For every song you hear and every movie that you see, there is a writer behind the scenes that ‘starts the ball rolling’ so to speak. My son has written a book, and today I saw a printed copy for the first time. You can get this book as an electronic book (ebook) or as a printed book.
Check Smartryk Foster Publications.
Back in 1977 I had a vision of the coming of Jesus. In the vision, I was with a tour group in Swaziland. We came up to the front of a hotel, and there was computer type machine with flashing coloured lights on the left hand side. All the people in the tour group went to look at it, but I walked straight forward past the reception area. At the reception there was an Indian man who gave me a nice smile. I felt like asking him if he was a ‘Christian,’ but I didn’t. (Many years later the Holy Spirit taught me things about the word ‘Christian,’ but I will share that in another story.)
I walked through a lounge area, then an eating area, then out onto a patio. There were round tables with umbrellas in the middle, and on the left side was a little wall about two feet high. I sat down on the wall, wondering what I should do next. I thought of maybe taking a walk down town to see the sights.
Suddenly an African woman came running backwards up to the front of the hotel. She had a cloth tied around her head covering her eyes. In the vision, I knew she was blind. Then she shouted: “Die Here kom, ek kan Hom sien!” Translating, it means: “The Lord is coming, I can see Him!” I looked up to the sky and saw a great crowd coming down from heaven, like a procession. The Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit from the left side into my chest saying: “The Lord cometh with ten thousands of His holy ones.” It was like a mixed translation from the main two Bibles I had used – The King James Version and the Revised Standard Version. What surprised me was that I always thought that my spirit was located in my head, but from that vision, I guess it is located in my heart. Two years later the Holy Spirit spoke to me in Rome while I was in Saint Peter’s Basilica, and it was the same experience, from the left side into my heart. That experience in covered in my other story: “Thou shalt not make any graven image.”
Then all around me I saw people going up. They were like the colour of clouds, I could see through them. Immediately I thought I was left behind. Earlier that year, I had a dream where my wife was taken up in the rapture, and I was left behind. I wrote a song about it the next day, and it is on the YouTube. Now I was under tremendous shock – I am being left behind for a second time! It was as if my life was an open book, and I was seeing the turning of the pages trying to figure out what I had done that was causing me to be left behind. I felt like I weighed a ton of lead. I wanted to be going up with those people. Nothing else mattered. I imaged someone offering me a million dollars to stay behind, and me refusing it. Nothing else in life mattered. There was nothing in this world that I wanted to stay behind for. The most important thing was to be saved, and to be taken up to meet Jesus in the air. I was in a state of total depression.
Then suddenly, I felt myself lift off. Oh it was fantastic! My hands were up and I was shouting “Hallelujah” at the top of my lungs. I was so happy. Many times in church meetings I have tried to get people to praise the Lord, and it is such a struggle. People seem to have difficulty in raising their hands to praise the Lord. At that moment I was ecstatic. I had made it! Nobody needed to tell me to praise the Lord. It was automatic. I went up above the top of the hotel, and then I saw the sun setting on the horizon, and the dark sky above me with the stars. Then I got to thinking about that Indian man at the reception. Was he saved? I should have spoken to him about the Lord. With the burden of that Indian man’s soul on my heart, the vision ended.
Afterwards, I got to meditating about a few things. When I saw the people going up, I was in such a state of shock, but in the Bible it says that the dead in Christ will rise first. So that must have been the dead people going up that were the colour of clouds. I Thessalonians 4,16: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
The words the Holy Spirit spoke to me were from Jude 14, and Jude is quoting from Enoch, the seventh from Adam. But we don’t have Enoch’s writings in the Old Testament. At the time it made me think that Enoch must have written some things, but they must gotten lost over the centuries, that is why they are not in the Bible. Many years later I came across the writings of Enoch. Books one, two and three. I have a copy of books one and two. Nowadays, a lot of these things you can get for free on the internet, but in the old days, it was very difficult to obtain them.
Beloved, my desire is for everyone to hear the gospel and get saved. That is why I do my websites. Jesus said to His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel. I am not able to go into all the world, that is why I am doing this on the internet, because people from all over the world visit my websites. There is only one way to be saved, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask for forgiveness for all your sins. Jesus paid for our sins with His own precious blood. Receive Him now as your Saviour, and be saved. God bless. Here’s a link to the song I mentioned earlier: It was the rapture.
The Seekers were on the hit parade in Rhodesia when I was a kid. I don’t really know much about them, but I presume they were originally a gospel group that went from Australia to England to get into the British Invasion by singing love songs, and then to promote their religious songs in order to try and reach the world through their music.
This is a very nice visual of these folks collecting grapes.
I think ‘Kumbaya’ means ‘come by here.’
3. Open up them pearly gates – “live”
I think of this song in connection with an incident that happened while I was doing military training in the Rhodesian Air Force in Gwelo. I was in a car full of guys, and we were going so fast, that I was getting scared of being in another car accident. So I started singing: “Open up them pearly gates” – and the guys were so shocked. Then the driver slowed down, and it was a great relief to me!
I was at a friend’s house in Bulawayo when she put on this record, and it was the first time I realized that The Seekers actually sang gospel music too.
Interesting visuals of The Seekers riding the old cars.
When I look at the world news, there is so much trouble. Won’t it be nice to have peace?
7. This train
8. Just a closer walk with Thee
9. The Seekers sing a medley of gospel songs – “live”
10. Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
GOSPEL SONGS BY JUDITH DURHAM
11. Just a closer walk with Thee
She was the lead singer with The Seekers, but it looks like she has gone solo in her old age.
13. Amazing grace
14. My faith
15. Go tell it on the mountain
16. Precious Lord take my hand
19. Breathe on me breath of God
20. In the garden
The guy who wrote this gospel song had a vision of Mary Magdalene at the garden tomb meeting up with Jesus.
21. A medley of songs – “live”
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find many country gospel songs by Patsy Cline, but I feel I must post them anyway, and I hope they will bless you as they have blessed me.
1. Just a closer walk with Thee – with Willie Nelson
It seems like this is a new recording with their voices blended together like it was done with Jim Reeves.
2. Life is like a mountain railroad – with Willie Nelson
This is also a very nice recording of the two of them singing together with nice railroad pictures.
3. Dear God
Here is Patsy Cline singing a heart searching song that I think most people can relate to.
4. If I could see the world (through the eyes of a child)
Yes, I think the world would be a better place if we all acted like children!
5. Life is like a mountain railroad
This is Patsy Cline singing alone, with nice Railroad pictures.
6. Just a closer walk with Thee – a country gospel song by Patsy Cline
Here she is singing alone again.
Singing alone with different photos.
In case you wonder what translation I am using, I thought I would explain. I have had many “Christians” hate me on account of various Bible translations that I have had, so I decided to do my own translation. I look at many different translations, then I do my best to explain it in my own type of English. It also saves trouble with copyright. God bless y’all.
Loretta Lynn sings some very nice country gospel songs, and I hope they will be a blessing and encouragement to you.
This song was on my heart the other day, and I read the story of how this song was written. It was a tremendous blessing to me. Ray Overholt was a country singer in a night club, and one day he came home and said to his wife he wanted to stop drinking and smoking and cursing. Then he decided to write a song about Jesus, so he read a bit in the Bible about Jesus praying in the garden, and chose the title. Then one night in the night club he wrote the first verse, and put it in his guitar case. That night he told the manager he was quitting. As he was putting away his guitar, another guy saw the piece of paper and asked what it was. He told him it was a song about Jesus. The guy told him it would never get anywhere, and said he didn’t even like the title. When it got published, it sold over a million copies! It shows you that you cannot trust the critics – you must trust the Lord. After that he sang the song in a little church and the preacher preached – he came under conviction and got down on his knees and gave his heart to the Lord.
3. Put your hand in the hand “live”
5. Standing room only (on God’s great judgment day) – a country gospel song by Loretta Lynn
6. I’m getting ready to go “live”
7. Who says God is dead “live”
8. He’s got the whole world in His hands “live”
10. I’ll fly away “live” with the Wilburn Brothers
11. In the sweet bye and bye “live with friends
12. How beautiful heaven must be – “live” with the Wilburn Brothers
13. Precious Memories “live” with the Wilburn Brothers
14. Message from Jesus “live’” with Ernest Ray Lynn
15. If God is dead
16. I pray my way out of trouble
18. I’d rather have Jesus “live”
19. What a friend we have in Jesus
20. Amazing grace
21. Peace in the valley “live”
22. If I could hear my mother pray again – with Geraldine Wilburn “live”
23. Where no one stands alone “live”
27. Why me Lord
28. Just a closer walk with Thee
30. Unclouded day
31. Wings of a dove
Sometimes, if you feel like drawing close to the Lord, why don’t you just come on this website, and just listen to country gospel songs one after another. I am sure it will bless you. God bless Loretta Lynn and her singing.
Lance James is a country singer in South Africa, who also sings some good old gospel songs. I hope they are a blessing to you. He also sings some of them in the Afrikaans language called ‘Evangelie Liedere.’
1. I believe
How great Thou art.
Many years ago when I was working in downtown Johannesburg, I used to sing this song every day, asking the Lord to get me through on a daily basis.
4. Dankie
Thank You for every new morning.
5. Why me
When I was young, I remember being allowed to go to the church young people’s meeting, as a special favour. This was in Salisbury. I was under age. You had to be 13 to 30 to attend. I remember sitting around the fire while they sang this chorus. Also another chorus called: “Just one day nearer home.” It was so exciting for me. Then my Dad got a transfer to Bulawayo before I turned 13.
I loved this country gospel song so much when I was young that I also recorded it on my LP that I recorded at Gallo studio in Johannesburg.
I first heard this in Bulawayo on a record by Jimmy Dean, then later on by Jim Reeves. I love the country gospel songs, the way you can pray anywhere. On the mountain, in the valley, in the field. Some people seem to think you can only pray in a church building! Jesus himself prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane!
9. God be with you till we meet again
This song has a special meaning to me. “Smite death’s threatening wave before you.” Lance doesn’t sing the exact same words that I remember. When I was 20, I was a passenger in a sports car, when the driver rolled the car, and I was thrown out. That was the days before we had to wear seat belts. I could have died! When I lay in the hospital in Salisbury, this song kept running through my mind. Later on I heard that my Mother had a dream, where all the church young people were at the beach, and a massive wave came crashing over us. When the wave retreated, all the young people were there except me. So she intercede in prayer for me. Before doing this page, I just read on the internet that Lance James’ wife died last year. Sorry to hear that Lance. May God be with you through these difficult times.
Thank you Jesus.
11. What a friend we have in Jesus
12. Amazing grace
13. Sing
This song was a blessing to me.
14. We’ll meet again my friends
16. In the garden
The man who wrote this song had a vision of Mary Magdalene in the garden by the tomb of Jesus, and how Jesus spoke to her after his resurrection.
17. Whispering hope
19. Wings of a dove
20. It is no secret
21. Old rugged cross
22. God made love
Many years ago when we were visiting Rome, we took a trip to see Saint Peter’s Basilica. As I was wandering around, I came across a statue of Mary and Jesus. Jesus was lying in her arms, and I could see the nail print in his hand and the veins in his arm. I admired the artwork and my mind wandered back to my high school days when I studied art and read the book about Michelangelo.
As I stood there admiring and reminiscing, the Holy Spirit said to me: “Thou shalt not make any graven image.” It was a shock to me, and I tried to reason with the Holy Spirit, by saying: “But this is Michelangelo.” The Holy Spirit replied: “No, it is wrong.” It was a shock to my thinking. I grew up in a church where I was told that we are in the New Testament. We are not under all the Old Testament laws. Yet here was the Holy Spirit quoting from the 10 commandments! I had to do some serious thinking. As we flew in the plane across the Alps, I thought of church as being a mixture of Israel and Rome. We had spent 6 days in Israel and 3 days in Rome.
Later on we were working as assistant superintendents at a large apartment building in Canada. One weekend when the cleaners were off duty, I was changing the dumpster by the compacter, when someone threw down a whole set of encyclopedia and a two volume dictionary. Those were the days before computers. I had never owned a set of encyclopedia before, so I picked them up, cleaned them off, and took them home.
TUESDAY
One day the thought came to me: “What does Tuesday mean?” In all my years of growing up in school, I just believed everything that people told me. So I looked up Tuesday, and was shocked to find it is named after a pagan god. A ‘god’ of war! At that time, the Holy Spirit also brought to my remembrance a verse in the Bible where The LORD said: ‘and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.’ (Exodus 23:13) So, even though I know the names of all these pagan gods, I feel I must not mention them.
WEDNESDAY
A ‘god’ of war, art, culture, and the dead. The ‘father’ of Tuesday. He was also the ‘god’ who supposedly made the world. That is very different to the teachings of the Bible. How come they never taught me that in school?
THURSDAY
The ‘god’ of thunder. I hear there is a movie about him, but I haven’t seen it, and don’t plan to either!
FRIDAY
The ‘goddess’ of love and marriage. I think there was a whole page on that subject, so I have just abbreviated it. Jesus said: “Whom God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” It is God who joins people in marriage, not that woman!
SATURDAY
The ‘god’ of agriculture. There is also a planet out there that it is named after. In the old days they had harvest festivals named after that ‘god.’
SUNDAY
The sun ‘god.’ In the Bible, the worship of the sun, moon or stars was death penalty. Deuteronomy 17: 2-5. They had to be stoned to death. See also Deuteronomy 4: 14-24. I was brought up in a church that believed very strongly in Sunday, but there is no such word in the Bible! The capital ‘S’ means it is the name of a person.
MONDAY
The moon ‘god.’ Many people talk about the man on the moon. There are many pop songs that imply that the moon has a personality of it’s own, and can shine it’s light on the estranged lover and can him or her back. Songs like Dark Moon, Carolina Moon, Blue Moon of Kentucky, and so forth.
In my school days, nobody told me that all the days of the week were named after pagan gods. I am told that in America, they are not allowed to teach religion in the schools. If that is so, then they should scrap the days of the week from the school and also some of the months! Friends on Facebook claim that they are teaching the Muslim religion in the schools now. That sounds weird. I thought that was against the rules.
JANUARY
If I can remember correctly, Julius Caesar brought January into the calendar in 45 BC, then he was assassinated the following year. Julius Caesar was an idol worshipper, and January is named after his idol that he worshipped as his ‘god of beginnings and endings.’ His idol had two faces, one facing east and the other facing west, for the beginning and ending of the day. There was a whole ritual of how when the armies went out to war, they would pray to this idol, and burn incense.
When I was little, I remember in church how they made me stay up till midnight to pray in the new year on December 31st. One deaconess stood up and said: “We look back at the old year to see what God has done, and look forward to the new year to see what He is going to do.” It all sounded so holy, but isn’t that based on Julius Caesar’s idol? It is not based on the Bible! God has a new year in the Bible, but I have never been in any church where they celebrate God’s new year! (Exodus chapter 12). The year after they had come out of Egypt was when the tabernacle was built, and on the first day of the second year was when God’s glory filled the tabernacle! (Exodus chapter 40). It is a type of us being God’s temple and with us being filled with the Holy Spirit. Glory to God.
When I was young, our preacher told us that everything they believed and practiced was based on the Bible, but they were following Julius Caesar instead of the Word of God! Jesus taught that we must give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God. Mark 12:17. Churches are so mixed up! Sorry, but that’s the truth.
FEBRUARY
This was named after festivals of purification in ancient Rome.
MARCH
This was originally the first month, until Julius Caesar brought in January and February. It is named after a planet, and was also a ‘god’ of war. I read a book where a lady had an experience where she was before the throne of God. God was giving her instructions and said: “Now in the third month…….” So she interjected: “Yes, in March.” Then God stopped speaking. After a while God started speaking again, “Now in the third month….” So she said again: “Yes in March.” The next moment she was gone from the throne of God, and back in her bed on earth. She was so shocked, and wept and asked what she had done wrong to offend God in such a way. The Holy Spirit said to her: “It is an abomination to use the name of another god when you speak to God.” She didn’t know that March was the name of a pagan god.
APRIL
It means to open. When the buds open in the northern hemisphere.
MAY
When they celebrate old age – major.
JUNE
When they celebrate youth – junior. There are lots of other things about this month that I saw on Dictionary.com the other year, but I can’t remember where I stored it!
JULY
Named after Julius Caesar. The Caesars were sometimes considered as gods.
AUGUST
Named after Augustus Caesar.
SEPTEMBER
It means 7. Similar root word as Septuagint.
OCTOBER
It means 8, like octopus and octagon.
NOVEMBER
It means 9.
DECEMBER
It means 10, like decimal.
EASTER
This is a controversial subject. The word is found once in the King James Version – Acts 12:4. In the Greek Interlinear Bible it says: ‘Passover.’ People have all different views on this, and some people get very upset. The leader of one church told me that the King James Bible is “no good,” and “the Greek interlinear Bible is wrong.” So who do you believe? Some sources say that Easter is the goddess of spring, and other say she is the goddess of dawn. Some say she is the goddess of fertility, hence the eggs and bunnies that are symbols of fertility. Everybody has their own angle on the matter. My advice is to search for yourself what you believe to be the truth, because we all have to answer to Jesus one day.
GOOD FRIDAY
There is no such phrase in the Bible. Some churches believe that we must celebrate Jesus’ death on Good Friday morning at 11 am. In the Bible it says that Jesus died in the afternoon, so I don’t know why churches believe the way they do. Some people believe Jesus died on Wednesday, while others believe he died on Thursday. Pick what you want to believe!
When some churches celebrate Christ’s death, they have a ‘pork roast’ and others have a ‘ham dinner.’ I have seen the church signs in the city where I live. However, in the Bible he is called the ‘lamb of God.’ Not a pig! Jesus said that we remember his death when we have communion. This can be done daily or weekly or monthly or once a year. Choose for yourself. Many years ago, my wife had Bell’s palsy, where half her face went lame. She listened to some of Derek Prince’s teaching, and she had communion three times a day, telling the devil what Jesus’ blood had done for her. After a week, she was healed! Her doctor was shocked. He said he has many patients with the same problem, but he can’t get them healed.
In the Bible it says the disciples went daily house to house breaking bread. Acts 2:46. When Paul was in Ephesus, he had church every day, not once a week! Acts 19:9 and Acts 20:31. On one occasion, Paul had church on the first day of the week, and he preached until midnight when Eutychus fell down. Then they talked until daybreak. Acts 20:7-12.
CHRISTMAS
Another controversial subject. The word Christmas is not in the Bible. Some people claim it is, but I have read the Bible many times, and have not seen it. From what I studied 36 years ago, the 25th of December was the day of the rebirth of the sun god in the Roman Empire. When the days were getting shorter, they thought the sun god was dying, and then came back to life.
I have some of my own theories according to what I have read in the Bible, but I don’t feel like sharing them with you. However, you can read the Bible for yourself if you want to. Read Luke chapter 1, and work it out for yourself. We met a minister who died and went to heaven, then came back. He said that Jesus was born at Passover.
TRADITIONS
When Jesus was on the earth he knocked their traditions. Mark 7:1-13. “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.”
IDOLS
The people who worshipped the golden calf in the wilderness got the death penalty. All through the Bible idolatry is condemned. Paul said: ‘Flee from idolatry.’ 1 Corinthians 10:14. ‘You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.’ verse 21. John said: ‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols.’ 1 John 5:21. In Revelation 9:20 there is mention there of how people refuse to repent concerning the worship of devils and idols.
PROVE ALL THINGS
In the Bible Paul wrote: ‘Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Jesus said he is the way the truth and the life, and one day his words will judge us. John 14:6 and John 12:48. So beloved, study the words of Jesus and do them. That is the best advice I can give you.
Merle Haggard passed away recently, and I would like to share some of the Country Gospel songs he sang.
He talks about some of the old singers and Hillbilly heaven.
I am not sure if Merle Haggard wrote some of these country gospel songs or not, but some of them sound very personal.
4. In the garden (He walks with me)
6. Jesus Christ
11. When God comes and gathers His jewels
13. Old rugged cross
15. Wait a little longer please Jesus – with Bonnie Owens
I remember some men singing this song in church when I was young.
19. Mama’s prayer
20. Family Bible – A Country Gospel song by Merle Haggard
22. Just a closer walk with Thee
This is the first country gospel song I sang in front of people at a little house meeting. I learnt the song off by heart, but when I announced the song title my mind went blank. I sang the chorus a couple of times, then I remembered one verse. Then later I remembered another verse. I was so embarrassed. Afterwards, some guy said he enjoyed the song, so I confessed that I had forgotten the words. He said he didn’t know the words. That encouraged me. Now, if I sing one of my own songs and forget the words, nobody will even know, except me!
23. What a friend we have in Jesus
24. Why me Lord
Some of his fellow singers talk about him, then you see Merle Haggard on stage singing.
27. Victory in Jesus
28. The seeker
I see that this country gospel song was written by Dolly Parton. Thank you Merle Haggard, and I hope you made it through the pearly gates, and are singing in hillbilly heaven!
Last night my daughter introduced me to this band called MercyMe, who sing modern type gospel songs. I hope they achieve much for Jesus. Here is a selection of some of their songs.
1. Shake
2. Greater
3. Flawless
MercyMe seem to have a large following.
5. Hurt and the Healer – Gospel song by MercyMe
I got healed of a cracked spine in 1972 by raising my hands and saying: “With the stripes of Jesus I am healed.” Afterwards I wrote my own song: There is healing in the name of Jesus. I also have a bunch of stories about healing on this website. If you are interested check out: Healing stories 1 and Healing stories 2 on the right hand side bar.
8. I can only imagine – with London Symphony orchestra
9. Homesick
10. Lord I lift Your Name on high
11. You are I am
12. You reign
13. In Christ alone
14. All of creation
15. This life
16. Here with me
17. God with us
18. Dear younger me
19. Finally home
Back in 1977, I had a dream of the rapture where I got left behind. It was very shocking to me, and the next morning I wrote a song about it: It was the rapture.
24. Wishful thinking
26. Just as I am
This is an old gospel song that Billy Graham used very effectively at the invitation for people to receive Jesus as their Savior. If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, I want to encourage you to do it now. Nobody can promise what will happen tomorrow.