How To Respond To Criticism

Criticism can be one of the most distracting & destructive forces in your life. If you're not careful, it will derail you from focusing on your purpose!

At our church, we've been studying through the Book of Nehemiah. This is a story of how God broke Nehemiah's heart for the state of the city of Jerusalem. The walls around the city had been destroyed and left in ruin. The city was in trouble and God put it in Nehemiah's heart to rebuild the walls. As with any large task, Nehemiah and the Israelites would end of getting criticized from some local leaders who didn't want to see the work completed. This happens more than once in the Book of Nehemiah, so I thought it would be interesting to see how he responded.

So how should we respond when we receive criticism? 

1. Pray. Nehemiah's response throughout chapter 4 is prayer (Neh 4:4-6 & 9). He relied so heavily on God's voice that it was automatic. If it were up to me, I might choose to dwell on it. This is such a big mistake! When we take our eyes off the mission and dwell on criticism, it is impossible to be Spirit-led! We ought to be laser-focused on God's mission for our life! Having said that, I know it's difficult to be so focused that you never get caught off guard. Maybe even impossible. That's why we ought to cultivate a life that is dependent on our relationship with God. I heard someone say recently, "Our reactions are more telling than our actions." Nehemiah's knee-jerk reaction was to pray. We should, too.

2. Remember your values. So many of the tough decisions of life can be boiled down to the lowest common denominator if you know your values. Your values are the things you care about; they are the beliefs that act as guardrails for your life. These are tightly-held core principles for which you'll take a bullet. When you are intimately acquainted with the values that inform your decisions, you can easily parse out the difference between meaningless criticism and helpful advice. Well...maybe it's not easy, but you get my point.

3. Consider the source. Does this person know you? Love you? Have your best interest at heart? It's possible that this person is just tossing out a drive-by criticism and they don't care about you. These aren't the people that are supposed to be shaping your identity. However, sometimes, we need to hear a loving rebuke from a friend. Proverbs 27:6 says it this way: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." Don't turn a deaf ear to the constructive criticism of a trusted friend.

4. Make adjustments if necessary. If it makes sense, aligns with your values, and comes through the avenue of a trusted friend, now it's time to make course corrections. If your friend is wise, they'll also be prepared with a possible solution. After all, what good is a problem without a few potential solutions? We make adjustments that align with our values so we can push toward a healthy future. 

This all seems so obvious. Even as I'm writing, I'm thinking about how this isn't really groundbreaking. But isn't it true that, when we're in the middle of a crisis, our vision is blurred? Sometimes, all it takes is a trusted friend to look at our life from a birds eye view. They can see the lay of the land more clearly than we can. We can't see the forest for the trees.

At any rate, we can't go walk through life and completely avoid criticism. We are sure to come against it at some point in time. If you're a leader, this is especially true. We walk through these principles as leaders, because our work is too important. Leader, we need you to stay focused! What's at stake is simply too important. Hopefully, these principles will help you as you walk through this in the future!

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
— Aristotle

 

 

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [July 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

Conquering Columbus Podcast - A little bit of hometown pride on this one! The goal of The Conquering Columbus is to share the stories of those who make this city so exciting. These stories cover people with success in athletics, business, medicine and beyond! It's been fun to listen to this one as I learn more about what makes Columbus so great.

Revisionist History - This is Malcolm Gladwell's podcast. Need I say more? If you've read Outliers, The Tipping Point, Blink, or David & Goliath, you know why anyone would add this to their list. Malcolm is brilliant as he reinterprets events from the past to find new meaning from an overlooked past.

The Village Church - Sermons - Matt Chandler, the Lead Pastor at The Village Church, has been a mentor from a distance to me for several years now. I have to say that my respect level for this man has always been really high. He's a great Bible teacher with an obviously-pure heart for the Kingdom. If you want to know more about the Bible or Christianity in general, this is a great place to start.

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [June 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

This Is Your Life with Michael Hyatt - I've been reading Michael Hyatt's blog for years, so when he started a podcast, I was an easy sell. There may not be another person out there that's pumping this much practical leadership wisdom out week after week. He's always offering tools and resources to help you accomplish your goals. Indispensable leadership wisdom here!

Unexplained - If you grew up loving Unsolved Mysteries, you'll love this one. It's all about real-life mysteries. This is a new one for me, but it's a great break from the leadership/sermon stuff for me.

Ben Greenfield Fitness: Diet, Fat Loss and Performance - This comes as a referral to me from Scott Ward, who is a lot more physically fit than me! This has been super educational with his advice on exercise, diet and wellness. Find more at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [May 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes - Pete is also a comedian, but couldn't be more different than Maron. Way more giggly and with a more nuanced religious upbringing, he is able to tap into something different in his interviews. For those of you coming from a religious background, this fact alone will fascinate you: Pete was on his way to becoming a youth pastor, but walked away from his faith and became a comedian. And now that he's out of the rhythm of going to church, he's able to do something that we church people struggle with: talk about the real issues. He doesn't shy away from anything!

It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Podcast! - This is a podcast all about comic books and super heroes. I'm not a comic book fan, but I still love to listen to this one. If you're even just a fan of comic book movies, this is a great podcast that will provide a lot of fun backstory that you might not be familiar with on some of the stories on the big screen.

5 Leadership Questions - Barnabas Piper and Todd Adkins interview the most influential leaders in the church today. The best part...everyone gets asked the same 5 questions! Good stuff here!

 

Cox Family Year In Review // 2010

I love looking back on family memories more than almost anything in this world. So why did it take me so long to make a video of 2010?

I literally have no good answer. 

I honestly started in the middle of 2011, when I realized that Kipton (born April 2010) was growing quickly and I wanted to remember everything. So I started...in 2011.

It was time to make it right. So I'm kicking it all the way back to 2010 to show you how our family went from two kids who got married to two kids who had a kid.

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [April 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

The Tim Ferriss Show - Tim is the best-selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek. His podcast is a new referral to me, so I've only listened to a few interviews, but this is gold! So far, my favorite interview has been Episode #207 with Brene Brown. Good stuff!

The Road Back To You: Looking At Life Through The Enneagram - What the heck is an enneagram??? The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. The hosts of this podcast, Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile, are also the authors of the book by the same title, "The Road Back To You: An Enneagram Journey To Self Discovery." This podcast has been super helpful in helping me as I have just taken my first peek at the Enneagram. It's worth looking at for sure!

Woodland Hills Church - Greg Boyd, Lead Pastor at Woodland Hills Church, is a lightning rod of sorts. I learned about Greg from my friend Jay Newman (who is also a lightning rod of sorts). Greg is the author of several books, such as Benefit Of The Doubt, Letters From A Skeptic, Myth Of A Christian Nation, God At War, among others. Greg doesn't fall in line with mainline beliefs, but he always provides a Biblical basis for his thoughts. I've appreciated listening to him for his passionate point-of-view that challenges some of my long-held beliefs (by now, you know I don't mind putting my beliefs to the test to see if they truly are biblical).

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [March 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

The Entreleadership Podcast - This is quickly becoming my favorite leadership podcast. They interview some of the most influential people. With Ken Coleman as a great host and constant wisdom from Dave Ramsey, every episode is a can't-miss. If you're a leader in any capacity, subscribe to this one immediately!

The Grind - This is a brand new podcast from the guys at the State Convention in Arkansas (Dave McClung and Chad Grigsby) on the church planting team. They do great interviews, share church planter stories, and reflect on books that have been impactful. Really good for church planters!

North Point Community Church - Andy Stanley is the Lead Pastor of North Point. He's been a long-distance mentor to me since I was a teenager, when my youth pastor handed me his book, Next Generation Leader. He is simply one of the most engaging communicators I've ever heard, so I find myself listening to Andy constantly.

Cox Fam // 2016

I grew up with a family who valued home movies. This means that we captured me on Christmas morning, verbally upset that I didn't get the specific toy that I asked for (I know...I deserve to die).

As I get older, I'm growing more and more aware that my memory is foggier and foggier. So I keep the camera out as much as possible. And every year, I compile a January to December video and edit it down so we can get a quick glimpse into what the year looked like. 

In our home, we actually end up watching them often. It keeps us connected to where we've been, how we've grown and what all we've experienced. Watching these movies, for me, is one of the great reminders of what is most important in life: my family.

It's not professional, but it's us. And I love us!

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [February 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast - Marc is a comedian with a self-proclaimed tough upbringing. Now that Marc has been in the comedy industry for a while, he interviews comics, musicians, and other celebrities and is able to cut to some of the reasons that they are the way they are today. I have listened to some outstanding interviews here. If you have a problem with strong language, this one might be a struggle for you. But before you write it off, be open to listening to some of these interviews that give you a peak into the heart and soul of some of the influencers of our culture. After all, most of these people are living in the same harsh world that we are.

The Liturgists Podcast - This one is gonna get me in trouble with some of you. If you aren't a fan of listening to alternate belief systems, then go ahead and keep on scrolling. But if you're like me and have had doubted and struggled with your faith at times, this podcast might be a refreshing look. Michael Gungor and Science Mike McHargue host this one and it is a flat-out brilliant mash-up of an artsy worship leader with a neurological scientist who both came from a Christian background. This has been my absolute favorite podcast to listen to last year. But continue with caution: you won't be able to listen without having to re-hash some long-held beliefs.

Fresh Life Church - Levi Lusko is the Lead Pastor of Fresh Life Church in Montana and he and his family have walked a tough journey through the loss of a child. God has given him a huge platform, so the world watched as he and his wife were so gracious and faithful throughout the whole time. Levi is a passionate man of God who is contagious as he preaches! Love listening to Levi!

When I Lost My Temper With My Son

Over Christmas break, my first grader had an assignment that he (and his parents) forgot about. He was supposed to read, 10 different times, for 20 minutes each. For me, this is child's play. I knew he could get this done in one night, so he could earn his reward in school the next day (hot chocolate).

I've been to college. I've written 10-page papers after working the night shift at the restaurant. Coffee in one hand and a half-baked, barely sufficient paper in the other. I've written book reports on books that I've "read." We all know what it's like to cram for a test.

For my first grader, however, this was a mountain. He might as well have been climbing Matterhorn.

My emotional boy crumbled, because his classmates had turned their assignments in early, securing their hot chocolate as a reward. He lost hope and had descended into a dry-heaving cry on the couch. "I'll never get it done! I'm so stupid! Everyone is smarter than me!"

They didn't prepare me for this in college.

Throughout the afternoon, I had moments of parental heroics, where I coached him to see how possible this task was. Other times, in frustration, I gave up, too.

We argued for a minute about how his Mommy and Daddy think he's so smart. And he wasn't having it. "No I'm not! I'm stupid!" In that moment, I got down on my knees and positioned my face right in front of his to reassure him how that was so far from the truth. His response: "You're wrong."

I wonder if we do this with God sometimes?

Let's be real: it would probably make more sense to refer to me as a grown-up child than an adult. Some days, I forget how much my Heavenly Father loves me. I tend to forget the things that He's said about me (chosen, loved, adopted). I can easily forget His promises over me ("I will never leave you or forsake you").

I wonder what God's response is in all this? I picture Him as a perfect Father, who doesn't lose His cool with me (like I did with Kipton). But then again, there's a place for righteous frustration.

I find it hopeful that God would stop everything to get down on His hands and knees, the hands that crafted the sun, moon and stars as well as my cold & stony heart, just to focus my eyes on His. 

“But I love when God pauses to get right in front of my face to reassure me of what Dad thinks.”

There is definitely something to be said for the still, small voice, found in Elijah's story. But I love when God pauses to get right in front of my face to reassure me of what Dad thinks.

Whatever you're walking through today, wherever you are, I hope that you find space to cry out to God with what you're walking through. Because here's what I learned: When my son eventually calmed down and we walked through the next step together, he was able to see what I could see. That he wasn't stupid or incapable. He just needed to vent to his daddy a little. 

Oh. I almost forgot to tell you. My little boy crushed his homework assignment. And with every book he finished, he rushes in to share the win with me.

And I wouldn't have missed that experience with my son for the whole world.

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [January 2017]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

Lifepoint Church Podcast - Dean Fulks has become a friend a mentor to me. He is the Lead Pastor at Life Point Church and the Send City Missionary for Columbus, Ohio. He invests in church planters all over Columbus and beyond; more than that, he is the real deal! It's a joy to know him and I'm so thankful for his investment in our church! Life Point's podcast has been listed as one of the top 25 sermon podcasts to subscribe to, and Dean is in some really great company! Check it out!

Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast - Andy Stanley has long been known for his organizational prowess and it's always helpful information on how to lead better. Andy has been a mentor from a distance for a very long time. In fact, his book, Next Generation Leader, was one of the books that catalyzed my desire to serve in the local church! He's a fantastic communicator and has influenced many pastors all over the world. In this podcast, he talks about a lot of the practical leadership ideas that drive North Point's success. This monthly podcast is worth the wait for sure!

Dissect - A Serialized Music Podcast - This podcast isn't quite going to fit in the same category as the other two. In fact, if you don't like hip hop, you can probably go ahead and close this browser. Dissect was suggested to me by my friend Jordan Springer. The host of Dissect, Cole Cuchna, takes a deeper look at the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp A Butterfly." If you've been paying attention to the Grammy's the last few years, you know that Kendrick has earned a seat at the top of the rap game, deservedly so. His lyrics are storied and multi-layered. At first glance, you might think he glorifies sex, drugs and the other things that a young man growing up in Compton deals with, but a closer look at his albums show a much deeper narrative. Cole guides us through each phase of the album through his long form critique. I've really enjoyed listening to this one!

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [December 2016]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

I need to make a quick disclaimer here. I know a lot of my friends are from the church world, and many of you won't be interested in listening to anything with strong language. I totally get that! Some of these podcasts are raw, honest interviews that aren't edited for content.

The Village Church - Culture Matters - If you love Matt Chandler's preaching, this is the podcast for Matt and his crew to talk about the Village Church and issues coming to the surface in culture. Their conversation around cultural issues are so helpful, especially some of their recent conversations around the election. Good stuff here!

Emmanuel Church Audio Podcast - Emmanuel Church is near and dear to my heart because this is my home church! My family moved to Indianapolis when I was in the middle of 7th grade and this was the church we joined. It was at this church that I would develop a close relationship with Danny Anderson, my youth pastor. He would go on to become the Senior Pastor at Emmanuel in 2006. Since then, they have seen the church grow from 1500 in attendance to around 4000 and have grown from one site to three! Every time I visit, there's a new story of life change, so I hold Emmanuel in high esteem and am so very thankful for Emmanuel's influence in my life! Check out Danny's sermons through this podcast (if you prefer video, they have a video podcast as well).

I Was There Too - I love great movies (who doesn't?), so I love listening to Matt interview actors from some of the movies we all know and love (recently, Jurassic World, Beverly Hills Cop & Shawshank Redemption). I just listened to his interview with Johnny Williams, who appeared in Goodfellas as "Johnny Roastbeef." He told some stories about his interactions with Robert DeNiro that are not to be missed! Quick disclaimer: there may be some strong language involved in these interviews.

First Baptism Service!

I couldn't be more excited right now! On Sunday, November 13th, we had our very first baptism service at Access Church! Why am I excited?

1. Because baptism is a picture of life change! There's nothing special about the water in the tank. Baptism is significant for a couple reasons. First of all, we are telling the world that Jesus has changed us from the inside out by going public. Secondly, we are identifying with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection as we plunge into the water, only to rise back up! When you see a believer burst out of the baptism waters, it's a beautiful picture of Jesus defeating sin and death as He walked away from an empty tomb!

2. Because the people who attended were encouraged! There were 75 people at the baptism service from all different walks of life. It was a conglomeration of people from different backgrounds to celebrate what God has done in the life of a few. This event was our best-attended ever, but more than that, it was definitely my favorite moment in the life of our church so far! So many of the people who were there told us how it impacted them personally. That was really cool!

3. Because this is just the beginning! We were able to see two guys baptized that day and we are praying that God allows us to see many more people go public with their faith by being baptized. Baptism is a picture of what God can do in the life of anyone! It doesn't matter who we are or how big our issues are; God and only God can make us whole again! That night, I spoke for a few minutes about hope. I'm praying that people all over our city would find their hope in Jesus!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the Baptism Service. Thanks so much to Beth Simmons of Light + Clay for taking these!

The best is yet to come!

Cox Family Year In Review // 2015

All year, I keep a camera handy as much as I can. I miss a few moments for sure, but for the most part, we capture those fun moments that I know we'll appreciate looking back on later in life. 

Now that we're 6+ years into having kids, I appreciate more than ever being able to look back at how far we've come and how far our kids have grown (all that to say I'm a pretty sappy, sentimental dad).

In the busyness of life and church planting, I hadn't finished our 2015 video...until now!

The Comeback Story

I'm the kind of Red Sox fan who never lived in Boston. I fell in love with the Red Sox in 2003, when the Red Sox met the Yankees in the ALCS in October. The tension ran high between these two teams, which was nothing new; but this series was hard-fought. The Yankees would end up winning this series of games, and not without some violence before it was all done.

That picture right there? That's Pedro Martinez throwing down the 72-year old pitching coach, Don Zimmer. First of all, I am not suggesting violence toward senior citizens is a good thing, but it takes some stones to charge into battle like that!

As heartbreaking as this loss was, Red Sox fans might have even expected this to happen. The last time the Red Sox had won the World Series was 1918. Just one year later, the Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees, inaugurating "The Curse Of The Bambino." It seemed hopeless!

Next year, the 2004 ALCS was a re-match between these same two teams, and it was even more exciting! Pitchers were throwing at batters. Benches were clearing almost nightly. If you think baseball is boring, you haven't seen the Sox play the Yankees!

This series was especially historic because the Yankees one the first three games in a seven-game series, leaving the Red Sox with an almost hopeless chance at winning. Only two teams in North American sports history (not just baseball) had ever come back from 0-3 to win a 7-game series, but they scratched and clawed their way back to win! They would go on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series for the first time since 1918!

Everybody loves a comeback story (except for maybe a Yankees fan in this case). More recently, we've seen the Cleveland Cavaliers come back to win the NBA Championship, after falling behind three games to one in the series. Just one year later, the Cubs would fall behind three games to one against the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series. This is why I love sports! Anything can change at any moment.

But is it sports? Or is it the comeback story?

One of the more influential men in recent history, Steve Jobs, after being fired from Apple, was invited to come back and bring the company to a level of success they'd never dreamed of! Robert Downey, Jr. was on the path to success, only to become heavily addicted to drugs. He would come back to defeat his addiction and become the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 2015!

Our church is experiencing a comeback story of it's own. God planted a vision in my heart for a church that would one day reach people all over the city of Columbus. In 2014, we moved to Columbus to get started! Just five months later, we started a Bible study that would grow until we could no longer fit everyone in our living room. So we launched on October 11, 2015. By May 15, 2016, we would step back from the church plant, so we could re-evaluate and take a breather. If you aren't familiar with the story, you can read more about that here. 

Soon after we had our last service, I went into a depression that I'd never experienced before. Truthfully, I wasn't even sure I would get back in ministry. I was struggling to find any worth at all when I looked in the mirror.

But through a series of conversations with family & friends and lots of time crying out to God, I would eventually come back to a place where I trusted in God once again. I was willing to step out of the boat one more time.

Everybody loves a comeback story, but no one wants to need one.

I can honestly tell you that the sin of pride in my life has never been more clear. I don't love our story, if I'm being quite honest. I don't like admitting that it "didn't work" the first time. To be honest, I'm still dealing with that. As much as I love a good comeback story, my pride didn't want to be in a place where I needed one personally.

We all have times in our life where we're not "winning." In those times, we need our community to come around us. There are too many to name, and if I tried, I would surely leave people out, so I won't. But I will say this, I would be in a gutter if it weren't for those precious few individuals who would help me back to my feet, wipe my eyes and give me a clearer picture of Jesus.

And THAT is what I want our church to be about. There are people who live in our city that feel hopeless because of broken relationships, unmet expectations, sickness, etc. The only reason I was able to get to a healthier place was because of the people in my life who love me! I think about all the people who are walking through hard times in life without a loving, caring family and it breaks my heart! 

So we're taking a step out of the boat again, to follow Jesus with full abandon because we KNOW He has called and sent us. We KNOW He is equipping us and that He will give us everything we need to fight every battle that we're about to encounter. 

We're in the middle of our own comeback story and we will see our dreams come to pass; not because we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps, but because God is the one who is empowering us and this group of people are willing to keep their eyes focused on the one goal!

To bring the hope of Jesus to this city! To guide people to experience life in Jesus Christ!

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [November 2013]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

Every month, I'll make three recommendations of podcasts that I personally enjoy. Certainly, not all of them will be a good match for you, but hopefully one or two will stick out!

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin - Alec Baldwin is brilliant in almost everything I've seen him in, so of course I'd listen to him interview some of the greats! One of my favorite interviews that he did was with Jerry Seinfeld. Go check it out! So good.

AfterBuzz TV's The Walking Dead After Show - I am among those who are addicted to AMC's The Walking Dead (as I'm writing this, season 7 hasn't started yet so I still don't know who got "Lucille'd"!). I love this show, but even more, I love to discuss the details of where I think the show is going with my fellow friends! That's why I love this podcast. Call me a nerd but it makes being stuck in traffic a lot less boring. Also...don't confuse this with anything involving Fear The Walking Dead (mainly because it's terrible). Another good TWD after show podcast is Watching Dead - Walking Dead Podcast. It's a lot longer, but they dive into the issues a little deeper. With either one of these, you're going to get some language. So if that bothers you, steer clear.

Covenant Church - Travis Davenport is the Lead Pastor at Covenant Church in Ohio and has been a mentor to me over the last few years and I love the way he teaches and how they break down Scripture. Always a good listen! Especially this month's sermon based out of Ephesians 4, entitled, "Forgotten Ways."

3 Podcasts You Should Check Out [October 2016]

I've been listening to podcasts since Apple started rolling them out. I listen mostly while I'm driving, washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. I've always enjoyed listening to podcasts that relate to my work (church leadership, youth ministry, church planting, etc.), but in the last few years, I've stumbled upon a few great podcasts that branch out.

Every month, I'll make three recommendations of podcasts that I personally enjoy. Certainly, not all of them will be a good match for you, but hopefully one or two will stick out!

Relevant Podcast - Relevant Magazine started a podcast when podcasting wasn't cool yet. 514 episodes later and they are still rolling! I come for the banter and I stay for the interviews. Love listening to this crew. Perfect blend of humor, faith & culture.

Building A Story Brand with Donald Miller - If you've been following Donald Miller's journey, you know that he started as an author, dabbled in film-making, and is now running StoryBrand, an organization that is focused on helping companies cut through the clutter and reach their customers through the elements of story. I haven't listened to a single episode without having an "a ha" moment.

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel In Life - Dr. Tim Keller has grown a wide audience in the Christian community, young & old, so this may not be news to you. But I know that some of my friends who are checking (or re-checking) out Christianity for the first time would benefit from Tim's ability to masterfully teach the Scriptures. I don't preach many sermons without consulting Dr. Keller's work first. Even more than that, his vision to plant churches in New York through the Rise Campaign has impacted me personally! This is definitely worth a podcast subscription!

 

New Blog!

I've been blogging for about ten years now.

I started blogging just to journal my thoughts on Scripture. Then, I got a little more involved and added in what I was learning about leadership in the local church.

Then, life got busy. We moved to plant a church (apparently that takes up a lot of your time). So I slowed way down. But I missed it!

So I'm back with a new design and a new domain name. Funny story, I really loved my old domain name (www.thinknextnow.com), but someone offered to buy it and the price was good enough for me to say yes! So here we are.

I was pretty bummed to lose my domain, because I really loved it, but I really do love this new name: Lead Beyond Sunday (dot com). Anyone who knows my heart for ministry knows that I view Sunday as a launching pad! Sundays aren't the main thing for me as a pastor. For me, I think we've won when we see believers live out their faith in their homes, neighborhoods, jobs, coffee shops and gyms throughout the week. So this name felt right!

Over the next several weeks, I'm putting together a plan for this space. I love to write about my exploration through the Bible, practical leadership issues in the church...and I'll probably post some pictures of my family, too. Go ahead and get used to that. I think they're pretty cool.

Welcome to this new space! Hope you enjoy what you find here!