I have turned a new page in my life. My oldest child has started High School. Now I get to test all those theories I used to give as a youth pastor to parents of High Schoolers to see if they work or not. I am quickly learning that I know a whole lot less about parenting than I thought I knew. However, one of the things that I do is look to those who know a whole lot more about life than I. I want my kids to take the leadership qualities they naturally possess and develop them for the good of our home, their school, their peers, their coaches, their churches and ultimately the Kingdom of God. So, today, I am going to give you a devotion on developing people...It is called 12 Rules for Bringing Out the Best In People. Let me know what you think...
12 Rules for Bringing Out the Best in People
1. Expect the best from the people you lead
· When your authority doesn’t expect the best in you it doesn’t motivate you to
become anything.
· Think about the people who believed in you.
· When you Expect = “I Believe” When you Demand- “I Require”
2. Make a thorough study of the other person’s need
· Take care of their needs
· Make “deposits” in the “emotional account” before you try to “withdraw.”
3. Establish high standards of excellence
· Call for this…it’s worth it. Give everything to it.
· Your attitude and actions need to exemplify excellence in kingdom principles. Attitude and Action are two things YOU control.
· Don’t challenge someone to do something that you haven’t taught them to do or standards that you personally aren’t living.
4. Create an environment where failure is not fatal
· See past failure as what they “can be”
5. If they are going anywhere near where you want to go…Climb on the other person’s bandwagon.
· Figure out their interest and be their support (outside the field/court).
6. Employ “Models” to encourage success
· Point out names so individuals know who are doing it right.
· Whatever you reinforce will be repeated.
· Give them an invisible model in front of them to live up to. When expectations are high, people tend to try to reach them...
7. Recognize and Applaud Achievement
· Let them hear what they’re good at! Motivate them. Be specific. Don't blow smoke!
8. Employ a mixture of positive and negative.
· Celebrate attitudinal successes as much as other successes.
· More positive than negative yet sparingly, there needs to be some negative reinforcements. Coach John Wooden had a 12 to 1 good/bad ratio.
· If you want to give the negative reinforcement, you need to wait to give it.
9. Appeal sparingly to the Competitive Urge
· There is a positive peer pressure to be Godly…You live to the level of your competition.
· Iron sharpens iron.
10. Place a premium on Collaboration.
· We’re a team; we need each other.
11. Build into the group an allowance for storms.
Learn to prepare for the unexpected.
12. Take steps to keep your own personal motivation HIGH!!
· Books w/ authors who motivate you.
Prayer: My prayer for you today is that God uses you where you are to bring out the best in the people that God has placed in your care.
Scripture: Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. - NASB
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
GC Squared...
I heard this phrase this weekend from Coach Rod Olson. This little equation has stuck in my head and I can't get it out. I wish I could get it out of my head and have it embedded in my heart. Oh...what is it? What does it mean? Something that I have heard in church a million times and, truthfully, said a million times. It means the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. GC squared.
I have a relatively easy time with the Great Commandment. You know, Matthew 22:37
I mean, it can sometimes be difficult for us to give God all of our heart, soul, and strength. Especially when we have made the schedules we try to keep...note it is the schedules we have made. Now, keeping the Great Commission is a whole different ballgame.
It can be hard to love our neighbors. One thing I remember from my fraternity days in college was this..."You have to be a brother to have a brother." Now, don't get me wrong with all this, I am just illustrating a point. If you want to have a neighbor, you must first be one. What does this mean? It means we need to care about people and share Christ with them just as someone cared about me and shared Christ with me. We need to learn to love people like Christ loved people.
Love covers a multitude of sins...GC squared...
I have a relatively easy time with the Great Commandment. You know, Matthew 22:37
I mean, it can sometimes be difficult for us to give God all of our heart, soul, and strength. Especially when we have made the schedules we try to keep...note it is the schedules we have made. Now, keeping the Great Commission is a whole different ballgame.
It can be hard to love our neighbors. One thing I remember from my fraternity days in college was this..."You have to be a brother to have a brother." Now, don't get me wrong with all this, I am just illustrating a point. If you want to have a neighbor, you must first be one. What does this mean? It means we need to care about people and share Christ with them just as someone cared about me and shared Christ with me. We need to learn to love people like Christ loved people.
Love covers a multitude of sins...GC squared...
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Discussions on Salvation
Okay...so the last few days, I have had these discussions on "what it takes for someone to be saved..." You must first realize my spiritual background and that I grew up and am currently in a Pentecostal denomination. We constantly had altar calls, hands raised to signify we wanted to be saved, looked at our neighbor and asked the question, walked to the altar with our friends, had people lay hands on us and pray, the "repeat after me" prayer all in the name of becoming saved and experience the life changing salvation that knowing Christ brings.
With that said, I was asked, "What does the Bible say one must do to be saved?" Being highly trained, a graduate of a Christian College, an Ordained Minister and a student of the Bible...immediately my mind raced, in Sword Drill fashion, to Romans 10:9-10 where it says,
Romans 10:9 NIV - YouVersion.com: Online Bible: "9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
So, that posed the next question..."Do you have to go to an altar, repeat after me, raise your hand or really even pray a prayer of repentance?" Or is it more like saying the words, "I believe"? It has been an interesting few days to say the least. Now I am curious, what do you think?
With that said, I was asked, "What does the Bible say one must do to be saved?" Being highly trained, a graduate of a Christian College, an Ordained Minister and a student of the Bible...immediately my mind raced, in Sword Drill fashion, to Romans 10:9-10 where it says,
Romans 10:9 NIV - YouVersion.com: Online Bible: "9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
So, that posed the next question..."Do you have to go to an altar, repeat after me, raise your hand or really even pray a prayer of repentance?" Or is it more like saying the words, "I believe"? It has been an interesting few days to say the least. Now I am curious, what do you think?
Saturday, April 25, 2009
What if Everyone Served?
For the last few days, God has really messed me up. I have been dealing with a lot about the state of RFA (Rockwall First Assembly), the family at RFA and the direction that God wants RFA to go. One of the things that has consistently come into my spirit and I have to admit it is in the area of love. One of the things that concerns me is this…RFA has become “me centric”. In other words, we worry more about our own ‘internal’ problems, complaints, preferences, and criticisms, that we forget about those on the outsides of our walls.
Let me explain it to you this way…It all started with the television show, Extreme Home Makeover. Anyone watch that? I cry every time at some point during the show. Then, I added to this, the Bible study we did about feeding a child in Thailand that my wife led at our house. Put on top of this, I started reading a book entitled, Same kind of different as me by Ron Hall. Through all this, God is getting his message through to me…at least I believe. God has been doing a number on a person who is not real compassionate. I have a hard time understanding the necessity of taking care of our neighbors…
What I am learning is this…Love is the single most crucial element in the universe. It is what God asks of us. It is what He gives us…unconditionally. It is what we hopefully can have the fortune to find in our companion, family, and friends. It is carried out through our actions or lack thereof, our words, and ultimately our finances. Love covers a multitude of things…both right and wrong.
In fact, without love, one is lost and lonely. Jesus was quizzed on the 10 Commandments by the Sadducees and Pharisees and was asked which was the greatest commandments…his answer was recorded in Matthew 22…
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
I find it interesting that everything else in Scripture hinges on these two commandments…both have to do with love…I want to talk today about the question…What if everyone served with the same heart attitude that Christ served with? Let’s unpack that a little more today. What would that look like?
1. When I serve it best expresses the compassion of God to others.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son; that whoever shall believe in Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life. John 3:16
This type of compassion can become more of a competition if we let it. However, in competition, someone loses. That is not the case in knowing Christ…at least not for people. It is a loss for Hell. Then one day, a mother asked Jesus if her sons could sit at His right and His left in his Kingdom. The disciples were upset with the lady and Jesus knew it. He called them together and told them it was not for Him to decide rather His Father. He went on to tell them in Matthew 20..
"If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. I did not come to be served but to serve others; I came to give my life as a ransom for all." Matthew 20:26-28
God’s desire is that I’d be a contributor at my church, not just a consumer.
When you serve, it best expresses the compassion of God to others…
2. My serving is what keeps the ministries functioning properly.
Watch This is our new recruiter for servants at the church...just kidding.
"So the twelve apostles called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” Acts 6:2-4
My job is to be the servant. The pastor’s job is to be the equipper.
It is not about serving me, as your Pastor…its about serving the cause of Christ.
• When I serve it best expresses the compassion of God to others.
• My serving is what keeps His ministries functioning properly
3. When I serve, it helps me to become more established in my faith in a way nothing else can.
"God has called some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, to train the church how to serve so that they may become strong and mature in their faith." Ephesians 4:11-12
I ask why? Why did God give all of these different offices and even the one and the same offices? It’s a little thing called love. You see, when you are established in your faith, you realize that love is what covers everything.
In these past few weeks, I have come to realize that I have weaknesses that are more deep than just physical and mental weaknesses. I have spiritual weaknesses. They go deep. It hurts to see these, it is painful to experience these, it is not fun to admit these weaknesses. However, the only way that we can overcome these weaknesses is through faith in Him. Total surrender to Him. I don’t care if you have prayed a sinner’s prayer before or not, it is time for total surrender and getting back to the basics of Christ…Love for Him and love for others.
Pray: God, help us today to experience your love. Help us to realize that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Help us today to embrace your love, mercy and grace.
Let me explain it to you this way…It all started with the television show, Extreme Home Makeover. Anyone watch that? I cry every time at some point during the show. Then, I added to this, the Bible study we did about feeding a child in Thailand that my wife led at our house. Put on top of this, I started reading a book entitled, Same kind of different as me by Ron Hall. Through all this, God is getting his message through to me…at least I believe. God has been doing a number on a person who is not real compassionate. I have a hard time understanding the necessity of taking care of our neighbors…
What I am learning is this…Love is the single most crucial element in the universe. It is what God asks of us. It is what He gives us…unconditionally. It is what we hopefully can have the fortune to find in our companion, family, and friends. It is carried out through our actions or lack thereof, our words, and ultimately our finances. Love covers a multitude of things…both right and wrong.
In fact, without love, one is lost and lonely. Jesus was quizzed on the 10 Commandments by the Sadducees and Pharisees and was asked which was the greatest commandments…his answer was recorded in Matthew 22…
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
I find it interesting that everything else in Scripture hinges on these two commandments…both have to do with love…I want to talk today about the question…What if everyone served with the same heart attitude that Christ served with? Let’s unpack that a little more today. What would that look like?
1. When I serve it best expresses the compassion of God to others.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son; that whoever shall believe in Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life. John 3:16
This type of compassion can become more of a competition if we let it. However, in competition, someone loses. That is not the case in knowing Christ…at least not for people. It is a loss for Hell. Then one day, a mother asked Jesus if her sons could sit at His right and His left in his Kingdom. The disciples were upset with the lady and Jesus knew it. He called them together and told them it was not for Him to decide rather His Father. He went on to tell them in Matthew 20..
"If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. I did not come to be served but to serve others; I came to give my life as a ransom for all." Matthew 20:26-28
God’s desire is that I’d be a contributor at my church, not just a consumer.
When you serve, it best expresses the compassion of God to others…
2. My serving is what keeps the ministries functioning properly.
Watch This is our new recruiter for servants at the church...just kidding.
"So the twelve apostles called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” Acts 6:2-4
My job is to be the servant. The pastor’s job is to be the equipper.
It is not about serving me, as your Pastor…its about serving the cause of Christ.
• When I serve it best expresses the compassion of God to others.
• My serving is what keeps His ministries functioning properly
3. When I serve, it helps me to become more established in my faith in a way nothing else can.
"God has called some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, to train the church how to serve so that they may become strong and mature in their faith." Ephesians 4:11-12
I ask why? Why did God give all of these different offices and even the one and the same offices? It’s a little thing called love. You see, when you are established in your faith, you realize that love is what covers everything.
In these past few weeks, I have come to realize that I have weaknesses that are more deep than just physical and mental weaknesses. I have spiritual weaknesses. They go deep. It hurts to see these, it is painful to experience these, it is not fun to admit these weaknesses. However, the only way that we can overcome these weaknesses is through faith in Him. Total surrender to Him. I don’t care if you have prayed a sinner’s prayer before or not, it is time for total surrender and getting back to the basics of Christ…Love for Him and love for others.
Pray: God, help us today to experience your love. Help us to realize that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Help us today to embrace your love, mercy and grace.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Weekend of Champions Recap
Man, oh, man! What a weekend! The Weekend of Champions is over and it was a huge success. Lakeview Camp in Maypearl, TX, is an incredible place for a retreat like this. Close to 650 middle school students, Coaches, College Huddle leaders and staff all came together for the sole purpose of "Getting Focused". One thing that quickly stood out to me was the huddle leaders. If not for the huddle leaders, the camp would not function. They have a huge impact on the lives of the middle school student/athlete. However, when I try to figure out who the MVP is of this event, I also have to give careful consideration to the Huddle Coaches who got them there in the first place. Then, I think, maybe it is the staff of Dallas FCA...nah...
Then it hit me...Jesus! He is our MVP. Without Him, where would we be?
The Coaches were ministered to by Jeff Jacobs, Coach's Ministry Director. Oscar Roan hit the ball way out of the park. Destination Known led everyone into worship. MC Pdiddy had some nice witicisms. Bethany and Candice kept everyone in the proper medicated state. Shana and Noack were like the great puppetmasters they are. Chauncey and Santiago had a great team of Huddle Coordinators and all I had to do was make sure that Jaroy didn't kill any campers with his mad "trash" skills under the WOC Dome or the waterballoon launchers.
All in all, it was a great weekend. One that I need some recovery time from, but it was awesome. Oh yeah, if you haven't seen it yet, here is our opening video.
WOC Idol Video
Then it hit me...Jesus! He is our MVP. Without Him, where would we be?
The Coaches were ministered to by Jeff Jacobs, Coach's Ministry Director. Oscar Roan hit the ball way out of the park. Destination Known led everyone into worship. MC Pdiddy had some nice witicisms. Bethany and Candice kept everyone in the proper medicated state. Shana and Noack were like the great puppetmasters they are. Chauncey and Santiago had a great team of Huddle Coordinators and all I had to do was make sure that Jaroy didn't kill any campers with his mad "trash" skills under the WOC Dome or the waterballoon launchers.
All in all, it was a great weekend. One that I need some recovery time from, but it was awesome. Oh yeah, if you haven't seen it yet, here is our opening video.
WOC Idol Video
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Weekend of Champions
We are getting ready for a great weekend this coming weekend. It is Weekend of Champions time! Maypearl style! We have a great weekend planned for Middle School students from all over the Metroplex. I am going to get a little extra sleep beforehand because I know, I won't get it there. We are expecting close to 600 in total attendance. From coaches, huddle leaders and students, take time to say a prayer for us this coming weekend.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Legacy Builder's Study Group
I am so excited and humbled at the same time to be associated with the coaches in Crandall, TX. Coaches Aimee Hamsher, Rich Hamsher, Megan McCrummen and Deneice Blount are all doing an incredible job with the huddles at the High School and Middle School. We are starting a Legacy Builder's Study Group in March. What a Legacy Builders Study group does is takes a group of coaches and studies God's Word together. We will be following a study guide and will meet at the Crandall Cotton Gin. Our first meeting is scheduled for March 3 at 5:30pm. If you are in the Crandall area, feel free to stop in and say hi. If you would like more information on starting a group, feel free to email me at tmcmahan@fca.org
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