Turn Your Phone Off

Have you ever had one of those days where your phone just rings CONSTANTLY? Today has been one of those days. After getting to sleep around 2:30 this morning, my phone began ringing at 7:45 this morning. Then a text at 7:55. Then a call at 8:15. By 9:00 I'd had 6 or 7 calls and 5 texts. And it has been that way all day. Which isn't a bad thing in and of itself. But for some reason I feel like I need to take calls, check texts, etc. On top of that, my phone has been on the blink, so if it does work I need to jump on it. By 2:00 this afternoon, I'd run my battery completely down and had to turn my phone off. I know, I know...How ever will I live with my phone off? Well, it turns out that just minutes after I turned my phone off a lady engaged me in a spiritual conversation which ended up with her coming to Christ. She had been raised around a church where people respond to humans instead of Jesus for forgiveness and restoration. When I explained to her that true regeneration only comes from Christ and that it only comes when He becomes our Savior, she was ready to engage him. Through the course of our conversation we started talking about obedience and baptism, when she says to me, "You could baptize me RIGHT NOW. I'm ready!" It seems that she decided Jesus was going to be her master, so we went out behind the building to the hot tub that is there, and in the presence of some of our close friends, I baptized her. I say all of that to say this: what would her life be like if I had plugged my phone in, and been engaging the 100's (not really) of people who want to talk to me instead of turning it off and engaging the one in front of me? Just a thought to ponder. Turn your phone off and look around. The world won't end, and for someone near you, their world might just begin.
Peace

My Friend, Cecil

Cecil Sarratt left this world last night at 11:40. Well, he may have left much sooner, but his body stopped working last night. I imagine Cecil screeching into heaven on his Jake and Elwood Blue 1200CC Sportster.

Cecil was a real friend. He was one of the first members of The Heights Fellowship that I met. He and "Charlie-boy" helped me get my Honda out of the mud I'd gotten stuck in on Father's Day, 2004. Earlier this year, the battery had gone dead on Harley, and Cecil left work to help me push start the bike at the United parking lot. He thought it was funny that the battery was dead because I forgot to turn the bike completely off when I got there.

Cecil was a good man. He'd only been a follower of Jesus for a few years. Saved out of the rough life of a 1% biker (1% is the amount of bikers who are"outlaw" bikers like you see in the movies), Cecil loved Jesus. Every Sunday morning, I looked forward to standing outside talking with Cecil and "Charlie-boy" about our bikes, about life, and about Christ. Three weeks ago, Cecil and I took what would be the last ride we would take together in this world. He was the Road Captain that morning for our Nooma Riders ride. We ended up at Spanky's where we laughed and had a great time. Of course, Cecil was at the center of the conversation with a sense of humor that was on such a roll all we could do was sit and laugh.

Cecil, you will be missed. We'll take care of those you left behind, and I'm looking forward to riding with you again one day. Peace, My Brother.