Super Bowl Rings and a Winning Church Culture
The picture above is me with my two Super Bowl rings and one NFC Championship ring. The smaller ones are from the Super Bowls XXXI and XXXII (1997 and 1998) during the Brett Favre era. We won in ’97 and…
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Would Jesus Be Enough If You Lost Everything?
If you lost it all, but still had Jesus, would Jesus be enough? This question has been nagging me like a bored child. I want to puff out my chest and say, “Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt.” It’s the right…
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How to Overcome the Fear of Preaching (or Preaching Nerves)
Do you have a fear of preaching? Or maybe you wouldn’t say it’s a fear, but your nerves are on edge. You are not alone. Public speaking is commonly listed as one of the greatest fears that people have. All eyes are…
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The Difference between Mormons and Christians
My family and I live in a city in Arizona with a high Mormon population. We have many Mormon friends and neighbors who we love. They are kind-hearted people with strong moral convictions. It naturally raises a lot of questions…
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A Quick Shift That Will Dramatically Improve Your Preaching
Like most pastors, I learned to preach through trial by fire. It was either sink or swim—and I mostly sank. Bible college taught me a lot of theory but no practice. I was taught what to preach, but not how…
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Mark Twain Stole Watermelons (Sermon Illustration)
Honesty is the best policy. In his book The 5 Levels of Leadership, John Maxwell quotes a story from the great American author, Mark Twain. In a speech on the value of honesty, Mark Twain once told this story: “When…
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How To Fast: 5 Questions to Ask Before Fasting
I haven’t eaten in three days. I’ve been drinking water and that’s it. This is the longest I’ve fasted yet. My previous record was one day. It has required a lot of mental strength, but I’m surprised that it’s been…
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Preach with a Limp, Not a Swagger
A split-second decision changed my life. In my early 20’s, I was in the semi-finals of a softball tournament, sprinting towards third base. Someone yelled, “Slide!” So I did. My left foot hit the bag and my ankle shattered with…
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A Melted Bible in the Wreckage of 9/11 (Sermon Illustration)
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, photographer, Joel Meyerowitz, spent nine months at Ground Zero, documenting the recovery and the wreckage. On March 30, 2002, Joel was taking photos inside…
