It happens to all of us. Sooner or later it will happen to you…. The “Wall” is another name for the times in our journey where it appears our faith is “not working”. At walls, we end up questioning ourselves, God, and the church. The very foundation of our faith feels like it is on the line. We don’t know where God is, what He is doing, where He is going, how He is getting us there, or when it will be over. Sound familiar? You are not alone. In fact, every Christian eventually hits a wall. At the time, it feels detrimental. But the wall is actually what God uses to transform us from the inside out. In today’s podcast, I talk more extensively about the 6 stages of the wall and it can lead to complete life transformation. This episode is a continuation of an 8-week podcast series in which we explore the seminal. Read more.

Leaders by nature are future-focused. We dream about possibilities that are months or even years down the road. But when it comes to our discipleship, we can not underestimate the power of our past and how it shapes our future. The Scriptures tell us that the blessings and sins of our families going back three to four generations profoundly impact who we are today. The truth is – we cannot move into the future God has for us until we acknowledge the blessings and brokenness we’ve inherited from our families of origin. Today, on the podcast, we continue an 8-week series in which we explore the seminal work from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. If you are a pastor, leader, or listener and you want to grow in emotional health, this series is a must-listen. If you missed the first episode on the problem of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, you can listen to it here. As we say – you can’t. Read more.

You are not God. But it is impossible to know God without first knowing yourself. Many Christians believe that denying ourselves means we are to dismiss our own thoughts, feelings, and desires. But as Augustine said in 400 A.D., “How can you draw close to God when you are far from your own self?” Augustine then prayed, “Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee.” This means, as Paul writes, we must learn how to put off our false self, and put on our new self in Christ. (Eph. 4:22) Today, on the podcast, we continue an 8-week series in which we explore the seminal work from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. If you are a pastor, leader, or listener and you want to grow in emotional health, this series is a must-listen. If you missed the first episode on the problem of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, you can listen to it here. As we say – you can’t be. Read more.

It’s often difficult to pin down, but many Christians have found there is something about our spirituality that is just not working. We’re committed to our church, but others experience us as unloving. We read the Bible and pray regularly, but feel stuck in what we’ve always known. We’re doing all the “right” things, but constantly feel rushed, unable to do it all. Most arrive to these conclusions in a “normal” year. But the pandemic, political unrest, and economic fears have accelerated this crisis like never before. Simply put, the great pressures from every angle have exposed critical gaps in our spirituality. In many ways, this exposure is a gift from God. But we must get serious about facing them head on. Today, on the podcast, we launch an 8-week series in which we’ll explore the seminal work from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. In this first episode, we shine a light on the Top 10 Symptoms of Emotionally. Read more.

The troubling part of leadership is that we must lead while the ground is moving under us. Every day, we wake up to new challenges that demand new responses – a new COVID variant, a volatile economy, and global tensions that require our attention. The constantly moving targets can leave us dizzy and exhausted. And yet, even amidst great pressure, we are in a sacred time and a sacred space. Today, on the podcast, I share two biblical invitations that will anchor you when the earth is shifting underneath your feet.

Happy New Year! As we step into January, we move forward with hope. But if we’re honest, there’s also some hesitancy. We continue to lead in the face of shifting sands. It often feels like the ground beneath is constantly moving. In uncertain times, it’s easy to play it safe. But in Luke 5, Jesus calls his disciples out beyond shallow waters to go fishing in the deep. The deep water is always frightening, but it’s the place God calls us to live and lead. I can’t think of a more appropriate invitation for 2022. Please, listen to this sermon on today’s podcast and be encouraged as you lead into a new year.