The Man in the Pew Show with Phil Mershon

Do you find yourself staring at the success of others and wishing you were more like them? Does it make you jealous or feel like you’re not enough? If you’ve said yes, you’ve experienced the comparison trap. In this podcast episode, I interview Ian Anderson Gray about his experience with the comparison trap. We discuss things like self-doubt, how we measure ourselves, and the importance of God’s t...

Have you ever been part of a conversation where it’s obvious the other person doesn’t understand your point? Have you ever stopped at that moment to wonder if you’re truly listening to their perspective? Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. ~Stephen R. Covey The truth is, it’s easier to hear than to speak, but it’s hard to listen with the d...

Do you ever wake in the middle of the night with a dreadful thought? Does your mind quickly focus on negative issues? Those thoughts become toxic when we feed them too much and they start to consume us. Recently, I had just finished reading a very emotional piece to my wife. I was in a vulnerable place, and she asked me a simple question driven by a genuine and right desire. My mind received it as...

Did you know that 80% of all people break their New Year’s Resolutions by Valentine’s Day? Have you experienced this trap? Why do you think that is? Pastor Craig Groeschel thinks it’s because we’re trying too hard. Instead, we need to approach life like an athlete approaches training.  Neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf proves it’s because we’re going about it the wrong way. She believes we can lite...

Have you made a bold claim or shared an audacious vision? Did you gulp after you said it and realized now you need to make good on your word or feel like a fraud? That’s how my journey toward gratitude started. On November 13, 2020, I wrote a provocative article about why gratitude matters. I wrote it to prepare myself for Thanksgiving, but I also knew intuitively it was something I needed to thin...

Do you ever feel intense loneliness? Like you’re the only person in the world who’s fighting the battles you face? It happens often and it’s a self-reinforcing cycle. When you feel lonely you don’t want to reach out or acknowledge the problems you face, and, as a result, you think you’re alone. For example, I’m in a couple of different men’s prayer groups. I appreciate it when someone boldly share...

Have you ever been down to your last few dollars in your bank account or wallet? Since you’re still alive enough to read or hear this, I suspect you have a story you could tell of God’s provision in those desperate moments. Angus Nelson, on day 62 , told the story of when he and his wife went on a luxury cruise with clients while only having a few hundred dollars left in the bank. They knew they n...

Do you struggle to remain thankful? Do you find your mind slowly slipping from a grateful mindset into a negative mindset?  It happens to all of us. It doesn’t have to be inevitable. Today’s episode is with Angus Nelson , a Men’s Performance Coach. He believes it all starts with your mindset which is formed by renewing your mind through creating the right habits. In other words, it’s what you beli...

Day 61: 90-Day Gratitude Challenge Have you ever felt like running and hiding due to shame? How thankful did you feel in that moment? Author and counselor Dan Allender says shame can feel like quicksand where we pull away from relationships and reality and slide into a pit of despair. Can you relate? I can. Show notes: maninthepew.com/gc61

Day 60: Gratitude Challenge Is there really a difference between gratitude and appreciation? Does it make a difference in how we live? While the differences may appear to be semantical at first, the distinction can prove vitally important in how we live our lives. Show notes: https://maninthepew.com/gc60

Gratitude Challenge Day 59 Do you find it difficult to remain grateful on some days? Does it ever annoy you to see people who seem to be grateful all the time? Join the club! The writer of Proverbs can relate: A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse! Proverbs 27:14 NLT Researchers have discovered that some of us are indeed hard-wired to be more grateful. Whether...

Do you wonder if gratitude belongs at work? Doesn’t competition mean I need to keep a guarded attitude with my co-workers? Over the last fifteen years, researchers have studied the effects of gratitude on health, well-being, and organizational culture. The consensus is that gratitude makes an enormous personal and corporate difference. Even if there’s a dark side of gratitude, the benefits by far...

What is the opposite of relentless? Some would say intermittent, short-lived, or irresolute. I think it’s settled. Let me explain. While the Apostle Paul encourages us to discover contentment in our circumstances (Phil 4:10-19), he also challenges us to approach faith like a soldier or athlete embraces discipline. In 1 Cor: 9:24, he says: “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only o...

Have you ever been in a dark pit? One where you feel stuck and every time you try to climb out you keep slipping back down? Can you imagine singing in the bottom of a swamp? Psalm 40 shows David in a slimy pit crying out to God for deliverance. In faith, he declares that he will sing God’s praises when he’s been delivered. What kind of trouble is he in? More than he can count. More than the hairs...

Do you know someone with cancer? Perhaps you’re fighting a battle with cancer even today? My father-in-law fought off cancer, against all odds, and lived another nineteen years. It doesn’t always work out like that. How do you live gratefully when faced with the prospect of dying prematurely? In this interview, I discuss with Kep Crabb, founder of   Larger Story , how he’s responding to his wife’s...

Do you ever find yourself saying, “I can’t do that?” Perhaps you have a valid reason.  I have two friends with stage 4 cancer. Another friend recently lost her husband to accidental death. If they told you they couldn’t do something right now, wouldn’t you be inclined to give them a pass? That’s what I thought, too, until I read Matthew 14.

You’ve heard the cliches. “The grass is always greener on the other side.” Or “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Discontentment abounds when we lose our gratitude. We’ve probably all seen something like this happen: A man grows discontent in his work so he starts looking around. He sees friends changing jobs and thinks this will make him happy. He discovers what looks like the perfect job...

Have you lost someone you love to death recently? If not, have you had to completely let go of a job, a relationship, or a dream?  You may be thinking this feels awfully morbid and how can I possibly be thankful in the face of death? It’s a fair question. While I’m not a grief counselor, I have experienced my share of death. My father passed away due to an accidental fall. I have multiple friends...

Do you regularly practice gratitude as a family or church community? How is that different from personal gratitude? Life. Church recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. As part of their celebration they thanked God for thousands of changed lives, stories of God’s amazing provision, and the unprecedented opportunities for sharing the Gospel. It was very moving and God-honoring. It got me thinki...

Have you ever felt depressed? I don’t mean just when you feel a little melancholy, but when you feel like you’re in a dark cave for days on end and can’t seem to climb out? In this Gratitude Challenge, I’ve been advocating the benefits of gratitude for freeing us from anxiety and stress while also producing a protective shield around our hearts and minds. Scripture clearly teaches this is possible...

Ever feel like you’re being attacked on every side? Do you wish you could have a protective wall around you allowing you to finally rest?  Scripture reveals God as our refuge and strong tower. He is a real strength and a constant never-sleeping guard.  But what’s our role in building up those walls? No surprise here, but gratitude is a critical ingredient. Gratitude won’t keep you from all harm, b...

Have you ever played a musical instrument? Were you deliberate about practicing or did your parents have to force you? Gerald J. Leonard claims that professional musicians spend 95% of their time practicing and only 5% on stage. He should know...  Gerald is a professional jazz musician, a Portfolio Management Professional consultant, and the author of two books: Culture is the Bass and, his new bo...

Do you struggle to remain grateful through your day? How about in your closest relationships? Do your closest friends and family also struggle to remain thankful? Jim Rohn famously said: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So if you tend to spend time with negative people, you will remain negative. If you feed your mind with positive information, your mind will f...

Have you ever felt caught in the comparison trap? Do you know what I mean? It’s where we constantly compare ourselves to the rich, the famous, the successful or the beautiful and slowly start to despise and devalue our gifts and abilities. President Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” While it almost sounds biblical, this truth still confronts an ugly problem we all fa...

Do you struggle to get a good’s night sleep? Does your mind race as you rehearse conversations, invent new products, or stress over the things you didn’t accomplish? Researchers have confirmed what the Bible has taught for millennia: gratitude helps you sleep better.