It's been more than 3 and a half years ago, Jenny asked me to come to this "new" church her friend Laura had suggested. Well...... I was not the church going type of guy....but as luck would have it football season was over. But, I was like hmmmmmm.......churches just want our money, people are fake, nobody's perfect, and and and and I have enough friends, I don't want to meet anybody new......whatever.
I remember laughing when we showed up to this giant church(EPCC) and then we had to meet in this tiny room off to the side of the giant church. There wasn't alot of people but I remember feeling like I just didn't belong, nobody really looked or seemed to be.........like me. I wasn't into it, then this scruffy haired surfer guy came up to me with a smile and put his hand out and said "Hey, nice to see you, whats your name?" This guy wasn't like other "religious" guys I had known before, he was.....different/genuine/scruffy. I spent that morning judging the service and the Pastors son, who was this tall skinny....oops, he was the Pastor...jk Anyway, my 1st time was.....fun, the music was great but what I took away with me was "that guy". That guy who for just a moment made me feel like I did belong there. Different.
Different was the word to describe Revolution Church. I can't believe we're going to celebrate 4 years of Revolution next week. Has it gone by that fast.... I can still remember that tiny room, in the past 4 years, life just hasn't gone the way I've wanted or expected it too. Wow, little did I know that what was going on in this tiny room would.....change my life forever...it wasn't instant, but that in this tiny room I would meet some amazing people, make great friendships, strengthen my marriage, become a better father to my kids, and ultimately give my life to Jesus. That the guy who made me feel like I did belong there was named "Jerry" and he is as genuine today as he was the first day I met him.
My Church is incredible.........today we meet at a high school instead of a tiny room, but what makes my church incredible is not the outside.....it's the inside. It's the people. The people who are going through and have gone through so much over the past 4 years......we know that life is tough ...but while it tears us apart, Jesus puts us together a little stronger than before. "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us."Romans 5:3-5NIV
I'll be at Unite celebrating these past 4 years, celebrating what God has done to us, for us, with us, "against" us, and that he gives...........and takes away. I will also celebrate our Pastor, Dave Trotter and his family.....for just opening up his home and teaching the Word in practical ways to apply it today.
Hey, lets face it, we're all jacked one way or another but,.......this is my family......this is my church....
