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One of the traits we’ve tried to hammer into the culture of Next Level Church over the years is what we call, “  A Culture of the Benefit of the Doubt.” Put simply, it means that when you have the choice to assume the best or assume the worst about a leader, a situation or…

In a word… Discipline. When the iPad was first announced I freaked. No seriously, I was like “Oh my sakes, this is it!” I was like a teenage girl at a school dance; all squeally and stuff. But (this is a big but) I (along with the wife) decided not to get one. The obvious…

After more than 14 years, 2 kids, a church plant and a whole lot of other experiences, I’m still crazy in love with my wife, Sarah. So in honor of her, here are… 10 Things I love about my life with my wife: 1.  We have fun nicknames for each other that she lets me…

At Next Level Church we dedicated the 1st Workday of each month to the Lord by setting it aside as a time to pray and fast and seek God over what’s on the horizon for our church and the people and organizations we influence. Here’s a Pocket Guide for 6 Key Areas to Pray Through…

Recently, as I started reading the introduction to the book of 1 Timothy in my Bible, which is one of my favorite books, by the way) I was challenged to read with a Leadership Filter on. What emerged from the verses was really, really cool.    verse 19 says, “…holding on to faith and a good conscience…”…

(continued) I spent 9 days in the ICU at Lutheran Hospital. I did have another blood clot form but it was small and it dissolved on its own without needing another surgery. I went home on January 16th, 1995. I had no teeth and a partially shaved head. I had lost about 15 pounds and…

(continued)I woke up Sunday morning, January 8th, 1995 to my head wrapped in white cloths and a tube sticking out the side. I remember a nurse telling me very loudly as I was coming to that, “Matthew, there is a tube coming out of your head to relieve the pressure from the blood clot on…

Upon hearing the news, mom and dad felt thankful they were still in Fort Wayne and thereby closer to Lutheran hospital where my surgery was being performed. When they arrived at the hospital I was already in surgery and so all they could do was wait. My mom has always been very private about her…

(continued) Mom and dad had left in the afternoon to go shopping in Fort Wayne before they ended up at a birthday party for my cousin, Darcy. (I don’t think my cousin has ever let me forget ruining her birthday that year.) My dad had just gotten his first cell phone the week before and…

(part 4, continued) My brother was still being treated at the hospital in Angola. They discovered he had crushed the 3rd vertebrae in his neck 10%. He spent 8 weeks in a neck brace and missed a semester of college. Because of our accident, he had to stay through the next summer to finish his…