Twittering and a Blog suggestion

I really enjoy having the chance to blog because I'm not limited to 140 characters as someone who is Twittering. I enjoy Facebook and find that I'm on that just a few times each week now that the "newness" has worn off. But as of yesterday (May 20th) I joined the Twitter revolution. A good friend of mine, Alan Chandler from Church Doctor Ministries, sent me a link to a Time article about using Twitter in church. Yes, people were actually Tweeting in church. It got me to thinking of the practical application of that in a church service. You have a question that comes to mind while the pastor is speaking on a subject and with Twitter you have the opportunity to express that and possibly get instant clarification. I could see it as a way to voice prayers and thoughts of worship to God. That thought got me thinking that God handles all our requests before we even voice them or think them. He's never overwhelmed with volume of petitions and won't go down or be down for maintenance. It's really amazing how great and awesome God is. So... you can follow me in between posts on twitter at twitter.com\lifewithlonnie

And while you are at it please take a moment to check out my friend Alan's blog. www.churchdoctalk.com
The work he and others do at Church Doctor Ministries is invaluable to the Body of Christ. Doctors diagnose and suggest treatment. They provide patient follow-up. These people are the real deal. Thanks for checking the blog! Feel free to post your thoughts on that blog page too!

Thanks and until next time... check my Twitter page!

Tooth Fairy Visit

Caleb officially got a tooth fairy visit tonight. He's been working on a loose tooth for a while, but was scared to pull it out. Amy did the honors with a damp washcloth and her skillful hands. He cried a bit but then realized after a while that it didn't hurt. The tooth had to go anyhow because another can be seen growing in right where it was!

Oh... what did he get from the Tooth Fairy?!?! A dollar in quarters, a Spiderman toothbrush and strawberry flavor toothpaste. :+D

Two quick stories...

Last Sunday (March 15th) I was told a story... I'd led the song "How Great Is Our God" by Chris Tomlin in Church a few weeks earlier. A granddaughter of one of our members told her grandma that she really loved the song. So they looked up the song on the internet and listened to it. The grandma found a picture of Chris Tomlin and told her that he was the guy that did the song. The granddaughter later said, "Grandma, he looked better in person when he sang at church."

Today my son Joel (3yrs) was laying down for a nap. He really has been wanting to visit "GoGo" his Aunt Jodie. But lately she's been sick and we know that Joel will pick up whatever bug seems to be near... So as he again asked me to go I told him that we needed to pray that she would be healed of her sickness before we could go. Joel started to pray! (first time ever!) "God, I love you. GoGo needs to be better now so that we can go eat smarshmellows, and pick berries and swim and have a bonfire." I was so moved. I explained to Joel that God is more likely to answer a prayer that gives Him all the credit, praise and glory... not just a prayer because we get something out of it. Even so I was so blessed.

My "Biggest Loser" Wife

After four months of working out and eating better my wife smoked the competition at work during their "Biggest Loser" competition! I am so proud of her! The picture is of her from February 2009. This is the only picture she would let me post. Enjoy!

Playing Chicken and ending up a McNugget (TM)

Well, it seems that my company has decide to play chicken. Unfortunately for us it looks like we've ended up a McNugget (tm)... battered and fried and set with a side of DIPping sauce. If you know what I mean. This is not a good time to be part of my company. It looks as if we may loose one major account and another secondary account... which accounts to more than half of the hours I work in a week. Honestly, I'm really more concerned about the merchandisers who have done this most of their lives and have nothing to fall back on. Some will be picked up by another company, but some won't because of their work ethic. Still they are people who will need a job. Unfortunately they don't have many other skills and so any Stimulus package that would employ someone to fix bridges or repair roads is not going to help them. Giving money for pet projects probably won't help either. If our President really wants to get people working he'll need more than slick big government ideas and payback to the people who helped elect him. It will take small business owners getting some breaks for hiring people they wouldn't normally be able to. That will allow them to expand and their workers will have money to spend. And spend they must! Along the way a hard and serious return to some "old fashioned values" that were discarded a few years ago would be a good way to help reign in the greed and corruption that has spread like gangrene. That and keeping our oil prices in check so that we can actually afford to work will go a long way to turning this ship around. Just a few thoughts. By the way you won't find me playing 'chicken' any time soon. I don't want to end up a McNugget (tm).

Quick Update

I'm finding that I don't have nearly the time I had before to update my blog and facebook! But it's a good thing! I'm really enjoying my position at Niagara Alliance Church as "the music guy". We've started stepping forward with some newer songs, or at least "new to you" kind of songs. Our new challenges are in the form of projection and sound. The Lord can sell a few of "the cattle on a thousand hills" that He owns so that we can get speakers on the ceiling which would help with being able to see the projected music on the wall. Yea, we're on the wall. Or is that off the wall??? Any way... I've gotten some good feedback about me so far. I was completely taken back when I got a hug and was told, "You are a special one." That made me think back to The Shack. Worship leading is more than just instrument proficiency it's being able to move beyond the details and focus on bringing people into the presence of God. I've been told that "you can't worship and lead." I would disagree with that and say the opposite. Unless you are worshiping you really are not leading. It's nearly impossible to take people where we have not been personally. But I digress...

The last time I spoke was January 4th and from that opportunity has come one chance to share Christ and to see one person respond and to be in a position to pray for others who were listening and whom God is speaking to. I'm pretty excited about that!
With that in mind I know my speaking schedule for the next couple months! These are all at Niagara Alliance Church (the website is all of that without spaces and a dot com)

February 15th
April 26th
May 17th and May 31st

Thanks for all those of you who read this and pray. We've had some challenges in the recent days... terrible threes with Joel, bullying of Caleb on the school bus, and vehicle stuff... news from my merchandising job... and health issues for Amy. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. Keep praying! And thanks for checking in on this blog. We appreciate our friends, family and other folks that are "just friends we haven't met yet!"
God bless you!
Lonnie

"The Shack"

I just finished reading the #1 NY Times Bestseller for Trade Paperback books. I know why this book has been flying off the shelves in the stores that I merchandised. It's filled with a treasure. I can't tell you exactly how it will affect you or is that effect you... I do know that if you take the time to actually read the book, not skim it, it will speak to you. All I know is that I'll never recover from reading this. You can find more information about this book at: theShackBook.com