Overreaction Monday

As a lifelong Cowboys fan and sports talk radio junkie, I tend to live on a roller coaster after weekends in the Fall.  Randy Galloway terms this as "overreaction Monday." If the Cowboys win, they are the best team ever. If they lose, the sky is falling.

As a church leader, it is tough to not overreact when an event doesn't go as I planned. When attendance is down, the sky is falling. When the altars are full of people crying out to God, it is the best feeling ever. The question is how do you deal with the overreaction roller coaster.

Ask yourself:
1. Are you being faithful in what God has called you to do?

    Should we be concerned with results? Yes!!!! However, our feeling of worth or value should not be tied to the results.  Our job is faithfulness. When we get our eyes on results, we end up thinking more or less of ourselves than we should.

2. Did you give your best?

   God did not call us to coast. As a young youth pastor, I heard Jeanne Mayo say her philosophy of minstry was "Pray your guts out! Work your guts out! and Love their guts out!" Did you work your hardest or did you try to get by?

3. What can you learn from the experience?

   I believe in evaluation.  If your Sunday is a win, what could you do to make it better?  If your event was a flop, what worked or didn't work? If there was something great, build off it next time. If an idea bombed, own the mistake and move forward.

4. Are there outside circumstances that impact the event?

  Every town has a different culture. For example, in small town Texas, you probably don't want to plan a major event during the county fair or homecoming week.  There are things you can't control, like weather, that will have an impact. There are things that happen on a regular basis.  As a youth pastor, I need to no when the standardized tests and other school events occur because that could impact the attendance to an outreach event.

Be encouraged! Do what God has called you to do! Be faithful! Remember, he's the only judge that matters. Live for His pleasure!

Top 5 Books I've Read Lately

Right now, I am reading a lot for several reasons.
1. I am working on a Master's in Christian Leadership.
2. My Pastor invests into the life of our leaders and gives us assigned reading.
3. I am a part of the Champions of Honor Men's Bible Study at our church.
4. There were several books I wanted to read that were not assigned elsewhere.

So, here are the top five books that I've read lately (in no particular order)

Maximizing Your Effectiveness by Aubrey Malphurs

This book helps an individual to discover their divine design.  It will be a resource that I go back and use with potential leaders to help them discover how God created them.

The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

This book is incredible.  Batterson is one of my favorite authors and he knocks it out of the park with this instant classic on prayer.

Influencer by Patterson, Greeny, Maxfield, McMillan and Switzler

This book had incredible stories that illustrated how to be an influencer of a change agent.

Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge

This book challenged me.  I encourage every believer to use this as a devotional book.

I Blew It by Brian Dollar

This is an incredible book written by my friend of 28 years, Brian Dollar.  I was honored to write an endorsement that appears in the book.  However, that is not why this is a great book.  This is a great book because Brian shares his mistakes and the lessons he learned from them.  If every church leader would read this book and apply the lessons, then they would experience a lot less heart ache.  His stories are hilarious and the book is well written.  You can pick up your copy at www.highvoltage-kids.com

I want to challenge you to never stop learning!  Keep reading!

Show Me Your Glory

A cry of desperation

Wanting More

Needing More

The longing in the heart that cannot be satisified by anything or anyone.....except Him.

God can do more in a moment that we can do in a lifetime.

Only he can truly satisfy the hunger in your heart that you try and fill with things and people.

Moses was at a crossroads.  God had called him to take the children of Israel to the Promised Land.  Moses was desperate. He knew within himself He was not capable of accomplishing the mission God had entrusted him with. Yet, he knew God was more than able.

So, he made one request.  If you're presence doesn't go with us, then do not send us from here. God granted His request.

Moses made one more request - "Show me Your glory."

That is the cry of my heart right now.  I want to be lost in the presence of God. 

God, Show me Your glory.

I didn't get anything out of worship today!

Have you ever made the statement "I didn't get anything out of worship today" or something similar?

Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Life, said "If you have ever said, 'I didn't get anything out of worship today,' you worshiped for the wrong reason. Worship isn't for you.  It's for God....there are benefits to worship, but we don't worship to please ourselves. Our motive is to bring glory and pleasure to our Creator."

We should come to God with a desire to give, not a desire to get. My Jr. High discipleship group discussed this on Sunday night. We decided that if worship is about God and not us, then it shouldn't matter the songs we sing or the style of the music. If worship is about God, then our concern should be what songs does He like. I heard Lindell Cooley say that when he makes a worship list that he asks God what He would like to hear. I have adopted that prayer as a regular part of my worship list preparation. 

I challenge you the next time you are in a worship service to remember you are singing for God.  Be blessed, my friends. 

Rusty

The Tragedy at the Ballpark

I remember my first Major League Baseball game. My parents took us to see the Texas Rangers play in the old Arlington Stadium. I remember walking in and the giveaway was a pair of Rangers Shorts. I don't remember how old I was. I don't remember who won the game. I remember the moment. It is engrained in my subconscious. I remember other games with my parents as well. Like seeing Pete Rose and the Reds play in the Astrodome when I was 12....Pete Rose had less than 25 hits to go before he broke Ty Cobb's Hit Record. On my 16th Birthday, our church went to see the Rangers play. Nolan Ryan was the starting pitcher. How's that for a Birthday Present!

In May of this year, I took my girls to their first Major League Baseball game. We were in the Houston area for Sasha's graduation. So, we decided to take in a game at Minute Maid Park. We walked in and were given Pink Tote Bags (the Astros were promoting Breast Cancer Awareness). We found our seats. We enjoyed the Hot Dogs and Nachos...the sights and sounds of the game...the fight that broke out in the stands one section over from us...oh the Memories. The girls loved it. I loved watching them and soaking in the experience with them.

Last night, as the news of Shannon Stone's fall and subsequent death came across the twitter feeds and ESPN Bottom Line, my heart went out to his family. This child had a dream come true moment as the reigning MVP tosses the Ball into the stands and his Dad makes a move to get the ultimate in souveneirs for his son. I would've done it for my kids. My heart is broken today....for the loss of life....for the loss of a Father....for the loss of a husband.

Although I didn't know Shannon Stone or his family, I am compelled to pray for his wife and his Son. I believe in a God that brings a "peace that passes all understanding." I'm also praying for Josh Hamilton...who did something every Major League Baseball player does on a regular basis only to have it result in an accident that leads to a man's death.

Will you join me in praying for these families?

One Thing

What is the one thing that keeps you awake at night?
What is the one thing that you look forward to?
What is the one thing that makes you smile?
What is the one thing that captivates you?
What is the one thing that you would give your life for?

I believe we all have one thing. That one thing is a dream.

Something to pursue....to strive for....to live

Find your one thing and pursue it.

A couple of great books on dreams are "The Dream Giver" and "Dream Cycle"

What is your one thing?

It's been awhile.....

First off, sorry for the lack of posts lately. I am looking at redesigning the blog in the next few days. Look for regular updates...

What's been happening.

1. Today's my 38th birthday! Love my family and friends that have helped made it special.

2. Thanks to my boss, Pastor Jimmy White, for taking me out to Buffalo Wild Wings for my birthday! :)

3. Sasha graduated last weekend from Lamar University. I'm super proud of her. She graduated with her Masters of Education in Administration.

4. We're gearing up for a busy summer.....camp, district council, vbs, vacation, etc. :)

5. Can't wait for the Mavs game tonight. :)

6. Kenzie is playing T-Ball...she has two more games left.

7. Mady made the A-Honor Roll for the entire year. I went to her end of the year assembly today where she received her medal for her achievement.

More to come soon.

Blessings on you all,
Rusty