I am pretty excited about today. Me and a van full will be headed to south Charlotte to meet up with 10th Ave North, Addison Road and the folks at Forest Hill Church. I have had tickets now for over a month and am really excited to get my worship on and enjoy the evening. I think we have a great group going and hoping for no distractions and grumpy students when I take their phones so they can focus in and be all there. Hard, I know but God sometimes deserves our attention more than we give him. I mean I see it all the time when talking with someone and they whip out their phone and send 3 text messages or update facebook while I am talking with them. Just a major pet peeve of mine sorry :)



Today I want to share some things on my heart about relationships. I chose the picture to the left as one of the mild pictures so that I really dont gross you out too much. I have this in mind because of the slow poison that takes place sometimes in the people around us and how long term it affects us and sometimes affects us deeply. See our relationships that we have can sometimes be toxic to us personally. Our spiritual life can be affected if we are not in tune with God and strong in our walk with Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:33 - Bad company corrupts good character.

Toxic by definition is anything containing poisonous material capable of causing serious sickness or even death. You may be at a place where God is really doing something in you and through you. You may feel closer to God than at any other time in your life and you are striving with all you have to live for Christ and share what He has done in your life with others. Some folks come along side and walk right with you and some are the heavenly sandpaper that just rub you raw at times. Those folks are the tough ones. They are the ones that really live 2 lives, the church person and the real person when others arent looking.
We all have morals and in my life, I have a pretty high moral standard that I do my best to keep and honor but also for those around me. I especially do so for my family and my close kids and friends. Most often when people need advise or need someone to talk to, I find it interesting in who they choose to talk with. If they want truth, they want to know what God says about their issue or struggle - they will seek out a godly person and get the truth. Sometimes they seek out folks who will tell them what they want to hear, they will seek out someone who will tell them what they want to do. These friends we need to keep at an arms length because when we are not fully prepared, fully in tune with our walk with Christ, fully ready for what ever may come - you can get dragged along.
Relationships are messy and in my own life, ministering to people is hard and tough on the heart for sure. I strive hard to have my heart in a place that is seeking Gods heart as much as I know how to do. How can I help someone if they come to me and knowing that my words are agreeing with them when they are making a decision to bring ruin and pain into their life? We must be strong in our faith to have that hard conversation and point them to Jesus. We have to value the friend more than the friendship in order to bring folks around us for the long haul.
In Matthew 16:23 - Jesus tells Peter of all people, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men."

If we do not have our faith cup full and pouring our cup into others than we are no good to anyone with what we have to say or what we are doing. When our cup is not full of Christ, it will have more of earthly and worldly things. Soon, your moral meeter will slip, soon your walk with Christ will slip, soon those godly things will slip in that relationship as well as your other relationships. God has to be at the center of your heart in order for Him to be revealed into those relationships in your life. Folks around you need to know where you stand with Christ and where the line is in your faith - otherwise they will drag you with them.
A few months ago at Rock Group - I had a chair out and pulled my belt off and asked one of our kids to stand up on the chair. I asked if it was easier to pull a person off the chair or up onto the chair with them. Every single time it was easier to pull the person off the chair. That is a great example of our faith. Its easy to get pulled down and lost along side all that is going on and the people coming and going and wanting and wanting.

Much like the picture above - the poison starts off slow and then as it creeps into your life and into your heart and it eventually shows up and takes over. It might be that guy or girl you are dating. Everyone sees it as a bad thing. That dude is no good for you and is taking you to a place that leads nowhere. You continue to date him or her because there is nobody else at the moment. You dont want to be alone, you need something to do on Friday nights. What about that relationship that the other person continues to try and get you to do things that you know is wrong. The calls and text messages and facebook posts all point to a destination you don't want to go down or you're not ready for. What about that business deal that you know will make money but its shady and not above table? What about that relationship at work ... the value system in all this is it the same level as yours? Are you the one compromising your value system in order to keep the peace or the friendship?
Compromise your integrity and you will always end up in the loss column. It may not look like it at first - you may look like the idiot and the one that looks like you are better than everyone else ... but in the long run, you will be the one that people go to when they need someone because you have stood on solid ground, didnt compromise and didnt' let the poison into your life.
If your son or daughter was caught sexting - do you just say stop and let them keep their phone? This is rampant in middle school and high school where kids send each other sexual comments and pictures. Do you let this continue - NO you cut it off. You kill the poison and take the phone. You cut off that relationship.

Jesus went for 40 days and 40 nights alone - he too had to get alone and get some time to focus and get away from his disciples, the crowds of people, the folks who were full of poison. He could only do what he was doing if he was full of Gods presence and full of Gods spirit. How else could he cut off the poison all around him. If he wasnt in top shape the poison would eventually affect him. The world is toxic and Jesus had to be full strength as well, much like we need to, in order to help those who were hurting and open blind eyes and heal death ears and love the unlovable and touch the toxic, because he was doing what God had willed for him.
Bad company corrupts good character. There are those that need to hear from Gods spirit today. I am praying for your walk, for a moral meter that defines your walk and what you stand for.
May the folks in your life be the roots you need to dig deep in times of trouble and that will last the storms that this life throws us. May the poison be removed so that godly words and good character can be built and giving long lasting and loving friendships. All because God is centered and not something that this world offers.

Loved ones, there are folks out there desperate to know Jesus and we have to do our part in showing them and modeling for them who He is and what He has done in our lives. Do that and not let anything stand in your way. You may stand alone for a season ... but another season may have you having folks lined up because they need what you already have.
Jesus.

Lonnie~

Judgement House

Monday morning, not much sleep, tons on my heart and my mind is full. Is there something I need to be doing?
Prayer is the seasoning to good judgement.

3:06 this morning in John 3:6 - Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit.

I am at a loss as to what that means. I know there is more to it but as of right now, all I have is that we give birth to others - flesh to flesh - but only through Gods spirit can we be reborn again so that His spirit lives in us. Without the spirit, we are just born and leading a godless life. I know there is so much more in there, I just don't have the vision for it just yet.

This past Saturday night we had 15 students and leaders head down to Rock Hill SC to Calvary Church for Judgement House. Imagine a series of rooms that a group of folks walk through and a series of actors and actresses act out a story as we move from room to room. I don't remember how many rooms we all moved through but this story took place with a high school student who had lived a tough life up until this point. Her mom and dad both in jail, living with her grandmother, caught dealing dope and accused of using it. Her friends at school dont like her and push her aside, make fun of her, beat her down. These are her Christian friends. Grandma has made arrangements for her to go on a youth retreat and it has the entire church up in arms. Parents don't want their children hanging with her. They feel as though they pay the bills in the church so they should have a say on things. As we begin to see the first few rooms unfold, it was obvious that nobody wanted to be friends with her, reach out to her in any way and degrade her as if her life meant nothing to nobody. By the third room, a call is taken by one of the youth leaders and news is passed to her that her grandmother passed. Her grandmother tried so hard to live out her faith to her and accept Christ and now the only thing in her young life that was stable was gone. Next room we find her struggling and angry with God. She decides to take a bunch of pills and end the pain because of her cercumstances. She let her life choices, the things around her, let people speak their truth to her to dictate the direction of her decisions.
Next room as we enter is a white room, a large official looking table in the center and a large book on it. The book of life. A man, white hair and beard sitting behind the table we see the grandmothers name called out. Her name is in the book of life. An angel takes her by the hand - My child, job well done my good and faithful servant. She is lead through a gate that is bright and beautiful. The girl comes in next and after a few exchanged words, a plead for her life and following her grandmother the news is stated that her name is not in the book of life. The Anvil is hammered and that noise I will not soon forget. It was such a defining moment... as to say - the decision is done. No more 2nd chances. You chose the paths in life and now those choices define the destination. A demon person comes and grabs her and drags her out while screaming. The white haired man, God in the play - then reads everyones name - first and last in the group to step forward. What a powerful moment to remember. We had to let go of the person next to us and walk that alone. Far too often our faith is built on others. We think because my uncle was a preacher, that we are good. I grew up in church so as an adult I can live any way I want to. It is not the case loved ones. Our faith is ours. Its personal and each of us have a walk and journey that we must navigate and chose. Our day of judgement will come to each of us, a journey we must make alone. When my mom passed, I couldnt help but to think that she had to take this journey alone. How I know some of us wanted to go with her and the comfort in those thoughts are that she is already there, she has made the journey and is waiting on us. I take comfort in knowing that and my journey will be less alone because mom went before me.
Next room we find ourselves in a hot dark smokey room. In there is the young girl, 2 demons are insulting her, mocking her, she is hot, her skin is hurting. They laugh and tell her how she will never leave and how aweful and alone her eternity is going to be. She is crying and screaming out. I feel arms and hands grabbing mine and everyone moving closer - some are crying. Some can't believe what they are seeing. Some are saying - Uncle Lonnie I am scared. I pull my arm over a student and help hide her and then along the side is a preacher man. He is in chains, he is saying I spoke of God my entire life. I preached messages about you and here I am. I lived the message of Christ but I too didn't truly believe. It was a powerful scene that shows us that even good church people go to hell - even when they act the part. Its what is inside our hearts that truly matter. The girl is screaming to have the preacher man save her, to help her in some way but he knows the truth. There is no escape. There is no way out. The devil appears from the back. His face red, pointed nose, and he screams. It was worse then anything I had seen at Carowinds. It was so real and as he screamed he loved the fact that the young girl was scared, crying and his forever. The crowd was crying, I was crying and all around me people were shaking. We left that powerful room to go through another room where we were on a journey to heaven. We meet the grandmother entering heaven and the room is all white. Folks are smiling and the grandmother is greeted by her husband. Who spoke in english a piece of scripture that I wish I could remember. It was a happy meeting and couldn't help but to think of Walt and Marylou. How they are now together and happy. What a great meeting that must have been. I thought of my mom then and tears flowed from my face - as was almost everyone elses in the room. With a white cloth around my neck - made it even more powerful as we were standing in heaven. The scripture was then read in 5 or 6 different languages. Christ appears and he is smiling. He welcomed the grandmother and people began to sing and praise him. He spoke for a good little while about salvation and how in this life we only have 2 choices and our destination for eternity is up to us. He then went and sat on the stage which was like an altar and the children came running to him and sat with him. We then walked out and sat in a room where one of the leaders from Calvary church - welcomed us, thanked us for coming, prayed over us and then shook hands. We had 3 students give their lives to Christ Saturday night. I can't help but to tear up as I type this. That is what its all about and why I press on through these hard things that take place. Its that changed life that has heaven singing and celebrating.

I don't think that I have seen a story played out to be so real and so heavy. I think about not only myself but also for those around me. I am thankful for those who made the trip down but sad for all those who didnt go because I know that there is no amount of explaining could really capture what we experienced Saturday night. Pastor Travis spoke to all of us, the 3 students who gave their hearts to Christ shared tears and hugs. Pastor Travis prayed over us and a much different ride home started. Different because of the very real life story that was played out in front of us. Very real decision of what are we going to decide about Christ.

I want to end todays post with the lyrics from ThirdDay - Surrender
When the day began
and you opened up your eyes
No, you didn't recognize
What you were seeing
Then it all came back
You remembered where you've been
Well is never seems to end
and you're still running

Will you ever change your mind
You're almost out of time

You better give up
Gotta stop running
Its the end of the line
Its time to surrender
Hands up
Turn it around
Fall to the ground
Are you gonna surrender

Now the day is done
And you want to close your eyes
and pretend that you are fine
but you'd be lying
and you want it back
the life that you once had
'Cause inside you find
That you are slowly dying

Loved ones, dont let your today become your yesterday. Your future is in front of you.... and its bigger than you ever imagined.
Lonnie~

This week has been a tough week and I for one am glad its Friday. I look forward to going with my family to campus tonight, we are seeing a movie and then tour the Student Union as its all decorated Halloween style. 2 of my students are dressed up and Kenny Chesney is in my office today. I miss my boots, I think I will wear them more often than I do.
This past week they had sign ups for the flu shot which I took bravely into my right shoulder. A few years ago, I was the one voted to get the nurse that gives a bad needle. It was true - as she poked me with it, blood shot out of my arm and onto the ground. She made a little scream noise and I sat amazed that something like that shot that far out of my arm. Last year, I was asking for $5 donations to scream loudly in pain as I got me shot but nobody came through for me. I was hoping to use that for coffee money. This year was just normal, no takers on the scream, no donations and no blood splatter. It has me thinking about the flu a little since I have a good friend who was out of work for over a week with the flu. She is still not up to full speed yet and I know being around college students all day and being around people all day ... getting the flu will surely take me down and my risk is big time increased with all the people around me.
I want to talk about hope today. Hope that is contagious.

Colossians 1:27 - "... to them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles, the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ in you, the hope of glory".

Everything in creation has been a given a calling by God. A purpose to fulfill his purposes. Even our solar system speaks of Gods specific design. As God created the sun and the planets in such a way as to provide life on this earth. We know that if the sun had been placed closer or further away from our planet earth, life would not be here. If our planet was tilted just a few degrees more, life would be uninhabitable. The ecological system we have here on earth has an important place, a purpose to fulfill - a calling.
You and I have even a greater certainty that we are created with a purpose to fulfill. We each have a Divine calling. As we become Christ followers, His spirit comes to dwell in us. He reveals and empowers the calling that God has placed on our lives - not just a basic or general calling, but a personal one. God created you to make His presence known!

God has hope to make his presence known through us. As we fulfill this calling, His life-giving hope becomes contagious. Finding hope in Jesus, is life changing.
My prayer for you today is that you give your life to Christ and let him be contagious to all those around you.
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have a great Friday everyone and a safe "BOO" day Sunday.
Lonnie~

This has been a spiritual leading day for sure. I am not complaining at all and actually this is the kind of day that I pray for each morning.
Lord use me in however you need to, help me not miss a whisper that you give me so that I can step forward in faith to be used by you. Thank you Lord for the people you put in my path and teach me all that I need to know so that I may grow closer to you today. Amen

Almost every morning in my quiet time I have a prayer that goes something like that. Today I am in 1 Corinthians 15:58 and was reflecting on a life verse that would speak to about and to my life.
1 Corinthians 15:58- With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

There are days where you often feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. The weight sometimes is so heavy that its easy to get discouraged - even for me and having the gift of encouragement. The condition of the hearts of most people are hurting today. I got news that my brother is in the hospital and is having bypass today. No call from my dad yet as to how things went. LOL our student ministry Bible study was heavy last night with questions as we did a question and answer type of hour and the students challenged our student pastor. Questions kept coming at McDonalds afterwards and then again on the way home. I love moments like this where students get a chance to be real. They come with the heavy questions and open up.
This morning I was stopped on my way into work with a conversation of something that happened in the office yesterday. My door is always open and in walked a marraige that is hurting and on the brink of disaster. Another phone call this afternoon with a marriage that is hurting and if something is not done - a beautiful family will be no more. Children lost in the shuffle, mom and dad not the team and marriage example any more for their children.
Its hard out here on the battle field.
There are many times, as a Youth worker, a father, a husband, a friend, a leader, a son and so many other hats that its just really hard. Somedays, you just feel like giving in and saying, Ok Lord. Please take all this from me. I didn't know it was going to be this hard.

Then something happens - last night I gave $2 to a hungry homeless man on the street - I said hey man, God loves you, God bless and here is a few bucks to get a cup of coffee and something warm to eat. I put my pants on this morning and I find in my right pocket $2. You may think thats funny or odd - I look at that as God gave that back to me to give to the next person.
I got some special Carol time Tuesday night and had such a great night. Rejuvinated because of it.
Last night while sitting at the table at McDonalds, Morgan leans over and says "I need some Lonnie time, I miss you". That breaks my heart.
I see other students leaning in and wanting so eagerly to live for Christ but are feeling beaten down and heavy. Maybe home is not the best grounds to sprout spiritual wings. School is a tough battle ground with all that is going on there. "Mr Lonnie, how do I continue to stand for Christ where I am at? How do I know this is where I am supposed to be?"
These are some tough questions and are ones that need prayer for sure.

With so many things being so hard ... it would be easy to just toss it in and give up. Let the marriage fall because its too hard to go and get help, its too hard to have that conversation with my daughter, its too hard to lead my family......

If you are leading - no matter if its in church, at work, or leading girl scouts .... Holdup~Buildup~Fireup.

~Holdup -Pray for those in your life. Pray for your students by name. Hold them accountable and hold their hands when they need it. Pray for your marriage, your daughter - for your relationships.
~Buildup - Invest time in them, have a coffee, send them a good morning text message wishing them a great day. The only way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. Let them know in a personal way that you care and are there for them. Put on the listening ears and let them talk ... often times folks just need an ear.
~Fireup - fire them up and encourage them. Everyone needs someone to cheer them on. Nothing speaks louder than an encouraging word.

Lead by example. Spiritual growth is a choice. You have to want to grow. Its not automatic loved ones. You can grow old without growing up. You are as close to God as you choose to be. He doesn't move. It takes action and comitment. We grow through our comitments.

Nothing is wasted by God. People only get well while in community with others.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute and love without stopping.

Lonnie~

There are a lot of things that I struggle with. Just because I am on this side of the cross does not mean I am not jacked up in some way. We all are and if you are thinking that you have it all together and things in life are just perfect - email me and I will send you a mirror. We all have to take a look at ourselves from time to time. As I sat with a friend yesterday morning and listened to her share her valley that she is in - it became apparent to me that all through life we are told to listen but very few of us really know how to listen. As I sat and shared what little I had in my heart to encourage and offer godly wisdom - it was so clear that my friend just needed an ear. She needed a few kind words to let her know that she was not alone, that God was not done with her story and that life is meant to live forward and not looking back over our mistakes and choices and regrets. We all have them but are we to continue walking with them and letting life just make us drag our feet all the time?
Last night I took the time, because I admit I don't nearly take enough time, to take miss Carol out on a date. We dropped Kyle off out a dear friends house and headed to uptown Charlotte where we shared a great meal, had great conversation, had an incredible Waiter who waited on us like we were the only ones in the place and I left an appropriate tip for that service! We then headed to a young startup church that has been meeting on Tuesday evenings uptown in an old beautiful church. As Carol and I walked up, the place was packed with young people - like 18-35 maybe. The stage was awesome and had 3 video screens that under each of them was a lit up skyline of Charlotte and as the music began to play the people all stood and sang with arms up, hearts open, some crying .... 400+ young folks - in church - Tuesday evening - Uptown Charlotte. WOW. As the message was delivered from a visiting pastor from Chicago I really dug into the message series - Relationships - Complicated.
As I look into those relationships in my life and the people around me ... they are complicated. Some more than others but the defining factor lays just underneath all the mess and complications. Are they godly relationships?
90% of Americans say they believe in God but a very small % really know God and walk with Him closely. Very few really let God have the say and control in their lives. Very few really walk with God in every moment of every day. Very few really lean in and have joy when life is in the valley and is really hard. Very few wake in the morning and put their feet down on the floor and say - Satan, Im up and I have victory over you in my life through Christ Jesus. Very few make decisions and choices in life that reflect Gods heart and will over our own selfish ways. Very few share the love of Christ with others because they think that is someone elses job and that they just don't feel called to do that. Very few spend a lifetime helping others in practical ways that would honor Christ as his hands and feet. Very few lay awake at night hurting and tossing over a loved one who is walking away from their faith or in the process of making a bad choice in their life.
God wants a relationship with each of us. Its that love and acceptance that is our model for all our relationship in this life. Its burned into our DNA to have relationships and folks to do life with because God has given us a relationship with us if we chose to have one. He won't force it on us just like we can't be forced to be friends with someone we don't like or get along with. It just wont work out. But in that relationship, in order for it to be a good friendship, a growing friendship - there must be forgiveness and humility. We have to put the needs of others before our own. We have to serve our friends and loved ones otherwise it becomes a one way street and that leads to bitterness and control over others. Forgiveness is something that will come no matter how hard or how close you are to a person. It will happen, lets face it, we are all different. If that relationship is worth saving, worth fighting for, worth going beyond the surface level of checking in and saying - How was your day? Weather is good and sunny.. blah blah blah ..there will be times of giving forgiveness. Saying sorry is just part of life and people doing life together. God is part of all these things. He has to be the underlining in our friendships and in our relationships.
Colossians 3:16 - Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the word of Christ - the message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

The other translation says to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. I just love that. Dwell means to be at home in us. God desires his word to be so AT home in us, that his whispers in scripture are like pieces of conversation with him throughout our day. Shame that most folks don't even listen. I do my best each day to listen every moment I can - to listen for Gods whisper. To notice when someone comes across my path because God put that Divine meeting in place. I smile when I notice God poking my heart to reach out to someone or to do something for someone even if it doesn't make sense.
It was awesome last night seeing the hands raised and singing praise to our heavenly father. God thank you for every step of the way and for the people in our lives.
Loved ones, my prayer today for you is to dwell in God word and that you have a hunger to be saturated within it so that when we're caught off guard by lifes circumstances, we reflect and hear Gods wisdom and his nudges so much so that those whispers live in us in our day, at school, at work, in that conversation with a friend, at the lunch table, while talking with the lady at Lowes Foods - where ever life takes you. May it dwell in our hearts.
Lonnie~

Back in 1999 I almost lost my life here on this earth as well as my life in heaven. I had not come to a place in my life where Jesus was that important to me and was basically living like most people - myself. Doing what I wanted to do and using people along the way is the norm and often times I catch myself saying, "Hey it would be easier to live my life that way than the way I am called to live by following Christ". But I can't do that so I have to press through and as I think about where life is today and that important turning point in my life - I can't help but to be fired up to share my life with others who have either yet to go through a season in their life that is really hard or are going through it right now. Pain is an attention getter and God often uses pain in our lives to speak to us, to break us, to teach us, to move us to understanding his ways over our own and even speak to others during our season of pain.
I am reminded of Romans 8:28 today. It is a well known piece of scripture and one that has been placed on many of hearts so I hope its a well received reminder for you as well.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Notice the beginning words - And we know - that does not mean, let me think about it or sometimes. It means - AND WE KNOW. You know without a doubt that its in our DNA as a follower of Christ that ALL things God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose.
That season in time was for a purpose that I almost died back in 1999. I speak of this season every so often as life goes on. It is a reminder that all could have been lost but God had a bigger plan and was not done with my story yet. Even as Carol watched by my bedside my condition getting worse, my parents where called to come and say their goodbye's, even as Kyle was almost left without a dad, God had more to do in me. Not only did this sickness change me, it changed Carol, the nurses, the doctor, my parents - it affected everyone around us. The pastor at my church then came to visit and though hard to minister to a family in the valleys of life - he was changed.
I know without a doubt that I see people differently today because of this season. It was months before I was functional again and was able to go back to work, drive a car, energy to do the things I wanted to do and to be a husband and father again. It was during this breaking period I realized, I needed God. My life consists me pouring into others as Christ continues to fill me. I am blessed beyond my comprehension and those who have not went through a tough season in life or have experienced God that up close and personal like I have - sometimes don't get me.
At times, I may appear I have lost the joy in life but look a little deeper loved ones. I am eager for you, my heart breaks for you and want nothing more than to pour out all God has done in my life to you. Walk with me, stick with me are words I often say.
Dare to live this life insignificant but with significance.

Some people have money. Lots of it. Power and compassion don't exist together. Folks either have one or the other but not both. Jesus is the only one who has power but cares about our needs. He is the definition of compassion. In Matthew 15:29 - Jesus left the place along the sea of Galilee and went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, sick, crippled and laid them at his feet and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me for 3 days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

This is the God that could do anything at any moment. He cared about them being hungry. He didnt want to send them away. He had compassion on them. He cared for them. He loved them. He gave them the basics of their needs in time of need. He will do that today for you. Every single person mattered as he met the basic needs of the people.
Loved ones, I want to share that no need you have is too small for our God. He cares about the lunch you have or don't have. He cares about the test you are having done today on your knee. He cares that there may not be enough money to pay for the tests but he will provide. The needs of the people around me today are heavy on me. The needs of even those who willingly chose to stick with the drama, not come to church, not lead their families, are heavy on me because there is a better way. My heart knows that many of them have yet to experience the pain in their life at a level that changes them. That makes me sad but it presses me onward knowing that God can and will at any given moment free them from where they are. His power is mighty and in his compassion, He can change a life when we least expect it. I am blessed to have a few folks in my life who God has put in my life that are a breath of mercy air. They have not needed a bunch of energy, a lot of investment, all that heart felt tough places to go through - they have come to encourage me amongst the other things God has them on for his purposes. I am only a part of their journey but I am grateful to be on this journey with them.

In my quiet time this morning 2 Timothy 2:22-26 really spoke to me.
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lords servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Only through Gods power and compassion for us can we even attempt to live our lives this way as the scripture shares with us. A pure heart - a place that we have to constantly examine and make sure its in check. God are my motives your motives? Are my intentions your intentions? Help us not have stupid arguments over things that just dont matter because they build walls and have lasting affects. The Lords servant must keep in focus to be kind to everyone, able to teach not only through words but in our actions as well, not become resentful, be gently with instructing others and being hopeful that they come to their senses and live a life worthy of living for.
Sometimes we have to put the needs of others in front of our own to truly understand the compassion that Christ wants us to have. We just live a life having another Monday after Monday after Monday - there has to be purpose and meaning in those Mondays. If we don't we begin to lost the story of our life and the beauty that is in it.
Loved ones, God can create our washed out meaningless lifeless life into a life of meaning and beauty. The story our life is telling others matters! Our story in this life has to have something other than just us - in it.

Give your life to dreaming of making others dreams a reality. Pointing them to Jesus is a life with meaning. Thats the true meaning of compassion when the needs of others are more than your own. Praying for your story .....

Lonnie~

I fully enjoyed the message at YCI this morning at Kyles school. Nothing better than sharing a morning message with 140+ students and getting high fives from so many on their way to start there school day.
I am reminded today, how can we serve Christ when we are so wrapped up in our own little worlds? I have been listening to what I call next to the edge music from a band I had never heard of until this week but this is normal for our kids today. They listen to all kinds of music from bands that never make the radio. Does anyone listen to the radio anymore?
Revive Blink has a great song - Blink. Here are some of the words from that song.

It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash
It happens in the time it took to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there not stopping time
What is it I've done with my life

It happens in a blink
It happens in a blink

Slow down
Slow down
Before today becomes
our yesterday

I am headed to the cabin this evening and I am so looking forward to my walk tonight under the stars as I talk with mom. After this past week I am really in need of some mom time. Oh, how I wish I could just sit and have a coffee with her.
A few weeks ago while during a conversation I was called "Intense". That really made me think and examine myself. I even asked a close peep today - "Am I intense?" - I wonder if I am too intense at times for even the students in my life? Am I mixing it up enough to be the fun Mr.Lonnie and then the intense fired up for Jesus Mr. Lonnie? I don't know what that looks like ... all I know is I am passionate for Christ in my life and I am passionate about those in my life to know Christ as well. So if that makes me intense... I can live with that. This morning at YCI the student pastor charged the students to not just come .... to YCI - BUT GO and be YCI in their school, at the lunch table, with the person sitting alone that no one will talk to, at the dinner table, on the football field. This passionate love we have for Christ can't be a part time following. Hear only what you want to hear and filter the rest out. God touched my heart in a big way this past week about giving him my worship .... all of my worship!

Galations 6: 16-26
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. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on a given day. Why dont you choose to be led by the spirit?
But 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 a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that 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.

Following Christ should be contagious. I get a little fired up. I usually can't eat before rock group. I am excited on Sunday mornings. I am eager to learn something new from God. I smile when I know God just sent me someone who needed some guidance or a person to talk to or pray with them. My heart is heavy when I am at the Center of Hope serving a meal to the homeless women and children. My heart is exploding when one of the students has a moment with God and on fire, is contagious and stands of for Christ in the lunchroom. I am excited when a dad steps up to lead his family and have realtionship with his son, daughter and wife after many years of pouring his life into his work and just providing a roof over their heads. I cry when I get to experience God do something huge in a persons life. I cry when I get a note from a student (they are all over my walls at work, in my Bible, on my phone and ipod) sharing with me how thankful they are that they have me to go to and for always being there for them and showing them the love of Christ. I cry when they cry. I hurt when they hurt. I smile when they smile and share victory when they win or lose because I was there cheering them on.
Galations 5: 25-26
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. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more intersting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Lets finish up the lyrics to the song -Blink
It happens in a blink
It happens in a blink

When its all said and done
No one remembers
How far we have run
The only things that matters
is how we have loved

I dont want to miss
Even just a second
More of this

I dont want to miss more of this. I missed far too much already in my life. Far too many of us think about tomorrow but your faith is meant to be lived out today. No matter how old or young you may be right now ... your faith is worth living out today before it become your yesterday. Make it matter... It might just change your life.
Lonnie~