basis 'in order to prove what is that good and perfect will of God'. If you try to short cut it or practice on a hit and miss basis, you can count on trouble.

When we read the Bible, we replace the carnal thoughts of our mind with the life giving spiritual thoughts of God. When we pray, we rejuvenate our spiritual life. It can be compared in a simplistic way to filling a glass of water (the carnal mind) with a heavier substance such as sand (the weightier truths of God), which eventually 'displaces' the water. The precepts and principles of God's Ways will become instilled into our moral fiber and thusly dictate our choices and conduct.

What we think most about will show up in our behavior. If we constantly think about our failures and remorsefully re-live the past, we can be assured that our progress in fulfilling God's purpose for us, will be stymied. Sometimes, we have to forgive ourselves and that can be more difficult than forgiving others. We must realize that if God forgives us, and he does, then it is the ultimate arrogance to not forgive ourselves.

Sometimes forgiveness is a process. When a trespass is committed against us, it often creates wounds that only time or divine intervention can heal. When the pain of the wound is recalled after we have forgiven someone, we need to re-iterate our forgiveness. I believe that is what Jesus was talking about when he said we are to forgive 7 times 70 in a day. One thing is sure and that is there can only be peace when their is total forgiveness which will allow us to 'let go' of the hindrances that impede the progress of our spiritual growth. I hope that during this Christmas season we may find it a time to reestablish any broken relationships with total forgiveness, both of ourselves and those who have trespassed against us. Then we can sing with the angels of old, 'Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men". God bless you all.

Dave

The Upcoming CWG Reunion...
Moves to Pigeon Forge!

We want to remind you that our Second Annual Reunion Concert will take place at the Music Road Inn Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN on Saturday, April 12th at 6:00 PM. Former members will again be invited to participate in this year's event. We hope to see many of you there.
TICKET INFORMATION:

RESERVED SEATS - $20.00 - We have a limited number of numbered reserved seats which are closer and more center. These are available on a first come, first served basis, and are not expected to last long.

GENERAL ADMISSION - $15.00 - GENERAL ADMISSION - Overall general admission - sit where you like in the larger general admission area.

CHILDREN - Free through age 12 - general admission only.

YOUTH - $5.00 Ages 13 through 18 - general admission only.

TO ORDER TICKETS: Tickets are currently available through the Nashville office. You may call me at 615- 885-8000; if there is no answer leave a message on 888-319-1021. You may also fax orders to 615-316- 0990. Tickets are now available and will be mailed to you. Tickets ordered after 10 days prior to the program will not be mailed, but will be held as a "will call" at the door. All ticket orders will be processed in the order received.

The Music Road Inn and Convention Center is located right off the parkway at 314 Henderson Chapel Rd. in Pigeon Forge, TN right behind the Smith Family Theater. We have reserved a block of 70 rooms at the hotel for this event, but only for the night of the event. The rate for a standard room with two queen sized beds is $99 plus 11.75% tax. If you wish to make a reservation, call 1-800-429-7700. You must mention "Chuck Wagon Gang Reunion" / Music Road Inn for April 12th in order to get the discounted rate. Guests will be issued a parking pass to place on their car at the hotel. Please note that the hotel does not have a restaurant, but there are many eating places nearby.

Other motels are in the area, including the Holiday Inn Express, which is the closest. The convention center has limited parking space, and urges all guests not staying at the Music Road Inn to ride the shuttle to and from the convention center.

Last Call For Christmas Orders

It is not too late to order our new CD, "Remembering the Old Songs" for Christmas. It is the first CD that includes Penny on the alto. You will certainly enjoy this CD as many of you have let us know. To order the new CD, simply click on the album cover.

The songs on the album include: I'm Gonna See Heaven | I'll Meet You By The River | I've Been With Jesus | The Old Country Church | There's A Little Pine Log Cabin | I Want To See My Jesus | Did You Ever Go Sailin'? | Suppertime | I Can Hear Them Singing Over There | When We Get To The Gloryland

"Reminiscing" our new DVD, is still not ready. We are most eager to make it available to you. I will send out a special notice when it is ready as well as postcards for those on the mailing list. It will be featured on an upcoming television program by Great American Gospel. Be watching for that program to begin some time early next year.

We continue to carry and you can order a variety of DVDs, namely, 'Clinging to a Saving Hand' , and 'Wagon Tracks', both recorded live in Pigeon Forge, TN as well as 'Live in Branson', 'The Farewell Tour' and now 'Live at the Grand Ole Gospel, Chocowinity, NC'. Be sure and check out the Original Gang recordings we have, like 'Looking for a City'. and 'I'll Fly Away'.

To order any of our products, including the new "Remembering the Old Songs" and "I Have A Prayer", simply click on the CWG Online Store link which will take you to our online store. BE SURE TO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE ORDERING FOR CHRISTMAS. If you don't want to use a credit card, you can always mail a check to P.O. Box 1459, Pigeon Forge, TN 37868 or call 888- 319-1021 and Harold Timmons will help you.


The CWG Road Schedule
December 2007 through February 2008 Schedule

There are always some changes, so be sure to check the schedule online.
December 2007

December 15, 2007 Weber City Elementary School - 7:00 PM 322 Jenning St., Weber City, VA 423-293- 2507

December 16, 2007 Valley View Baptist Church - 6:00 PM Knoxville, TN

December 28, 2007 Hollis Seafood Buffet - 6:00 PM 113 hwy 3265, Spearsville, La. 318-778-0444

December 29, 2007 First United Methodist Church - 6:30 PM Main at McGaughey, Dyersburg, TN 731-285- 6454

December 31, 2007 Bluegate Restaurant - CFT Shipshewana, IN 888-447-4725

January 2008

January 10, 2008 Performing Arts Center - 7:30 PM Ormond Beach, FL

January 11, 2008 Central Christian Church (3010 NE 14th Street) - 7:30 PM, Ocala, Florida 941- 756-6942

January 12, 2008 Trinity Presbyterian Church - 7:00 PM Venice, FL 941-756-6942

January 26, 2008 Kings Mountain HS - 6:00 PM Kings Mountain, NC

February 2008

February 7, 2008 Manatee Civic Center - 7:00 PM One Haben Blvd, Palmetto, FL 941-756-6942

February 8, 2008 Nettles Auditorium ASC College - 7:00 PM Monroeville, AL 251-575-4774

February 9, 2008 Tusculum College Auditorium - 7:00 PM Greeneville, TN 423-638-3121

February 27, 2008 Randy Parton Theater - 2:00 PM Roanoke Rapids, NC

Thank you so much for all your prayers and thoughts. They don't go unnoticed as we see God's hand on us continually. It is our prayer that God blesses you and keeps each of you till we meet again. We welcome your comments and emails. If you wish to contact us, click on Contact Us on the web site.

Chuck Wagon Gang
http://www.chuckwagongang.net


Merry Christmas from Three Bridges

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We've been working on our Christmas Gift to you -- our fans. To that end, I have both good news and bad news. Most of the time, people choose to receive the bad news first when they are given the option to choose. With this thought in mind, I'll proceed as if I had in fact posed this question to you and your response was that of the aforementioned greater percentage. That is to say, I’ll pretend you want the bad news first.

Bad news: Our Christmas gift to you is not yet completed.

Good news: It is in the works with a foreseeable release date!

Have I tweaked your curiosity? Some of you have no doubt started drawing your own conclusions about what I may be writing about and to those of you who guessed a new recording….. you'd be right. The Three Bridges team has been waiting on several things before beginning a new recording, but the time is here! We are happy to report that we have already recorded some of the new songs and hope to have something out to radio in a very short time -- possibly before Christmas but certainly in the early part of 2008. Many of you who have met the new Three Bridges team have been so supportive and encouraging. From Elliott, Scott and myself, let me take this opportunity to thank you for all of your kind words and prayers.

Keep watching our web site, http://www.threebridges.net for our performance schedule, breaking news and the release of our new recording. We shouldn't be surprised by the blessings God bestows upon Three Bridges, but we are. We truly become overwhelmed by His goodness and his many daily blessings.

Thanks for believing in and supporting the ministry of Three Bridges in 2007. We thank you for your continued prayer support in 2008 and beyond. May the new year bring us close to you in our travels and may our music continue to deliver the glorious, positive message of eternal salvation through the perfect lamb sacrificed at Calvary.

Merry Christmas to you our fans and Happy Birthday Jesus!
Three Bridges----- Ambassadors for Christ.
By Eddy Bolton
http://www.threebridges.net

December 07 Reflections

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Twenty-five days to go, twenty-four, twenty-three...when you're a kid, the wait until Christmas morning seems like an eternity. Every day seems a week long. You ask again and again, "How many more days?", and it seems like the answer doesn't change much. You analyze the gifts under the tree and compare size, weight, shape, and count how many have your name versus your brother's. You repeat this exercise daily--for weeks--until finally the day arrives.

Or at least that's what is supposed to happen. My little sister, Sheryl, had other ideas. Picture 1959 and a curly haired three year old. She had walked around the Charlie Brown styled Christmas tree for weeks. She had poked, prodded, tugged, and sniffed at everything under the tree. She had asked, "When can I open my presents?", and heard, "not yet" at least a hundred times. Finally, one night the anticipation and frustration were simply too much for her, and she blew! She bawled until I was certain the neighbors would be sending the police any minute. She cried and shook and "snubbed" until Mom couldn't take it anymore
and my mother did something I never saw her do before....she caved in. My Mom, the rock, gave in to a screaming three year old and let her open a gift. It was a big, stuffed Collie that Sheryl promptly straddled and rode off to some happier mental place. I remember thinking, "How come she gets to open one and I don't?", but I was so relieved that the screaming had ceased, I never asked. Waiting was clearly not her strong suit.

However, for some people waiting poses no problem. Fast forward about 13 years. I was playing piano for the original Sunday Edition. One morning early, Sandy, the baritone's wife, called to ask a question regarding the performance schedule. She awakened me out of a near-coma sleep state. I talked to her incoherently for a second, then went to retrieve the
information she was inquiring about. After checking the schedule, I immediately crawled back into bed and picked up dreaming almost where I left off. About three hours later, I woke up and began to come to life. I walked through the living room and noticed the phone off the hook, still lying on the gossip bench seat where I had left it. It was all coming back to me. I had never answered Sandy's question. I grabbed the receiver to hang it up, but for some reason placed it to my ear first. I could hear children chattering and a television. I said, "Uh.....hello?" To my amazement, Sandy said, "Yes?" I couldn't believe it. She had sat there and waited for me three solid hours. I was embarrassed and in disbelief: not only that I had left her dangling, but that she had actually stayed on the phone. I apologized profusely, and she just said, "Oh, that's okay." She was totally unflappable. I gave her the
info she called for, and we said goodbye. That still amazes me thirty-five years later.

With Christmas coming, we will all do our share of waiting....waiting in the cashier's line, waiting for a parking place, waiting for a table at a restaurant when our tired shopper's feet have screamed "ENOUGH!!", waiting for catalog orders to arrive, waiting for the kids to go to bed so gifts can be wrapped, waiting for soldiers or college students to come home, or just waiting to get some rest. It's a season of hustle and bustle, yet seemingly endless waiting. Christmas is truly a season of "hurry up and wait."

Unfortunately, I am not a good waiter. I have been guilty of asking things of the Lord that I'm sure He gave me out of season, before His perfect time, because of my frustration and impatience. I wonder how my life would've been different had I just made my request, then patiently held the royal telephone, and waited for Him to answer in His own good time. This Christmas season, while we wait in line, maybe we can spend that time reflecting on Isaiah 40:31, and learning to wait upon the Lord.

Have a wonderful Christmas,
Janice Crow

“Reason For The Season”…(and the other 11 months!)

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With Thanksgiving behind us we are looking forward to Christmas. This month on the 8th Will is getting married and he is so excited! For our first year we have been so busy it is hard to realize what all we have had the privelege to do. We just finished up doing a two day event in Shipshewana Indiana with Soul'd Out Quartet and we had a great time.

With all the Christmas decorations and a nip in the air I have finally realized winter is here. My wife and family have accused me of being Clark Griswold of Christmas Vacation because I have a weakness for lights and yard decorations this time of year. Within this first year of acquiring my own full time group I have realized a lot of things about what some call the industry of Southern Gospel Music. And I know that you may have been expecting a lengthy column this month about Christmas and all of its splendors but I want to share with you all my heart. I know that with every "business" you need to be business minded but I feel that some aspects of what some call a ministry is more corrupt than a publicly traded company. I have truly relied more on God the last 12 months more so than ever and on that process have seen more results of what HE can do. It seems to me that with the events of this day and time I come in contact with more people who want to be ministered to, not used as an audience for self proclamation.

A large amount of people have asked why I and the others made the decision to split from our previous group and the answer is so we can be more at liberty to minister rather than out sing the other groups on the program, or push for record sales! I do not say all of this as a negative but in a way so that you will know truly where our hearts are. At Christmas we all see it as a time of celebration but just as we need to do in our God given ministries lets put the business aspects aside and focus on the real belief and meaning of the season and that is the birth of our risen Saviour Jesus Christ. Our wish this Holiday is that in all the hustle you will still aknowledge the true "Reason for the Season" and continue that same attitude further.

Until next month continue to be "Driven".

Jason Funderburk
http://www.drivenqt.com

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