I once could see but now I'm blind...

So today was my birthday! Party on! For my birthday, my amazing wife, the Lovely Linda, planned out the evening's festivities. We started off with our maiden voyage to P.F. Chang's for dinner. Uh, yeah! P.F. Chang's lived up to the billing. Yes, we had the Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps for an appetizer. Then we rocked the Crispy Honey Shrimp and Salt and Pepper Prawns. Magic.

Then we drove to Atlantic Station in the ATL to experience Dialogue In the Dark. You can read more about the experience HERE, but in a nut shell you enter the experience with approx 10 other people and are in a completely dark environment and are lead to different scenarios to experience what it would be like to have no sight. I don't want to sound cliche, but it was definitely an eye opening experience! It was fascinating how quickly your other senses ramped up to compensate for no sight.

I was made acutely aware of how much I take for granted the simple things in life, the ability to see being one of them. It made me stop and think about the time Jesus cured the blind man. To say this story has new meaning would be an understatement. The dude COULD NOT SEE! And Jesus said, "Receive your sight!" Close your eyes for just 5 minutes and then rethink what took place. Once blind, now seeing!

"And all who saw it praised God, too."

We serve an amazing and powerful God. Don't ever forget that.

Keep it real.

srr

sinbad

What if...

we just followed God's plan?

Love God....
Love others....
Make disciples....

Seems pretty simple. Wonder why we make it so complicated? What if we ran EVERYTHING we did through these three filters? What might we do more of? What might we quit doing all together? How might your city/state/country look different?

Just sayin'

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Not much left in the tank!

Today has been one long day. Alarm went off at 5:45. It's all worth it, though, when I think about all of the life change that took place today at Revolution Church and this evening at Uprising student worship experience.

So tonight I just want to share some verses from the message I shared with students tonight. Hopefully you will find some hope and encouragement in them....

Jeremiah 29:11
11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 30.21
Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road."

Jeremiah 33.3
2-3"This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'

Proverbs 3.5-7
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!

Read these through a time or two and remind yourself that God is crazy about you!

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Whom do you obey?

NOTE: I realized today that I forgot to post the Friday Flush. I was traveling and overlooked it. Maybe I'll FLUSH on Monday this week! :) Now on to today's blog...

Ran across this simple yet powerful verse today.

Acts 5.29

29Peter and the apostles replied:

We don't obey people. We obey God.

I love this passage. Peter and some other apostles are getting their chops busted because the Sanhedrin, (kinda like a supreme court), had told them to shut their traps and stop all the God-talk! I love their response! WE DON'T OBEY PEOPLE. WE OBEY GOD.

WOW! I wonder how different the "American" church would look and what kind of impact in our communities would be made if churches and those who served at them said the same thing Peter said. I cannot help but think things would be radically different.

I think more churches would be hitting the 1000 mark than the 100 mark.
I think more of the least, last, and lost would be coming to Christ.
I think more people who are NOT convinced Christ is who he says he is, would become convinced.
I think more churches that had influence in their communities would be the norm not the exception.

Call me crazy, but that's what I think.

Question: What would people say about YOU?
Do you obey people or do you obey God?

Just sayin'!

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Who else?

Thought about one of my favorite verses today. It's from John 6....

66-67After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?"

68-69Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God."

Back up a few verses and check out what happened, then come back here.

Check it out.

Jesus says some stuff they don't quite understand. That never happens! :)

The people began to argue with each other. That never happens! :)

The disciples were grumbling. That never happens! :)

They said that what Jesus was asking them to do was difficult. That never happens! :)

Then Jesus turned to the disciples. The CLOSE ones. And pops the big question.

"You gonna split, too?"

Here's what I love. The disciples didn't always get it right. They didn't always do it right. They were knuckleheads some of the time. But Peter got this one right.

"Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God."

Good one, Peter!

To whom else shall I go? NO ONE!

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Who's wrong?

Whenever and wherever there is a controversy between God and a man, God is always right and the man always wrong.
A. W. Tozer

I saw this quote today from A. W. Tozer and it was a great reminder of this verse....

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8

There is a constant struggle, at least in my life (maybe not yours) to do MY stuff, MY way, in MY time. The problem is the fact that it is ALWAYS a wiser option to do GOD'S stuff, GOD'S way, in GOD'S time. God's stuff done God's way in God's time always yields GOD-sized results.

God help me (us) do it your way not ours!

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Better late than never....

Just a reminder FREEDOM AIN'T FREE!

A great price has been paid and continues to be paid for the freedom you and I enjoy here in America.

A greater price was paid by for another kind of freedom.

Just something to think about.

Keep it real.

srr

sinbad

A Sad Day...

So, my only remaining grandmother passed away today. It stings...a pretty good bit, actually...

I will post more about her amazing life in the next day or so, but in the mean time I am reminded of a verse Gary used on Sunday....

There will be no more...
...tears.
...death.
...mourning.
...crying.
...pain.

Or as the Message states...
"He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone."

Your prayers are appreciated.

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Amazing View!

So tonight Revolution Church hosted a night of worship for our incredible volunteer team. Not only was there some great worship and some fun activities, but the night included communion as well. One of my roles today was making the preparations for the communion portion of the night's festivities. To make a long story short, at the time of the communion, I stationed myself off to the side with extra bread and juice just to make sure we didn't run out. From my vantage point, I could see each person making their way to take part in communion. To say it was powerful would be an understatement. It was powerful to see the people, whether it was individuals or couples or families and to know many of their stories and to know how God has radically transformed them to where they are serving with abandon to reach those who are far from God and now they are taking communion was incredible. It was one of those awesome opportunities to see God's power in a very tangible way. God definitely showed up and showed out tonight and was on full display. It was definitely an AMAZING VIEW!

Also, if you are a part of the volunteer team at Revolution Church, once again THANKS!!! for all you do to enlarge the Kingdom of God!

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad

Have you....

come to your senses?

Spent some time in Luke 15 today, specifically HERE. It's the Jesus-story (parable) of the lost son. In a nut shell....

Father has two sons.
One gets stupid and greedy.
Wants inheritance.
Dad gives it.
Son parties like a rock star.
Son goes broke.
Son wakes up.
Son goes home.
Dad takes him back. GLADLY!
Dad throws party of the year!
Other brother? He's pissed!
Dad says, "Party was not optional."
Dad says, "Your bro was dead! Now he's alive!"
"Lost now found!"

Here's what I like about this story. When the stupid brother gets wise and heads home, the father doesn't wait til he is home, has his stuff unpacked, cleans his room, does his chores, repays the massive debt, and writes letters of apology to everybody and his brother. NOPE! God's word says, "while he was still a long way off." The father hit the road runnin', ready to take the son back.

Hmmmm..... It's interesting if you look back just a few verses, the father's willingness to take his son back is reminiscent of someone else. Did I read that right? Yep! Jesus welcomes sinners. Even has grub with them. It's kinda what he came to do. If you haven't already, come to your senses. Jesus will be there waiting.

Jesus is cool like that.

Keep it real,

srr,

sinbad

FRIDAY FLUSH!

Tonight is one of those just-for-the-fun-of-it post. I present to you five of my favorite rock ballads! This list is obviously not all inclusive, as there are way to many awesome rock ballads out there. These are just some that were when they came on, the car stereo just couldn't get it done! So, with no more delay, today's FRIDAY FLUSH is 5 GREAT ROCK BALLADS in no particular order! If you have one you wanna add to the list, comment away!

I Remember You by Skid Rowe
Fly To the Angels by Slaughter
I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi
Don't Know What You Got by Cinderella
November Rain by Guns N' Roses

BONUS TRACK
The Ballad of Jayne by L.A. Guns

Keep it real!

srr

sinbad

Crazy?!? Thank God!

I ran across this video several years ago and was reminded of how God created each of us. I often think about how much time, energy, resources, money, talent, etc. humans spend trying to be somebody other than who God created them to be. The latest movie star. The hottest new singer. The current fashion model. Our next door neighbor. A spouse.

What if, however, instead of spending all that energy trying to be someone we weren't created or intended to be, we spent just a fraction of that same energy in trying to discover and live out who GOD created us to be? After all, isn't he the One who matters most? Matters PERIOD?!?

Here are a few of my favorite "crazies":
Rich Mullins
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
St. Francis of Assisi
Keith Green

Just to name a few...

I love the video because I think about how each person has so much potential to make a difference in this crazy world. Never underestimate what God can do in and through you.

THINK DIFFERENT. THINK CRAZY.


The people who are CRAZY enough to think they an change the world....are the ones who do!

Keep it real.

srr

sinbad

Short and sweet...

Not much left in the tank tonight. Saw this quote and reminded me of my complete and utter helplessness without God living in and through me.

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.
Mother Teresa

Keep it real!

srr

sinbad

HEY! What if we tried this?!?!

If when the dust settles the dude you voted for didn't win let me make a suggestion...

2 Chronicles 7.14

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Just sayin'!

Keep it real!

srr

sinbad

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? The Conclusion...

Last night I posted this....
This has been a crazy day to say the least! I will blog more about it tomorrow, but it involves alcohol, the cops, a deer, and a broken hip!

Well here's the rest of the story.

Alcohol...
Gary's message was about alcohol. Specifically, what does the bible say about Christians and drinking alcohol. You can check it out here. The band played this song and Gary carried this on stage. You really outta listen to the message. Anyway....

The Cops...
So the afternoon went pretty smoothly. Chilled out getting ready for Uprising, the Revolution Students worship celebration. Arrived at Holly Springs around 4 for band rehearsal and the band was killin' it! Swift was rockin' some songs and Thad was rockin' some songs. And then the cops showed up! What?!? Yep. Said it was too loud. You can read more about it on Gary's blog, but the end result was no music and we sent the band home. WTC! Anyway, to say Uprising didn't go as planned would be an understatement. But it was what it was. Ended the night with pizza and cokes which students NEVER tire of! Plus got to connect with some students I might not have on a regular night over a slice of pizza!

A Deer....
So I leave Uprising and have some messages on my phone and one's from my mom. So I call and she proceeds to tell me two stories. One story is that my sister-in-law had taken my brother's car to run an errand and hit a freakin' deer. The deer came out of nowhere, and went up over the hood and smashed the windshield. Glass everywhere. My sister-in-law was okay. The accident didn't kill the deer, so the cop/sheriff/whatever suggests she call my brother to come kill the deer! Are you kidding me?!?! Finally, after everybody and their brother showed up, someone shot the deer like 20 ft. from my sis-in-law. Crazy.

A Broke Hip...
(My mom actually told me this story first. G-ma took precedence over the deer :) ) My mom tells me that 89 year old grandmother in Tampa fell earlier in the day and screwed her hip up. Found out today that it was not as bad as originally thought, but still required surgery and pins. (In surgery as of 6:00 tonight) Prayers for my g-ma would be greatly appreciated.

So, that is the story(s) of my crazy Sunday.

I leave you with THIS reminder...PEACE!

Keep it real!

srr

sinbad

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

This has been a crazy day to say the least! I will blog more about it tomorrow, but it involves alcohol, the cops, a deer, and a broken hip! (Curious? Tune in tomorrow!) In the mean time, no matter what you got goin' on, no matter what obstacle you might be facing, no matter how bleak tomorrow may look, remember this....

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Keep it real!

srr

sinbad

MADE NEW!

Just sitting here thinking about tomorrow. Have you? Thought about tomorrow? About what will take place? People all over the world will get in their cars and suv's and drive to a predetermined place to meet others who do the same thing. It's called church. There will be hundreds that come to the church I go to. Some churches will have thousands. Some will have tens. Either way, ALL KINDS will make the trip in the morning. All kinds....

The hurting.
The hungry.
The scared.
The confident.
The shattered.
The wounded.
The upper crust.
The beat down.
Those who "appear" to have it all together.
Those who obviously don't have it all together.
The thirsty.
The young.
The old.
The seeking and searching.
The least.
The last.
The lost.

And what does God want with ALL of them.

To make them a NEW CREATION!

Check it out HERE!

This ain't no joke..

BELIEVE!

Keep it real,

srr

sinbad