Next Level Blog

Family Clay Monkus Family Clay Monkus

How to Lose (or Gain) Influence With Your Children

Every parent wants influence, and while a parent is the greatest influence in a child’s life, that influence can wax and wane with the seasons.  In fact, a lot of parents I know feel like they’re losing influence.

So, how exactly does influence work?  It works like this:

Read More
Spiritual Growth Clay Monkus Spiritual Growth Clay Monkus

I Need More of God

I was chatting with someone this week about growing in our relationship with God and how sometimes we just feel stuck in our walk.

It was an awesome opportunity to talk with them about all the things I have learned and am learning about walking with God. 

And I thought I would share an abbreviated version of that conversation here.

Much of what I have learned is birthed out a deep desire in myself and several of the people I know and love, to chase hard after God.

Read More
Spiritual Growth, Life Clay Monkus Spiritual Growth, Life Clay Monkus

Something Every Man Should Know

For all the guys out there, let me ask you a question (ladies, I will ask you something next week). 

Do you remember as a boy, wanting to be Spider-Man or a Jedi Knight or (insert your favorite hero)? 

And why did every long stick become a sword and every short stick a laser firing blaster?

I would suggest that there was something...

Read More
Spiritual Growth Clay Monkus Spiritual Growth Clay Monkus

What Is Really Going On Here?

Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we've arrived to forty minutes late.

Sure, good things happen.  But tragic things happen too.  What does it mean?  


We find ourselves in the middle of a story that is sometimes wonderful, sometimes awful, but usually a confusing mixture of both.  And, we haven't a clue how to make sense of it all.  No wonder we keep losing heart.


If you walk into any mall, amusement park...

Read More
Life, Hope Clay Monkus Life, Hope Clay Monkus

It's The Most Chaotic Time of the Year

A little boy and a little girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded “Silent Night” with the words, “sleep in heavenly beans.”
His sister elbowed him, and said, “No. Not beans, peas!”

I think this can sum up how many of us feel by the time we reach Christmas, the song might just as well end with beans or peas instead of peace. Because sometimes in the frantic rush to get everything done, the peace of the season seems to elude us.

Read More