“ON THE ROAD WITH TNPQ”

Hello to you all from the great state of Oklahoma!!! Or should I say “howdy”! Well I know it’s been a while since I’ve written and I do apologize. But let me take this opportunity to try and catch you up on TNPQ. But before I do…let me take a minute to tell you about a miracle that God has performed!!!!

PRAISE REPORT and BREAKING NEWS…Our good friends Jay and Jerianne Alexander are now the proud parents of Jacie Christina Alexander born on May 8^th at 1:57 PM and weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz. and 20 ½” long. And I have seen pictures and she is absolutely beautiful!!! As many of you know, Jay and Jerianne could not have children and have been trying for the last several years to adopt. Sometimes they have been disappointed thinking this would be the one…but just to be let down and rejected. I know their faith has been tested but I have seen them stand strong in the Lord and believe that He would send them a child in His own perfect timing. And that is just what He did!!!!! I know they are thankful to God for their little miracle sent straight from Heaven. God does all things well…Jacie was even born on the anniversary of Jay’s mothers first day in Heaven!!!! God is good….all the time!!!!!! Congratulations Jay and Jerianne!!! We are so proud for you and we know that Jacie will certainly be loved and spoiled!! We know she will also become a New Plainsmen fan!! I love it!!!!!

Saturday, March 3 – The New Plainsmen were honored once again to be a part of the 2^nd Annual Benefit Concert for the American Cancer Society and Rusk County Relay for Life Good Hope Team in Henderson, TX. Our dear friends Doyle and Sallie Green along with the help of their church Good Hope Free Will Baptist worked very hard to promote this concert. We had an excellent turnout and what a great group of folks. None other than Mr. Tom Perryman from KKUS “The Ranch” in Tyler, TX was the emcee for the evening and told a little of his history in the Henderson area. Hattie Bridges and Mrs. Amy Blanton also performed along with the Henderson High School Choir. They each did an outstanding job. TNPQ felt like this was a very successful concert and such a great spirit was felt during this time that was shared by all. Following the sangin’…we were fortunate enough to be fed by Doyle and Sallie and their Relay for Life Team. WOW…you talk about some scrumptydeliicious barbeque….ummmm, ummmm good!!!!!!! I must have been the bad boy of the group once again because I was served my own meal by one of the dear ladies of the church. Well, let me just say that there was a little penicillin growing on a few of the items!!!! I’m glad everyone was able to have a good laugh on my behalf!!!! Thanks to everyone who came out to support the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. Also thank you to Good Hope Free Will Baptist Church and the Rusk County Relay for Life Good Hope Team. I would like to throw out super big thanks to Doyle and Sallie for all your hard work in putting this concert together and especially for your love and support of TNPQ. We love you and appreciate you. Also thanks to our friend Chad for all the help and for cleaning up during one of our songs!!! Ha, ha!!!!

Sunday evening, March 31 – TNPQ made our way to New Harmony Baptist Church in Tyler, TX for another great concert. This is the home church to many of our dear friends and is also where Robbie Caldwell is the Pastor. Now for those of you who might not know, Pastor Robbie is Ms. Bonnie’s son! We did have to apologize to him for us getting so many of those great desserts that he would probably get otherwise!!!! Once again, so many of our dear friends turned out along with folks that were attending for the very first time!! We always love to meet new people that love southern gospel music. Brother Bobby Baron and his lovely wife prepared the meal for us that evening. Wow…you guessed it…more barbeque!!!!! Not only do we love to eat but also we do love barbeque. Brother Bobby you did an outstanding job!!! Thanks to those who prepared the yummy desserts. I must say it was great for me to have my little nephew Hunter with us this weekend. It was also good to have Donna (Dwain’s wife) and Amber (Billy’s daughter) traveling with us. Thanks to all who came out. Remember, we wouldn’t have anyone to sing to if you didn’t show up!!!!! Thanks to Brother Robbie and all the great staff at New Harmony Baptist Church for making us feel so welcome!!!

Saturday evening, April 7 – This evening we found ourselves not in Texas, but in the great state of Oklahoma…Tulsa to be exact. Brother Peter Enns invited The New Plainsmen to be featured at his Southern Gospel Worship Gathering. Wow…what a great worship gathering this is!! There were around 1,000 folks who came out for some great southern gospel music!!! Opening the concert were the Good Word Worship Singers, Joyful Sound Quartet along with New Revival. It was good to cross paths again with Brother Hal Kittchingham of New Revival. TNPQ took the stage and really had a great time bringing gospel music to the folks “New Plainsmen Style”!! My hats off to Brother Peter Enns along with his partner Brother Ted Robertson who has really built a great singing in the Tulsa area. Keep up the good work!!! Before I forget, it was good to meet Randy Mobley who is the songwriter to “Jesus Saved My Soul”. Thanks for writing such a great song and letting us sing it!!! It was good to see a longtime friend of mine and Renee’s that we haven’t seen in quite some time…Doyle McAlester and his wife of The Tulsan’s. We have been involved in many singings together over the years. Also, it was quite a surprise to walk in and find sitting right behind Renee’s mixer…none other than Tommy and Nila Shackelford from Fayetteville, AR!!! Thanks once again to Brother Peter and Brother Ted for having TNPQ and already inviting us back for 2008!!! God bless your ministry. Well thanks to all who came out to enjoy some good ole’, get down, go to Tulsa-town, southern gospel music!!!!

Easter, April 8 – TNPQ didn’t sing today, but what a great time to reflect on our hope…the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!! I don’t know about you…but I know where I would be if it were not for this beautiful and powerful day that we celebrate. I’m thankful that it is not just all about the Easter bunny and all the eggs you can find with hopefully some surprise inside…but it is ALL ABOUT HIM!!!!!! Let me challenge you…let’s go out and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection to someone that has never heard!!!!

Saturday evening, April 21 – The boy’s headed for Kemp, TX to sing at the Spring Fling 2007 Benefit Concert for Kemp First United Methodist Church promoted by Denise Spaniel (who by the way is Brent’s sister). We actually had to eat a little Mexican food early afternoon just to get geared up for the evening concert!!! Thanks to Harold and Margaret Gordon (Brent’s mom and dad) for taking care of our meal. We really appreciate it!! We had a good time of fellowship during our meal. It was good to visit with Dr.Running and his wife. He is the superintendent of Kemp Schools and was also the emcee for the concert. Well after full stomachs, we headed to the auditorium to get set up for the evening. Stacy Taylor (Brent’s sister) opened the concert and did a great job. Taylor Clearman and Josh McLintock of the Guitar Club from the Kemp High School also performed. Great job guys!!!! It was good to have Brenda and Amber (Billy’s wife and daughter) spend the evening with us!! TNPQ had a good time and appreciate Denise and all the folks that helped to put this concert together. God bless each of you!

I would like to mention some special birthdays!!! By the way, if I fail to mention your birthday then it’s because you didn’t tell me or I just flat forgot!!! Lol!!!!! This getting old isn’t what it’s cracked up to be!!!!! Now for the special birthdays:

April 17 – Happy 9^th Birthday to my special little man, Hunter Matthews! We were honored to get to surprise him at school on his birthday in Cabot, AR. It was great to hang out with you. I love you dude!!!

April 27 – Happy Birthday to none other than our own Brenda Dotson!!! We love you Brenda and appreciate all that you do for TNPQ!!!

April 27 – Happy Birthday to our friend Jerianne Alexander!! You’ll be old one of these days…just wait!!!! We love you and appreciate your friendship!

April 29 – Happy 83^rd Birthday to my sweet momma…Leona Sparks! We were fortunate to be in town and be able to celebrate her birthday with all her kids in attendance!! I love you mom and thanks for all your prayers!!!!

April 29 and 30 – Happy Birthday’s to Don and Gayle Mitchell!!! We love you and appreciate you!

May 4 – Happy Birthday to Judy Jones. We love you and appreciate you and your family.

Mother’s Day was May 13th…I hope you didn’t forget to tell your mom how special she is on such an important day. I know I would not be where I am today if not for the prayers of a praying momma!!! I don’t know what it is about moms but they NEVER give up on their kids!!!! Thank God! I’m not sure how much longer God will allow me to have my mom around so I want

to be sure and give her roses now while she can appreciate them!! To all the mom’s…we love you and appreciate your love, prayers and sacrifices made for your family. God bless you!

God is opening some special doors for TNPQ and we thank Him for his guidance and direction. I’ll take this time to tell you about some special dates that are coming up:

May 19 – TNPQ will be in Bonham, TX for a benefit concert for “Fannin County Meals On Wheels”. Note: The location has changed so be sure and check our “appearance page” to see the exact location. Come out and enjoy a great night of Southern Gospel Music while helping out such a worthy cause. We hope to see you there!

June 2 – We’ll be in downtown Durant, OK for the Magnolia Festival that will begin at 10 AM and go until 2 PM. We would love to have you join us so mark this one on your calendar.

June 12 – The New Plainsmen will be featured at the “Oklahoma Grocer’s Association Convention” in Oklahoma City, OK. This will be open only to Grocer’s from Oklahoma. We thank God for opening this door for us and we are looking forward to it.

June 16 – TNPQ will be providing the music along with Charles Johnson and The Revivers and others at the 52^nd Annual Gospel Singing at St. Matthews Presbyterian Church in Broken Bow, OK. The singing will begin at 7 PM and go until 1 AM. If you like lots of good ole’ southern gospel singing, then I invite you to attend!! Bring your lawn chairs as this will be outside.

July 1 – TNPQ will be kicking of their Fourth of July festivities in Brownsboro, TX at Rock Hill Baptist Church for their two morning services. We will then head to Calera, OK (just across the Texas line) to First Baptist Church to help them celebrate the 4th. We would like to invite you to join us either in Texas or in Oklahoma for a special day of celebrating our freedom!! Hey you could just attend both!!!!!

September 23 – The New Plainsmen have been invited to be the featured Southern Gospel Quartet at the International Arts Festival in Lawton, OK. For three days, the city of Lawton (which by the way is only about 40 miles from Chickasha) presents all kinds of different musical groups from Jazz to Pop to Classical to…you name it!!! And yes…The boy’s have been asked to showcase our favorite…Southern Gospel Music!!!! Wow!!! We thank God for opening this door and we pray that some song or something spoken will plant a seed in someone’s heart that might have never heard the “good news” of Jesus Christ!!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

**A good friend of TNPQ’s by the name of Gayla Fooks (and husband Tim) has requested prayer for her daddy who will undergo 4-5 bypasses on his heart Monday, May the 21^st. We assured Gayla that we would be praying for her daddy as well as for her and the family.

**A family that was very dear to Betty Cook’s (Chairperson for the East Texas Yamboree Festival) Granddaughter’s heart was in an accident and desires our prayers. Please pray for them along with Hanna (Betty’s granddaughter).

**Stacy Bales Gagnapan (Our good friend in MO)…Stacy’s husband Aaron has gone to serve in Iraq for two years. Help us pray for his safety. And also Stacy’s grandmother, Dorothy Adams has suffered a heart attack and desires our prayers.

**Velta Moore (a family member of Renee’s) has Lupus and really desires our prayers.

**Barbara Smotherman has been having some health problems but is hopefully on the road to recovery. Keep her in your prayers.

**My father-in-law (Dale Lane) is having some complications with the knee he had surgery on a few months ago to the point of almost blacking out several times. Please pray that the doctors can find the problem causing this and also help with the pain in his other knee and ankle.

**Bill and Marilyn Newman…we love you both and want you to know we are still praying for you.

**Renee’s sister Jamie (Hunter’s mom) is in her fifth month of pregnancy and has been put on semi bed rest due to some complications. Please continue to pray that the conditions will improve. God has already answered prayer and we’re thankful for that.

**Please pray for Billy’s maw-maw and my mother who are both in nursing homes. From speaking with Billy in regards to his maw-maw and my mother…they both just want to go home (to Heaven) and don’t understand why God doesn’t just take them. Please pray for them both, as I know they grow weary day in and day out. Like I’ve always said to my momma…when God’s through with you down here He will take you home.

**Please pray for all of our troops who are fighting for our freedom. And let’s not forget to pray for their families also.

**Please pray for our nation, our leaders, our churches and our pastor’s.

HELLO’S TO:

**Ron Hammer – Look forward to being with you in Bonham, TX!!

**Glenn and Donna Roberson – Just checkin’ to see if you’re still kickin’!!!!!

**Richard and Janie Odette – Been missin’ you lately!!

**Jo Simms – Hope you enjoyed the Texas Ranger’s tickets!!!!

**Hugh and Mary Speer – Good to see you at Kemp!

**Tom Carter – Let us know how you’re doing!!

**Stella and Robert Anderson – Hope your doing better!!

**Ed and Anna Sebastion – Good to see ya at Kemp!

**Hugh and Ann Thornton – Where ya been…off seeing the world?

**Hallie Gordon – Congratulation’s on loosing another tooth!!!! And thanks for blessing so many with your singing!!! Love you!

Please remember to keep The New Plainsmen in your prayers. We just want God to lead and guide our every step. So please pray with us. We sure hope to see you at a NPQ stop somewhere down the road.

See ya on the road,

James