{"id":7294,"date":"2016-03-04T07:00:41","date_gmt":"2016-03-04T13:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?p=7294"},"modified":"2016-03-02T12:12:12","modified_gmt":"2016-03-02T18:12:12","slug":"i-heard-god-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2016\/03\/04\/i-heard-god-today\/","title":{"rendered":"I heard God Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"111652025\"<\/a>For many people, upon hearing the phrase, \u201ccountry music\u201d the first idea that comes to their mind is one of the three: drinking, trucks, or heartbreak<\/a>. Personally, one of the things that I have always loved about country music was the fact that faith and God was intertwined so heavily in the songs of multiple artists over the years. The list contains performers from Johnny Cash<\/a> to Carrie Underwood <\/a>to Randy Travis<\/a>. The prominence of faith in country songs range from subtle hints to the most blatant lyrics one could listen to.<\/p>\n

The fact that country music generated in the south (AKA The Bible Belt), a place known for deep religious roots, it isn\u2019t hard to understand why there are a plethora of songs that tell listeners about God, the concept of heaven, or miracles being done. I love how the genre has artists that sing about the values that they hold dear to them, despite some backlash from critics.<\/p>\n

The prime example of this is Carrie Underwood. Underwood had recorded the song, \u201cSomething in the Water,\u201d that tells the story of her being baptized and how it changed her life, with lyrics such as: \u201cSo I followed that preacher man down to the river\/ and now I’m changed\/ and now I’m stronger.\u201d Despite criticism from her atheist fans Carrie was quoted expressing to Glamour magazine, \u201cI’m not the first person to sing about God, Jesus or faith [or] any of that, and I won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last for me, either. If you don’t like it, change the channel.\u201d I admire her strong stance for her faith and the fact that she isn\u2019t going to waiver because some people may not like it.<\/p>\n

Despite the fact that religion and Christianity is a controversial topic that usually isn\u2019t heard in other genres Brad Paisley said it best when he sang<\/a>, \u201cAnd tellin’ folks Jesus is the answer can rub ’em wrong\u2026 But this is country music and we do!\u201d My love for country music will never change because this is the only field of music that sings about concepts of value and ones that are important to me.<\/p>\n

I have compiled a list of my Top 3 Favorite Faith Filled songs and why they mean so much to me\u2026<\/p>\n

1). I believe by Brooks and Dunn<\/p>\n

I love the story in these lyrics because it tells of times when people go through hard times of loss and the only way to find the strength to get through it is by reading the Bible, praying, and understanding there is more after this life ends.<\/p>\n