So Cal to Buckhead #10 – Tonight’s Bad/Good Idea
You know when you have an idea. It really seems like a good idea. Like a REALLY good idea. I had one of those tonight. I saw Snap online and knew he was probably in the gymnasium at Cal Baptist around all my Sandals peeps. I’m fine with seeing people. The world is small now. I don’t feel too far away. But then he said “my” band was about to sound check and wanted to know if I wanted to “sit in” on sound check through the magic of iChat.
It started off AMAZING. I was SOOO amazed. It felt like I was almost on stage.
Wow. Around a song and a half in, my former boss Matt comes by the screen and blows me a kiss then sticks his arse on the screen. I wish I had my screen capture ready for the butt shot. But that moment of non discretion got me missing him pretty bad.
I thought I was doing fine. I got a bit choked up seeing Matt and his lame Quicksilver jacket. But then Leah walked across the screen…
Hey Uncle Carlos!!! Look!!! I lost my front tooth!!!
She is like 8 now or something. When she was 6 weeks old I was holding her when she died. Long story. But she died in my arms. And by a miracle of God and after weeks in NICU, she lived. LIFE back in Riverside came rushing back to mine and Heather’s eyes.
I miss Sandals sooo much. Soo much. And the amazing thing is that after the bad idea of virtually sitting in sound check was over me and Heather looked in each others eyes, both were looking for that hint of doubt.
But it was not there.
Me – It sucks to follow God tonight huh?
She – Yea. It does.
Me – But you know we are right where He wants us right?
She – I was hoping you knew that. Because I do.
And with that we shut the laptop and continued on the journey of Authenticity in the ATL. Knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are supposed to be here.
But knowing that it is OK for it so suck somedays.
Real with Ourselves
Others
God
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
I’m bummed I missed saying hi to you. Ironically I was sitting just a few feet away from Daniel right before sound check. Miss ya!
You were heavy on my heart tonight during service – just wanted to let you know I was praying for you and your family. Keep doing what you know God wants.
did you get to see the stage design?
by the way thanks for the music.
hope to see you again before i leave the atl.
send me the family pics we took on saturday.
tasha
Hey Carlos we are praying for you and your family….I want to thank you for being real and keeping the authenticity. God is with you
Wow. Thank you for that.
Just know you’re still loved out here, man. Great to talk to you and “see” you today.
daaaang…
andrew (the “black dude” on the worship team) told me about the iChat sesh.
i missed outt!!
i*m bummed but it*s cool..
you*re in my prayers homie!
The legacy you leave is one for life – the relationships still there, and the bridges that are still strong and healthy between GA and CA only speak to the incredible integrity and honor you have with them, and for the leadership that they obviously foster in that church. I’d guess you’re getting the same calibur of leadership and integrity @ Buckhead Church.
God bless those times!
Fred
Dang you. I am crying again. Huh, that was a bad but good decision. I miss home. Thanks for taking me there for a second and thanks for being with me last night. Hehe now I am talking like sandals again. Oh I miss them. H
We are praying for you guys as we know first hand how difficult it is for you right now. Knowing and resting in the peace of God, yet part of your heart yearning for the love and connections you have someplace else. It was much harder for us to leave CA and move back “home” than it was for us to leave “home” and move to CA. We both had a peace moving to GA was right…even when we got here. Looking back over the past year we see glimpses of why it was right. However…there were nights when I would wonder…why do I miss it so much…why won’t my heart let go…you will get there. Until then we are praying for you and thinking of you and our hearts are hurting for the ache in yours. Seems the common denominator in CA for both of us is Sandals…an amazing church with even more amazing people. If any of you ever get a chace to visit…it is a must. You will leave impacted, even after just a few hours. “Thank You” to the two of you for being a huge part of that Sandals impact in our lives. We are forever indebted to you in many ways…you will always hold a piece of our heart…but you poured alot more in. I love having a piece of Heather and Carlos in my life. Something we will tell our grandkids about. I keep telling Chris we have to stop moving, I feel like I am leaving a piece of me everytime we move. Then I realized, that is not so bad b/c I am gaining a ton more to carry with me for life. Sorry for the book…just wanted you guys to know you are loved, we understand, and how much you guys have impacted our lives…both in our marriage and with our kids. We love you!
Totally apreciate your authenticity on your blog. Following God isn’t always easy, nor is waiting for His direction…something I’m going through right now. But this post puts things into perspective for me, so thanks.
thanks for being transparent… my wife and I are walking through the tough place of trying to find God’s next place for us. Thanks for this post.
Sigh…that made me teary-eyed. As much as you miss Sandals…we miss you more.
Following God does suck some days. Like on Sundays, when I go to flip flops and there’s no little nose-dripping Korean waiting for me to hold him.
Love you guys.
The conversation you and Heather had was not a one of a kind conversation. Jesus and The Father I’m sure had a similar conversation in the garden before Judas went bad on him.
Ichat rocks!!!!! Scott did the same thing to us from Thailand during one of our Orchard rehearsals. He dialed us up right before he laid down in a pile of fire ants or something in the middle of his hotel bed.
Or something like that. He’ll clear up the important details.
man, i know what you mean. i miss sandals sooooooooooooooo much. i still haven’t found a new “church home” out here yet. pray for that for me, k. nothing is like sandals tho. i’m sure of it! i miss everyone!
I don’t know how to say what you already know about how I feel. On the bright side of things. At least you can breath without inhaling ashes right now. So Cal is burning up all around us.
We are holding it down. It was good for the heart to see you.
It was really good to see you and Heather. I saw you crying from the stage and I started to cry. We miss you. We miss your spirit. We love you.
we have never met, but I have loved watching you struggle leaving Sandals, (hate it for you) because you don’t cry for a place you haven’t poured your soul into.
thanks man, you encourage me