Miles Pike

Miles & Mar's Devotional, Volume X

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

With this newsletter, we are going to focus on the second Beatitude in verse four of Matthew 5:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Last time we said that those who are 'poor in spirit' are blessed because they have realized the truth that they are not only deplete of any funds with which to barter with God, but, to continue the monetary metaphor, they are massively in debt to Him. And once you realize this truth about who you are without God, the natural progression is to come to a place of mourning over your sin. It's like having believed your whole life long that you are healthy, wealthy, and wise, only to have your eyes opened to find that you are like those in the church at Laodicea: "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." 

This mourning is not simply being sorry you were caught in your sin or sorry that you are paying the price for your sin. It is seeing that you are in a condition of abject and total hopelessness apart from God's forgiveness. It is realizing that your eternity, apart from the grace of God, would be justly spent paying for your pride which would not stoop to love the Lord with your whole heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. 

And mourning doesn't stop with salvation. In our walk as Christians, all of us will at times have to say with Paul, "O wretched man that I am! (Romans 7:24). 1 John 1:8-10 says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." There are those who preach that you get saved and then you sin no longer, but that is against the truth of Scripture. I find myself daily failing in one way or another. As I grow in Christ, I see more, not fewer, issues in my life that give me reason to mourn. If there is anyone reading this that would freely admit that since you got saved, you've not sinned and had to fall back on the grace of God once again, I would like to meet you, get your autograph…and talk to some eyewitnesses. 

This is because after we are saved a battle begins with, as Paul calls it, 'the flesh' -- that part of us that is our humanness; the principle of sin remaining in us; that part of us that still says "I will." While our inner man is as complete and perfect in Christ as it will ever be after redemption, we still have a constant battle from the moment of salvation to the moment we die to keep the flesh in subjection (Romans 8:10-17). The great apostle Paul who wrote half the New Testament, said that he had to 'beat the body and make it his slave' (1 Cor. 9:27). When we were enslaved to the old nature, we had no problem sinning. Sinning was our nature, sin our master. This is outlined in Romans 6-7. But now, to be able to repent and feel sorrowful over our failures is a sign that God is working in us; that we have been regenerated by His Spirit and are able to say 'NO' to those sinful desires (Titus 2:11-12). So continued mourning over sin and turning from it back to God, is a sign of a truly changed life. 

Every Beatitude has a promise attached to it, and our promise at the end of this second beatitude speaks of that blessed forgiveness that can be ours whenever we come before the throne of Grace with mourning. We come with tears and leave rejoicing for our sins are no longer counted against us! That my friends, is true comfort.

We'll tackle the next one in the next newsletter. 

In Christ,

Miles & Martha

Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume IX

Martha and I decided that, beginning in this newsletter, our devotionals will feature a series we are going to write about one of the most poignant and crucial passages in all of Scripture - the Beatitudes. This passage is what some Bible scholars call "The Manifesto of The King." It has changed the way that we look at the Bible and thus, it has changed our lives. All of our devotionals are posted online in the newsletter archive where you can go visit them at any time to catch up. 

To set the stage: Jesus has just arrived on the public scene and made his presence known enough that the crowds are beginning to follow him. This sermon is how he chooses to introduce the principles of his kingdom. Many were looking for an immediate earthly kingdom to be set up by the Messiah. Imagine yourself as part of that crowd, or even as one of his disciples right up close to him -- knowing this man could do miracles like you'd only read about in Scripture; hoping he was the promised Messiah that would reign victoriously over all the nations of the earth. And this is what you hear him say:

     Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

     Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

     Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

     Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

     Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

     Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

     Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

     Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, 

     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

     Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil 

     against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, 

     for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I remember as a child hearing the Beatitudes and honestly, I didn't until recently really understand them. Being poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry, thirsty, and persecuted is hardly anybody's idea of a good time. It's not something you would see on a resort's TV commercial. And yet, Jesus reiterates over and over again that those are the ones who would be "blessed." Another translation of the word "blessed" is literally, "happy and to be envied." Wow! How backwards is that?? 

After studying this passage of scripture, I've realized that the Beatitudes are very simple, yet profound steps that lead you right to the heart of Christianity - the Kingdom of God. The first one is where every person has to start. The Bible teaches over and over again that every person is "poor in spirit." We have nothing in ourselves to offer God: all our goodness is filthy rags before Him. Paul says in Romans 3: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." That is our natural state, apart from the intervention of God. We are naturally poor in spirit.

So before we may approach God, we must come to the recognition that we are poor in spirit. As long as we continue to believe and hope that we can work our way into God's favor, we are like vagrants without means who claim to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. How absurd is that? But what a wonderful promise follows! "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." When we come to that place of realizing our true condition before God, the kingdom of God is ours!

Being poor in spirit is a requirement for entering the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is also a description of those who are already in the Kingdom. In one sense those who believe in Christ become rich in spirit because we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Him (Ephesians 1:3), but apart from Him, we still have nothing. Paul says, "I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (Romans 7:18). Our flesh -- our unredeemed humanness, or sin principle -- remains in us until the day we die. Once we believe in the work of Christ on our behalf, our spirit becomes alive to God, and we are given the ability to live by the power of the Spirit of God so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16), and we are commanded and given the power to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). In and of ourselves, we are, and will always be, poor in spirit. The song, "Jesus Loves Me" gets it right when it says "Little ones to Him belong: they are weak, but He is strong." In Christ, we become strong. In ourselves, we are always weak. In Christ, we become blessed with every spiritual blessing. In ourselves, we will always be poor in spirit.

We'll tackle the next Beatitude in our next newsletter.

In Christ,

Miles & Mar

Hey Everyone! 

What a year it has already been! As we are sitting here writing this during the first week of May, the forecast for tonight is upper 30s -- possible record breaking low temperatures for this time of year in our area. I think Punxsutawney Phil has probably taken his own life by now. We have had a tremendous amount of concerts and travel already and the concert forecast for us the rest of this year will break some records as well, as we go from 110 concerts last year to a projected 130 this year. There's a lot to talk about, so let's get going!

Quick Links

• I had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite artists who I featured back at homecoming 2012, Mark Bishop. Check it out on the SGM Radio blog.
• Since the last newsletter, I also interviewed a new friend of mine, and very well known name in the Southern and Country Gospel music fields. He and his brother, Greg, wrote the major hit "Midnight Cry." You can read about it on the SGM Radio blog.
• There are about 200 new entries into the newsletter mailout this time around, so here's a link to the devotional that Martha and I wrote for our last newsletter. The devotionals we write for our newsletters were picked up by SGM Radio Blog and are titled "Pike's Point."
• I had a surprise email a few weeks ago from a gospel music website called BreatheCast.com. One of their CD reviewers wanted to review some of my newest work. He started with "Walk Through The Pages" and will be reviewing "Blood Kin" in the next few weeks.
• We posted several new video clips from my sixth annual homecoming concert online a few weeks ago. Here they are, as seen on the video page on my website. Three of the videos feature the choir that backed me up. More details about how the event went below.
• We also had some great shots from the event and we shared them in an online gallery on my website.

Upcoming Events
May 12, 6PM - First Baptist Church, Flint, TX
May 16, 11:30AM - Friendly Baptist Church, Tyler, TX
May 18, 7PM - Cowhorn Creek, Texarkana, TX
May 19, 10AM - Rose Hill Church of God in Christ, Texarkana, TX
May 20, 3PM - Cornerstone, Texarkana, TX
May 21, 7PM - Andover Place, Little Rock, AR
May 23, 7PM - Gardens at Arkanshire, Springdale, AR
May 24, 1:45PM - Apple Blossom, Rogers, AR
May 27-June 14 - Vacation!
June 16, 10:30AM - Henderson Church of the Nazarene, Henderson, TX
June 16, 6PM - University Christian Church, Tyler, TX
June 23, 10:30AM - Maud First United Methodist, Maud, TX
June 23, 5PM - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Pittsburg, TX
June 30, 10:30AM - Gloryway Church, Dodson, LA
July 7, 6PM - Dogwood Hills Baptist Church, Palestine, TX
July 12, 6PM - First United Methodist Church, Mineola, TX
July 14, 8:30AM - St Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, TX
July 14, 10:30AM - St Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, TX
July 14, 6PM - Martin's Chapel Nazarene Church, Troup, TX
July 21, 6PM - Diboll Prison Concert
July 25, 6:15PM - Senior Care, Jacksonville, TX
July 30, 11AM - Silver Arrow Estates, Broken Arrow, OK
July 31, 2PM - The Cambridge, Springfield, MO
August 1-3, International Country Gospel Music Association, West Plains, MO

Check the website periodically as events are confirmed and added to our calendar.

 

10 Days In Dallas Traffic = Lots Of Prayer Time
Since the beginning of the year, 45 concerts have already blown past, and our first larger tour of the year took us to the Dallas metroplex for 9 days of concerts. We visited some places we've been to before, and a few new ones as well. It was great to see some familiar friends and new faces. One of our midweek activities took us back to UA Network, where I filmed another segment for Southern Gospel Praise, hosted by Mary Faye Jackson. If you happened to miss it when it aired, keep an eye out via their website, www.uanetwork.tv, and I'm sure it will repeat at some point. Martha and I enjoyed a day off in the Dallas area and took in the Dallas Arboretum on White Rock Lake. If you have never been there, we highly recommend it. We went, not quite knowing what to expect, but left with our minds amazed at the vast beauty of God's creation on display. This year's calendar is already full, so we won't be back to the Dallas area this year, but be on the lookout for our Dallas dates in 2014, and let us know if you want us to come sing for your church or venue, so we can work that in.

 

Current Radio Single Update
After three months on the charts, my debut radio single, "October Harvest," from my new CD, "Blood Kin," is #21 on the Top 100 Country Gospel charts for the month of June. If you haven't heard it on your local station, call and request it. If they don't have it, I will be glad to get it to them. Contact me at miles@milespikemusic.com for information. As you hear it on the airwaves, I'm happy that my Aunt Sheila and my Mom, Kim, are singing the background vocals to provide that element of family harmony. It is the story of my Aunt Sheila and Uncle Alton, so I'm thrilled to see people responding to this very personal message. If you haven't heard it, here's a link to a video of me performing it at the homecoming concert in March.

 

2013 Homecoming Recap
After spending a year in preparation for this year's homecoming, it is hard to believe we are already two months past it and in full swing preparing for the 2014 homecoming. My guest this year, Larry Ford, was a huge hit and inspiration to those who attended. I hope to work with him again in coming years. A definite highlight of the evening was the multi-denominational choir that backed up Larry and myself on several songs. The choir suffered a large cutback in numbers due to this year's flu and eperzutis season, but we were still 40 voices strong, and we've heard nothing but wonderful comments about their performance. They made the evening more than memorable. As you may know, this was the first year to move the event from my home town of Jacksonville, TX to Tyler, TX. Last year we outgrew one of the largest venues in Jacksonville with 350 in attendance, and this year we doubled to 700 in attendance. I don't know that I have ever sung to a happier, more worshipful crowd. Special thanks to the church and staff of Colonial Hills Baptist Church for providing such above and beyond support and the use of their beautiful facility.

 

Mark Your Calendars For March 1, 2014!
I'm very pleased to announce that next year's homecoming guest will be none other than Don Francisco. For those of you not familiar with the name, you will probably be familiar with some of his songs. My Dad was the one that introduced him to me back years ago, and I have been a fan ever since. Here's a link to his full biography. Also, take a moment to watch this Gaither Homecoming video that features Don singing one of his most well known songs, "He's Alive." Mark your calendars now for my 7th Annual Homecoming at 6PM on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Colonial Hills Baptist Church. We'll be posting more information online as it is available.

 

New Recording In The Works
Though still in the planning stages, we will be packing up and heading to Nashville during the first part of October to begin work on another CD project. Many of you have requested another installment to my hymns collection, "Timeless Songs: For Times Like These." Your requests have been duly noted; but to be honest, had no one asked for it, I was going to do it anyways! It was just a matter of when. This hymns CD will step back at least 200 years for almost every song. I have already picked out more songs than I will need, and will have to narrow them down, but if you would like, take a moment and email me your favorite hymns that are 200+ years old, and I will add them to the list that I will consider. The new hymns CD, "Timeless Truth: For Times Like These" will be available in early 2014.

 

Attention All Music Students
With summer approaching and school out soon, we just wanted to remind all of our students who may wish to take during the summer months to go ahead and get your names on our schedule so you can take advantage of the time that we are home to teach. For more information about our piano and voice lessons, visit this page.

 

Newsworthy
(To be read with the voice of Ted Koppel.)

A two year study presented at the National Academy of Sciences has determined it'shard to learn anything if you try to study with the TV on. It would have been a one year study, but they had the TV on.

The company that makes Teflon coating was found guilty of making environmental hazards and fined $10 million? The people at Teflon are shocked because they thought the charges would never stick.

This coming Mother's Day, a real dilemma for some people is - do you spend the $100 to get Mom a dozen roses, or do you spend the $100 to fill the car with gas to visit Mom?

According to a new survey, 77% of women said they had a good time while on a blind date. The other 23% are missing.

Japanese scientists have for the first time captured on film a rare and elusive giant squid from the bottom of the ocean, 3,000 feet down. They described the creature as "delicious."

Bible Believer's Dictionary
By James L. Pike

Family: brothers and sisters joined by a common strain of Blood, (1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14) 
And bound together with unbreakable bounds of Love.  (Colossians 2:2; John 15:9-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; I John 3:11, 14, 16-18, 23)
All those who one Father claim,
And who answer when the Father calls their name. (1 Samuel 3:10; John 10:27; Acts 2:39)

 

Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume VIII
The overarching theme of my annual homecoming concert this year became unity in the body of Christ. As I stated that night, the event was not trying to start some new movement or trying to make some new thing happen, and it wasn't even trying to revive an old idea. My intent for homecoming this year was to remind us of something that already is and has been, so that we will begin to live accordingly. It was a wonderfully sweet time with 700 believers from dozens of different churches and denominations, all worshipping the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For those there, it was a powerful reminder of the unity and the diversity that the body of Christ shares. A multidenominational choir backed me up on one of my favorite songs from my "Blood Kin" album  -- 'His Blood Has Made Us One.' The chorus is, "His blood has made us one; the blood of God's own Son. One in purpose. One in power. His blood has made us one." Here's the link to the "His Blood Has Made Us One" video from homecoming. This song is heavily based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, and Martha and I want to share a few thoughts about this passage that have been on our hearts since that time.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

The unifying element of the church is the Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one of the most undermined and understated doctrines of the Trinity. The Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8-11), therefore He is the instigator of salvation (John 3:5-8). After salvation, He is the indwelling presence of Christ, and enables every believer to live a righteous life. He is the one who seals us to the day of redemption -- the day when all believers will rise by His power and be forever with the Lord. Regardless of where you were saved, what your background is, or what denomination the pastor was that may have led you in a prayer, we have all been saved into one Spirit and into one body, and every Christian lives spiritually by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,”
it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,”
it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

This section of the passage reminds me of conversations I've had through the years with audience members who, after a concert, tell me, "I wish I could do what you do," or "I wish I could sing like that." While I appreciate the compliment, if that is not their gift or their calling, then they are in effect wishing that they were something they are not -- valuing another calling or another gift more highly than the calling and gifts that they have themselves received. I sense sometimes that they feel this way because they are unaware of what their part actually is in the body. But if someone is a 'foot,' and thinks it is unimportant because it is not a 'hand', that does not diminish its importance to the body. The body needs both of its feet! It doesn't need three hands. So there is not a single part of the body that is less important than another. There are internal parts of the body that are vitally important -- way more important to life than, say, the eyes -- but nobody ever sees those parts. If someone does see them, you might want to call 911! Most of the parts of the body that are highly visible are not strictly necessary to live. Some of us have proved that we can live without hair. I'm learning this slowly. You can live without perfect vision. I've never known what most people see. But if you lose your internal organs that are never seen, you die. That's true with the body of Christ too. The unseen and unsung members of the body of Christ are truly more vital than the parts that the whole world sees. The vast majority of the body of Christ are not the up front, public, on TV, book-writing, song-singing Christians that everybody sees. The vast majority of Christians are the inner workings of the body of Christ: those who pray, work, fast, love, witness, serve, give, stand fast, and support. Now, please understand, there is no Christian more 'important' than another, but the internal, unseen members are truly more vital to the survival and health of the body of Christ. If I stop singing, the televangelist stops broadcasting, the Christian DJ stops talking, the theologian stops writing, the church lives and goes on. But without you who are reading this, I have no one to sing to, and no support.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?
If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body,
every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one part, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

This is really just too good to pass up. To me, Paul's somewhat sarcastic picture here is one of the comical passages of Scripture. Can you imagine an eyeball, rolling around, trying to win someone to Jesus? Or a leg hopping around trying to proclaim the wonders of God without a mouth? How about a mouth lying on the ground proclaiming the Gospel loudly, but with no way to see, hear, or get to an audience? Maybe it's the kid in me, but I can't help snickering a little at those mind pictures. The idea is, these are all important parts, but without ALL the rest of the body to support, compliment, and work with, it is a pitiful excuse for a witness. The Holy Spirit points out through Paul's wording, "God has placed the parts in the body," and then he adds for emphasis, "every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." It strikes me that this is a past tense statement. If you are saved, you have been placed. You don't sign up later as a volunteer and have God ask you what you would like to do, "Yes, Sir, I would like to be put on a waiting list until the next time you need an eye." God is a wee bit smarter than we are (note the sarcasm) and is much more aware of what he has equipped us for. Don't wish you had another job in the body when you haven't yet recognized the vital nature of the job you have already been commissioned to do. Personally, I don't want everyone to have my call, because it would be kinda awkward with 100 singers on stage and 2 people in the audience. And split that many ways, I don't think the love offering would manage to pay the bills!

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”
And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!"

I love these two comparisons. Paul is now making a gear shift from those that feel inadequate and unimportant in the body, to warning those who would be tempted to have a condescending attitude toward those who are not as visible or as recognized. In this beautiful picture he warns the people with highly visible gifts and callings not to despise or look down upon those whose gifts are not as visible. Hand-eye coordination is part of his first comparison. The hand may say to the eyes "I can do my work without you," but they would just grope around in blindness. The eye might say to the hands, "I can see without you," but though you may see your goal, you will never attain it. His second picture of the head versus the feet takes us to the extreme ends of the human body; the head being the highest point of the body, and the feet the lowest. Here is a scolding against those who would say "I am above you and therefore I am more important." In that day the feet were certainly not the most appealing part of the body. They were the mode of transportation: if lucky, they were sandaled; they were exposed to the elements; they were rough, unappealing, and covered in camel droppings. But even with all the ruggedness of the feet, a head would be hard pressed to roll its way to the needed point of ministry without the unique and important function that God created feet for.

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.
And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment.
But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

While we may give no great thought day to day with regard to our inner workings, our hidden parts, our involuntary functions, there's not a day goes by that they aren't of supreme importance to the health and function of our being. If your stomach has food poisoning, is not your whole body aware of it? If you have a migraine, you don't have to force your feet to take you to the bed. Isn't it abundantly obvious if the steady rhythm of your heart starts being erratic? God has put the Church together in such a perfect and meticulous way that Paul points out, if one part is in pain, every part knows about it, and if one part rejoices, the whole body shares in the joy. In Philippians 2 Paul outlines the attitude that the Church should have toward the Church: "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

God has placed you where you are, so when you wonder what you are called to do, look first at where you live -- at the people who are in closest proximity to you. If you are a child, you are called to minister to your parents. If you are a husband, you are called to minister to your wife. If you are a wife, you are called to minister to your husband. If you are parents, you are called to raise and minister to your children. Not often looked upon as serious bases of ministry are the workplace, or where you go to school, but wherever you are, you are called to "be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life" (Philippians 2:15). Then you have the laundry list of the callings of those who are the hands and the feet of the church: those who take care of widows and orphans and the poor, those who pray without ceasing, those who give of their money and their time, those who take care of the sick and visit the nursing homes, those who show hospitality, those who vacuum the church, and those who take a pie to a shut in. Can you imagine the church without these? This is the majority of the church. This is the heartbeat of a healthy church. These are all vital callings, and the New Testament is full of instruction as to how to fulfill these callings and in so doing to bring glory to God and edify His Church. I'm sure we are not the only ones who can testify to this, but when the two of us list the people who have most influenced us down through the years, the most notable and memorable were not the televangelist, the megachurch pastor, the Grammy-award winning Gospel recording artist, but were the steadfast, humble, servants of God's people, who thought no job too small and no ministry too insignificant to support. At this point I cannot help thinking of our two sets of parents, who raised both of us up to love Jesus. What an amazing blessing, and what a powerful ministry, we realize more fully now.

All of these callings are just as intentional on God's part and just as vital in the body of Christ as the calling He gives the full time evangelist, or the pastor, or whatever person you think of when you think "ministry."

So the next time you get up in the middle of the night and you stub your toe on the coffee table, take special note of how long it takes for your head to know it, and how long it takes for that toe to become one of the most protected and treasured parts of your body.

See you down the road,

M&M

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Read the interview by SGM Radio with me and my producer, Tommy Cooper, about my latest CD, "Blood Kin," taking a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the project.Download a printable Homecoming flyer HERE!

I've been nominated again for some awards! If you would like to cast a ballot, click the VOTE button on my homepage.

The devotionals that we write for this newsletter have been picked up by SGM Radio Blog as "Pike's Point."

SGM Radio also asked me to write a bimonthly article where I will interview Gospel Music artists on various topics, so go sign up for their feed and keep an eye on all the Gospel music news there!

Since I have just finished up two projects, is there a song that you'd like to see me record? What's your favorite that I've already recorded? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Would you be willing to be a volunteer worker at Homecoming on March 2? We need a few people to help in some areas. Give us a call if you're interested. 903-586-8605

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We found out January 2, 2013, that I have been nominated for several different awards including "Favorite Male Vocalist," "Favorite Album," and "Favorite Song" in the Country Gospel Music Fan Awards and the Southern Gospel Music Fan Awards. Please take a moment to visit my website and cast your vote. The deadline to vote is January 31.

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We are so excited about the sixth annual homecoming concert, which is just a month away now! With everything going on in this particular homecoming, I've been run a bit ragged trying to get everything in order for the big night. I am looking forward to it so much, and I know it will be worth the effort. This homecoming will not be in Jacksonville, as it has been for the past four years. This is my hometown, and it was always my intent to keep the homecoming concert in Jacksonville. However, last year saw us outgrow one of the largest venues in Jacksonville, and we were forced to look at other options that would allow for growth. We have moved the event to Tyler, TX, which is just up the road from Jacksonville, but is a much larger town. Colonial Hills Baptist Church will host the sixth annual homecoming on March 2, 2013 at 6PM. The church's address is 7330 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75703. For non-Tyler natives, that is South Tyler, right on Highway 69.

I believe this promises to be the most memorable homecoming to date for many reasons. Gaither Homecoming Artist, Larry Ford, will be my special guest. Larry and I will be backed up on select songs by over 80 volunteers representing more than 40 unique churches from all over the East Texas area. This group of volunteers comes together to be a visible representation of the unity of the body of Christ. If you are in driving distance, you do not want to miss this amazing evening of music and worship. We can't wait to see all of you - old friends and new friends - our brothers and sisters in Christ. All are welcome, and a freewill offering will be received. Doors open at 5:00PM, so come early for the best seats.

Shoot me a quick email to request some Homecoming flyers if you would like to invite your church, family, or Sunday School class.

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January 31 6:00PM Prison Concert Rusk, TX
February 1 6:00PM Prison Concert Rusk, TX
February 9 7:00PM Grace Bible Fellowship - Valentine's Banquet Canton, TX
February 10 10:00AM Grace Bible Fellowship Church Canton, TX
February 10 6:00PM Shady Grove Baptist Church Emory, TX
February 17 8:30AM Colonial Hills Baptist Church Tyler, TX
February 17 11:00AM Colonial Hills Baptist Church Worship Service Tyler, TX
February 17 6:00PM Calvary Baptist Church Jacksonville, TX
February 23 6:00PM Tyler Area Senior Citizen's Association (TASCA) Whitehouse, TX
March 2 12:00PM Homecoming Choir Practice at Colonial Hills Church Tyler, TX
March 2 6:00PM 6th Annual Homecoming at Colonial Hills Baptist Church Tyler, TX
March 5 6:00PM First Baptist Church Bullard, TX
March 8 7:00PM Long Lake Baptist Church Palestine, TX
March 10 10:15AM Lakeview Nazarene Church Tyler, TX
March 28 11:00AM Green Acres Baptist Church Tyler, TX
March 31 10:30AM Grace Fellowship Church Ben Wheeler, TX
March 31 6:00PM First Baptist Church Flint, TX
April 5 6:30PM Dove Creek Cafe Roanoke, TX
April 6 7:30PM The Chateau McKinney, TX
April 7 10:30AM Central Baptist Church Lancaster, TX
April 7 11:30AM Central Baptist Church Lancaster, TX
April 8 11:15AM Cottonwood Estates Plano, TX
April 10 11:30AM UA Network TV Recording
April 12 4:00PM Pinewood Hills Flower Mound, TX
April 13 11:30AM The Bentley Dallas, TX
April 14 10:30AM Royal Haven Baptist Church Dallas, TX
April 21 10:30AM Pierces Chapel Assembly of God Special Music Jacksonville, TX
April 21 1:00PM Pierces Chapel Assembly of God Concert Jacksonville, TX
April 21 6:00PM Prison Concert Diboll, TX
April 28 10:30AM Lookout Valley Nazarene Church Jacksonville, TX

Complete schedule of events here.

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This next week, my first radio release off of "Blood Kin" will be going out to hundreds of radio stations nationwide. Call your local DJ and request "October Harvest." This is a very personal song for me -- it is the story of my Aunt Sheila and my late Uncle Alton. Fittingly, Aunt Sheila (Ana) and my Mom (Kim), are providing the tight family harmony in the background vocals as they did in my first song, "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me." If you are a DJ and you do not receive Canyon Creek Record's compilation and would like the song sent to you, contact me with your mailing info.

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In view of the gun control debate...

On a more serious, but still funny note...


(now for some brazen advertising...)
But you can follow ME on Twitter and Facebook!

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A few years ago, my Dad took pen in hand and wrote a song that I couldn't wait to record. "Blood Kin" was the recording on which it fit so well. The song, "I Made Time For You," is fun and peppy, and it has a great message that Martha and I would like to expound upon for a few moments. The chorus goes like this:

I made time for you to find out who I am;
I made time for you to seek me while you can.
I'm not so far away that I can't be found;
I made time for you when I made the world go round.

Our time here on earth is made up of a string of moments that are opportunities to seek, find, know, and enjoy God here on this earth. Some seek God out of fear of the judgement to come. Some seek out of guilt. Some seek out of extreme need. No matter what the reason that you seek God, He has promised that those who seek will find. He wants to be found, otherwise, no person ever could find him. He wants to be known -- that's why He created in the first place! At all times, in all places, God is revealing Himself, not just to His children, but to all people (Romans 1:19, Acts 14:17).

I've heard it said that an atheist can't find God for the same reason that a thief can't find a policeman: "He don't want to." That's the way all of us have been at some point with God. I say that and think, "Yes, back when I was an unbeliever." But even today, after many years of being a Christian, I often find myself in the middle of a pity party, seeing only gloom and doom. I feel myself slipping into my own private little corner, hunting my own personal fig leaf. Finding God, or God finding me, isn't the top of my priority list at that moment. In this modern, super-secular world, physical nakedness is becoming less and less of an issue, but spiritual nakedness is just about as uncomfortable as it ever was. I'm so glad that, like in the Garden of Eden, God still comes seeking after me even when I'm hiding from Him.

As children of our Heavenly Father, our relationship with God is similar to any relationship we have on this side of heaven. That which makes a bad relationship on earth, makes a bad relationship with God. That which makes a good relationship on earth, makes a good relationship with the Eternal One. If Martha and I just co-existed in the same house, but lived as though we were single, confining our time together to Sunday morning, frankly put, we would have a crappy marriage!

I promised Martha before we got married that I would always honestly tell her anything that she asked. I had no idea what I was in for. I've at times slightly regretted making such a broad agreement. I've had to reveal things that I wasn't exactly proud to be thinking. Before you start wondering about my dirty laundry, just remember you have your own pile. It has been sometimes an uncomfortable blessing to have a spiritually strong person who knows me so well, who will out of love be brutally honest with me and hash out the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sidenote: I'm not talking about nagging or harassment, but a healthy love for one another that desires to skim the dross off the top. C.S. Lewis said, "Love is more sensitive than hatred itself to every blemish in the beloved… Love forgives most, but condones least: Love is pleased with little, but demands all."

That's the case in a godly marriage, and that is much more so the case in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Seeking after Him personally, means that He is personally seeking after us (Psalm 27:8), and in the process, will personally sanctify us. God doesn't have a "don't ask, don't tell policy," and He doesn't make appointments with us for when He decides to work on us. With David we can say, "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me" (Psalm 139:5). He is always with us, and is constantly perfecting us in love.

His Word is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, and it cuts deep into the the core of who we are. Though His wielding of this instrument is sometimes painful, it necessarily and compassionately carves away at the smelly, decaying carcass of our body of sin (Romans 6:6). How often do we find ourselves wondering "Where did this situation come from?" "Why is this person in my life?" or "What am I doing here?" As Christians, we must take the Word of God at its word when it says that God is in control. Whether a circumstance seems good or whether it seems bad, at all times we can say with David, "Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." (Psalm 139:10).

"In every place I look are glimpses of His face;
In all the good and simple things are echoes of His grace."

This second verse of the song is our encouragement to you: Realize that as a child of God, all circumstances in your life are invitations to know God better, and are avenues by which you can see His hand at work. Approach every person and every situation with the full assurance that God will work in the midst of it all to draw you closer. He's not so far away that He can't be found. He loves us as we are, so put down the fig leaf and don't walk; run to Him!

As a special gift to you who read this devotional, I want to offer you a free download of the song on which this devotional is based. 'I Made Time For You.' All you have to do is email your name, city, state, and a comment to miles@milespikemusic.com.

Thanks for reading! Now cancel your plans to watch the evening news and make time for God. I can already tell you the news is gonna be bad anyway.

See you on down the road,

Miles & Mar

Hey Everyone!
Can you believe it's October? I mean, really! Where has 2012 gone? Since last I wrote, we've been busy with concerts, CD production, and much travel. Welcome to all the new members of this newsletter, and there's a lot to cover, so let's get started...

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Thank God For Fans Like YOU!
The debut of my current radio single at #22 showed me quickly that “Teach Me To Love Like That” is a desire that all Christians share. Further confirming this, for October it is #1 on the Country Gospel Music Chart for Cashbox Magazine and the Christian Voice Magazine. To me, a great song is like a great sermon. It spurs the heart of the believer on to live more Christlike. That is the strength of this song.

Even in the end
When they scoffed and they laughed at you
“Father, please forgive them
For they know not what they do”
Teach me to love like that...

I cannot sing this song without thinking of instances in my life in which I could have and should have better expressed the same love and forgiveness that I have been shown. Many thanks to all the DJs who play it, to the listeners who call and request it, to Canyon Creek Records, and to my Lord. Teach me to love like you do. (Would you like "Teach Me To Love Like That" on your iPod? We can do that.) By the time the next newsletter rolls around, I'm sure we'll be ready to announce my next radio release.

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Notable Mentions:
Check out my SGM radio press release!
Download my 6th Annual Homecoming Concert Flyer.
View "Teach Me To Love Like That" on Cashbox Magazine.
Be on the lookout for our two-page feature in the October '12 issue of the Christian Voice Magazine
Martha and I are honored to be featured artists periodically on the SGM Radio blog. View this month's post of Pike's Point!
We are booking voice and piano students for next year. Visit our music lessons page for details.
Read a review of "Walk Through The Pages".

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72 months, 13 states and 350+ concerts later, here we are!
Tens of thousands of miles have been put on Miles since I did my first concert in October 2006 at Calvary Baptist Church in Exeter, MO. It's been quite the ride to sit back and watch God open doors and bless in ways that only He can. Had anyone told me six years ago that 100+ concerts a year would be normal for me, I would have had second thoughts about this full time ministry thing. And yet, looking at the concert dates for 2012, by the time we get to our Christmas break in December, we will have done 110 concerts. Looking farther ahead, into 2013, we are nearly halfway booked already, and it's looking like we'll be busier than we have been this year! So prayers are appreciated, as it seems that the Lord has no intention of slowing down. I am blessed beyond measure that my spouse, Martha, for the past two years has been my constant companion to every concert (and my partner in the road, hotel, and car stories we’ve experienced personally). I am so glad that I get to share every day at home and abroad with her in this work. Those familiar with my testimony understand that Martha (and before she came along, my family), is my eyes on the road and in many other tasks. As I have had to explain many times over the years, I see just enough to fool people. I am legally blind from birth, and so over the years have learned to compensate well. It is my desire in the coming years to build up the saints, edify the church, and lead the people of God in worship through my presentations, whether the door opens to sing to the masses or to a small country church. I believe that this must be the purpose and drive behind any minister of music. 4 CD projects, 4 #1 songs, 3 awards, over a dozen Top 5 nominations, 32.7 tons of fast food, and 1 amazing God to thank for all of it (even the fast food).

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It's my anniversary… but YOU get the present!
For the month of October only, all four of my CD projects are $40 and shipping is FREE. That's a savings of $25! Order online HERE.

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Event Schedule
10/26 @ 12:30PM: Garrison Nursing Home Annual Fall Festival
10/27 @ 3:30PM: Alto Fall Festival, Alto, TX (this event has been cancelled)
10/28 @ 6:00PM: Grace Fellowship Church, Rusk, TX
11/1: Prison Concert, Rusk, TX
11/2: Prison Concert, Rusk, TX
11/4, 10:45AM: First Congregational Methodist, Rusk, TX
11/4 @ 6:00PM: County Line Baptist Church, Bullard, TX
11/10 @ 2:00PM: Wedding: Jack White & Sheila Paris
11/11 @ 1:00PM: Turner Baptist Church, Wills Point, TX
11/12 @ 3:00PM: Horizon Bay, Bossier City, LA
11/13 @ 2:00PM: Chateau Ridgeland, Ridgeland, MS
11/14 @ 2:00PM: Rocky Ridge, Hoover, AL
11/15 @ 10:30AM: Conyers First Baptist, Conyers, GA
11/17 @ 7:00PM: Buckners Family Restaurant, Jackson, GA
11/18 @ 6:00PM: Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Cumming, GA
11/19 @ 6:30PM: The Lodge At Bridgemill, Canton, GA
11/25 @ 6:30PM: Centennial Baptist Church, Madison, GA
11/30 @ 7:00PM: RU at Victory Baptist Church, Loganville, GA
12/1 @ 7:00PM: Lake Oconee Baptist Chapel, Buckhead, GA
12/2 @ 11:00AM: Lake Oconee Baptist Chapel, Buckhead, GA
12/2 @ 6:00PM: Shiloh Baptist Church, Newborn, GA
12/7 @ 3:00PM: McKendree UMC, Lawrenceville, GA
12/8 @ 11:00AM: First Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, GA
12/10 @ 2:00PM: The Regency, Decatur, GA
12/11 @ 2:00PM: Laurel Grove, Lawrenceville, GA
12/19: Wedding Anniversary!

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Clock-watching... Nail-biting... Sleepless nights...
Maybe that's a little melodramatic, but as I dictate (and Mar types) this newsletter, we are both eagerly anticipating hearing the final cuts for my brand new album, "Blood Kin." This 15-track project is my most personal to date, speaking of the family into which I was born, and the family into which I was born again. I recorded this project for the believer; for those redeemed and accepted into the family of God. We are our brother's keeper. We are blood kin. I cannot wait to start sharing these songs in concert. Are you like us and can't wait? Pre-order your copy here.

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Bigger And Better Than Ever!
This CD will be the focus of my sixth annual homecoming concert on March 2, 2013. As a palpable representation of the heart of this CD, I am introducing an 85-voice homecoming choir. This unique group of volunteers will represent over 35 churches of all denominational backgrounds from all over the East Texas area. They will join me and my special guest, Gaither Homecoming artist, Larry Ford, on a selection of songs at the beautiful Colonial Hills Baptist
Church in Tyler, TX. These annual homecoming concerts have always been near and dear to my heart as a gift back to my community.

As such, the doors are open to all, and a free will offering is received. Allow me to extend my personal invitation to you my friends, to join this corporate body of believers for an unforgettable evening of worship. If you or someone you know would be interested in joining the choir and representing your church, visit my website or call 903-586-8605. No cost, and no auditions, but at the time that this is written, the choir is already over seventy. This homecoming promises to be a memorable event, so be sure that either you or someone from your church takes part!

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Church Bulletin Bloopers
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM . Please use the back door.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

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May I introduce… the future Sheila White!
Our family is enjoying a time of celebration as we anticipate my Aunt Sheila's forthcoming marriage to a long time family friend and respected community member, Jack White. Aunt Sheila, or "Ana," as I've always called her, is not just a part of our family, but she is a part of Miles Pike Music, and supports it in a countless number of ways. Her vocal talents can be heard on several of my songs, including my first #1 song, "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me." Jack White is not just a sincere Godly man, but is also a preacher, and the constable in our area. We are proud to welcome him into the family, and look forward to getting to know him better in the years to come. I will have the honor of officiating their wedding this coming November, right before our Georgia tour. We hope that upon our return, their twitterpation has worn off to moderate levels… so Martha and I don't seem like an old married couple next to them. :)

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Miles & Mar's Devotional - Volume VI
In light of the nationwide acceptance of my #1 song for October 2012 - "Teach Me To Love Like That," Martha and I thought we would bare our hearts and write about what the Lord has shown us about this message.

They brought you the woman caught in the act
and said they were bound by the law
You never looked up; your words were exact.
Compassion was all that they saw.
When she stood in judgement, afraid and alone,
You said, "He without sin, let him cast the first stone."
Teach me to love like that.

In this verse, Jesus demonstrates love both to the religious and to the sinner. Understand, there is only one source of love, and therefore, it is the same love, but different applications. The love of God shown to people who are merely religious is a love of brutal honesty and shock. All throughout the Gospels and the whole canon of Scripture for that matter, God shows very little tolerance for those who profess a commitment to His laws and statutes, but who are in fact "full of dead men's bones" (Matthew 23:27). It would be worth your time to read Matthew 23 and see if that chapter don't give you a chill up your spine like it did us. This was Jesus' treatment of the outwardly religious.
In modern day churches we don't have the office and title of Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe, but these men are the very picture of any person in any level of service who professes Christ but who does not "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8).
Jesus' assault of truth on the religious leaders of His time was not only because of their wrong motives, religious facades, self-deception, and spiritual blindness. No, the Bible teaches that those who are in positions of spiritual authority over others bear a greater weight of responsibility than others (James 3:1). As Jesus says in Matthew 23, not only do false spiritual authorities keep themselves out of heaven, but they shut the door in the faces of those that follow them, and thus have the greater condemnation.

In today's society, the plain speech given here by Jesus would not be taken as one of the "5 love languages!" In fact, Jesus was demonstrating his love toward them in a way that was absolutely necessary and righteous. He knew exactly what they needed, and He gave it to them. This honest and loving approach is a practice that is clearly lacking in the church today.

There are two main facts we can see about the woman "caught in the act." One, she is a sinner. She does not profess to be living the life of a good Jew. She was not in attendance to the 'church service' that Jesus was leading. She was 'drug in' by the Pharisees. Thus, point two -- she is a pawn in the Pharisees' religious game. Jesus' actions toward the woman are how we, as Christians, are to treat those outside the church. There is nothing deceitful or hypocritical about a sinner acting like a sinner, unlike the Pharisees who claimed one thing and lived another. In our dealings with those who do not profess to be Christians, we need to be reminded of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1. "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called." Jesus said "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." We need to remember that all have sinned, including us, and have fallen short of the glory of God.

Lord, teach us to love in such a way that when it comes to the lost, we put down our stones of gossip, judgement, condescension, and dirty looks, and love them enough to say "Go, and sin no more."

You sat with the twelve at the Passover feast
Knowing of grave things to come.
"This is my body," you said, "take and eat."
It would be the last supper for some.
And although you knew you would soon be denied,
You stayed and broke bread with them one final time.
Teach me to love like that.

Jesus is sharing this last meal, just as He had done so many other times, with these men into whom He has invested so much. Here, at what He knows is to be His "last supper," He not only shares table with them, but pours out His very heart to them yet again, encouraging them to follow His words, trust His plan, and to love one another. Almost comically, the disciples argue yet again about who is to be the greatest, and our Lord takes on the literal role of a servant, teaching by doing the most base thing -- washing the weathered, filthy feet of these men. He doesn't stop there, but goes on to give us one of our most cherished sacraments that we, the Church, have, and symbolically breaks the bread of His body and gives of the cup of His blood that is to be shared by all. Knowing He was hours away from being crushed by His beloved Father for their sin and ours (Isaiah 53:5,10), He gives of Himself yet again to them, praying for them and for us.

Keep in mind, He knew that these are the very men that a few short hours later would fall asleep while their Master wept His most bitter tears. Then when confronted with the arrest of their Teacher, they would all respond in the wrong way: one with violence, and the rest by running in fright. All in all, over the next three days, they would give a shoddy performance by betraying Him, denying Him, not providing their testimony at His mock trial, remaining in hiding, and finally, doubting His resurrection even though He had explicitly told them that He would die and rise again in three days (Luke 9:22), and even though they had seen His works before and had eyewitness testimony from close friends.

If this is any indication of how we are to treat our friends who will surely fail us and our brothers and sisters in the church who are surely as flawed as we are; if this is how we are to exhibit 1 Corinthians 13 with the patience, the lack of record-keeping, and the lack of anger in the face of betrayal, then I dare say that the bar has been raised to a daunting height for us all.

Even in the end, when they scoffed and they laughed at you,
"Father, please forgive them for they know not what they do."
Teach me to love like that…

What a request to His Father! Asking His Father to extend forgiveness -- the forgiveness that He is paying for with His life -- to the very ones who are not only killing Him, but mocking Him and laughing at Him.

This love is extreme. It's unbridled and, humanly speaking, nonsensical. It baffles the logic of this world and our mortal flesh by not just going the extra mile, but by going as far as it possibly can. It convicts the hypocrite, compels the lost, and emboldens the testimony of the saint.

Teach me to love like that when it matters most.
I want to live without fear.
Teach me to love like that: keep drawing me close,
Until the only clear voice that I hear
Is something that you'd say.
I want to learn Your way
Teach me to love like that.

May this be the continual prayer and the greatest joy of each child of God as we do that which we were created for -- love.


Still learning in Christ,

Miles & Martha

Spring has sprung, and although it has been hotter than usual, East Texas hasn't   

Hey Everyone!

2012 is off to a rip-roaring start. Last year we saw an increase of over a third in the number of our concert bookings, taking us up to 100 concerts. The way things are going so far this year, we're expecting that we'll be even busier this year. We're so exited at the way that God is increasing and blessing Miles Pike Music.

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Fifth Annual Homecoming Concert

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that this can possibly be the fifth! Five years ago, I stepped out on faith and no money to speak of, and felt that God wanted me to construct an event for my community. The idea was that the event would be sponsored by MPM, would pull churches together to a common place of worship, and would feature some of my dearest friends and most admired Gospel artists. Since that first concert, I’ve seen this event grow more every year into something that I can be proud of.
Even if you don’t know the name “Mark Bishop”, you will probably know his music. After nearly 30 years in the Gospel music field, he’s had sixteen Top 40 songs, five Top 5 songs, and two #1 songs. But I respect him for more than his voice and songwriting. Mark is one of the few artists that I have regularly had opportunities to see and talk to on-stage as well as off-stage all through my life, and he is always simply “Mark”, a Godly man with no pretense or on-stage persona. That is why I’ve invited him to be my special guest artist this year. Please check out his website, www.MarkBishopMusic.com, and get a glimpse of what you’re in store for.

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for details!

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New CD Soon to be Up and Walking

“Walk Through The Pages” is nearly completed! Many years of prayer, study, and hard earned money have gone into making this dream a reality. This album features four original songs from the pen of my Dad, James Pike, and also songs from noted writers such as Phil Cross, Greg Day, Douglas Riley, and Chaz Borsage. Once you hear the project, I believe you will appreciate what God has orchestrated more each time you listen to it.

Mar and I were thinking out loud about this project one night, talking about it song by song, and Mar (the secretary) decided to type out what I was saying, starting with the first song and going through to the end. This page, only available to you newsletter subscribers, is the result of that conversation and in-depth Bible study. Please take advantage of our footnotes and dive in yourself. Additionally, Mar kept up a blog with pictures and videos during the time that we were in the studio recording this project. You can look through that HERE.

I’ll be debuting this project at my Fifth Annual Homecoming Concert listed above! Come on out for this great night of music and fun, with plenty of surprises, as always.

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Upcoming Events

February 16-17 Prison Revival
February 19, 11AM Spirit Life Worship Center, Lufkin, TX
February 19, 6PM Prison Concert
March 2, 7PM Concert with Mark Bishop, TASCA, Whitehouse, TX
Order tickets at (903) 871-3217 - $12 or $14 at the door.

March 3, 6PM 5th Annual Homecoming Concert,
People’s Church, Jacksonville, TX

March 4, 6PM Mark Bishop Concert, Landmark Baptist, Tyler, TX
March 6, 6PM, First Baptist Church, Bullard, TX
March 18 10:50AM Westwood Baptist Church, Waskom, TX
March 20 5:00PM Senior Care, Jacksonville, TX
March 25 10:45AM First Assembly, Jacksonville, TX
April 1 8:30AM Canton Indoor Marketplace, Canton, TX
April 1 10:45AM Grace Bible Fellowship Baptist Church, Canton, TX
April 15 10:45AM Pierces Chapel Assembly, Jacksonville, TX
April 22 10:50AM Westwood United Methodist Church, Palestine, TX
April 29 1:00PM Long Lake Baptist Church, Palestine, TX
May 6 11:00AM Cove Springs Community Church, Jacksonville, TX
May 20 12:45PM Atoy Baptist Church, Rusk, TX
May 20 6:00PM Prison Concert
May 30-June 9 AFAB Recording Studio Nashville, Tennessee
June 22 11:00AM First United Methodist Church, Lawrenceville, GA

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New Radio Single

Call your local DJs and request my new radio single, “Teach Me To Love Like That”. Call your local Gospel music station and request it. If they don’t have it, have them contact me and I’ll make sure they get it.

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Our New Tour Bus

Back on January 22, we did a concert at The First Congregational Methodist Church in Rusk, TX for their morning service. We went expecting a good time of worship, a love offering, and some CD sales. During the fellowship after the service we got way more than we bargained for when the pastor, Robert Newton, got up and announced that during the service God had been dealing with him about a car that he and his wife, Carol, had been trying to sell for the past few months.
Folks, I was in the process of eating my green beans when he said that God had told him on no uncertain terms to give Miles Pike Music the car at no charge. At that point, I’m pretty sure my mouthful of beans started dribbling out of my now gaping mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh when he said, "Now listen Miles, this is a gift from the Lord... because I wasn't in agreement with Him at first".
After the church fellowship, we followed the Newtons to their home where we saw the car for the first time. Needless to say, I was practically speechless the whole way there, and Martha will tell you, that’s not a place I am very often. Then we saw what God had given us to be our new ‘tour bus’. It’s a silver 2002 Mercury Sable with as many posh upgrades as the manufacturer had to offer -- leather, power everything, CD changer, tinted windows, HUGE trunk -- we're still discovering what all it has. This car has 73K miles on it. Our other car had 173K (not counting me). There are other details that I won’t bore you with, but the car couldn’t be more of a Godsend to us.
Before we left the Newton’s home, we did our very best to stammer out a ‘thank you’ for such a perfect gift our Father gave us through them. We prayed with them then and are still praying that God will richly return to them the goodness that they have shown to us in walking by faith and trusting the voice of Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. I know that He won’t let them down, just as He has never failed us.
Pastor Newton is the chaplain over the Skyview/Hodge Prison in Rusk. We have done concerts at this unit and others like it several times a year for years, holding revivals, concerts, and Bible studies. Of course, all these events were done at our own expense. I can’t help but believe that this new vehicle is God’s way of blessing and encouraging me and my family for singing at events that had a great need for the Gospel but no ability to provide an honorarium.

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The Winds of Change

After four unforgettable years with some of my best friends, The Gospel Tones, I regret to announce my departure as their tenor. As I mentioned earlier, 2011 saw a spike in my solo dates, and, as I knew it would eventually, it began to hinder the amount of group dates that I was able to commit to. To complicate the issue further, four hours of distance lie between my home base and the rest of the group. Not wanting to hold back the progress of the group, I tendered my resignation in the belief that God will continue to open doors in other areas for myself and my dear friends. I can’t thank the guys enough for the memories, the learning experience, and the sweet harmony on and off stage.

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For Our Northern Fans

We have some dear friends from Maine who just moved to Texas this winter, and we have many other friends we’ve met over the years from the North. I felt that I should share a few tips to help my Yankee brothers and sisters in Christ deal with Southern culture shock.
  1) Just because you can drive on snow and ice doesn’t mean we can. Stay home the two days of the year that it snows.
  2) Remember. “Y’all” is singular. “All y’all” is plural. And “all y’all’s” is plural possessive.
  3) Get used to hearing “You ain’t from around here, are ya.”
  4) You can ask a Southerner for directions, but unless you already know the positions of key hills, trees, and rocks, you’re better off trying to find it yourself.
  5) People walk slower here.

  6) If you hear a Southerner say, “Hey y’all, watch this!”, stay out of his way. These are likely the last words he will e.

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Miles & Mar’s Devotional

Mar and I were having one of our many ‘round table discussions’ the other day, this one regarding ministry concerns. Like so many other people these days, our discussion was specifically in regard to finances. To tell the truth, doing what we do, our income fluctuates greatly depending on whether we get a ‘love offering’ or a ‘like offering’, what gas prices are, how much product we sell, and how many bookings we have in a given month. We could never have appreciated just how much money it takes to not only run a full time ministry on the road, but to maintain a home that we are often away from, while birthing new material through expensive CD production... until... well, here we are!

Now, I am the ‘big picture schemer’ of the two of us, whereas Mar is the ‘micro-organizer’. It kinda works out great for me, because I get to dream big, but she is the one who tries to figure out how to make the big dreams happen. That being the case, she is more prone to be aware of and worry about all the ... well... the micro.... things and bring them to my attention. This is what led to the round table discussion regarding our finances.

We ended up discussing worry, and how worry leads to fear, and fear to inaction. Our conversation then naturally turned from worry and fear to their opposite: faith. I’ve heard preachers say “Faith is a verb”. The truth is, you cannot “do” faith, as if it were a verb. Rather, faith makes you do (James 2:18-26). Mar, always the logical type, said that it’s all well and good to say "Don't worry. Have Faith!", but you can’t just “have faith”, and therefore stop worrying. You’ve got to have faith in some thing.

Now we got stumped. What must the specific object of our faith be when we are tempted to indulge worry and fear? God, of course, but specifically, what part of His nature? We combed our Bible verse memories and after a few minutes, the verse “Perfect love casts out fear” came to mind. We had never really understood what this verse meant, practically speaking. We got to talking about it, and realized that the only one with perfect love is God. God loves us perfectly -- absolutely, with nothing held back. Because he loves us perfectly, He has a perfect plan for us, a plan meant for our greatest good. The problem is that “His ways are higher than our ways” -- a perfect plan cannot be understood by imperfect beings. As beloved children of an omniscient Father, we can rest assured that regardless of where we find ourselves, God is active in our pain and in our problems, and will (not "can", or "might", but WILL) bring about our greatest good.

Until the day comes when God Himself will take us by the hand and tell us what His plan was and why He allowed what He allowed in our lives, we cannot know all that He is doing. But we need not live in worry and fear because we don’t know exactly what He is doing. We can rest in the knowledge that He loves us with a love that knows no limits and has no dilemmas. He has always been and always will be faithful. Period. How simple is that?

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou has been, Thou forever will be.

See y’all down the road,

Hello Everyone!

2011 is nearly over! Can you believe it? Just had memorials for the tenth anniversary of 9/11/01…TENTH! Where has the time gone? Time is such a strange thing…really it is. How often do we notice that some irksome things which last only five minutes seem like a half hour of drudgery but the more agreeable things that last thirty minutes only seem like five measly minutes.
In some ways it seems that I've only been married nine days and in other ways nine years, but in reality, only nine months have passed since Mar and I said our vows and shared our first kiss. So many new blessings are ours to share with you, so continue reading below and I'll detail them out for you!

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Third Consecutive #1

For this month of October, "I'm Going Through, Jesus" is my third #1 song in a row in The Christian Voice Magazine. To be honest, I've decided that God is showing me how little I know and have to do with what He has planned for my life. If you had told me two years ago that I'd have three songs that have achieved the airplay that these have in my LIFETIME, I'd have thought that you needed psychiatric attention, and quick. What makes it even more amazing is that MPM has neither the funds nor the interest in paying for radio promotion. This is primarily because of the cost, but also because we feel that there are better ways to spend our funds in more direct avenues of ministry. Thus, our amazement in the way the Lord has blessed our efforts at ministry with these accomplishments is without measure. We just sit back and watch Him work.
Once again, thank you for your support and thank you to the DJs who choose to send our music out across the airwaves. This honor is a tool that we will use to open doors for ministry and further the Kingdom of our Lord.

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October 10 - Hot Springs, AR - 2:00PM - The Atrium
October 11 - Memphis, TN - 2:00PM - Ave Maria
October 11 - Memphis, TN - 6:00PM - The Parkview
October 12 - Ballwin, MO - 6:30PM - Briarcrest Estates
October 13 - Springfield, IL - 6:00PM - Seasons At Pine Creek
October 14 - Munster, IN - 2:00PM - Hartsfield Village
October 14 - Plymouth, IN - 6:00PM - Wedding Rehearsal
October 15 - Plymouth, IN - 2:00PM - Wedding
October 16 - Paoli, IN - 9:30AM - Paoli Christian Church
October 16 - Bloomfield, IN - 6:30PM - Bloomfield Baptist
October 17 - Padukah, KY - 2:00PM - Morningside
October 17 - Padukah, KY - 6:30PM - Jackson Oaks
October 18 - Jackson, TN - 2:00PM - Regency Retirement Village
October 19 - Hot Springs, AR - 2:00PM - Garrett Manor
October 22 - Whitehouse, TX - 6:00PM - TASCA (with The Hubbard Family)
October 29 - Alexandria, LA - 6:00PM - Riverview Baptist Church (Gospel Tones Concert)
October 30 - Ball, LA - 10:30AM - Fellowship Chapel (Gospel Tones Concert)
October 30 - Ruby, LA - 6:00PM - Pine Grove Baptist Church (Gospel Tones Concert)
November 4-6 - Canton, TX - 11AM-5PM - Canton Marketplace
November 6 - Canton, TX - 8:30AM - Morning Devotionals in the Food Court
November 10-11 - Rusk, TX - Prison Revivals
November 12 - Quitman, TX - 6:30PM - First United Methodist Church
November 13 - Diboll, TX - 6:30PM - Prison Concert
November 20 - Dawsonville, GA - 11:00AM - Hilltop Tabernacle
November 24 - Martha's Birthday - contact her HERE with birthday wishes!
November 27 - Dawsonville, GA - 11:00AM - McKee's Chapel UMC
December 4 - Newborn, GA - 6:00PM - Shiloh Baptist Church
December 14-15 - Nashville, TN - Cutting tracks for new project
December 16-17 - Nashville, TN - Recording initial vocals
December 19 - One-Year Wedding Anniversary!
December 19-January 6 - CHRISTmas Break
Get more details and full list of events HERE!

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After our Georgia tour we'll head to Nashville, TN for the annual board meeting of Miles Pike Music and stay there for the following four days to begin the recording process of my new CD, "Walk Through The Pages"! This has been a dream that I have worked on for literally years (I've been planning it for at least three years, maybe four), and I cannot wait for you to hear the end result.
It will feature several songs written by my father, James Pike, plus a long list of other writers whom you will recognize, including: Greg Day, Phil Cross, Jeff Silvey, and Doug Riley. There isn't a weak song in the bunch and I can't wait to present them to you all!

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The Lord has blessed us in our efforts to have the funds for this next project ready before going into the studio and recording it. We're not all the way there yet, but we have enough set aside that we can go into the studio, cut tracks, and be able to write a check in full for that amount. We hope to finish it early next year, Lord willing, and you can still be a part of this project. We've given y'all this same opportunity in the previous newsletter, but we wanted to make it available one more time. You can donate toward this CD project, "Walk Through The Pages", and here's how:

Bronze Club
~ $10 - A free digital download of the album, when it's released.
~ $25 - An advance copy of the CD, weeks before the masses.
~ $50 - An advance copy and a "Thank You" on the CD.~ $100 - All the above, plus autographed copies of all my current projects, and an autographed picture of me that is guaranteed to keep varmints out of your garden
~ $250 - All the above, plus a signed tracking sheet of my past #1 song, "Jesus Savior, Pilot Me" and another tracking sheet of your choice when the project is finished. PLUS an optional picture of me kissing your cheek.

Silver Club
~ $500 - All of the above, PLUS, I dedicate a song to you on my CD.
~ $750 - Exactly like the previous level, but you give me more money.
~ $1,000 - All of the above and you are mentioned as an executive producer of the album!

Gold Club
~ $2,500 - My wife and I come and spend the weekend with you. Cook your meals, make your beds, scrub the toilet, play with the kids, build a chicken coop, sit around the piano and sing, talk politics, or just visit. You have our full attention.
~ $5,000 - I will come and do a concert for you...ANYWHERE. Invite your friends, treat your church to a special event, have me sing on the hearth in your living room to just you, just bring me out and I sing. Period. Theoretically, this level is a smart choice economically. You could charge your guests and make your money back.
~ $10,000 - You get to come and sing on my CD. Don't worry if you can't sing. We'll work it out.
~ $100,000 - You get all of the above, PLUS if you ever need a kidney, you can have the bass singer's from The Gospel Tones.
~ $500,000 - ALL of the above, AND...you get...ME! 8AM-5PM... for a month! My wife wants you to take this one.

You can make donations HERE.

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Well, let's wrap this part up briefly:
1. Martha & I have been busy taking calls and making calls about concerts into 2012. Our calendar is fuller than I've ever seen so far ahead of time. If you have desire for a concert at your church, contact us soon to get your preferred date set aside. We look forward to many return dates as well as many new venues in the coming year! Click HERE for booking info.

2. Another thing that is filling up quickly is our private lesson schedule. We currently have students taking private voice and piano lessons from ages 4-68. If you or someone you know would be interested in honing their skills, we would love to work with them. Some may want to be better choir members, church soloists, or be able to play accompaniment for themselves. Whatever your need, we gear our lesson plans toward what you want.
Click HERE for more information.

3. Just a few days ago, we built a brand new page on the website in regard to wedding services. In the last few months, I've had numerous requests to either officiate a wedding service or provide special music. If you are interested in having me take part in your day, please click HERE to see that page.

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Martha and I were reading in II Samuel the other day. We came to the part in chapter 6 where David is joyfully moving the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. That is, joyful until Uzzah puts his hand on the Ark and God kills him. This is the Old Testament, so it's really not God's act of striking someone dead that made us stop and think. No, it's God striking someone dead who seemed to be doing a good thing, a needful thing, an honorable thing. The knee-jerk reaction for us, like David, was, "That's not fair!". After discussing it, we came to the conclusion that the main issue here was that the Ark of God -- the "Throne" of God, was not to be moved by a manmade cart and pulled by an animal. It was a job designated for four priests, and even those priests were not allowed to touch the Ark itself under penalty of death. (Read about it in Numbers 3,4, and 7 if you're curious like we were.) Not only Uzzah was at fault here. Every good Jew present should have known better than to handle the Ark of God in such a roughshod manner. But that's Old Testament (Old Covenant). Sure, it's interesting to talk about, but because of the grace and mercy we live under, bought by Jesus Christ, we don't much have to live in fear of God striking us dead when we are irreverent to the reality of His Presence. Right? Well... take a look at the New Testament, and you see God striking Ananias and Sapphira dead when they lied to the Spirit of God in Peter (Acts 5). Whether Old Testament or New Testament, Old Covenant or New Covenant, it is dangerous when sacred things become commonplace.

Somewhere along the line we've lost sight of the "fear" of God. Fear of God in the Bible is not talking about an evil fear or a spirit of fear ("God has not given us a spirit of fear…"). It's not like a fear of monsters or of evil or of all that is impure or immoral. It is like the fear we have of … electricity. Within our mortal bodies, electricity is immeasurably powerful and has the potential to do us harm. The secret to the fear is reverencing the power while using it in the appropriate way - a manner in which its power is exercised in our lives for good. We can fear God to the point of avoidance ("having the appearance of Godliness but denying its power" 2 Tim 3:5), or we can fear Him with a reverence and an awe that produces Godliness. Part of the awe that we experience as Christians is in the fact that God loves us. It's a thought that most Christians who were raised in church have heard all their lives. Sadly, many seem to become calloused and indifferent to it.

Sometimes, it's not an issue of the kind of fear we have for God, but rather, whether we fear Him at all. How many times do we label ourselves as "Christian" -- imitators of God as Ephesians 5 says -- and yet do not seek His guidance in the decisions of our lives? HE is the Lord of all we see; has given us everything we have, has made a way of forgiveness and complete salvation for us, and desires to be in OUR presence, amazing though it is. And yet we often go to church with wrong intentions. By going to church once a week we feel that we can get by the rest of the week without praying or studying the Word or thinking about the presence of God in our everyday activities. And when we do see His presence in some other Christian's life, we act calloused to it -- it doesn't move us and we're not excited for them. Church becomes our weekly "duty" and not an opportunity to worship and fellowship with believers.

"Seek ye first", "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel", "Upon this rock I will build MY kingdom" … all the kingdom-building verses don't say "Use your intellect", "Get a committee of the smart people together" and they don't even say "Get some family-friendly, Bible-based programs to start in your church". No, they say "Seek God." "Preach the Gospel." "Follow God's building plan for His church, not a human one." The difference between reverencing God's power -- fearing God -- in your church or not is the difference between using the power of a hand saw or using a chainsaw; using a screwdriver or using a drill; using a hammer or using a jackhammer; the difference in depending on the strength of man or the power of an intelligent designer. This is a very simple analogy but it is not man's power which can breach the gates of Hell with one word, restore an aching body, set a crazed mind at ease, mend a wrecked family, and reign on the throne of peace in a life that's surrounded by turmoil.

Look at where you are in your life and in your church. Are you living in the Stone Age, using crude, man-made tools while attempting to accomplish spiritual ends? Or are you working hand-in-hand with the Spirit of God, in His power constructing a formidable Kingdom that the gates of hell cannot prevail against? If your answer is feeble, unsure, and founded on the limitations of your fragile powers, then your contribution to the Kingdom will be minimal at best. I challenge you, as Martha and I were challenged by this Scripture, to fear the Lord, for it is the beginning of Wisdom and gives a truthful sense of our inadequacy before the presence of God. Take into consideration Who He is in contrast to who you are and you will find abundant reason to prostrate yourself and take into account every action of your life. There is no area of life that is not impacted by our fear of God. When we do not fear God, finances are wasted thoughtlessly, marriages are expendable, sermons are malnourishing, relationships are fragile, and ministry is self reliant. When we do view God in His rightful place, finances are sowed bountifully, marriages are durable, sermons are meaty, relationships are built on the Rock, and ministry is undertaken with the assurance that the Lord gives the increase.
(Acts 9:31)

Thanks for sharing this devotion with me. I pray it stirred you in your spirit as it did us.
Til next time,
Miles & Martha

Send booking requests to bookings@milespikemusic.com
or call 903-586-8605.