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Winterfield Concert

Russell Martin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:59:34 +0000

Thanks so much to the congregation at Winterfield UMC in Longview for having me out. We ate Thanksgiving dinner and I shared some music.

The Setlist.. pretty much stuck to it

The set up… this has become pretty standard.. Bose sound system makes it so easy.

Guitar looks kind of lonely back there.

When is the last time they fed you a complete Thanksgiving dinner before you sang?

I invited the kids up to sing “Hey I Love Jesus” although this kind of looks like a version of “Baby Shark”

We got the “Oh how He set me free!” part together though! Thanks guys!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Russell’s Mobile Blog

Moving Day Approaches

Russell Martin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:10:10 +0000

The last few weeks have been an exciing time for my wife and I. We are now in the final stages of purchasing our first house. Please continue to pray for us as closing day approaches.
I know that owning a home will come with many challenges. I know moving will have it’s share too. This is why I am asking for your help.
What are the things you wish you knew when you were moving into your first home? What are some tips you discovered that you could share? What would you do differently?
Hopefully your comments will not only help us but also others who are approaching this same point in their lives soon. I look forward to your responses. Thank you!

My Shared Items 11/02/09

Russell Martin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:56:43 +0000

Each week I receive posts from over fifty different blogs. I collect and read them on Google Reader and thought you might benefit from some of the things I am reading. So here are some of my favorites from this week.

In Happy Hallow…. Harvest Festival, Michael Buckingham talks about ways to use Halloween as an opportunity, not a stumbling block. Yes I know it’s a little late, but file it for next year.

One of my favorite new blogs to follow is Michael Hyatt’s Blog. On 10/30 he shared a guest post from Margaret McSweeny on 12 Strategies for Leadership Success.

And finally TechCrunch, Pandora now offers integration with Twitter and Facebook

If you like, you can subscribe directly to my shared items on google reader.

Also if you have a blog to suggest, please put it in the comments below.

Criticism and Praise

Russell Martin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:56:50 +0000

I was reading through the google shared items of Michael Hyatt, and ran across an entry he had shared called False Praise and Distorted Criticism by Pete Wilson. Read the whole post, but I wanted to share one thing that the Pete said.

Don’t waste your time listening to false praise or distorted criticism. The praise will go straight to your head and the criticism will go directly to your heart. Both will lead you astray and both will damage the work God is doing in you and through you.

Wow, how true that is. I can point to many times in my life when false praise has blown my head up. I also look back at times where I let criticism crush me. At both points I was worrying about, or basking in what others said about me, and took my focus off of Christ and his work through me.

As Christians, we need to remember that our purpose and our worth comes from Christ.

Help Me Choose Christmas Instrumental Reflection

Russell Martin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:08:46 +0000

I have very much enjoyed composing and posting the first 9 instrumental reflections I have shared with you. If you have been listening you know that some of the songs are original compositions, and some are original takes on old hymns. Most were chosen because they are my favorites, or say something to me, as I hope they have to you.

I thought it might be a good change though, to give you a chance to choose the instrumental reflections for Christmas. Over the next 6 weeks I plan to record 8-10 Christmas Hymn variations. I plan on writing them on Friday, so each week, from Monday-Thursday I’ll be taking suggestions. I will write a post on Monday asking for your ideas. Leave a comment on that post as to which hymn you think should be that weeks reflection and why. On Friday I’ll choose two and record them. If your’s is not chosen the first week be sure and suggest it the second week and so forth.

Each week I will also draw one name at random from those who entered. At the end of the recordings I will make a CD with the recordings and send them out to those winners.

Rule: Only one suggestion per person, per week. That way one person doesn’t just list all the Christmas songs ever written.

Ok.. sound good?

Lessons Learned from My Dogs- #1 Let It Go

Russell Martin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:18:56 +0000

I have 4 dogs and a cat. Each one has their own personality and quirks and I love them all. The amazing thing is that for the most part they all get along, even the cat. What has suprised me though is how, by watching them interact, I have learned some really great lessons.

I thought I would take a chance to break from my usual posts about chords, or music, or worship, to share some of these insights with you from time to time.

This evening we were sitting in the living room watching tv. As usual Jaeda our Cocker Spaniel was on the back of the couch, Ultra had claimed the love seat and Honey, the Lab/Greyhound was laying in the middle of the floor chewing on a nylabone. That’s when Mia, the fourth dog, walked right up to Honey, put her mouth on the nylabone and took it away. Mia walked away about five feet, laid down and began to chew on her recently stolen treasure.

I know if that had happened to me I would have done one of two things. Either gone over and taken it right back, or gone and complained to a higher authority about how something had been taken from me and it wasn’t fair.

So what was Honey’s response? Honey looked at Mia, then got up, walked over to the “toy” box and picked out another chew toy. She did not growl, she did not whine, she just moved on. She could have held on and fought but she just let it go.

What did I learn? Sometimes it’s best to just let it go. I recall this verse from 2 Timothy.

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:23″

As I look through my day I can see countless times where I get into a discussion or argument that really doesn’t matter in the end, when the best thing for me to do would be to get up, go find something else, and just let it go. Earlier in the verse 4 it says:

“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.”

Before getting involved in one of these discussions, or arguments I really need to ask, “Does getting involved with this have anything to do with what God is wanting me to do? Does it please Him?” This question even cuts out those things that may not be harmful, but just are not relevant to me or my ministry or my calling.

So my question to you. How much of your day is spent in discussions, arguments or quarrels when it would really be best to just walk away and let it go?

Why is this important to do?