http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/ en eric@thetennesseans.com Copyright 2008 2008-09-01T23:56:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/the_gospel_music_legends_of_our_time/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/the_gospel_music_legends_of_our_time/#When:22:56:00Z Over the past twenty years or so, gospel music has lost many legends from Glenn Payne, GeorgeYounce, Vestal Goodman, Anthony Burger, Roger Bennett, Jake Hess, J.D. Sumner and many others. These folks were really legends for my parents and maybe yours. In this blog, I would like to have some input on who would be considered legends of our day. I would suggest maybe Ivan Parker, Brian Free, Tim Riley, Michael English, Derek Boyd, Gerald Wolf, Jeff Stice, Danny Funderburk, Phil Cross, just to name a few,, who would be on your shortlist? Blessings Eric Stephens 2008-09-01T22:56:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/gays_in_gospel_music/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/gays_in_gospel_music/#When:01:39:00Z I have never been able to understand how a man can stand in a pulpit night after night and sing, testify, and proclaim the gospel in song and yet be a homosexual. How does one practice this lifestyle without condemnation and guilt? In Romans 1:24-27 " Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their own hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, abandoning them to the degrading power of sin. " Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze with lust for one another, men comitting shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequence and penalty of their wrong doing and going astray, which was fitting retribution. On many other Gospel Music sites, I have noticed everyone trying to diagnose whats wrong with southern gospel music. This looks like a good place to start, if God is to revive our industry, we must clean house. These quartets that hire homosexuals should step up to the plate and be honest with the church. They deserve that much. Hey, I have a great idea lets stop looking the other way, just because they may have some talent. Blessings Eric 2008-07-12T01:39:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/the_one_thing_in_this_business_you_can_count_on_change/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/the_one_thing_in_this_business_you_can_count_on_change/#When:12:56:00Z Hello, We are excited about our new project and some of the places we are singing in the fall. A special "thank you", to all the folks in Missouri who showed us great hospitality and the meals were great! Please come see us at the Bell Buckle Craft Fair coming up in July. I will post the exact date soon. Till next time, Blessings Eric 2008-06-26T12:56:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/clarification_for_previous_post/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/clarification_for_previous_post/#When:19:29:00Z We would like to take this opportunity to thank our former members, Jym Howe and Allen Thompkins, for their efforts and contributions to our quartet. We offer them prayers and blessings on any future endeavors. In our previous post we mentioned that it was no easy task filling the tenor position with someone who is committed, talented ,and ministry minded. I interviewed many candidates that seem to be just looking for a paycheck or group name in order to further their careers in gospel music. After much thought and prayer and realizing that we are not what I would consider a traditional quartet, because we have a female piano player, I then began to believe that a good female alto could fill the position quite nicely. So, that's just what we did. We filled the position with a gifted alto singer. However, I may be somewhat biased because after all, she is my mother. Till next time. Blessings, Eric Stephens 2008-03-09T19:29:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/the_search_is_over1/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/the_search_is_over1/#When:23:56:00Z Well, I think we finally found a tenor that will do a great job for us. We looked high and low for someone who would work cheap. It seems that the tenor spot, is hardest position to keep filled these days in southern gospel music. We are so glad to have a tenor who doesn't mind giving us a long term commitment. This tenor is not looking for the next best group to join. This tenor provides us with strong harmonies as well as the capabilities of stepping out and doing a strong feature song. The next time The Tennesseans are in your area, come see our new tenor. You"ll be so glad you did. Blessings, Eric 2008-02-26T23:56:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/maybe_next_year/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/maybe_next_year/#When:01:53:01Z I just finished looking at all the nominations for the SGN awards this year. What a list! I must say I'm disappointed that we didn't get the nod for horizon group of the year LOL. I think we deserve it for sure. I'm so proud of our guys for doing such a great job. We have had such awesome responses to our music everywhere we have been. I truly believe that God knew what He was doing when He put this thing together. We are so looking forward to this year, we have some exciting dates on the calender. FYI, if you are new here to our sight, we welcome any invitations to minister, we work cheap LOL but hey we dont sound cheap. Although we dont post references on the sight, they are available by email at tennesseanmusic@bellsouth.net. We will be singing this Saturday night in Cookeville Tenn, (they love us there) at the Double Springs Baptist Church, starts at 6.p.m., come and be with us. Till next time. Blessings, Eric Stephens 2008-01-25T01:53:01-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/ifbd_conclusion/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/ifbd_conclusion/#When:16:21:00Z There are many Independent Baptist churches in America who do not adhere to the spiritual abusive ways discussed in previous blogs. We must also mention that the IFB are not the only denomination utilizing scripture manipulation to control members. Many pastors and preachers weekly indoctrinate their flocks with separation theology using such doctrines as baptism, speaking in tongues, and the trinity just to name a few. For many years these issues have divided God's churches, and the end result has been mass confusion. If God is not the author of confusion, then one must assume He has nothing to do with these issues that separate the church. Man created these divisive issues by taking scriptures out of context, not studying to show themselves approved, but mainly creating a doctrine or denomination based on One scripture in God's word. 2008-01-15T16:21:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/what_is_god_honoring_music/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/what_is_god_honoring_music/#When:20:56:00Z The local IFBC advertises that they utilize "God honoring music" in their worship service. What that really means is they utilize hymns only, and have no regard for any other types of worship material. The message also has an under-tone of our music honors God while all other denominations music does not. This is the same denomination that suggests that drums should not be played in church. This theory denies that God is the Creator and Maker of all things. The Bible also teaches us to write and sing unto the Lord new songs. Was God really serious about that part? Music is another tool the Fundamental Independent Baptist leadership use to control their congregations. How? It is taught from the pulpit quite often in correlation to the separation doctrine which is mentioned by this particular church's pastor every week. But hey, don't take my word: always refer to God's Word and check it out for yourself. Eric 2008-01-07T20:56:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/independent_fundamental_baptist_decepiton_part_4/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/independent_fundamental_baptist_decepiton_part_4/#When:18:15:00Z The IFBD is meticulous to maintain an image of righteousness. The organizations history is often misrepresented in the effort to demonstrate the organizations special relationship to God. Impossibly high legalistic standards of thought and behavior are imposed on the congregation. In one particular IFBC, the volunteer Sunday school woman teacher must sign a waiver that reads she will not wear pants to church or away from the church at any time or she will be disqualified from serving the church. All of the legal issues are pounded into the congregations on a regular basis in order to make the congregation feel inferior and to create the attitude of submission the pastor and church leadership. Many IFBC members will not visit other church functions and programs because of fear of being called an outcast etc.. One particular singing group from a IFC was asked to participate in a fund raising campaign for the poor, one of the group members replied that they do not sing for other denominations. This specific person is a leader within the IFBC and is the chairman at the "Sword of the Lord" a newspaper that often criticises other denominations especially the Southern Baptist. This is an underlying theme for these churches, people are not allowed to be themselves They are made to fit into a particular mold and if people don't conform they are shunned and rejected as outcasts. When visiting a local IFBC I noticed the members were not friendly, they had the look of empty souls. The best word I could use to describe the members is simply drones. I thought to myself they are definitely drinking the cool-aid. Next lesson, we will cover, the "we-the-only-ones who have God-honoring music theories" from the IFBC. Blessings Eric Stephens 2007-12-28T18:15:00-06:00 http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/independent_baptist_deception_part_3/ http://tennesseansquartet.com/main/blog/comments/independent_baptist_deception_part_3/#When:15:31:00Z Probably the most obvious characteristic of the IFBD is the legalistic mentality, and its focus on the law rather than grace. The IFBD blends the ceremonial laws of the OT with the moral law and NT covenant. These laws become enmeshed and are confused with Gods Design for the NT Church. Whats worse yet is that the IFBD picks and chooses which OT laws it will follow making this characteristic much more confusing and abusive. For example IFB emphasis that women should not wear pants. This is taken from the OT. However one must bear in mind that pants did not exist when the OT was written, which would indicate the scripture has a completely different meaning. Performance of the law is a way to gain favor with God and a way to make God like us more. Those who are successful are put on a pedestal and those who cant measure up are considered rebellious and outcasts. Grace is never spoken of except as it relates to salvation. Rules, laws, and standards are the litmus to gage a good Christian in the IFBD. It is spiritual abuse to take a verse of scripture out of context and apply it to a topic in order to support a specific belief. Our next study will be on the "Image of Righteousness". 2007-12-26T15:31:00-06:00