In order for deep change to take place in our lives, our THEOLOGY must be translated into PRACTICES. Our lives are only transformed when our biblical knowledge becomes a lived experience. That’s why for the last 25 years, my wife Geri and I have developed practical SKILLS that help us to better love God and others. Last week, I introduced a powerful skill called “Explore the Iceberg“, which is a tool that helps you explore and process your emotional life. In today’s podcast, I introduce you to another skill called “Climbing the Ladder of Integrity.” It’s easy to feel stuck, not knowing what to pray. This powerful skill will help you clarify complex thoughts, values, and desires and discover what God might be revealing to you.

How would you describe the way you spend time with Jesus? Most Christians consider prayer to be the place in which we present our requests, needs, and current life circumstances to God. But many of us, including pastors and leaders, were never taught how to bring the full range of our emotional life to God. The truth is – human beings are like icebergs. Only 10% of our lives is visible to the eye. The other 90% is under the surface and hidden. It is critical we learn how to become aware of our emotions, with the goal of processing them and discerning God’s will. In today’s podcast, I walk you through a powerful skill, developed over 25 years, called “Explore the Iceberg”. It is both practical and profound. This skill has revolutionized the way I spend time with Jesus, and I know it will do the same for you!

In your life, whether you like it or not, you’ll experience a series of life-altering transitions. Transitions are big and small and come in many forms including death, career, marriage, children, relocation, relationships, and church community. In fact, we are currently in a time of massive, global transition. Decades from now, the world will remember the coronavirus pandemic as one of the most significant events of our lifetime. Transitions are unavoidable. The problem is – most of us don’t do them very well. But every transition is simply a preparation from God – a foretaste of the great transition that will happen at the end of the age. In today’s podcast, I share several keys that will help us pay attention to the work of God in our lives, even in the fog of life transitions.

In 597 B.C., the unimaginable happened. Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel was taken into captivity in Babylon. Not only were they far from home and everything they considered familiar, but they were also left clinging to the promises of God, wondering if there was any hope of return. Five years later, a young man named Ezekiel saw something he didn’t expect. While gathered with other exiles at the river, God met him in a powerful way. Today, many of us feel far from home and the world we used to know. But take heart! The places of great turmoil and disillusionment are where God wants to surprise us with His Presence. In today’s podcast, I share with you a message from Ezekiel that Has several timely applications for our present moment. I pray you will listen along and be deeply encouraged!

“I just want to move on…” I hear this phrase often from pastors. We’re tired of the pandemic and we’re over talking about it. Most of us would rather keep our heads down and power through. But as we discussed in last week’s podcast, we MUST acknowledge the deep grief and loss that we’ve experienced in this last year. This is where Jesus wants to meet us and unlock new revelation of God and ourselves. But HOW do we actually lead ourselves and our churches through grief and loss? In today’s podcast, I offer ten practical ways we can practice grief and loss. I believe this will give you simple next steps and a new imagination for what this could like in your life and church. It all starts by beginning our “long apprenticeship with sorrow” which I unpack in this episode. Take a listen.

Will this pandemic ever come to an end? That’s the lingering question following us around like a cloud. The truth is – no one really knows when things will get better and predictions are all over the map. Until then, we hold on to the hope of recovering normalcy in our lives and churches. This deep desire for a new future drives us forward each day. But in our anticipation of the future, it’s essential that we not neglect the pain of the present. This week, over 441,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States since the pandemic began. Don’t just skim over this. Take a moment and let it sink in. As leaders, we must not avoid pain and loss in our lives and world. When we do, we actually miss out on seeing a deeper revelation of God and ourselves. In today’s podcast, I share part one of a series. Read more.