Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Lorraine Walker: A Time to Fight

2020 June SGNScoops Editor’s Last Word By Lorraine Walker

Thank you for flipping the pages to the very end this month and catching the Editor’s Last Word. It’s June and I hope you have time to read all the great stories we are presenting. SGNScoops is blessed with some of the best writers in gospel music and as you take in every feature, I’m sure you will agree.

Karen Peck Gooch is our lovely cover girl this month, a lady who is beautiful on the inside as well. Jennifer Campbell allows her own sweet heart to shine through in this feature. I trust you learned something new about Karen. I remember hearing her with the Nelons in the ’80s. What I remember the most about that concert was Kelly Nelon singing “Ain’t No Grave,” and Karen wearing an orange dress that was just stunning. Yes, orange. It was the 80s!

As we sail into summertime, I pray that COVID-19 is stopped in its tracks and we can all come out of hibernation. It has been a time of increased stress for most people, I’m sure. What is ahead is unknown and that can cause anxiety and fear.

I read this in the Bible the other day: “So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.’”

2 Samuel 5:20 (NIVUK)

Niagara Falls

I began to think about my enemies, including such things as health and finances. For each of us, these enemies may look different. However, I believe that, just as David knew the Lord went before him in battle, the Lord is commanding his angel army for our deliverance today. His armies have “broken out” against our enemies, and will continue to do so. The image I see in my mind is of a dam that is bursting (or the power of the water flowing over Niagara Falls, as shown), the water gushing through and covering everything in its path.

Take a moment to see that the Lord is bursting through the defences of your enemies and washing them away. In scripture, water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Allow His Spirit to wash away your stress, doubts and fear. Because fear, as we know, is a liar.

Isn’t it exciting that the Holy One has charged His angels concerning us to defeat our enemies? We are not idle during this battle, however, as we are given armor to wear, like the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. So today, put on your armor, my friends, because there is going to be a fight. And, as the late Roger Bennett sang, “I read the back of the book and we win!”

Lorraine Walker

If you are missing your helmet of salvation today, or have any comments or concerns, please email me at lorraine@sgnscoops.com.

By Lorraine Walker

First published by SGNScoops Magazine in June 2020

Rob Patz: Time to be Bold

2020 June SGNScoops  Publisher’s Point By Rob Patz

So here we are ….

Over the last couple of weeks that is the statement that I’ve heard from so many people: So, here we are. What does the future hold? How will our music, our industry, the world around us, recover?

There are many that have their opinion as to what we will see over the next few months as far as music in general, church, and the general population.

I believe that God is getting ready to restore everything that we have lost over the last few months. I believe there’s going to be an outpouring of excitement for church, for concerts, and for events.

I believe we as a people for so long have taken for granted the opportunity to be able to go to church, and I truly believe this time of a pandemic circling our country has awakeno people’s desire to return to church and to return to something most of us took for granted.

Many people are worried about the future. They are worried they will in some way be infected by this horrible COVID-19.

Over the last three months, certain scriptures have come clearly to my mind. In fact, as I was sitting on an airplane, flying home from Atlanta to Seattle, I opened up My Bible app and Isaiah 41 came up. Suddenly the words, “Fear not, for I am with you,” shot through me like a sword.

I realize there is a lot in our world to be fearful of, but we need to remember that we have a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever; that none of this came as a surprise to him, that he wasn’t shocked by this but he knew the outcome from the beginning.

So, as we began to return to a normalcy, I truly believe that we as humans need to have – not a new normal – but normal back to what it should be, back to what we truly need as a world, back to the basics of the Bible and faith in God. 

Let me tell you this: Fear not, for God is with you. Go boldly into this next phase. Know that God is with you, that he is there to protect you, that he is already in your tomorrows, and he already knows your plans.

So, if you are a promoter this is like a new beginning. Promote harder than ever. If you’re a singer, may this be a time that you invest more in the ministry that God has called you to. If you’re someone like me who works in the industry, may we find new ways to cultivate the opportunities that come out of a terrible three months of being at home.

I’m seriously thinking about getting shirts that say “Fear not.”

But right now, let me encourage you to come and be a part of Creekside 2020 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I believe that this year is going to be life-changing. I believe God is going to use it as an opportunity and a conduit, to send out a revival throughout this country. Join me October 25 – 29, 2020.

Rob Patz

Until next time, this is the Publisher’s Point.

By Rob Patz

First published by SGNScoops Magazine in June 2020

Selena Day: Showing the love of God post pandemic

Selena Day: Showing the love of God post pandemic

I have been pondering on history as we walk into the future of post coronavirus shut down. I see so many differing views concerning the way we should do life in the future. 

I have heard many people sharing how, from now on, they will not be shaking hands with others, or will be keeping their distance, or not hugging. People with germ phobias have found the confidence to come out of the closet.  

I have made a choice not to judge anyone for their beliefs, whether they wear a mask or not, or whether they distance themselves or not. We cannot know the health concern of every individual.

Saying that, as we move forward, I am reminded of the vivid images from the 1980s, of Princess Diana walking into the AIDS wards of hospitals and sitting with the sick,  holding hands with those whom so many were afraid to be around because of the transmittance of the disease. At the time, the AIDS community was being likened to leprosy colonies. 

Those images of Princess Diana, this beautiful pristine woman, were impactful and made the world stop and re-evaluate the way it looked at those infected with this disease.  

I recently had a conversation with my parents, where they shared their memories of childhood when polio was a threat. They told us how those with the sickness were quarantined, but not those who were healthy. They couldn’t remember a time when our nation shut down due to illness. They had questions, but also, had trust. 

I don’t want to follow the dangerous path of conspiracy, for as I am writing this, I understand that many of you will filter the message of my words through your own comprehension of what truth is at this moment. 

As differing information is dispersed, I hope we will all question the motives within our hearts as to our own belief or disbelief of that information. To ask ourselves why, what, and how, while we ponder information we receive.

What are the motives and thoughts I have in my mind and heart? Do I want to be right, or do I want to walk in love? 

How am I responding to the information given to me? Am I taking it before my creator and asking him to direct my motives, steps, and actions? Am I filtering all the news that has been swirling through my life via television, social media, or word of mouth, through the water of God’s word? 

Why am I reacting the way I am to this information? Are my reactions based on fear, knowledge, or wisdom?  

As for me, I have put my trust in God. I have used this time to really ask questions concerning where we seem to be going as a nation and where God is leading us as the church. I have spent time praying for our elected officials and praying for my family.  

I have pressed into what God was saying and not assuming I know all the answers.  

Asking questions like: Is it wise or foolish to follow the majority and just take what has been told to us as fact? Or is it wise or unwise to question those leading us during this time? 

These are conversations I have been having recently with some in my life. The one thing I am most disturbed about during this time is the censorship of opposing thoughts, even the very wacky ones. Censorship tends to keep things in the dark. 

When voices, or ideas, are allowed to come into the light, the motives are usually revealed, and the darkness is exposed, and repentance happens. Repentance means to turn and go in the opposite direction.

So when a person has believed their whole life that something is true, but that truth has not been allowed to be filtered with true light, it will not be seen as false or distorted. Once it comes into the light and exposed to different questions of reality, truth is uncovered and understood more clearly. 

Let me give you an example through a story. As a child, I spent every summer going to the beaches of the Atlantic coast in Florida; my whole extended family would go, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins. It has always been some of the happiest memories I carry. For a long time, I could not imagine any place more beautiful than the gray, hard-packed sand beaches along the Atlantic. 

As a teen, a friend of mine invited me to go to the Gulf Coast of Florida, sharing with me that it had the most beautiful beaches. The first time I went, we didn’t stay on the beach but had to drive a few minutes to get to the shore. My experience had always been to step out the door of our little motel and see the waves. 

My first experience with those beautiful white beaches was not a pleasant one. We stayed on the beach all day, and because it was my first time not being with my mother, I didn’t realize I needed to put on suntan lotion or sunscreen, and because of this, I got very burned. It was the worst sunburn of my life. 

Even though I had a wonderful time, I left that trip not feeling very impressed that this beach was better than my beloved Atlantic coast beach and not really caring that I should ever return. Thankfully, because so many others loved those beautiful beaches of the Gulf, I did go back, and as the light of the bright white sand enveloped my heart, I came to see the truth about those beautiful beaches of the gulf. 

The Atlantic side has a rugged beauty, and the memories there will always bring me joy. But as I have traveled around the world, for pristine beaches, and clear water, miles, and miles of it, the Gulf Coast has proven its beauty. In fact, the panhandle beaches of Florida are always listed on any documentary as most beautiful beaches in the world. My truth of beach beauty had to be exposed to the light, not just once, but several times, before my heart accepted what the world saw.

Wherever you are in your opinion of going forth, just remember that God is with each of us. If we go forward with love and compassion for one another, we will find that light will expose any darkness, and over time we will come out higher, more durable, and closer to our creator in all things.  

Selena Day

So, please forgive me in advance if I hug you. Please have grace with me if I lay my hands on you to pray for you. I believe in contact. But, if you do not, I will respect your choice and stand by your side in hope for the future.  

By Selena Day

www.journey4women.com

www.queenliving.org

Selena Day is a motivational speaker and is available to speak at your conference or event.  You may contact her at selenaday@me.com http://www.queenliving.org  http://facebook.com/queenismsbyselenaday. Photographs courtesy of Selena Day.

Carman resumes tour halted by COVID19

Nashville, Tennessee — Christian Music icon Carman will resume his tour in June after suspending the 2020 tour due to the Covid-19 crisis. The tour will kick off on June 25th in Missouri and will then head to Oklahoma for the 26th, 27th and 28th. “We are excited to be back on the road and Carman is looking forward to seeing his fans across the nation,” stated Matt Felts, Carman’s manager. 

Carman’s tour will be taking measures to keep fans, Carman, and his crew safe as the Covid crisis comes to an end. “We will take every precaution we can and will follow the guidelines of each state where the tour goes,” added Felts.

Fans are encouraged to contact the concert venue with any questions they have. To find out information on Carman’s tour, go to CarmanOnTour.com.