Thought Quotient

‘Nothing Says Christmas Like ….’ - by Kerri Pomarolli

OK, is it me or is it weird that I spend the blessed holiday of Christ’s birth at Pechanga Resort and Casino playing slots with my family and eating the $19.99 buffet?

We were all staying at this condo in San Diego, and of course my mom didn’t want to cook. So she finds out we’re close to all these Indian Casinos and despite her southern belle, Protestant appearance, she has a severe slot machine addiction.

Since Christmas was a Sunday we had to find a local church so “God would bless our gambling,” mom said! (Yeah she says she’s Christian!) Anyway, we ended up going to mass, arriving 30 minutes late and having to sit in the folding chairs at the back in the “Pagan” section. As we were going up for communion, my husband Ron has no idea what he is doing so he’s behind me in line doing Catholic bits from his friend’s comedy acts. I’m sure he’s going straight to hell for talking in the communion line. I learned that in Catholic school.

We drive away down the windy nature-filled road, and there it is like a pink flashing beacon: “Pechanga Casino”. Ahhh…what an oasis. I felt like the Griswalds in the Family Vacation movies.

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“Are you strong? Where did you get the strength? Are you intelligent? When did you create your mind? Are you talented? Who gave you the talent? What have you that you did not receive? Therefore, what do we have that we should not be grateful for? How wonderful God is. There is so much for which we can be grateful to God. How innumerable are the goodnesses of God.” - D. James Kennedy

1 Cor. 4:7

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Why should Christians be thankful?

From Charles Stanley:

Pardoned of all our sin. Clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. Made a child of holy God. These are three reasons to praise and thank the Lord every day.

Note:
We’re pardoned of all, not some of our sin.
There’s absolutely no way we can earn salvation. So, Jesus offers it to us as a gift.
We are children of God, and God plays for keeps. We are His for all eternity.

When Michael heard worship leader Leeland Mooring and his band, Leeland at a showcase in Nashville, TN, he immediately knew something special was coming. When all was said and done 7 songs on Stand were either co-written or written by Mooring.

This week we’re introducing you to Leeland’s “Be Lifted High”, a wonderful song that you can introduce in your worship services!

• MWS and Leeland - ‘Be Lifted High’ video

• Free sheet music

Related Link:

• Leeland on Google Video

“And I asked them a simple, but penetrating question: “If you were to die tonight, do you konw for sure whether or not you would go to heaven?” Over and over the answer was “No.”
“I am not forgiving or patient enough!” said one. “Not with what I have done,” said another. Uncertainty cloaked each answer. Heads hung in shame. But not for long. The Gospel lifts heads and hearts. I shared who Jesus was, why He died on the cross, the fact of His resurrection, and the free gift of eternal life He holds out to each of us based on His work, not ours.” - Mark Earley, Prison Fellowship Ministries

I’ve just come off of one of the most unusual experiences of my life. This new album, number 19 by the way, was the fastest I’ve ever made a record in my career. Forty days from beginning to end. It was a whirlwind. It was a blast.

As a result of being so pressed for time, all of the songs were being written at once. Lyrics were flying across the internet and over fax machines, demos were being cut late at night, writers were coming and going…it was barely controlled chaos.

But, in the midst of it all, songs began to emerge that truly reflect some ideas that have captured my imagination lately. As I listen through the songs now I hear an urgency to the lyrics because there wasn’t time in the process to sit and discuss what I wanted to say. The process was more like a download of all of these thoughts and feelings that were coming out of my experience leading worship at my church. Themes like embracing the lost, stepping out of our comfort zone and taking a stand.

Being involved so much in my church has given me insight into what the church is really about. We need to think of what happens on Sunday as only 10% of what it means to be the church. The rest of the week should be 90% of what it means to be the church, the real body of Christ.

So, the album is called Stand. It is a call to stand for what you believe in. It is a call to stand outside of the walls of the church, rubbing shoulders with the lost. It is a call to stand because you’ve captured a glimpse of something so powerful you cannot stay seated. It is a call to stand “for the One who gave it all.”

This album is more than a collection of songs; it is an experience. I would encourage you to listen to it all the way through in one sitting. Hopefully, you will be moved and inspired to step out and take a stand.