Rubber Meets Road...

July 27, 2008
Well, the rubber met the road today for me in regards to leaving my life here in Monroe, LA. Today, at Trinity United Methodist Church I played my last gig with oneway. Honestly, I’m not really sure what to say but I just feel like writing so you’ll just have to deal with my ramblings.
I’ve been the lead singer for oneway for the past ten years. Granted, we were Everafter, Jacob’s Story (for one gig), and finally oneway for the past six or so years of playing. The Lord has blessed us in some incredible ways and allowed us to be a part of people coming to know the greatness of Christ and seeing his glory put at the forefront of things. It’s been a crazy fun and wild ride all the way here.
We’ve seen a ton of electric guitars players come and go and Harris has actually played with us before. He’s the current lead guitar player in the band. We’ve seen acoustic players change and even a bass player recently. We’ve seen a couple of singers leave even. But Matt Mc (drummer) and I have been the constant. I have to be honest, I never thought that I would see this day. I never thought that I would be the one to leave. I never dreamed. I just knew that I’d be in oneway until we all decided together that we’d done what God asked us to and fulfilled our mission and it was time for us to do something else. I never thought I’d be the one to pack up my equipment and not put it in the trailer. However, here I am.
I suppose what I just said has really happened. The part about we decided to go our separate ways because we’ve done what God called us to do for that season in our lives. Oneway has fulfilled that call and we’ve seen God do some crazy things. It’s a great feeling to know that you’ve been faithful to something like that for so long even when it was rough and took you away from friends, family, and new wives. Oneway itself really has come to an end. The other four guys, Jon, Tim, Harris, and Matt will continue on to lead worship as God leads them as a different band with a different name and perhaps a different mission. I’m glad that God asked us to be a part of his kingdom mission for this time. It’s been amazing.
As some of you know, I’ve accepted the worship leader position for the student area at First Baptist Broken Arrow in Broken Arrow Oklahoma. It’s right beside Tulsa. I’ll be moving up there for good on the 9th of August and I’ll start working with the worship band up there this coming Wednesday. It’s going to be different playing with people that I don’t know. It’s going to be different than playing with people that I know musically and think like and have experienced life with. Does that mean that I’m not excited about moving? Not in the least bit. Does that mean that I don’t want to go? No, it doesn’t. It does mean that I will miss the guys that I have played music with and been through hard things with. I’m excited about the future for them and what God has in store for them as a band and as individuals. I’m excited about being in Broken Arrow and working with our praise band there. Oneway belongs to God, it always has. The greatest thing about all of this is that God knows what’s going on and he has all of this under control. Not at any point has he wondered, “I wonder what is going to happen to the guys in oneway.” He knows. He always has. Matt, Harris, Jon and Tim, thank you for the honor and privilege of making music with you and worshiping our Savior together. Brian, Barber, Donnell, Lee, Harris, Draughn, and Gwin, I know how it feels now to leave something that you love so dearly. Thank you guys too for allowing me the honor of serving with you.

Worship hard,
gallup