I am really excited about this interview with Bart Fortenbery. I have been reading Bart’s website information, listening to him minister and listening to his jams…Loving what I am reading and hearing.
Check out this Video of Bart Ministering on Living to Please God
BART FORTENBERY
In 1993 Bart gave his life to Christ. Since then, he knew that God had a special plan for him. Bart has always had a love for music. Once he discovered Christian music, he knew that was where God wanted him to be. Bart’s mission, is to help the lost get saved but also help the saved stay encouraged in their walk. With the message in his songs and his testimony of money struggles, going through a divorce, losing a home, yet never giving up; most people can relate to his life. Bart says, We often try so hard to do what is right and yet, Satan keeps trying to wear us down. Personally I have wanted to give up many times. Through the love and encouragement of others I have continued to follow Gods will. That is the same thing I want to send to others.
In Roman’s 13:10 ;Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements;, and Ephesians 5:1-2 ;Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, And walk in Love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God;. Bart says that we need to show more love and understanding towards each other and to be that reflection of Jesus Christ, so that others will want what we have , as Christians.
Bart is from the small town in Cherryville, North Carolina. He has 2 kids who is grown, daughter graduated from Sacramento State in California currently going for her masters at Appalachian University in NC and son who graduated from UNC Asheville and married living in Gastonia NC.
TO READ MORE OF BART’S BIO PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW
What artist would you say has influenced your music the most?
Steven Curtis Chapman and I was introduced to Christian country by listening to Del Way
What was your first song to hit the air waves? And which station started your adventure on air?
My first song released to radio was “The Power of Prayer” which went to #1 on the Inspirational Country Music Charts in May of 2003, which was written about a little boy who was dignosed with Spinal Bifada. And how The Lord has healed him through prayer. And station I am not sure.
What would you say was the defining moment in your music ministry that you knew that this was what you wanted to do?
It has not been one thing but a list of things that the Lord has placed me in and the learning experience has been overwhelming. Like, started leading praise and worship in a few churches, then started a youth band that went to different places and played, and then was offered the position as Youth Pastor at a church and I am still doing that and loving it, and was asked to fill in as a pastor and turning out to be a 4 month long event bringing the message every Sunday and leading praise and worship, and then being asked to speak in this church and that. I feel that The Lord was working in my life to do this, even without having an education to be a pastor. The pastor of the church where I am the Youth Pastor, has guided me and gave me advice along the way. And it helps when he is also a teacher at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Charlotte NC, a school that Billy Graham had a part in starting. And through the response from all the places that I have sung and spoke has reassured me to follow this calling.
What motivates you to keep going when your tired?
Just knowing what God has done in my life and used me in the life of others keeps me going even when the thought of giving up occurs.
Do you have any projects in the making?
I just finished a project, but am working on a Bluegrass project and Contemparary Project, and will be next year before those are complete.
What’s your current single on the air waves that we might hear?
“He’s working on Making it Better”
Do you write any of your own songs?
I write all my songs,
What is your personal favorite out of all the songs you have recorded or sung?
I would have to say The Power of Prayer since it was my first release and #1
Can you share one of your funniest memories of Singing on stage or while recording?
I was not on a stage but I was singing in a Nursing home and the nurse had rolled a sweet ole man close to me as I was singing and he started coughing and he could not stop. As I was singing he coughed and his teeth come bouncing across the floor and I motioned for the nurse and never missed a beat singing. But afterwards it was a good laugh.
Can you tell us about Apple Lane Music Group?
I started this a few years ago, trying to learn about the song promotion part of the industry so I could help those starting out. I know how hard it was for me to come up with the money that some ask for, which is fine and they have done a great job for me in the past but it is hard to come up with alot of money. So I am learning as I promote myself. And my son had gone to College at UNC Asheville for Music production and he is helping me getting the studio up and running. I also give music lessons to students and used to have a music store.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT APPLE LANE MUSIC CLICK LINK BELOW
What is your favorite scripture and what does it mean to you?
That one is easy, and it is Galations 5, 22-23. If everyone had love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, this would be such a better place to live!
Thank you Bart for this interview
This has been one of my favorite songs so far. Recently I have been helping another artist on a project that has made my heart so tender towards our soldiers.
This last year I was blessed to attend the 2014 ICM Awards. As I was walking around all of the booths I saw a beautiful young lady standing behind one of the booths. I realized she was Miss Taylon Hope.
I had listened to Taylon on HLE Radio and fell in love with her voice. I had no clue she was only nine years old. As I stood and listened to Taylon speaking with others around her, I was drawn to her. Taylon spoke with others with such maturity, both intellectually and spiritually. My heart was drawn to her for more than one reason. I saw God in her and I also was reminded of two very special girls I have been blessed to get to know in my life. Taylon reminded me so much of the younger of these two girls all the way down to her beautiful red hair.
When you listen to someone on the radio you only imagine what they are really like. As I watched Miss Taylon singing her heart out on the stage, my heart melted even more. I knew right then I needed her cd. I also knew two young ladies I couldn’t wait to bless with Taylon’s music. I was so disappointed that I got so distracted and forgot to stop back by the booth and purchase one. Well God knew my heart because a few weeks later I was blessed by Taylon and her parents. They sent not only a cd for me but two autographed photos for the two special girls I mentioned above. They put smiles on lots of faces with that blessing.
I am so very grateful to present to you my Interview with Miss Taylon Hope.
TAYLON HOPE
Taylon Hope is a nine-year old singer and musician from West Jefferson, NC. Taylon began singing when she was four years old in her church. She currently maintains a busy schedule throughout the year of performing at churches, festivals, fairs, and other venues. She released her debut CD, recorded in Nashville, TN, “What This World Needs”, produced by Tommy Brandt, in September of 2014 . She is part of Beyond The Music Promotions, owned by Tommy and his wife, Michelle. Taylon plays guitar and is also learning to play piano and mandolin. She was nominated last year for Youth In Music Award for the 2014 ICM Awards and nominations for Youth Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year at the 2014 AMG Awards.
Taylon loves to travel, playing tennis, spending time with her friends, and spending time on her grandparent’s farm. Her favorite place to visit is Nashville, TN and one of her many goals for herself is to one day sing at the Opry. She loves animals and has a pony, a dog, and a cat. Taylon feels blessed to be able to share her love for music and she has a strong desire to continue traveling and sharing God’s word through her music.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Question #1. At what age did you start singing Country and Inspirational Country Music?
Since I was small my parents have always told me they could tell I had a strong love for music. I began singing in my church at the age of 4 years old. In 2013, at the age of 8, I began singing Christian/Country music after listening and talking with my friend and mentor Tommy Brandt.
Question #2.What artist would you say has influenced your music the most?
The artist that influenced me the most would be Carrie Underwood. Her voice is amazing. I have had the opportunity to see her perform twice at the Opry. I love her latest song “Something In The Water” and how she is a Christian.
I also appreciate many other artists and musicians and their talents such as Hunter Hayes, Rhonda Vincent, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline. Christian Country/Gospel artists: Tommy Brandt, Mary James, Adam Crabb, and Kari Jobe.
Question #3. What was your first song to hit the air waves? And which station started your adventure on the radio?
My first song to hit radio was my current new single “What This World Needs” and the first radio to play my new single was HLE Radio out of Jennings, Louisiana.
Question #4. Do you have any new projects in the making?
I just released my current CD recorded in Nashville, TN in September of 2014. Currently, I have lots of goals for myself and my music. I am currently booking new dates and events for 2015 and I am working on writing a new song.
Question #5. What’s your current single on the air waves that we might hear?
My current single is “What This World Needs” I plan to release another single from my new CD this year.
Question #6. Does anyone else in your family sing or write music?
My Mom grew up singing with my Grandmother. My Mom and I do sing together and practice together a lot at my church. My Dad plays some guitar with me as well.
Question #7. What is your personal favorite out of all the songs you have recorded or sing?
I would say my favorite song from my new CD is the song “She Prayed Anyway” I wrote this song and Tommy Brandt helped me with it. I wrote the song about a young girl my age in third grade. The songs tells about how others questioned the young girl for praying during the moment of silence at school. She decided that no matter what she would always put God first in her life and she prayed anyway.
Question #8. What do your friends think about you singing and traveling?
My friends think that my singing and traveling is cool and they ask me to sing for them. They like to hear me play guitar. My friends like to hear a lot about Nashville. I have had the opportunity to sing at many local events in my hometown and I got to sing the National Anthem at my school this year and for the high school football and basketball games.
Questions #9. Are you part of a record label or independent?
I am currently independent. I am a part of Beyond The Music Promotions owned by Tommy and Michelle Brandt. I love them and all of the artists that work with BTM promotions. It is so much fun to travel and sing with all of them.
Question #10. Who do you travel with on the road?
I travel with Dad and Mom.
Question #11. Can you share one of your funniest memories of Singing on stage or while recording?
One time my Dad was starting my music and he started the wrong song and I told the crowd he was a “work in progress” and everyone laughed. Also, while recording I have a really country voice and I laughed because I didn’t realize how country I was until I started recording. However, I love being country and that is who I am.
Question #12. What is your favorite scripture and what does it mean to you?
My favorite scripture is John 3:16 and it means that God loved us so much that he gave up his only son for all of us. We serve an amazing God.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TAYLON FOR SHARING YOUR HEART AND MUSIC WITH US.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MISS TAYLON HOPE BE SURE TO CLICK ON HER WEBSITE BELOW
CLICK HERE TO GO TO http://taylonhopemusic.com/
Taylon can be reached for bookings or information at:
*[email protected]
*Phone contact 336-846-9589
How many of you are waiting on Mr. Right or Mrs. Right to live Happily Ever After?
I know that for girls we begin this dream when we get our first doll, doll house and kitchen sets. We play dress up and plan our weddings. We dream of that day we are just like those fairy tales we watch on the Disney Movies.
We grow into a teenage girl who dreams of her first kiss. We begin to watch more adult movies and read books that tell of romance and adult fairy tales.
We grow into adults who read romance novels and become addicted to Hallmark Movies and Wedding Reality shows.
We have this idea that when we have what we have dreamed about all these years we will truly be “Living Happily Ever After”
In my past I found that trying to grab onto this dream I lost a lot of who God called me to be. I waited on dreams that He put into me. I thought with out that “Happily Ever After” I couldn’t have any of the rest of it.
Has anyone watched the Lifetime movies or Roseane or even Reba? Life brings heartache, loss and real life situations to deal with. Let’s say you achieve Happily Ever After and you wake up one day and your spouce is gone. Out the door went your happy and all your dreams, if your happy was all in that one dream.
We are fed we are not complete with out that Happily Ever After in our lives.
When reality is if we are not complete in Him first we can never have that. Not as a single or married person.
Colossians 2:10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
We have got to be filled with His joy in our lives. If we don’t have His joy then when things don’t go as planned we lose that false sense of joy. What happens when you wake up one day at 40 and you have had two failed marriages? You find yourself with an empty nest? You had best know what true Happily Ever After is!
God is your Happily Ever After!
Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do I still believe God has someone hand picked for you and for me? ABSOLUTELY. I believe when we find ourselves so full of Him and engrossed in all He has for us, we will run smack dab into them. The joy and love of God we each have will be so much that it covers all the Roseane moments. The hurts and disappointments that can come our way can be covered with Gods Grace, Love, and Joy.
The only way to be fulfilled and live your life and have Happily Ever After begins in John 3:16
John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Once you accept this LOVE then you are on the road. Next step is to believe that God has great plans for you. To not give up on All and Who He has for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you ask God what dreams He has for YOU! In fulfilling those dreams you will be overflowing with Happy! That’s what you want to have to offer to your Prince Charming or Princess!!
Ephesians 3:20 -21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.Glory to God in the church!Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!Glory down all the generations!Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
Let God become your Happily Ever After!!!
When you are Happy in Him and who you are in Him, the rest of your dreams will be icing on the cake.
In today’s time were faced with busy schedules, topped with a negative world around us. Everywhere you look on the news there is war, violence, new disease outbreak and so much negativity.
You have to focus on Gods goodness, mercy and love in order to make it through the battles. With out staying focussed on these things and relying on Gods strength you will have battle fatigue.
Battle fatigue is an obsolete term which may refer to:
Combat stress reaction, a military term for an acute reaction to the stress of battle commonly involving fatigue, slowed reaction time, indecision, and other symptoms
Post traumatic stress disorder, a medical term for a chronic disorder associated with psychological trauma
Shell shock, a term used in WW I for an uncontrolled strong nervous reaction to the battle’s horrible and extreme unhuman conditions
We experience similar reactions to our fatigue. When our bodies and minds are tired and weak we find it harder to made decisions. We’re slower at speaking life and standing in faith.
We might find ourselves frozen with fear with an attack that normally we would have waved off as nothing. We find ourselves being controlled by our emotions verses our spirit man.
Were a spirit who has a soul and lives in our body.
Your spirit man is where Jesus abides. This is where we find our strength, joy, peace and all the Good God is. But we sometimes find that instead of filtering what’s coming against us from the outside through our spirit that we’re letting our mind, which is our will and emotions handle it and that takes a toll on your mind and your body.
With the job I have I don’t get much sleep in the week what sleep I have is not restful. The more tired I get the more thoughts seem to flood in. If we are not feeding the spirit man during this time our flesh, our thoughts,and emotions can get away from us so fast.
I realized that I had gotten away from filling my spirit man up I was in tears and coming home grouchy and on edge. About two weeks ago there was a day I was so exausted that I was ready to walk out the door of my job and throw my hands up in every area. I got my smart phone out to read my bible app and was too tired. I decided that to turn on Joyce Meyers. I listened for like 3 hours Just to make it through that day. It reminded me that in order to win the battle and not be in shell shock I had to renew my mind.
If we are tired it’s hard to be a light to others and to walk in love.
In Galatians 6:10 it says
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 MSG)
When your wanting to shut down and give up take a step back look at Gods word and remember what He says about you and who you are. Do something for someone else in need instead of focussing on all the stuff coming against you. Somehow God uses that to bring a spring back in your step.
Take time to rest physically, mentally and spiritually.
EXAMPLES
(1 Peter 5:8-11 ASV)
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does
If we stay focused on Him and refreshed in Him, take care of our bodies, and rest our minds we are able to stay alert and on guard.
Don’t ever let condemnation set in for being fatigued. Everyone goes through those times.
Isaiah 40:30,31 says Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in The Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
So when you find yourself growing weak and tired fall back into His wings that cover you and let Him carry you and get ready to soar.
Have you been through heart aches, disappointments, relational let downs? Are you at a point where your not sure who to trust? You might even be to the point you no longer trust your own self, your own judgments calls and your own decisions.
I have been thinking a lot about trust today! I have been through all the things above. I have made wrong choices and let myself down as well as others letting me down. These experiences make it so easy to build up walls. To walk away from anything or anyone who might hurt me. To run from any chance I would let anyone down. I know that this place of wondering where trust is to be placed is something we all go through.
What is the answer you say? Trust no one! Don’t even trust yourself! What? You say! Listen to me hear me out. Trust is meant to be placed in one person only. GOD!
When you read through the word you never read trust in man. You find over and over where He says things like TRUST in ME!! Lean not to your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:4
The reason we are to put our trust in God is He can never fail you!
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
So now how do you move forward? How do you have healthy relationships? How do you know you can make right decisions?
You trust God who lives in others! You trust God who lives in you.
What does He tell you to do where others are concerned?
He says LOVE one another as I HAVE LOVE YOU! John 13:34.
The way you and I do this is because we trust God within us and within others to make the wrongs right.
Love always trumps. It trumps your past bad decisions! Love trumps fear! It trumps past hurts and it opens the door for a great future.
God is LOVE!!
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
And He says
11 For I (LOVE) know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
So today if your wondering where to put your trust remember TRUST GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE!
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2 | NIV
