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!

I can still remember like it was yesterday some of the fights my sister and I had growing up. A lot of times they would start with “You’re not my boss!” or “Don’t tell me what to do!”

Fast forward 20 years and that is now a constant joke between my wife and me. Usually it’s trivial like…

“Don’t put the glass down without a coaster!” “I’ll do what I want, you’re not my boss!” (as I put the coaster down, haha)
“Honey, you can’t park in the middle of the garage or I can’t pull in.” “Don’t tell me what to do or I’ll show you park in the garage!”

And while we joke about that, one thing is for sure. Whether it is marriage, friendships, a huge decision, or our relationship with God, we naturally don’t want anyone to tell us what to do or what we could or should do differently.

But there’s one problem with that mentality: the Bible.

You might think you can come up with the best plan of all. But on your own, it’s not going to succeed! Proverbs 15:22 says “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” That’s a promise! With many advisers helping you to chart the course and avoid pitfalls, you will succeed. The tension comes in when you begin to realize what that means. It means opening yourself up to being told “I don’t think you’ve considered this.” “There’s a sin-issue there.” “If you make that choice, these are the problems it is going to cause.” It means you have to be willing to submit, be humble, and make a change. Even if it hurts.

When I felt led to start a church, I sought out the wise counsel of several other church leaders. What they told me wasn’t fun. They said “You’re not ready.” At the time, it was a dagger through my heart. But looking back on it, they were right and waiting an extra year was what I needed. When I met my wife and we began to date, I had a pastor and a close friend really challenge me on my intentions, my choices, and my future. I didn’t like hearing it and wanted them to leave me alone! But they were right. And their counsel and advice kept me from moving too quickly or making poor choices. This ultimately led to a much healthier relationship and marriage to her today.

Chances are you are going through a major issue, hurdle, or change in your life. Who have you sought counsel from? Probably someone who told you what you wanted to hear or only heard your selective reporting. That doesn’t count! Have you gone to the people who know you best and love the most and asked them for their honest feedback? Have you asked them to pray for you? Have you asked them to help you see what you can’t see for yourself because you are too close to the issue? Chances are you haven’t, and that’s a scary place to be. Because your plans on their own will fail. But with many advisers you can succeed.

What are you waiting for? Why aren’t you on the phone right now calling someone up? I know why and I know what you’re thinking you want to say to me.

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

Yowsers! Never has a sermon created quite the stir that this one did…all because we took a stand on believing that what the Bible says is true and used some science to show that maybe – just maybe – science can substantiate Biblical claims.

The stir was mostly positive, people thankful for a confirmation of their faith that, by the way, is shared by 44% of Americans. In fact, only 9% of Americans believe in evolution that does not include God. The other 91% believe God played a role. So naturally most OneLifers were thankful to hear what they heard. But believe it or not, that was not the point of the message!

The point of the message was we can learn much about the Creator from the story of his creation. We learn that he can bring light out of darkness, order and life to chaos, proves his glory in the heavens, and that all creation is so the Creator can have relationship with YOU! Check it out if you missed it here.

Some of my research for this sermon can also serve as further resources for those wanting more “proof” or apologetics on the topic:

• Evidence for Creation – A few scientific reasons that evolution is not hard and fast fact.
• Evolution vs. Creation Debate – A debate from a Canadian television show that raises some interesting points in favor of Creation.
• Expelled – A MUST SEE documentary by Ben Stein that addresses the issue of how any scientist or scholar who dares to consider intelligent design or question evolution as “scientific” is immediately discarded, despite the facts of science that back up the possiblity of intelligent design. Watch all 10 parts for free on YouTube.
• The Case for a Creator – A book by Lee Strobel that is a great introduction for someone wanting some basic scientific arguments for intelligent design. He also lists more resources for the reader who wants more than an introduction.

This Sunday we move to part 3 – sin. What is it, why is it a big deal, and what do we do about it? Going to be another great one!!!

I put a lot of pressure on myself to fight. Fight for my marriage. Fight for what I believe. Fight for my church. It’s an All-American trait; look out for number one!

Too bad that’s not a trait that exactly makes God smile.

Reading through Exodus I came across an interesting verse. The Egyptians are chasing the Israelites, wanting to get them back into slavery. Just when they catch up, all hell breaks loose. And look at what the Egyptians say.

“Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

It was God that was in control of the fight. He put his children there and he was going to fight for them. And not only fight, but win.

You probably know the rest of the story. The Red Sea splits wide open and the Israelites walk across unharmed and victorious. They didn’t have to lift a finger in battle. The Lord was fighting for them.

You might be a church member or you might be a skeptic. You might be a pastor or you might be a pew potato. Regardless, who’s fighting in your life? For your marriage? For your kids? For your legacy? For your future? For your church? For your job?

You can keep fighting and keep coming up tired, beaten up, and worried about the next battle. Or you can take a page out of history and learn from good ole Moses and his people. Let your Father do the fighting.

We sing a song a lot at OneLife called “God is Alive.” It’s fast. It’s fun. It gets people clapping. And we believe it.

But do we really?

Something interesting hit me reading Acts 1:1 today. Luke, the writer, is talking about the first letter he wrote (his self-titled, debut album – “Luke”). Look at what he says:

In my first book I told you about everything Jesus began to do and to teach.

That word “began” jumped off the page and slapped me up beside the head! If I had been Luke, I would have said “I told you about everything Jesus did and taught.” But not Luke. He understood something that we sing and that we say we believe. He knew that Jesus had only just begun! All the things that he wrote about in the book of Luke weren’t history. They were current events! Jesus may have since gone back to heaven, but his work was still alive and strong. It was only the beginning of seeing what Jesus would accomplish.

Here we are, thousands of years later, and that one word – began – fires me up. Jesus is STILL at work! In fact, this is just the beginning of what he wants to do in our lives! The same power that healed the blind, raised the dead, fed thousands, and kicked the teeth out of death is still living and moving.

The only questions is this: do I live like I believe the Bible is just the beginning of all that Jesus would do or merely a history book of events long ago?

I’m ready to choose the first and realize that Jesus has only just begun to change my life. I don’t want to live in the past. I want this to be the beginning.