weekend adventures.....

WOW - its been a busy 4 days. Many of you know - I am not a big fan of flying. Had to do it last Friday though - Flew from Charlotte to Newark NJ - the plane was 1/2 hour late because of heat in the ariplane. The Captain told us it was 140 in the plane and that is why we boarded late - it was still like 90 in there so I am glad Carol was not with me. Plane was full and it was an uneventful flight. Carols brother Bob was waiting on me and we drove back to his house in Milford PA. Had a good night with Bob, Denise and Kaitey. She is growing all up - its been years since I seen her. Saturday morning we left for Tupper Lake NY after dropping Kaitey off at her friends house. Me, Bob, Denise and Namath (There Huskey) - we got in around 1:00 and started getting Walts house in order. Bob and I worked the rest of the afternoon - packed Walts car and got everything else wrapped up. We then had supper waiting for us at Violets that she and Denise made for us. It was great spending time with them and its always awesome to share time with Violet. She is such a loving woman - a woman who loves everything and everyone. God has blessed her in so many ways and its beautiful that she knows that. She gave me a pin to put in the car for my ride home - an angel. She told explained to everyone that we all have angels who look out for us and protect us and guide us in life. So her angel did keep me safe because after 1300+ miles.... I am home. Got to spend some time yesterday with our dear friends Lynn, Dennis and Sophia. Sophia is cheering for the football team - she is in 5th grade and is so pretty. She has awesome parents and it was great to spend some time with them yesterday even if it was for a short time. Lots of Eagles fans there in that part of NJ - I didnt think that would be since its NJ and Giants and Jets play - but I dont like any of them so...... what do I know.
Well got on the road at 4:30 - pulled in to the garage at 2:30. Then proceeded to lock myself out of the house with nothing but my bathing suit on. 2 hours later our neighbors came down to let me in who had our spare key. Tough stuff after all that driving..... hungry tired and HOT!
Anyways - the honda s2000 is a great car. Handles like a dream. Push the gas pedal the car moves..... fun to drive with the top down except when its 96 out because the sun is HOT ~ but the problem is long drives - whew - I felt every bump.... everything the road handled me - I got it.... I am sore already! Anyways.... it was fun finally driving my dream car!

We had our leadership meeting tonight for church at 6:30. Almost didnt go because I am exhausted...... but went anyways and glad I did. The Lord infused some good plans ahead for our church - how can I not be excited about things?? SO I am pumped now....and need to try to wind down for a good nights sleep. Work tomorrow...... Praying for Carol and Kyle who are away at camp for School.... Carol called and she has 6 crazy 9 year old boys in her cabin..... Lord help her.... keep them both in your prayers.

Gods Best tomorrow....
Lonnie

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Romans 12:11 NLT

A story that I came across in my email this morning.... worth passing on I think for sure. Enjoy the read.....

Personal responsibility comes home

The USS Astoria was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9, August 1942. About 0200 hours Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples was swept overboard by the blast when the number one 8-inch gun turret exploded. He was kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate. At around 0600 hours, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water. Picked up again, he was one of 500 survivors. On board a transport, he closely examined the life belt that had served him so well. It had been manufactured by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and bore a registration number. Given home leave, Staples asked his mother, who worked for Firestone, about the purpose of the number on the belt. She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector. Staples remembered everything about the life belt, and quoted the number. It was his mother's personal code and affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.

Dale #3

What a day it has been. Started off with a wait on the bus - a traffic drive in - getting to the office late and then the call from Carol that she has a flat. I head back home and let her take the E to the hospital. I change the tire with the spare and almost make it out of our development - another flat. 2 Flats? Who has done that in their lifetime? Off through the neighbors asking for help..... finally I get one - THANK YOU in case you are reading this Diane!! Off to BJ's to get 4 new tires..... $550 later - also letting me know I need brakes ...and a battery. Dang - still better than a truck payment. But you know what the fella in BJ's said to me after telling my morning story to the staff there...Why are you still smiling? I said, Sir, why not? I am blessed beyond anything I could ever imagine....and I am thankful for getting here to get these tires.... smiling is optional - I choose to smile - my tires at this point are not optional. Wow - did the turn of conversation change in the room..... :)
Got to spend supper tonight with our friend Donna, Taylor and Morgan. Carol is not feeling well and stayed home but I think a good nights sleep will do her good and that is where she is already! Happy birthday Taylor!!!! 12 years old today..... I am proud of her - she is a good kid. You are doing a great job Donna! Shared lots of laughs tonight with the kids - too funny.

Anyways - as I finish up packing - I am watching the show on Dale Sr..... wow what a man he was. Full of life - full of everything - had it all..... died doing what he loved. The sport is still hurting and looking for its new leader. Jr - as awesome as he is had to leave his dads company. Family in tourmoil - So sad looking at the pictures - the video footage. Just when you got life right where its good - its over. Even still, God has a purpose. Just like the best years ahead for my mom - God had a purpose. Many times its for the purpose of others. We can only pray we get the message and understand what God is wanting us to know and learn during these times.
Pray for safe travels for me tomorrow and the next 4 days. Pray that Carol and Kyle have safe travels next week during their EarthShine trip with school and the entire 4th grade class. I will miss my kids - was really hoping to go..... but I have to do what I have to do.
I will try and get to a computer somewhere...... and let you know what I am up to. Tupper Lake NY - will get to know Rocky River Community Church...... and see the changed person/family all because of Jesus.

Love you all~
Randy

cya when I get back..... have a great church Sunday gang! :)
Mom is hanging with Dale Sr.... probably now. She loved that man..... like so many others. Miss you both.....there will never be another.

I can't help but to think today about the pace. Pacing myself for the long haul instead of the sprint in life. All the tv commercials have something to sell you that you just can't live without. Always something to run and get - improve your image or body - people running everywhere all the time. We are the most rushed generation ever. We have no time for things. We work 90 hour weeks and we take 5 days off during the summer and we are supposed to come back from vacation rested and relaxed. Who are we fooling? With all the technology in the world and things being made to simplify our lives - we sure are not slowing down any. It takes 2 leading a family these days - both working and teaming together to keep our households running. There is not enough time in the day and you know you are give out in your schedule when you go to the dentist and fall asleep in the chair waiting for your root canal. Does this sound like you? Do you just fall in bed and pass out because you are exhausted. Never have I seen so many folks just totally give out.
The last few weeks have been amazingly busy. With my father-n-law in the hospital in VT - my wife Carol away for a little over 2 weeks - being a single parent is for the birds I tell you!!! I have such compassion for my dear friends who are single parents..... You all amaze me!
Carol and I are now making plans for her dad to transition to our home. I am leaving Friday for NY until Monday to go to Tupper Lake NY to close down Walts house and drive his car back. I am looking forward to hanging out some with Carols brother Bob - seeing Aunt Violet and being in Tupper Lake. I am looking forward to the road trip - stopping near Princeton NJ to see my friends Lynn, Dennis and Miss Sophia. Church meeting at 6:30 on Monday night which I will make on time somehow. Carol is taking Kyle to camp next week for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I wish I could go somehow and let Carol stay but she seems excited about it now.
We have only been to the cabin 3 times this summer - with only a few days off. Schedules are packed right now ... we all need down time and unpack the schedules some. I want to minister to folks around me. I want to pass the blessings along that God is blessing me with. I want to continue to do Gods will over my own - especially my schedule. Sometimes that means saying NO to the things I feel important. I want to spend time with my new kids at Kyles school. I miss my kids from last year but I know the new kids will enrich my life just as much if I can give them a chance and get to know them and spend some time with them.
Life is so short - and poof - its gone. Its time to live moment by moment and to realize that each moment is a gift. It is a blessing from the Lord above.
So folks stop and smell the roses - see what is around you - the people around you. What are you not doing? What are you doing too much of? Is your treasures today all in the wrong places? The things that matter most to you are they out of line?
A few things I will miss the next few days. My wife and son - my dogs - my church family - my small group - my contact with everyone via this blog and email - seeing changed lives on Sunday and serving my Lord Jesus.
A change of Attitude with Lattitude........ Focus on the long haul and not the short sprint.
Love you all,
Randy~

More than just a comment......

But TRUTH ~


Your blog today brought to my remembrance something I read just last week so I looked for it and found it. It was titled "The Secret's in the Thanks". It was about a woman (true story)going to a memorial service for her "Aunt Martha" who had been a missionary in China, she felt a calling since childhood. She broke off a four-year engagement to a young doctor when he chose to stay in the US and she went to China to be a missionary. The neice had a deep desire to find out what "drove" her closer and closer to God so as to spend her whole life as a missionary telling the lost about Christ, living a lonely life, and especially as far away as China. Since her aunt Martha was not alive to tell her these things she hoped at the memorial she would meet people that knew her well and they would give her the insight she desired so deeply. She had heard aunt Martha stories all her life of such a Godly woman who knew no way but God's way. At the memorial service she listened to all the people and took in all the details about aunt Martha. However; instead of a wise and miraclous revelation, she learned that aunt Martha's secret to a Godly life was this: She let God shape her path, and never forgot to thank Him for each new day, even when she found herself where she didn't want to be and in situations she didn't want to be in. Surely it couldn't be that easy and simple!! It was simply, "Thank God for each new day." She learned that her aunt Martha quoted aloud every day one of her favorite verses from the Bible, mostly out of the book of Psalms. Her very favorite they said was "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24. The neice returned home with a new task in her heart. Each and every day, no matter what day it was, she began to thank God for each new day. It was sinmple, for in the act of thanking God she began to be more aware of His presence. "Little blessings, like hidden jewels began to shine brighter." The woman who seemed larger than life had lived by such simple rules: Love God, thank him for everything, and do what you can to glorify him in WHATEVER place you find yourself. She wrote "Now there is a sense of anticipation, of waiting with expectation for the blessings God has planned for each new day".God in Heaven, help us to look forward to each new day with this outlook, as our life really is "but a vapor" here one minute gone the next, may we proudly accept each day as a gift from God and see all there is to see in that day, and feel all you have for us, Lord may we live our life simple yet Godly in Your sight.Amen

Tuesday - Friday - Monday?

Tuesday that feels like a Monday. Who cares really - I am thankful for today and a chance to just make a small difference in someone's day today. It feels like a Monday - people here at work catching up on the weekend events and how their weekends were. But it was different because folks talk like they need another day off. They live for their weekends and almost all the conversations today started off ok - but then took a turn. Politics - the economy and how the world is so messed up - Iraq and Clinton comments. Hey folks - we can't change the world all at once..... I just want to scream sometimes...but you know what each of us can do???
I tell ya - be thankful for where you are today. Try and do one thing today that would make God smile upon you. Just one amongst all the sins we commit each and everyday - just one time -know that God is looking down on you and He is smiling on you. Maybe it was something you did, something you said to someone - maybe an encouraging word or an extra little in the tip for the waitress at lunch because you know she is having a hard time - maybe she just looks like she is struggling in life or working 2 jobs to make ends meet. Maybe its that person you finally got to come to church this past Sunday and they seemed to enjoy the service - they seemed to get the message that was preached and they experienced something in their heart and now God is working His thing. Be thankful for where you are and to know if you continue to look upward - searching for Gods plan for your life - He will lead you to where you need to be. Things in your life will change....and they begin with you. In order to change - we all must be willing to change and see a need for change.
Don't just live your life for the weekends..... the days in between count as well. Everyday is a blessing and if you are on the sidelines of life - well then you are missing out. Your pity party - with no guests to keep you company. Life is just a mist - and then its gone. Every moment counts....... Tuesdays are just as good as Fridays. Who cares what day it is......... they are all good!!!!!!
Randy~

A Sunday to remember....

Ok - I know- here it is 2:45 in the AM - on a morning where I can actually sleep in for a change and my mind is running full steam ahead. Funny thing is, I don't have much to worry about. I mean - why worry? Worry causes us to stand still and be idle in some decision that is ahead of us or some circumstance that we have not control over anyways. So why worry - I turn those worries into prayers and this early AM - my prayers are for the names of the folks that my wife Carol and I wrote on the poster board this morning at church.
This was something totally new and since coming to R2C2 for the past 2 or so years now - its a first. Everyone today was invited to come down front and write the name(s) of folks in our lives who need Jesus. It was such a moving experience. Anyone who knows Carol and I - know the names of a few of the folks written down this morning. We appreciate those prayers for those folks and those families. These folks will be prayed over not only by Carol and I but also our church pastors and church staff for the month of September.

There was also a second part to todays service - a message that includes us being missionaries. Missionaries in our community for Jesus. It is for Him that we come together and even Jesus himself told us that if 2 people should meet together in His name - it would be church and He would show up with them. I totally get it and understand it when Pastor Jimmy spoke of coming to church to serve others. I am there to be fed Gods word but I am there more so to help feed others. I am there to do my part for Gods kingdom in removing the excuses for the person looking for the escape route. Maybe it's someone who came to church that morning because he was asked to come by his wife or husband. Maybe its a daughter or a son connecting with friends and has now found Jesus leading their life. Whatever the situation or the person - this is why I am serving and that my family is serving - its all for others. Life change happened today for some folks. Their next Sunday will not look like the old Sundays of their past. Even folks who have been going to church for many years - got the connection today in serving others - before serving themselves. I am proud of them!
Maybe this is why I am sitting here wide awake - learning yet another thing about our Heavenly Father at 3AM!! I am fired up..... I am excited about last night our rock group got together and shared some smiles. I think about the direction of this group of folks - our direction as a rock group family and I am so pumped and excited about it.
Honestly, I have always had trouble with being like everyone else. I have always hated meetings just to have meetings - just ask the guys at work. I have never been a big fan of just going through the motions - unless you are doing those motions with passion and in a way that is like never seen before! Ask the folks who know me how I do lunch with my son Kyle at school and with my kids. There are rules there for a purpose - a bigger purpose other than for me having lunch - but I can see myself breaking those rules soon... a little bending and a little shape change taking place. I think one of the things about our church that I dig so much is - bending the rules. We dont do things like other churches and yes I like the music loud..... I like LifeTalk messages that I can use today and that means something into my life. I dont want a safe zone where I know the routine and I know what is coming next. We have boring jobs for that right??? but not for church. Life Change happens at church and there should be nothing ho-hum play it safe and by the rules church taking place.
I think many folks today "Got It" today. I got it again and thats why 3AM is just a time in the day. We have lost folks in our families and in our lives. They are the reason my mind is running....... they matter that much to me - they matter that much to my family - they matter that much to Jesus.
Today was a Sunday to remember... because it hit home.

Do know - I am praying for you and your families.
lrbateman@gmail.com

I love you all,
Randy~