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The Man in the Pew Show with Phil Mershon

Man in the Pew helps Christians build an unstoppable faith leading to freedom, connection, & kingdom impact. We do this through daily devotionals, weekly interviews, articles, challenges, groups, and other resources. History Man in the Pew started with a simple thought while Phil prayed on the beaches of Florida's Gulf Coast. Where do Christian men turn to find encouragement and inspiration during the week as they face battles at work, at home, and at play? What if there was a show bringing the voices of experts and everyday men into healthy conversations about the real issues all Christian men face? That vision started developing in January 2015 and has slowly formed into what you see now. My prayer in launching this show is that many men will find encouragement, inspiration and tips for becoming more like Christ in the parts of life that aren't usually discussed at church. Pastors may listen to find insights into how to care better for the men in their flock, but this show isn't primarily for pastors. This show is for "everyday" men led by everyday men who have something important to share with fellow believers. Some of these men are book authors and others will be relatively unknown outside their local sphere of influence. All of them have important things to say. Who is Phil Mershon? Phil Mershon is the founder of Man in the Pew, a ministry of Called to Worship. During the week he serves as director of events for Social Media Examiner, where he has served for nearly seven years in part-time and full-time roles. Phil is also a longtime worship leader, a former pastor, a jazz saxophonist, a songwriter, and a sports nut (basketball, football, and tennis). He has been married to Audrey for twenty one years and they have three children.
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Now displaying: March, 2021
Did Jesus Laugh? (7-Minute Prayers) 0
Mar 13, 2021

Do you wonder if Jesus ever laughed? Does it feel incongruous that Almighty God might enjoy a belly laugh?

 

Most of the pictures we have of Jesus reveal a strong but serious man. After all, he drove out the moneychangers and regularly rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He never wavered from his eternal mission to seek and save the lost.

 

But Jesus was fully man and fully God. As a result, he felt the full gamut of emotions. He wept over the death of Lazarus (John 11) and grew angry at the hard-hearted response of the religious leaders. He certainly bore all the fruits of the Spirit, including joy.

 

Robert Funk put it like this, “Jesus used humor and hyperbole to punch holes in pomposity … Part of Jesus’ charisma, was that he attended parties, drank wine, used irony, and hung out with outcasts.“

 

Portraying Jesus in His Humanity

Tim Washer, on episode 141, reminded me of the painting by Ralph Kozak which portrays Jesus laughing with his head tilted back in pure delight—perhaps even a belly laugh. This painting was inspired by Willis Wheatley, one of the first modern artists to see a side of Jesus that includes laughter and joy.

 

Show notes: https://maninthepew.com/142

Laughter is Medicine for the Soul with Tim Washer 0
Mar 8, 2021

Do you find it easy or hard to laugh at life? The bible says laughter can be like medicine to the soul.

 

A study conducted by the University of Maryland found that laughter reduces stress, pain, and conflict. It literally makes the heart function better.

 

The Bible references laughter nearly 50 times. Laughter makes the heart cheerful and helps us cope with the unexpected., In Genesis 18, Sarah laughed when God promised something that seemed too good to be true—a son at the age of 80. When it came true, she named her son Isaac which means “he will laugh.”

 

It seems God has a sense of humor. Have you ever looked at a giraffe, a baboon, or a dolphin? Dolphins seem to be born to laugh with us. Monkeys laugh at us.

 

Tim Washer teaches laughter

In episode 141, Tim Washer and I discuss how laughter helps us get through life’s ups and downs. Tim studied improv under Amy Poehler, and has worked on Saturday Night Live, Conan, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He’s also worked in marketing communications for IBM and now works as a virtual event speaker and emcee.

 

Tim regularly teaches marketers how to use humor and laughter as a way to discover new ideas. He explains that laughter helps us face hard things like a global pandemic or more personal issues such as brain surgery.

 

Show notes: https://maninthepew.com/141

Waiting for Heaven No Longer: a Tribute to Dr Larry Crabb 0
Mar 1, 2021

If I looked at your bookshelves, who would I presume has had the biggest influence on your life?

 

Thankfully the number of books you own by an author doesn’t necessarily translate to impact—otherwise, you might think John Grisham is my mentor. I do love a good fast-moving legal thriller, but I don’t plan to go into law or to write novels.

 

Outside of fiction and bible commentaries, you would find more books by Dr. Larry Crabb on my shelves. Some of them I’ve read multiple times. They have all impacted me, and in some cases transformed me.

 

Larry (he preferred we drop the doctor) passed away on February 28, 2021. I want to pause to honor a man who showed me how to follow Jesus.

 

Show notes: https://maninthepew.com/140

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