Customer Reviews

Bill and Gloria Gaither: Because He Lives

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Bill and Gloria Gaither's songs of faith have touched millions, and here we get to hear many of them performed, and learn the stories behind how their creativity is stirred, and how many of these lovely compositions were brought to life.
Mark Lowry, who produced this wonderful music film (and also has a laugh-out-loud comedy moment on stage), interviews them, and one gets the feeling of much love between all the Gaither family, with also a lot humility and humor.
Many old performances are shown, dating back to the late '60s, with the marvelous tenor voice of Bill's brother Danny. Other singers include Sandi Patti, Woody Wright, Jim Hill, and many more.

The songs:
"Think on the Good Things" / "Eyes Have Not Seen, Ears Have Not Heard" / "I Just Feel Like Something Good is About to Happen" / "God Gave the Song" / "This is the Time I Must Sing" / "Center of My Joy" / "Because He Lives" / "There's Not a Hoof Left Behind" / "There's Something About That Name" / "Forever with Jesus" / "I Am a Promise" / "I'm Gonna Keep On" / "Jesus is Lord of All" / "I'm so Glad I Found an Altar of Prayer" / "The Longer I Serve Him" / "Something Beautiful" / "Let's Just Praise the Lord" / "We Have This Moment Today" / "He Touched Me" / "God Always had a People" (reading) and "The Church Triumphant" / "Some Things I Must Tell the Children" / "I Could Never Outlove the Lord" / "The King is Coming" / "The Stage is Bare".

Some highlights for me are Sandi Patti singing "God Gave the Song", with Bill's expressive central narration; a telecast from '72 of their big hit "Because He Lives"; the hilarious performance of a song they say is the worst they ever wrote, "There's Not a Hoof Left Behind"; Gloria brought me to tears with her intro to "Some Things I Must Tell the Children", and the moving final piece, "The Stage is Bare", also sung by Sandi Patti.

Bill and Gloria are a match made in heaven, and are joined on stage with their family, dearest friends, and fellow musicians, for an hour and 56 minutes of joyous music and insights into their life, which lift one's spirit, and inspire the mind.

I think this is one of their best videos.It gives you the best history of how it all started.First with Bill,Danny and their sister Mary Ann and later how Bill met Gloria,dated and got married and Gloria taking Mary Ann's place in the Treo.I also enjoyed the story included of Danny part in the Treo and felt sorry for him for having to go through what he did.The appearencesof Danny and his singing after his voice started to come back are very touching and appreciated.I highly recomend this video to anyone aquianted with the Gaithers Nevin Moyer

Mark Lowry hosts this special video highlighting the poetry, lyrics, and music created by Bill and Gloria Gaither. The conversations, interview questions, film clips, and testimonies provide interesting, inspiring insight into a lifetime of ministry of the Gaithers and the lives of those who have used their music to reach out in ministry to bless others.

Stories of some of their best known and favorite songs include a glimpse into the background behind the following numbers:

* God Gave the Son

* This is the Song I Must Sing

* Center of My Joy

* Because He Lives

* We Have This Moment

* The King is Coming

Among my favorites are:

* There's Something About the Name

* Forever With Jesus

* I Could Never Out Love the Lord

* Something Beautiful

* Let's Just Praise the Lord

* He Touched Me

* The Church Triumphant

Special tribute is paid to the life and music of Danny Gaither and the intricate part he played in the formative years of the Gaither Trio.

I enjoyed the performance featuring Gary McSpadden, Jake Hess, Bob Cain, Jim Hill, and Janet Paschal.

I have added this to my collection of the Homecoming Friends Video and can recommend that you do the same. You will be blessed through these powerful songs and the stories behind them.

I love, love the song so how could I not love this DVD, The music lifts my spirits and makes me feel good. Who could ask for anything more!

I enjoy most of the Gaithers DVD's. If you like southern gospel music, you

should like this.

Mother and Jimmy used to watch the Gaither Homecomings on regular cable every Saturday evening. Then the broadcast only became available on digital cable, which we do not have. They missed the hour so much I decided to buy a "few" Gaither DVDs that they could play and replay during that Saturday hour. I purchased "Amazing Grace," "How Great Thou Art," "The Gaither Vocal Band," and "Because He Lives." I gave them as Gaither gifts to them and related my suggestion.

They played "Amazing Grace" and was moved to play another, then another, then another ... When they played "Because He Lives" they were moved to a reverent silence after the viewing. During the viewing they discussed the various performers and performances. They listened closely to the interviews and discussed the responses and recollected the times reflected in those responses. It was a familiar time of family cohesiveness, changing environments, diminishing abilities brought on by aging ... but the one constant was the Connection with our Creator and the beautiful Gaither expressions of His faithfulness to the ALL, even though we have not, yet, leaned to be faithful to Him. The Gaithers remind us that His gift of Grace permeates our lives and gives us strength and comfort even at our lowest moments.

"Because He Lives" is so loved by Mother that she plays it constantly and shares both the DVD and its message with everyone she loves. During her hospital stays, she plays it as often as practical in her room. It gives her comfort and peace and allows her to drift into a deep and recuperative sleep. I, too, enjoy this DVD as one of their best, and find myself absent-mindedly softly singing of humming some of their familar songs to myself. I learned of Danny Gaither's gift and sought out more of his music in similar media. I sought productions featuring Lynda Randle, Guy Penrod, Wintly Phipps and others .

What started out as a "few" DVDs to partially compensate for that lost Saturday Evening Hour has grown into a collection of Gaither Homecoming DVDs, special collections of some of their performers, and special tributes to past performers. Every day Mother listens to at least one in that growing collection, and usually "Because He Lives" is in that number.

I am writing this review since I logged in to order a copy to be sent to a helpful nurse, who expressed such joy from being able to enter Mother's room to praise of God's love and promise, during Mother's most recent hospital stay. Afterward, I will setup Mother's portable DVD player, as I have done every night for the last 9 nights [including the ones in ICU] to help her enter a peaceful sleep and, "face tomorrow."