Until tonight, that is.

Tonight, at 8 PM EST/PST (not sure if that’s a typo, since it is two separate times), and 7 PM CST, the Gaither show will be aired on Hallmark for the first time.

This jumps out to me as big news because at one point (earlier this year) I was on the phones in a call center taking calls for a certain Christian charity on a regular basis. There was a regular, predictable amount of call volume most of the time, but one night, when they aired a program on Hallmark for the first time since I’d been taking those calls, we were swamped by at least ten times the normal amount of call volume.

Gaither will be airing one of his recent hymns tapings as the hour-long special, and the Gaither operators should at least be prepared for quite the response.

The quartet will also be backing Wynonna up on her Christmas tour, a  15 city tour this month and next. During that tour, they will have the chance to be featured on one song, the title track to their new Christmas CD, Lo and Behold.

It’s a great choice, certainly the standout single from Songs You Know By Heart. Here’s a video of them singing it in concert about a month ago:

Could they make it in Southern Gospel?

My answer is an unequivocal yes. Yours?

(Note: I did notice a video from this group being discussed on Averyfineline; in point of fact, though, I’ve actually had this bookmarked for a future post since before then—yes, I know, even with daily posts, my back burner backup can be ridiculous at points.)

For those of you who aren’t software nerds, music OCR software is software that converts a scanned piece of music to machine-editable music.

I don’t need handwritten or playback capabilities, and though shape-notes would be nice, it isn’t a need. Ability to recognize text / lyrics would be incredibly nice, if at all possible. The specific application is converting a scanned hymnal to a machine-editable format. It looks like two of the leaders are Neuratron PhotoScore and SmartScore, both of which have insanely expensive full versions for $250+ and stripped-down versions that don’t do lyrics.

Are there any less-expensive third options that offer lyrics and music with decent quality for less than $100?

Our last few Gaither dates sad but exciting 2. We will be on our own this Cmas. Gonna miss ol Bill!!

And lest any rumors get started, the rumblings I’d heard had indicated that this was with Bill’s blessing—much like he encouraged the Cathedrals 13 or 15 years ago to strike out on their own more.

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)

“And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Get thee behind me, satan: for it is written, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”‘” (Luke 4:8)

A few weeks ago, while going through a very dark time, I began to ask God to show me things in my life that displease Him. True to form, He did and, as usual, I didn’t like what He showed me but I am thankful that, in mercy, He does take time to point things out so I can change and grow closer to Him.

I feel like there were a couple things in my life that I had unknowingly begun to idolize. They weren’t bad things and, in fact, they were things God had given me but I found that my whole world was wrapped around those things and that, without them, I would be nothing (or so I thought).

How merciful for God to point those out so that I can repent and turn to Him again wholeheartedly, thanking Him for His many blessings but aware that, if He removes those blessings, it really doesn’t matter because I still have Him. In proper perspective, nothing can rock my world. Friends may forsake me; family may let me down; everything I hold dear on earth may disappear; but God remains and it’s Him I’m leaning on.

Who or what are you worshiping? Are you worshiping and serving God only, or are people and things taking more priority?

A friend (hat tip, RY) let me know that he has now started a trio called The Jonathans with his wife and a third singer [EDIT: tenor singer Eric Dunson - hat tip, DB]. They are opening for the Mark Trammell Trio and the Perrys tonight in Bowdon, Georgia.

Of particular note, former Blackwood Brothers bass Ken Turner did a solo set, from which this was a highlight:

He also rattled the subwoofers in a scrap-iron quartet:

Frequent Franklin Graham song leader Dennas Agajanian also did a solo set, with some guitar picking that rivals the speed of a Southern Gospel piano solo:

And finally, Liberty Quartet was a (/the?) featured artist. They featured their baritone, Jordan Cragun (Kim Collingsworth’s nephew), on “Light at the End of Darkness”:

And if you thought the Hoppers were the only ones who could hit a home run with “Yes, I Am,” wait till you see a male quartet take it on.

It’s an interesting concept. Other artists have promoted their own concert tours before (think Gaither), but for the concert kicking off this series, they are offering weekend packages with hotel accomodations, a meal at Cracker Barrel, and tickets to a nearby attraction (the Creation Museum, a subtle statement I wholeheartedly applaud them for making).

I had been hoping to make it and post a full report, but car troubles are forcing me to stay close to Mansfield right now. (At least my car should be fixed next weekend, so regular concert coverage can resume shortly.)

I know this site has at least a few readers in the Cincinnati area. If any of you can make it this evening, share your thoughts in the comments.