Brandon Neil Richards

Its inevitable, as we humans recognize that our lives are out of control, unorganized, imbalanced, and ignorant we strive to bring wholeness to our lives by re-inventing and building upon the same ideas, the same principles which we have forsaken in our previous efforts.

This is not a slam on Apple, I think they make great and useful ‘tools’, yet I think the emergent Apple technology’s popularity and other ‘like’ technologies are symptomatic of the spiritual condition of mankind. Beginning with the coming of the iPod we were promised a single place to keep our songs, a place that fits our song into our lifestyle or in this case, “our pockets”. With the coming of the iPhone and iPad, now you can not only keep your songs with you, directions, libraries of knowledge, whatever you’re searching for is right at your fingertips.

We love to keep things close enough that should we need them, we can just pull it out and listen to it, and then whenever we're finished listening to it, we put it back into its place.

We love the idea that we can build our own playlist and “shuffle” it around as much as we want, at anytime we want and it appear “changed” and if we get tired of that or have another need, there's an app for that. It will meet all your needs.

We think our lives are defined by what we wear, how we talk, what we can accomplish and do. In fact, to many people we seem Human2.0™ because we appear to have everything under control. Should we become insecure, we only need to shuffle around our appearance, our speech, charge a new car, or just come out of the closet to feel more self-confident, more honest. The reality is, no matter how many times we shuffle or how many times we change or “accessorize” ourselves, underneath we’re still playing the same songs, the same lies that we are in control, our own saviors.

We think having these gadgets will make our lives easier, free up our time to spend more quality time with what we care about and if used properly they can. Yet, in all truthfulness… they consume us, never let us rest with the constant reminders of its calendar… its tasks… its mail. Webster defines “immoderate attachment or devotion to something” as Idolatry [ http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/idolatry ] and with that we have created idols, symbols of our self serving efforts to save ourselves.

What if we shut off our gadgets, and take them from our pockets? What if we took the time to really see who we are and meant to be? What if we could recognize that the smudges are there to show us how blind we are to ‘The Playlist’... to help us recognize our need to change the Song we listen to? We know we can’t do this ourselves, we only have a limited knowledge. We need someone outside the iPod to synchronize our lives with in order to change our song, we need a savior.

There are a lot of religions in the world, and various sects within them. I’m not talking about ‘religion’, I’m talking about the only Savior for our lives, the only one who can give us life and that is Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the only God, and the only way to peace, truth, life and know one can “synchronize” themselves with God but through Him. Not Buddha, not Muhammad, not Mary nor any other professed way to God… those are all man made, all idolatry, vanity and rely upon our efforts to save ourselves when we already know we can’t [ Proverbs 14:12, 1 Peter 2:24].

If you in all honesty realize that you are in need of Savior, the Bible states:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life [ John 3:16 ]” and that “...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [ Romans 10:13 ]

It’s as simple as that, Salvation through Christ isn’t complicated as there is nothing more that you have to do but cry out to God and turn from your own way to His way and believe that He is the Son of God, that He died for our sins so we wouldn’t have to die in them, and then confess with your mouth that He is your Lord. If you’ve done this, then God will send the Holy Spirit to bear witness that you are now a child of God [ Romans 8:16 ], then I encourage you to begin “synchronizing” with God through reading the Bible, “The Message Bible, The New International Version, and The Amplified” are great versions and easy to understand. Another way to “synchronize” is to pray and just talk with God, find a church and get connected with other Christian people.

Lastly, if have questions or you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus today, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below.

These were some crazy times, most people took one and didn’t say a word, others weren’t so friendly. When we ran out of tracts, often a sense of desperation would build up in me, that I could no longer keep quiet. A friend of ours David B., also came to these but he carried a huge wooden cross up North Roan Street to the concert and stood outside and would open air preach. I remember one time he had been preaching for awhile and had just finished and he look at me and I just picked up where he left off. I can’t even remember what I said, but there was such a boldness that wasn’t of me that caused scripture to just flow from my mouth.

My brother and I would find the stragglers, and we run up to them and say, ” Hey, do you know Jesus Christ?” most of the time we’d get flipped off or cussed—but there were times we’d find the ones we were there for. Two particular people I can still recall.

We were at a Motley Crue concert and it had just begun, we were intercepting people who were running behind (bet they loved that!) and this girl I intercepted was smashed drunk and was banging on a maintenance door yelling, ” Let me in..” I went over to her and told her that wasn’t the right entrance, and pointed the way. She thanked me, and I in turn handed her a tract and asked her to read it. I explained to her briefly that Jesus loved her and why He died for her. She kind blew me off and said sure thanks and went on in. Her name was Jennifer R.

While the concert continued, I caught back up to my brother who was helping this drunk guy walk. I watched as he told him about Jesus. The guy was smashed, but listened. My brother asked if he could pray for the guy and he agreed. My brother laid his hand on the guy and began to pray. I kid you not, that guy smashed drunk prayed a prayer and asked Jesus to forgive him and come into his life and by the time he had finished praying he was completely sober.

The most amazing thing started happening, viral evangelism. He turned around, and began telling other people who were walking by what happened to him. It was amazing, like someone set him on fire. He didn’t know any scripture, nothing but he just told people what just took place. It was about this time that the girl I witnessed to earlier came running out terrified with blood all over her clothes. She said something about these guys in black cutting themselves as Motley Crue sang their song, “Shout at the Devil”. I don’t remember the exact conversation that took place, but I ended up leading her through a prayer to receive Jesus as her Savior. She began crying and her countenance changed. She was so happy, joyful in an instant that she too started turning around to other people tell them what just happened to her and would ask them if they wanted to know Jesus. She would drag them to me and I’d go through the whole thing with them and lead them through a prayer as well.

It’s amazing what can happen, even if you don’t know what you’re doing, by being obedient to God’s word and just begin doing it.

It’s been a long 15 years since these acts, and I will begin again very soon.