We wrapped up our series DISCONNECTED this week and we did so by answering your questions and discussing practical ways to apply everything we’ve been learning.
Read MoreUNDER PRESSURE - Disconnected, Part 3
It’s not enough to just worry about what I am SAYING.
I need to understand what others are HEARING.
You aren’t yourself when you’re hungry. That is true not only physically but emotionally as well. We all handle stress and conflict in different ways.
But based on our temperaments, we can understand some of the patterns that probably have plagued us for years and (hopefully) find ways to actively work on improving in those areas.
That’s this week’s message in part 3 of DISCONNECTED.
Read MoreWORDS WE NEED - Disconnected, Part 2
Every word you USE is a word you CHOOSE.
We’re in week 2 of DISCONNECTED and this week I invited two special guests to join me as we discuss the “words we need” based on our temperaments. The same words that motivate some, discourage others. The same words that some brush off quickly; others hold on to for years.
But the more we understand ourselves and those around us, the more we can speak to their needs and communicate more effectively.
Read MoreThe 4 Temperaments - DISCONNECTED Part 1
“Even though we’re all using the same words, we might not all be speaking the same language.”
We kicked off a new series yesterday and I was so excited about it, that I decided to invite a special friend to join me…MY WIFE!
Check out our latest series DISCONNECTED as we examine the unique ways in which God wired us, and how understanding those differences can help us communicate more lovingly and effectively with the people we love the most.
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A Story About Marriage
Today's post is one of the most powerful stories I've ever read about marriage (I didn't write it; I found it online). It's a bit long, but it's absolutely worth it. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Whether you’re single or married, I promise you, it's worth the four minutes it'll take you to read it. Trust me...you'll thank me when you're done.
Read MoreAnger Management, Part 5 - TAKING THE HIGHER GROUND
We wrapped up our series on ANGER MANAGEMENT yesterday and this week our topic was what to do about those “extra special” people in life - the ones that we really struggle to get along with.
These people make up about 5-10% of our total relationships but they probably consume to 90-95% of our emotional energy. What do we do with the people that push our buttons and we can’t seem to get along with.
Read MoreAnger Management, Part 4 - THE NEED TO PLEASE
I can aim to please people,
or I can aim to please God,
but I can’t aim at both.
We’re in week 4 of ANGER MANAGEMENT and in this week’s message, we are taking a look at one of the hidden causes of frustration/disappointment in our lives: PEOPLE-PLEASING.
How might your life look different if you truly didn’t care about pleasing others and only sought to please your Father in heaven?
Read MoreAnger Management, Part 3 - BOUNDARIES
Our goal isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule.
Our goal is GRACE and TRUTH.
That’s our main takeaway from Part 3 in Anger Management where we’re talking about boundaries: what they are and how to establish healthy ones in our relationships.
Unfortunately though we had a technical difficulty with our equipment during the first half of the message and the audio ended up being of very poor quality. My apologies to everyone listening. We did our best to salvage what we could and this is what we ended up with.
But if you stick with it through the first 24 minutes, the issue gets corrected after that.
My apologies again and thanks for your understanding.
Read MoreAnger Management, Part 2 - RESOLVING CONFLICT
“Your success in life is largely determined by your ability to resolve conflict.”
That’s what I believe. If life is all about relationships, then your ability to navigate through the inevitable conflicts is critical in terms of “winning” at life.
And that’s why we’re talking about how to resolve conflict in week 2 of ANGER MANAGEMENT. In this week’s message, I share both an overarching strategy about how to deal with conflict as well as four practical steps you can take today.
Read MoreAnger Management, Part 1 - IS THERE A RIGHT WAY TO GET ANGRY?
We kicked off a brand new series yesterday and the topic is one that we all need a little help with: ANGER MANAGEMENT.
St. Paul teaches us to “Be angry and do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26). How? Is that even possible? Is there a “right” way to get angry? If so, what would that be?
Join us as we journey along the path to discovering a God-honoring and God-pleasing strategy to deal with the inevitable bouts of anger that we all face.
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Why We All Need to Work on our Marriage
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6
Several years ago, I did something that I strongly encourage every married couple to do – I attended a Weekend to Remember marriage getaway hosted by FamilyLife. I had heard many good things about the getaway, but I had no idea how beneficial and needed it would be.
Marriage isn’t easy. Anyone who says it is probably isn’t married. We all dream about marriage and have ideas about what it will look like one day, but rarely does the reality ever line up with the expectation. That could be due to a myriad of reasons, but the point is that marriage isn’t easy. It's hard work and if you want to have a successful marriage, you’re probably not going to stumble upon it by accident.
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4 Characteristics of a Godly Wife
It’s hard to believe but next week Marianne and I will be celebrating our 18 year wedding anniversary. I know what you’re thinking - it’s hard to believe that two people who look so young have been married so long - trust me, we hear that all the time :)
So I thought it would be appropriate to repost something I wrote a few years ago about my wife and what it is that makes her the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. As you’ll see below, this isn’t to say that she’s perfect or we’re perfect; but it’s my way of sharing some of the specific characteristics that she brings to the table that have contributed to our success thus far.
Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Read MoreWHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? - Living Hospitality, Part 3
“Who is my neighbor?” A simple question with a not-so-simple response. This question was originally asked to Jesus in response to His command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (see Luke 10:27-29).
In our finale of Living Hospitality, we examined Jesus’ response and saw 3 potential “neighbors” that might be in our lives and in need of some hospitality right now.
Read MoreHospitality in the Church - LIVING HOSPITALITY, Part 2
Last week, in part 1 of Living Hospitality, we saw the importance for personal hospitality and how our hospitality is connected to judgment and the end times. This week, we look at how that same principle applies to US - the church.
What role does/should hospitality play in our weekly gatherings? What are the consequences if we do/don’t practice it? And what are some simple ways that we can make our churches more hospitable?
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The Foundation of Success in Every Marriage
I refuse to accept 50/50 in my marriage. No way. Not me. I know what the statistics say – that 50% of marriages end in divorce. And I know that the other 50% are mostly just sputtering along – keeping it together but not really finding the true intimacy and closeness that they each so desire. I know all of that. BUT I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT MY MARRIAGE WILL BE LESS THAN GREAT!
50/50 odds are not good enough for me. I want better for my wife, and for my kids, and most importantly, FOR MY SELF! I don’t want the same results as everybody else – and that is why I believe I must live differently than everybody else.
So with that said, I want to talk about what I believe is the most important factor upon which a successful marriage is built. There is one factor that I believe will contribute to your success in marriage more than anything else. This one commitment, if you keep it, won’t lead to a perfect marriage at all times – but it will certainly lead to one that is long-lasting and fulfilling for many years to come.
Read MoreConfessions of a Bible Powercouple, Part 3 - Abraham and Sarah
It’s Part 3 of our series Confessions of a Bible Powercouple and this week we’re looking at one of the most famous and well-known powercouples ever: Abraham and Sarah.
Abraham and Sarah are two GIANTS when it comes to faith. They’re known for their incredible trust in God. But was their faith always strong? Or did they ever falter? Did they ever have any moments of weakness?
YOU BET! And through their story, we learn some critical lessons about what it means to “trust in God.”
Read MoreConfessions of a Bible Powercouple, Part 2 - Ahab and Jezebel
We’re in Part 2 of our series on Confessions of a Bible Powercouple and this week we’re looking at one of the most common dynamics in marriage today: the PASSIVE husband and the CONTROLLING wife.
By looking at the story of Ahab and Jezebel, we see how that dynamic might play out and the results of neglecting to STEP IN to the role that God designed us for.
Read MoreConfessions of a Bible Powercouple, Part 1 - JACOB AND LEAH (and Rachel)
There's nothing quite like a juicy love story...the romance, the intrigue, the drama, and maybe a little scandal. In this series, we'll travel back in time and take a closer look at four famous marriages from the Old Testament. We'll see what lessons we can learn and allow their stories to speak into our lives to empower and enrich our marriages.
Up first: Jacob and Leah…….and Rachel.
Read MoreTHE SECRET TO HAVING MORE - Highlight Real, Part 4
“The secret to HAVING more is _________ more.”
Any guesses what that blank is? Well, in this week’s message, I share my thoughts on what the answer is. I believe that you can HAVE MORE and the secret to getting there is a lot simpler than you think.
What is it? Check out the message above and see for yourself.
Read MoreFINDING WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR - Highlight Real, Part 3
This week, in part 3 of Highlight Real, we have a special treat as we heard from one of our favorite guest speakers. Special thanks to my good friend Maryan Farag for joining us and sharing her thoughts on the subject of comparison and contentment - from a FEMALE perspective.
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