Podcasts about Mark Merrill

The annual Greater Good Awards, hosted by the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, are a testament to the business community's resilience, creativity, and commitment to the greater good. The latest ceremony, filled with inspiring stories and heartfelt moments, highlights the exceptional individuals and organizations shaping the Valley. In this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomed an impressive lineup of guests for an engaging conversation over Zoom. The distinguished panel included Cynthia Schneider, CEO of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, Kaleigh Fincham, the chamber's creative Director of Events, and notable community leaders such as Jeremy Shen from YHB (Yount, Hyde & Barbour), Mark Nantz, CEO at Valley Health. Cynthia kicked off the discussion by reflecting on the Greater Good evening, describing how beautifully orchestrated the event was. “Kaleigh and her team outdid themselves with the 'Journey of Excellence' theme,” said Cynthia, illuminating the imaginative centerpiece designed by Kayleigh and her mother. Their ingenuity transformed everyday paper towel holders into floating airplane displays, symbolizing the community's reach and ambition. Jeremy Shen, honored as the Emerging Leader at the Greater Good Awards, shared his awe at the recognition. “I was genuinely surprised and incredibly honored,” he noted. With humility, he emphasized that his success is a collective achievement, crediting his wife and the supportive network around him. Jeremy's rise at YHB reflects this ethos, as he recently stepped into the role of Chief Strategy Officer, guiding the firm's ambitious growth plans across Virginia and Maryland. The conversation also spotlighted the unwavering support from Valley Health, a longtime presenting sponsor of the awards. Mark Nantz expressed Valley Health's dedication to community involvement and support for local businesses. “With 6,200 employees, we feel a strong responsibility to contribute to the community's growth and wellbeing,” he said, underscoring the mutual benefits of robust local commerce. As the conversation progressed, each guest reiterated the importance of community and collaboration. Cynthia praised the chamber's role in fostering a supportive network for businesses and nurturing future leaders. She highlighted the chamber's initiatives, like the upcoming 'Business at the Bloom' and the revived charity golf tournament, 'Top of the Tee,' aimed at reinvesting in community programs. The Greater Good Awards do more than just recognize individual achievements; they celebrate the collective spirit of excellence that defines the Valley. As Cynthia eloquently put it, “Living the greater good is about setting a vision and building a lasting legacy.” Such values are evident in the force of character demonstrated by awardees and nominees alike, who inspire hope and pride in their community. In closing, Janet Michael encapsulated the sentiment of the night: “Our community is really cool. Look at all the people doing these amazing things.” It was a night to remember, celebrating not just success, but the heart and soul that propel the Valley forward. 2025 Award Winners Lauri Bridgeforth, Bridgeforth Photographics | Entrepreneur of the Year Winchester Metals, Inc. | Small Business of the Year Trex Company | Large Business of the Year John Crosen, Winchester Public Schools| CTE Teacher of the Year Jeremy Shen | Emerging Leader Sinclair Health Clinic | Nonprofit of the Year Mark Merrill | Citizen of the Year Nick Nerangis and in memory of Kathy Nerangis | Lifetime Community Impact Award

Family First Founder & CEO Mark Merrill and legendary football coach Tony Dungy discuss how children are handling the unexpected things in their lives.In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by Mark Merrill and Tony Dungy to discuss how dads can help their children handle life's unexpected challenges. The conversation highlights the importance of resilience, maintaining a positive attitude, and using faith and prayer to navigate the surprises of life. Important Episode Timestamps:●      (00:00) Introduction to All Pro Dad●      (00:24) Meet the Guests: Mark Merrill and Tony Dungy●      (00:56) The Origin of All Pro Dad●      (04:18) Handling the Unexpected: Personal Stories●      (16:04) Lessons from Our Fathers●      (22:12) Pro Move of the Week●      (23:13) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAPD Pro Move:" When confronted with an unexpected moment, or a difficult situation, take the time to pause and think about your reaction. Think about what your reaction is going to say to your family and then respond."Sponsor: The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.Connect with Us:●      Connect withTony Dungy●      Connect withMark Merrill●      Connect withTed Lowe●      Subscribe to the All Pro Dad Podcast onApple Podcasts●      Watch the Full Episode onYouTubeDon't forget to leave us a review on your favorite podcast app! We love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!EXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join 200,000+ other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration straight to your inbox.This episode's blog can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

We love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!In this heartfelt episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by Graham Barber and Mark Merrill to explore the transformative journey of fostering and adoption. Drawing from their personal experiences, the trio dives into the challenges, rewards, and emotional complexities of welcoming children in need into their homes.Ted, Graham, and Mark share compelling stories, valuable insights, and practical advice for dads considering fostering or adoption. They highlight the importance of creating stable, loving environments for children, addressing challenges like trust issues, behavioral struggles, and the impact on family dynamics. This episode offers inspiration and guidance for parents navigating the foster and adoption process or supporting those who do. Important Episode Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome to the All Pro Dad Podcast(00:39) Introducing the Topic: Fostering and Adoption(01:26) Graham's Fostering Journey(02:47) Mark's Adoption Story(07:35) Ted's Adoption Experience(08:54) Challenges in Fostering and Adoption(15:44) Overcoming Trust Issues(17:49) Language and Identity in Foster Care(19:54) Unexpected Joys of Foster Care(21:41) Lessons Learned from Adoption(23:53) Parenting Challenges and Creative Solutions(27:12) Balancing Marriage and Parenting(29:50) Rapid Fire: Pause or Move Forward?(32:48) Supporting Foster and Adoptive Families(34:03) The Hope of Adoption and FosteringAPD Pro Move:“ Pro Move of the Week, which we give you every week is to ask yourself, what is one thing you'd be willing to give up to change a life forever?.”Sponsor:The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. You can learn more at FamilyFirst.net.Connect with Us:Connect with Graham BarberConnect with Mark MerrillConnect with Ted LoweLearn more on our Fostering & Adoption ArchivesQuestions to ConnectThe No More FoundationDon't forget to leave us a review on your favorite podcast app!EXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join 200,000+ other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

We love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!In this thought-provoking episode of the All Pro Dad podcast, dads and hosts Ted Lowe, BJ Foster, and Mark Merrill tackle the challenging yet crucial topic of teaching children about politics. Navigating Politics with Your ChildrenParents can help their children constructively navigate these conversations by actively listening and modeling respectful political discourse.Personal Stories and ResourcesWe recommend helpful resources, such as The Space Between Us by Sarah Anderson, to further explore the dynamics of respectful dialogue, especially in politically charged times.---Important Episode Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Today's Topic(00:33) Teaching Kids About Politics(02:03) Listening and Asking Questions(02:12)  Personal Experiences in Politics(04:45) Respect and True North(06:32) Considering the Source(08:52) Encouraging Open Dialogue(10:57) Reflecting on Personal Example(12:04) The Power of No Labels(14:02) Respecting Different Opinions(16:58) Sharpening Through Opposing Views(18:44) Hope for a Brighter Future(19:28) Teaching Kids to Talk Politics—APD Pro Move: “If you've got smaller kids, pay attention to how they're reacting to politics, particularly what they are being exposed to. Then ask questions based on what you're seeing. Remind older kids to talk about politics in an honorable way. It's time to start those conversations.”—Sponsor: All Pro Dad Podcast is brought to you by Family First. Family First is an organization on a mission to provide parenting, marriage, and relational truth that helps people love their family well and gives them greater hope for the future. Visit FamilyFirst.Net to learn more.Please leave us a review on your favorite podcasting app!---Links:Connect with BJ FosterConnect with Ted LoweConnect with Mark MerrillConnect with Sarah Bauer AndersonSubscribe to our show All Pro DadSubscribe & Watch the Full Episode on YouTubeLearn more about Family FirstEXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

We love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!Billy Napier was hired as the head football coach of the Florida Gators in 2021 after successful seasons at Alabama and Louisiana. At every stop, the father of three has endured challenges to perform well on the field and be influential at home. Ted Lowe and Mark Merrill chat with Coach Napier about how he strives to live, lead, and coach with purpose.During the football season, Coach Napier sees his players as much, if not more, than his own children. Intentionality has become a big deal for him. So when family time is on his calendar, nothing gets in the way of it. That's part of knowing your purpose as an employee, husband, and father – prioritizing what and who is most important to you. Have you thought through the question, “What is my purpose as a dad?” If you've never considered it, here are three questions to help you find your purpose as a father. 1. Why am I here?2. What can you give?3. Who will you help?Bottom line: Knowing my purpose makes me a better dad.   Pro Move of the Week: Look at your calendar and find all the things that are family-related. Pledged to protect those events, not bumping them for anything unless it's an emergency.Reference 4 Ways to Find Your Purpose3 Questions to Stay Focused on Your PurposeEp. 31 Is Work-Life Balance Even Possible?The Pressure at Work is OverwhelmingTony Dungy: Working Under PressureTony Dungy: How to Manage Family and a Demanding JobHow to Cope With Losing Your JobEXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

This is a huge topic. Pop the question into Google and the search yields about 1.6 BILLION results. Clearly, men want to know how to balance their work and home lives. What's the secret? Ted Lowe, Family First founder Mark Merrill, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy tackle that topic on today's episode. Tony spent years on NFL sidelines and long hours in his office drawing up game plans, but Fridays were always dedicated to family. He shares stories on the podcast about spending designated time with his children – even during the Super Bowl! Mark raised five kids and made a point to schedule intentional time to spend with them. He tells stories about doing whatever they wanted on their birthdays and even making them each “President For The Day” on occasion at All Pro Dad. Work-life balance will rarely be evenly split 50/50. There will be seasons of busyness at the office. There will be times when we can plug in more at home. Regardless of how the ratio breaks down for you in this season, commit to giving your kids your full attention when you are around, even if it's not as many hours as you wish.Bottom line:Be aware.Be united. Be prepare. Be present. Be creative. Today's Pro Move: Look at how much time you have available for your kids and maximize that time. Remember to be creative with your time.  Other resources:Stop Trying to Achieve Work-Life Balance!3 Ways to Balance Work and FamilySend us a Text Message.EXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

Effective discipleship methods within the church have rapidly declined and the consequences are far-reaching. We learn more about this culture crisis in today's Church and how Catalyst Bible College aims to pick up the slack from Dr. Mark Merrill on today's episode of the AVAIL podcast. Dr. Merrill discusses the leadership deficit prevalent in the Church today, how inadequate discipleship has discouraged people from answering the call of God on their lives, and what we, as leaders, can do about it!

The days of “cooties” and ignoring the opposite sex don't last forever. Your son or daughter will eventually get their first crush, maybe write some love notes, and fall head over heels for someone they think is cute. They may even want to go on a date soon. Ted Lowe, Bobby Lewis, BJ Foster, and All Pro Dad founder Mark Merrill break down ways to have important conversations with your kids about dating. Are you ready for this season of life? Dating will likely mean introducing the topic of sex with your kids. If you got “the talk” with your parents, how did that go? Was it one conversation or multiple? The guys discuss how key it is to have ongoing dialogue with our kids about the nature of young romantic relationships, especially when it comes to sexual temptations. Today's Pro Move: Put a date on the calendar when you want to have a talk with your kids about dating. Even if life gets busy, stick to the plan and have that important conversation with your son or daughter. Related resources:Talking To Your Children About Dating Relationships5 Distorted Messages You're Sending Your Teens About DatingHow to Give Your Teenager Dating Advice When You DisapproveEXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

This question was inspired by one of the top-3 All Pro Dad blog posts of all time. Dads really want to know how to connect with their boys. Ted Lowe, Mark Merrill, Bobby Lewis, and BJ Foster talk about their relationship with their sons.  The types of needs we are talking about on today's episode are not basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. We are talking about the 7 things a son needs relationally from his dad.   What are the 7 things?1. He needs you to love his mother.2. He needs to see you fail, not just succeed.3. He needs your servant leadership.4. He needs you to be present.5. He needs you to discipline him in love.6. He needs your love regardless of his choices.7. He needs you to affirm him. Bottomline:  Your son needs you.  Today's Pro Move: Pick one of the seven things on the list and focus on that this week. Put it into practice to start becoming more connected with your son.   Related resources:7 Things A Son Needs From His Father Teaching Your Son How to Become a Man 10 Things Your Son Needs From You Crafting a Rite of Passage for Your SonEXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

Millions of people around the world struggle with anxiety. That includes our children. How do we help them handle those feelings? Ted Lowe, Mark Merrill, Buck Buchanan, and BJ Foster break it down into digestible steps. Raising an anxious child can be challenging. As parents, it's our job to love them well while helping them deal with their feelings. Let them know that it's okay to feel anxious, and that you are there to support them. Empathize and encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings. Your son or daughter needs to know that you are a safe place for them.  If your child's anxiety is severe or if it is interfering with his or her daily life, it may require seeking professional help. A therapist can help your child develop a personalized treatment plan that will address their specific needs. Today's Pro Move: List what makes them anxious and how you'd like to respond to them. Related resources: 3 Powerful Questions Every Leader Should AskAll Pro Dad articles on AnxietySeen: Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teenagers and the Power of ConnectionEXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join nearly 200,000 other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration sent straight to your inbox.This episode's show notes can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

Jackie Bledsoe is a professional blogger, author, and speaker, but first and foremost a husband and father, who encourages men to better lead and love their families through his blog. His new book: The 7 Rings of Marriage: Your Model for a Loving and Fulfilling Marriage is receiving rave reviews from men like Gary Chapman, the author of The Five Love Languages and Mark Merrill, founder of All Pro Dad.  To find out more about Jackie and to download some of his free resources, just click on the links below: http://www.jackiebledsoe.com http://www.jackiebledsoe.com/realmenconnect  ----------------------  Are you stuck? Want to go to the next level in your marriage, career, business, or ministry?  Then maybe it's time you got a coach. ALL CHAMPIONS have one. Let me coach you to help you strengthen your faith, improve your marriage, spiritually lead your family, achieve more, balance your time, grow your ministry, or even stop an addiction. Click here for details: http://www.RMCfree.com   Talk with Dr. Joe 1-on-1: Want to talk to the host? Time slots are limited, but Dr. Joe takes on a few Breakthrough Calls a week to personally help you with your personal life, work, and family challenges.  The call is FREE, but slots are limited to ONE call only.  NO RESCHEDULES.  Just click on the link below and select the BREAKTHROUGH CALL option to set up an appointment: https://TalkwithDrJoe.com   Also join us on: Join the Real Men 300: http://www.RealMen300.com Facebook Group: http://www.realmenuniversity.com/ Facebook: @realdrjoemartin YouTube: http://www.RealMenTraining.com Instagram: @realdrjoemartin Twitter: @professormartin

Join James and Teri Craft as they interview Mark Merrill, President of Family First, a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping people love their families well. Listen in as our hosts talk with Mark about how he and his wife make conscious choices in their marriage today, with the intention of impacting their family tomorrow and beyond! Mark is also one of the distinguished guest speakers at the Life Unplugged Gathering Marriage Conference in Dallas, TX, September 10th, 2022. For more information about Life Unplugged:https://www.livelifeunplugged.orgTo register for the Life Unplugged Gathering Conference: https://www.livelifeunplugged.org/events/To connect with Mark Merrill:Family FirstSupport the show

We pre-recorded today's conversation via Zoom with Mark Nantz, the new President & CEO for Valley Health as part of our Community Health partnership. Mark took over as Valley Health's new CEO on June 1, 2020 however he & his wife moved here in May, bought a house and began settling into our community. We talked for a bit about his past experiences in healthcare and why the Shenandoah Valley was of interest to him when he made a bid for the CEO position. Nantz previously served in executive roles with Bon Secours Mercy Health, most recently as Chief Administrative Officer and Atlantic Group President; before that as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Bon Secours. He has also held executive positions at Carolinas Healthcare System (now Atrium Health) and Carolinas Medical Center–NorthEast, and leadership roles in the audit practice of a Big 5 accounting firm. A certified public accountant, Nantz holds a Master's in Health Administration from Pfieffer University and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. We discussed the ease of transition from Mark Merrill even given the pandemic and lack of in-person meetings and conversations allowed. He spoke of his plans to move Valley Health forward and what a large role community partnerships will play. Community health holds a high priority for him and he's excited to expand services to those under-served in all of Valley Health's communities. We wrapped up our conversation with a current COVID-19 status of Valley Health facilities and talked about the importance of wearing a mask, testing opportunities that are still available, and how they are managing their inventory of PPE. For more COVID-19 related cancellations, mask donation and telehealth, click here. Call 540-536-0380 if you have a respiratory illness or symptoms. Valley Health is a not-for-profit health system serving a population of more than 500,000 in the Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, and western Maryland. As a healthcare provider, employer, and community partner, Valley Health is committed to improving the health of the region. The system includes six hospitals, more than 50 medical practices and Urgent Care centers, outpatient rehabilitation and fitness, medical transport, long-term care, and home health.  

We pre-recorded our conversation today with Mark Merrill, outgoing CEO at Valley Health via Zoom. Mark announced his retirement some months ago, so our conversation today was both an update and a look back. We talked about the current COVID-19 situation as it relates to both our community and Valley Health system; we discussed the importance of wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and, we spent some time talking about many of the programs & improvements he made during his tenure at Valley Health. Mark & his wife intend to remain in our community post-retirement so I'm sure we'll hear and see more from him in the future.

We pre-recorded today's episode via Zoom for a conversation with Mark Merrill, CEO at Valley Health to discuss their plan for re-opening services - specifically for elective surgeries. In Virginia, Governor Northam lifted the ban on all elective surgeries on May 1, 2020. Mark explained a few of the reasons behind that decision: Number of new cases continues to increase daily, but the growth rate appears to be slowing Number of hospitalizations remain steady Supply of PPEs is more secure Mark also explained the plan they've put in place at Valley Health to begin expanded access on May 4, 2020 at the Diagnostic Center located on the campus of Winchester Medical Center. They have also begun increasing access to elective procedures for those with time-sensitive medical needs. He told us that further delay of care is not in the best interest of many of their patients & that they have a physician-led steering committee that is providing oversight to help prioritize procedures based on clinical necessity. That plan includes: isolating the care of COVID-19 patients at Winchester Medical Center; developing a solid plan for handling surge capacity issues; ensuring an adequate supply of personal protective equipment and other supplies, and implementing policies for all staff to perform daily wellness checks and wear face masks. We discussed community collaboration and risk mitigation efforts that Valley Health has put into place and that will continue into the foreseeable future: Restricted visitation; cancelled events; postponed non-essential services Instituted telework for Valley Health employees Encouraged social distancing and launched a multi-media campaign featuring Valley Health caregivers to encourage community to embrace stay-at-home orders Finally, Mark gave us a quick rundown of several examples of the outpouring of support from individuals in our community as well as many local businesses: Sew Helpful Community Challenge: over 24,000 masks donated N95 masks from Ferguson 70 skids of paper products from Mercury Paper PPEs from Harbor Freight 3 ventilators from Shenandoah University TJ Kim, 16-year-old from Maryland, Operation SOS – Supplies over the Skies – flew his plan to Woodstock and Luray to drop off supplies Noah Ryman, 8-year-old from Woodstock, donated $7.87 to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital to help sick people; staff matched his gift and raised over $3,000 and they held a parade past his house Faith communities holding prayer vigils and drive-through blessings More food donations than you can shake a stick at!! For more information about their response to COVID-19, visit their website: https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/

We recorded today's conversation on Tuesday morning (3/31/20) via Zoom with Mark Merrill, President & CEO of Valley Health System. Mark gave us an update on where we are with COVID-19 in the Shenandoah Valley and explained how Valley Health has responded with visitation changes at hospitals; by closing wellness & fitness centers; and canceling all events and elective surgeries to minimize risk and slow the spread of the virus. He talked about the three new services they introduced in the last week that include a COVID-19 hotline, telehealth services and a respiratory care clinic and they positive impact they will have in our community. Mark also explained how the test collection sites will work, the process for being tested and how/to whom they report the results. We discussed the status of Valley Health's inventory of personal protection equipment as well as their surge capacity plan if there's an influx of positive cases. Finally, Mark talked about his gratitude to his staff across all their facilities and to the community as a whole who have supported Valley Health as the health crisis begins to show up in all our communities. For more information about Valley Health's response to COVID-19, click here to visit their website.

Scars. We all have them, whether they are the time we fell off our bike when we were young or the emotional ones we carry with us as an adult. Every scar has a story! On today's show, we will hear from former NFL player Devon Still, and how his life has been a journey from one scar to the next. The post #143: How to Overcome Obstacles in Life with Faith appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

How many of us struggle with trust? I know I do. Sometimes you just have to persevere. But it can still be hard to believe what you cannot see. Trust is something I have to work on daily. I am always up for a conversation that is going to inspire me to trust and persevere even when I don't know the outcome. That is why I was excited to have this discussion with NFL quarterback Case Keenum The post #142: What I Learned about Perseverance and Trust from Case Keenum appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

What is your lifelong dream? Is it to be the parent of a star athlete or have your own business? Whatever it is, having a dream energizes you (even on Monday mornings) as you passionately drive closer and closer to reaching it. Unfortunately, not all dreams happen. When a dream dies, it can be devastating. What can you do to get over the slump when you fail and find a new goal to pursue? The post #141: 4 Things to Do When You've Failed appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Based on the incredible true-life story that inspired the beloved, chart topping song, I Can Only Imagine is a song that brings ultimate hope to so many often in the midst of life's most challenging moments.  Amazingly, the song was written in mere minutes by MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard.  On today's show we have the privilege of talking to Bart and how those lyrics in reality, took a lifetime to craft. I Can Only Imagine is in theaters March 16th! The post #140: There's More to the Song, “I Can Only Imagine” appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

For centuries one story has touched the lives of people across the world. This holiday season you're invited to discover the story of the first Christmas from an entirely new perspective, and today on our show we have DeVon Franklin, one of the executive producers of the new movie The STAR in theaters November 10th. The post #139: The Star with DeVon Franklin (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

The great thing about integrity is that it is truly no respecter of position or wealth or race or gender.  It is not determined by shifting circumstances, cultural dynamics, or what you've previously achieved.  From the moment you are born, you –and you alone-determine whether you will be a person of integrity.  Integrity does not come in degrees-low, medium, or high.  You either have integrity or you don't.” The post #138: Every Man's Bible with Tony Dungy appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

When my daughters were young, it was easy to be their hero. All I had to do was carry them around the house on my shoulders, read them their favorite story, or play with them in the yard. But as my daughters have grown up, I've found that my relationships with them aren't so simple. Between school and friends and boys, things have become way more complicated. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get back on track in my relationships with my daughters. So join me on today's show as we share 5 ways to be a hero to your daughter. The post #048: 5 Ways to Be Your Daughter's Hero (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Good conversations lead to connection and intimacy. The best way to facilitate a good conversation is to ask great questions. Whether you feel like you know your spouse well or not, there are questions that will be helpful. The spouse who becomes an expert in the art of asking questions is the spouse who will win their spouse's heart. Susan and I will be going through ten questions to ask your spouse every year (or more often if you'd like). The post #137: 10 Questions to Ask Your Spouse Every Year appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Pornography is a beast that kills – kills the soul and ravages relationships. No one is immune to pornography. Everywhere you turn, it's becoming more and more available. At the same time, men are becoming less and less aware of its harmful nature and its lasting impacts. It's an addiction that squelches intimacy. Intimacy takes an investment of time and energy, while pornography is a way to manufacture cheap, fleeting thrills instantaneously. Those manufactured feelings begin to replace actual intimacy with a spouse, even when a couple watches it together. Meanwhile it makes a wife feel insecure and betrayed The post #136: 5 Ways to Break Free from the Pornography Trap appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

If someone were to ask you the question: What is the key to intimacy in a marriage? What answers do you think you'll receive? I can imagine a lot of words that might be racing through your mind. Sexual compatibility. Time. Romance. Open Communication. Compromise. Forgiveness. Kindness. All of those are good answers, but on today's show, Susan and I would like to suggest that there's a strong case to be made that TRUST is an important key that unlocks the door to emotional and physical intimacy in marriage. Trust is an essential ingredient in the two of you becoming one flesh. In List 5 of our new books, Lists to Love by for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love by for Busy Wives, we mention “If trust is the door to intimacy, then there are three keys to opening that door.” The post #135: Trust: The Key to Unlock Intimacy in Marriage appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

NFL athlete and Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson knows a thing or two about big games. But he says the biggest game in life—parenting, specifically fatherhood—is one for which there is no playbook. Watson shares, "I could find clearer direction for putting together a baby swing than for taking care of a newborn child,”. His new book, The New Dad's Playbook: Gearing Up for the Biggest Game of Your Life solves this problem by sharing parenting tips, wisdom and practical advice for new dads. The post #134: The New Dad's Playbook with Benjamin Watson (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

What is the opposite of love? If you said hate, well, I hate to disagree with you, but I'm convinced that the opposite of love is really selfishness. And in marriage, selfishness often makes you the worst threat to your marriage and can become the root cause of your marriage problems. The post #133: Is This the Root Cause of Your Marriage Problems? (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

You and your spouse are allies, not enemies. We must fight for our marriage because we love. We must fight for who we love. We must make war to make love last in marriage. Make war against those things that could divide our union. Fight for those things that will protect and preserve our union. Make love our highest priority as we pursue a selfless, sacrificial, and more perfect union. Here are 4 ways to fight for your marriage The post #132: 4 Ways to Fight for Your Marriage (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

When I got married…I didn't expect conflict, financial pressures, or challenges with children. I always thought the tough part about marriage was finding the right girl. I thought that once I found her, being married was the easy part. When I said my vows I EXPECTED it would always be better. I never EXPECTED that there would be a worse. And there was… The post #131: You Married for Better, but What about for Worse? (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Busyness is a thief that steals meaningful time and lasting memories. Creating a relationship bucket list will be helpful; it will work in all phases of your life and all relationships. Being INTENTIONAL is the key to having a strong relationship bucket list. The post #130: Why You Need a Relationship Bucket List (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Expectations: It's a huge word in marriage and something that many couples, ourselves included, struggle over. We oftentimes have unfair and unrealistic expectations when we go into marriage or even throughout our marriage. When we were writing our two new books Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives, we found that this was a common denominator that was present in many of the historic blogs as well as current blog posts. People were looking for what should I expect from my husband, what should I expect from my wife, and what should I expect from our marriage. Expectations in marriage could be the biggest threat to your relationship The post #129 Unfair Expectations You May Have of Your Spouse (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

It's been said that we should never say never in our marriage and we should never use the word always, because, usually, they are unhelpful in navigating through issues or through conflict, but today we are going to talk about things you should always do in your marriage or that you should never do in your marriage. This is a list from our Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives books, and it talks about 7 Must Do's and Don'ts for Your Marriage. The post #128: 7 Must Do's and Don'ts for Your Marriage (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Today we have an exciting show because we are going to be talking about things that spouses wish the other knew. In List #8 of our newly released books, Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives we have things wives wish husbands knew and husbands wish wives knew. We wish for our spouses to know our heart. We both learned that knowing what your spouse desires is key to investing your time wisely and getting the greatest return for your marriage. We will share a few of those today. The post #127: 5 Things Husbands and Wives Wish the Other Knew (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Susan and I recently released our new books, Lists to Love By for Busy Husbands and Lists to Love By for Busy Wives and we both felt it very necessary to have our first list in both of our books be about truths. For today's podcast, we will share with you 7 truths about marriage that we have come to know to keep us grounded and have become particularly important when we experience rough patches in our relationship. The post #126: 7 Truths About Marriage (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

When we initially think about what we should do for our kids every day, we think of things like help with homework, make their lunches, take them to school, but really it's the relational things that they will remember. For today's podcast, we will go much deeper with the things we should be doing for our kids! The post #125: 8 Things Parents Should Do for their Kids Every Day (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

There are lots of not-so-great choices families make once in a while with no major consequences. But when those choices become habits, you've got a problem. Such is the case with most of these 8 negative habits to kick. If you see them making regular appearances in your family's life, act fast to correct them. […] The post #124: Top 8 Habits to Break as a Family (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Toxic words poison, and sometimes even kill relationships. I confess there have been too many times when harsh, harmful words have come out of my mouth toward my wife, Susan. It grieves me. I'm continually working hard to choose my words wisely. The post #123: What Not to Say to Your Spouse During a Fight (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

This can be a challenge for both husbands and wives. When your spouse is feeling down, it's hard to put yourself in their shoes. There used to be days where Susan would vent to me about an issue with one of our children and really needed my support. Instead of showing her that support, I felt I needed to fix the problem and move on. I would always want to fix the problem but that never works to resolve anything. So I'm learning how to uplift Susan when she's down. On today's show, we will be discussing 4 things to do when your spouse is feeling down. The post #122: 4 Things To Do When Your Spouse is Feeling Down (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

We are in the month of November and some may not realize that this month is National Adoption Month. National Adoption Month hits home for both Susan and I because we have two adopted children as part of our family and are so blessed to be their parents. The post #121: Impacting a Child's Life – Mentoring, Fostering, Adopting (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

One of the hallmarks of this year's presidential campaign has been plain rudeness on both sides, from the primaries to the conventions. We also see that lack of basic courtesies and manners on television, online, social media, and in life. Manners really have taken a back seat. The post #120: 5 Manners You Must Teach Your Children (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

During last week's podcast, we started discussing the trigger points of conflict that Susan and I have and how we try to disarm them. We will continue with a few more this week. The post #119: Prickly Spouse? Prepare for the Porcupine Part 2 (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

In our 28 years of marriage, Susan and I have had our fair share of conflict. What causes marital conflict, you ask? Well, a root cause is our selfishness. It's frustrating because it seems like a constant struggle that will always be there no matter how hard we try. The post #118: Prickly Spouse? Prepare for the Porcupine Part 1 (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

It's been almost 20 years, and it's amazing what God has done with the organization of All Pro Dad. All Pro Dad is one program under Family First, the non-profit organization that provides parenting, marriage and relationship resources that help people love their family well, along with iMOM, the Family Minute, MarkMerrill.com and this podcast. I'm in the studio today with the co-founder of All Pro Dad and NFL Hall of Famer, Coach Tony Dungy. The post #117: Celebrating Family and Fatherhood with Tony Dungy (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

A leader is simply someone who has followers-followers they influence. Susan and I have tried to raise all 5 of our children to be leaders. We've taught them it's not just what you do, it's who you are at the core. The post #116: How to Raise Your Child to be a Leader (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Today we will be sharing with you a little bit about a very important topic that we all have faced and we are all trying to figure out, and that issue is anger. Nobody likes it, but everybody deals with it. Why? Because anger has a way of sneaking up on us. Somehow small moments of frustration can quickly escalate into anger. But there's hope! I believe that getting to the root of anger will help us deal with emotions in a healthy way. The post #115: Anger: Face It, Find It, Figure it Out (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

For many years, our family went to the lake house of our close friends. We always did a lot of water skiing there. My parents were part of a water ski show when they were young and I inherited their love for the sport. When it was my turn to ski, I always wanted Susan to go. The post #114: 4 Secrets You Must Know About Your Spouse (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

The topic we will be discussing today is increasingly becoming more of an issue in relationships and in marriages – a lot of it has to do with technology and this is what it is: comparison. If you feel like the marriage grass is greener on the other side when you look at other couples, it could be that you're not watering your own lawn enough and spending too much time looking at theirs. The post #113: 4 Ways to Crush Comparison in Marriage (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Think back to when you first started to pursue your spouse. It required commitment, hard work, and imagination. If winning them over required that back then, why does it surprise us when neglect hurts our relationship after we walk down the aisle? They wouldn't have married you if you took them for granted. Why risk everything now? The post #112: 4 Strategies to Help Solve Your Marriage Problems (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.

Every husband and wife want to feel connected with one another…but sometimes busyness, the daily grind, stress and strain can get in the way and cause a feeling of NOT being connected…and when that happens, “marriage drift” sometimes occurs and you drift farther and farther apart without even knowing it. The key to staying connected is to be intentional. 6 things you can be intentional about… If your marriage is good, these six things can help you grow closer. If your marriage is so-so or even worse, they could help you give it a push in the right direction towards bonding time with your spouse. It's important to stay connected as a couple and Susan and have learned these 6 things in our 27 years of marriage… The post #111: 6 Things That Keep Couples Connected (Podcast) appeared first on Mark Merrill's Blog.