Almost forgot ...

I got this yesterday during KidsRock (Childrens sunday school @church) from one of my sweet kids. She is such a great kid, with great brother and little sister and her parents are awesome as well! Love them ... but it just makes ya smile when you really only see a child for an hour a week - providing that mom and dad come to church and they come in with something that they made for you. It really shows what they are thinking of you and how much we are really making a difference.

You know who you are ... I love you too sweety and I am blessed to be doing life with you and your family.

Mr. Lonnie~

Monday morning....

I woke from my "coma" this morning and managed to get into work on time. I am so thankful that the Lord created coffee. I mean, these past few months, I just can't seem to get caught up and without a little kick in the mornings - I could see too many things slipping in life and I am not one to slip. I looked over my calendar this week and sure enough - its a busy week ahead. I am really excited to be headed to Mt. Airy NC tomorrow after work and spend some time with my dad and my brothers. I will be working at my grandma's on Wednesday in the greenhouse. It is a busy day working but a day that I look forward to all year. I always surprise them when I come because I don't let anyone know what day it will be but they know I will be there. I always love hearing my Aunt Judy - scream out - RANDY - TODAY IS THE DAY! We enjoy working all day together and catch up on life and family. Life on the mountain doesn't change all that much but it sure feels different the past few years with the passing of my mom and all of us getting older and kids (cousins) moving away or having families now. My grandma's front porch will always be the gathering place for family to sit, share, rock and talk.
I will be wrapping up our Rock Group series this coming Sunday on money. There is so much to learn about financing and what God has to say about it. I will challenge myself for the month of May to read Proverbs - there are 31 Proverbs and 31 days in May.... sounds like a good plan and I am excited to learn what God will teach me through this. I know so many of us are struggling with things. Loss of job, bills, debt and marriage issues from all that - I want to refocus myself the next few weeks to really listen. I want to really remove the distractions when people are talking to me, to not finish their sentences or already in my mind know what I am about to say before they are finished. To be a good listener is hard ... its something that people really don't teach you how but it is so necessary to communicate and understand. What if we never really listened - listened to our teachers, our bosses, wives or husbands - what if we didn't listen to our children when they wanted to talk with us about something important going on - what if we are not listening to God. Our lesson in KidsRock yesterday which Carol did an awesome and fantastic job at leading - was about listening.... even with distractions, Ipod, TV, Radio, friends, just all around life noise. We still have listen for instructions in life -
So for the next few weeks I am going to do my best to listen more and talk less. We should preach the Gospel every where we go and use words only when necessary.
Doesn't talking and our opinions just get us in hot water most of the time? Speak before we think?
Want to join me? Let me know, so that I can be praying for you and for your spiritual ears.
Love you all,
Lonnie~

Heavenly Father, I thank You for this day Lord. I pray that today brings a new level of listening like one we have not had in a long time. Something different and on a new level. Help us remove the distractions Lord in our daily lives so that we may hear the directions and encouragement that You are giving us. Lord help us really tune in to what people are telling us, really focusing in on what they are saying, give us patience for allowing people to finish what it is on their hearts, help us not complete their words before they are finished and Lord I ask that You help us not judge folks by what they are sharing. Lord I pray for those important relationships that we have, wives, husbands, children, bosses and from You - that we really take the time to listen - to pause before we speak and be humbled by what we hear. Lord thank You before hand as we tune our ears on the things that give us direction and encouragement. Lord I ask that You speak to us now in a clear and understanding voice and guide us to the things of You.
I pray all of this in Your sons name in Jesus,
Amen

Push the the last part of the week,,,

It has been a long week. I am glad its Friday. Got plans to serve with Carol, Kyle, Madison and myself at the talent show at Kyles school. We are not IN the talent show but we are serving it, meaning drinks, cookies and smiles. I am really pumped about it and there is something special about seeing our young ones serving along side of us. Proud of Kyle and Madison for doing so. Too many kids today are all about themselves, drawing the most attention, screaming with every word and action hey its "ME".......
Anyways, yesterday was one of my out days. I was just dragging and maybe that is because I am not getting enough sleep, I am too out of shape to keep up or I am just not getting the proper rest these days but I tell ya, I slept in, got home from work and after supper, I dosed off for like 2 hours and then slept all nite and could have stayed sleeping this morning when the alarm went off. We did have a great time at Texas Roadhouse for lunch - Carol and I got to go with the PTA president, Kyles teacher and their entire class for lunch there. It was a lot of fun sitting with the kids and really just hanging out with them. I think the grown ups were glad I was there to talk and entertain the kids so they could have a peaceful lunch... heck I even ordered off the kids menu! Hey, being with the kids is what I am all about..... just in case you didn't know.
I am looking forward to the weekend. Some of our good peeps are headed to the coffee shop tomorrow evening for some ice coffee, icecream and listen to our worship pastor play the shop out. Should be a great time together as the weather should be good and relaxing. Looking forward to investing some time into these relationships and having some fun to boot!

I want to leave you today with a song played last night on the Dove awards by an amazing young band ... Tenth Avenue North - "By Your Side" - they accepted the Dove award and said that this award one day will just be dust, like me and you but we will have the chance to place it at the feet of Jesus and that is why we wrote this song, so that people would experience Him through this song.... it really is an amazing song. YouTube, Itunes... its worth getting.

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run To where will you run
And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life
(Chorus 2x)
Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

Love you all, Praise God for Him never letting us go and for loving us that much. What a picture of our face, covered in tears and pain and Jesus holding it in His hands...... His hands with scars for what He has done for us and they are on our cheeks loved ones.... He smiles and tells us to lift up our face, don't turn away, He has us ... right in His hands.
Lonnie~

Some things I am learning...

I feel like I am learning a LOT these days. God has really been working on me to step it up a notch in my ministry walk. If that is confusing to you, ministry walk, then let me just say that you also have a ministry walk. When you accept Jesus and commit your life to following Him - that is your ministry walk. Pickup up your cross as you have probably heard is something we need to do every day. Ask God for direction and seek His will over your own. He will provide the way and make your paths straight. He will also bring people along side of you to keep you encouraged, to pick you up when you fall and to give you grace because they too have felt grace from our heavenly father.
I finished up the book I was reading - "What a daughter needs from her dad" by Michael Farris and I have to tell you - it was awesome. I don't even have daughters but it opened my eyes to so much. I am looking at my role in life, the leadership example I am for many of "MyKids" who I am a role model for, I am looking at the future of my son Kyle as he begins to take shape as a teenager soon... there is much to learn. I am now into the "The Servant" by James Hunter and if I didn't take notes and reread certain parts of this book over and over again- I would have it done already. Randy, thanks for this gift and insite in leadership! I will have it back to you soon....
Last nite as I was winding down from my day - I got to open the book but I didn't get far.
What I read on the page really got to me. Thats about as far as I got :)
Intentions - Actions = Squat
We have all heard the quote - "All the good intentions in the world dont mean a thing if they dont line up with your actions." - isn't that the truth! Man I want so much to be a man of action when it comes to giving my word. I want to follow through and not let folks down. I want my life to have action behind what is in my heart. I want to be in the game and not sitting on the sidelines. I am proud of many of our new volunteers at church. They are getting into the game and making friends, learning about serving God and the community and many times - all they need is an invite. God will handle the rest of it ... I often think about the folks serving on setup so early on Sunday mornings and those who are in the band - I know they just want to play it but they are part of setup as well for now. There is a LOT of work that goes into setting up a mobile church and one that is growing and is alive and is on the move. If you are wanting to know more about Jesus, if you are looking to further your understanding in the things of Him, if you are looking to be plugged into a church family who loves and cares for you - you must get off the sidelines. All your good intentions sitting in the chair each Sunday morning keeps you in the chair until you decide to get up and get into action.
Intentions + Actions = Will
Its only when our intentions align with our actions that we will be leading and you will be doing your ministry walk. It is who you are in Jesus.... His hands and feet filled with His actions. No more sidelines.... no more excuses.... you are ready to do what God is telling you to do.
For me, the past few weeks means that some things are going to be changing. I am excited to be changing and taking on new roles and responsibilities. I will say more about this later on but for now know that change is sometimes a great thing!
As I continue to read this leadership book - I am humbled to know that leadership really boils down to a smile four word job description. "Identify and meet needs".
Jesus being the greatest leader of all time lead by serving the needs of the people. He loved us so much that He came for us and died for us.
Psalm 100: 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
1 Corinthians 13:
2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

Man, you just have to love the people you lead and the people around you. It's as simple as that.
Lonnie~

Going at it ......

It has been a bit since last posting. Sorry about that but the Bateman clan had a few days off with spring break. We got to spend a little extra time last week at the cabin. Enjoyed some nice down time, got the boat in the water and enjoyed getting back on the lake again - very pumped about another summer up there! Got some work done around the cabin and even put in an address sign so folks can see the address. Some might be a little happy about that and you know who you are :) - anyways, we got back into town on Saturday evening. Sunday came quick as we had a few folks on the schedule for setup on vacation so being short handed really wears on me. I didn't sleep all that good knowing that its extra pressure and tension getting stuff done and ready for 400 people in Sunday mornings. Life change happens when people meet Jesus and I serve hard to make sure everything is done the way it should be done and all excuses are removed for that person. Some of our leaders got to visit another local church and see their kids sign in software. Very grateful for them opening up their doors and answering our questions. Awesome when Gods people are on the same team especially when churches work together - there is enough people to go around who need to know Jesus.
Rock Group was pretty amazing last night. I spent all afternoon in study, pacing, reading, preparing and praying for each person. We were talking about money and for the next 2 more weeks, - I am, we are, really expecting God to show us what it is He wants us to do and know concerning us managing His money. It is all His ... we own none of it ... but if we are good stewards of the little, we can be trusted with more. As the economy is in bailout mode ... everyone is wanting their little slice and fair deal. We are in this mess for a reason and our greed and wants having blinded us of being held accountable for our spending and actions. Needs and Wants are 2 very different things. Most of the worlds people live on $2 a day .... we have the extreme and are all rich beyond our imagination... the funny thing about being rich and I mean wealthy now ... is that you become more of what you already are. If you are a jerk - you are a rich jerk. If you are a giving person, you will be even more of a giving person.
I want nothing more than to be a giving person. I want to be a good steward of Gods money so that I can give and make a small difference. I closed last nites meeting with this - after asking God to give me something in His word that I can close out the meeting..... I can't say I have spent a lot of time in this chapter and that is what makes this a little more special.
Jeremiah 29
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord.

The devil is going to use every weapon he has to keep you blinded. He will keep your ears hearing the lies that you can't make it out. Your debt is too big, you will never pay for this, you are a slave to the lender - You might as well give up. You can't make enough and this bleeds into your relationships. Your wife and children will see it and feel it. You might sink into depression or alchohol..... to numb the pain. God has a different plan for you. Seek Him with all your heart and invite Him to be a part of your decisions and money. You will find Him if you are truely seeking Him. Life will then take the turn......

Paul said in Philippians 4: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation., whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength”.
Love you all,
Lonnie~

April 15~

Tax day for America. 20 years ago today, Carol was sitting at her mom and dads house at their dining room table - doing her taxes. The last day that she was single. Carol and I have been married for 20 years today.

Proverbs 18:22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.

I do feel in many regards, that we have received favor from the Lord. Carol and I met in high school. She was dating one of my buddies. We hung out a lot and always thought she would never go out with me because she just had too much class and that she was just so much FUN to hang out with. I took a chance on a Friday morning sitting in the parking lot of McDonalds. Sorry mom, we skipped first class to get breakfast~ I asked and she said yes. WOW - life changed from that moment on. For many years we did our thing. We went... we did.... we played and we had fun. Our first apartment we had lawn chairs for living room furniture and a soloflex machine to hang our clothes on. I moved out of my mom and dads 6 months before we got married. Yes we dated for 5 years! I remember my mom saying it was like someone died when I left. Looking back, I agree... because one day we will get that same experience with Kyle. We bought a townhouse in Robbinsville NJ, right outside of Princeton NJ. I worked at Princeton and Carol commuted to PA with the current company she works for today. I can honestly say that those days were all about us. It was about skiing weekends, weekends on her mom and dads boat wherever it was docked. We always had friends over and weekends was time for fun. 1995 we moved to NC and God began to be a part of our life. 1997 we had Kyle and our family was started. I don't think we ever planned to have just 1 child but living away from family and friends sure made it more difficult. I got sick in 1999 and the doctors told Carol to contact my family because they didn't think I was going to make it. Carol standing by my bed having to make those decisions and phone calls were some dark days. I have always felt bad that I put her through all that but looking back now - I can see God working all things for the good and for His glory. He had better plans for me than what I was living. We stopped going to church towards the end of 2004 for a host of reasons so we started praying for the Lord to point us to a church home - one that we could experience Him and get our lives pointed in a good direction. We found Rocky River Church that Easter Sunday 2005. July 10th of that year I was baptised and God was rocking our world. Carol dragged me into Sunday school to help teach the kids, I started serving on setup and breakdown and we started to get to know people. These people were just like us and have the same struggles as us. We were getting connected to people and God was speaking in real understanding ways that made sense for the first time in our lives. Feb 2006 my mom passed and God had His hands all over us during this tough season. We experienced His love and grace like never before. We came through that season stronger and trusting Him like never before. Feb 2008, Carols dad, Walt passed from a long battle with cancer. Again, God showd His grace and extended His love to us like never before. We were surrounded by a church family that was walking those dark paths with us. After years of talking and discussing and answering heaven and Jesus questions... Walt was still not a believer, God used Kyle to lead his grampa to Christ on that last day that he was awake and with us. Today God is using Carol and I in our local church to serve Him, serve others and doing His will over our own. It is hard work but it has more rewards than I ever imagined. Serving God, serving others, serving in our community, investing our time into "OurKids" is the most important things this life can offer and we have it in both hands just hanging on for the ride. Life is no longer about us anymore. Looking back, I can see God working in this situation and during that season of time. He is faithful even when things around us have been hard. I look forward to the next 20 years with you Carol. Serving God in the capacity that He wants from us. Being His hands and His feet as we serve Him together. I can't think of anything, anyone or anywhere that I would want to be today than right here. You are my better half and you make me a better person. You keep me encouraged in all the right ways when I need encouragement. You and by Gods love and grace, complete me. I can be a better father, a better friend, a better husband all because I have you and God that make me whole. Life has meaning and purpose and the best part - we will have eternity together because of what God did by sending His son Jesus.

The next 20 are going to be awesome... many seasons in life. Changes that will shape us and continue to teach us about life, love, and joy.

I love you with everything I have to give. Our 20 years today is going to be spent with Kyle and his buddy Brody as we head to the cabin for a few days. One of the only places that we feel connected, relaxed and at peace. We can look up at the stars in the heavens at nite and talk to our moms and your dad. We can connect with the beautiful scenery and nature that God has created. Coffee in the morning on the front porch as the sun comes up over the mountain. It is a little piece of heaven here on earth.

As Proverbs 22 tells us ... I have found my treasure and I do feel I have favor in the Lord.

For all "OurKids" out there... God is shaping your better half today, even if its years down the road before you even meet... He is working behind the scenes! Don't settle for the crumbs when God has the loaf of bread.

Love you Carol - Happy 20!

Lonnie~

Easter Sunday ~

What a great day it was! That third day .....
Easter Sunday…. The grave is empty. The stone has been rolled away and the tomb is empty. Women find the empty tomb… during these times women were not trusted, they didn’t vote or even count in a court of law. They spread the news …. Everyone comes running and sure enough – empty. Nobody can find the body.. Rome wants peace and quiet… they want things easy so they can rule and govern the land without the big shots from Rome coming there…. The Jews wanted an end to this Jesus stuff …. They were tired of it all and they wanted to go on in life …as things were…… but that’s not the case. With no body … nobody coming forward to claim they have it …Jesus appears to his followers for 40 days…. He shares the holy spirit with them and they start the church.
They spend the rest of their lives preaching and teaching and also dying for what they know to be true. Jesus was the son of God ..our savior and if they hadn’t believed and had the holy spirit …. The movement would not have pressed on and made it. It would have just been a good story, an awesome man this Jesus…. And one who would be recognized in books.
By Jesus coming, dying for OUR sins, being raised from the dead …. We have eternal life with Him and he has made a place for us to have a heavenly home.
There is not much sadness in all this …. Because He came to accomplish what He set out to do. We have a relationship with God now … not a God who directs us and smashes us when we mess up. But a loving and caring Father who wants nothing more than to have a relationship with you.

Yesterday at church -I have to say it was the most powerful message I have ever been a part of. About 25 people at both services wrote and shared, on stage, their card board testimonies. If you don't know what that is, let me tell you it is sharing YOUR personal testimony by you writing it on cardboard. I was this ...... and now I am that. We all got together behind the stage and behind the curtains as the band finished up an amazing song. Pastor Jimmy came out and shared his testimony with everyone. How he was once a Notorious Sinner and now he is forgiven. I looked around and read some of what others had wrote... tears were HARD to hold back knowing that folks were stepping out in faith to share some hard things. Folks with drug addictions, jail, abusive relationships .... and now made complete with God because of His saving grace. He is using them ..... in powerful ways to reach others for His glory and His kingdom. It is an amazing experience when we finally come to a place in life and give it all to Him. His will and His ways ..... over our own.
I am especially proud of Kyle and Emilee yesterday being the only kids up there on stage. Their testimony proves that God uses the little ones just as much as us adults. May they shine their light bright for the Lord!!
Let me share Carol, Kyle and my testimony this afternoon. I am not in the picture but Carol is holding up my Cardboard Testimony. 460 people in church yesterday and not many dry eyes could be found. God brought it yesterday ....... so humbled and thankful to be serving our Lord with such awesome people!