Chrissy Chang

Examen | Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, Episode 5

Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

“I see the practice of daily examen as keeping the inner house of your soul clean.” – Steve Macchia

The discipline of examen comes from David’s prayer in Psalm 32. In episode five, we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of examen. Ignatius of Loyola created this practice to help his brothers look at their lives each day. Matt and Steve share personal reflections on examen, noting that the only way you can get to a holy listening to purpose is to pause at the beginning or end of your day. Steve shares the five main ideas of examen, and Matt concludes this episode with a guided experience to help you practice examen.

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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Journaling | Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, Episode 4

Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

“The practice of journaling really helps you to notice.” – Steve Macchia

The discipline of journaling is as old as the Bible. In episode four (Journaling), we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of journaling. Matt shares the value has found in simply writing things down as it has enabled him to process what he thinks, feels, experiences, and the ways in which God feels near or absent. Steve shares recent insights about journaling and five pieces of practical advice to help us journal well.

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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Reflection | Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, Episode 3

Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

“We are a forgetful bunch; if we’re not doing something that helps us record, remember, and come back to the goodness of God on a regular basis, we will forget. When we forget, our hearts get hardened.” – Steve Macchia

In episode three (Reflection), we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of reflection. Matt shares how gratitude is the antidote to the voice of the enemy and our secular culture that strikes our hearts early in the morning. Steve shares that “reflection is remembering, giving thanks, marking the faithfulness of God.” Reflection looks back upon both joyous times and hard times. Reflection can include meditating on a single verse, journaling, photography, creative arts, holy conversations, noticing, and pondering, it may be alone and in quiet or together with loved ones. Reflection keeps our hearts soft towards the Lord. This episode concludes with a guided experience to help you practice reflection today.

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 | Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, Episode 2

Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

 “Listening is the primary skill to develop in life. Particularly if you are a leader.” – Steve Macchia

In episode two, we continue to explore the spiritual practices that are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. and have been celebrated throughout Christendom. This week, Steve and Matt focus on the practice of listening prayer. Steve says “Listening is the primary skill to develop in life. Particularly if you are a leader.” Matt shares his prayer journey, moving from sharing a list of requests with God to recognizing and paying attention to the voice of God. Matt and Steve talk about listening prayer as letting go of the desire to control the conversation with God. Matt and Steve share practical suggestions to start practicing listening prayer. This episode concludes with a guided reflective experience to help you grow in 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 | Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, Episode 1

Silencio: Reflective Practices for Nurturing Your Soul, The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott

“The Word of God should not be approached as another book to master its material but should result in a deep transforming experience with God.” – Matt Scott

Season 28 will focus on the spiritual practices that have been celebrated through Christendom and are at the heart of Leadership Transformations Inc. Each episode will have a short conversation on a different spiritual practice and a guided, reflective experience. In this inaugural episode, Steve Macchia and Matt Scott introduce the practice of Lectio Divina. This way of reading Scripture is a slow, repetitive reading that is designed to transform the reader. Steve and Matt walk through this way of contemplative Bible reading and its six layers: silencio, lectio, meditatio, oratio, contemplation, and incarnatio. People who practice Lectio Divina report, “It was good to receive from the Word of God for myself.” May you have the same experience as you listen to today’s episode on the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina.

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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Margery Kennelly | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide (REPRISE), Episode 7

Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent & Christmastide (REPRISE), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 7 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

 Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Margery Kennelly

“We always think about waiting on God but God spends a long time waiting on us.” – Margery Kennelly

Margery serves as Associate Rector at St George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN. Margery joins Steve to share pastoral reflections on Epiphany – the bright clear revelation of Christ’s kingship over the whole world. For Christians, this time reminds us to manifest who Jesus is in the world through our testimony and work in the world. As we think about waiting on God, we are reminded that God spends time waiting on us. Margery shares that patience is the ally of waiting and encourages us to demonstrate this fruit of the spirit while we wait. Finally, we are invited to Ignatian Examen, asking, “Does my life glorify God?” 

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.

Margery Kennelly (Season 23 Guest)
Margery serves as Associate Rector at St George’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN. Prior to that she served as Episcopal Chaplain at Harvard University. Prior to that she was Assistant Rector at Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, MA. Margery received her M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, followed by an Advanced Degree in Anglican Studies from Episcopal Divinity School. Margery was previously a professional portrait painter, taught drama and music in schools, and directed an acting summer camp. Margery and her husband Richard have two young adult children, Julia and Henry.

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Todd Cravens | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide (REPRISE), Episode 6

Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent & Christmastide (REPRISE), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 6 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Todd Cravens

“What do I need to do now? Waiting is not an absence of activity.” – Todd Cravens

Todd Cravens is in his 16th year, serving as Teaching Pastor and Elder at Hope Christian Church in Winchester, MA. He grew up in Louisville, KY, attended the University of Louisville, and received his M. Div in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Todd and his wife Alisa have three adult children and enjoy hosting international students, totaling more than 60 students from 16 different countries. Todd joins Steve to share about personal and pastoral practices in the week after Christmas. We are encouraged to reflect back upon the year and give voice to the way God has been at work in our lives. We are invited to continue being attentive to God; bringing what we think out to happen into alignment with what we know God wants to happen.

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.

Todd Cravens (Season 23 Guest)
Todd Cravens is in his 16th year, serving as Teaching Pastor and Elder at Hope Christian Church in Winchester, MA. He grew up in Louisville, KY where he attended the University of Louisville, followed by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his M.Div. in Theology. Todd and his wife Alisa have three adult children and together they have enjoyed hosting international students, totaling more than 60 students from 16 different countries. In addition, Todd enjoys running, journaling, refurbishing Apple products, and photographing the beauty of God’s wide world.

Todd Cravens | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide (REPRISE), Episode 6 Read More »

Bryan Wilkerson | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide (REPRISE), Episode 5

Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent & Christmastide (REPRISE), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 5 of The Discerning Leader Podcast. 

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Bryan Wilkerson

“Believe that the Lord has something fresh for you this Christmas” – Bryan Wilkerson

Bryan Wilkerson serves as Senior Pastor at Grace Chapel, authored Living God’s Story, is a graduate of Wheaton College and Denver Seminary, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bryan’s life mission statement is “to lead as many people as possible to a joyful and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.” He and his wife, Karen, have four married children and a growing number of grandchildren. Brian shares with Steve that as he enters his thirty-ninth year of ministry, Christmas is his favorite time of year to preach and minister. He believes that the Lord can bring something new in our spirit as we wait expectantly. His pastoral counsel to us is to be quiet for five minutes – to sit in front of the Christmas tree or fireplace, go for a walk, and allow the Lord to meet us in those moments.

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.

Bryan Wilkerson (Season 23 Guest)
Bryan Wilkerson has served as Senior Pastor at Grace Chapel since September of 2000, having previously served as Senior Pastor at Shelter Rock Church in Manhasset, New York. Bryan is a graduate of Wheaton College and Denver Seminary, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bryan is the author of Living God’s Story, and serves on the board of Denver Seminary. Bryan’s life mission statement is “to lead as many people as possible to a joyful and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.” Bryan enjoys running or biking the back roads and trails of New England. He and his wife, Karen, have four married children and a growing number of grandchildren.

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Mark Booker | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide (REPRISE), Episode 4

Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent & Christmastide (REPRISE), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 4 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

“Waiting on God is resisting the impulse to take matters into my own hands.” – Mark Booker

Mark Booker serves as the Senior Pastor at Park Street Church in downtown Boston. After completing theological study at the University of Oxford, he ministered in a congregation in Washington, DC, before moving to Boston to plant Church of the Cross, where he served for 11 years. Mark and his wife Mandy have four children and live in Boston. Mark joins Steve to share about waiting in his leadership and personal life. Many of us like to bring change and make things happen. Advent puts the spotlight on the reality that we are a waiting people. We often grasp for what is tangible; what we can control or manipulate. Mark reminds us that waiting looks like resisting the impulse to fix things through our own means. Waiting is about trusting in God’s promises, even when evidence points in all kinds of different directions. 

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.

Mark Booker (Season 23 Guest)
Mark Booker serves as the Senior Pastor at Park Street Church in downtown Boston. Originally from Colorado, Mark used to work professionally in the great outdoors. After completing theological study at the University of Oxford, he ministered in a congregation in Washington, DC, before moving to Boston to plant Church of the Cross, where he served for 11 years. Mark and his wife Mandy have four children and live in Boston.

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Dave Friedrich | Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent and Christmastide, Episode 3 (REPRISE)

Discerning God in Seasons of Waiting: Advent & Christmastide (REPRISE), The Discerning Leader Podcast / /

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Dave Friedrich

This is a reprise of season 23 episode 3 of The Discerning Leader Podcast.

“Waiting in the Bible is not just looking at the clock. It is about anticipation. It’s about cultivating hope and joy. ” – Dave Friedrich

Dave Friedrich was born and raised in Canada. He has advanced degrees in philosophy from York University in Toronto and in spiritual formation from Regent College in Vancouver, BC. He has lived and worked at L’Abri, a ministry of Christian hospitality and cultural engagement, both in Switzerland and in Massachusetts. Dave has also worked at a bank, been a professional firefighter/paramedic, a swing dance instructor, and a youth pastor. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2013 and is currently serving as the rector of Church of the Cross, an Anglican church in Boston. Dave and Anna are (prayerfully!) raising their two teenage sons, Cole and Adam. Reflecting on Simeon in the Temple from Luke 2, Dave joins Steve for a conversation about waiting on God. We are tempted to want to know exactly when God will fulfill His promises. He often doesn’t answer that question. Instead, He gives us surprises in our waiting. Advent is a season where we cultivate hope and joy in what is coming and in what is already being experienced that gives us a foretaste of what is to come.

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.

Rev. Dave Friedrich (Season 23 Guest)
Dave was born and raised in Canada. He has advanced degrees in philosophy from York University in Toronto and in spiritual formation from Regent College in Vancouver, BC. He has lived and worked at L’Abri, a ministry of Christian hospitality and cultural engagement, both in Switzerland and in Massachusetts. Dave has also worked at a bank, been a professional fire fighter/paramedic, a swing dance instructor, and a youth pastor. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2013 and is currently serving as the rector of Church of the Cross, an Anglican church in Boston. Dave and Anna are (prayerfully!) raising their two teenage sons, Cole and Adam.

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