If you were to hack into my blog account you would find an arsenal of blog posts that didn’t make the cut. I don’t blog often, but I do try to post at least once or twice a week to keep our church posted and to act as a form of journal for myself. However, many weeks I write much more than gets posted, simply because I filter…a lot!

There are topics in the church world that absolutely drive me nuts so I sit down and pound out my own opinions in these areas. Sometimes someone in our church will be a bonehead and cause me to think about writing something. And other times I go on a rant as if I am a self-proclaimed expert and the world at large is interested in my opinions. Then logic prevails, self-control takes over, and instead of hitting the “publish” button, I simply hit the “save draft” button. I feel better after taking out all that anger and frustration on my keyboard (those poor little keys…), and often realize what a pompous, sin-filled person I am on my own without the Holy Spirit kicking my tail back into line!

I’ve found the same to be true of emails. Many times I have fired off a response to someone via email, only to hit “save” instead of “send” and it no doubt saved me from a world of trouble!

I believe this is a modern-day example of what Ephesians 4:29 means when it says, “Let NO unwholesome talk come out of your mouths!” Period! No excuses! Even when your in-laws drive you crazy, your coworkers lose their minds, or someone disagrees with an opinion you expressed in a tweet or a blog. PERIOD! Don’t write that email, don’t post that ambiguous status update, and step away from the blog. Maybe it’s not when anger or frustration motivate you, but pride kicks in and convinces you to tell the world how great you are at preaching, leading, being a dad, or whatever it is you do. It isn’t wholesome talk that helps anyone.

Confess those thoughts to God. Use a blog to do it. Write an email. But please, do yourself a favor and filter it. I promise that you’ll be glad you did!

I love Vols. UT Vols. And OneLife Vols. Maybe to be culturally relevant we should start doing the V-O-L-S cheer from UT football games on Sundays, too.

Ok, that would be dorky.

But I love our OneLife volunteers so much that I wouldn’t put it past me!

This past week reminded me of what an incredible group of people we have who call OneLife Church home. And it reminded me that our church understands that church isn’t about “me” and what “I can get out of it”. As we gear up to move to the Jubilee Center in just two weeks, we needed to take some time to get all of our volunteers on the same page. So we hosted two training nights where each team met. All we asked is for each volunteer to pick a night. And they did!

More than 120 adults came to one of these training nights. That blows my mind! You took a night of your week, rushed over after work, took your kids home late, etc. And I don’t take that lightly. So from the bottom of my heart – Thank You!

OneLife wouldn’t be where it is without people sacrificing to make it happen. My prayer is that as a result of the Jubilee Volunteer Training we are all more on the same page and ready to make this transition with a bang.

I can’t wait! And I love our Vols who make it happen.

When it comes to patriotic holidays, we usually don’t make much of a fuss about them at OneLife. While I’m sure it sounds too apathetic and unappreciative of the sacrifice our veterans have made (which is not the case at all!), I simply don’t believe Jesus died on a cross so we could march flags down the aisle and shoot streamers in the air while singing about our country. So on days like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day we always take a moment to pray and thank God for the freedoms we have, and then we focus the rest of our service on Jesus.

But this Sunday is different. In fact, I believe it is so different that it is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of Sunday. Could it have been God’s plan all along that the 10th Anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in American history would fall on a Sunday? Definitely! (Acts 17:26) And more than ever a focus on Jesus and what this day represents intersects perfectly.

So this week, on September 11, 2011, we will worship Jesus like we do each Sunday. Then we will devote the sermon portion to this monumental day for several reasons:

• People have questions. This is a relevant issue that still has people asking “why?” The attention that the 10th anniversary brings is raising many of these questions again.
• This day of tragedy reminds us all that life is fragile. In the last 10 years we’ve all faced our own personal tragedies. What does the Bible say about this?
• The past 10 years have brought great healing to our nation, but the healing that Jesus can bring is even greater! We’re going to find out how that can happen in all of our lives.

I’m actually really excited to use a story about Jesus to bring some answers to tough questions this Sunday! No flags down the aisles, no dramatic videos of collapsing buildings, and no sensationalism. Just Jesus, hope, and healing.

Be there, and don’t come alone!

The Vols will be 2-0, the sun is supposed to make a re-appearance by then, and I hope to see YOU at OneLife Church! All of that happens this Sunday, and here’s four reasons why you CAN’T miss it!

1. This Sunday is OneLife’s second birthday. That is HARD to believe! Time flies when you’re having fun.
2. This Sunday is also the 10th anniversary of 9/11. We’ll be talking about how that day changed everything, and our response to it now changes everything.
3. We have only three more Sundays at Powell High School, and we’re building momentum like crazy toward the move to our new facility. Come be a part of history!
4. Why wouldn’t you come?! Make gathering to worship a priority – not just something you do when there’s nothing better on the schedule! (Hebrews 10:25)