Everything I do is Pointless, I want to do Something with Purpose

Ever feel like this? I know I have. When I was 18 I started interning at my church. It was an unpaid internship and I had no  idea what to expect out of the behind the scenes work at a church. For almost a year the biggest responsibility I had was washing pitchers of water and organizing bins for youth group. That’s what everyone dreams of when they think of working at a church, right?

“God is more concerned about developing your potential than you are!”

I would sit in meetings and hear my mentor delegate “significant” tasks to the rest of the team only to end with looking at me and saying, “Bubs, organize the bins and wash the pitchers.” After two months of that, I had enough. So when my mentor left for his 8 week sabbatical, I e-mailed him telling him I quit. I didn’t sign up to work for free and wash pitchers.

He got me in contact with another mentor and had him talk to me. He said, “Bubs, have you prayed about this?” Of course I hadn’t. He said, “Give God a chance to speak to your heart, if you come back and still don’t want to, then quit.” God had one chance – if he didn’t speak to me in my devotions, it was over. I opened to Isaiah 49:3.4:

³ He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” ⁴ I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;I will trust God for my reward.”

This verse changed my life forever. I felt like my work was useless, done for nothing, and for no purpose. YET…I leave it in God’s hands – I trust Him for my reward.  I developed this mentality and decided to stick with the internship.

One Thing Leads to Another

For an entire year, I set up bins faithfully every week. At the end of the year, I got asked to give my first offering. I started getting more responsibility. I interned a second year and at the end of my second year, I got asked to speak for the first time ever. Which led to more speaking engagements, more responsibility, and eventually 4 years after I interned, I got hired on staff at my church.

What Would Have Happened if I Would Have Quit Because I thought Everything I did was Pointless?

I wouldn’t be writing this, I wouldn’t be on staff, I probably wouldn’t be living for God. My Conclusion? God has you where you are for a reason, for your development, and if you’ll learn to trust Him for your reward instead of people, in His timing, He will promote you and allow you to do great things for Him, but first, you have to be faithful in the things that seem absolutely worthless.

Book Review: Linchpin: Are You Indipensible? (A Must Read from Seth Godin)

Seth Godin is definitely a linchpin. He is indispensable. Why?  He knows he has something of value to offer to the world. Because of this knowledge, he ships -> he gives what he has to the world, and as a result thousands of people and organizations are in a better place. If he didn’t give what he has away, it would be to the detriment of all of those people and organizations. This makes Seth indispensable.

This book will at least give you the inspiration and motivation to become indispensable, of course,what you do with the knowledge gained through this book is what will actually matter. My summary of the book: Stop doing things that anybody else could do, and start doing things that will make you stand out, that make you indispensable. To do anything else is a waste of your talent, time, and to be honest, your life.

This was one of the best books I’ve ever read. If you’re plan on doing anything with your life, including actually having a job, you need to read this book.

Final Grade: 10/10   Buy It Here: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Here are some of my highlights:

• You can train yourself to matter.

• The only way to grow is to stand out, to create something worth talking about, to treat people with respect and to have them spread the word.

• “Not My Job” Three words can kill an entire organization.

• What They Should Teach in School Only two things: 1. Solve interesting problems 2. Lead

• If you can’t be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.

• If you don’t have a résumé, what do you have? How about three extraordinary letters of recommendation from people the employer knows or respects? Or a sophisticated project an employer can see or touch? Or a reputation that precedes you? Or a blog that is so compelling and insightful that they have no choice but to follow up?

• The linchpin says, “I don’t want a job that a non-linchpin could get

• ”A day’s work for a day’s pay (work <=> pay). I hate this approach to life. It cheapens us.

• It’s okay to have someone you work for, someone who watches over you, someone who pays you. But the moment you treat that person like a boss, like someone in charge of your movements and your output, you are a cog, not an artist.

• I think the discipline of shipping is essential in the long-term path to becoming indispensable.

• If you are working only for the person you report to according to the org chart, you may be sacrificing your future.

• If your agenda is set by someone else and it doesn’t lead you where you want to go, why is it your agenda?

• Linchpins don’t need authority. It’s not part of the deal. Authority matters only in the factory, not in your world.

• Mentoring is rarely about the facts of the deal (the facts are easily found), but instead is a transfer of emotion and confidence.

• When you meet someone, you need to have a superpower. If you don’t, you’re just another handshake.

Book Review: Promotion!

This book was given to me by a mentor – I loved it! I really enjoy reading Rick Renner’s books. While this book is titled “Promotion – Ten Guidelines to Help You Achieve Your Long-Awaited Promotion”, it also serves as a great tool for scouting, recruiting, and hiring potential leaders. This book is basically a picture of what a Godly leader’s life should look like. I’m going to use this book on a consistent basis to evaluate my life, my leadership, and in evaluating our leaders in our ministry.

If you want to go into ministry, excel in your workplace as a Christian, or if you oversee anyone in any capacity, I’d make this book a must read for you! I hope you enjoy it!

Final Grade: 9.5/10      Buy it Here!

Here are some highlights:

• Jesus said when choosing someone for leadership, we are to consider the fruit in his life.

• Nothing should be done better than the way a Christian does it

• Any person who does just the required minimum should never be considered for leadership.

• You may be able to preach a good message, but if you can’t effectively communicate with your followers, you’ll never be able to build a church or an organization.

• Public ministry begins in a person’s private life

• Your influence is only as strong as your personal life

• Nothing is more powerful than a message backed up by a life

• If I am to be a good leader, I have to realize that my decisions affect many other people’s lives.

• If a person interrupts you, argues, and wants to defend himself, it’s usually a sign that he has a difficult time submitting to authority.

• Time is a great revealer of who people really are

• One of the marks of an upcoming leader is that they have already made themselves essential to the organization

What My Friends Have Been Teaching Me Lately

Isn’t it amazing that friends can change our lives just by something they say mid conversation? That happens a lot to me! Here are some sweet things my friends have taught me without even realizing it:

Zack Blair - “Surround Yourself with People that Scare You”- This has helped me so much – get people around me who know so much more than I do that they scare me and have them invest in me. It’s taking me to another level.

Chris Martin - “Be the best ____ (Your name or ministry) “Bubba Smith” You can Be - It’s so easy to try to be those you idolize isn’t it? I’m learning who I am and how to become the best Bubba I can be, regardless of what others think.

Mike Steidel - “Be a Great #2″- Being a youth assistant puts me in a support role of my pastor. I’m really enjoying learning how I can add value to him by serving him and being a great number 2 guy.

Laura Steidel - “You’re Loved for Who You Are, Not What You Do”- This is changing my life. So often, I try to cover up insecurities in my life by accomplishing things. It’s very hard for me to find my value in who I am, instead of what I do, but I’m determined to get there!

Nathan Hurst - “What are You Doing to Making Yourself Indispensable?” – I’m recognizing that I’m moving beyond a level in leadership where I can just lead by passion. I need to start developing skills and actually build teams, people, etc. in order to take the next step. I’m excited for this next season!

What have your friends been teaching you?