Do you ever wonder why some leaders are magnetic and others are not?  Is the “it” factor something you can learn?  Is it a skill that can be developed?  I believe it is.

Here are my top 5 skills to personal magnetism:

Everyone is petrified of getting “old.”  Instead, the Bible says, “Abraham died in a GOOD OLD AGE, an old man and full of years…” (Gen. 25:8)

In other words, getting older is not a bad thing…it’s a GOOD thing! 

Consider these 7 wonderful things about getting older:

“Communication.”  It’s the hardest work you will ever do. 

Here are my five (current!) “foolproof” hacks that will help you make sure your “communication” is not a “miscommunication”:

During this holiday season, I like to spend time with the “5 F’s”:  “friends, family, food, fishing, and football!”

 I also like to take time to give thanks to God for one other “F”:  Fellowship.

This Christmas week, I listed a few things I would like to say to Him:

I’ve pastored long enough to know the mood swings of the holidays:  cheer, euphoria, laughter and loneliness, regret, and depression.

How can you prepare for the “swings of the season?”  Try these six remedies: 

How’s it going in your marriage?  Are you drifting?  Losing ground?  Fearful of your future together? 

We all love to evaluate. 

Here are seven questions that have really helped me with my marriage:

Relationships get shallow and boring.  We may live together but drift apart.  We lose the excitement and energy we once had.

You can ENERGIZE every relationship with three simple principles:

As I talk to men around the country, most of their marriage issues center around one word:  “respect.”  They perceive that their wife’s words are demeaning and they go into shutdown mode.

As a husband of 42 years, let me give you my thoughts on why this is and how to repair that tension!

I have often wondered, “What does a wife really need in a husband?”

She may have money, children, clothes, and a home…and yet still feel a deep need.

Husbands, I think I can help you with one word:  “strength.”

We all need to make changes.  Often, we can’t even see what needs to be changed about ourselves.  That’s where marriage comes in.

“If I will let Him, God will work through my spouse to change me into a far better person.”

Staying together in marriage is not easy. It requires extreme patience, empathy, and understanding.  

I have found the #1 rule for long-term marriage:  “Never doubt God’s wisdom in putting you together.”

Here is how that plays out in real life:

It’s true:  Most of us don’t exercise.

We talk about it, think about it, and hear about it.  The problem is, it is still a million miles away from us doing it.

I think I can help you with that.

Melanie and I have six children, all married, with 13 grandchildren (and one on the way).

I look back over the 32 years we had children at home and can see 12 main rules we followed.

Here they are:

Everywhere I go, people ask me, “How can I marry someone, like Melanie, who will stay together with me for a lifetime?”  Now, after 40 years together with her, I think I can help you in that.

“Fathering is not just a ROLE, it is a FOUNDATION.”

 People without fathering battle deep insecurity, wrong choices, and uncontrollable habits.

What is a fatherless generation missing?

Everyone knows that when you decide to marry you get engaged.

 Everyone does NOT know, however, that it is also the secret to staying married.

Want to know more? 

BALANCE is critical.  Your car tires, your body systems, and even your diet all require it.  

The bubble in a level shows perfect balance.  When balanced, it rests on the “sweet spot.”

How do you attain that inner balance that results in continual rest, freshness, and energy?

What makes women attracted to men?  

Why are some of the most beautiful women in the world married to some of the ugliest men in the world?

Here are some things that women love in a man:

Don’t point your finger at those who battle addictions.  We ALL have either small or life-controlling habits.  How about that Hostess Twinkie you vowed to never touch again?

Freedom is wonderful and attainable.  How do you get free and stay free?

My father told me a life changing principle:  “If you want to be free, you have to let others be free.”  Control never changes people.

That works in marriage, also.  

Why are you so surprised when your spouse is exactly the person you married?