A New Quote

I get sick and tired of hearing people ramble on and on of how much they dislike certain musicians. For those people, I give you this…..

“ok, if people don’t like certain music then stop going around complaining about it. People aren’t going to like all the same stuff, thats why they made more than one flavor of ice cream”

Byron Lee Sides

Recently myself and many others lost a great friend. He was the kinda guy that you just couldn’t help but love and want an awesome hug from. He had a great heart, and even though he didn’t always do things that would considered “morally right” in todays society, he would be there for you if you ever needed him. Byron Lee Sides drowned Monday afternoon at Red Top Mountain. This is the complete story witnessed by his best friend Chris Boyle……………

“We’ve all decided that it would be best if I tell everyone what actually happened at the lake, so that no rumors or false stories can get spread.

Yesterday Eli, Kim, Byron, Justyne, Jessica, Sally,and myself decided that we should go to the lake. Byron drove one car, and Jessica drove the other. On the way there we were just having a regular fun time. I kept complaining about how slimy the lake would be and Eli was screaming at me about how many people have been in the Planter’s pool. Like the way stuff always is: really, really fun.

We went to Red Top Mountain Beach by the Big Rock. We were just scoping out what we were going to do, and no one really wanted to jump off the Rock, so Byron spotted an island in the middle of the lake and thought we should swim there. Sally said she tried it once and she got halfway and then just floated because she was so tired, and that her dad had to come by with his boat to pick her up. So we decided it would be best not to make a straight shot to the island.

A few of us pointed out that we could swim a lot less further if we walked around the bank and swam across a 1st channel to the other side, then from the that side to the island. So we dropped our towels and keys off at the Big Rock and started walking through the woods to the shortest distance of water. On our way there we were still just joking and having a good time. Oddly enough we were saying things like “Whose the first to drown?” “NOT IT!” Sally actually lost…

When we got there we dropped our shoes and got in. As soon as we got in everyone started complaining about how slimy the water was. I couldn’t help but saying “told you so” So we all just started heading to the other side, there was a small current in my opinion, but some of the others said it was a little stronger than that. Eli was in the lead, and I was last. Sally was right in front of me, and Byron was in front of Sally. Everyone else was between Eli and Byron.

I decided I was going to take it slow and easy because I was very tired, because I haven’t slept for the past few days. Sally agreed with me and both of us slowly made our way to the other side. Around half way across the lake, Sally and I passed Byron, but I didn’t think much of it, because Byron was just doing his own thing and he hadn’t said anything. When Sally and I got about 3/4 the way done, Eli was getting on land, and everyone else was shortly behind him. That’s when I remembered Byron and I turned back around to see how far he had gotten. He hadn’t really moved and was just trying to float on his back and keep his head up.

We all started shouting “come on Byron!” but he replied “I can’t make it”

That’s when Sally and I turned back to help him, and when we got to him he kept going under and then coming back up. Everyone had pretty much stopped where the were to make sure Byron was okay. But Byron looked like he was getting tired. He was trying to remain as calm as he could, but I figured something bad might happen. I started swimming back to where we had started in hopes that Byron would follow. I tried to coach him on his back and to kick his feet but he wasn’t listening.

I turn back to the others and asked if I should call for help and they all said yes. I swam to shore as fast as I could, and when i got there I turned around to see Sally trying to pull him in my direction. I sprinted as fast as I could to the other side of the woods where I screamed for someone to call 911. I got their attention and I screamed for people to come help. A few guys started running in my direction so I turned back to see how Sally and Byron were. Sally was holding his hand and several times she went under with him, then she said she couldn’t hold on anymore, and that’s when Byron let go of her hand.

And then I looked and saw Byron go under and he didn’t come back up. Sally screamed “I can’t find him! He’s not here!!” and everyone still in the water started swimming to where we last saw Byron.

Everyone started diving under the water to search for him but it was pretty dark and murky, and it was impossible to see. I sprinted back to the other side and got the guys to come get in the water. I was actually counting the minutes in my head after he went under and it was around 4 or 5 minutes when the guys got in and started diving. A lot of people didn’t have much strength left, and I got on some guys phone with a 911 operator.

It had been around 10 minutes when Sally screamed she saw his hands in the water, but the guy closest to the spot said it was just a pinecone, but Sally and another kid saw both his arms.

Jessica was on shore in hysterics, and almost everyone couldn’t believe what just happened. He was just gone.

I sprinted as fast as I could back to where our keys to the car was, and by then EMS has arrived and were making their way down. I grabbed his phone, and some other things and called Byron’s mom to let her know. My parents called right after and they hurried to get there to.

Apparently they had to wait 30 or 40 minutes so that the dive team could get there from the next county over, because Bartow doesn’t have one.

Everyone was a mess and Eli made a lot of the calls to close friends.

It took approximately 3 or so hours to recover his body, but they did find it and I am thankful for that.

We all did our best, but there wasn’t anything we could do. Byron was trained to handle situations like this, so he knew what he had to do. He was perfectly fine before so I am not sure what had happened. There might have been and undercurrent or possibly he cramped.

I know everyone is in shock and in disbelief but Byron was an amazing person and friend. He always made me laugh and would do anything I needed him to (even drive me around for ages). I just hope you all will keep Byron’s mom and family in your prayers. I know he has to be smiling down on us now, and I feel as though he is still with me as I’m writing this.

I still can’t believe I’m saying this, but rest in peace Byron Sides. I’ll miss you more than you could ever imagine.”

Well there you have it. I hasd never thought about this situation happening to the lives of my friends and mine. Byron was the kind of guy that had held his friends dearly to his heart. I remember leaving school almost every day and getting a hug from him while I walked out the door, and immediately afterwards he would ask me if he could have a dollar. Byron, we will all miss you more than anyone could even imagine. You were a great friend to anyone and everyone you came in contact with and THATS what characterized you as a great and loving person. I love you dude…….

IF anyone would like to go to his viewing it will be at Parnick-Jennings funeral home from 3-6pm friday afternoon. Also, please keep all of Byrons friends and family in your prayers. He was his mother and fathers only baby, and God knows they’re going through a tough time.

—-Marcus

CD Review: The Rocket Summer- “Do You Feel”

So I just bought the Latest Rocket Summer album titled “Can You Feel” and I am VERY pleased. Bryce takes todays style of music and adds somewhat of an old school twist. As I looked up the album, I found that Stevie Wonder’s brass section actually recorded onit. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!?!?!?! I suggest everyone to go out and buy this on Itunes or at your local Wal-Mart. I’m SURE you will be satisfied!

Peace and Love?????

I heard two people arguing to one another over a girl they both liked. One of these two highly intellegent candidates was a redneck with a hand full of tobacco in his mouth, the other a 105 lb. 15 year old scene kid with a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. The scene kid had always been against violence and lived a typically hippie lifestyle. But this guy said to the redneck that he was going mess him up(Their vocabulary was a little bit more vulgar than my own).

Shortly after this incident I thought to myself “CAN PEACE AND LOVE EXIST IN HARMONY IF LOVE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR?” The scene kid was for anti-violence! Some things people do just doesn’t  make any since to me. What do you think?

How to almost get arrested at Bruster’s on a Saturday night

Ok, well this past weekend I performed in a review of several different musicals over the years. Of these were “Sideshow”, “Spring Awakening”, “Sweeney Todd” and “RENT”. After our performance Saturday night, a group of people and myself went to Bruster’s to get some ice cream. Everyone got their ice cream decently fast, but unfortunately for my friend Michael they stopped serving as soon as he got to the window. My friends and I had gotten semi-excited due to our recent ice cream sugar rush and thought to ourselves “Hey, we should sing the song “La Vie Boheme” from RENT”. This was the outcome……

This was possibly one of the best nights of my life. But, unfortunately the employees at Bruster’s were saying that we were “Holding them hostage as an act of retaliation for not giving Michael any ice cream”. So they called the cops! If you listen closely you can hear the lady telling me to get off the table and the girl in the background telling her to get back inside! Good times…….

Talk about Turning 180 Degrees

When I first started going to Oak Leaf in Fall of 2006, I was rather surprised at the type of attire needed to be worn at the church. The attire being…….get this……WHATEVER YOU WANTED. I was astonished that I was attending a church that people didnt frown upon you if you wanted to wear a t-shirt, jeans with holes, and flip flops to church! Some people thought it was completely unbelievable.

Along with the citizens that believed that the dress code for the church was’nt true just so happened to be my father. I remember waking up, getting dressed, and walking out the door only to be stopped by my dad so just I could be ordered to change into nice jeans, nice shoes, and a Polo shirt. Apparently I was “disrepecting” God with my satanic New Balances and American Eagle jeans sent from Hell. Haha! But after a few weeks I was able to nudge it through his head that it didnt matter what you wore, so he finally, even though he didnt want to, backed off the subject.

As if the way I dress to The LKeaf wasnt bothering my parents enough they thought the only reason I began to go was for the groups that led worship for the church. Can you say MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT! I began to think that there was no hope of my parents fully approving of my church.

My parents visitied Oak leaf a few times, but were never regular attenders of it or any church at all. But once we bagan holding the services at Woodland High School things started to turn around. I started playing in the praise band and my parents wanted to come see me play. So one thing led to another and after 2 straight months of me playing guitar at church my mom and dad realized all the things that I saw. All the potential, love for God, and the mission within the church. So the officially became regular attenders.

This was the first major mile stone, the second had yet to come.

My Aunt Sherry is head of the security team at the Leaf, so we had made a mind set to get my parents in the game of volunteering. after about 6 months, they gave it a try. Needless to say the now volunteer every week and I’ve never felt so humbled. And it’s also some much need help the security team needed.

I never knew my parents would be assisting of the movement of leading people from where they are to where God wants them to be.

Limelight Re-Cap

Yesterday Oak Leaf had another Limelight at Club 104, and I must say that it went fairly well. I got to play guitar for the youth for the first time in what feels like forever. Matt Lead worship, and even though we learned two of the songs an our before the thing started we still managed to pull it off. I feel extremely blessed that God has given me the opportunity to play music with a bunch of guys that want to help lead other closer to Him. And the fact that He is doing so much within our church is a great morale boost.

Jake gave the message at Limelight for the first time and he did an EXCELLENT job. His has a certain quality that makes it easy for all of the students to connect with him. He talked about Peter, and how even Biblical figures have made mistakes. Jake made an AWESOME reference to “Transformers” about how in 40 years we’ll be able to say that we “got in the car”. All in all Jake was great and I cant wait to hear him teach the youth again.

After Limelight we all went to get some ice cream to Brewsters. The entire youth was invited, but only Kaela, Jake, his chik-fil-a friends, and myself showed up.Who would of thought Kids don’t like ice cream? So once I finished my double scoop of Oreo, I went and picked up church signs for about an hour. It was a rather satisfying weekend.

Monday Memory

So I am told sometimes that I am an idiot, and also asked if I had been dropped on my head when I was a child. To all those rude people who ask such ridiculous question I have your answer and it is yes.

I know what your thinking, and no my mother and father are not irresponsible parents. I wasn’t technically “dropped” persay, but more like fell. As in I fell out of my crib.

My dad had been working 48 hours straight at the Bartow County EMS station(for those of you who dont know what that is, click here) leaving my mother at home to take care of me while he made some mullah. Well, to put a long story short my mother was WORN OUT. So as I went to sleep for my nap she laid me in my crib where I slumbered while she took a shower……..so she thought.

While my mother was out of my room I preceded to climb up that wooden prison of comfort and eventually turned it over. My mother heard the extraordinarily loud thump coming from my room and scurried to find a poor, hurt, whiny, defensless, pretty, handsome, sexy etc. boy named marcus crying on the floor. She took me to the emergency room to make sure there was no damage to my head and other bodily functions, and our psycho doctor wanted to call DEFAX!!!!!!!!! Thankfully that did not happen and I still live, looking mighty amazing I must say.

So if you didnt think you knew anyone who fell on their head as a child, now you do!

Crazy Video From the Leaf

This past Sunday Oak Leaf started a new series call I Love the 80’s, and to kick it off Michael and Jake made a spoof on the Geico commercials. ITS HILARIOUS!

YOU SAY….blah blah blah….. God Says….

BIBLE VERSES.

You say: “It’s impossible”
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired”
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me”
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34)

You say: “I can’t go on”
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out”
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it”
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able”
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it”
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself”
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage”
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid”
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated”
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: “I don’t have enough faith”
God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith
(Romans 12:3)

You say: “I’m not smart enough”
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone”
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)