Attn: Bud Sealey

This morning as I watched Sports Center it hit me. People have some real opinions out there. I know, I know, this is not news to you or me, but it was still one of those "wow, I can't believe this is an issue" moments.

Evidently the Yankees and the Twins are in the playoffs (I say it that way because i care for neither of those teams. I am all about the Rangers getting there!) And the game was almost ruined by a bad call to end the competition. As I turned on my television I heard more people than I care to remember talking about the need for Instant Replay.

Why is it such a big deal? so every other sport has it (well except for soccer, but is that really a sport?) and baseball doesn't, so what? Why do we need to watch a closeup of a fly ball going over the outfield fence to make sure that it was in fact a home run? The ball left the stadium for crying out loud! Of course it was a home run!

There were more opinions in one segment than I think you could get in any three viewings of Pardon the Interruption. How could they feel so strongly about something that is seemingly so insignificant? I think it all comes down to our desire to speak out on what we think is important to us. We all have this desire to make known our opinion. Whether or not we want to admit it, we want to be heard when we speak. We want our voice to register. I just hope my opinion is concerned with things other than instant replay. Psalm 107 starts out giving an opinion and then reminding the redeemed of the Lord to implore their opinions. "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say this-"

We have a responsibility as Christians to make known the amazing things that God has done for us. We have the responsibility to shout as loud as we can that God is good. His love endures forever. Now that is an opinion that needs to be heard!

God is good. His love endures forever. How's that for instant replay?

Guest Post: Griffin Gulledge

Hey guys, sure do miss you all out here at Auburn.

1) I will be back for Refuel. Now obviously this should tell you that it better be awesome, and you better be there.

2) I hope you are all helping Sam out. I pray for you all daily and for Sam.

3) You all need to read this:

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/letting-go-of-the-barns/

Keep it cool. I really only posted b/c Sam never does and I think you all really wanted a blog.

Seriously Sam, Doogie Howser? You're so old.

-Griffin

Doogie Howser

Sometimes I think we don't have a clue. There are days that I look around and feel like I don't have a good grip on the realities of this world. Reality is a funny thing. It is obviously surrounding us all, yet trips to places like Wal-Mart help us to realize that some people avoid it like the plague.

Case-in-point: one of my favorite actors when I was young was Neil Patrick Harris. I wanted very much as a 10 year old to be Doogie Howser, M.D. He seemed like the smartest, most together guy that television had to offer. Fastforward to his character on How I Met Your Mother and it is a similar situation. He j2ust seems to be a smooth fellow. (thanks to my daughter Virginia for that numerical addition)

So how could a guy who has it together tweet something like this: "So, get this: David and I are expecting twins this fall," Neil Tweeted. "We're super excited/nervous/thrilled. Hoping the press can respect our privacy..."

Did you catch the logic that preceeded this paragraph? He tweeted to his hundreds and maybe thousands of followers that he wanted his privacy protected. To me this is the equivilant of a three year old walking into a coctail party and screaming at the top of their lungs "I need to be alone!" Or what if the guys from Deadliest Catch exclaimed that they needed a break from the ocean before the season was over. Logic just seems to never enter the argument.

For some reason, the reality that most people seem to live in is directly opposite from that of actuality. Paul, said in Ephesians that they are "darkened in their understanding" I guess I just didn't realize or perhaps still don't, exactly how darkened the world actually is.

For us, I guess the challenge is still what it has always been: Help people live in the reality of truth and not the reality they create. So Tweet this today: "I Need to be alone for a while."

Cuy

Waterfall in Ecuador

Here we are Baptizing in the Rio Verde!

Tuesday

Ecuador

Hey Crew,

I know you were expecting a video blog and hopefully we can post it up tomorrow, but tonight we have been having some difficulty with my computer. Call Kirk McDowell for me!

But enough about that. Let's talk about what God has done. We have in the first few hours seen several people come to know Christ. How about that? We also have had opportunities to pray with people on the streets and focus our hearts on what is before us.

It really is incredible to watch God work right in front of us! Today on the street we were praying and an Ecuadorian literally ran out from where he was, crossing the street (which in Ecuador is more than a little dangerous) and beg us to pray with him for his life and for direction from Christ. Amazing!

I think the lesson that has been most evident today is that prayer is one of the most important tools that we have as children of God. We spent time with him and continued on our prayer walk.

Luther said that "if i neglect but a single day of prayer, I will lose very much of the fire of faith." Keep praying for us and pray that the Holy Spirit will show up!