Steve Macchia

A Hero has Died

Caleb passed away on Christmas Eve.

He was a gentle and humble man of God. A great leader because he was a fabulous listener and a faithful servant. A true reflection of our Triune God.

He loved his family well, with Bonny, his life partner of 59 years. Their children and grandchildren reflect his enduring values and will carry on his legacy with excellence.

He loved to dance with Bonny, support her in her every endeavor, love her with unconditional affection, make time for her amidst a full schedule. Their love was contagious.

He was a wealthy man, successful in the eyes of this world and generous to countless organizations and individuals. Much like his beloved parents and extended family.

He lived simply. Never drove an ostentatious automobile. Understood the plight of the common man because he too was a common man. No task was ever beneath him.

He willingly took on the roles of usher, parking lot attendant, hospitable coat taker, hand carrying the daily newspaper to his aging father. Always with a gracious smile.

He wore a Salvation Army pin on the lapel of his suit coat. HIs wardrobe was mostly in promotion of his favorite schools or organizations. Image wasn’t in his vocabulary.

He loved others like Jesus. Believed in others like a true friend. His was the life of a saint, but never would he hear of such a thing. He always turned the story back to you.

He joins the ranks of many others who precede him with their passing. When he died you could feel the collective moan of grief and loss, sorrow and sadness.

Caleb passed away without any fanfare. He will be sorely missed. What we have received from him will now be passed along to the next generation. With joy.

Who are your heroes? Do they know of your esteem? Perhaps sharing what they mean to you today will be an encouragement and blessing. Someday they too will be gone.

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

In our family, the list includes Elf, Home Alone, A Christmas Carol, Polar Express, Rudolph, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and just about any Hallmark movie (my wife loves a predictably happy ending sentimental love story!).

Most intriguing to me is our granddaughter’s fascination with the Grinch. Brenna was here for an overnight this weekend and we watched two versions of the Grinch. I asked her why she liked him and her response was short and to the point, “he’s funny looking.”

Of all the characters in Christmas movies, my least favorite are those who steal the joy. The Grinch is atop that list. Buddy the Elf’s father, the crooks in Home Alone, Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life, and Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’ Christmas Carol round off the group of curmudgeons.

Granted, the antagonist has an important role to play. Their portrayals all seem to fit the stingy, shrewd, and selfish contrast that invites us into the story of contrast. We root for the characters who humbly and responsively receive the true meaning of Christmas.

In the biblical Christmas story, King Herod is the striking example of grinch-like pride. His earthly rule is threatened by the declared prophecies of a new king. 

In this world, there are far too many who are stealing the joy of Christmas, replacing the Jesus story with substitutes that simply don’t point us back to the Christ child. 

Who is your favorite Christmas character?

Thankfully, there are several to choose from, this year and every year, that we accompany to the manger with wonder and joy. The Messiah Jesus is surrounded by characters in worshipful support of his coming: Mary, Joseph, the angels, shepherds, and wise men.  

Indeed, the promised coming of Jesus is worthy of our humble adoration. Miraculous. Monumental. Messianic. 

Let’s acknowledge the reality of those who will seek to steal our joy, and instead, let’s be protagonists for Jesus as Advent comes to conclusion and we’re ushered into Christmastide once more. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours, from all of us at Leadership Transformations!

Don’t Forget to Thank God…

…for so powerfully, tenderly, graciously, and majestically being God.

In this season of thanksgiving, we tend to lean more heavily toward thanking God for the myriad gifts he generously provides. For our family and friends. For good health and answers to our prayers. For our homes and communities. For our vocations and our avocations. For experiences that have formed us as disciples. For the gift of life itself. Such thankfulness is good for the soul, and the people who surround you.

In our gratefulness, however, do we inadvertently bypass our expressions of gratitude to God for being God?

As we pause this week and celebrate Thanksgiving (in the USA), let’s out-thank one another in love and generosity. This is good for our hearts and for our relationships with all who cross our paths in daily life and service.

Also, let’s begin our expressions of gratitude by giving God our deepest and most profound praise.

Perhaps using a psalm to guide us? Psalm 103 is filled with sentiments of gratitude worthy of our prayerful reflection.

Read Psalm 103 – alone in your prayer closet and together around the Thanksgiving table.

Then, identify the expressions of the psalmist toward God being God, such as:

• He forgives all our iniquities
• He heals all of our diseases
• He redeems your life from the pit
• He crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
• He satisfies us with good
• The Lord works righteousness and justice for the oppressed
• He makes known his ways to his people
• The Lord is merciful and gracious
• He is slow to anger and abounds in steadfast love
• He doesn’t deal with us according to our iniquities
• The Lord shows compassion to those who fear him
• He knows our frame and desires our flourishing

After noting these and other traits of God, give God the glory, honor and praise. Reminding ourselves and each other of the foundation of our faith – the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – will send our thankfulness for one another in the right direction.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! All our inmost being praise his holy name!

A bountiful Thanksgiving to you and yours! Thanks be to God!

 Have you ever been on a spiritual pilgrimage?

For sure, our life in Christ is our most significant pilgrimage.

But, in our lifetime we also have opportunity to go on pilgrimage to sights of holy significance. LTI has hosted several over the years…to Greece (in the footsteps of Paul), Italy (in the hometowns of the saints), and the UK (in the highlands of Celtic spirituality).

In October we head to Germany, France and Switzerland…in the footsteps of the 16th C. Reformers, such as Luther and Calvin, as well as the remarkable mid-20th Century Reformer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Why a Reformation pilgrimage? Mostly because the Protestant Reformation was a massive turning point for the Church. It’s important we brush up on the history of the movement we embody today, which began by courageous movement-makers hundreds of years ago. They stood up for 5 essential solas or tenants of our faith: Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.

And they brought to the forefront of the Church a revolution that heightened awareness of a relational God and harnessed believers for active service worldwide.

I could go on and on about the spiritual and relational significance of spiritual pilgrimage…Ruth and I have thoroughly enjoyed these experiences with partners of LTI. On pilgrimage you make new friends. You travel and eat, pray and share, learn and grow together as you visit beautiful sights in a once in a lifetime experience together. This year we will be in Germany, France, and Switzerland- three gorgeous European countries.

Join us October 1-11, 2025. You will be blessed and renewed by the story of the Reformation of the Church and God’s invitation for ongoing re-formation and re-alignment of our own souls as we are continuously and humbly transformed for his glory by his glorious gospel of goodness and grace.

Let’s do pilgrimage together! Sign up today and secure your spot…space is limited.

On pilgrimage with you in Christ,

Steve

It’s already mid-August. How can it be that summer 2024 is nearing its end? I don’t mean to be a downer about it, but my soul is craving the beginning of summer all over again.

I had all sorts of godly aspirations for this summer. Unfortunately they mostly got eaten up by a fuller than preferred schedule. Ruth and I were able to break away to celebrate our 45th anniversary and we’ve spent time in some gorgeous locations, but my rhythms haven’t been what I had hoped or planned.

Thankfully, it’s not too late to take some time to care for my soul…and perhaps you will want to do the same. Here are a few ideas to consider:

1. Take a half or full day to “retreat” from the fray and nurture your soul in God’s Word, prayer, and in his beautiful creation
2. Choose a book to read slowly over the next few weeks. I recently read the biography of Oswald Chambers and purposed to read it slowly, savoring the story and reflecting on the life behind “My Utmost for His Highest” and it was deeply moving
3. Start or add to your journal an original poem or sonnet about your life with God and your longings for his lovingkindness. Everyone can write a poem (it doesn’t have to be perfect), and it will stretch your creativity too.

There’s still time to consider new or revised spiritual practices that will enhance your daily walk with God. Summer’s not over yet!

As you look at your calendar and prioritize your heart, soul, mind, and strength, keep your eyes on the Good Shepherd as he leads you beside quiet waters and restores your soul.

The “one another” passages in the New Testament are my favorite way of defining the textures and contours of spiritual community. The phrase comes from the Greek word allelon which means “one another, each other, mutually, or reciprocally.” Each time it’s used as an imperative command and the basis for true Christian community.

Love one another is the most frequently referenced (16 times). But the biblical use of one another includes nearly 60 other commands for how we are to relate to one another in community. For example: be devoted to one another, honor one another above yourselves, live in harmony with one another, build up on another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens, be kind and compassionate to one another, submit to one another, teach, comfort, encourage, exhort, pray for, and show hospitality to one another.

However, as I’ve pondered the one another’s over the years, what’s notably absent from the list is “listen to one another.” Why would that not be included? It’s one of my many questions for God, given the essential nature of listening in every meaningful relationship.

The Scriptures do tell us how to speak to one another: with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord…yielding to each other as you would to Christ (Eph. 5: 19-21). And there are certainly references to listening within passages such as “let each of you look not to his own interests, but also to the interests of others; do nothing from rivalry/selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3,4) Additionally, Jesus commands us, “Consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18) and “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15). But no specific “listen to one another” command.

One of the best parallels to “listen to one another” is found in the book of James. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1: 19-25)

Listening to one another is needed today in the body of Christ. Frankly, we simply don’t know how to listen. Why is that the case? Because listening implies proactive consideration and concern for relationship, as expressed in empathy, compassion, and mutual understanding.

Consider the conflicts in our culture and unfortunately in the church today. How much genuine listening is going on? Little to none. Instead, we hurl insults, opinions, interpretations, and unfounded assumptions as missiles directed to the soul and character of the person(s) involved. Lord, have mercy upon us.

I’ve often said, “without intentional with-ness we simply don’t have an integrated witness” – and with-ness requires presence and presence is only fully expressed when we look in each other’s eyes, honor one another as a beloved child of God, and truly hear one another’s words and the heart those words represent.

When is the last time you were truly, fully, and genuinely listened to…and, when is the last time you offered loving presence and a genuine desire to listen to another?

It’s time we learn how best to honor, hear, and hold one another’s words prayerfully (not disregardingly), reflectively (not defensively), and lovingly (not destructively). And, it’s time we avoid all manner of gossip, slander, falsehood, bitterness, rage, and anger. Instead, let love be our guide in all of our relationships with one another in the body of Christ.

Listen to one another. It’s one of the best ways to love one another. Our Christian witness depends upon it.

Henri Nouwen once wrote, “The discipline of the Christian disciple is not to master anything, but rather to be mastered by the Spirit. True Christian discipline is the human effort to create the space in which the Spirit of Christ can transform us into his image.” (The Selfless Way of Christ, p. 70)

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I would say “creating space for God” is the #1 spiritual discipline.  Without spaciousness we won’t fully receive all that God delights to deliver to us in the Scriptures, the beauty of creation, the joy of meaningful work, the delight of serving the needs of others, and the gift of friendship and community.

In this day of perpetual distraction, constant noise, unending activity, and interminable demands on our time, finding space for God alone feels nigh to impossible. We spend the vast majority of our waking moments in pursuit of lesser gods and their accompanying godless attachments. They may not appear at first blush to be damning for our souls, but in fact they become blatant hindrances to the vitality of our walk with God when they continuously supplant our much needed spaciousness with God. And, therefore, must be removed and more properly realigned around our priority for an intimate walk with God.

That’s why it’s “the human effort to create the space in which the Spirit of Christ can transform us into his image.” It’s effort. A discipline. One with great rewards.

Creating space for God opens us up to his renewing, restoring, and redeeming work in our souls. Without such space we will run ourselves ragged amidst the cacophony of sounds and endless activities that will preoccupy our hearts and keep us from a deep abiding in Jesus.

In the midst of a full day of ministry, Jesus invites his closest disciples to “come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6: 31) So they “went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” A boat! What a great idea, Jesus! On a boat they were away from the crowds, it was quieter on the water, and the disciples could restfully attend to Jesus’ comforting words of love and the fellowship of their shared journey of faith.

Why a boat? Because the Lord wanted to give his friends a rest for their bodies, minds, and souls. And, his desire for his apprentices was for a deeper rest and trust. His invitation was to create and delight in the spaciousness of their moments together…

• Unhindered by the clamoring demands of our world which lead us to be unhinged and separated from God
• Uncluttered and free from doing, wanting, and having, and instead in pursuit of simply “being” a child of God
• Unhurried and restful, with heightened attentiveness to seeing and being seen, hearing and being heard

On the heels of this time alone, they were fit for service from a rested and renewed space. As a result, they were invited into a significant task: to feed the five thousand. They did so with reclaimed affection for Christ and fervor for serving others in his name.

How spacious is your life today, dear friend? Consider how to declutter in order to find genuine rest for your souls. You’ll be glad you did.

Wondering

The word “wonder” has a twofold meaning…the verb wonder, as in curiosity, “I wonder what that really means” and it’s opposite, doubt, “I wonder if that marriage will last.” Secondly, the noun wonder, which is more like awe, “noticing the sunrise with the wonder or joy of a child.”

Regardless, wondering – both curiosity and awe – stand front and center in the season of Advent.

We wonder with curiosity about the first coming of Jesus. The prophecies that foretold his coming. The actual setting, the characters, time period, and chronology of events. We wonder how Mary is doing in her final days of pregnancy. We wonder about Joseph’s efforts to keep her comfortable. We wonder about the inn keeper who only had a manger available for the Christ child. We wonder at the poignancy of the entire story.

We also wonder with awe at the magnanimous and miraculous nature of the Nativity. We wonder about God’s fulfillment of his generations-long promises to send a Messiah, just as he did…by the work of the Spirit, through the Virgin Mary, in a humble manger and a simple town, quietly and graciously, surrounded by angels and shepherds on a starlit night.

We are bursting with anticipation as our own Advent wonderings are themselves pregnant with significance for our lives today. We wonder about the Incarnation. We wonder about the second coming of Christ. We wonder about his coming into our hearts and lives and penetrating the deepest recesses of our souls today.

What are you wondering about as you prepare for Christmas? What will the final days of Advent be for you and yours? Note: the 4th Sunday of Advent in 2023 is also Christmas Eve!

Perhaps like the monastic communities of old, you too may wish to wonder at the meaning of the long-awaited Messiah as prayerfully considered in the O Antiphons (Old Testament foretelling of Jesus)…found in the great Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, Immanuel. The text is provided here for your prayerful wonderment.

O come, O come, Immanuel,
And random captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach is in its ways to go. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
Unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain

O come, O Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
And bar the way to death’s abode. Refrain

O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
And bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
And turn our darkness into light. Refrain

O come, O King of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
And be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain