Somewhere between mortgages, marriage, kids, and careers, a lot of men stopped having fun with their friends. We often let serious things crowd out the one or two core friendships we truly need. Some of the best conversations between men happen shoulder to shoulder—on a chairlift, around a campfire, or with a fishing rod in […]
“You don’t know what you need until you need it.” “Gratitude is best as a state of mind, not just an after-the-fact reaction.” And, of course… “Look before you leap.” Tonight, all three apply to me. I just needed the speedy, strong and wise help of mountain patrol first responders at an epic chairlift-served downhill […]
Super Bowl Champion coaches are elite leaders. Seahawks Coach Mike Macdonald embodies the Level 5 Leadership Jim Collins described in his book Good to Great, It’s HUMILITY to serve and empower. It’s consistent and doggedly FOCUSED on the main thing driving mission success. While much of the “leadership” in today’ society demonstrates more arrogance, self, […]
Are you investing in a vital treasure available to us all? “Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods,” wrote C.S. Lewis. Friendship is a treasure. Unfortunately, for many of us, it’s a hidden treasure, because we invest so little in it. So little time. So little attention. So little of ourselves. But true friendship requires […]
Coasting along or continually improving…which do you want in your life? Most NFL viewers have seen clips of the Chicago Bears’ post-game locker room. After Coach Ben Johnson shouts out and gives game balls to his players, he rallies their passion to improve and win with this chant: Good, better, best Never let it rest […]
What should we think about and steward on this 250th American Independence Day? Fireworks and food? The joy of sport, camaraderie, and unity without obsession? Gratitude for soldiers lost, veterans, and those actively serving? Sure. But how about God’s blessing of the American Idea? My father, Jack Kemp, cherished it: “The American idea is that […]
Have pride, fear, or shame choked your friendships? I often say, “Build real friendships so you can open up.” Chris Harper at BETTERMAN ministry flips it well: “Open up so you can build real friendships.” Both are true. We can gain the courage to live this message by receiving Father God’s gifts of sonship, approval, […]
It seems like we’ve all been primed to take offense nowadays. It’s the age of victimhood, and calling out offenders and “oppressors” on social media (or anywhere). Of course, there have always been slights and injustices in our workplaces, social circles, or marriages, but digital platforms and communications have raised the temperature, making us hot-headed […]
Here’s a question to light a fire under you: Have you received the entire Gospel of grace—or just the half that feels good? Most men I know are grateful for forgiveness. We’re thankful that Jesus died on the cross to cover our failures and the sins of our past. But how many of us have […]
My first blog about the Super Bowl only highlighted the Jesus followers on the Seattle Seahawks. I might’ve shown a little bias for my former team and excitement at their epic season and win. So let’s balance things out. Quarterback Drake Maye and his Patriot teammates, who were on the losing side of the field […]
Back in my day, an NFL team could be a tough place to stay grounded and faithful to God and marriage. In a locker room of machismo, there was a “boys will be boys” mindset concerning lifestyle temptation. Sometimes, a culture of loose-living bravado grew as it did with the playboys of the Dallas Cowboys […]
The day after the Super Bowl, I wrote a blog about this year’s triumphant Seattle Seahawks and highlighted a few of the guys on the team who have talked about their faith. Afterwards, I thought more about the apparent trend that more players and athletes are boldly and extensively vocal about their faith than when […]
Have you ever obsessed over outcomes, results, and circumstances that hinge upon your performance? Has it ever messed you up? And, have you ever had the lucid realization that it was the dedication, faithfulness, and excellence you put into the process that mattered all along? Did you realize it was this focus that was the […]
Before I dive into football, here’s a CAVEAT and a SO WHAT? First, Christ-followers in football are flawed humans, not elite spiritual heroes a la Hebrews 11. Secondly, my WHY for this article is to encourage you and me to be inspired and prompted to live out the same principles I highlight in these players […]
Only one team can win the Super Bowl this year, and it’s not the 49ers. But most of us don’t play in the Super Bowl and may be better able to identify with and learn more from the 49ers than the winner. (I’m gung ho for my Seahawks, by the way). In the Divisional Round […]
As a quarterback who had to read blitzes to stay upright and read defenses to sustain drives and score points to win, I paid intense attention to our coach’s scouting reports of our opponents’ defensive schemes. I also studied my film and our offensive tendencies to correct and improve my play. Now, imagine yourself as […]
Would you have walked (to the locker room) with Tyler Loop? It was the biggest 5 seconds of Tyler’s athletic and professional life. The Baltimore Ravens’ rookie kicker stood poised on the field, ready to kick a game-ending 41-yard field goal that would not just win the game but send his team to the playoffs. […]
Discoveries by brain scientists, psychologists, and theologians are lining up. According to neurotheologian Jim Wilder and pastor Michel Hendricks, the human brain is always hunting for peace and joy. The chemistry and synapses of our brain reveal two consistent ways we experience them. One is when someone speaks positively of us through specific praise, appreciation, or […]
Part of our family arrived today to celebrate Thanksgiving and enjoy time together (and play at Gramma & Grampa’s). This week, let’s make our verbs bigger than cook, eat, and watch (football). Let’s aim our hearts toward God and one another. THINK gratefully about God’s magnificent, loving character. REMEMBER & DECLARE our Father made us, and […]
In my last blog, I talked about the importance of having your inner core group of deep Level 5 friendships. Part of that friendship is picking each other up. As Ecclesiastes puts it, “Two are better than one…If either falls down, one can help the other up.” Want some funny, and cute, evidence? The video […]
You don’t need a deep friendship with every guy in your life—and that’s ok! At a recent MEN HUDDLE Huddle Captains Convene, we talked about how Level 5 Friendship isn’t a system to turn every friend into an intimately close friend. It’s simply a clear guide to help you recognize your need for this deepest […]
