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.
In today's podcast, I share my observations of what I consider 3 counterfeit versions of emotional health that we settle for, but then cast a vision for an authentic life with God.
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!
I was 19 when I came to Christ and started my training as a Christian leader.
As a young leader, I was taught many valuable things. But nobody told me about the most powerful gift leaders can bring to those they lead.
But I've learned (through my own failures) that the greatest gift leaders can actually give is becoming an "incarnational presence" – being DEEPLY PRESENT with people like Jesus.
In today's podcast episode, we look at the norm for most churches and leaders, but then we'll explore the beauty of what can happen in our church cultures when we learn to lead in this way.
I encourage you to watch our full training video online in our Leader's Training Vault. It's completely free and only takes one minute to register.
For now, you can listen to today's episode here...
As a pastor or leader, your primary role is to develop and disciple others.
Not long ago I was spending time with some young pastors, hoping to learn how leaders today define ministry success. The word "influence" seemed to be a common theme.
Many leaders obsess over growing their followers, gaining digital credibility, and creating captivating sound bites for social media. While there is nothing wrong with having a following, there exists a pressure and allure to making that the primary scorecard for ministry impact. This way of thinking only leads to destruction.
In many ways, this is nothing new. The 3 deadly temptations that Jesus faced in the desert, are the exact temptations we face as leaders, no matter what generation you are from.
Every day, people all around us live in a chronic state of dread, anxious about what tomorrow will bring.
Nations and economies are crumbling. News media agitates our deepest fears. It often feels like the ground is shaking beneath our feet.
In a time like this, it is critical that we continue to LIVE and LEAD out of deep rest in Christ.
But how do we break free from the gravitational pull of bad news and despair?
I believe we must recalibrate a biblical vision of HOPE. (Hint: it's more than optimism)
Let's be clear – this doesn't happen easily. We must contend for God's vision of reality and vigilantly pursue deep rest in Christ.
In today's podcast episode, I share keys to cultivating hope and deep rest.
Hiring new staff (paid or volunteer) is one of the most difficult responsibilities of church leadership. The difference between the right hire and the wrong hire will have long-term consequences in your church.
Two weeks ago on the podcast, I brought the first part of "Emotionally Healthy Hiring (Paid or Volunteer)", in which we covered the first 7 principles that leaders must consider before making a hire.
Today, I bring the second part, offering the next 6 out of 13 principles for emotionally healthy hiring. (It's shocking to hear how often principle #11 is overlooked when hiring staff!)
Churches around the world are rebuilding in a post-pandemic world. Leaders are assembling new teams and desperately trying to fill vacant positions.
The temptation to cut corners in your hiring process (paid or volunteer) is ENORMOUS. When you feel the pressure to onboard a new worship leader or children's pastor in order to keep "the wheels on the bus", it's easy to make poor hiring decisions.
In today's podcast, I share 7 out of 13 principles that MUST be considered before your next hire. On the following podcast, I'll release part two of this series with the remaining principles.
Today, very few church leaders feel like they are winning.
We look at our churches compared to what they used to be or what we'd like them to be, and it's hard to feel like we're making a real difference.
So we're faced with a difficult temptation...
Do we use our best energy to chase the perception of momentum? Or do we pursue heaven's perspective and seek to live with integrity from the inside out?
In today's podcast, I want to encourage you as a pastor or church leader. Jesus is King and He is ruling over the whole world – including your church!
Great news! I'm officially back from my summer sabbatical and I'm excited to share with you insights from my time away.
In the 3rd - 5th centuries, early Christian men and women fled to the desert to escape the moral compromise in the church and the idols of the world. They did this, not out of self-righteousness, but in order to send a life raft to the church and be a gift to the world.
The truth is – we must find a new way to live as desert fathers and mothers if we are going to live with deep peace and a powerful witness.
In today's podcast, I share 8 ways you can create for yourself a desert from which you can better love God and love others.
One of the most destructive temptations leaders face is living and leading from the veneer of a "false self". In other words, we project an image of how we'd like to be perceived, rather than living from truth.
In today's podcast, I share a sermon from Colossians 3 that explores how we can overcome our false self and live out of our true self in Christ.
Many leaders today believe that if we're going to get things done and be successful, we must "take the bull by the horns". We are told that strength and power win in the economy of leadership.
So when Jesus boldly announces "Blessed are the Meek", it's no wonder that many of us shrug our shoulders and keep plowing ahead.
In today's podcast, I share a sermon that explores the depth underneath Jesus' words as he invited us into a life marked by meekness.
Today on the podcast, I share a part of an interview I did earlier this year with the Canadian Church Leaders Network.
I expanded upon what I see as one of God’s purposes for pouring out His Spirit - giving us the power to die.
For too many years, I thought being a peacemaker was simply being a nice person.
Because of this illusion, I spiritualized my conflict avoidance and created a culture in my church where everyone pretended things were ok. This is the definition of false peace.
In the second part of this series, we explore how Jesus disrupted false peace by cleansing the temple. If you're a people-pleaser, this is a critical message for our day!
I spent my early years avoiding conflict. True peacemaking, when understood correctly, actually comes through disrupting false peace.
In today's podcast, I share a sermon that goes deeper into this new understanding. I assure you...it changes everything.
Many pastors have been professionally educated and extensively trained.
The problem is – we are facing a massive discipleship crisis. I've found that much of our training doesn't help get at the root of this problem.
Deep change requires a new kind of training.
In today's episode, I cast a biblical vision for why training is not a "once and done" experience but a lifestyle we are called to.
Have you ever stopped to consider what season you are in?
Spring, summer, fall, or winter?
When we ignore the reality of our season, not only do we constantly feel like we're missing it, but we are unable to receive the unique gifts of God.
On today's podcast, together we'll explore how to discern and navigate our unique leadership seasons.
For many leaders, the pain and failure that come with leadership are often too much to bear.
But the truth is – pain and failure are some of God's greatest gifts to us.
Why? Because it is the only way we will mature into the unique leaders He has destined us to become. In today's podcast episode, I'll show you how to perceive the challenges of leadership as gifts from the Father.
Have you ever returned from vacation tired and empty?
As we enter into the summer months in North America, we have an opportunity to completely re-think the way we take our vacations from a biblical perspective.
On today's podcast, I explore what you must do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER your vacation in order for you to get the rest and restoration you need.
Is your life and leadership the same on the INSIDE as it is on the OUTSIDE?
You might respond "Of course it is!". But reality is - sometimes it's hard to know. That's why God often sends others to help us see our own blindspots.
In today's podcast, I share this full sermon and 3 invitations that I believe are critical for the day in which we live.
It has been almost 40 years since I graduated from seminary. I had no idea there would also be a few HARD lessons waiting for me. Each of them would completely transform my life and ministry.
In today's podcast, I share just 5 of these important lessons hoping they can be a gift to you as well.