On Vacation but had to post

My last post talked about "knowing" that God was answering prayers, even when things may not look like they are going to work out.

My vacation started out looking like we were not going to make a flight to LA on the same day. Our initial plane was delayed due to storm damage at the Cleveland Airport. That meant that we would not catch our connecting flight to LAX in time. The rep from Continental kept trying to figure out a way for us to get to LA. I'm thinking it was something close to half an hour before she said, "The only route I have now is you flying to Cleveland this morning at 8:30am and then waiting till 6pm there to catch a plane to Houston and then connect there to LA." The whole process up to that I wasn't sure that we were going to fly, and honestly, I really didn't want to. But I would have missed out. We were alerted that a second flight to LA would be leaving at 12:45pm, and when we got to Cleveland to see the rep at the counter there. So we did. At that point, about 9:15am she was able to confirm seats for my family of four and put my mother-in-law on standby. Our seats were scattered through the plane at that point. An hour passed and she found us waiting at out gate for the LA flight. She had been able to change our seats so that I was sitting with Joel and Amy was across the isle from Caleb... still close. At 12:10pm we started boarding our plane. As we got on one person willingly traded spots with my son Caleb so he could sit by Amy, my wife. The plane was rapidly filling up, but the seat next to Joel in the isle still was open. I saw a girl we had been talking to and my Mother-in-law walk on the plane. The girl walked past to her seat and my Mother-in-law found she was in the same row as Joel and I, so she sat next to Joel. Before we started to leave the seat next to where my mother-in-law would have been seated was in question as it was double booked. Amazingly it was straightened out and we were on our way.

It would seem that the drama for our trip would be over with that.

Things went fairly smoothly after we landed, were picked up and went to the Santa Monica Pier where Joel was facinated by the two guys with face paint and a mouth whistle that were dancing. It was going smoothly on our way to the Oceano Beach Park (Pismol Beach). We found our place on the beach and Amy got the ride the sand rail with her brother Joe. She was shaking when she came back as the sudden drops on the dunes at dusk, with a misty marine layer of fog was decending, didn't allow her senses to process what was happening.

I'll have to post more later as I have to pack. But it gets interesting! Stay tuned!

Prayer: God's Ability vs. God's Action

We've had a little plaque hanging on our kitchen wall my mother-in-law gave us. It says, "Faith is not believing that God can, it's believing He will."
I just didn't "get it" for the longest time. There is the intellectual assumption that God is able to do whatever He wants in response to prayer. So in church we break out the anointing oil and follow the patter set out in the Bible in James 5:14-16 when we pray for the sick person. Now I've done this more than a few times and seen people walk away in the same condition and wondered, "What do we need to do differently?!" Isn't God big enough?! Isn't He all powerful?! YES and YES! However it isn't believing that God is that. It's believing that He just did that (whatever "that" would be). A few weeks ago it really hit me. I mean, I think I finally "GOT IT!" Let me illustrate with a couple stories...

I was asked to pray about a job that was opening up for my mom. I told her, "You got the job." Now she had no idea if she was going to get that position or not. She only "hoped" that she might get that position. A few days later (which happened to be June 9th) I got a call from her that she got the position! Not only was God ABLE to supply, but He DID supply that need.

A few years ago some friends were embarking to Paupa New Guinea as missionaries. They sent out a frantic e-mail that they needed their passports to make their flight and leave. I believe they had about one day to have them in hand. I sensed in my spirit that God was delivering the passports even then. I wrote, "Done deal!" I got an e-mail that said the passports had arrived just in time. Another more recent event had them in the Philippines as they were adopting their second son. They all needed to be on the plane and there was limited seating (if my memory serves me correctly). They asked for prayer. I knew that God was going to have seats for all of them. Shortly after that they sent an e-mail that God was indeed good and had made the seats available for all of the family to fly together!
Faith is believing that God will do it, because He can!

I have a friend that knows God has a specific path for him to walk. And to be honest, it's not been an easy one, yet God doesn't call us all to "easy." He calls us to take a long obedient walk in the same direction with Him. My friend will have all of His needs met. I don't have to know how that will happen. I just know that it will.

"How do you know that God will?" How do you know He won't?! If God is everything we read in our Bibles, and I believe He is and more than what we can imagine... and if Jesus said in Matthew 7:10, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

I put a caution here... I don't believe God is asking us to believe that we're going to move into a mansion and drive whatever vehicle around we want and eat in luxury. Far from that. I believe that real needs are being taken care of. That real opportunities are opening up (like with my Church... Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission).

One last thought...
What I realize more every day is that we need people who will believe for us for things we can't begin to imagine God wants to do for us and in us and through us.
Do you find that to be true?!

Got a 'redneck' church?

With the onset of warmer weather comes the inevitable, "I forgot to put sun screen on and got a burn." Which left me with a red neck. As I was driving today I thought about the 'redneck' jokes that I've heard (maybe you know a few) and then it turned to the realities behind those jokes. And that led me to think about what a 'redneck' worship service and message might sound like. Then a semi profound thought hit me. How many people attend a 'redneck' church without realizing it? (DISCLAIMER: I'm generalizing this thought to quite a few churches I've been in, not necessarily the church I serve in right now!) I'm not just talking about a style of music like country or blue grass... but the question begs... How inwardly focused are people? Do that they think they are friendly folk in a friendly congregation when they won't approach a guest at the door to greet them (or want to tag them like deer to identify them)? How oblivious to their building and surroundings are they? Does it even phase them that people from the outside might be scared off from the deterioration they see (be it in the bathroom or the 70's paint color or the small lake that appears in the parking lot, etc.) Muisc is a whole other issue altogether!

So many questions need to be asked and reasked to drill down and get answers. In doing so it will allow them to answer the question, "Why we do what we do?", "Do we need to change?", and "Are we willing to do it?"!

I imagine in some parts of our country there are "redneck" churches complete with a guy playing spoons! But the question remains... Got a 'redneck' church?

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!