May 2023 Archives
Review: Southern Gospel Hall of Fame and Museum
Anyone who has been there or driven by knows where this picture was taken even if they didn’t read the headline. Although it’s been a long time coming, I finally got to experience the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and I’m so glad I did.
Before you enter the building you will see what I believe was the original Blackwood Brothers’ bus. You may recall that in the early days of quartet music, the groups crammed into cars until J.D. Sumner got the idea to customize a bus which allowed them more space as well as a place to sleep so they could get places more quickly without having to stop. They did not have showers on the buses, however, and I remember reading where they would sometimes get out in the rain with a bar of soap and freshen up as best they could. I don’t know if anyone would call those the good ol’ days, but back then, they were high-tech.
Throughout the museum, you will find history. Whether news articles, plaques, or outdated items such as 45 LPs, it will be nostalgic for some and a time of learning for others. Long-time fans will enjoy seeing relics such as Vestal’s hanky, the original manuscript of “Because He Lives,” a shapenote typewriter (who know there was such a thing?!), and more. Plus the wall that everybody wants to see:
This wall lists members on the front and back. Each panel includes the date of induction, birth and death (if applicable), and a brief description of each members’ influence on Southern Gospel Music.
The museum is located in the back of the Biblical Times Theater, located on one of the main streets of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Also featured there are Christus Gardens (a program on the life of Christ) and The Shroud Museum, which discusses the Shroud of Turin and why they believe it to be Jesus’ burial cloth. They recommend setting aside two hours to see the whole thing. I didn’t have that much time the day I went, so I only saw the Southern Gospel museum and got a quick tour of the Shroud museum. Maybe I can catch Christus Gardens another day.
Fifty Years and Counting
If you could see where He brought me from to where I am today
Then you would know the reason why I love Him so
I turned 50 last week. It feels surreal. How could I have lived half a century? I know those older than me are thinking, That’s so young! But, to me, it’s a significant milestone.
As I think back over the years, I feel like I have lived quite a few lives.
I have intermittent memories of my childhood, but I remember being happy. I had my parents and my brother. Mom taught me how to read and bake. My brother and I played outside frequently, often with neighbor boys. Although we’ve had our disagreements through the years, we never fought a lot. A friend’s mom called me Sunshine, because she said my smile lit up the room. I think I smiled all the time back then.
When I was 8, my life fell apart as my parents divorced, and my mom married a man who was abusive. They were married for about nine years, during which time I no longer smiled much. I went through a long season of wondering if anyone could really love me. I eventually found peace in knowing that God loved me, but people? That was another story. Those who stuck with me deserve a medal as I was self-focused and not easy to love back then.
We moved away from everything I’d ever known when I was 17, and I began to draw closer to God than ever before. I still dealt with a lot of insecurities, but as time went on, I realized that if I wanted friends, I had to show myself friendly. I also had to start thinking of others instead of being so focused on myself and everything bad that had happened to me.
As I look at my life today, I see a totally different person than the scared, shy, unhappy teenager of yesteryear. I don’t know when the change occurred, but I know that God used each joy and each trial to mold me into the person He created me to be. He has brought so many people into my life that I believe love me. I still wonder why anyone would care, but I am thankful they do.
A number of years ago, I decided that I didn’t want to spend my life in the background, but I wanted to personally be used by God in some way. That continues to be my prayer as I realize that I most likely have more days behind me than I do ahead of me. I pray that I will be faithful in whatever God has for me to do so that I will finish well.
This also seems like a fitting time to thank you again for reading my blog. Although I don’t post as frequently as I’d like to, I trust that you will be encouraged or challenged by what I write. Most importantly, may you draw ever nearer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
