You know you need a Sabbath when:  The only time you are alone is in the bathroom. It takes you over thirty minutes to fall asleep because your mind is racing about things you forgot to do. You think rest is sitting still in traffic. You go to check your e-mail for a moment and are still there an hour later. You cannot remember anything you ate in the last 3 days. You don’t know what day it is. You find yourself jealous and angry when someone else is enjoying life. When you tweet during movie, text during dinner, read e-mail during meetings and classes, and learn about your spouse’s day from Facebook. Do any of these sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. That’s why we must recover the ancient practice Sabbath. It’s how we slow down our lives to delight in Jesus, and in doing so, anchor ourselves into eternity. On today’s podcast,. Read more.

We have an urgent need to recover a slowed down spirituality – a way of life that allows us to live each moment in loving union with Jesus. One way we cultivate this way of life is by prioritizing a regular Sabbath day. In contrast with what many people believe, Sabbath is more than a “day off”. It is a day holy unto the Lord that transforms the other six days of our week. When we enter into Sabbath we are able to work from our rest, not just rest from our work. This is the theme we explore in today’s podcast episode. Working from our rest allows our lives to become a sign and wonder pointing to the reality of Jesus. Want to see how? Listen to the episode now.

I want to clarify something… Becoming an emotionally healthy disciple is not just about self-discovery and self-improvement. Ultimately, our discipleship MUST lead us to become spiritual mothers and fathers of the faith – helping those around us discover their God-given power and purpose. In the gospel of Mark, we get a clear picture of how Jesus does this with a leper, a paralytic, and a tax collector. In each encounter, he steps into their lives and rewrites their story. He reveals their true identity, giving them beauty, power, and a voice that matters. This is what God has done for us, and this is what we must do for the world. The truth is – you can be 70 years old and still be an emotional infant. Or, you can be 30 years old and already be a spiritual mother or father. In today’s podcast, I share a message that invites us to become spiritual mothers. Read more.

Many great leaders of the past can be distinguished by one often overlooked virtue: Prudence. In Luke 16, Jesus tells a parable of a shrewd manager, who handles his wealth differently than others. Jesus then makes the connection that this non-Christian manager has something to teach his disciples. The Bible has much to say about growing in prudence. In a world of reactivity and short-term decision-making, we would do well to become shrewd leaders, able to be forward thinking leaders. On today’s podcast, I share a sermon that will help you grow as an emotionally healthy leader – prudent with your time, wealth, energy, and resources. Only with prudence are we able to become the kind of leaders who create and shape the future!

Are you facing a large decision requiring great discernment? Recently, I made a large, consequential decision over the period of 3 – 6 months. This discernment process required me to personally apply the principles of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship in a deep way. In today’s podcast episode, I will walk you through the specifics of this real-life decision, why it was complex, and five questions that guided me in this decision-making process. We are all eventually confronted with consequential decisions – especially those who lead. I pray these five questions better equip you to discern the will of God in your life and ministry.

For the last 9 weeks, we’ve been exploring the core theology and practices of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. But now it’s time to address your questions and challenges as you put it into practice. In today’s episode, I address questions like: What’s the difference between hitting a “wall” and going through a trial? How do you handle the defensiveness of leaders who feel like Emotionally Healthy Discipleship is an “indictment” on modern evangelicalism? Can you talk through the difference between persistent faith in asking God for something, and straying into the “name it and claim it” territory?  How do you find faith and hope in seasons of prolonged disappointment and pain? How do I take a sabbath without my spouse and leadership team sabotaging it?  And more Don’t forget, if you missed the first episode on The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality, you can listen to it here.