Of Bubba teeth, "Jingle Bells," and falling up stairs

"The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21 b, ESV)
I would dare say that except for Jenny Quinn fourteen years ago, I have never truly lost someone that I have considered a friend in my life. I've lost grandparents, an aunt and an uncle. None of those losses have impacted me like the one today.
I am proud to be one of the numerous thousands that could consider Tony Greene a friend. Tony died today at 4:25 p.m. He leaves behind a wife, TaRanda, two daughters, Belle and Josie, and memories too varied and numerous to count for whoever harbors them.
He was an excellent businessman, running his own concert promotion business and managing a singing group. He was a funeral director. He had been a music leader in church. He was an excellent singer. My goodness, he was a comedian. He was a great husband, father, brother, uncle...you name it.
Thanks to my brother, I was able to remember the fun times. On a Wednesday night, he stood to lead the music, and sang the songs WEARING BUBBA TEETH. I remember it as vividly as I see the screen in front of me. The songs, I don't remember: I couldn't sing one of them for laughing so hard. "Jingle Bells" was his all-time classic story about the woman wanting this song sang at her husband's funeral, which he did, only for her to realize she meant "When They Ring Those Golden Bells."
My brother and I were with them at a church south of Hickory, NC, for a concert. As they were introduced, Nic Holland, who was filling in for Tim Greene, went up the stairs, but never made it. Tony laughed, snorted, laughed, snorted, until he could no longer contain his snot. It was classic Tony, and Nic did eventually live it down.
I remember nights at Wendy's, Los Arcos in Boone, and meeting him for a sandwich at Hannah's BBQ here in Lenoir. My brother and I ate with them at Outback in Hickory the night wrestler Owen Hart fell to his death (I have a weird way of combining memories). The man knew a good restaurant.
One of his favorite songs I remember was "I Cannot Find the Way Alone" by Albert E. Brumley. I was looking at the words tonight, and have been singing it to myself. I could not do it with the same feeling he could, but it takes me to that special place, with those special people, back many years ago.
Today, God called a special saint home weeks before his 42nd birthday. That is the sad part. Yet consider this-no more dialysis. No more kidney rejection. No more gout. No more pneumonia. No more bus problems. His quality of life is greatly improved. I pray for his family. TaRanda, Belle, Josie, mother Carolyn, Tim and Kim, everyone.
Tonight, when I got out of class, I went to Hannah's BBQ. I decided to have a Chopped BBQ sandwich and Fries in tribute to my friend. I think my brother did the same. The fries were definitely the best I ever had from there. The sandwich was, as well. Farewell, my friend. I will see you in a little while.

Seeking, and Finding. The end of the Church Me series

(I will come up front and say that this is not an original idea for a post. This is actually from something I heard Pastor David Jeremiah mention a couple of days ago on his radio program.)
When people ask where I go to church, they would be surprised to hear me say Charlotte. I go to Elevation Church, where Steven Furtick is the lead Pastor. My wife Sheyna went to the same college that Pastor Steven and his wife Holly attended. She has followed blogs for the church for years, and this Easter, we finally attended. We have gone ever sense.
People ask me about my church. What kind of church is it? Well, it's different. The music is louder than I am accustomed to (they pass out earplugs at the door!), the presentation is different, and everything is well put together. The preaching, most importantly, is TOP-NOTCH. Pastor Steven hits you solidly in the face with the Word of God. He once described it is "old school preaching in a new school way." Is my church seeker-sensitive? No, not in that sense.
This is where the David Jeremiah quote comes in. He mentioned that someone asked him (since his church is on the west coast) if his church was seeker-friendly, seeker-sensitive, or seeker-focused. He then quoted this verse: "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10, part b, NKJV)
He expounded: Jesus is the seeker. Therefore, are we seeker-friendly? Yes, we try to be a friend to Jesus. Are we seeker-sensitive? Yes, we strive to be sensitive to Jesus, and to the leading of the Spirit. Are we seeker-focused? The older we get, the more we focus on the seeker of the lost, looking for the day of Blessed Hope. (I'm sorry, Pastor Jeremiah, if I completely butchered your thought in the paraphrase.)
The point is this: I go to a church that acts in audacious faith, So that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ. Yes, they do some things a little bit different. However- he word is preached in an unashamed fashion. This is what is drawing people in. They are treated well by a courteous and incredible staff. God is honoring the church, because the honor Him that came to seek and save, and it is evident to all to see.
When I did my "Church Me" blogs last year, I did not imagine I would be in such a church. Now that I am, I can't picture myself anywhere else.