In the journey of faith, self-awareness is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect. Psalm 19:12 insightfully asks, "But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults." This verse give an accurate picture to the human struggle to recognize our own shortcomings and the spiritual blindspots that can hinder our walk with Christ. As followers of Jesus, it's vital to understand that identifying and addressing these blindspots is not just beneficial but essential for our spiritual growth and relationship with God. Here are three steps we can take right now to widen our lens! Step 1: Engag ..read more

As Christians, we are called to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16). However, our emotions can often deceive us, leading us astray from making wise decisions. Craig Groeschel rightly points out that our emotions lie to us all the time, and one way they do this is through cognitive biases. In this post, we will explore three common cognitive biases that hold leaders back and provide a practical guide to help individuals identify and address their own biases, enabling them to make wiser decisions. Confirmation Bias: Confirmation bias is the tendency to search ..read more

As a child, I was fascinated by the untouchable treasures in my grandmother's cabinet, which seemed holy and sacred. This sense of reverence is akin to how we view the holiness of God—a concept that can be challenging to grasp. God's holiness sets Him apart as wholly other, unique, and separate from creation. It's a positive distinction that signifies His purity and transcendence. The story of Moses and the Burning Bush in Exodus 3:1-6 illustrates the reverence required in God's holy presence. Moses is reminded of his place before the Lord, signifying the need for humility and recognition of ..read more

I recall one of the most curious sites I've ever seen. It was at the church I was a youth pastor at and before a big event I headed up with over 250 amazing volunteers. So many details needed to be accomplished for the event to live up to it's name, "Night to Shine". I was trusting that God was going to fill all the details that were beyond the scope of my sight. I knew that none of these efforts would be worth it if God wasn't the reason for every task, every moment, every news cast that was going to cover that evening of 100 young people with special needs getting a night of fun, dancing, li ..read more

https://youtu.be/KLTy47jTC0o How are you feeling? I think most of us today can say we feel a bit over stimulated with all the disorientation in life that we encounter. Our feelings are powerful and can enable or paralyze us in the present and detach us from the real presence and work of God. In this podcast/Vlog/Blog I talk about the cultural normalization of individual expressionism. This may sound like a really big idea that you've never encountered, but the truth is, we all have stepped into the position where we have developed an idea that what we feel on the inside must be the truth of wh ..read more

I felt it would be helpful to repost this blog post. It seems that focusing is more essential than ever! -MM It was a ordinary day at work as I was planning details for an event that was consuming the last five months of my role as a Youth Pastor in our Church. I was directing and organizing a huge event for the Tim Tebow Foundation by hosting a "Night to Shine" for persons with special needs. The budget was growing into the tens of thousands, the volunteers into the hundreds, and the pressure into millions of little details threatening my sleep each night. As I dialed the 1-800 number to orde ..read more

I sat in a local pizzeria, I mean, I sat in the converted alley next to the pizzeria in the 102 degree afternoon sipping on my ice water and people watching. The atmosphere of the street was a mix of eating patrons with cautious and defensive masked pedestrians. This matched the vibe of the town where the culture of inclusiveness in social issues was in stark contrast to the barriers the COVID reality have drawn around me. I laughed as my wife and I were slow to put our face coverings on as an approaching woman clutched her man away from us. I suppose my bare face was that offensive. Yet, none ..read more

Today is the last day of my thirties. I am so thankful there isn't any weeping or gnashing of teeth! However, It does feel heavy as I reflect on where I was ten years ago and how completely different my life is from then to now. I do know that many of my older friends and people in my church laugh when I give a heavy sigh at the oncoming loss of my youth. They assure me I will wake up in the morning not feeling any different and I will be okay. (sounds like defeatism to me ;) ) I call my thirties as my decade of definition because it was in this season that I encountered many moments that have ..read more

Sitting across from a woman who was introduced to me as a prophet, I was shocked when she told me that I had been misunderstood for most of ..read more

How to know when it is time to move on in a relationship, these are three main reasons I have experienced ..read more