I made the comment to a friend the other day that I’m tired of writing obituaries. There have been far too many this year requiring documenting. I’d prefer writing some baby announcements.
The latest came on August 11, 2025, when Jesus Music pioneer Chuck Girard passed away. It’s taken me longer than hoped, but I've finally finished assembling a Cephas Hour podcast dedicated to Girard’s music both with the band Love Song and as a solo artist. Also, the show includes two very recent and one brand-new song by the superbly talented CCM pop artist Rosalie Hovencamp, whose music you can further explore on her YouTube channel and at her website.
MORE: Jesus Music Pioneer Chuck Girard Enters Heaven
Rather than write my own commentary, I stuck to Scripture readings in this episode. It seemed appropriate.
You can listen to the podcast on demand at its website (https://cephashour.com/2025/08/31/cephas-hour-episode-142-release-date-august-31-2025/) or wherever you get your podcasts aside from Spotify. Hope it is a blessing, and thanks.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits — to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
A tribute to Chuck Girard, who recently graduated to eternal glory in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Going back to the beginning of the show, it started with four songs from the band Love Song, with which Girard first came to notice in the church during the early 1970s, and was one of the first Christian rock bands, period.
The first song was “Welcome Back,” followed by “A Love Song” and “Little Country Church,” all from Love Song’s eponymous debut album, which came out in 1972. The final song by Love Song was “Jesus Puts The Song In Our Hearts,” which was from their second and sadly, last studio album, “Final Touch,” released in 1974.
From Chuck Girard’s solo catalog, first up was a trio of songs from his 1979 album “Take It Easy.” The songs were “Full Immersion Ocean Water Baptism By The Sea,” “His Word Is Still His Promise,” and “Our Lives Are In Your Hands.”
Next, “Sometimes Alleluia,” which was on Chuck Girard’s first solo album, a self-titled effort released in 1976. It was followed by “Callin’ You” from his 1977 album “Glow In The Dark,” from there going back to his debut album and the song “Slow Down.”
The final set began with another song from his debut solo album, specifically “Lay Your Burden Down.” Following this was the title track from his 1980 album, “The Stand,” and it was finished with the song, “The Warrior,” from his 1978 album, “Written On The Wind.”
To end the show, I’m bringing you three songs by a talented artist and beloved sister in the Lord named Rosalie Hovencamp. The first song is “The Path That Leads To You,” followed by “All The Way (He Loves),” and concluding with a brand new song by Rosalie titled “Perfect Love.”
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