To My Rock Group Family

I just want to take a moment and share with everyone something that has become very dear to me over the last year. That is:

My Rock Group Family

I did not grow up in church - sure I went from time to time on those important days but never put much into church (it was always for someone else) Then that all changed when God moved my family and I from another church here in the Charlotte area and to where we are now.
Rocky River Community Church - http://www.rockyriverchurch.com/

Over the past 2 years now, Rocky River Church - the family there - the teaching there- the music there - all of it.... has changed my life forever. All during the time my mom was sick and so many other times - I had an entire family of followers of Jesus praying for me and my family. Nothing compares to that. During that time we were politely invited to a small group each and every week. We could not go because of the family obligations at the time but after that season passed - We went. Yes it was a little scary not ever have been to a bible study before and I did not want everyone to know how little I knew about the bible - but I had a love for Jesus - I had a love for the folks who invited us and the family that was there. Soon after getting to know these folks and praying with them and having some fun together - our church expanded the Small Group program - Thus it became known as Rock Groups. God led me to lead one. It was something I had been praying for - for months - and when the opportunity came, it was so clear what God wanted me and my family to do. It has been awesome since...... I am so blessed to have these folks in my life and in the lives of my family.
You all may never know how much I love you guys - all of you - your children and your friendships until we get to Heaven. Here on earth - I just dont think its possible for me to explain how deep that love is for you all.
We have had a good summer having some fun - attending ball games, concerts, swimming and cook outs... we have done many fun things the last few months. The time has come once again to expand..... once again to move from where we are in our Walk With Jesus - Don't get scared now I am not going anywhere... :)

But I have something planned to kick off our new Rock Group. Everyone will take part - I will provide details at our first meeting when we are together. That wont be for a few weeks but I wanted to plant a seed in everyone that its time for growth and our understanding and trust in not only in each other but for Jesus.

Get ready gang........ God has placed something on my heart.
Love you all..... and I know you know I mean that!
Lonnie~

The Tonight Show: Miss South Carolina

Ok - this is something new for me. Adding a YouTube video - but it may be useful. I have seen this video a few times and I can't help but to feel sorry for Miss South Carolina. I mean she REALLY messed up this question. I don't really understand beauty contests either!!!

I think about how bad she floundered the answer and she still finished 4th! When our time comes to answer to God for all of what we have done - will you flounder on your answers? Do you know you WILL be going to heaven or just thinking maybe - I am not sure?! Friends, you have to know. You have to have it in your heart that you know heaven will be your next journey. Don't founder like miss S.C. at the questions God asks you. Make things right - put the past in your past and move forward with what God wants you to do and how to live.

PS: I don't know who won the contest - but I am sure in life they are all winners. The bigger question is - who amongst the Miss Teen USA - knows and gives God the credit for even being there......!

In the Moment...

One of the things I have learned over the last few years is to not look too far down the road. Plan ahead but do know - those plans might change. Its like saving all your money and doing without so that one day when we retire - we might have the good life. What if we don't live that long - look at the blessings you are missing out on - look at the changed lives you might have taken part in if you were focused on other things. God tells us to invest in lasting things and not things of this earth. Many times Jesus told folks to drop what they had - give it to the poor and follow Him.
As I look down the road into the crystal ball of life - I see myself still investing in people - still seeking Gods will on my life - still serving at church -God has a purpose for me here. He has a purpose for my family - and not matter where you are friends, He has a purpose for you.

There is a man in the hospital in the bed next to Walt. I enjoyed so much talking with him yesterday - I just feel bad that I am only now getting to know him. He was going to work early one morning back in June. He was at a traffic light on his motorcycle waiting for the light to turn so he can make a left. He was then his from behind by 3 kids racing their cars. The one car wrecked and all that kid thought about was how wrecked his car was. He was arrested and thus brought the other 2 kids in as well. SO he lost his car - Reggie - lost much more. He was run over with a car doing 100Mph. He had both legs broke in 4 places, all his ribs broke, punctured lung, spine broke in 2 places and a life changed in an instant.
He was so excited Monday - it was the first day he was able to move his left toe. It has taken him months to get to this point - lots of pain and lots of work trying to teach his body to work again with his spine broke in 2 places.
As he was telling me his story - he was at peace with things. He has a loving family and he knows - that someone was looking out for him. He is alive for a reason. He goes home tomorrow and he is scared. He goes home to a house that he has not been in - in months. I told him that God has a plan for him. God has a purpose to have kept him here. It is up to him to make the most of this chance. He may never walk again - he may never be the Reggie of old - but Reggie is a new person and he smiles over his pain and his hurts. God does this to people!!!!

We never know where life will take us. Our plans are just that ... our plans. God may have different plans. Plans to teach you and prosper you.... plans to enrich your life with folks all around you..... I will continue to pray for Reggie - I only wish I had met him sooner. I still have more to tell him and maybe - God will honor that request and maybe not. Maybe I have already planted the seed he needed to hear in life. Maybe that seed was already there.... I may never know but deep in my heart....

I know Reggie is in good hands. Live each day in the moment.... moment by moment and never take any of them for granted.

Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Philemon 1:6
6I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

I will be honest today, not that I am not honest on other days but I want to share with you today that I have a heavy heart with all that is happening around me. My family and I are running in all kinds of directions - we are burning the candle on both ends so to speak. But I know God is putting the things we are taking care of in our lives because He is at work in those things. With Walt being at the hospital now here in Charlotte - we are using that time to show him we love him. To go out of the way to help him and sit and talk with him. Last night I know he was uncomfortable with me helping him eat - putting his lip balm on and adjusting his hands and arms. It is a tough thing for him to humble himself to let someone help him - especially his son in law. But I know he loves me and I am taking care of his daughter and I am doing so in the best way I know how and with Gods guidance. I think he is becoming more open about "Religion" but I think he is afraid to open his heart and open his mind to something that he has put away with for so long in his life. He has never needed God - never found any value in it. When he sees us on Sundays when he stays with us - he watches us go out the door and with Kyle asking his grandpa to come. Its heart breaking knowing that a loved one is on the path to Hell and there is only so much we can do for him. I have had it on my heart since my mom left to care for my dad - I promised my mom that she would see dad again. It was the ONLY thing that held her here on this earth as long as she did. It was her will against everything else.... maybe even her talking to the Lord to let her hang for a little while longer hoping that she would know that she would see my dad again and that next time would be in heaven. I can't honestly say if I know that will happen today. People come to know Jesus in all kinds of ways - in all kinds of heartaches and in all walks of life. Its the reason why on Sundays my family and I are leading, serving, singing and praising the Lord for all the good He shows us and provides us. Bad things happen but God is with us during those seasons. We learn and we heal from them - we move on and God walks with us to better pastures. Walt does not know the people praying for him- the folks lifting his name to Jesus - he does not know they love him like family. But he will soon and I think that is the part of the connection he is missing. Its the part I needed to feel and experience first hand when my mom was sick and my church family surrounded me - prayed for me- sent meals to the house and gave me gas money to go back and forth. They loved on me like Jesus loved on me. That is how I came to really know Jesus. Once we ask God into our hearts He will grow and flourish if we let Him. Let that fire burn in your heart loved ones, let GOd take you places you never dreamed you could do... I never dreamed I would be where I am today and that is only because I have given God permission and I am seeking Him for more! I want to know more and learn more - I want to love on folks around me -invite them to church to come to know Jesus like I have!!! AND WHY NOT? Its life changing stuff taking place.
Only time will tell if Walt and my dad and so many others around us - in our families and in our neighborhoods and the folks we even life with will come to know Jesus. I can't imagine having to lose a momma without knowing Jesus and where she is. Life would be so not worth living that why even bother with it anymore? Never going to find happiness and meaning and purpose in this life without God.

If you had 30 days to live - what would be important to you? What would you have to say folks around you? In your family?? That is the way we should live - love and care for others. Like we are in our last 30 days.....and if you think about it....we just may be in that 30 day time frame.

Are you ready?????? Got something on your mind - scared? Don't put it off.... get on with living the way God intended you to live.

So as my families life right now is leading in many directions and we are wearing many hats - I know its all for God glory and we are doing all this for a reason. The reason is clear as Crystal to me.
Someone needs to know the Lord today - Is it you?

email me.... lrbatema@gmail.com

Love you all,
Randy~

First Sunday @thePitt

I am sharing a few pics from our service yesterday. This was before the crowd showed up and we were all going through final preparations. Our re-grand opening is on Sept 16th. We will be doing a mailing and advertising for this day - I am afraid we are going to run out of chairs - run out of space already - I am wondering already if Pastor Jimmy is planning that third service! 320 yesterday and all we did was open the doors in a new location. SO I guess word of mouth got out and folks looking at the website. Maybe they have been planning to come the last few weeks waiting for us to be closer to where they are. Funny how things work out that way... Jesus was the same way. He didn't sit still and wait for folks to come to Him - He took it to the people and met them where they were. I feel big things happening and we are all standing at the foot of the mountains looking up. Its not a mountain to climb - it just pointing our eyes and focusing us on God.
The band had it going on yesterday - Jimmy preached a message about who we are as a church. He reminded us that we are a church for anyone but not for everyone. We are here to welcome those who have given up on church - traditional church- have never been to church or who are coming for other reasons other than their own. Maybe its wife making the husband go or a child who wants to go to church because of their friends. Maybe its a family who is struggling and needs answers in life. Whatever the reason - we are glad they are there.
I need an army of volunteers to make all this happen! I am not in panic mode - the old me yes - I would have folded up like a bad tent. BUT I know God will stand with us on this journey. He will handle the details. Pray more - Panic less. God works under those conditions and we have to do our best to stay focused during this time. Growth pains are a great thing to have!
Hope to see ya'll @R2C2 some day soon. God knows if and when that will take place.
Blessings,
Randy~

The last few days.....

Have been kickin! Since Carol and Walt have arrived in Charlotte - we havent had time to even catch our breath! Walt has already started his therapy and has a great team of 3 doctors over his care. He is cracking jokes and he will be working HARD to get his body back working again. Only God knows the outcome of that but I know Walt will put everything he has into it - I will make sure of that - PROMISE.
Carol and I will be double teaming and taking turns going to see Walt. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come. Visiting hours are 4:00 till 8:00 during the week because they have him working during the day. This past Thursday was Kyles open house to meet his teacher at school. Carol and I are VERY happy with who he has as his teacher. His friend Madison B is with him and she is sitting next to him. Answered prayers there because both our families were praying we were all in the same class together. Yes it sounds like the parents are in class together too - and we are!! Reason being is - we have double team on the class moms and I have been voted in as class dad.... so we will all make a great team together. I look forward to my first lunch next Friday!
Today - our church staff, team leaders and all our volunteers met at our new location. We are meeting at Pitt school elementary which is right down the street from our land and our church office. Let me just tell you - IT WAS AWESOME! The stage, lighting, drapes all around the outside, kids area, Project 252 area.... welcome area. DUDE - it blew us all away. We had almost all our volunteers there serving today and the excitement just grew all day. Tomorrow is going to be awesome so if you are in the Charlotte NC area - looking for a church- want to try a new church- or have never been to church much in your life but want something a little different with coffee, something to eat and some rocking worship music that is LOUD - like concert level here...... than come see us. God has our church on the move and He is taking us places.... we are all blessed to be on the ground breaking of something that is going to be so huge for God - the people of our community and for the lost people all around us. God will be reaching out in new ways - to new areas and its going to be awesome.

Lots of things happening ... and thankful for everything. Just waiting for summer to return in Charlotte- you know normal temps...? not this 97 everyday!!!!
I will post some pictures tomorrow..... I just can't wait.
Randy~

Sharing the Love of Jesus...

I dont even know where to begin with this passage below - so many directions to take! It brings up many emotions for me - from serving at church and giving 110% in doing my part in setting a place at church where folks can come, be comfortable and to experience God. Maybe they have never experienced God before and they are needing answers in life - maybe they have grown up in church and its been years since stepping foot into Gods house- Maybe - they are there because family has dragged them there and this is the last place they want to be. Whatever reason it may be, part of my serving is to do whatever it takes to remove the excuses of not staying and not coming back. God will take their hearts if there is any openness about a person to accept what God is doing in their life. Maybe God is not a part of it at all - but God enters hearts and lives everyday and in the most awesome ways.
1 Peter 3:15-16
15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Over the last few years I have grown in my faith to the point where I am ok with talking with folks, inviting people to church, continuing to ask them and listening to the excuses and false promises of coming but I am steadfast. I continue to ask and do so as lovingly and as accepting as possible. I have been on both sides of this fence!!! I know they will run out of excuses and one day - maybe even this Sunday - it may be that family down the street that shows up to church after a year of inviting them. It will be Gods place and His way to pull them near Him. I have done my part in inviting and I have done my part in serving to make a place for them to come and experience God.
But there have been tough times. There have been hard conversations with family members and friends. There is nothing I can do to change their minds about things and that is something the God gives us - free will. We can help each other change - change our diets, exercise and growing spiritually or in our education but accepting Jesus is a personal decision. Each of us has to make our own decision. We are not sharing God love to get anyone to agree with us - we are just facilitating the big decision that each person must make. Accepting Jesus or not.
We are called to love one another regardless and accepting Jesus has made me even more aware of this than ever before. I want to share what God has done with me - how He has changed my life. How He has changed my family and has surrounded us with just awesome folks. Folks I would do anything for because I know they would do anything for us. Its relationships all surrounding the love of Jesus.
Only you can make your own decisions concerning God - This is Gods business between you and Him. Only He can turn on the light - Open eyes and open hearts.

We are to love and pray for one another - always hanging onto the hope that God gives us that we wont leave anyone behind. If you ever become part of Gods family - you will understand how each of us feels about the lost folks and family in our lives. There is nothing more important than our salvation - your salvation.
Press on loved ones.... leave nobody behind.
With love,
Randy~