Roger and Kirk Talley's Mother Passes Away at 81

We are saddened but we are thankful to announce that Cornie Talley, mother of Roger and Kirk Talley, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, December 27, 2010. She was 81 years old.
Mrs. Talley was beloved by all who knew her sweet spirit and servant’s heart. After a ten year bout with Alzheimer’s disease, she received a royal welcome into the presence of Jesus. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, R.C. “Red” Talley, sons Roger and Kirk, daughter-in-law Debra, granddaughter Lauren, daughter Diane Lunsford, son-in-law Marty Lunsford, grandson Matthew and brothers Sam and Henry Kirkpatrick.
The family will receive friends at Broome Funeral Home in Rogersville, Tennessee Thursday evening, December 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held Friday evening, December 31, 2010 at Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Whitesburg, Tennessee with visitation at 6:00 PM and funeral to follow at 7:00 PM. She will be laid to rest at Hamblen Memory Gardens in Morristown, Tennessee Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 11:00 AM.
We thank you for your understanding in the cancellation of all concert appearances over the holiday weekend. Flowers may be sent to Broome Funeral Home, Rogersville, Tennessee. Cards may be sent to the Talley family at PO Box 1918 Morristown, Tennessee, 37816.

O Come Let Us Adore Him

Reality Check Repost: O Come Let Us Adore Him

A blanket of darkness covered them in the little cave, the cool air warmed by the heat of the animals that slept nearby. The rough wood caught her sleeve as she lay him down in the horse’s trough. He felt the separation from his mother and his little arms waved about as he opened his mouth to cry…

Clouds covered the light of the sun as they stood on the hill, cool air sweeping over the soldiers standing guard. The rough wood of the cross chaffed her hand as she looked up at him and sobbed. He felt the separation from his Father, and with his arms stretched open wide, he opened his mouth to cry…

Glorious light burst forth from the sky and appeared to be emanating from the figure astride the horse. Riding behind as a member of His army, she lifted her eyes to the glorious sight of her son, the Victorious One, and the Conquering Saviour. Her hand gripped the rough leather of the bridle and her voice joined the rest of the host as she praised her Returning King. He who would forever be One with His Father and Holy Spirit, had come back to earth to wage the last great battle. His arms raised in victory as they opened their mouths to cry…

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!”

The Source of All Light was then seated on the Throne and everything was made new. They fell on their faces before Him and felt neither heat nor cold, rough nor smooth, as their beings were filled with worship for the One who is Forever Faithful. There would never again be separation from Him and His arms opened wide toward them as He opened His mouth to cry…

“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

This Christmas may we pause to worship the One who always was, is, and always shall be. The first Christmas He came as a helpless child. The next time He returns to this earth, He will come as the King of Kings. May we, like Mary, ponder this in our hearts as we celebrate His birth.

By Lorraine Walker
First Published by www.sgmradio.com December 2008

Christmas Gift

Reality Check Repost: Christmas Gift

She stands beside the sidewalk; hair disheveled, clothes dirty, hands shaking. She hasn’t had a drag all day, let alone a high. Her hands move seemingly of their own volition; she’s scratching her head and then her arm, as she looks up and down the road and into each car that passes. She walks to the corner, hands tugging up the threadbare shirt, settling into her stance as she looks for a paying customer. A mere twenty bucks will get her a short high. All she needs is one customer.

He walks into work, the first one there as usual. He thinks of what he might do if he didn’t have the bills to pay. Get a different job, for one thing. Tell his boss and everyone else where they can go. Then he could afford the fancy motorcycle and the extra car. And his wife was always asking for money. But that wouldn’t be happening now anyway because he was moving out. The kids don’t need him any more. And he certainly doesn’t need to hear her nagging. A new job and an extra twenty thousand a year would be perfect. All he needs is a little more money.

She walks into church alone again. She smiles and the greeters return her smile, doing their job to the best of their ability. The pastor walks by but he’s too busy to greet anyone, he’s got too many important things to do. She slowly walks through the foyer into the sanctuary, watching people gather with their families, talking to friends, greeting each other with hugs. It’s like she’s invisible, but by this time in her life, she’s used to that. She sits down in her pew and waits for the service to begin. If just one person came to sit near her, perhaps she could have a real conversation. All she needs is a one kind word.

They struggle down the road, which leads through desert land and harsh, unforgiving terrain. He walks the hundred miles, sandals torn and feet bleeding, while he leads the donkey. She’s expecting, and the donkey’s spine is a hard and uncomfortable seat as the wind whips the dirt and sand into her eyes. They have little money but it needs to be enough to pay Caesar and for some lodging in the town once they arrive. The baby’s birth is immanent. Darkness falls and they finally arrive in Bethlehem. If they could only find a room, something clean with sheets for the new baby. All they need is a room.

In the midst of the darkness, suddenly a star breaks through and the light finds it’s way into the small stable. The cave that was dark and dirty now brightens as a baby’s cry echoes among the animals. The shepherds, drawn here by a vision they almost can’t believe, fall to their knees on the hard ground. This Child is special and the air fills with His holy presence. And suddenly, it’s there. What they all needed. They didn’t know it, they had forgotten or pushed it aside in trying to survive the day. But it’s there, and it’s undeniable.

Hope.

It came into that stable and into the world, to touch every life and every need.

A Christmas gift to share.

Why don’t we?

By Lorraine Walker
Originally published by www.sgmradio.com in Reality Check, December 2007

HisSong Announces Addition of David Price As New Baritone

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (December 21, 2010) – Vine Records/Crossroads recording artist and Dove Award nominated artist HisSong has named David Price as the group’s new baritone vocalist. HisSong temporarily hired David for 90 days until they knew for sure that he was a right fit. After the 90-day trial period – David was hired as the full-time baritone vocalist.

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, David is 22 years old, and he began singing at a young age. David sang with Michigan-based quartet The Calvarymen for two years prior to joining HisSong.

HisSong owner/manager Dennis Humphries states, “I am proud to have David as a part of HisSong. David is an awesome singer and brings a lot of energy to the group. We’re excited to have David as a part of this team. David is doing an outstanding job, and everywhere we go, people are loving him.”

The group’s previous baritone vocalist, Adam Cannon, sang with HisSong for the last four years. Cannon left the group to pursue a ministry with his wife, Samantha, that will include both singing and preaching.

Dennis added, “I was sad to see Adam go but knew that God had amazing things in store for HisSong. We all became like brothers, and although we miss Cannon and still have a close friendship with him, our prayers are with Adam, Samantha & Noah.”

HisSong will be entering the studio soon to begin recording their brand new project for Vine/Crossroads Records. Dove Award-winning producer and songwriter Wayne Haun will once again produce this project. Haun has produced HisSong’s last three recordings as well – Watching & Waiting, Dove-nominated On the Way Up, and their current release Journey Through the Sky, which was nominated for Album of the Year in the 2010 SGN Music Awards.

Friends, family, and friends are encouraged to call and request HisSong’s latest single – “When We Talk to the Father.” This is HisSong’s third Top 40 single from their latest release – Journey Through the Sky.

HisSong is booked through the Adoration Agency. For more information on how to book the popular trio, log on to http://www.adorationagency.com or call (910) 426-1931.

HisSong also has a weekly online newsletter which gives fans of the group information on the ministry and much more.

More information on HisSong can be found at http://www.hissongmusic.com. Fans are encouraged to visit the group’s Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hissongmusic .

About HisSong
Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, HisSong has already achieved national notoriety within the group’s short lifetime. HisSong received their first GMA Dove Award nomination last year for the critically acclaimed breakthrough recording On the Way Up. The group has been awarded two Diamond Awards. HisSong’s current single is “When We Talk to the Father.”

Believing is Seeing

Reality Check Repost: Believing is Seeing

We all have our favourite seasonal movies that we watch at this time of year, from White Christmas to A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love the fun cartoons, the nostalgic old flicks, the sentimental family stories, and the ones that focus on Christ. One children’s show, The Santa Clause, always amuses me. There is a scene with an elf showing a child a “magic snow globe” that comes to life. The dialogue is priceless: “Seeing ISN’T believing…believing is SEEING”.

It’s much easier for us to agree with that sentiment at Christmas because everything about the season centers on faith. Children who wait up to hear the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof, believing Santa is on his way. The Salvation Army people standing patiently beside the donation containers with faith that passers-by will drop in their coins. Carolers who go door to door, hoping that no matter how they sound, someone’s life will be made a little happier by their music.

At Christmas it seems easier to believe that people are basically good, that wrongs will be made right, that there will be peace on earth and that we’ll wake up to ‘Christmas Card Snow’ in the morning. Mostly though, when it comes to real-life issues, we often don’t believe anything can change for the better unless we first see proof. And our requests to God to “Bless George and Martha and our little dog, Puddles” don’t touch on the challenges that wake us in the middle of the night with fear or tears.

Being raised in the church, I have often heard this verse from James quoted from the pulpit: “…The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” In other words, “believing is seeing”. God works through our faith.

As a child, believing in the truth of that verse and the power of God, I laid my hands on a sick cow and prayed for God to heal her. And He did. As an adult, somehow I keep looking for proof that He can fix my problem before I’ll talk to Him about it. Sometimes, my belief that He cares about my situation is dependent on seeing Him already at work to correct it.

However, “Believing is seeing”. How those words should strike a chord in every Christian’s heart! We have it proved to us time and again that the real things in life are not tangible and that God can do more than we could ever think or ask. Yet I so often decide not to ask for something because of lack of faith that He cares about my personal problems. And then the Lord gently reminds me of Who I claim to put my trust in and I find myself in His classroom yet again, learning the lesson of trust.

After a tough few months of having serious challenges in many areas of my life, I was getting to the end of a rather frayed rope when I was able to take some time off to enjoy the company of a bunch of Christian people. I began to talk to a few folks who had worked through some tough situations. Some were able to plant their feet so deep in the joy of Christ that whether they were on the victory side of their problems or still in the midst of them, they were fully convinced that God was exceedingly, abundantly able to do whatever was needed.

I began to search my heart and I realized that although I’d been praying about my different situations, in reality my prayers weren’t all that fervent or full of faith. I was waiting to see results before I would fully believe that God was interested in my problems. Doubting Thomas and I could have been cousins; we were both so fixed on what we thought was the reality of the situation that believing it was anything other than what we saw was impossible.

After confessing my lack of faith to my Lord, we had a chat about a few things that were keeping me on the sidelines of trust. One relationship situation in particular He asked me to just give to Him and for some reason I was finally able to let go. And the peace that immediately followed was incredible. I was in awe not only that He was interested in my little things, but that I actually could leave it with Him and not hold onto any part of it.

Following that, it was a little easier to trust Him with the next hurdle. I work for a social service agency that is dependent on government funds for its budget, and frankly, the funds don’t always flow like we think they should. I was desperately in need of a raise, and as performance appraisal time was approaching, I knew this was the time to ask for one. However, I also knew that our funding increase wasn’t that significant and no matter how well I did my job, the budget could only be stretched so far.

I talked to the Lord about what I thought I needed to survive another year and He extended His peace so I knew that whatever happened, it would be okay. My sister started praying that I would not only get the raise I needed but a nice healthy bonus cheque as well. When I got my pay packet, my eyes literally filled with tears as I saw a raise of exactly what I asked the Lord for, plus the large bonus as well. God was once again reaffirming to me that He cares intimately for His children and He so loves to give us good gifts.

Sometimes it’s a little discouraging when I realize that I have to re-learn the same truths again and again. But I know that the Lord understands my humanness and that I’m not always as strong in my faith as I should be. When His answer to my prayers is “Wait”; I admit to having a bit of a problem with that concept. When things happen that I don’t understand, it’s not always easy to trust that He will work it through.

This Christmas my prayer for each of us that places our faith in Christ, is that we will totally embrace our belief in the omnipotence and omniscience of an Almighty God. This God who wanted communion with His children so much that He became one of us. He allowed Himself to be a Child Who was totally at the mercy of His human parents. He spent His life living, playing, eating, sleeping, working and relating with us. He taught us, healed us, fed us, and loved us. And then He let us kill Him so that He could give us life everlasting.

What more proof do we need of the love of Christ? What more do we need to be shown to believe that He cares about all parts of our lives? It’s time we looked with our hearts at everything He has done and is doing, everything He was…and is…and will be. The awesomeness of this loving Saviour will drive us to our knees. Believing is seeing.



By Lorraine Walker
Originally posted on www.sgmradio.com December 2006