Reflections on Kingdom Bound 2011

I was so excited to be able to go to KB 2011 with my family. I've been there before with my wife, before the kids came, but not since the boys were born, with her. My kids will not forget the water rides and kiddie rides. My oldest commented last night that his favorite part of being there (outside the rides) was "being with friends and family." We certainly loved being with our friends and having some family time. But as I look back there are a few things that were highlights. First off, it was a real honor to meet some of my twitter friends at KB. It wasn't like a marathon sit down and catch up kind of thing... it was more of, "Oh, so that's who you are!" Placing in our minds the actual people whose faces we've come to see next to their tweets. Had to laugh when Brenton Brown realized I was "life with Lonnie". (the picture at first is Brenton) I didn't think I'd meet Brenton because they tend to move everyone off the stage quickly and into the back, but when I came back by the tent I saw him talking with @Dan_Gross and then I got to shake Mr. Brown's (notice how respectful I am...) hand not once, but twice! When I told my family, who had been waiting for me at the laser light show, they were all excited too! As a worship pastor I've done a lot of Brenton's music (and Paul Baloche). I've been singing as I've worked in my basement Paul Baloche's songs and Brenton's also. "Our God is Near" and "Adoration" are on shuffle on my iTouch. Brenton's latest release had two songs that have really spoken to me." All For You " is that moment, as a worship pastor/leader, when it's just you and Jesus. It's a reminder that it isn't about us, but God, and for His glory. The other song "Our God Is Mercy" is just a great reminder that we can come to the Lord in our time of need because God desires to flood our lives with His overwhelming love. Needless to say there are a lot of songs that he's written or co-written that have, at some point, ministered to me or helped me to minister God's grace in it's various forms to others. So I was pretty pumped to meet Brenton and pray that our paths will cross another day. [and I'll have intelligible words to say. ;) ]


My last reflection is of Paul Baloche (pictured above). Paul was amazing... actually, it was amazing what God did through Paul the two days I saw him! While playing his set at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) he talked about how his dad (96) was really close to being with Jesus. (His mom and dad just celebrated 63 years of marriage!) You could see that it was tearing him up, but God was gracious and helped him lead. Afterward I tweeted to Paul "Thanks for leading out of your brokenness today." He responded with, "sometimes we have to, eh?" I tweeted back: "yes sometimes we have to... But then the Lord is most near and His strength lifts us. Amen?!" The next morning God used Paul to lead us to the very presence of God. Loved his openness and humility. Love the "Horton Hears a Who" thought of us 'little people' calling out to the Lord, "Hear our joyful sound here at Kingdom Bound" ... also the song he wrote inspired from,"Psalm 60 something"... "as morning dawns and evening fades..." I sensed God's presence so deeply that it moved me to tears more than once. (not just Paul but when Brenton played too) I took away from this that all of the practice is necessary for these times when we can barely keep it together. God takes all of the work we've put in and our times of personal worship, then in our brokenness shows up in ways that we could never hope to manufacture in our strength. Out of this I've found myself practicing and playing a bit more. I'm finding some new songs breathed into my heart that I hope I will be able to share. It was good to be with God's people at Kingdom Bound 2011!

The New Assistant Pastor of Worship!

It's official today! They announced at Niagara Alliance Church that I was coming and will start December 1st to be ready for our first Sunday December 7th!

In fact at the website: niagaraalliance.com in the staff section Pastor Mark has already included me. :~D

Thank you for your prayers as we have been discerning God's plan for our lives and the direction He wants us to go. Please pray for out church as we begin the necessary task of transforming our worship experience (especially the music) to help us target a new generation for Christ, with out alienating the present generations!

Misc. Stuff

As the saying goes much water has passed under the bridge... and in some locations that water has taken out a bride or two... just not where I live. But I digress...

I'm thankful for the opportunities that I've gotten to lead worship at my church through Sept. 7th. I know our Worship Leader was needing a bit of a break and it worked out well.

So we've been busy this summer with all of these wonderful opportunities and I have gratefully offered them up to the Lord as an offering. I believe God has been honored and is pleased to receive the worship due his Name.

This past week Caleb started Kindergarten. We did the usual photos and video of him getting on the bus. What we didn't anticipate was the response of Joel, our almost 3 year old. Joel was ready to run after the bus to either get Caleb back or go with him! There were tears as I held him and then he went back in the house with Amy (mommy). I drove to the school to drop off Caleb's supplies and meet him at the bus as he got off. He was so surprised but very pleased to see me. We got to his room and got him all settled in. I left to take the camera back to Amy to show the pictures and video that I'd taken before heading to work.
So far things have gone well. We're only 4 days in, but it's been a good ride so far. (knock on wood...)

We are anticipating taking care of some home projects that have become an issue as of this past week. Thankfully my dad will be flying in to help with them the first part of October. I always learn more every time I work with him. I look forward to that time even though it will be a bit busy.

Lastly I trust that God will open a door of opportunity for me soon. I have been completely overwhelmed by the responses I've gotten about the speaking and music. In fact, Linda from my church said to me, "I've come to the conclusion that you need your own church to pastor!" All I know is that all things are in God's timing. My prayer is reflected in the lyrics by Charlie Hall "let your sovereign providential hand lead me."

Updated Speaking List!

Here's the newest list of when and where I'll be speaking this Summer!

Cornerstone Community Church - for directions check the website: cornerstoneoncapen.com
July 20th at 10 am
August 3rd at 10 am

Worship on the Water at Longs Homestead in Tonawanda, NY by the Erie Canal
July 20th at 8:45 am (yea I know... I'll be making a quick exit that day!)
August 10th at 8:45 am

I will probably have more dates posted in the near future!

Thanks and God bless!
Lonnie

What a Weekend!

This weekend has been a blast! Friday after work we drove to Camp Hickory Hill near Warsaw, NY. I was privileged to speak to the Father and Son camp. But before speaking at the campfire that night we got a tour and a chance to use the climbing wall / tower. Actually my 4yr old and my 21 mo. old did the climbing. What a sight! All harnessed up my 4 yr old looked like an old pro as he worked his way half way before deciding that he'd had enough. My 'little guy' , Joel, held on to some of the footholds as they pulled him about 10 feet off the ground. The grin on his face was priceless. It was something that I'll never forget. We didn't have time to do much else before I was to speak, but we felt like we'd come back in a heart beat to do some of the other great activities they had there.
At the campfire we sang and saw some really funny skits about "what I learned from my dad". Then another song and I was up. I basically gave my testimony. My parents were divorced when I was 5... I didn't have a lot of time with my dad growing up... I still looked up to my dad... made a scrapbook with newspaper articles my mom had given me about my dad who was the Iowa State Discus champ in 1964 and 1965, as well as his wrestling abilities... (forgot to mention 1st team Football 1965 as a Tackle from Waverly, IA) I had written next to the "Athlete of the Week" heading, "and Father of the Year'... After moving and feeling like I didn't have any friends, at age 10 I responded to the invitation of a pastor, "Jesus will be your friend. He will never leave you or forsake you." I needed that friend and asked Jesus to lead me. At age 15 my youth group took the Sunday service and I gave my testimony of about Jesus coming to be my friend... I had people in my church asking me if I had ever thought of being a pastor. I hadn't. I thought the real money would be in computers and spent considerable time using the Apple II's in school. None the less, that summer at Family Camp in Birmingham, IA I responded to the invitation to come forward, " if you feel God is calling you to some form of full time ministry." So I knew exactly where I was headed... I shared some about my dad and how I had prayed for him about 16 years before I saw that he had gone back to Church. Since I got married my relationship with my dad has become what I'd hoped it would have been years ago. Now I have two little guys, Caleb 4 yrs and Joel 21mo.. We, Amy and I, were told that we couldn't have kids and 8 years after being married, God brought Caleb Noah into our lives. Both of my boys are very special. I have prayed for both of them so much... I've asked God, "Give them wisdom, and understanding, discernment to make right choices, and favor with Him and others, specifically the right people". Along with that prayer I ask that they might know God personally. I had an opportunity to share with Caleb the "Wordless Book". If you don't know what it is, it's a book with just colors. First black. It's the condition of our hearts... the Bible tells us that ALL have sinned, that everyone has blown it and come short of GOD's standard. I tried to communicate to Caleb Black means bad, like "ba, ba, ba, bad to the bone". He didn't quite get it... he says, "Black means bone"... But we continued on. Red represented the blood that Jesus gave to pay the penalty for our sin and allow us to be made right with God. White is the color of a new start, like a whiteboard that get's scribbled on and then completely cleaned to begin a new. The new start comes as we confess to God that we need what Jesus did for us to make us friends with God. The next color was gold. The bible tells us that Heaven's streets are gold and that we will be there with Jesus in heaven if we have asked Jesus to be our friend and savior. It's like the other side of the finish line... when the runner gets to the other side of the finish line there are cheers and congradulations, etc... that's what Heaven will be like for those that know Jesus, or should I say, who Jesus KNOWS! The last color was green. Which means we have to grow. Just as Caleb knows mommy and daddy he can come to know Jesus too. God wants to have a relationship with us if we will ask Him to.
My son Caleb hasn't immediately grasped all these concepts as I think he's a bit young, but the seed has been planted for him to know God. I know that others will come along and help water that seed, and down the road he'll follow Jesus...
Shortly after that I finished. I had many approach me and thank me for the message and tell me how it has affected them. I am truely thankful for the opportunity to have spoken there. I don't know the immediate impact, but I'm sure to find out. We never really know how much of an impact the things we say and do will make down the road.
Satuday started out a bit lazy... Caleb and I got hair cuts, I showered then did my walk through for work at Wegmans in Niagara Falls, then quickly to Burger King for some chicken fries for all of us and home to grab everyone and drive to a birthday party. The parties are a great time for the kids. Enough said.
Sunday we got up and went to church at Cornerstone Community in Buffalo, NY and then drove downtown to the Taste of Buffalo. The food was terrific, the crowds, like a raging sea, the music, off the charts. My oldest son, Caleb, was crying as we decided to leave, he had a great time. But as all things must come to an end, we left to crash at home and try to recover for the week ahead.
Now to bed to start the hamster wheel again this week.
What's ahead for me besides work?
Next Sunday July, 15th, I lead music and speak at "Worship on the Water" at Long's Homestead in Tonawanda.... 8:45am. The service is an "ecumenical" one in which different churches host different weeks. I'll be doing this again on August 19th with the Tonawanda Free Methodist Church and their worship band.
In between I'll be speaking July 22 and 29th at my church, Cornerstone Community Church at the corner of Capen Blvd and Kenmore Ave.. just a block from Route 5 and the UB south campus.

Peace to you all!