Chrissy Chang

Reflective Journaling | Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices, Episode 3

Spiritual Praxis, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia

“Remembering and giving thanks are good for your soul.” – Steve Macchia

A grateful heart is a God-honoring heart and we want to fill our souls with words of thanksgiving every single day of our lives. The discipline of reflection is what aids us in both remembrance and gratitude, the main themes of reflective journaling. Within the context of our personal prayer closet, where we are in pursuit of a spacious encounter with God, we want to attend to the ways God has been active in our lives. Writing down what we notice in a journal helps us focus on the deeper meaning of life’s ebb and flow. Like rocks of remembrance that God’s people piled high after the parting of the sea, or the significance of the Lord’s Table, we practice reflective disciplines for the sake of pointing to God as the central figure of our relationships and responsibilities. Action without reflection is meaningless action. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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Listening Prayer | Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices, Episode 2

Spiritual Praxis, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia

“How is it with your soul today, dear friend?” – Steve Macchia

The invitation in today’s episode is slanted toward listening to God in our prayers. Once we’ve settled into a spacious encounter with God, which commences with time in the Word, we enter into our life of prayer. So many ways to pray – upward prayers of praise and adoration, inward prayers of confession and forgiveness, outward prayers of supplication and concern. Regardless of the focus of your prayers, are you attending to the voice of God? Or, are you doing all the talking to God? Steve’s focus is on tilting the balance toward more listening to God than talking to him, simply because of the belief that God has more important things to say to us than we have to say to him. And, because God delights to speak into our lives in transformative ways. Consider adjusting your physical postures of prayer as you discover the joy of listening prayer.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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Lectio Divina | Spiritual Praxis: Exploring Spiritual Practices, Episode 1

Spiritual Praxis, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

“We need to be biblically centered in our personal spiritual practices.” – Steve Macchia

In Season 20 we will focus on four spiritual practices: Lectio Divina, listening prayer, reflective journaling, and daily Examen.  Steve Macchia is fluent in these practices, having made them an essential part of his regular prayer closet experience as a beloved child of God. He believes firmly in the need for us to keep the Scriptures central to all aspects of our personal devotional practices.  Many of us are taught to study the biblical text in order to teach, preach, or share it with others. But, in our prayer closets we are invited to simply receive God’s Word as a gift for our soul. Here we are fully present to the movement of God’s Spirit, attentive and receptive to the living Word of God. The six major historical movements of Lectio Divina are presented here: Silencio, Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, Contemplatio, and Incarnatio.  

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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What is Spiritual Discernment? | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 4

The Discerning Leader Podcast, The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

“Look what social media has done to our ‘notice me’ inclinations today and how that self-centeredness keeps us from preferring God instead.” – Steve Macchia

This episode originally aired on 01/20/22  in Season 17 – The Discerning Life (Episode 1).  Spiritual discernment is “practicing a preference for God” and one that we can learn how to live on a daily basis. How do we posture ourselves to prefer God and guide others to do likewise? That’s what we need to learn and it only happens by a practiced discipline and choice of the heart.  Perceiving and noticing God in the daily, routine places of our lives prepares us for times.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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Jesus Discerns | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 3

The Discerning Leader Podcast, The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

“Most of us have a stained-glass image of Jesus and it’s hard for us to grasp his daily life as a beloved son of God.” –David Vryhof, SSJE

This episode originally aired on 07/08/21  in Season 12 – Discerning God in Community (Episode 1).  Brother David Vryhof of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (Episcopal Monastic Community based in Cambridge, MA) joins Steve in conversation about Jesus and his discernment at the beginning of his earthly ministry. They recount Jesus’ baptism, his 40-days of temptation in the wilderness, and his proclamation of his mission and ministry in the synagogue. Each encounter is rich with meaning and purpose, profound in their mystery, and significant touch points for Jesus and his growing discernment about the Father’s loving desires.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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Shame on You: The Power of Shame Upon the Soul | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 2

The Discerning Leader Podcast, The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Adele Calhoun

“Shaming voices have the power to cripple us. They isolate us from the truth about ourselves and others.” – Adele Calhoun

This episode originally aired on 09/23/21 in Season 14 – Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally (Episode 1). Shame is universal. It’s been with us since Adam and Eve hid from God after succumbing to the shaming voice of the devil.  How we deal with the shaming voices of our past will either set us free to live more abundantly, or will keep us crippled by their falsehood. In today’s episode, Adele Calhoun offers great wisdom and truth about the importance of knowing and naming the shaming narratives of our lives, and invites us to embrace practices that will lead to redemptive healing. Trust Jesus with your shame. When we are even at our worst, He comes to set us free. 

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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Toxic Relationships | The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind, Episode 1

The Discerning Leader Podcast, The Discerning Leader Podcast: Rewind / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gary Thomas

“The Christian life is about an abundance of good fruit. We must walk away from toxic people in order to preserve that good fruit.” – Gary Thomas

This episode originally aired on 10/21/21  in Season 14 – Discerning God Emotionally and Relationally (Episode 5). Gary Thomas speaks to a glaring issue today: dealing with toxic people. He says, “Before you walk away from your ministry, try walking away from toxic people first.” We need to learn how to play defense, to protect what God has planted in our hearts and in our service to others. When we invest so much of our energy on toxic relationships, we lose sight of God’s missional call to build up the Kingdom. There may in fact come a time when it’s simply best to just “walk away” and maintain your focus on Jesus and his mission. Be wise. Say no. Turn away. Be free.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

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LTI Lead Team | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 14

The Discerning Leader Podcast, Your Discerning Life Story / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guests: Rick Anderson, Susan Currie, Matt Scott, and Jeremy Stefano

“Giving space to our relationships and decisions describes well our discernment processes for Selah and for LTI overall.” – Susan Currie

Rick Anderson (Executive VP), Susan Currie (Director of Selah), Jeremy Stefano (Director of Emmaus and Abide), Matt Scott (Creative Director), and Steve Macchia (Founder and President) join their voices in rejoicing together on the occasion of the 19th Anniversary of Leadership Transformations. They share stories of how spiritual discernment has been a central part of our life together in relationships and ministry. Rick talks about the impressive and unforced discernment process followed by the LTI board as we called him onto the team more than 16 years ago. Susan reflects on how the Lord directed our steps in offering training in spiritual direction, and how the Selah ministry has grown over the years. Jeremy helps us slow down conversations and lean prayerfully into our ongoing discerning presence and the development of new ministry, like Emmaus and Abide. Matt comes alongside us with his creative heart for God and collects our shared longings for discerning the voice and passion of God for all of us. Join the celebration of 19 faithful years with a donation to www.LeadershipTransformations.org

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Steve Macchia (Podcast Host)
Founder and President of Leadership Transformations
Steve is the author of The Discerning Life,  Becoming a Healthy Church, Broken and Whole, Crafting a Rule of Life and several other titles. Steve has over 40 years in ministry and two postgraduate degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Rick Anderson (Season Eighteen Episode 14 Guest)
Executive Vice President
Rick has a passion for spiritual formation, spiritual direction and leadership development. He has completed the Selah Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction, as well as New Way Ministries’ School of Spiritual Direction and the Advanced School, both taught by Dr. Larry Crabb. Prior to LTI, Rick served as the COO of the Christian Writers Guild and the Director of Finance & Operations at Trinity Law School. He currently serves as a board member for Peregrine Ministries and Beyond Survival.

Susan Currie (Season Eighteen Episode 14 Guest)
Director of Selah
Susan serves as the Director of Leadership Transformation Inc’s Selah Certificate Training Program in Spiritual Direction. Over the past 30 years, she has offered retreat leadership and formation ministry to various church and parachurch bodies. Susan also serves as Affiliated Clergy with All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral in Amesbury, MA.

Matt Scott (Season Eighteen Episode 14 Guest)
Creative Director
With 15 years of local church experience, Matt has served various churches in the area of worship and arts, community life, shepherding, and pastoral ministry. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv) and the University of Mobile (Worship Leadership and Music Performance), Matt has a heart to shepherd people through songwriting, worship leadership, and pastoral care. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Bluffton, South Carolina with their two children, Emerson and Ashton.

Jeremy Stefano (Season Eighteen Episode 14 Guest)
Director of Emmaus and Director of Abide
Jeremy offers spiritual direction, leads retreats, teaches classes in spiritual formation and serves as the directors of the Emmaus: Certificate in Formational Leadership and Abide: Certificate in Spiritual Formation. The heartbeat of Jeremy’s calling is to encourage Christian leaders in the cultivation of their relationship with God. He has served churches as a local pastor, interim pastor and as a visiting Bible teacher in Southern Africa and North America. 

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Michelle Sanchez | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 13

The Discerning Leader Podcast, Your Discerning Life Story / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Michelle Sanchez

“In a racially broken world, what we need for disciples to be is not color-blind, but color-courageous.” – Michelle Sanchez

Michelle Sanchez is Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples for the Evangelical Covenant Church, a multiethnic denomination of over 900 congregations throughout North America. She is also the author of Color-Courageous Discipleship book series. As she notes, it’s far better to become color-courageous than to be color-blind. Her vision: follow Jesus, dismantle racism when we see it, and build beloved community by loving one another across our differences. As an African American minister, Michelle has a unique voice to communicate this important message to the Church today. In this conversation she shares how God called her out of her investment banking career into full time ministry, beginning in the local church and now in a strategic denominational leadership position. Find her at MichelleTSanchez.com

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.

Steve Macchia (Podcast Host)
Founder and President of Leadership Transformations
Steve is the author of The Discerning Life,  Becoming a Healthy Church, Broken and Whole, Crafting a Rule of Life and several other titles. Steve has over 40 years in ministry and two postgraduate degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Michelle Sanchez (Season Eighteen Episode 13 Guest)
Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples, Evangelical Covenant Church
Michelle T. Sanchez serves as Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples for the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is a frequent conference speaker and a regular columnist with Outreach Magazine. With Waterbrook, Michelle is the author of three books releasing in November 2022 designed to provide Christ-centered racial discipleship for all ages: Color-Courageous Discipleship, Color-Courageous Discipleship Student Edition, and the picture book God’s Beloved Community. She and her husband, Mickey, live with their two children in the Chicago area.

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Jenn Giles Kemper | Your Discerning Life Story, Episode 12

The Discerning Leader Podcast, Your Discerning Life Story / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Jenn Giles Kemper

“What if the things that bring you joy are an arrow pointing you to God?” – Jenn Giles Kemper

Jenn Giles Kemper is the Founder of Sacred Ordinary Days, offering intentional spiritual guidance for those desirous of a wholistic life in Christ. They create tools and curate resources for a global community of ecumenical believers. Jenn’s a contemplative entrepreneur with a heart for the health and vitality of the body of Christ. She’s creative, insightful, and willing to take risks courageously and prayerfully. A trained spiritual director, Jenn organized the Sacred Ordinary Days planner for those who prefer a tactile prayer experience throughout the liturgical year. When asked about how she fosters a discerning life, she encourages us to know yourself and give yourself permission to be yourself, to create space, become more aware, learn to live life more open handedly, and see prayer as a doorway into a relationship with God. 

Steve Macchia (Podcast Host)
Founder and President of Leadership Transformations
Steve is the author of The Discerning Life,  Becoming a Healthy Church, Broken and Whole, Crafting a Rule of Life and several other titles. Steve has over 40 years in ministry and two postgraduate degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Jenn Giles Kemper (Season Eighteen Episode 12 Guest)
Minister, Spiritual Director, and Founder & CEO of Sacred Ordinary Days
Jenn is a minister, spiritual director, and the founder and CEO of Sacred Ordinary Days, an organization offering companionship and guidance in intentional Christian spiritual formation. She is an experienced leader, teacher, and speaker, and her vision inspires and propels others forward. She relishes a challenge, values learning, and loves being at a growth edge. Jenn is also a lover of color, hospitality, sunshine, shared meals, and life together. She and her husband, Grant, enjoy a full and adventurous family life with their three young sons in Waco, Texas.

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Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

“Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.“