As I write this, I can hear Christmas music coming down the hall. Christmas videos are being made. Christmas songs are being practiced by the worship team. A Christmas float is being built. We even have our own Christmas Tree in the office lobby!

I love it!

Here are some important dates you need to know as a OneLifer so you can celebrate Christmas with us all month long!

Friday, December 2, 7pm – Knoxville Christmas Parade - The OneLife Band will be making its way down Gay Street on an incredible float built by OneLife volunteers! Come watch the parade live downtown or on WVLT Channel 5. Want to help build the float? Vols are working every night this week! Email creative@onelifeknox.com to get involved!

Saturday, December 3, 5pm – Powell Christmas Parade - The OneLife Band will take the show on the road to Emory Rd in Powell! For this parade, we need a HOARDE of volunteers to throw candy and pass out invitations to the Christmas Eve service! If you want to be part of this, email volunteer@onelifeknox.com to sign up!

Sunday, December 4, 9:30 and 11am – OneLife Christmas Series - Christmas songs and stories all month long kick off this Sunday morning with a brand new series called “Unwrapped.”

Sunday, December 11, 6pm – OneLife Volunteer Christmas Party at Jubilee Center - All volunteers have been invited to attend our annual Christmas Party. Come enjoy a great catered dinner, entertainment, and a big THANKS from the OneLife staff for all you’ve done this year. RSVP by December 1 at www.onelifeknox.com/party.

Saturday, December 24, 4 and 6pm – Powell Community Christmas Eve Service at Powell High School - OneLife Church began hosting a community Christmas Eve service two years ago, and this has quickly become the most anticipated event of the year! Last year the auditorium at Powell High School was packed out, so a second service has been added. A limited number of seats will be available, so reserve and print your free tickets at www.powellchristmas.com. Spread the word to your friends and family so they can reserve their tickets, too! Then sign up this Sunday to volunteer at one of the services as we serve our community!

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas - Each year we take the last Sunday of the year “off” to give our staff and volunteers time with family and allow the Christmas Eve service to fill in for this “missed” Sunday. This year that just happens to be on Christmas so we encourage everyone to celebrate Jesus with their families!

Sunday, January 1, 11am - Kick off the New Year in style with one combined service at Jubilee Center!

Another icon has fallen. Whether it be in sports, politics, or even the Church, it seems that a major player who is respected by thousands will fall periodically each year. This one is especially surprising, to me at least.

After coaching for 61 years at Penn State – 46 of those as head coach – Joe Paterno was fired late last night for his role in a child sex abuse case involving a former staff member of his coaching staff. When he found out about what happened nearly 10 years ago, he reported it to his athletics director but then, allegedly, turned a blind eye to it from that point on. At 84 years old, his illustrious career has been brought down to its knees.

What can we learn from this?

1. “A good name is more desirable than great riches.” Proverbs 22:1 makes it pretty simple, though it won’t always be easy – be more concerned about your legacy than your bank account. Doing the right thing and having a “good name” takes a lifetime to establish and may cost a lot in the process. But it is worth far more than any amount of money or fame, and losing a good name will cost you far more than losing the money or fame you selfishly desire.

2. Sin is serious. 1 Corinthians 5 tells us exactly what most of us do when we know sin is going on, be it in our own lives or in others. “And you have become arrogant, and have not mourned instead.” Too often we forget that sin must be dealt with – immediately – even when we know it will be hard. But the Bible gives us a promise that either we can deal with the sin immediately or let God deal with it eventually. “…then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

3. Justice is a priority. One of the biggest lies in our culture – especially Christian culture – is that we should not judge ANYONE at ANYTIME. That is a twisted view of God’s word! We should not judge others out of pride as if we are better than them. That is the point of the verse so often taken out of context. But when obvious sin is occurring or has occurred, we have an obligation from God to not stand by and do nothing about it! Isaiah 1:17 says “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression…” Especially when this sin is within the church, we should do all that we can to correct it and restore our brother or sister back to fellowship with God. But even when it is not, we have a duty to make justice our priority.

4. I could be next. It is so easy in situations like these to say “I would never do that!” And in that moment I am committing the most dangerous sin of all – pride. I am one choice away from ruining any chance of having a good name, destroying my family, or even my church. Similar to the old idiom “But by the Grace of God there go I,” 1 Corinthians 15:10 says “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” In other words, it is only by God’s grace I am where I am, and not in someone else’s shoes. It is not because I am a better person, but because of Jesus. The moment I take my eyes of that, I am in danger of being the next to fall.

Is there sin in your life or that you are aware of that should be dealt with immediately? Are you taking shortcuts that could one day ruin your legacy? Or are you living a life of pride thinking you would never be able to mess up? Take a moment now to confess that to God and repent from whatever it may be.

October was Pastor Appreciation Month and my family at OneLife Church did not disappoint. We received so many cards, notes, and gifts that it blew our minds! It was such an encouragement to read about how so many lives have been changed and impacted by the local church. To be the leader of that for the past two years and read how much it has made a difference in so many lives was unbelievably humbling.

I wish I had time to personally thank each person who gave us a card or a gift, but we received so many that I literally wouldn’t have time to thank everyone individually! So I pass on my sincere thanks from me and the rest of my family to each of you who loved and honored us so well throughout the past month. We love you!

You are invited to be part of a small group night of prayer, worship, and challenging teaching. We will be partnering with churches all across the country this Friday night for a live simulcast called Secret Church. It will be held in Suite 102 of the OneLife Office beginning at 7 p.m.

This is an intense night of challenging growth where you will be stretched to take God as seriously as those who have to worship him in hiding, often risking their own lives to do so. I dare you to challenge yourself to be a part of it! Because it lasts well into the night (ends at 1 a.m.), we will not provide childcare. Additionally, limited spaces are available and already half of them are filled! There is a cost for the event but if you commit to attend, OneLife will cover this cost for you.

Find out more about the event here: www.disciplemakingintl.org/secretchurch/ and then email pastor@onelifeknox.com if you plan to attend so we can have enough materials available.

Hope to see you there! I dare you…