Father’s Day is just a few weeks away. This is an incredible story and would make a great gift. I’ll have a full review when I am done with it, but I can tell you already it’s a powerful story. Remarkable.
Archives For Faith
Sunday is Baptism Sunday at Rock City Church. Trust me when I say you will not want to miss this. If you’ve been thinking about attending sometime, this would be the weekend. These would be the times – 9:00am, 10:45am, 12:30pm.
So a couple of weeks ago I was in our local Guitar Center. I’m a total hack on the guitar, and always feel like I have no idea what I’m doing in that joint. I was still hanging out in there because I dig the place. As I was walking in, I noticed a cork board in the lobby that had all kinds of bands, concerts and upcoming events tacked to it. I thought it would make the perfect place for a Rock City Church card. You see, we have this little twitter game going where we post these cards all over Columbus, take a picture, post it on twitter and tag it #RockCityWasHere. It’s a one-up kind of fun and spreads the word.
So….back to Guitar Center and my visit there.
Like I said, I had this feeling like it would have been the perfect place for one of those cards. I might even go so far as to say that I had an overwhelming feeling like I NEEDED to put one of those cards there. Almost like it was a divine mission to do so. I even told my wife about it when I got home (which meant I had to explain that I was in Guitar Center spending money but that’s another post). But here’s the worst part, I didn’t put a Rock City Card on that cork board because…
I didn’t have one with me.
So I’ve been thinking about it, meaning to do it, planning to get over to Guitar Center for about 2 weeks now. Just never got around to it. I can honestly say I had every intention of doing it. The problem is, Guitar Center is on the other side of town and since it wasn’t something important to me (like buying a new guitar or something) I didn’t make it a priority. Shame on me. Luckily, someone else did.
Stay with me, this is where it gets really good….
A great guy and amazing guitar player from Rock City named Austin dropped by Guitar Center recently to pick up some stuff. While he was in the store, he had a talk with one of the guys that worked there. I can’t tell you exactly what the conversation was because I wasn’t there. What I can tell you is a guy that works at Guitar Center walked through the doors of Rock City this morning and before he left the 10:45 service, he prayed with one of our Pastors and changed the trajectory of his life. He received Christ. He left Rock City a changed man. Because Austin spoke to him without being afraid. Because Austin followed what God laid on his heart. Because Austin was obedient.
I get all kinds of crazy goosebumps when I think about all that happened today. You see, our Pastor was preaching on the sheep and how God, like a good shepherd, will do what is necessary to get to the one. Even if He has to leave the 99. I kinda feel like God sent me to Guitar Center that day. The Holy Spirit impressed on me to act on something while I was there. I didn’t get it done. Failed to accomplish the mission. But God was so in pursuit of “the one” that works at Guitar Center, He had another plan. He sent Austin. Austin did what he was called to do (maybe without even knowing it) and today there was a party in Heaven for a man from Guitar Center (I like to think it was an acoustic set, but we’ll never know for sure).
Long story, but if you skimmed it, don’t miss this….God was so in pursuit of this man (and so many others) that he sent multiple people. Would he have ever read my card stuck on that board at Guitar Center? I don’t know. What I do know is this isn’t about me. It’s not about Austin. It’s not about Rock City. It’s about a God that pursues and is still very much in the business of changing lives.
How stinkin’ cool is that?
PS – You can bet your guitar strings I’ll get over to Guitar Center this week to get that card up on the board. I’ll also check on our new friend and shake his hand.
If you’ve been around this blog any time at all, you probably know a few things about me. First, I review a lot of books. Second, I have given more than a few of them 4 or 5 out of 5′s. Lastly, “Quiet Strength” by Tony Dungy has spent an unbelievable amount of time at the top of my favorite all-time books. As a matter of fact, I think it’s undefeated. A lot of books have run past my eyes but Coach Dungy remained strong with very little challenge. Until this week…
Mr. Dungy…you are now number two. I would like to congratulate and celebrate the new number one slot on my list, Mr. Bob Goff and the book “Love Does”. I don’t have any shiny awards and I’m pretty sure the New York Times Best Seller list is a tad more exciting, but hey, it’s my list and I’m proud to make this announcement. Really, I just want you all to know how strongly I feel about the book I just read the last words in.
Best. Book. Ever.
I’ve told my wife on a few occasions that if I never woke up in the morning, I have lived a crazy full life. When I say that, I mean it. I’m not talking about college educations or jobs held. I’m talking crazy “luck” (if you want to call it that) and insane journeys. I have trouble making a bucket list because there have been remarkable opportunities that have already happened. It’s what Carlos Whitaker (name dropping) and I discussed once. I don’t say this to brag, I say this because I connect with “Love Does” on this and so many other levels. Bob Goff has LIVED. I mean REALLY LIVED. “Love Does” will show you just how much.
From the opening chapters, I was laughing so hard I literally cried. If there was ever a book I connected with from the opening words, it is “Love Does”. Each chapter reads like a mini-sermon, but Bob’s not preaching. He’s telling stories about a life lived and how it intertwines with his faith in Jesus. It’s lessons he’s learned while being willing to try what others would say is impossible. By living a “why not” life, he experiences a faith and a love of Jesus that many of us may never experience. There are far more underlined words in my copy of this book than there are not. I will refer to it over and over again.
Let me leave you with three things. First, what other author would drop his cell phone number on the last page of a book for ANYONE that would like to give him a call (I’m SOOOOOO tempted)? Second is what might be one of my favorite quotes from the book:
I used to want to fix people, but now I just want to be with them
I love that quote on so, so many levels. Last, is another quote, but I believe it’s a charge to us all. You’ll need to read the book to understand the context, but he simply said:
Be Awesome
That’s it. No big religious theories or tied up manuals. Follow Jesus and when you live this life to the fullest, “Be Awesome”.
Bob, I think you are doing just that. Thanks for writing your story. Thanks for sharing your heart. Thanks for “Love Does”. Thanks for “Being Awesome”.
No disclaimers needed on this one. I didn’t review it for any group. I read it on my own and it. was. awesome.
This book is killing me right now. So good.
