Monday and on a a few hours of sleep make for a long week and tough start. But honestly, its not that way at all. I am excited about this week ahead and excited about coming off such a great weekend. A weekend meeting new folks and hanging with old friends at the bonfire on the land Friday night. Got a call from one of my kids after working in the yard all day to just take a ride to Walmart with me. Its those kind of calls that really make my heart good because its not exciting, its not fun going to Walmart but she still wanted to hang with me and go along for the ride. Talk about a ministry opportunity! Try it sometimes when you have some errands to run - grab a friend, a close student and just take them along for the ride. God works in those unplanned, what seems to be nothing moments. Yesterday was spent at church, serving a meal at the Center of Hope in Charlotte with a handful of students and then a good stroll uptown for lunch and some exploring. Rock group was great last night and I fully enjoyed the light ministry message I had and had more time for food and talk time. I miss that sometimes, that hang out time because if the message is hard - it is hard on me to get the message across in a loving, caring and passionate way.
To continue on with this family core value that I have been praying and writing about - I want to talk a little about ~Passion.

Passion as by definition - Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling;

On my list that my family gave me, passion was listed as the 8th family core value. For me its something that can be easily overlooked. Kyle is wrestling this year for his school team and last Friday he came home angry. He came home upset and I had to follow him into his room and sit him down and share with him that losing a match is not the end of the world. It may just be the beginning. Learn from it and never underestimate anything in your life. What might look easy may be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life. I would say -following Jesus has got to be the hardest thing I have ever done. My wrestling years are fond memories for the most part and though because of Judo - there were not many losses. But thats because I was prepared before hand because of Judo. Kyle has passion about his wrestling. He was angry because he had passion to succeed and to be a part of the team. His heart is in it..... that is where passion is born. If its not in your heart than you wont have any passion to do what ever it is that you are wanting to do.
I am passionate about showing Gods love, ministering to families around me, my family, "mykids" as well as just being Gods hands and feet to all those around me. Its tough and often times there are those feelings that rise up and say - Lon, your not making a difference. This is a waste of time. Why am I bothering with driving students from point A to point B.
I will tell you - I love what God has called me to do and that is to not turn my face when he is holding it in his hands. I have experienced my selfish life the way I wanted to do things and God in His great love and mercy for me, pulled me up from the bottom and has put me on a path that is far better than anything I could have ever planned by myself.
If you have passion for something it will move you to a place that the normal does not operate in. God has called ordinary people to do extraordinary things because He knows that they will have passion about this great work because their hearts are in it! 110%

I want to share Galations 5 today - its a long message but one worth reading. Hope it speaks to you so hang in there....
Galations 5 13-
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you dont use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; thats how freedom grows. For everything we know about Gods word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. Thats an act of true freedom. If you bit and ravage each other, watch out - in no time at all you will be annihilating each other and where will your precious freedom be there? My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by Gods spirit. Then you wont feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.You cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why dont you choose to be led by the spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions. What happens when we live Gods way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard-things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. Each of us is an original.

As we watched a few video clips from I AM SECOND last night - some great thought comments started to be shared as far as the folks sharing their life, their walk and how they all had it going on by themselves and then something in life put things back in the correct places. Their transformation from them being first and then putting God first and thus, them second really speaks volumes in how God turns lives around.
"Live to Worship" - meaning let everything you do be an act of worship to our heavenly Father. For some, it has been a really hard road to walk right now because maybe you have had a few tough seasons in life and you find your heart a little hard to the people around you. You may be feeling like everyone is heavenly sandpaper and the joy and passion for people is no where but a memory in the past because of that.

~Life may feel like a chore right now than a life of calling. Its difficult to get excited about things and just showing up might be about all you can do. You're doubting your opportunity to make an impact.
~You are being drained by people. When your passion shrinks your patience will soon follow.
~Maybe you are at a place where bitterness and resentment look more like the glazed over ham with layers and layers and the outside is a hard crust.
~You are not only tired but you are SPENT TIRED. Exhaustion is mixed with feelings of insignificance and that leads to disaster. There is that place where being that tired leads to thoughts of - Does what I do even matter?
~You are distracted more than usual. I am not talking about a conversation taking place and then suddenly you notice the butterfly and it grabs your attention. I am talking staying power to stick with the plan and to finish what you started out to do. Focus is on things other than what God wants you to focus on.
~Lacking passion leads to lack of fulfillment. This often brings those emotions and feeling of entitlement. I deserve that car, I deserve to be treated better, I deserve that new house or whatever. No matter what we are doing it just never seems to be enough. A few days after the excitement of something new we are moving onto something else, hoping that will be our fix.
~Burnout - when we have passion loved ones, we see past the disappointments. Without passion we care less and less. Quitting is soon to follow.

Loved ones, be committed to self discovery as you begin to get your passion back. Ask questions and listen well. As my time goes by in student ministry - that is key and something that is not really taught- listening .... I mean really listening. I want to share that relational relationship with Paul and Timothy - you too need a few Pauls in your life to really speak to your heart. Be careful in those people as they will have access to you in ways that very few people should. Those Timothys in your life are those that you pour into, you influence and who you provide a very important example. Listen to those Pauls in your life. Focus on being faithful as apposed to be successful. Rarely to we learn something the first time we hear something and 90% of what we hear we dont even remember 72 hours afterwards. So repeating is ok and often times necessary.
I also want to share that God knows everything about you. He knows the struggles and the flame temperatures your life is in right now. As Jesus sat and spoke with the Samaritan woman he already knew everything about her and he loved her anyway. He had compassion for her and his passion for the lost, the hurting, the people who needed hope.
Never lose sight of hope loved ones. Open your heart to those conversations with Christ and the Pauls in your life.
The corner is right around the corner ... don't give up.

Lonnie~

It was a tough LOL (student ministry) meeting last night due to the topic of suicide. One of the high school students that most of the student know took his life a week ago and its such a tragedy. Its hard to comprehend all that was behind that decision. What most kids described as a kid who was liked, grounded in Christ, friendly and outgoing and then something like this just sends a jolt out to all those around. Its like a giant shock wave and nothing is hidden from its affects. Ministering to students during this time if often difficult. There are tough questions, feelings and tears. It really is a mess and as I sat and listened to Travis teach a great message from his heart last night I couldn't help but to think about the family. There is a loss in their hearts today. Minds probably thinking, what if I did this or what if I did that. What if I could have noticed, if someone would have noticed.
For a few long days - I too lost a daughter when Kate decided to run away. She wanted to end the disappointment that she thought was causing everyone. She was at her ends so she thought and running away to get away from it all was her answer. If only I could go away - I could end everybody trouble if I just disappeared. What if I could have done something, say something, noticed something - I wouldn't have lost my daughter for that long week either.
My heart is heavy when it comes to kids, families and people who are suffering. I lead a team of student every month to go to the Center of Hope in Charlotte which is the womens and children homeless shelter through the Salvation Army. We serve a meal to these moms and their children and my heart just breaks for them. I wonder how did get here. Thankful that they are here with warmth and a roof over their heads. But really, how did they get here? A few bad decisions, a dad walking out on them, a drug habit, over spending and living one less paycheck ... I mean who really knows. For some its all they know. Mental illness or a family who has given up on them.
For me, I have not given up on them and the hurt I have in my heart for them drives me to make a difference, to share with them that someone cares, someone is willing to give a little, and step out of the comfort zone to help. If its someone elses job to minister to these people, then nothing will be done. Together we can make a difference and for many reasons, its why Jesus said sell everything you have, give it to the poor and follow him.

Romans 8:26 - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

So often my heart is so heavy for people that I don't even know where to start to pray. I take in my troubled niece who breaks my heart when I think about her story in life. God is not done with her story yet just the same as the folks I will meet and serve a meal to on Sunday. Its the same for the students in my life and they are struggling with things. He is not done in my own life.
This brings me to my next family core value - Compassion.

Compassion by definition - "co-suffering", one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy for the suffering of others are regarded as apart of love itself.

That really just blows me away to be honest. As I look at the hurting people in my life, I have such compassion for them. I too suffer when they are hurting. I have one of my close kids in my life who is struggling with things and I too am struggling along side her. Its my shoulders that want to carry some of the weight. It is that inner heart that wants to reach out, make things better, to help in some way. I see my son Kyle wanting to wrestle so bad that it hurts me when he is hurting. When his grandma and grandpa passed, it hurt me to see him crying but I rejoice in knowing his faith in Christ took the lead in his life.
There are websites for compassion kids. These are lost children who have nothing, poor, some with no parents, horrid living conditions, no food or medicine and nobody to love on them and care for them. Most people when they see that on TV quickly turn the channel because it disturbs them. If they just stayed a few more minutes watching, maybe their hearts would be moved and they would get off the couch to do something.
Often times when people are at a place where compassion is a tough thing or maybe a season or 2 has really put them somewhere were just feeling something for someone else is hard - they find themselves in a really tough place.

When your heart gets layered over by protectiveness because of a tough season or a few years of ministry hits on the heart, you become less sensitive to the hearts of others.

If you find yourself there at this place today - you really need to have an honest reflection. I am doing that in this season of time.....

Compassion in the family means to me to stick together. To keep our eyes and focus on the others in our families before ourselves. Compassion is doing something as it cannot be idle, how can we have compassion over someone and not do something about it? Meet the needs of others because we are all member of one body. That body is of Christ.
Jesus had compassion on people. That is why he healed them, walked with them, touched them - he had such great compassion on them.
Matthew 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

Loved ones, Jesus cares about where your heart is today. There is no small detail that God himself does not know about nor want to hear about from you. Speak out your needs no matter how big or small. Serve someone with a compassionate heart knowing you are serving as if you have Christs hands and feet. Reaching out and making a difference not only changes the person who you are serving and have compassion for, it also changes you.

For about a year now, I have been hearing, reading, listening and experiencing in a small way what NewSpring church has been doing in their Compassion Outreach to Kenya. I have wanted to go and experience this with them, share with them, to help share Jesus with the people of Kenya - God is doing amazing things through this mission field and the vision that God has given the people of this church. I am at a place where the time has come to go. I had a student who worked for me last semester and every summer he went to a different country to share the gospel, to minister to the people there - Mexico, China, where ever - he comes back changed every single time. I love to hear the stories, the hearts that he touched, hearing the conditions of others and how they live and the desperate hope they need - it touches me every time I think about it. One of my other students, she and her husband went to Haiti for a week to help the people there.
It is time to be part of that great mission work. It is time to let the compassion overflow out of my heart.
Compassion for others is meeting them where they are and looking at them eye to eye and saying - I am there for you.

Success - You don't own success. You wouldn't have success if it wasn't for Jesus. He owns it but the difference between him and us is he wants to share it. We want to keep it for ourselves. Its all about me ...... its all about you .... with Jesus its all about what He has done and all the things we do through him. ~ D. Waltrip

Step up and step out ~

Lonnie~

The last few nights I have changed up my routine and find my mornings way better than compared to the last few months. I have been turning in, hitting the hay, reading and getting some extra sleep. Again this morning, I woke up before the alarm, got my coffee and hit my quiet time with Christ. I am enjoying this refreshing and change of pace. I am also learning a few things along the way. Last night after sleeping for a few hours, I woke with this on my heart.

"Its hard to show someone Jesus when they only see themselves."

I am not sure why God woke me and whispered me this one sentence but it for sure has rocked my morning as I begin to unpack it, examine myself with it and those around me. I am thankful that I went right back to sleep. Usually when this happens I am up the rest of the night wrestling with it. Serving students is sometimes a hard place to be at - especially when you are older like I am. I think allot about my high school and middle school experiences, some of which I want to forget but some I smile and enjoy remembering those much simpler times. It is often difficult walking with a student who trusts you and opens up and so many times I just want to have the words to tell them what to do but I know at this age that is the last thing they want - to be told to do something. Usually they have a parent already telling them that so another voice telling them the same things is twice as frustrating to them. So along with knowing a little wisdom, some prayer sometimes during the conversation, listening to them even if the details are hurting you and then really wanting to lead and guide the student in the right direction. Most importantly, guide them along side what mom and dad are saying, is to bring them to a place where they are thinking along those same lines. Not told what to do, not tricked into doing it, not leaving them there - but just gently guiding them for their own light bulb to go off. Drama is a premium at times and once you wade through it all, you get down to the root cause and there you can begin to build back up.
Why do I do all this I often times wonder?
Its because I am committed to walking with those who God has trusted me with. I am committed to walking this journey with them and to show them Jesus along the way.
Its my next core value.

Commitment~

See without being committed you have no staying power, we give up too easy when things get hard and we waffle back and forth on our views and the things we say. Being committed means you stay the course and finish what you started. Kyle is wrestling now and he has yet to be in a match. He has a match today that there is a pretty good chance his name will be called and Carol and I are extremely excited - win or lose. But going to practice day in and day out and not getting a chance to be on the mat - its easy to get discouraged, to walk away, to quit. Our relationships are just that way. I see if far too often where a dad doesn't know what to do with a daughter or a son who has lost their way. 15 years old and a dad who doesn't have a close relationship with his daughter or son, he is pretty much at a loss as to where to begin, where to start over, what to say and what to do!! Somewhere in the process he lost commitment.

I am committed to seeing my family through the good times and the tough times. I am committed to seeing and being there for the kids in my life who I love like my own. Its who I am and along the way, I am going to learn, strive and do my part to the best I can to make a difference in their life and show them Jesus. I had a coffee a few weeks ago with a student who has given up on Christ. He told me after summer camp he was all fired up but soon lost that excitement. I told him that following Christ was not about following him only during those special events, those highs we get when Christ is doing something in our lives but its the in between as well. Its during the tough times, those quiet times when God doesn't seem like he is there or is answering any of our prayers. Be committed to following Christ and seeking his heart. Only you can decide how close you want to be to Christ. You won't know someone if you don't spend time with them right? That works for your friends, your son or daughter, your husband or wife and it for sure works that way with God.
I will end todays post with this:
Proverbs 11:14 - Without good direction people lose their way; The more wise counsel you follow the better your chances and the better your choices.

Loved ones, if you are struggling with your path today following Christ or just feeling at a lost point - shake things up. Change the routine, get into a small group, reach out to someone who is willing to talk spiritual stuff, study Gods word together, work from another office location if you work from home - meaning go to Starbucks and work for 2 hours instead of being at home, set your alarm earlier and spend an extra 15 min with Christ in the morning. Do whatever it takes to strengthen your walk. Without vision and good direction - you will lose your way.

Hope this was helpful today. Imagine your relationship with God, your family and your close peeps - 100% radical commitment. Its not normal today but with focus, determination and a heart overflowing with compassion - you can do it.
Lonnie~

I was up ready for the day this morning. I'm still catching up from a busy day here at work, I am thankful for that. I got a good nights sleep last night after hitting the hay at 8:15 or so. Thats really early for me but after giving a double at the Red Cross here on campus - I was pretty much exhausted and not feeling well. Maybe a little dehydrated to some degree. I always sign up for doing the double, regardless if I have time or not and knowing I usually don't feel too good afterwards. I do it because it helps a cancer patient somewhere and if my uneasy and not feeling so great will help them feel better or give them more time in this life - then I am doing it. I always think of my mom when those opportunities come and its such a pleasing joyous heart that moves me to doing so.
Yesterday I spoke a little about Respect and Love as 2 very important core values in our families. Today I want to speak a little further with Time and Meal Time.
I find it a little funny that my son who is almost a teenager thought mealtime was worth a core value. He eats like nonstop and is not wrestling tonight on his team because he didnt make weight. If you saw him, he is pretty much built like I was when I was his age. I have to say though I was more ripped than he is. Hey its my blog I can say that if I want to. But Kyle is pretty skinny and him being overweight is odd for sure. But he does eat and eat and then eat some more.
I want to start with Time - as it is our most important commodity today. I can remember back my dad wanting to stop and get a Pepsi at a local convenience store and him walking in and saying $1.50 for that! I am not paying that..... and me saying, Dad, who cares I don't have time to waste, just get it and lets go. The generation before mine was more concerned with money and my generation is more concerned about time. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in our days to get everything done sometimes. We can always make more money but we can't make more time. As I look into the family, I can see where time is such an important issue or obstacle. With families running everywhere, soccer, baseball, wrestling, parents with 2nd jobs or 3rd jobs, traveling softball on Saturday and Sundays -the family as well as church seems to fall way down on our list. Many folks work 50-60 hours at the office each week and we get home and put something down to fill our tummies and who has enough energy or time to spend with the family? Who has time to sit with your daughter or son to find out what is going on in life. Who has time to take out your wife on a date when you are exhausted when you get home? Just sitting in front of the tube is about all some of us can muster. Time is such an important part of our relationships. It speaks volumes to others when they have your time and attention. I know that for some of my close kids, I ask them to turn their cell phones off unless its family calling because its rude to be taking time out of my day to invest in them and them texting the entire time talking to their friends. You either have me or you don't.
I am a firm believer that if you keep people waiting - you really speak volumes to how important you think they are to you. I got that from my mom and I am hardly ever late for things regardless of how busy I am. You are a priority! Nobody really know how much you know until they know how much you care. Time is very much a part of that and no texting, emailing or facebook can replace that time ingredient in our relationships.
Mealtime - what a wonderful concept that has been lost today. With families running and parents working different shifts - meal times are mostly left for the weekends. Fast food and pizza and microwaves have killed off many of our family meal times. I can remember when I was dating Carol, her family ate together every single night. I got to see the purpose and power of family during this time. It was a time to share, talk and really stay connected with each other. How else do you do that if you are not sharing a meal? I'm just asking? My parents worked separate shifts so as one came home, the other was walking out to work. Our family meal times were weekends and holidays.
Carol and I have made our family meal times a priority. They are such a priority that we often have others with us during this time. It brings value to their families as well as many of them don't have this as a core value in their family.
Often times our small group gets together to just eat, to just hang out, to celebrate a birthday, to watch a movie together. Time invested in each other is the only way to do life together, to know and love on each other as well as sharing God together. We make each other a priority.
I have to say that probably the normal household with teenagers have multiple tv's in the home. Parents watch what they are watching probably in the living rooms and the kids are watching their stuff in the bedrooms. This just brings isolation and if you want to stay connected to your son or daughter - either remove the tv or have a rule where they can't watch tv in their room until a certain time. I enjoy the family time all of us together. Sad knowing that some families facebook and text each other when they are sitting in the room right next to theirs.

Time and Mealtime - invest in these things and make them a priority. It makes me tear up seeing a movie today where a family holds hands and prays before they eat together. This past week at a local favorite place to eat - I did something I had never done before. As the Waiter was standing there giving us our food - I said to him that I was about to bless the food and if he would stay with us. He did and I blessed the food and thanked him for his services and for a great meal we were about to have. I patted him on the arm and thanked him afterwards. He had a big smile on his face and maybe... just maybe a new perspective on things. We just never know how we may touch a heart when we do bold things like that.
Core values ..... more tomorrow and may these things I am sharing be a blessing to you and your family.

~Lonnie

Had a great day yesterday at my family reunion. Its always a long day but a day that leaves me being very thankful. Thankful for a large family that loves each other, we may not be perfect in any way at all but God has for sure blessed us all with each other. As my Uncle Homer addressed the family, I couldn't help but to think how amazing it is that under good leadership, great things come from it. Uncle Homer is that leader and I hang on every word when he speaks. Being a blind retired preacher, he has to hold on to you and you have to say a few words before he can tell who you are. I love the parable that Jesus shares about his flock of sheep and even though you may have 99 out of 100 - that 1 that has wondered off, you will search high and low for that 1 until its brought home. Each of us are worth that much to God. His sheep know His voice and like Uncle Homer, he knows the voices of his sheep.
I was blown away that Morgan, Taylor, Madison and Zach wanted to go with us. As much time as I spend with them, it was an honor for them to want to come and meet everyone, see where I am from and where I spent a lot of my childhood. I have some great kids for sure and blessed to be doing life with them.
This brings me to my first couple points from last week on - family core values. I had a lot of questions yesterday asking how my family was. Its a 2 part question really, one that only scratches the surface and the other being on a genuine level. I know for some that scratch the surface, its -"Family is great~They are all wonderful~Everyong is doing really well" but for some it might bring up fear and anxiety or maybe even anger. I think I had both yesterday in the people I spoke with. There are a few things that the devil wants more than anything else - one being your faith and the other being your family.
I want nothing more than to have a family that is dedicated to each other and dedicated to God. Our success of each other must be a priority and in order to do that it will take a team effort. Part of that success is serving God and I believe those are 2 very important parts of a healthy, strong, secure, thriving and loving family.
You are probably thinking ... today? Who has that? Thats impossible today! There is one thing that you can do to have as the foundation and will radically change the atmosphere of your home. Ephesians 5 - shares with us "Husbands, love your wives; wives, respect your husbands".

Love and Respect ~ Husbands need to be reminded to give there wives the love they crave and God knew that wives can build a home if they show their husbands the respect they are seeking.
I am learning this and reminded every so often too ...I am not immuned to this and marriage takes work. Right Carol? But as I dig a little deeper into these family core values that my family addressed - it really has me thinking deeper and clearer than ever before. With marriages on the brink 50% of the time today and most of "mykids" coming from broken homes or homes that are right on the edge - what can I do or say or live out that will make a difference in those around me. Divorse is that generational curse that gets passed down to our children. Once the children see mom and dad going seperate ways, their entire vision and trust in marriage is shattered. It changes so many things and how they see marriage when they are older.

Love unconditionally and show each other respect sounds easier than it is. Family should be one of the greatest joys in life! Put these 2 core values in your family and watch and see if it doesnt turn a corner.

Lord I pray for the families out there who are just barely hanging on. Help them see the bigger things and to see with your eyes and not the struggles or the sin that is there. Remind each of them about putting others ahead of self and seek the things of your heart for their relationships. No matter if its husband and wife, son or daughter - build those relationships piece by piece starting with the love and respect for each other. Society and the devil are after our families. May we stand strong and build them back again with you being at the center of them. I pray in Christ name, Amen.

Friday - thank you for arriving. Its been a busy week but a more relaxing week for me. Last night Carol and I got to go to Kyle's wrestling match. Sad he was not participating because he lost his match the day before so he didn't get to wrestle but it was a good learning experience just to be watching and knowing what to do and how things work. It was hard for me to sit in the stands knowing the moves, seeing them happen and then the kids not doing them. I was almost out of my seat a few times ... I know crazy huh?
YCI was good this morning and just this week I was reminded as to WHY I take time off of work and pick up a van full of students and take them to school on Friday mornings. Often times they are sleepy, not much talk, grumpy or some other kind of issue they are having at the moment and then drop them off at YCI Praying God will speak to them and set their day straight. That wont happen if I don't do all this shuffling of folks around. Todays message was about trusting God. Even as Peter cut the ear off one of the soldiers, Jesus stopped it, picked up the mans ear and healed him. I bet as the other soldiers carried him away to be eventually killed on the cross, the man with the new ear probably was changed for life. We may not understand everything that is going on around us but our trust in Christ will keep us focused during those times we don't understand. I got some high fives and even a few hugs on my way out. An hour spent investing in just putting a van full of students in a place for Christ to do what only He can do. I can do that and isn't that all that Christ asks of us? Just do the simple things so that He can do the big things? What seems mundane at times, a waste of time at other times ... is so much bigger than what we can see.
A few weeks ago I wanted to ask the question to some of my close students. After LOL at McDonalds I got a bunch of them together and asked them to team together and give me a list of the 5 top shows they watch on tv. They wrote them down and then gave me the list. I want to watch what these students are watching. Note take the main message, if I liked it or not and reasons why and also the type of commercials and what and who they are targeting. I will have those results soon as I get this together and hopefully not offend anyone with my results.

The other night as we ate at Red Lobster - I shared a little vision with Carol, Kyle and Zach. I told them that I was feeling tired, in need of some spiritual rest and that I needed to spiritually lead my family for the next season. So I told them I was taking a good month or so off from leadership at church with the students and would still be plugged in and doing things but just not leading so much in front of everyone. I would still be walking and talking "mywalk" and using this time to grow and really search my heart, have a little fun, dream, and invest into my family. I then unloaded my question which I will share.

So, If you have to define a family core value, what would that be and what would it look like? A couple blank faces too shape. A couple UM ... Well.... repeat the question! Core value? What is a core value and what would it look like? Think about it in your own family.
Core Value - the basics, the foundation of the family, its lean back values that give direction and longevity to the family as a whole. Things that the family will stand on always.
Here is the list that Carol, Kyle and Zach came up with. I think its pretty neat and I am excited to be praying about them. I look forward to implementing them into our family core values.

~Respect
~Time
~Meals together
~Love
~Honesty
~Passion
~Compassion/Effort
~Cleanliness
~Honor

All of these pointing towards honoring God with them. My plan is over the next few days is to break these down and share what God is teaching me, showing me and living through me. Hope you stick with me ... on "thewalk"

Happy Friday everyone,
Peace and love,
Lonnie~

I want to take a break from my regular "thewalk" posts and just share a little bit about my evening last night. Me, Carol, Kyle, Kayla, Morgan, Christa and miss Carol went to see Addison Road and 10th Ave North in south Charlotte. I have to say there are a few songs that 10th Ave North played last night that I will never be able to hear the same again. I never really felt that much worship in their music until last night and see them up close and personal. I have seen them before and since it was their show - they took the time to come on stage and talk to the fans. They shared their hearts and vision for why they do what they do and its not all about the music, the songs and being on stage - its about doing something through what they do. They partner with a rescue mission for children and people caught into the worlds slave trade. They partner with an organization that adopts children and provides life changing basics to them. It was just really awesome hearing their hearts as if they were sitting right next to you over lunch and how their vision is contagious.

Their music was very much a prayer written and played to music. What an act of worship to be part of. I couldn't even sit in my seat and during this song "Times" pretty much had my heart, along with others near me, in a very moving place where God got a chance to speak. Sad how some focus on their cell phones or carry the days struggles along with them when they should be focused on connecting to God in a way that doesn't happen every day. I mean when is the next chance to experience something like this and being so powerful. Sad how the vision of some folks is focused on themselves and not focused on more of what God wants you to focus on.

There is so much more to live for and pour into than just the mundane everyday life we mostly live.

Times ~ 10th Ave North

I know I need you

I need to love you

I love to see you, but its been so long

I long to feel you

I feel this need for you

And I need to hear you, is that so wrong?

Oh,Oh. Oh,oh. Oh. Oh.

Now you pull me near you

When we're close, I fear you

Still Im afraid to tell you, all that I've done

Are you done forgiving?

Oh can you look past my pretending?

Lord, Im so tired of defending, what I've become

What have I become?

Oh, Oh. Oh, Oh. Oh, Oh.

I hear you say,

My love is over. Its underneath

Its inside. Its in between.

The times you doubt me, when you can't feel.

The times that you question, Is this for real?

The times you're broken.

The times that you mend.

The times that you hate me, and the times that you bend.

Well, my love is over, its underneath.

Its inside, its in between.

These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.

The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.

The times you're hurting.

The times that you heal.

The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.

The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.

I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.

I'm there through your heartache.

I'm there in the storm.

My love I will keep you, by my Powr alone.

I dont care where you call, where you have been.

I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.

It never ends..........

Those are words to take comfort by today. No matter your struggle or pain... God is there with you along your journey.

James 1:2-4 When tests and challenges come at you from all sides - consider it a sheer gift.

You know that under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. That train wreck in your life may be steps to grow and smile as a seasoned follower of Christ.

Read the words again loved ones..... the prayer is in the song.

Thanks Addison Road and 10th Ave North for a great evening or worship. May God continue to speak through your music, your song lyrics and deepen your prayers. Amen

Lord thank you for the night light you put out in front of my life each and every day. Amen.

Lonnie~