This week's Gospel Music Today is a Special Edition featuring highlights of The Midwest Quartet Convention. Hosts Ken and Jean Grady brought the Gospel Music Today cameras to Altoona, Iowa, and the show includes singing by Forgiven Quartet, The Chancellors Quartet, The Marshalls, Heaven's Call, The Sharon Bethel Singers, and The Garms Family. The show is on KWHB TV47 in Oklahoma every Monday at 6:00 PM, and it's online now at the Gospel Music Today website, www.gospelmusictoday.com

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory-the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

Now a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

There were shepherds nearby out in the field, keeping guard over their flock by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us."

So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all were astonished at what the shepherds said. (But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean). So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.

At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem of Judea," they said, "for it is written this way by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well."

After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.

Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought the baby (Jesus), up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.

Now there was in Jerusalem a man named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So directed by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, Simeon took the baby in his arms and blessed God, saying, "Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was said about the baby. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Listen carefully: this child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!"

There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment, she came up to Joseph and Mary, and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

Wise men still seek him.

Merry Christmas

Dear friends,

We just wanted to take this opportunity to express our sincerest thanks to those of you who have helped us recover some of the cost associated with replacing our bus engine which we lost back in October, 2011. As many of you know, we had to replace the old engine with a rebuilt 8-V 92 engine which we were able to do by February, 2012. Then on February 18 in Des Moines, IA a failed oil pump caused crank shaft damage which disabled the bus until late June, 2012. The total repair bill for both incidents was $34,000! Quite a blow!!

October, 2011 through June, 2012 was a very difficult time for our ministry. Not only did we have to cancel several extended ministry trips during this period, we also were unable to record a new CD in 2012 which was very unfortunate considering the recent commercial success we have with our last two recordings. Having to travel in multiple vehicles and pulling a trailer full of equipment was much more dangerous than traveling on the bus and certainly more physically demanding. Yet, GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT AND HE HAS HELPED US EACH STEP OF THE WAY!

Through the generosity of our many friends, we have collected $20,000 of the required $34,000 thus far (through the little jar on our product table)! Through a particularly wonderful act of kindness and generosity, some very dear friends of ours from here in Oklahoma loaned us $25,000 interest-free, which allowed us to pay off the personal bank loan we secured through Bank of the West in Bartlesville to pay for the engine replacement (since we did not have those funds in the ministry). Had this not happened, our ministry would have incurred almost $4000 of interest over a three-year period while the note was repaid. The $20,000 we have raised toward the total repair bill of $34,000 has been done with no special emphasis other than a mention of our financial need in concerts. In response, literally hundreds of people have donated!. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW! We are humbled by the level of giving, and so thankful to all of you who have helped us!

Obviously, we have a ways to go. There is still a $14,000 gap we must close to get back on track financially in 2013. We believe God will close this gap! PLEASE keep us in your prayers and if you are in a position to help us with additional financial support, we certainly would be extremely grateful! God is able and He is not through with Forgiven Quartet!

Thank you again, and may the peace of God rest upon you and your loved ones this blessed Christmas season as we continue to serve Him together! We are still in HIS GRIP!!

Forgiven Quartet
Mark & Debbie Brooke, Mark Green, Ryan Bilby, Stanley Johnson & Dave Buckingham

A Riverwalk Christmas - Nov. 29, 30 & Dec. 1, 2012

Come join us for one of the best Christmas mini-vacations you have ever experienced! The River Walk in San Antonio, TX flows with a vast variety of restaurants, riverboat cruises, shopping and artistic crafts and historic landmarks.

Each morning you will experience spiritually uplifting Chapel Services! What a time we will have in Praise and Worship!! Each evening you will experience a fun-filled and Christ-focused concert with several great gospel groups including Forgiven Quartet, Paul's Journey, The Williamsons, and The Erwins just to name a few.

Accomodations: The St. Anthony Riverwalk Wyndham Hotel will be where our "A Riverwalk Christmas" will be held. Built in 1909, The St. Anthony Hotel is celebrating over a century of welcoming guests to the heart of San Antonio with timeless elegance. It is a AAA 4 diamond historic hotel, is up to date, stylish and comfortable. Located just one block from the Riverwalk, St. Anthony is minutes away from other activities in San Antonio.

SPACE IS LIMITED AND WILL FILL UP QUICKY, SO BE SURE TO REGISTER EARLY!!

Click the link below for registration information:

A Riverwalk Christmas - Visit San Antonio, TX With Forgiven Quartet

FORGIVEN Quartet will be one of several nationally-known southern gospel artists featured at this year's Southern Gospel Gospel Picnic at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. The event will run August 24 through Labor Day, August 3, 2012 and FORGIVEN Quartet will be appearing there Saturday, September 1 through Monday, September 3. At last word, the group will be featured four times each day at the Gazebo near the entrance to the park (watch their website schedule for posted show times).

Click here to visit the Silver Dollar City Southern Gospel Picnic web site

FORGIVEN Quartet will be making their 7th consecutive annual appearance at the Summer Praise Fest in Cedar Falls, IA. This week long event is sponsored by PHN Ministries.

The group will take the stage of the Riverview Conference Center on Monday, July 16th at 7:00 PM in a joint concert with Blake Bolerjack. On Friday, July 20th and Saturday, July 21st great groups from all over the country will be presenting music from 10:00 AM to around 10:00 PM each day. FORGIVEN Quartet will appear several times each day! Check our schedule page for details. . .

FORGIVEN Quartet's current radio release "But For A Cross" is receiving airplay all across the world and has entered several highly respected Southern Gospel Music charts.

For the month of June 2012, it appeared in The Christian Voice Magazine Top 100 Southern Gospel Songs, coming in at #97. Also, for the month of July it entered the Power Source Magazine top 100 at #83 and The Singing News Magazine top 80 coming in at # 70! This marks the first time the group has charted a song on charts of these publications.

According to Mark Green, lead singer for Forgiven Quartet, "we knew this song was special the first time we heard it. We're excited to have been the first southern gospel artists to record this great Marty Funderburk song and look forward to watching it climb the charts!". "But For A Cross" was produced by Song Garden Music Group, David Staton and Gus Gaches, producers.