You're listening to mornings with Eric and Bridget. Now, Bridget's taking a few days off, so Jill is in studio with us right here on Moody Radio 89.3.

You're listening to mornings with Eric and Bridget. Now, Bridget's taking a few days off, so Jill is in studio with us right here on Moody Radio 89.3.

And boy, am I ever glad I am, because we are joined by Bill Gaither. Bill was down here in South Florida just a few weeks ago, but we get to talk to him today as we look forward to celebrating Easter. Good morning, Bill Gaither.

And boy, am I ever glad I am, because we are joined by Bill Gaither. Bill was down here in South Florida just a few weeks ago, but we get to talk to him today as we look forward to celebrating Easter. Good morning, Bill Gaither.

Josh, good to talk with you. And, uh, and your cohort there, Eric.

Josh, good to talk with you. And, uh, and your cohort there, Eric.

The Gaither Gospel Hour is a new TV show. We want to talk about that also. But before we go too far, I need to ask you, since we last talked, you have a new dog. How's Windsor doing with the new puppy?

The Gaither Gospel Hour is a new TV show. We want to talk about that also. But before we go too far, I need to ask you, since we last talked, you have a new dog. How's Windsor doing with the new puppy?

You know what is interesting? I'm talking from our kitchen. We live in the same house we we built 60 years ago. And if you come into our kitchen, you'll get it confused with the kennel, because we've got we've got gates up. Where, where the new little guy, his name is Dorsett. Cannot go in the other part of the house. Now, Windsor can because we've had Windsor can go anywhere he wants to go because he's so well behaved. We should have thought about this. 280 year olds taking on training a new little puppy because puppies are still puppies. Any of you who've trained a puppy know exactly what I'm saying. And so, uh, we've got him in a confined space here in the kitchen, but we're having a good time. And it took Windsor a while to say, okay, who's the new guy in town? But to be honest with you, Windsor was becoming an old man until this little guy came to town. Now Windsor playing with him and to see Old Windsor on his back with all four legs in the air, letting that puppy bite his ears and everything else. It's quite a bit of fun.

You know what is interesting? I'm talking from our kitchen. We live in the same house we we built 60 years ago. And if you come into our kitchen, you'll get it confused with the kennel, because we've got we've got gates up. Where, where the new little guy, his name is Dorsett. Cannot go in the other part of the house. Now, Windsor can because we've had Windsor can go anywhere he wants to go because he's so well behaved. We should have thought about this. 280 year olds taking on training a new little puppy because puppies are still puppies. Any of you who've trained a puppy know exactly what I'm saying. And so, uh, we've got him in a confined space here in the kitchen, but we're having a good time. And it took Windsor a while to say, okay, who's the new guy in town? But to be honest with you, Windsor was becoming an old man until this little guy came to town. Now Windsor playing with him and to see Old Windsor on his back with all four legs in the air, letting that puppy bite his ears and everything else. It's quite a bit of fun.

When you were in town, you were saying how you don't spend as much time on the road as you used to, but you have other ventures that you're into. And one of those is television. Tell us about the Gaither Gospel Hour.

When you were in town, you were saying how you don't spend as much time on the road as you used to, but you have other ventures that you're into. And one of those is television. Tell us about the Gaither Gospel Hour.

You know, I have lived a life that if I had it to do over again, I don't even know what I would do differently because, you know, we had the days when we were out on the road a lot, and we have paired that way back, but thank God we're living in in the technological age where you can stay at home or stay in your studio and do a lot of communicating. Of course, in the last ten, 15 years, we have done so many videos that work its way into a TV show. It's very simple. Nothing simple, but we got so many of those programs. And so when Matt Crouch called me about that slot, I said, well, that's an important slot. You know, 8:00 on Saturday night, a lot of people are watching TV. And so I said, sure, we'd be happy to do it. We started the 1st of February. And from what I understand, the ratings are very good and the people love it. There's something about Saturday night and gospel music. I can remember growing up as a kid here in Indiana, and we'd listen to in Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. The country station would would be on about nine, but at 930 there would always be a gospel quartet, the Jordanaires or a group like that and singing gospel tunes. And so for some reason, I think Saturday night and gospel music go hand in hand. And of course, I think we have videoed about every gospel group who's ever sung a song. So it's working out very, very well. We're having a great time.

You know, I have lived a life that if I had it to do over again, I don't even know what I would do differently because, you know, we had the days when we were out on the road a lot, and we have paired that way back, but thank God we're living in in the technological age where you can stay at home or stay in your studio and do a lot of communicating. Of course, in the last ten, 15 years, we have done so many videos that work its way into a TV show. It's very simple. Nothing simple, but we got so many of those programs. And so when Matt Crouch called me about that slot, I said, well, that's an important slot. You know, 8:00 on Saturday night, a lot of people are watching TV. And so I said, sure, we'd be happy to do it. We started the 1st of February. And from what I understand, the ratings are very good and the people love it. There's something about Saturday night and gospel music. I can remember growing up as a kid here in Indiana, and we'd listen to in Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. The country station would would be on about nine, but at 930 there would always be a gospel quartet, the Jordanaires or a group like that and singing gospel tunes. And so for some reason, I think Saturday night and gospel music go hand in hand. And of course, I think we have videoed about every gospel group who's ever sung a song. So it's working out very, very well. We're having a great time.

Well, you have stayed true over the years to gospel music, to the gospel message. And I've got to ask, as we get closer to Easter time, getting ready to celebrate Easter, how do you maintain a wonder of the gospel?

Well, you have stayed true over the years to gospel music, to the gospel message. And I've got to ask, as we get closer to Easter time, getting ready to celebrate Easter, how do you maintain a wonder of the gospel?

You know, from the very beginning? Uh, we've written more than I think our share of songs about Calvary. The second song I ever wrote, back in 1961 was a song called I Been to Calvary. I can say I've seen the Lord. I've been to Calvary through the witness of His Word each day at Calvary. And that was one of the first ones. And then down through the years, we've written songs like and The Old Rugged Cross made the difference in a life filled with heartache and defeat. I will praise him forever and ever, for the cross made the difference for me. And songs like I believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary, I'll believe, Whatever the cost, and When Time Has Surrendered and Earth Is No More, I'll still cling to the old rugged cross. And of course, probably our biggest song about Easter would be Because He Lives, which has been translated. I don't know how many different languages. Yes, we have written our share of Easter songs.

You know, from the very beginning? Uh, we've written more than I think our share of songs about Calvary. The second song I ever wrote, back in 1961 was a song called I Been to Calvary. I can say I've seen the Lord. I've been to Calvary through the witness of His Word each day at Calvary. And that was one of the first ones. And then down through the years, we've written songs like and The Old Rugged Cross made the difference in a life filled with heartache and defeat. I will praise him forever and ever, for the cross made the difference for me. And songs like I believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary, I'll believe, Whatever the cost, and When Time Has Surrendered and Earth Is No More, I'll still cling to the old rugged cross. And of course, probably our biggest song about Easter would be Because He Lives, which has been translated. I don't know how many different languages. Yes, we have written our share of Easter songs.

I was going to say the thing about because he lives in four lines, it explains the gospel. It's a remarkable song for that, isn't it?

I was going to say the thing about because he lives in four lines, it explains the gospel. It's a remarkable song for that, isn't it?

Well, in hindsight, I guess it is. I remember when we wrote it, I think in 69 or 70, you know, the world wasn't very stable. We'd just gone through the turbulent 60s. We weren't even through it yet. And that's the reason we wrote. Because we said who? When the world would bring a baby in this kind of atmosphere. Except historically, if you look at history, it's never been very stable, just one crisis after the next. There's never a perfect time to bring a child into the world. If you don't think that's true. Go ask Mary. That was a turbulent time also to bring Jesus into the world. But thank God, because of the hope of the resurrection, we can do that with courage in our hearts. So to answer your question, Eric, because he lives, I can face tomorrow because he lives. Fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future. Life is worth the living. Just, uh, just because he lives.

Well, in hindsight, I guess it is. I remember when we wrote it, I think in 69 or 70, you know, the world wasn't very stable. We'd just gone through the turbulent 60s. We weren't even through it yet. And that's the reason we wrote. Because we said who? When the world would bring a baby in this kind of atmosphere. Except historically, if you look at history, it's never been very stable, just one crisis after the next. There's never a perfect time to bring a child into the world. If you don't think that's true. Go ask Mary. That was a turbulent time also to bring Jesus into the world. But thank God, because of the hope of the resurrection, we can do that with courage in our hearts. So to answer your question, Eric, because he lives, I can face tomorrow because he lives. Fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future. Life is worth the living. Just, uh, just because he lives.

Important for the day. You wrote it. Just as important right now, today as I'm looking at your new program, The Gospel Hour, I'm wondering, what is it that you hope listeners will get and gain as they tune in?

Important for the day. You wrote it. Just as important right now, today as I'm looking at your new program, The Gospel Hour, I'm wondering, what is it that you hope listeners will get and gain as they tune in?

Well, I think it's the same thing that we hope they would get. You know, the other night when we were in Fort Lauderdale, in a world that's crazy and it's getting more crazy every day. Our only hope is the gospel. And I hope that they go out of the concert, or when they turn the TV set off or go, whatever else they're going to do, they'll go with hope in their hearts, realizing that we can face uncertain days because he lives. It's our only hope. So that's the bottom line. But even more than that is the joy and the journey. I think sometimes we think we can't wait till we get through with this. We get in high school and say, when I get out of high school, then we get in college, when I when we get out of college, and then we have kids and say, well, when we get these kids raised, you know, when I get old. If we don't watch it, we're going to win ourselves out of out of business, probably. But I think there's joy in the journey. And I and I hope that when they tune in, anything that we do that to realize that we are, uh, we are people of faith. We are people of hope. And we're a people of joy. I think the humor is very important part of, you know, of what we do. So, and according to our email, all of the above usually happens because they will say, I needed to laugh. I needed to cry. I needed to I needed to experience what I experienced here tonight. So, uh, all of those things I would hope would happen.

Well, I think it's the same thing that we hope they would get. You know, the other night when we were in Fort Lauderdale, in a world that's crazy and it's getting more crazy every day. Our only hope is the gospel. And I hope that they go out of the concert, or when they turn the TV set off or go, whatever else they're going to do, they'll go with hope in their hearts, realizing that we can face uncertain days because he lives. It's our only hope. So that's the bottom line. But even more than that is the joy and the journey. I think sometimes we think we can't wait till we get through with this. We get in high school and say, when I get out of high school, then we get in college, when I when we get out of college, and then we have kids and say, well, when we get these kids raised, you know, when I get old. If we don't watch it, we're going to win ourselves out of out of business, probably. But I think there's joy in the journey. And I and I hope that when they tune in, anything that we do that to realize that we are, uh, we are people of faith. We are people of hope. And we're a people of joy. I think the humor is very important part of, you know, of what we do. So, and according to our email, all of the above usually happens because they will say, I needed to laugh. I needed to cry. I needed to I needed to experience what I experienced here tonight. So, uh, all of those things I would hope would happen.

The Gaither Gospel Hour is going to be very special on April the 7th and the 16th. Those are a celebration of Easter hymns. And before we let you go, one more is it is finished. And I read an interesting story Gloria told about how this came about. You heard a message, apparently, and you wanted her to write a song, and she said, I need some time. Could you give a quick overview of how it is finished came about doctor Blake.

The Gaither Gospel Hour is going to be very special on April the 7th and the 16th. Those are a celebration of Easter hymns. And before we let you go, one more is it is finished. And I read an interesting story Gloria told about how this came about. You heard a message, apparently, and you wanted her to write a song, and she said, I need some time. Could you give a quick overview of how it is finished came about doctor Blake.

An old southern evangelist, spoke on the last words of Jesus. It is finished So that particular phrase obviously is is not a new phrase. The first part of the song talks about the historical death of Jesus on the cross and his saying, you know, my work is done. I mean, this is done. I can remember Doctor Larkin. He's such a poet. He said, and great drops of blood and sweat flowed down the beard of Jesus on down to the sand. And. And it whispered to the sand. It is finished. The sand whispered to the blade of grass. It is finished. The blade of grass whispered to the birds who picked it up. Said, it is finished. And the birds took it through the corridors of heaven and shouted, it is finished, it is finished! And we were so moved by the series that we said, we need to write a song about it. And we did. About the first three verses are about the historical death of Jesus. The last two verses are an introspective Perspective. Approach to it. What does that mean to me? And Gloria, who was a writer, said. Yet in my heart, the battle was raging. Not all prisoners of war had come home. These were battlefields of my own making. I didn't know that the war had been won. Then I heard that the King of the ages had fought all the battles for me. And victory was mine for the claiming. And now praise his name I am free. It is finished in my heart. Now it is finished. The battle is over. It is. I am tired of fighting wars that have been fought 2000 years ago. And it's over. I know how to fight it anymore.

An old southern evangelist, spoke on the last words of Jesus. It is finished So that particular phrase obviously is is not a new phrase. The first part of the song talks about the historical death of Jesus on the cross and his saying, you know, my work is done. I mean, this is done. I can remember Doctor Larkin. He's such a poet. He said, and great drops of blood and sweat flowed down the beard of Jesus on down to the sand. And. And it whispered to the sand. It is finished. The sand whispered to the blade of grass. It is finished. The blade of grass whispered to the birds who picked it up. Said, it is finished. And the birds took it through the corridors of heaven and shouted, it is finished, it is finished! And we were so moved by the series that we said, we need to write a song about it. And we did. About the first three verses are about the historical death of Jesus. The last two verses are an introspective Perspective. Approach to it. What does that mean to me? And Gloria, who was a writer, said. Yet in my heart, the battle was raging. Not all prisoners of war had come home. These were battlefields of my own making. I didn't know that the war had been won. Then I heard that the King of the ages had fought all the battles for me. And victory was mine for the claiming. And now praise his name I am free. It is finished in my heart. Now it is finished. The battle is over. It is. I am tired of fighting wars that have been fought 2000 years ago. And it's over. I know how to fight it anymore.

What a beautiful declaration. And I can't think of a better way to get ready for any Sunday morning worship service than to spend the evening before Saturday nights at 8:00 watching the Gaither Gospel Hour. Bill Gaither, thank you so much for, uh, just what you've written over the years and your faithfulness to the Lord.

What a beautiful declaration. And I can't think of a better way to get ready for any Sunday morning worship service than to spend the evening before Saturday nights at 8:00 watching the Gaither Gospel Hour. Bill Gaither, thank you so much for, uh, just what you've written over the years and your faithfulness to the Lord.

Jill.

Jill.