Affliction. It’s a topic that nobody wants to talk about (including me). But as it relates to TRUE LEADERSHIP, it is a costly mistake to avoid our afflictions. Why? Because this is how God matures us into spiritual mothers and fathers of the faith. By “affliction,” I’m referring to any kind of hurt, loss, betrayal, broken relationship, abandonment, or disorienting circumstance. While these are obviously things we don’t want, they are also unavoidable. Many of us run from our afflictions, seeing them as obstacles to our life and leadership. We distract, jump over, sidestep, and ignore. But Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow him. And when you’re on the cross, you can’t just jump off! The good news is that God doesn’t abandon us in our hardships. In fact – if we’re willing to PAY ATTENTION, God uses our afflictions to develop us into the type of leaders worth following.. Read more.

One of the greatest threats to leading with joy is giving into the temptation of overcommitment. When our lives are crowded, cluttered, and cramped, it is difficult to hear God and live in loving union with Him. The irony is, we can “fit in” regular practices of Sabbath and silence while still being driven by an overscheduled life. But how do we resist this temptation? Silence, solitude, and sabbath must become our practices. AND spaciousness must become our mindset. In order to live spacious lives, we must avoid the critical traps that keep us settling for an overcommitted life. What would it feel like to live with breathing room? How would it feel to limit your “Yes” and claim more margin in your schedule? What if you could build in time for extended thinking, praying, and being? On today’s podcast, I identify several traps that keep you from the gift of spaciousness and offer wisdom that. Read more.

Many leaders today “know” the importance of a slowed-down spirituality. So why do so many continue to feel overloaded and over scheduled, often working 3 jobs, taking on new side hustles, and remain driven by the fear of missing out? Why can’t we stop overcommitting? Listen, I know this struggle firsthand. And I’ve found that it goes deeper than knowing intellectually and theologically the right thing to do. We know many things. We know we need to slow down. We know about Sabbath and Daily Offices. We know we need silence and solitude. We know we need margin and spaciousness in our calendar. But if we want to experience breakthrough, we must get to our root systems so we can live in freedom. On today’s podcast, I tackle this question head-on in two parts: How do you break free from the roots of overcommitment inside yourself? How do you help others break free from. Read more.

Recently we crossed an unbelievable threshold with the Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast with over 10 million lifetime podcast downloads. I couldn’t be more surprised, humbled, and thankful for this milestone moment. I say “surprised” because back in 1996, when we first started, the term “emotional health” was considered heretical in much of the church! Now 25 years later, we can see that the cultural landscape has changed dramatically. Not only is emotional health received, but in many ways, it is now considered a promotional buzzword. This is both a step forward AND presents a new challenge… While many leaders are doing the hard work of living and leading from true emotional and spiritual health, there are also many who use the right language but have settled for a surface-level version of the real thing. In today’s podcast, I share my observations of what I consider 3 counterfeit versions of emotional health that we settle for, but then. Read more.

I was recently asked by someone… “Pete, if you could go back and give yourself advice in the different seasons of life and ministry, what would you say?” The truth is – every decade has its own unique invitations. As I reflected, I realized that I would say something slightly different to myself at 25, 35, 45, and even 55. Today on the podcast, I share with you some fresh insights as I look back on my own journey and development. While my journey is different than yours, I’m hoping you’ll be able to learn from my lessons – both the good and the bad!