Always Offended? Take an Offensive & Defensive Approach

, , , ,
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,…

What’s Up With So Many NFL Players Talking About Jesus? (And Why It Matters to Us) – Part 3

,
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…

What’s Up With So Many NFL Players Talking About Jesus? (And Why It Matters to Us) – Part 2

,
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…

What’s Up With So Many NFL Players Talking About Jesus? (And Why It Matters to Us) – Part 1

,
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…

To Mock is Human; To Understand, Is Divine

,
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…

Encouragement Rocks: How (and Why) to Appreciate Others

,
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…

Make your verbs bigger than cook, eat, and watch (football)

,
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…
accountability partner

What Makes a Good Accountability Partner?

For guys, we all start out with good intentions. But temptations arise, and it’s easy to slide into telling half-truths, justifying sinful behavior, secrecy and pretense. Usually, it blows up in your face sooner or later. But even if you keep…
trust in marriage

How To Build Trust In Marriage

Trust is the cornerstone of a healthy, lasting marriage. Most marriages start on a solid foundation of trust. In that honeymoon phase, our excitement for each other makes us act our best. But then, as we get comfortable, we let our real selves…
praising jesus

What Does It Mean To Rejoice In The Lord?

,
Rejoicing in the Lord is a powerful and transformative concept within the Christian faith. But what does it truly mean to rejoice in the Lord? How can this act of joy shape our lives, especially in times of difficulty? To rejoice in the…

Learning to Pray: 10 Thought-Starters On Praying Effectively

,
Prayer is an essential part of our day as believers and our spiritual journey. It’s the way we talk to God. And it leads to God working in our lives and in the world. But even when you’ve set aside time, it’s not always easy to know how…
Christian Men's Group

Christian Men’s Group for Deeper Friendship

,
Once you've been a part of a good Christian men's group, you realize there's nothing else like it in our culture. Some are Bible studies for men; others are Christian groups based around a shared interest, like fishing or football. At the end…
how to find friends

How to Find Friends and Develop Deep Connections

,
We're taught how to do a lot of things growing up. How to tie your shoes, ride a bike and throw a football… But were you ever taught how to find friends?  Nowadays, people are feeling more isolated than ever. A striking 76% of men "don't…

Will Daddy Be at My Whole Birthday Party? | Facing Your Blitz Weekly Video Devotion

,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uZc3f1ibT8&ab_channel=JeffKemp My wife and I organized a cool backyard birthday party for our 5 year old son Kolby. I ran all the outdoor games and relay races. I had them crawling under army camouflage…

Start the Healing | Father’s Day Video Series

,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEoedC4e2as&ab_channel=JeffKemp Most all of us have a father wound of some sort or another, especially in our society with so many missing dads and fragmented families. Admitting that pain is the first…

DeflateGate, Egos and Doing the Right Thing

Jeff Kemp originally wrote this for the Stepping Up blog which appeared May 15, 2015. Few quarterbacks have dominated the NFL like Tom Brady. In his 13 full seasons, he has led the New England Patriots to four Super Bowl titles.  What he…