Cephas Hour
Episode 133
Release Date: September 25, 2024

The one that talks about being an unworthy servant.

 

There You Are Van Zant
Mountain Cathedrals Bob Bennett
God Of Wonders Mac Powell with Cliff and Danielle Young
Overflow Richie Furay
Jesus, Friend Of Sinners Casting Crowns
Bema Seat Petra
We’re Restless Rachel Wilhelm
On The Fritz Steve Taylor
What You Think I Am The Choir
Judas Within Vector
Maker Of The Universe Rachel Wilhelm and Phil Keaggy
Jesus Puts The Song In Our Hearts Love Song
Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus Larry Norman

Cephas Hour
Episode 132
Release Date: September 19, 2024

The one that talks about the Gospel of Mark.

 

Lighthouse Crystoria
Jesus Christ Van Zant
The Way Of The Rose Undercover
In The Garden Bob Dylan
All The Losers Win DeGarmo & Key
Jesus Is For Losers Steve Taylor
She Veil of Ashes
The Great American Novel Larry Norman
This Is The Way Love Is 77s
Vengeance With The Sword (Jeremiah 25) Rachel Wilhelm
Strong Hand Of Love Mark Heard
Selfish Man Oden Fong
Mansion Builder 2nd Chapter of Acts

Cephas Hour
Episode 129
Release Date: August 15, 2024

The one talking about the broken healing the broken.

 

Stand Up Petra
Grace The Choir
Sin For A Season Steve Taylor
God Good Devil Bad DeGarmo & Key
Bye Bye Babylon Whiteheart
Never Enough The Prayer Chain
Tears On The Red Veil of Ashes
Memory Lane Daniel Amos
When Love Comes To Town U2 with B.B. King
I Still Believe (Great Design) The Call
Maker Of The Universe Rachel Wilhelm with Phil Keaggy
Nobody’s Fault But Mine 77s
Come For The Children Oden Fong

And Now, After 126 Episodes, I Finally Introduce Myself!

Back in the day—1987, to be precise—I became the first and only music journalist covering Christian rock for a “secular” publication. The magazine in question was called PULSE! and its publisher was the Tower Records chain.

I wasn’t there because there were fans of the genre on staff. I was there because they hoped I’d bring advertising dollars from the Christian music industry. Which, though no fault of my own, seldom, if ever, happened. The Christian music industry had no qualms about pitching stories and artists to me in hopes I would cover suggested artists and albums. However, when it came time to put their money where their mouth was, they’d throw it away on glorified vanity house organs like Harvest Rock Syndicate, which reached only the existing fan base. I was out there trying to preach about the band named The Choir while they were content preaching to the choir about the band named The Choir. They hung me out to dry and then complained I wasn’t correctly watering their secret garden.

On the rare occasions when anyone at PULSE! spoke to me, the staff there made it quite plain that I was the rat bastard on board. They had nothing nice to say about my writing and barely, if ever, acknowledged the music itself. Somewhat offputting, but I persevered. I loved the music and artists, so whatever it took to get the word out is what I did.

Despite the open animosity, one day, out of the blue, one of the higher-ups at PULSE! asked me to write a feature story about Steve Taylor. I did so. for the November 1988 issue. Suddenly, the Christian music industry took full notice of me. I had offers to do stories for assorted magazines, write artist bios for new releases, etc. I wrote quite a bit for CCM Magazine and other publications, talking to many of the high-flying artists of the time: Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others. The only one I never spoke to was Amy Grant, and I had an interview scheduled until her management canceled it because they subsequently booked her for Good Morning America the day I was going to talk to her and said they’d reschedule my interview. I’m still waiting.

Even with the above, I never really fit in. I was too rock-oriented for the labels and too artist-oriented for the publications. In 1994, it all fell apart; the industry and I walked away from one another. Still, I had a good run.

Fast-forward a decade plus. After attending a 2005 concert in Southern California featuring bands such as Undercover, The Choir, Altar Boys, and Crunbächer, the writing bug hit me again. Now free to cover who I wanted how I wanted, I wrote a book featuring interviews with the artists I wanted to do stories on back in the day but seldom had the opportunity to do so. The book took a while, but it finally came together in 2009. I released an updated version in 2019. I also started doing Cephas Hour, a show that plays music by artists who have meant so much to me. It was initially on an Internet radio station; it’s now a stand-alone podcast.

Long story short, I was there. I’m not bragging when I say I was not an insignificant part of the scene. I’ve had artists long after the fact tell me a review I did in PULSE! of one of their records made a massive positive difference in sales, far more than anything in any Christian publications. So, yeah.

On Cephas Hour, I enjoy playing and promoting current independent artists who carry the artistic and spiritual integrity torch in addition to classic songs and artists. With that, back to the music.

Cephas Hour
Episode 124
Release Date: May 3, 2024

The one that talks about people who are not sane.

 

The Stand The Alarm
Bema Seat Petra
Shadow Of The Cross The Choir
OK Five For Fighting
The Cross Was His Own Veil of Ashes
I Still Believe (Great Design) The Call
Jesus Is For Losers Steve Taylor
Related 77s
Banquet At The World’s End Daniel Amos
In The Silence Crystoria
Maker Of The Universe Rachel Wilhelm with Phil Keaggy
Doulos Kemper Crabb

Cephas Hour
Episode 122
Release Date: March 14, 2024

The one that embraces the process.

 

Rejoice Phil Keaggy
The Finish Line Steve Taylor
Dig Adam Again
Hand In Hand DeGarmo & Key
Dig Here, Said The Angel Daniel Amos
Grace The Choir
We’re Restless Rachel Wilhelm
Holy Hold 77s
Leaving The Past Behind Larry Norman
A Cry For Help Veil of Ashes
Life Begins At The Cross Altar Boys
Searching For Love Sweet Comfort Band
Sometimes Alleluia Chuck Girard

Cephas Hour
Episode 118
Release Date: January 27, 2024

The one that talks about talks about avoiding hero worship.

 

We’re Restless Rachel Wilhelm with Resound Worship
Bema Seat Petra
I Can’t Get Over It 77s
If You’re Listening The Choir
Hero Steve Taylor
Dig Adam Again
Fast Forward Prodigal
I’m Gonna Love You Till The Day I Die Andy Pratt
Lord Of The Past Bob Bennett
With The Tired Eyes Of Faith Swirling Eddies
Ready To Fly Oden Fong
Come For The Children Oden Fong
She Begins To Sing Oden Fong

Cephas Hour
Episode 109
Release Date: September 9, 2023

The one that says goodbye for now to Mylon LeFevre.

Hero Steve Taylor
Rise Crystoria
Corpse Veil Of Ashes
Fifty-Eight The Prayer Chain
Gospel Ship Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart
I’m Learning To Fly The Choir
In Paradise (In Paradisum) Rachel Wilhelm
Bright Star AD
Heaven Of My Heart Whiteheart
Unraveling Shelly Moore
I Plan, God Laughs Terry Scott Taylor
Imagine That The Lost Dogs
Broken Ladders To Glory Daniel Amos
Ready To Fly Oden Fong

Cephas Hour
Episode 98
Release Date: June 1, 2023

The one talking about Memorial Day, moving, and mammon.

People Tend To Forget Pantano & Salsbury
Shadow Of The Most High Redemption Springs Music
Outskirts 77s
What Is The Measure Of Your Success? Steve Taylor
Alleluia Always Rosalie
Traveling Mercies The Lost Dogs
Days And Nights Daniel Amos
A Sentimental Song The Choir
Isabel Sweet Comfort Band
Morningstar Allies
Promenade Undercover
Tangerine Leaves The Throes
Never Enough The Prayer Chain

Cephas Hour
Episode 96
Release Date: May 6, 2023

The one talking about truth.

Jesus Is For Losers Steve Taylor
Cry Out To Jesus Third Day
The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride Of Life The Lost Dogs
Wedding Song (There Is Love) Noel Paul Stookey
Wake Up My Soul Richie Furay
Overflow Richie Furay
In My Father’s House Richie Furay
White Eagle Oden Fong
Selfish Man Oden Fong
Ready To Fly Oden Fong
I Will Return Daniel Amos
Father’s Arms Daniel Amos
Safety Net Daniel Amos
Come And See Bob Bennett
Joy Deep As Sorrow Bob Bennett
Lord Of The Past Bob Bennett