Chris Grainger: 1:43

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders, God intends you to be. I'm your host, Chris Granger. So let's jump into it, fellas. Fun Friday time. You guys can know we got our new format, but before we get there, let's look at our scripture this week. So scripture is in Romans chapter 5, verses 7 and 8. It says, Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this while we are still sinners. Christ died for us. And I put those two verses together this week because too often we focus just on eight. And I think if you miss eight, this feels like it just goes better when you have seven to accompany that, fellas, just so we can think about what God truly did for us there. And the spiritual kickoff episode this week unpacked that at length. And we're and other than that, fellas, you know, you can go to the linewithin.us and find all the resources. But I'm excited because with our new Fun Friday, we have our member spotlight. And this one, I I don't know how long Lonnie and I have known each other. It feels like forever, but uh no, it hasn't been, but since the beginning of the line at least. But we got Lonnie Maley who came in with us here, and I'm excited to for him to share with you guys because anytime I get a chance to be in a meeting with Lonnie, I leave blessed. I I can just tell you that. So, Lonnie, how you doing today, brother?

Lonnie Maley: 3:02

I'm doing good, doing great.

Chris Grainger: 3:04

Man, I'm so pumped to have you here. And uh just kind of get started for the listeners who don't know you. Just share a little bit about your background, like where you're where you're from, family, and and just your testimony.

Lonnie Maley: 3:16

Goodness, goodness. I I I live in Ohio and grew up in northern Ohio and uh was uh just had a good childhood, you know, small town living, that kind of thing, and and uh found me a girl that stole my heart, and uh her and I just ended up just serving the Lord and and she rescued me in a lot of ways. And so over time we we got together and and got married, and uh we have three beautiful daughters and some grandbabies, and and um that's our that's our life. Got into the ministry in the mid-90s, early 90s, something like that, seems so long ago, doing children youth ministry, and um did about 20 years of that, not quite 20, and then the Lord called me into mission work, and um it's by far one of the greatest runs of my life, you know, coming out of that and doing things where I get to do Jesus stuff, chasing Jesus, loving folks that love Jesus, and telling others that don't know Jesus about Jesus, right? And so uh it's hard work. I've been blessed to go multiple countries and and Haiti, and um so now I'm based in in the U.S. right here at home, and and uh, you know, the the harvest is plenty. I mean, right, the work stop, right? We need it's out there, we need the workers, and so I'm blessed and honored, man. And then the lions just uh it's just a feather in that cap, man. That's just uh another piece of the great puzzle.

Chris Grainger: 4:51

Man, it's so awesome. And I f I feel like Lonnie, every time when you're in this season for your mission work, like you travel all the time, brother. You're I mean, you are on fire. It's just I mean, Alaska, all over the place that you're going, right? Yeah, yeah.

Lonnie Maley: 5:05

Yeah, I'm I'm blessed. I used to to run and run and run and run and run. And so uh as I age and as I have uh grown in wisdom, uh I get to teach and raise others to do that. And I still get to be a part of it and travel a little less uh because uh uh because I have to. I travel more because I want to, and I just love to join teams and staff. I love to raise my staff and and love to care on them. So um that's that's my favorite part, not to mention the partners and the work we get to do, but but yeah, I enjoy watching others love on others, if that makes sense. Does in the mission it does, man.

Chris Grainger: 5:46

And and and last year, well, we've done two so far with you guys mission trips directly with praying pelican mission missions, and it's just it's been it shows me, man, like just being able to see you in the field and your team in the field and how things are. It's just you guys are it's a well-oiled machine. I know it's a lot of work in the background to make it look that way, but man, that's off to what you guys are doing.

Lonnie Maley: 6:09

Yeah, we we're blessed, man. We get to, you know, I think last year we had a little over 11,000 short-term mission people go out. We're about 40 locations around the world, and um about 20, I think, around the U.S. And um yeah, we're we're blessed to be able to see a cross cut of all kinds of folks, right? And and do different trips. Some run chainsaws like like you all did, others are just loving those little ones during Bible school. Yeah, right. Yeah, and and so it's all work, it's all the Lord's work. So um, yeah, I've been with Perry Belling for about uh 12 years, going on 12 years, and uh I got I got the best job in the world. I do. That's so cool, brother.

Chris Grainger: 6:54

And I I was trying to think before we started recording today, like, when how did we meet? Like, how did you find a lion?

Lonnie Maley: 7:01

I no, I was I was actually uh I was over in western Kentucky in the tornadoes. Uh-huh. I can't remember, it was 21, 22, whenever that was. Yeah. And um I was in a a missionary's house who was in the Philippines, and I was in the servant care house, and I was just assessing the needs, and I was pulling up podcasts and and different things, and in the quest, God knew exactly what he was doing. So I listened to a podcast or something, and somehow you reached out, or I reached out, or for more information or something, yeah. And and you and I talked, I mean, I could tell you in that I was sitting at the kitchen table in that house all by myself, and it was just like, and just that conversation inspired me, right? In that God's I'm I'm where God wanted me to be, you know, amidst all this devastation in Western Kentucky and Mayfield, Kentucky. And um I'm like, it was like this is awesome. Yeah. And but I was I was very blessed by that conversation. So I don't remember how many years ago they kind of go by quicker when my age they go pretty quick.

Chris Grainger: 8:14

They fly by when you're having fun. I just know we've had so many conversations and just a chance to serve together and with uh Hurricane Helene as well. And it's just been it's been a blessing, man. And and you know, you've been part, well, we were beta testing masterminds and trying to figure that out. You've been there through through all that, I guess you would say, stumbling and stuff that I was trying to figure out how we actually do it to now, to what we we actually have out there now. And and maybe just just share what's your experience has been with that that whole mastermind process, brother.

Lonnie Maley: 8:48

The whole mastermind process has just been kind of like like you said, back even before we even that became part of the regular conversation. It was like, what are next steps? Where's line going? And what we what are we doing? And I was like, I I love the idea of just the community is just is the core of it all. Christ in the center of that community, right? Guys of different different places in life. But the master ride to me is kind of a concentration on that. Like you get like-minded guys in the in the same spot. But anyway, when the master rides came about, it's like, okay, cool, because one of the things that you instilled in me just from our conversation is you said to me, You you empowered me in a way that's like, Lonnie, guys need to hear some of that wisdom that you have. And that was empowering to me. And it it blessed me in a way that's like, maybe I do have something to offer, but frankly, I'm in a mastermind where I'm learning, right? I I love to be where I'm learning more. Um, and I think it's kind of a common thing when it comes to the mastermind. You get into a group thinking, you know, um, you know, either I'm aware of this or that, but one thing that you come out is not only with the the camaraderie, but you're like, the more I learn, the more I realize I need to know and need to learn, right? Right. And so that's the greatest part, one of the greatest part to aspects of masterminds.

Chris Grainger: 10:10

Man, it's and it's been awesome just to see because you have so much experience, biblical knowledge for sure, but the life experience in you and the the world that you've lived in for 20 plus years of of ministry work, you know, just to man, you you bring so much to these guys, and I just what's been the most impactful for you though, of working through it? I'm just curious, like, where's it been the biggest impact on Lonnie?

Lonnie Maley: 10:35

On me, it is it's been the ability to be able to be part of a community that is um transparent. And for me, the the most moving thing is like there's guys in my mastermind now that are one travels in a motorhome, another one's in uh Nevada, you've got Louisiana, you've got all over the place. And but we're we function as if we live next door to each other. You know, we we've been texting all morning about a guy that has a need, and uh, you know, we're praying with him and all these other things, and and uh, but for me, it's just been it it fills a void, to be frankly honest with you, because sometimes in our churches today, everybody's allowed the the busyness card. They play the busyness card to stop and be with other folks, and not just for the fellowship aspect, but from like, man, I I need to glean from you, you know, and I and I'm way open to allowing if I have anything to offer you, right? I I'm blessed to let here it is, right? Take it, whatever you need. And but for the thing for me, it's just been the transparency and like I know there's guys out there, there's a guy on a boat in Louisiana right now that I know is praying for me today. Right. And that means a lot because you can walk into your church and not feel that. Yeah, right.

Chris Grainger: 12:02

Right.

Lonnie Maley: 12:03

So that's been probably the most impactful thing for me.

Chris Grainger: 12:05

Yeah, man. I mean, just that connection is what I see. Just these guys are they actually I mean, we we joke about it with in Lion. It's like there's no we don't we don't accept unspoken prayer requests, you know. Like don't don't bring that stuff, man. Like, no, just leave leave that for the blessed and highly favored folks. Like, just bring your real stuff, and I think that's what we see. And and it's because guys like you are intentional and you're transparent and you're you're actually and you we actually care. I think that's a that's this that's like the secret sauce is like you actually have to care about the other people, right?

Lonnie Maley: 12:40

Mm-hmm. Yeah, we talked a little bit about that in Bible study last night. It's like, you know, you walk into church every Sunday and say, people say, How you doing? And they're like, they're just fine. You say, Oh, I'm fine. When on the way to church, they was scratching and reaching over the back seat, fighting over who spelt the coffee at home. Like, you know, it's okay to say you're not fine, right? And man, the just the the ability to be able to say that is is is a release, if you will. For sure. Right. Because you know what, it never fails you're gonna find somebody that's been there, done that, and I know that's a cliche, but but it's I know you've been places that I haven't that I may be someday, and vice versa.

Chris Grainger: 13:23

That's right.

Lonnie Maley: 13:24

So let's let's just stop the nonsense, my my opinion.

Chris Grainger: 13:29

That's right, bro. That's right. What do you think has been some of the hardest part of the the mastermind group for the guys that are that are showing up?

Lonnie Maley: 13:39

Honestly, uh the I would say just say the hardest part is like it's not even a hard part, it's it's a desire, unfulfilled desire. And by that I mean you want to just be so part of everyone's life, right? Right? You want to be a helper, you want to be, how can I do this? How can I come to your house? Like what when you were down, it's like I couldn't get there to go clean stalls, I couldn't get there to do that sort of stuff when you were down, right? And that breaks your heart. So frankly, the hard hardest part is I mean, yeah, there's the commitment, there's that, there's I'm having a bad day, you know, I don't feel like hanging out, I just don't want to do nothing, I just want to sit and be mad. And the hard part is pushing through and getting in front of those guys and allowing them to love on you and that sort of stuff. But I think the hardest part is like we can't be even more part of each other's lives. At least that is for me, right? I wanna I wanna just be I don't care what anybody says, you can be the hardest man, whatever, blah blah blah. But you crave fellowship and camaraderie. Right. I don't care who you are. That's right, right? And that that's a need in today's day and age when you have when you're told not to be, when you're told to stay in your cubicle and stay in your lane, you know. Yeah. Um so sorry.

Chris Grainger: 15:12

You're all over it, bro. You're all over it. You know, and and when I started lying, you know, there were I was intimidated because of guys like you, because you have such a deep background in ministry in ministry. And how so how can I just curious for you personally, how has the lion impacted your walk? And if it hasn't at all, that's fine too. Like we'll just share it because I just I never thought in a million years that guys with your background, and you know, we got guys that are pastors, full-time pastors that are in there as as well. But like for you specifically, man, what's been the impact?

Lonnie Maley: 15:51

I'll tell you the impact has been multifaceted, and and one of them is you challenged us a year or two ago, I don't know how long ago, and you challenged us one time to ask our wives how we could pray for them. Right. And being almost I'll be married 40 years this year, and at that time I have never asked my wife that question. Now, I'm not saying it's this boy's walk the joke, as my dad used to say all the time, you know, but it's it's one of those things that you uh you you cracked open a part that was not I don't say not necessarily there, but was dormant or overlooked back to the stay in your lane sort of stuff, be the boss man, right? And but it has challenged me not just in my marriage, um you know, and the it's just the monumental things, and listening to other guys that have had some very traumatic lifestyles, how they walk with God, right? And then other guys that have life-changing injuries and issues in their life to where it just overnight their lives changed, and then I think about mine and the impact of mine is like oh my goodness, Lord, I am I am in a spot where I got a whole lot of work to do, and I need to, you know, I guess that's just the impact to me. It's an awareness of I have more to do, and I've it's in it's in there. I just gotta refine it and get it out.

Chris Grainger: 17:38

You you got it, brother. I remember that that challenge, and I remember us talking, and I'm not picking on you, but I remember you turned white almost white as a ghost when I brought down up, and I was taken off guard. I'm like, wait a minute, bro. You're you're like a professional Christian, man. You know, like like how is this challenging? You know, but it was it, but it's just a reminder, like we we gotta have those those types of conversations and relationships, and man, I'm just it blessed me too, bro. So I mean, maybe there's guys listening, man, to that that are not part of the community, they're not part of masterminds for sure. And I always try to for this new format, you know, if you would, if you could say one thing to that guy who's out there, who maybe he's alone, he's feeling isolated, he's he's struggling with with whatever he's struggling with, right? What would be your your challenge or your encouragement to him to take some action with the lion?

Lonnie Maley: 18:36

Yeah, um, goodness, there's uh I could go on about that, but don't be I would I would say to someone who's like, what about this lion? What you know, whatever. Um don't be so prideful enough that the group has nothing to offer you. Right? Don't be don't be so prideful. It's like going to church. Don't think that there's nothing in there for you, professional Christian or biblical scholar or whatever. You know, we should approach going to church on Sundays with the the hope of being broken open for something in God's word, right? So don't come thinking like there's no there's nothing there for me, it's just a bunch of guys and you know the old typical Saturday morning men's breakfast, right? It's don't assume that stereotype. But also don't think that you're so, I'm gonna use a term and it may not be the right one, but that's just who I am. Don't think that you're so rotten that you are not allowed to be here. Well, think that you're so broken that that there's people here that are gonna judge you for your brokenness, right? And there's everyone in between you and I could sit here for an hour and probably name guys that have felt that way on both sides of that spectrum, and and it's like, no, this you know, the line's important and then to me, you know, and it just is, and so it opens up uh a window, doorway, whatever, to like hey, there's other guys in the world just like me. So it's just dudes, man.

Chris Grainger: 20:21

Well, brother, it's it's better because of guys, because of you. I can tell you that. With without you there, Lonnie, uh, you you're just uh a blessing to me and so many of the guys. So man, it's been an honor just to have you on this and just being able to get the guys just a peek of who you are. And all and guys, you you only saw just the tip of the tip of the iceberg. I mean, Lonnie, he he's very humble, but he goes deep. And when he's talking, uh I'm taking notes. Guys are taking notes, and you've you've blessed so many guys out there, brother. So just just thank you for all you do. I'm the one that's blessed, man. I hear you. I hear you. Well, look, Lonnie, we're gonna we're gonna uh before we wrap up, we we always do a book of the week, guys. You guys know about that. So this week is this book by J.D. Waltz. Cool dude. Uh Lonnie, you like this guy. He used to be a country, he did uh a little singer, so he does like uh karaoke and stuff, but man, he started singing on the podcast, which was a new one for me. So it was uh it was cool though, but his book's called Romans from Sin Management Love Unleashed, and so get that one, fellas. And Lonnie, I got two dad jokes. I'm gonna try out on you, okay? I'm gonna see how these land, man. Uh so the first one, and they're both actually for for this one, I went with just biblical type dad jokes. I just I wanted to feel I want to see how I can make Lonnie laugh out the Bible. So it's like, all right, well, so what Was Moses' wife known as when she threw dinner parties? Uh she was the hostess with the Moses. So that that's that one. That's kind of corny. But anyway. So and the second one is how do you know that atoms, like the the little molecules, atoms are Catholic? Well, they have mass. Oh, see, so there you go, man. So uh all right, so gosh, you gotta let us know. That was the one. That was the one. Okay. That's my vote today. All right, fellas. Let us know one or two. You know, what is Moses' wife known as when she threw dinner parties? That's the hostess with the Moses. Or number two is how do you know the Adams are Catholic? Well, it's because they have mass. And look, fellas, you gotta remember the whole point of a dad joke is to get an eye roll or chuckle, or your wife can just turn around and walk off. That's how you know it's a good one, you know. So uh just just let us know if you if you got a dad joke you want us to use. The question of the week this week is where are you still trying to earn God's love? So we've talked about that with the book of Romans this week. So hopefully you guys, you know, just think about that. Uh, thelionwithin.us, all the stuff Lonnie and I talked about today, it's found there, fellas. So start your daily spiritual kickoff. That's a free way to connect with us. Join the Lion's Den or put in an application for the mastermind because that's that's where Lonnie is, he he's one of our facilitators as well. So maybe you'll end up in Lonnie's group. But guys, all of it's found at thelionwithin.us. So Lonnie, anything else you'd like to share before we wrap up today, brother?

Lonnie Maley: 23:16

No, man, I I'm just blessed, and I just can't emphasize enough what a blessing is to know you and the guys in the group, and it's just uh it's a big part of who I am, and I appreciate it so much.

Chris Grainger: 23:26

Amen, brother. Well, we're blessed because of you. So, fellas, thanks for listening. Thanks for hanging out with me and Lonnie today, and uh, you know what's coming right. Just keep unleashing the lion within. If you're like me, you don't need another book just sitting around collecting dust. What I enjoy is something to help guide me when my feet hit the ground in the mornings. And that is why we put together Unleashing the Lion Within. It has honest stories, scripture you can apply, and simple steps to help you lead at home, at work, and everywhere in between. So if you've been feeling stuck or scattered lately, you may find this resource encouraging. Read a few pages, take one step and watch what God does with your obedience. Hey, and if reading's tough for you right now, no problem. The book is also available in audible version so you can listen on the go. So if this sounds interesting, check out thelion within dot us slash book or search for unleashing the lion within directly on Amazon. So there's no pressure here, just a resource that many guys are finding helpful. So grab the format that fits and take your next step.