Accounting
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Becky Braun
Pg 7
Branson Gospel
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CGC
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CGMA Int'l
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CURRENT
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Country
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Editor's
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Help
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When You Travel
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"Therefore, my Beloved Brethren,
be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as yet know that your labor is not vain in the Lord"
1 Corinthians 15:58
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CHANGE IS UPON US! |
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What has happened to Christian Country Gospel music? Has it run its course? Are those singing it representing THE ONE WHO CALLED THEM, or are they representing their own desires? These are the hard questions I’ve been asked recently, and they’re certainly questions that have stirred my heart and caused me to really examine what I’m doing and why. Personally, I think the entire industry is in the midst of change and purification. I feel like God is pretty |
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| fed up with a lot of religiosity that’s been manifested for years through criticism, gossip, legalism, condemnation and pride (also known as ego), and unfortunately we’ve ALL been guilty. I can just hear some of those reading this article now saying, “Well, I’m sure glad God got her attention!” Well, if that’s your reaction, Saint, watch out ‘cause you’re in trouble. God is dealing with each one of us on an individual level. For me personally, He has called me to examine everything that I have called “ministry” or considered to be holy. When you ask God to “shine a light” on everything in your life that’s ugly to Him, you better brace yourself because He’ll do it, and it’s seldom comfortable when He does. God has changed my focus, my direction and my heart, and I have a burning desire to see Him move in the earth through any means He chooses, and if that includes through some of the music I sing or some of the music we play, then praise God for it. If it doesn’t, praise God for that, too! I’ve given it all over Him, and HE is redefining my priorities, giving me new strengths and talents, and causing me to experience the joy of a mentor’s heart. I’ve found a new freedom from competition, freedom from fear of rejection, and freedom from fear, period. I can love you with the love of the Lord. I can genuinely rejoice when you are blessed, and I can cry with you when you’re in a valley. Hallelujah! The other side of this great change is that God is blessing me with renewed interest in Him and what He wants me to do, rather |
than in those things that I have wanted to do and have claimed that He wanted me to do. And it’s a great feeling to know that God is piloting our ship. Moving on now to more practical things, we have found several ways to help artists fund their ministries (you can call us about that), and at the same time, God has put together a new and much needed distribution system for Christian Country Gospel music. It is HIS design, HIS doing and HIS timing, and it will be operational within a few weeks. Be watching for details about how you can have your music available to fans of your music worldwide Remember to send us your NEWS (i.e., when you’re in the studio, your new releases, weddings and birthdays, etc.) for the INDUSTRY NEWS section of the newspaper. We’ve also had several requests to include an artists’ itineraries page on the Country Gospel Store web site, so that fans can can make plans to attend your concerts. Unfortunately it won’t work in the store, but it will work on the Country Gospel Connection web site at www.countrygospelconnection.com. So send us your dates, we’ll create the page to list them, along with a link from the store. Just email me your dates, along with your correct current contact info (name, telephone number, email address & web site address). Send it to cgc_hopestreet@alltel.net. Until next issue, remember that when God gives you a promise, you can always expect a problem BEFORE the promise comes, so don’t get discouraged. Rejoice in the problem because Jesus is the Answer! Keep your hearts right and your focus on HIM. Love & blessings until next time, Micki Farington Managing Editor |
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