During the past couple of days, it has come to my attention that I need to change methods for subscribing to posts by email for this blog. This morning, I woke up to at least 15 emails telling me I had new subscriptions to the email list. Since it seemed very unlikely that any post of mine would generate such a flood of new readers, I decided to look at the emails of the “subscribers.” Turns out, they were all email addresses very similar to those that my spam filter catches in the comments every day.

To avoid the risk of having anything compromised on here, I am switching to a more secure plugin to enable email alerts for posts. For this method, you will need to confirm your subscription by clicking the link in the email that is sent after subscribing. After seven days, if there’s no confirmation, your subscription is deleted. Bye-bye, spambot or otherwise!

If you have subscribed using the old method, you may want to use the new way, since the old one will no longer be available. Thanks to all who are reading or subscribed, and hopefully this way is safer!

(Sorry for using the word “subscribe” so many times in this post. Repetitive writing drives me nuts, but I couldn’t think of any other way to say it!)

This post is a special shout-out to my co-writer for this blog, Jeremy Bell. He just posted on Facebook that he is now engaged! Be sure to stop by and congratulate him on this joyous occasion.
Congratulations to Jeremy and Natalie as they begin this journey together!

According to a press release on Gaither.com, the new Gaither Vocal Band will be taking a solo tour starting in September, emphasizing the fact that three of the five were with the group once before. There are about four dates up at the moment, with more to follow.

I’m hoping the tour will be coming to VA so I can catch a GVB-only concert. The GVB hasn’t done anything as headliner group since probably before I was born, aside from an occasional video like Give It Away. It’s been mostly the Homecoming circuit for them, with a smattering of events with just one or two other groups. Count me among those who have been waiting for something like this for a good long while.

Now, on a totally different note, yesterday marked the two year anniversary of when I started this blog in 2007. It’s been quite a thrill watching the opportunities and readership that God has (and continues to) bless me with through this blog. Thank you all for reading!

One year ago today, I started this blog, not really expecting anyone to read it. Only a few short months later, I got to participate in a Bloggers’ Roundtable at NQC 2007, and I’ve had so many people read this blog and encourage me along the way.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has read this blog and given me helpful advice and encouraged me in this endeavor. Thanks for reading the thoughts of a simple young guy from Bedford, VA on the greatest music of ‘em all!

This is a special announcement from some “forum friends” at the Singing News forums.

It was suggested that we start a separate thread dedicated to news about the Big Jim Hamill Memorial Concert scheduled for Friday, January 25, 2008 at The Open Bible Tabernacle in Marietta, GA. So, for those who aren’t familiar with what’s going on, here’s the scoop.

The day before our beloved friend, Hamill passed away, it was brought to my attention that he and his family were having financial difficulties, and that “someone” needed to do something. I felt led to organize a benefit concert. In a very short time, I had the backing of several top groups, and a few friends who have always been inspired by Hamill. When I got the news of Hamill’s passing, I decided that we could still help the family, but that we’d call it a “Memorial” concert.

Although several groups agreed to participate, if we could get a venue and settle on a common date, I must now confirm the date with them, now that a date and venue have been secured.

This would be a great blessing to the Hamill family. It would be an honor if you could attend and/or help out with this event. For any questions, go to the Singing News forums and look for the thread with the same title as this post.

Thank you and God bless.