With their rebelutionary-themed album Opposite Way due in stores tomorrow, Brett and I want to share excerpts of an interview we did last October for Do Hard Things with Leeland frontman and namesake, 19-year-old Leeland Mooring.
Having spent time with Leeland, his brother Jack, and the other members of the band, Brett and I can unhesitatingly commend them to you as true young men of God — with a shared heart to see our generation living for His glory.
“Our new album is meant to encourage our generation to live passionately for the Lord, even when it means going the ‘opposite way’ of the world,” they explain. “Our goal is to be a creative outlet, helping to raise up a new generation of worshippers who do whatever it takes to make that ‘opposite way’ a reality in their lives.”
In our interview with him last year, Leeland shared some of the story and heart behind the band’s ministry. We think you’ll be blessed and encouraged by these words from a fellow rebelutionary and brother in Christ:
A&B: Tell us briefly about Leeland the band. What is your mission as a band?
LM: Our band actually started about six years ago. We’re from Baytown, Texas, right outside of Houston. We all met at my mom and dad’s home church and on Thursday nights we’d lead worship for church and for youth group.
My brother Jack was the youth pastor. I was about 14, and Jack was about 17. So we were all super young, but we started just leading worship, and that’s how the band started.
Our mission is to see our generation completely on fire with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s just like what you guys are writing about — doing hard things. That’s what we want to see our generation doing. It’s not just speaking about God, but acting out in their faith.
A&B: Tell us a little about your travels as a kid.
LM: When I was 11, my parents, me, Jack and my little sister went on the road in a Lincoln Town Car. We went from church to church and ministered with two different evangelists. We’d be the music team. I would sing, Jack would sing, and mom would sing. Dad would play keyboard and run some tracks. And it was really cool. We’d travel as a family, and we did that for two years.
Every once in a while we’d do churches on our own, and my role was just that I would sing with my brother. We’d harmonize with my mom. And that’s where we literally started getting a hunger to start leading worship. It was there at that time.
A&B: You wrote your first song when you were 11. Tell us about that song.
LM: I wrote a song called “Shine.” I didn’t have an instrument at the time, so I let my dad kind of do the chords to it, and I just sang the melody for my dad. My mom helped me with the lyrics for it. It was in California where I wrote it, and a week later we sang it at this church in Illinois.
The whole time the church really didn’t want us to be there. You could tell. It was awkward. And I got up there, and my mom said, “Leeland, sing your song now.”
And so I started just singing the chorus, and my dad was playing at the piano. And about halfway through singing the song, I opened my eyes, because my mom had stopped singing. And I looked out, and my mom was down there praying for the whole congregation. They had all walked up to the floor. About 500 people had just come to the altar, when before they were just staring at us.
Some people were just lifting their hands and tears running down their face. God’s presence just entered the room. We found out later that there had been a lot of stuff happening in church, and God restored a lot of stuff that day. And the pastor handed over the whole service to us.
It was a huge God thing. It was the type of thing where I said, “This is what I want to do. This is what I’m called to do.” And so I started writing. That’s where that whole thing started.
A&B: You signed a writer’s deal when you were 15. You recorded your first album when you were 17. You’ve worked with and written multiple songs for Michael W. Smith. God has clearly given you an incredible gift. When other young people look at you, should all they see be Wow, that guy is just really super-talented or should they see blood, sweat, and tears?
LM: You know, people are always looking up to other people, whether it’s an author or it’s a band or a speaker. You’re always looking up to somebody, and deep down in sometimes you might say, “I’ll never be that talented.” But I would rather people look at us, and look at me, and say, “Man, he’s got a passion for God, and I want that.” When people look at our ministry and look at me, I want them to feel God, and I want them to be inspired. I want to see them to see the blood of Jesus. I want them to see the blood, sweat and tears that God has put into our lives.
I do want them to see hard work, because we have done a lot of hard work. There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into it. There is. You have to work hard at it. If you’re going to pursue something — pursue a dream — you’ve got to put actions behind your faith. And that’s true in anything. So definitely blood, sweat and tears. Definitely hard work. But again, it has been nothing apart from the hand of God, and I want people to be moved towards the Lord.
And that’s the beauty of God, because it’s not age that God sees. If you’ve got a hunger for God, it doesn’t matter how much talent you have. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how experienced you are in certain areas. It really just comes down to you having a passion for God and wanting to know the Lord.
To be completely honest, I would be more than happy if our records got taken off the shelf and the Christian industry completely just shunned us away, and we went back to our youth group of 30 people, and we’re leading worship for them. I would be more than happy to go back to Baytown, Texas, with chemical plants. I’m happy to go back to that town and serve my church.
And I’m not trying to say that to build myself up. I’m honestly saying you have to come to a point where you just have a passion to serve God. That’s when you’re used.
A&B: What is your vision for our generation?
LM: I think our generation is just welling with intensity, ready to explode and do something huge—and once they figure out that it’s God that they need, once they figure out that God is the answer, and not only do they hear about God, but they see God… Wow.
If I had to say one thing to our generation, I would encourage them to live like Jesus. Live like God to the world. Literally give up your life to God. If you’re not going to give up your life, and you’re not willing to give up your life, don’t even pursue it, because God says, “I would rather have you hot or cold. I wouldn’t want you lukewarm.”
Dream huge. Do huge things. Don’t limit yourself just because you don’t have a certain talent or you don’t have certain things. Don’t limit yourself. Dream big. Dream as big as you possibly can, and God will dream bigger than that. And He’ll do awesome things in your life. Just go for it.
Wow! Cool interview! I’m really exited about Leeland and his heart for God, and I do look at him and say, “Man, he’s got a passion for God, and I want that.” It’s true, and we should all strive to get there. And we don’t have to be stage stars to do it. We can be on fire for God and not be a national musical group, but we can share the gospel and share our faith and our fire for God. BTW, the song “opposite way” is one of my new favorites. 🙂
That’s really cool! What a blessing! It’s really wonderful that God used all your hard work and talents to minister to the body of Christ that way!
Wow, how did you get to them?
Wow, I love Leeland they’re the best band ever! I saw them in concert and after the concert I went home said “wow, these guys really have a passion for God and an intemacy with Him. I want that.” So I started reading my Bible more and talking to God. Like, when I’m laying in bed I just tell Him about my day and He’s my best friend. It feels so good when you’re really close with God. I encourage all of you to have a close relationship with Him.
Wow, Very inspirational I’ve never heard any of leelands music, but I really liked that article.
I have heard many good things about Leeland – this post confirming them.
Leeland – I don’t know if you’ll ever read this: but thank you so much for your encouragement and sharing your heart. I pray that God will continue to bless you as you pour out your life before Him.
~Lady Tai
Oh my jolly ranchers. I thought Leeland’s page in the most recent CCM magazine was awesome. But THIS.. just took my breath away with how filled to the brim God is in it. Praise the Lord for letting you all shine through him! Certain parts (namely Leeland singing “Shine” in Illinois) made me cry and go into shock. I pray that even more amazing things will be in (the band) Leeland’s future! Not that it mwans anything, but Leeland is my favorite band. I listen to 50+ amazing Christian bands, but Leeland captured my full attention the first time I heard them. Thank you so very, very much for this article! I’ll hold it to my heart.
Oh that is really funny! I just started listening to Leeland yesterday! 😛
They are a really good band and now I know that they are really Christ centered.
Eric
I’m so happy y’all did this interview…I love Leeland. Their sound is so refreshing and uplifting. I used to not listen to Christian music at all, because I had difficulty finding bands with a great, unique sound in addition to good lyrics, but Leeland really drew me in to the Christian music sphere. I’m definitely looking forward to the release of their CD tomorrow. 🙂
actually…Leeland’s been at this way before he ever wrote his first song or ever met up with M.W. Smith.
His heart of worship has been beating with the passion for God’s presence way before his parents allowed him on stage with their family in worship…go figure…
Wow!! this is really encouraging; as a music person, I love hearing about performing artists who are out there breathing Christ and Christ crucified to all those they come in contact with. Thanks!
(Regarding the phrasing in that first sentence: I’m a little bit of a punctuation lover and I thought it’d be awesome to refute all those claims that nobody uses real punctuation on the internet. So there: a semicolon and two colons all in one comment! Ha!)
i LOVE leeland.
whenever they’re in town my friend and i always go.
leeland mooring is a really good speaker as well as performer.
they’re all REALLY good people.
God bless
1 corinthians 13:4-8
Great interview! I’ve been a fan of Leeland ever since my sister went to their debut concert at CBA a couple years ago and brought home their CD. My favorite song of his is “Be Lifted High”. It’s not on their album but you can watch/listen to it on YouTube.
It seems to be getting harder to find good worship music but these guys are the real deal.
Off topic…
But did you, Alex (or Brett), ever get my review for your book?
And is “Wheat” going to be available for guys?
~ Kyle
Wow! Is all I can say! And thanks Nicole,you are so encouraging.I hope we can meet each other some time soon.Your Sister in Christ,Hannah
I love what Leeland said when he said, “When people look at our ministry and look at me, I want them to feel God, and I want them to be inspired. I want them to see the Blood of Jesus. I want them to see the Blood, Sweat and Tears that God has put into our lives.”
In the book, By Searching, Isobel Kuhn says the following:
“I was elected girl class speaker for the graduation exercises in December, 1926. I prayed for a message, taking as my theme, ‘The Print of the Nails,’ based on Thomas’s words in John 20:25, ‘Except I shall see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His Side, I will not believe,’ making it representative of what the unbelieving world is unconsciously saying to the Christian church today, The heathen around us have not much respect or interest in a smug, ordinary Christianity. ‘If it costs you nothing, what proof have you that it has any value?’ is their indifferent, shrugging attitude. But when they see in any life ‘the print of the nails,’ they are challenged and, like Thomas of old, if they can be made to see Him at that moment, they will fall down and cry, ‘My Lord and my God!’ ”
I love that! As Alex mentioned before (with regards to the motto, “Do Hard Things,”) it says in James 2 that faith without works is dead. We do the work that God does through us — and we bear the blood, the sweat and the tears that go with it . But we do not suffer so that others can see our suffering or our scars. Nor do we shed blood, weep or work, so that others can see our blood, our tears or our work. Rather, we do it all, and He enables us to do it by His Power alone, so that people who witness the scars will witness His Scars and so that the people who see blood, sweat, and tears will see His redeeming Blood shed, will know the work He did and the pain He bore in the garden when He sweat Blood because of the task ahead of Him, and will know the tears He cries over us that we might KNOW Him and fellowship with Him and experience the Resurrection from the dead (now).
Hannah Williams: Quit following me! I’m kidding. You have encouraged me, as well, with your heart for the children and for God. That would be cool if God pairs us up to work on a project together in person someday!
Well…… where to start??? I’m a 45 year old who a year and a half ago started attending a church(weekend fellowship) again, after a 25+ year break! My first year back (with my wife and 2 children -ages 20 and 18 now) God has “DEFINITELY” gotten me back for the years I didn’t go!!! I initially helped with the Youth Ministry on Wednesdays over the summer into fall, was then approached to be the facilitator/coordinator for Financial Peace University, prayed about it and agreed, it was held on Tuesdays, we also attended a small group on Fridays. Then our Pastor talked to my wife and I asking if we would pray about starting a College Age(18-25) Ministry for the church, about a month or so later, God told us yes and had us name it “PHILOS”. Well…. a few weeks after we started having PHILOS, my wife and I got to see Casting Crowns here in Amarillo, Texas, who were preceded by none other than Leeland! We got to meet with Leeland and Jack, and the rest of the “Leeland” gang!
Both in conversation, and in concert I was able to hear God speak through them!!! I’m a mailman by job, and “Sound of Melodies” is fully loaded on my shuffle, and I get to hear it (EVERYDAY!!!!!)…. Not like the concert that night, but you can still feel the Power of God in it! They have been blessed with their amazing gifts and they are a blessing to those of us who have listened to them!!! Can’t wait to get “Opposite Way” this Wednesday on my day off, and get it loaded up on my shuffle for work Thursday! Leeland: You guys are in my prayers “ALWAYS!!” God Bless you, God Bless the Rebulution, and may God help us all to be a blessing to others!! In Brotherly Love, John
I got the pleasure of being introduced to Leeland’s music through a friend of mine who works at Daystar who worked with them while they were being interviewed. GREAT music!
Wow that is so encouraging.
I am crazy about Leeland, about their music and their passion. It’s just amazing. I was watching the music video for “Tears of the Saints” and it just gave me chills. It is so beautiful to see such passion for Christ in a generation that has been so empty. I am so excited. 🙂
Thanks for posting this interview!
In Him^,
Anna Jefferis
doing small hard things is very hard
This time in my life is very hard pray for me
Wow! I got my copy of Opposite Way in the mail yesterday(Thanks for the great Valentine’s sale, guys!). I like it, with two exceptions. 1). They talked a lot about personal relationships with Christ, but not a lot about the church. I think they did a better job with that in Sound of Melodies. And 2). they didn’t talk very much about God’s wrath, just His love.
Jeff: Every time I see Robertson it seems so weird. 😀
yeah i guess it is
I loved reading that interview!! And I’m excited to get the album!! Thanks for sharing that with us!!
Wow! It is so exiting when a band is not only SO talented but ALSO is so heavenly minded! They are such an encouragement of what God can do with us if we just give Him our all.
Thank you so much for posting the interview!
Alyshia
Jeff: Hard things are tough — especially regarding the “small” things, notice the quote I have at the end of this whole post. As you will probably be able to tell, I have been reading some of Hudson Taylor’s writings this morning. After I read your request for prayer God led me to this quote to pass on specifically to you:
“I cannot read; I cannot think; I cannot even pray; but I can trust.”
Lean hard on God. I will pray for you.
Alex and Kensington: Remember my questions about obtaining God’s Joy when we serve Him and ‘Do Hard Things’ — even when part of it includes stuff like being flogged and imprisoned — and about delighting in God’s honor of us by blessing us with those opportunities to be treated poorly for His Name’s sake and to know Him and fellowship with Him in His sufferings?
Well, God taught me something new about it recently through something my mom shared with me. We were talking about “working” for God and she reminded me of this parable that God led her to write 12 or so years ago called, “The Ant Hill”:
http://www.resurrectionpower.com/page143.htm
And on the same subject, here’s a quote by Hudson Taylor that God led me to this morning:
“On my birthday I received your cheering note and card, for both of which my heart thanks you. May I send back the same message — “Rest, in the Lord”?
Bear not a single care thyself,
One is too much for thee;
The work is Mine, and Mine alone,
The work is Mine — rest in Me.
You will notice, perhaps, that I have put a comma after the word “Rest,” for I think that sometimes we run on in thought to the end and forget the first part of the sentence. Rest, as if nothing more were said. When you need it, rest in body; rest always in spirit. Rest as one “in Him” alone can, and as all such can afford to; for one with Him, all things are ours. Rest in His Love, Power, Strength, Riches. Ah, what Arms to enfold, what a Heart to lean upon!”
Jeff: Sorry, I meant to refer you to a different quote at the end of the post (although I did post the quote I meant to at the end, I was thinking of a post I wrote right before this when I wrote you).
Here’s the quote I meant:
“It is remarkable how the Lord has chosen His instruments, so that even the most insignificant, in His Hand, are able to be ‘to the praise of His Glory.’ Surely it goes as in creation; there are strong and beautiful oak trees, but there are also little flowers in the meadow, and both the oak and the flower have been placed there by His Hand. I myself, for instance, am not especially gifted and am shy by nature, but my gracious and merciful God and Father inclined Himself to me, and I who was weak in faith He strengthened while I was still young. He taught me in my helplessness to rest on Him, and to pray even about little things in which another might have felt able to help himself.”
Hard things are very tough. And we are weak. Let that be a good thing. Let it guide you into fully and only relying on His Strength, His Power, and let it cause you to die fully unto the Resurrection. Let it guide you straight into His Arms — to resting in Him as He completes the work through you in a way truly worthy to Glorify God.
I looked over the liner notes again. “May Our Praise” and “Enter This Temple” both use the pronoun “we”. But they are the exception to the rule.
A little aside: does anyone think that Leeland Mooring looks like anyone from the Lord of the Rings movies? Hint: my family thinks that he looks like a certain evil character who works for a traitor and likes a girl who loves a guy who’s in love with someone else entirely….
I love this music. The times I feel the closest to God are normally filled with music, and this post is filled with the promise of many hours of worhip with God.
Though, please, someone answer this. Leeland said that if we werent going to devote our life completely to God, then we might as well not….at least, thats what I thought he said. I’m afraid. Just recently I’ve started strengthening my relationship with God, and the way I’ve been doing it, it’s in babysteps. One at a time, coming closer through prayer. I know I’m not devoting myself fully, but I’m trying. Is this futile? Does this mean that though I can’t become a nun or memorize the entire Bible, that I should stop? Help!
Kristen: Here’s the quote from Leeland regarding what you asked about:
“If I had to say one thing to our generation, I would encourage them to live like Jesus. Live like God to the world. Literally give up your life to God. If you’re not going to give up your life, and you’re not willing to give up your life, don’t even pursue it, because God says, ‘I would rather have you hot or cold. I wouldn’t want you lukewarm.'”
First of all, you mentioned becoming a nun or memorizing the Bible as what would testify of complete devotion to God. I disagree. Many people have actually been nuns or memorized the Bible who aren’t Christians (the problems within the catholic church testify of this). Neither of those things are necessary to prove your devotion to God. Devotion to God is a matter of the heart. Ask yourself, are you willing to, in your heart, surrender everything to Him? Are you willing to seek after Him with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and spirit? Will you ask Him to abide within you, or will other things get in the way of Him residing in your heart?
I guess I’m saying, we can only know God to the degree that we seek Him and we can only have Him in our lives to the degree that we are willing to surrender and we can only be Guided by Him to the degree that we are willing to obey and we can only be Transformed and Resurrected in the areas that we die to all that is flesh and sin, at the Cross of Christ.
If you partially devote/surrender yourself and your life to Him then the part of you that is not devoted or surrendered can, and most often will, be led astray (which can cause you to turn away and lose Salvation — as spoken of in Hebrews). But if you surrender all that you are and all that you own and if you devote yourself to seeking God and knowing Him and obeying Him and submit to the death that must proceed the Resurrection . . . well, nothing compares.
Ask God to help you and to enable you to abandon all else to follow Him as the disciples did. And ask God to remove everything from your life that keeps you from knowing Him and loving Him as He Desires to be known and loved by His Bride.
It IS worth it! Nothing else satisfies. But, oh, to be satisfied by Him!
“Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,
[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].”
James 1:6-8 (Amp.)
“Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
“But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.
Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”
Phillipians 3:7-14
Kristen: PS – Sometimes we need to take the small, baby steps because that’s the only way we’ll get forward. But it IS still moving forward if we don’t stop growing and seeking Him. Ask Him to help you take the big steps, though. Those are so much harder, but bring so much more Joy and Peace and Freedom when He makes it possible for us to take them. Baby steps will get us closer to Him . . . but the big steps will help us arrive at our Destination quicker with less struggle along the way (in the long term) and thus our Joy will be complete sooner. We ALL need His Help to take the big steps — remember that. And don’t get discouraged. Ask Him to take your hand and help you take the leaps necessary to have full Joy in Him. None of us can take the steps we need to take into full devotion without His Help. It takes searching with our whole heart to find Him — to go forward. We make the choice, but we need His Help to fulfill the choice we’ve made. Ask Him to Guide your heart towards Himself in all things.
Kristin and Nicole: I agree with what Nicole wrote to you, Kristin. It is true that giving all of our lives to God isn’t just outward works (though they can and should eventually come out of our devotion), but it is a matter of surrendering our heart – our dreams, our plans, our fears – all of it, to God. The way to devote your life completely to God is to realize that you are small, and He is everything…and without him, you are nothing. When you realize that, it becomes much easier to give everything to God, knowing that he will do much more with what little we have, than we ever could. The real question is: are you willing to follow God wherever he leads you?
It is wonderful that you are seeking to grow closer to God through prayer and worship – sometimes it can seem like growth is taking a long time…but press forward. Also continue to savor Jesus’ very words to us; the Bible. There is no clearer message we can get from God than listening to his heart-beat pulsing through each word of scripture.
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
ariadne: Are you speaking of Worm-tongue? haha! That is a very interesting observation – I can’t say that it would be flattering…but I guess I could see it a little bit.
Jeff Robertson Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
~Lady Tai
thank you Nicole and Lady Tai,
i just have moved a lot over the past year and a half and my dad, mom and little brother have been really sick. Lady Tai: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Nicole: Both of the quotes were helpful
Jeff R. and Kristin: I’m having kind of a tough time lately with something that I have a particularly hard time dealing with — something that has really scared me and pushed me forward in spiritual growth in the past in ways that were not without a lot of pain.
I was wishing that I didn’t have to deal with it. But then I realized that God won’t let me off that easy. He won’t let me tell people things and not live them.
I need to trust Him and ask for help daily to surrender my all to Him fully. When I can only take the baby steps or even when I feel frozen in fear, I need to ask Him to take my hand and lead me on — to help me abandon all so that I can freely follow Him.
I need to rely on His Strength. I am SO weak. I need to fight and pray with the Strength He gives me. But when there comes times when I can’t fight or pray . . . I need to trust.
Hudson Taylor said something that helped me. He said, “Before I had children of my own, I used to think, God will not forget me; but when I became a father I learned something more — God cannot forget me.”
Sometimes I just have to cling to that — cling to Him, knowing that to be true.
I’m not shouting advice down to you guys from a safe fort. We are in a war, as Christians, on this earth. It’s a battle to just persevere to another day, sometimes. I’m not safe from the trials you know or on my own above the struggles you face. I am right beside you in the trenches — sometimes weeping, sometimes fighting, trying always to trust.
Thank you for fighting beside me. And don’t give up when you don’t have courage or strength to go on — or even when you fail. Press on, asking for and relying on God’s Strength.
Nicole, Tai, thank you so much.
God bless.
Correct, Lady Tai! ‘Twas my observant little brother who made the observation. Especially on the back of the CD.
Jeff: I will keep you in prayer. Thank-you for the verse – that is one of my favorites.
🙂
Kristin: Thank-you for your open-ness!
Ariadne: I haven’t yet seen the back of the CD…but hurray for observant little brothers!
😉
~Lady Tai
And, to end with a quote from ‘A Christmas Carol’…despite the fact that it’s not Christmas: “God bless us everyone!”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and amonishing one another in psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, singing wih grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
So… where does this fit in? Is this considered to be “spiritual songs”? And where is the grace in it? Can you see Jesus Christ singing along? I don’t want to be trying to push my convictions on someone else, but I have a hard time figuring how Christians can consider this music to be Christ honoring. Could someone help me understand? I don’t want to be judgemental… so I’m sorry if this offends anyone, but I just would like to know.
Thanks.
E
Jeff: One of the hardest things, I know, is when a family member or someone you love is sick. I will pray for all of you.
I hope it’s alright if I share this . . . I had a really tough time a couple years ago with just a whole bunch of stuff that was really hard for my mom and I. It was tons of stuff at once. My mom’s mother died, her father visited and had a disagreement with us then went back home and found out he had cancer which he died from, my mom’s husband was trying to take everything from us through a forced divorce and we found out that he was paying hundreds of dollars a month for life insurance against my mom who was perfectly healthy (that only he would benefit from and that she had no knowledge of — so it’s like he wanted her to die or was planning something), we lost our house because of the divorce, we got tax audited for 3 years (and, although we had full proof, the tax people wouldn’t listen and made fun of us because we are Christians), my brother was in trouble with the law and was violent and abusive of my mom and I . . . I couldn’t deal with any of it on my own — not even one thing. And I didn’t have any friends. I would wake up every morning really scared and needing anew to put everything back in God’s Hands and to remember to trust that He knew what was best. God really used Psalms to help me during that time. I used to just read Psalms — like not really feeling it or really needing it or really absorbing it. But when I read the Psalms during this time it was like . . . drinking it in . . . it was like breathing again after nearly drowning. And that time in my life brought me closer to God than ever before. I would really, really hope to not have to go through any of it again. But I am actually grateful for it now because all of it was worth it to go through to find God, in the way that I have, to be all that I need. I was just pleading with God to let it be over and to set me free and give me peace . . . but now that I am through it I would actually choose it again, if asked, because knowing God deeper now far outweighs all that I lost, all the pain, and all that I begged Him to give me because I thought I knew what I wanted.
Just keep clinging to Him, giving it all to Him. He’ll bring you through. Ask Him to use this really hard time to fill you with Himself and His Love and to reveal Himself and the depth of His Love to you in the ways He knows are best and that only He knows you need.
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would offer all the goods of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned and despised.”
Song of Songs 8:7
“We are assured and know that [ [Some manuscripts read, “God works all things with them.”] God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.”
Romans 8:28
Wow,Hey Leeland if you ever see my comment,thank you.I dont often hear of people starting young.I like writing songs too.Right now I don’t think it is what God is leading me to do.I could be wrong though.I have a question.Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just have lyrics and tunes in your head?Do you ever have those days where it seems like songs just pop in your head so fast that its like your racing just to get the words down?Thats how it is with me.Some times its cool then other times I just don’t know what to think.Well,anyways I love Tears of the Saints.God bless. your sister in Christ,Hannah
Hi Victoria I saw you were on here.
E.O.:
I have never heard Leeland before, so I can’t say anything about his cd’s. However, my friend’s dad, who is very godly and musical, taught his children ways to evaluate music as Christian or edifying, or otherwise. He said that a song is only Christian if it contains the gospel, Jesus Christ dying for sins. Other songs are not necessarily bad and many are very beneficial and can even be sung in church. However, if a Muslim or a Buddist or anyone else can sing it, it is not Christian. That has really helped me in evaluating music. For other questions or better information, you might want to check out http://www.worshipmatters.com. It is a blog run by Bob Kauflin, the music director for Sovereign Grace Ministries. I hope this helps!
Nicole: You seemed to have a rough time… more than me. I will pray for you we are “engaged in an great and vitreous struggle for others”.
i love as a brother in Christ
Jeff
PS: Nicole: in the final hours things will be difficult but we must keep going. I think that 1 Corinthians 13 or Hebrews 11 talks about what we run i think you should read it.
JEFFR.
Nicole: did you live somewhere besides America when that happened to you?
Jeff
Nicole: Matthew 5 says “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.”
there is persecution: people either respect your stand or they will mock you and persecute you.
Stalker . . . stalker! MOM!!!! Nah . . . I’m just kidding.
Jeff: What you are going through sounded worse to me actually than what I went through. I guess God knows each of our limits and weaknesses and He doesn’t let it get too tough. You know, people would be surprised at the persecution that goes on in America. My brother’s church’s pastor “advertises” America as being a somewhat safe haven for Christians and writes in his books about how bad things are in Africa . . . he doesn’t understand that his brand of “Christian” — or, in other words, a common American “Christian” — has no need to be persecuted. They accomplish more against the Kingdom of God than for it. Instead of going through the trouble of persecuting, satan can just join them — easily and welcomely! In fact, he has joined them. So if you follow God within the U.S. your greatest persecutors will be from within the churches. It gets confusing and really hurtful for people who don’t know God well enough to separate Him from the church in the way they perceive, yet who desire to follow Him. satan knows that persecution in a country divides the “sheep” from the “wolves” and he doesn’t want that. It’s much better for his purposes to make the “wolves” appear as “sheep” in order to create more “wolves” under the guise of creating “sheep.” I have YET to find a church that speaks Truth or honors God more than sin — even one church. And people are so looking forward to the ’08 election because they can be politically active, but they don’t see the truth — that we are politically active every day, in most of the things we do. We can vote for some of what’s right every 4 years– do the “big” things — but we vote for what’s wrong in the “small” things nearly every single day. Turning away from — forgetting about — an injustice IS being politically active to help what is wrong continue. So anyway, lived right here in America. Hope to get out of here soon, though, so that I can write more books without so much persecution interrupting. I just want to get away from everyone I know (except my mom — and she feels the same way.) Thanks for the verses. I have been reading Hebrews lately. And Micah. I didn’t want to write at all. I’m frustrated and discouraged today. And mad at all things that pretend to honor God, but that really honor sin, evil, people, stupidity, laziness (spiritually). And mad at people who won’t do anything about what they see or hear or read — people who just sit on the sidelines. I need to move to be safe. But I need to be content. Your encouragement blessed me. Thanks.
[…] Opposite Way Not only did Alex and Brett interview Leeland, but on visiting Leeland’s site, I found youcan actually listen to the entire album online for free. That’s awesome. Comments Issue WordPress (or my website) is acting up. For some reason, WordPress is not alerting me to all your comments needing moderation. So, if you have a comment that hasn’t been moderated – email me at agenttimblog[at]gmail.com. President McCain? I hate to say it, but I’m with Joe on this one. Mom Dies, Refused Cancer Treatment to Save Baby’s Life Wow. What more can I say? Check out the story here. 3,100. That’s right, 3,100 comments can be found on this blog. I’m closing in on 350,000 words as well found within almost 400 posts. reThinking ReThink: – An Engaging Reflection on Student Ministry. Very interesting review on a very interesting book. « Comments Issue Opposite Way […]
Thanks for sharing more about a band that I’ve found super admirable. I can’t wait to hear their new music!
Ahhhh! I met them tonight!! They were at my Chick-fil-A!! I carried the trays and refreshed the drinks of Leeland!!! Sing for happiness 🙂
Nicole: i understand…..
Nicole: depending on where you live there is a good Church in Austin, TX that honor GOD
[…] Leeland’s new album Opposite Way is again gospel-rich and very fun to listen to (very much like their first album Sound of Melodies). Leeland Mooring, lead singer of the band, is 19 years old and being used by the Lord to call this generation to run the opposite way of the world. (Click here to read a blog post of an interview with Leeland by the Rebolution). The title song Opposite Way is great. Here’s a sampling: My Jesus ran the opposite way // and through the cross he conquered the grave // He ran the opposite way // Through the cross he conquered the grave // so you could run the opposite way Posted under music […]
Ariadne and Lady Tai: What possible resemblanse is there between Leeland and Grima Wormtounge?
Oh my gosh guys! how could u say Leeland looks like Grima?! other than the fact that Leeland is slightly pale he has absolutly NO, I repeat, NO resembance 2 Grima! so stop making fun of my hero!!!!!
Does Leeland get on here?
I just got Leeland’s c’d.”Opposite”I’m listening to it right now.This is amazing.
Your Sister In Christ, Hannah
wow i absolutley love leeland and i am so glad i found a band so on fire for God. i saw them in concert with casting crowns and i started loving them after that. they are absolutley amazing. God loves you and dont you ever forget it.
~~I want to see them to see the blood of Jesus. I want them to see the blood, sweat and tears that God has put into our lives.~~
Or, to put it another way, the ultimate Hard Thing (God’s pursuit of our hearts) drives us on to our own smaller Hard Things. . . .
I’ve only heard ‘sound of melodies’ and it makes me feel proud to be part of God’s family – truly ‘a song of the redeemed’. i posted a video I found of them performing on youtube recently on my blog so more people can hear it.. from reading that interview i’d love to meet them. xox
Hey if Leeland reads this, I just started listening to y’all last week! I checked out your website and looked at your tour dates and y’all are coming to Austin Texas! Thank you thank you thank you. Most christian bands avoid Austin like the plague and that’s realy weird seeing as how Austin is the live music capitol of the world(or maybe we are the weird ones) =D .
So, I’d never heard of Leeland before this…but, I appreciate their heart for the Lord! Great interview!
I went to their site, but couldn’t hear the words to the song they had going w/ the music video…anyone know how to find the words?
Leeland is awesome…especially “Tears Of The Saints.” Rock on, you guys!
“Let us see this generationin it’s stae of desperation for Your Glory…”
Seize The Day,
-StrongJoy
I LOVE (with a capital L-O-V-E) Leeland!!! I got their first album right after it came out and it is as good them as it is now!
The new album is also really good. I won’t even try to compare the two.
Leeland is coming to Indianapolis!
[…] Read the entire interview here. […]
Cool interview. I’d like to hear his testimony personally. I love their music. It’s one of those things that ties me to the US even being 3,500+ miles from home in Brazil.
Love Sound of Melodies
Zack
Cet interview m’encourage vraiment à servir Dieu, je veux m’investir plus dans ma relation avec Dieu. Je croyais qu’il n’y avait plus de jeunes sincères voulant servir Dieu, mais je me suis trompée, je suis contente. Dieu bénisse Leeland, j’espère qu’il lira mon message, je suis française. Cela m’encourage beaucoup… God Bless all you.
Nice one, there is actually some good points on here some of my subscribers might find this worthwhile, will send a link, thank you.
Amazing….Leeland rocks., I’m inspired by their passion for Jesus.
Lucky to read this and say something now.Perfect new day!
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I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance.
http://www.themahoganyblog.com/2009/08/disco-pusher/
Excellent post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Cheers!
Wow I love Leeland! I have been a big fan since I saw the ‘Sound of Melodies’ music video at youth group in ’06. Over this years their music has blessed my life and has helped me through tough times in my walk with the Lord! Leeland if you happen to see this, just thank you fro all you’ve done in serving God, and others you have been such an amazing blessing to so many people! and come tour in atlanta GA s’il vous pla^it!!
Yeah!
How come when I click the link to their website it takes me to Bethel Music?
[…] just comes down to you having a passion for God and wanting to know the Lord.” – from this interview which he gave when he was just 19. Apparently, he wrote songs with Michael W. Smith when he was […]