Dusty Bibles and Black Sheep


Kurt Neuswanger • May 14, 2026

KJOL has two new songs right now that address aspects of our failures, using admonition and compassion and humility.


Dusty Bibles

Josiah Queen


Josiah Queen’s song is about the realization that he had been neglecting his own personal time in the Word. He laments that we neglect our Bibles and “wonder why we feel this way.” 


It begins with an intriguing verse that may have multiple meanings:


Hey, how you been?
It's been a while, and I'm just checking in
I miss the way things used to be back in 2017
And I just miss my friend

 

On first glance, it seems he is talking to an old friend. But I think his “old friend” is his Bible, and he misses “the way things used to be” when he was faithfully reading it “back in 2017.”

 

He claims that he is “fine” but also admits “struggling to find some peace of mind” and laments how “we’re too busy and can’t find the time” (to read our Bibles).

 

Hey, I've been fine
I've been struggling to find some peace of mind
It's the problem of our nation and in our generation
We're too busy and can't find the time

Are we busy, or is it all a lie?


Then he shifts into an exhortation that we have “brand new iPhones” but “dust on our Bibles” and we are simply “blind leading blind folks.”


With dust on our Bibles, brand-new iPhones
No wonder why we feel this way
We walk with our eyes closed, blind leading blind folks
And I'm done with those idols and dusty Bibles


Pretty strong words, but they come from someone who is admonishing himself for letting the “idols” of social media to crowd out his Bible reading.


Black Sheep

Ben Fuller


Ben Fuller has been very open about his past. Four years ago, he says, “God found me in Vermont. He found me in addiction.” Last year he wrote a song called “Turn” in which he admits that he nearly stopped at a bar after a relationship had soured, but instead, he “turned.”


I wanted to turn to the bottle
I even drove past the bar
It turns out I'm not strong as I thought
But that's when I learned that You are

Screaming my prayers to Heaven

I turn it all over

Let You turn it around, turn it around


His current song, “Black Sheep,” is calling out to those who are struggling with the same things he did.

 

You hate everything about you
You think we're better off without you
You wear your pain out on your sleeve
And you paint it on in rebel ink
But the alcohol and pills ain't fixed a thing

 

So, how's it going out there?
Acting like you ain't scared
How's that heart of stone?
It ain't so hard when you're alone
Crying tears you hope nobody sees


Guess the good news is He'll never leave you be
Jesus loves you black sheep 

 

He reassures the black sheep that there is “good news.”


And amazing grace is a pesky, pesky thing
But the good news is He'll never leave you be
Jesus loves you black sheep

 

And that’s good news for all us, whether we think we are perfect lambs or black sheep: Jesus loves you.


By Dave Andrews • August 31, 2026
KJOL has been busy with two web development projects behind the scenes…a lot of it is honestly above and beyond my understand. As manager of KJOL, I have one of those Jack-Of-All-Trades, Master-Of-None type jobs....
By Kurt Neuswanger • August 26, 2026
We have received a slew of great new songs at KJOL in the last two weeks. Many of them are guaranteed to get your feet tapping and soul singing! Here’s a sample of new songs, which you can hear daily on KJOL. Anne Wilson Who I Am To You So every time The enemy tries me I say get behind me I’m trading his lies for the truth Devil he can’t tell me who I am Cause who I am is who I am to You Danny Gokey Jesus Over Everything I will trust In Your higher ways… Over my future and my plans, Over my need to understand Jesus over everything, Jesus over all Over my weakness and my strength Every loss and every gain Jesus over everything Elevation Worship & Sons of Sunday One More Day --Sons of Sunday is: Steven Furtick (pastor Elevation Church) Chris Brown (Elevation Worship leader) Brandon Lake Chandler Moore (Maverick City Music) Leeland Mooring Pat Barrett You have brought me all this way, To testify of grace What more can I say But hallelujah Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus Cause You gave me one more day, One more day Elevation Rhythm Washed --youth worship ministry at Elevation Church I’m clean. Sin was stained on me, Shame was running deep But love was spilled on Calvary, Oh hallelujah I’ve been washed in the water, Washed in the blood I’m as good as new, Oh hallelujah CAIN Living Water I need the living, Only the living, Oh God, I need the living water To fill up my soul And make me whole I need the living water And my thirsty soul Will thirst no more Michael W Smith & Chris Brown Agnus Dei --recorded live for the House of Worship concert featuring 25 worship leaders singing 13 iconic worship songs --Chris Brown is worship leader of Elevation Worship --Michael W Smith wrote Agnus Dei in 1990 for the album "Go West Young Man" --Agnus Dei (pronounced "on-yoos day") means "lamb of God" Presence Music Pick Up That Book --Presence is a band made up of worship leaders from Duluth, Minnesota (named after Psalm 16:11 - "In His presence is fullness of joy") Pick up that book, study all the pages Seal it in your heart, Thats what’s gonna change you There’s no author that is better than the Father The words in red, Will draw you in deeper Flowing through your soul, Like water in the river
By Kurt Neuswanger • August 6, 2026
A host of young new female artists are making an impact on Christian music right now. Here are “thumbnail sketches” for nine of them. Franni Cash --Franni Cash was one of the lead singers of We The Kingdom until she left in 2023 to pursue a solo career. --We The Kingdom includes Franni's father Ed Cash, her brother Martin Cash, and her uncle Scott Cash Madison Watkins --2018 American idol semifinalist --after a successful mainstream music career left her "feeling empty" she "turned to God" and chose Christian music Megan Woods --Massachusetts native, who grew up in an abusive relationship and struggled with her self-worth until a friend convinced her Jesus is real. She went to church, studied the Word, started leading worship. --appeared at Nightvision 2026 Evelyn Cormier --27 yr old who grew up in New Hampshire --began performing in church at age 10 --appeared on Season 17 of American Idol (2019) Chevas Phillips --worship leader at Bethlehem Church in Atlanta. --formerly a singer in bars until she experienced a profound spiritual conversion following her husband's salvation COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS Haley Jones --26 year old independent artist from Jacksonville, Florida --performed at Cowboy Up For Christ in Montrose July 25 Holly Brand --country musician from Mississippi with Integrity Music Rachel Purcell --native of Muscle Schoals, Alabama (home of two famous recording studios from the 60s) --she also performs as a country musician under her maiden name Rachel Wammack --signed to Centricity Music, along with Lauren Daigle, Jordan Feliz, Aaron Shust CJ Prather --Georgia singer/songwriter (female) with a "southern rock meets worship" style
By Kurt Neuswanger • July 23, 2026
Canadian Vineyard worship leader Brian Doerksen died this week after a brief battle with stage 4 cancer. He was 60. Doerksen wrote " Come Now is the Time to Worship , plus Refiner’s Fire and Light the Fire Again among others. Doerksen grew up in British Columbia and joined the staff of Langley Vineyard Christian Fellowship during his early 20s, writing songs for Vineyard Music and later Integrity Music. He wrote his first hit, Come Now Is The Time To Worship , in 1997 after he moved to England . He was barely getting by at a small church when he and his wife learned that both of their children had Fragile X syndrome, a form of mental retardation. Doerksen realized they would need care for the rest of their lives. As he walked through London, he heard the phrase “Come, now is the time to worship.” He ran home and immediately wrote out the song. Within weeks, other churches were singing it, and soon it spread around the world. In 1998, Vineyard and Integrity Music released the live version (featuring Wendy Whitehead) to audiences worldwide, and the income allowed him to move home to Canada and raise his children. You can read the full story in the links above.
By Kurt Neuswanger • July 9, 2026
New music on KJOL explores themes of failure, redemption, revival, and asking God to shed His grace on thee. America The Beautiful Steven Curtis Chapman Chapman has teamed with Christian country musician Chris Janson for this patriotic classic embellished with Chapman’s original lyrics. Chapman says the song "offers a thoughtful commentary on the state of our nation, and calls for listeners to see beyond the lines that separate us, to listen more, and remember that we’re stronger together. Rooted in hope, gratitude, and the enduring ideals of America, it’s a timely reminder that freedom rings loudest and clearest as we choose to let grace, unity, and kindness guide us." Revival Jeremy Camp This song “continues Camp’s return to his Rock roots, with driving guitars, pounding drums, and Camp’s signature vocal. “Revival” is an anthem about surrender and renewal.” In Spite of Me Colton Dixon Dixon sings: “I hope you find the answers, I hope that you find peace, I'm praying your perspective, Isn't based on what you've seen, 'Cause I am just a sinner, Who has been set free And I hope you find Jesus, In spite of me.” Dixon explains: “What started as an open letter apology to those affected negatively by church people, ‘In Spite of Me’ quickly became my personal prayer for those directly around me. None of us are perfect, including myself. While I try to always do and say the right thing, sometimes I fall short. My hope is that my wife, kids, friends, and every single person I come in contact with find Jesus even in spite of my shortcomings. God I’m Just Grateful Chandler Moore This song has a long and rather complicated history of failure, recovery and redemption. Moore was a founding member of the Maverick City Music collective. But in 2023, he checked into a rehab facility to address his history of struggles with drugs and alcohol. (He says he has been sober since.) But then in 2025, he left Maverick after a dispute with the group’s former manager. He later wrote this song with Elevation Church pastor Steven Furtick and Pat Barrett, among others. It was released by both Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music. Even though I don't deserve it, You did it Even though I couldn't earn it, You give it Who am I that You keep me on Your mind? God, I'm just grateful for You All my life, You've been right here by my side, God, I'm just grateful for You
By Kurt Neuswanger • June 4, 2026
NOTE: to see the article featuring ALL the Nightvision artists, go here:  https://www.kjol.org/meet-the-nightvision-artists-2026 Anne Wilson says being a rebel means choosing God over social pressure. She has just released a book called Rebel: Following Jesus When the World Walks the Other Way . It comes on the heels of her 2024 album, also called Rebel. Wilson burst on the music scene in 2021 with the song “ My Jesus ,” inspired by the death of her 23 year old brother Jacob, who died in a car accident when Anne was just 15. Since then, she has had eight hit singles, most recently “God Story.” She says her book is a way of expanding on the message of her Rebel album. She told the Christian Post: “I realized I had so much more to say than what I could fit into a three-minute song. The whole topic is really about what it means to live as a Christian in today's world, to stand for the Gospel, to be bold in your faith and to take a stand for what you believe in." With her distinct voice, attractive appearance, and catchy songs, she could easily be a successful country music artist. But Wilson says "I'm not going to compromise my faith to fit country, and I'm not going to compromise my sound to fit Christian radio. This is who I am. I love Jesus. I love country music. I'm going to do both." When Anne Wilson takes the stage at Nightvision on Friday, June 5 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds, she hopes her audience will remember one thing: “Living life for Jesus is the best life you could live.” Rebel: Following Jesus When the World Walks the Other Way releases June 9.
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