2005
December
Poor Bambi
Poor Bambi
Some of you may remember a while back when I wrote about all the deer we have encountered along the road. Dead and alive, deer have become a common decoration along our nation’s highways. We have been fortunate in that we have never hit one. As I was driving the bus back from Pell City, I saw Bambi in the distance trying to decide if she was going to cross the highway. She stepped out in the road and I hit the brakes and blew the air horns. Being the smart animal she is, she made a good decision and turned back toward the ditch. I was relieved. Then, as if she had decided that now is a good time to die, she turns back into the road. Again, I hit the brakes and the horns. She started to go back to the ditch but then stopped and looked me in the eyes. I think she was confused. Well, I am happy to report to you that Bambi isn’t confused anymore. If anybody knows where I can get a bumper for a 2001 Prevost let me know. I am officially in the market for one.
The Gold City Christmas Challenge
Are you as sick as I am of hearing “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays?” There wouldn’t be a “Holiday” without Christ. So, we challenge you, as you do your Christmas shopping, to tell as many people, especially sales clerks, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Let’s do all that we can to keep Christ in Christmas. From our homes to yours, Gold City wishes you all a very merry CHRISTmas!!
Concert Dates
12/30/2005- YADKINVILLE, NC- PEACEHAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH- 7:30PM
12/31/2005- CHARLESTON, WV- MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM- 6:00PM
01/01/2006- FAYETTVILLE, NC- MOUNT CARMEL PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS- 6:00PM (910) 485-4367
01/06/2006- ANDERSON, SC- TL HANNA HIGH SCHOOL- 7:30PM
01/07/2006- WILLIAMSTON, NC- MARTIN COUNTY AUDITORIUM- 7:00PM
01/08/2006- COWARD, SC- BIBLE TEMPLE- 6:00PM (843) 389-7344
Call our office at 256-492-0942 for more info.
God bless you all and we hope to see you soon!
Daniel Riley & Gold City
Thankfully--A Wise Woman
We in the Embrace family have been so blessed this year that we can’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for His goodness and his mercy. Our hearts are full. We were privileged to participate in a special worship service on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and heard many testimonies. Person after person shared accounts of divine healing, help, encouragement, strengthening and comfort. We were moved at the many voices all saying the same thing--”God came through for me and I appreciate it.”
Personally, my heart was turned during those moments to a young couple from our church. They were burying their young son the next morning. At the age of two, this little light from Heaven had been called home and his precious family is left to celebrate this holiday season with an empty chair at the table. I couldn’t help but wonder how they were coping. I couldn’t help but think, “Are they thankful this night?” My answer wasn’t long in coming.
The next morning I heard the most wonderful testimony of God’s grace and compassion unfold. This young mother was receiving strength and understanding that only our Loving Father could give.. The Lord had given her profound comfort through His Holy Word. The verse that He had burned into her heart was Proverbs 14:1. “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” God was helping this precious grieving mother to understand that during this time of loss she had to choose whether she would honor God through her faith and “build her house” or let her pain push her away from God and so bring destruction to her remaining family. Praise God, she was choosing to build!
I firmly believe that this family will be blessed now and in eternity to come because of this wise woman’s choice. I’m wondering, would I be so ready to trust my Lord if it were my child? I am reassured in scripture that Father God will give grace in the hour that it is needed. His strength is sufficient when we have none of our own. We must only choose to believe.
This sweet family is choosing to believe God and trust His purpose. They are choosing to be thankful for the time they shared with their precious son and brother. Please pray during this holiday season for this family and so many like them who have lost someone dear to them in 2005. Pray that we will all be wise and choose to build and not tear down when God’s hand seems to move against us. He can be trusted. His love is boundless and His ways are unsearchable. Praise His Holy Name!!!
Love in Christ during this special season from Embrace to you.
By Nora Truhett
Embrace
http://www.embraceministry.com
Out of Africa
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We enjoyed spending the day at home with my grandparents and Kirk, and I know it can sound trite, but as I looked around the table, I truly felt grateful. God has made this a most interesting year for me. Later that evening we yelled at the TV as our Tennessee Lady Vols routed Michigan State.
How does a holiday get any better? Of course, our rest never lasts too long.I attended the second annual Harmony Honors presented by the Southern Gospel Music Guild on November 21. Mom and Dad were unable to join me, so I performed "His Life For Mine" solo. Writer Rebecca Peck later joined me to accept the plaque for "His Life For Mine" for Song of the Year. The Talleys also accepted three awards in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from the Southern Gospel Music Awards, presented by Caraway Music Group. I received the plaque for Female Soloist, The Talley Trio won for Favorite Trio, and "His Life For Mine" was the Song of the Year. Thanks to everyone for your support of our music.
We had a great time at Praise Gathering a few weeks ago. The Talley Trio performed on two afternoon showcases with the Homecoming Friends as well as afternoon concerts with many other artists such as Fernando Ortega and the Christ Church Choir. I did a solo set on a showcase featuring contemporary artists Out of Eden, Selah and the Katinas. I love Praise Gathering because it allows me an opportunity to meet and listen to other artists that I otherwise wouldn't come in contact with very often. This was the final year for Praise Gathering but one that we'll remember for a long time.
We are very excited about our upcoming trip to Johannesburg, South Africa. We leave December 6 and return on the 11th, and I am so excited to spend my birthday, the 11th, on a plane for about 20 hours! However long the flight, I think the end will justify the means; besides, that's what books and iPods are for, right? The Gaither Homecoming Tour will be filming two videos while in Africa, one of them being a Christmas video. We'll do our best to have some pictures from South Africa on our website very soon, and I'm sure it will be the trip of a lifetime.
I must race out the door to meet the bus. God bless you all, and don't forget to do some of your Christmas shopping at http://www.talleytrio.com.
Until next time,
Lauren Talley
The Talley Trio
http://www.talleytri.com
December Reflections
For me it's easy to pull up a comfy chair by the memory fire and sit all day. It's a warm place to find refuge from the cold world outside. Sometimes I can stir in the glowing coals of the past and watch a hundred bright sparks burst upward – each one a treasured little scene from my life. I watch them flicker until they fade and disappear into the here and now, and then I stir again. I guess that's what I'm doing now, stirring in the fires of memory, as I look back on the Christmases of my life.
I can see us all bundled up at the local Christmas tree lot, circa 1959-1960, mom and dad and us kids. There was a fire burning in a steel drum where a man took turns blowing into his hands and then stretching them out to the fire. There were strings of colored lights outlining the perimeter of the lot and they swayed in the cold December air. Dad was looking for the perfect Christmas tree – perfect meaning about $1.98. Bless his heart. You could always see straight through to the other side with few branches to obstruct your view. When he found his "prize", he would pay the man, complain about the outrageous price, and then lay the tree in the trunk of our old '54 Olds. He tied the trunk lid down and we were off.
Of course, when we got home we discovered that the tree was crooked and the bottom had to be sawed off to fit into the Christmas tree stand that had somehow managed to disappear over the previous twelve months. It was nearly always found in one of those "how on earth did it get here" locations and then we could proceed. Mom and dad would wrestle the tree into the old metal stand and tighten up the bolts. I can still remember the scent of the prickly pine needles as I climbed under the tree to pour water into the little bowl-shaped reservoir. Now we were ready to decorate.
Mom hauled out the old red vinyl and chrome stepstool and climbed high in the closet to retrieve dusty boxes of ornaments. Only now do I realize how old some of those things were. They were probably mom and dad's first and only ornaments since they got married in 1936. They were old glass orbs with the paint and snow-like frost chipping off. It was hard to tell what color some of them had been in their better days. The tangled strings of old 40's-style lights were always a trial for dad's patience, and there were always a couple burned out. The tinsel was kinked and matted from who knows how many years of re-use and there were slightly flattened paper chains of red and green construction paper which had been cut and glued by a certain third grader; but it all looked beautiful to us.
As we decorated, dad would crank up the big Philco and put on a stack of Christmas records. They were heavy old 78's. I would watch as the first record dropped onto the turntable and hold my breath as that huge triangular arm that held the needle would lift, turn, and then sit down on the big chunky record. The needle bumped and scratched along as Gene Autry sang about "Rudolph", and then again as the Andrews Sisters beckoned us to "Christmas Island". There was Arthur Godfrey extolling the virtues of snow in "It's a Marshmallow World", then finally Bing Crosby singing "Silent Night" as only he could.
Then mom brought up the "fireplace". It was red cardboard "brick" and once she discovered which tabs
fit into which slots, we were in business. Behind the cardboard "logs" was a small flickering orange light and a little mechanism that simulated a crackling sound. There was a clock painted on the chimney and two red wooden hands that pointed to five minutes to midnight. On Christmas Eve, out came the stockings, the longest we had. There was one particular pair that I'm sure now were given to us as a joke. They were red and black houndstooth and stretched to nearly three feet long. (In later years my brother, Bill, had a way of filling those stockings with fruit and nuts to where the oranges always landed where a kneecap would be. Then somehow he could arrange pecans and Brazil nuts to resemble toes, then turn the "toes" way out to the side, creating quite a bow-legged fellow.) I have a picture somewhere – and it still makes me laugh.
Outside the tree and the "fireplace", we had few other Christmas decorations - a fact that crossed my mind the other day as I drug out fourteen boxes of extraneous Christmas decorations for my home. We did have a little gumdrop tree that bloomed red and green spicy morsels, and there was a tiny little
church house. Its steeple was dotted with glittery snow and it was surrounded by miniature "snow-covered" evergreens. You could peer through the dimly lit windows at tiny Christmas worshippers. I always felt a bit left out that I couldn't squeeze through the little doors and join them.
As we decorated, turkey giblets simmered away in broth and the aroma of oven-toasted bread, onions, celery and sage all destined for mom's stuffing filled the house.
Shopping meant a trip to the next "big" town down by the river. Alton sat high on the bluffs above the Mississippi and I can still hear the sound our tires made on those steep brick streets that were decorated for the season. Strangely enough, I can still see an old harbor tug decked out with Christmas lights and a wreath. I can hear the creak of the rickety wooden stairs of the old department store, and I'll never forget the aroma as we reached the top of the flight.
There was a glass candy counter right at a child's eye level that displayed all sorts of chocolate delights, and I'm convinced that my addiction to cashews began right then and there as they turned and glistened under a bright light. I can remember holding my mom's hand as we would weave our way through the store, past the washing machines where she would pause and dream for a moment and then move on into what I realize now was a very simple toy section. There were baby dolls and little dishes, trucks, cowboy hats and cap guns, coloring books and crayons. We looked and hoped, looked and hoped.
Yes, mom let us pretend, but she never, ever let a Christmas go by that she didn't make sure we knew the story, the real story, of Christmas. I can still see the deer-in-the-headlights look on Mrs. Hepler's face when I announced to her kindergarten class and my fellow five-year-olds that Christmas was Jesus' birthday, and that Santa was only a nice man dressed up. It's funny, but I can remember even as a five-year-old realizing that I had just become very unpopular, and I wasn't sure why. After all, Mrs. Hepler was a teacher. She should know the truth, shouldn't she?
At three o'clock on Christmas Eve, dad would step off the bus he rode everyday to the foundry with something tucked under his arm, and as soon as I spotted him I ran back inside to tell my siblings, He's got it! He's got it!" The "it" he had was a box of chocolates, the only chocolate we would have. Dad didn't know what a Christmas bonus was, but he and his fellow blue-collars were thankful for any token of appreciation from the company, even if it was only a one-pound box of assorted chocolates.
It's odd how those simple things are what we recall about Christmas. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say, "Yeah, the Christmas I got the (big screen TV, diamond ring, trip to Hawaii) was the best ever."
It's equally odd to think that for the Christmas holiday, even in the secular world, anything seems possible. We greet our fellow man with warm wishes for the season. We eat of life's best and even show concern for those less fortunate. Life seems good and we're filled with joy and hope.
But what happens on December 26? It seems we pack away the Savior with the nativity scene. We turn off the lights and mourn the darkness as though there will be no light until next December when Baby Jesus is born - again. We silence the music and as the happiness fades we are brought back to face life with the question, "Now what?"
People, why do you think He was called Emmanuel? GOD WITH US. That's what it means. GOD WITH US. There is still light – because He is the light. There are still songs of joy to sing! We can still taste of the goodness of the Lord and be filled. Yes, I'm preaching to myself, for I have needed Christmas more this year than any other; but I pray that God would help me face the coming year with the same hope and joy that the Angels proclaimed on that first Christmas night so long ago. I pray that He would help me express to those I meet this year who need love, who need forgiveness, who need grace, who need joy, that it is available in Christ. Lord, help me run to my brothers and sisters with the enthusiasm of a child and proclaim "He's got it!".
Merry Christmas
Janice Crow
Christmas Greetings to All!
My life has been completely turned around since I made Jesus Lord of my life over 18 years ago. He has been so good to me. Christmas is much more enjoyable now that I fully understand that gifts and presents aren't what makes Christmas so special, it's Jesus. He is the most precious gift we could ever receive or give to anyone. He so willingly gave Himself for us. Why wouldn't we want to share this joy with others?
This world has made Christmas out to be a free for all based on beliefs. If we would forget the presents, the shopping, the dinner, and yes, even the tree. Go back and read about how lowly and meek Mary was. So plain, so simple and yet God chose her to bring forth the Savior of all mankind. Look at Joseph, a carpenter. Nothing grand about Joseph. Yet God chose him to be an example to His son, Jesus.
I am so humbled when I think of how sinful my life was before I found Jesus. I wasn't worth the dirt in which I came from. My life was wrecked with sin. I had reached a point in my life that even this world wanted nothing to do with me. Yet Jesus chose to call me out. Jesus chose to die on a cross that I might have life, through Him.
I don't know about you but what a gift to give? Eternity in heaven. Why is it that folks can't see the simplicity of Christmas? This is the season of giving. But are we giving the wrong gifts? I see folks in the shopping centers with carts full of trinkets and gadgets. But where is Jesus. We can give without buying and spending ourselves into debt for the year! Jesus is free!
I'm going to spend time this year and make things for the people I love. Giving of myself. Taking time to visit family and friends that I have "not had time" for all year.
Let me take you back to my first Christmas as a Christian. I was very poor. I was raising three children pretty much on my own. We had no ornaments for our tree but we decided to put one up anyway. My children were 8, 5, and 2. They had some candy in little boxes so we emptied all the candy into a big bowl and used ribbons and wrapping paper to make miniature ornaments and we hung them all the tree. We basically took trash and made treasure out of them and what a beautiful tree that was. We had so much fun creating our special Christmas. I was so glad I had kept all my scrap materials and ribbons. They sure came in handy that night!
Not long after placing every little treasure box on our tree my children zonked out on the sofa as I was cleaning up and putting things away. As I gazed at my precious gifts on the sofa with the tree lights shining upon their little faces I began to cry. No presents under the tree, no big dinner awaiting us the next day, just us and our little homemade tree.
I had a revelation that night about Jesus. How He loves each and everyone of us regardless of who we are. It doesn't matter to Him how messed up we have made our lives. Jesus takes what the world considers trash and wraps us up in His grace and makes us His treasure.
I often think about life on the road and traveling to all these places and singing to folks I don't even know. If I can't give them Jesus I need to just stay home. I'm wanting so badly to share my gift of Jesus to the world. I want to introduce them to "My Best Friend".
My prayer this Christmas is that we all rediscover the true meaning in giving. This year try something different; instead of spending so much money on loved ones spend some time with them. You can't buy time.
From my heart to yours, Merry Christmas!
Sharron Kay King
http://www.songsofsharron.com
Songs of Sharron Ministries
2334 Sterling Ave
Elkhart, IN 46516
574-296-9710
The Nativity
I began collecting Nativity scenes about five years ago. It was Christmas of 2000 - we were unpacking our decorations to get things ready for the holidays. Tim and I had already been married for over 15 years, so we had accumulated quite an array of festive items. Okay - we had a bunch of stuff! In the middle of putting up the tree, hanging the stockings, and placing various poinsettia arrangements and mementos throughout the house, I stopped in my tracks - speechless. (A miracle in itself.) I realized that in the midst of all those decorations, there was not one manger scene! Not one item that identified us as Christians recognizing the birth of our Savior. We were celebrating Christmas, but were we celebrating Christ?!
Christians will be among millions of people who are going to celebrate Christmas this year. Businesses are gearing up for what will be their most profitable season. There will be company parties and shopping for family and friends - there will be a host of activities that have nothing to do with a baby in a manger! I'm already getting emails about all the companies who have gone so far as to remove the word "Christmas" from their advertising! Even Christians can find that entertaining family and friends, shopping, or something as noble as the church cantata can compete for the focus of the real meaning of Christmas! It is possible to be a Christian, active in church, and not "really" have a handle on what Christmas is all about. I'm not talking about backsliding here - just staying focused. Are you celebrating Christmas, or are you celebrating Christ!
We have several traditions in our family for the holidays - Rachel and Rebecca decorate the tree, we have a list of holiday movies we watch, having dinner with our family, and I always get the girls an ornament and engrave their names and the year on it. One of the most important traditions to me now is looking for the next manger scene I will add to my collection. On clearance of course!
"White Christmas" - 'Quick Style' has been sent to radio! Be sure and call you local Gospel station and tell them you want to hear "Quick" Music for the holidays!
You can call your favorite Gospel radio station and request the latest "Quick" Music! Be listening for our latest single, "Now I Know" released through the Rick Hendrix Co. Volume 35 Cut #2.
To order our latest project, "What Are You Waiting For" with songs like "He Can Move the Water" and "Now I Know," simply call 615-459-5119 or email us at for more information.
To find out more about The Quicks, visit us on the web at http://www.thequicksonline.com
To contact The Quicks, Phone: 615-459-5119 / 615-403-0047
Write: The Quicks / P.O. Box 581 / Smyrna, TN 37167
E-mail:
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