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Author: Paul Phillips

We Have Super-Sized Our Life

We Have Super-Sized Our Life

Do you feel overwhelmed by the size of things in our culture? Sometimes, like this massive truck, it is just too much. Pastor Ron Golding explores this idea in his article, “Moses, the Mountain, and a Mass of Email”. He writes: “We have the world’s information in our pockets—we must be omniscient. We can respond to everything everywhere—we must be omnipresent. We have incredible technology that can solve “all” our problems—we must be omnipotent…When we buy the lie that we…

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IL 4/26/23: Failure

IL 4/26/23: Failure

(Audio Transcription Below) This morning I want to talk about FAILURE. Sometimes as the Leader you have just had it! So you rant and sometimes throw your team under the bus. Watch how this guy starts his press conference & then how this SIU coach throws his whole team under the bus.  Numbers 20:1-13 “And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam…

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Impact

Impact

It is the week of The Masters Golf Tournament, and I am fortunate enough to have a kind and generous friend who gave me two tickets to Thursday’s opening round! I am like a kid on Christmas morning! You don’t have to know much about golf to understand that so much of it revolves around the word impact. If you impact the golf ball in just the right way and with just enough force, you will enjoy your round of…

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Beware the Giga Press of the World

Beware the Giga Press of the World

Tesla recently changed the way it molded the rear underbody on some of its vehicles. Instead of piecing 70 different parts together, they built a massive 430 ton Giga Press to mold all of the parts into one. It is truly impressive!  Unfortunately, we live in a Giga Press world. The world’s values and messages are heated up, liquified, and poured into our souls without us even knowing it is taking place.  The Apostle Paul delivers a warning about our…

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IL 3/10/23: Conflict Provides Opportunity to Grow by Looking at Yourself and Looking to the Gospel

IL 3/10/23: Conflict Provides Opportunity to Grow by Looking at Yourself and Looking to the Gospel

(Audio Transcription Below) Conflict Resolution: Battle Royal Funny – there are all kinds of ways people deal with conflict…one way is to fight but the main problem is that there will only be one winner and everyone else is hurt. So, I want us to think about the important topic: Handling Conflict. No sooner had Moses delivered Israelites than conflict & complaints began. When you read about Moses’ 40 years of leadership, it reads like 40 years of conflict. Conflict from…

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Finding Rest for Your Soul

Finding Rest for Your Soul

Last week, I addressed the topic of rest. Many of us are not skilled at balancing work and rest, or we don’t really understand what gives rest to our soul. (Hint: it’s not leisure!) I thought I would pass along a few resources which might provide wisdom and encouragement to find rest for your soul.  Andy Crouch’s book How to Create Good Work and Good Rest  Tim Keller’s sermon from Luke 6 on Work and Rest Help in unplugging from…

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IL 2/27/23: Celebration & Sabbath

IL 2/27/23: Celebration & Sabbath

(Audio Transcription Below) Are you better at celebration or criticism? (Exodus 15) Do you have a healthy rhythm of rest for your soul?  Moses led the people through the Red Sea. When they get to the other side they celebrate with the great Song: The Song of Moses. The Song shows up at the end of this age: Revelation 15:2-3 – Conquering Pharoah and conquering “the beast” Satan call for singing!  Moses had been used mightily by God yet there is…

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“Work” is a Not a Four Letter Word

“Work” is a Not a Four Letter Word

Leaders often have a misguided view of work. Some think work is a result of the Fall in Genesis 3. They think that if Adam had just stayed away from that apple, we would all be sipping drinks with tiny umbrellas in them as we admire the garden. Others have a two-storied view of work that distinguishes between secular and sacred work. They believe that sacred work matters to God and has eternal value, while secular work doesn’t really matter…

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IL 2/15/23: Real Change Takes Time and Patience

IL 2/15/23: Real Change Takes Time and Patience

Warning: This is frustrating to watch and could dangerously raise your blood pressure. Shield your eyes if needed. There is a sped up version of this, but I think it makes my point better to watch it in real time. POINT: Exits are never as simple as they look. Changing or leading people to change usually takes much longer than what we anticipate. The same is true with the Hebrews Exit from Egypt. It took time and real patience on…

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How Do You Practice?

How Do You Practice?

In his book, Talent, Tyler Cowen writes, “What is it you do to practice that is analogous to how a pianist practices scales?” Stephen Vafier considers this question in his recent article, Carolina Stories. He uses two fascinating sports examples from Steph Curry and Erin Matson. You will be amazed at their practice routines. I realize most of us aren’t going to develop the skill level of either of these two elite athletes no matter how much we practice. However,…

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