This week at CrossFit , it’s 1-rep max week for back squat, shoulder press, and deadlift. For many athletes at our gym, this is just another set of workouts. Others, like me, have been counting down the days. No matter where someone falls on the spectrum, 1-rep max week is a regular part of what we do. It reveals the progress we’ve made over the past 12 weeks and shows us where we currently stand. Since much of our training is based on percentages of our max lifts, this week

What is that thing that just bugs you? We all have at least one. If we’re honest, most of us have a few things that can drive us crazy. One of mine? People talking on speakerphone in public. Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant when a grandmother , mother, and little girl came in for breakfast. It was a sweet scene, three generations sharing a meal. Everything was calm and enjoyable… until the grandmother had to leave for work. A few minutes later, the little girl, no olde

One the common shows in my house is the classic I Love Lucy . Over the years, I have become pretty well versed on the show and even many behind the scenes nuggets. Recently, I used an illustration from one episode in a sermon. The story takes place while the main characters are in Hollywood for Ricky to film a movie. When the film is suddenly shelved, Lucy springs into action to make sure Ricky isn’t fired. She devises a plan to hire a random man to pose as a big-time produce

As we head into the Advent Season , I wanted to share another “I Was Just Thinking…” Throwback - one of my dad's original posts that I'm resharing because it still resonates. He taught me to notice God in everyday moments, and I'm honored to carry on his tradition This piece comes from October 22, 2013 . While it originally appeared without a title, I have given it the title "Warning: Don't Miss the Moments Jesus Is Sending You Into the World". The message is clear: a simple

Photo by Aidan Bartos on Unsplash Yesterday marked the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. This was a defining event in my life. Every generation has that moment when they remember exactly where they were: JFK’s assassination, MLK Jr.’s assassination, the moon landing (if you believe it actually happened). For my generation, 9/11 was that moment. I was in 9th grade in Mr. Jackson’s Earth and Environmental Science class at South Brunswick High School i

As a regular at our local Mexican restaurant , I’ve witnessed plenty of amusing moments. But on a recent visit, one particular scene caught my attention. A little girl, no older than five, burst from the back dining area and hurried toward the bathroom. Judging by her pace, you’d think it was an emergency—but I wasn’t convinced. Her mother followed shortly after to check on her. As she knocked on the door, the entire restaurant overheard the child’s enthusiastic response : “I

How do you sit when you go to a restaurant? Many families choose their seats without much thought, yet the way we sit can reveal something deeper about relationships and connection. Not long ago, I was dining at one of my favorite local spots when I bumped into a couple I know through Upward Sports. They were grandparents of one of our regular participants. As we chatted about their grandson's experience with wrestling, something caught my attention. They were sitting side b

Ejecting a Spectator: When heckling crosses the line ( Doug Benc/Getty Images ) The recent snowfall here in Central Virginia threw the basketball schedule into chaos. Several high school games had to be rescheduled, creating a busy week of officiating for me. While plenty of officials work more games than I do, I ended up officiating six games this week. And there was one thing they all had in common: whining . Players. Coaches. Fans. Now, before you think I’m jaded or obli

The school year is rapidly coming to an end with many high school graduations just a few weeks away. As summer approaches, a million things are happening all at once. And this is no different for churches. This past Wednesday night, I decided to do something special with our youth ministry . Instead of our normal Youth Group with games, Bible Study, and small groups, we went to the local Mexican restaurant across the street. As a group. So there we were, 19 of us, taking up t

Years ago, I came across a blog post on studentministry.org titled “ 100 blog topics I hope YOU write. ” Surprisingly, to me, the 100th topic “How to Get Students Involved in the Rest of the Church Body,” remained untouched. In this article, we explore some practical ways to involve students in the broader church community - all of which I have implemented over the past 15 years of youth ministry. NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK Most people (including youth leaders in various contex

Recently, while listening to a Star Wars podcast, the host explored the original plans for the original trilogy and the iconic...

In the final week before Christmas , people are out and about looking for that perfect gift for their loved ones. For some people, the final days before Christmas are the beginning of their shopping journey. For others, it is only for that “last minute” stocking stuffer or gift or maybe even a Christmas Eve service outfit. My wife and I were out and about in our local mall recently. While she was in a store, I stood outside watching the people. There were parents alone, grand

I don't know if you have ever worked the polls during an election , but I can tell you that there is a lot that happens on an election day – not to mention leading up to one. One of the best things about working the polls where I currently live is the spread. The food spread! A couple of weeks ago we had an election here, and I worked the polls again. And when you walked into the kitchen... WOW, the smell was incredible! There was barbecue, meatballs, green beans and potatoes

How do you feel about group work ? You remember, in high school or college (or maybe some other setting), you were assigned to work with a group of people on some project, report, or presentation. In my freshman year in college, my best friend at the time and I were assigned to work on a presentation with two other guys. The only problem was that one of the other guys never showed up for our meetings. The presentation was divided into four equal parts, and admittedly my frien

Many things are caught more than taught. You've probably heard that phrase before. Over the past couple of weeks, this idea has surfaced in shows, podcasts, and even songs. The predominant example describes children catching mannerisms and sayings from their parents. In one show, one of the characters even said, “Oh no, I am beginning to sound like my father!” The question leaps off the page, “Why?” Why does this happen to us? How after all the years of denial and rebellion

(Out Loud With Words) Have you ever played the game “Would You Rather...?” The game is very simple. Someone makes a statement with two...

NOTE : My intention of this post was to talk about how we need to be careful about how we live out our faith and use Scripture because...

I have a great team to work with in Youth Ministry right now. We have been together for a couple of years, and they are tremendous...

During this pandemic season , I have watched my share of movies and television shows. Last week, I pulled out a movie I had not watched in a long time, Facing the Giants. The second movie made by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, tells the tale of a young, high school football coach, Grant Taylor, who faces all kinds of adversity at home, at school, and on the football field. One such challenge was when some of the boosters were working to get him fired after six losing seasons. Man

Recently, I have found myself thinking a lot about all the different causes there are to get involved with these days. There are probably millions of causes out there. Causes to help with medical research. Causes that help poor people. Causes that speak to affinities . Causes that advance political and ideological positions. And these causes ask us for our time, our money, and our devotion. They ask us to volunteer our time to knock on doors, talk to our friends, make phone c