Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving one and all. As we gather with family, loved ones and friends on Thursday - I offer this week's selection to acknowledge the grace and power of God. The song is "How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin. (Check out another version - live w/video- here. )

Some of my favorite thoughts on Thanksgiving:

"Thanksgiving is a time for remembering and appreciating the special people in our lives.
Our home is warmed by the love of family and friends." - unknown

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. " - Gaertner

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." - H.U. Westermayer

"Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns." - Anonymous

Safe travels and God bless.

I Passed by on the Other Side of the Road...

As the holidays get nearer, I've been thinking about how blessed my life truly is. Like all of us, I have some adversity to deal with - but overwhelmingly my life is comfortable and peaceful. When I heard Twenty-First Time by Monk & Neagle , it was a huge reminder of my own selfishness.

Everyday, I see folks who struggle with homelessness, illness, poverty and hunger. More often than not, I stare straight ahead or drive off to avoid interacting with them. No good samaritan, here.

Do these people need my help? Someone else, better yet - the government; or a church; or a shelter, they're all better equipped to give them assistance... right??? After all, I've got bills to pay; work to get back to; errands to complete... What have I done for the least of these?

I know its fashionable to help the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas - here's hoping that fashion gives way to genuine year-round compassion..... for me and maybe for you, too.

Week #3 No news is good news

With all the grim economic news - another $40 billion to AIG; Circuit City filing bankruptcy; GM running out of cash; DHL closing US operations; American Express laying off thousands - I've been struggling to stay optimistic.

This week I chose "Everlasting God" by Lincoln Brewster. Its based on the passage that's probably my all-time favorite bible verse. (click Isaiah 40: 28-31 to see it) Brewster's young son, Levi, does a remarkable job of reading it at the end of the song.

For me, the most memorable and powerful message of this verse came from the movie "Chariots of Fire". The portrayal of Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympian, showed that if we hold true to what we know is good and right, then God will lift us up and we will have the strength to overcome any obstacle...

Week #2

Whether you supported John McCain or Barack Obama in yesterday's election, we're all a part of a historic accomplishment.

I was overwhelmed by Obama's victory speech from Grant Park in my hometown - Chicago. Not only by his words, and the images of the crowd, but by the significance of a black man being elected president of the United States. I was impressed with John McCain too. He said all of the things we've come to expect from a concession speech, but this time I truly believed he meant the words he was saying - demonstrated by his quieting every negative response from the spirited supporters in the room.

So whats all this got to do with music? Well, it got me thinking about opportunity and healing and being united. This week I selected Big House by Audio Adrenaline. A good reminder that our father accepts everyone - regardless of race, status, wealth, position or political party....

Peace,

Mark