A Fresh New Alleluia

For forty days my soul has longed for a fresh new Alleluia! In our local church, we refrain from any “Alleluia” during Lent. It simply doesn’t fit the occasion. Lent is a time of repentance, reflection, and preparation for Holy Week, and ultimately for the pinnacle of our faith: Resurrection

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A Heart Strangely Warmed

It was John Wesley who initially described his feelings as “my heart was strangely warmed” when he trusted in Christ alone for his salvation. He was confidently assured that his sins had been forgiven as he placed his heart into God’s hands. Subsequently, Wesley began a movement known as the

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Choose Christ Today

“Get these three principles fixed in your hearts: that things eternal are much more considerable than things temporal; that things not seen are as certain as the things that are seen; that upon your present choice depends your eternal lot. Choose Christ and his ways, and you’ll be blessed forever;

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Do You See This Woman?

In the midst of a dramatic yet oh so delicate moment, Jesus asks Simon-the-hard-hearted Pharisee a poignant question, “Do you see this woman?” (Luke 7: 44).  The question arises smack dab in the center of an amazing story of contrasting affections. Simon-the-know-it-all leader stands at a distance from Jesus while

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Hymn-Praying

This past Sunday I was in the middle of singing one of the worship leader-led hymns with our congregation and found my soul strangely warmed by the presence of the Spirit we call Holy. I noticed my hands beginning to open up with a gentle gratitude to God. I closed

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Embracing Your Belovedness

The story of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River is quite remarkable. His cousin John is conducting the ceremony. The text (Luke 3) tells us how the people were waiting expectantly for the Messiah, assuming it might be John. But, he corrects their inaccurate assumption by answering them, “I baptize

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The Forgotten Question

What shall we do next? Where shall we go? When shall we meet? Who shall we invite? How shall we get there? What, where, when, who, and how are by far the easiest questions to answer in life. We request and respond to each of them multiple times each day. 

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Alexander the Coppersmith

I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover multiple times. But, for whatever reason, I hadn’t noticed Alexander the Coppersmith until recently. Do you know who he is and why he’s referenced specifically in the Scriptures? In 2 Timothy 4, Paul references this rather obscure metalworker by name…as “one who

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Our With-ness is Our Witness

Our With-ness is Our Witness By Steve Macchia “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1: 1,2) The incarnation is God’s gift to us—the with-ness of the life of Jesus, promised prophetically for generations, came to live

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Thanks to God for My Redeemer

In honor of our Salvation Army colleagues, this hymn was written by August Storm, who attended trade and agricultural schools before joining the Salvation Army where he served as finance secretary at Army headquarters in 1892. His poetry appeared in the Swedish War Cry Magazine. This hymn is great for

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Steve Macchia

Founder & President

Steve is a graduate of Northwestern College (IA) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div. and D.Min.). His prior ministry includes serving on the pastoral staff at Grace Chapel (Lexington, MA) and as president of Vision New England. Since July 1, 2003 Steve has served as founder and president of Leadership Transformations, director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building, and adjunct faculty in the Doctor of Ministry department at Gordon-Conwell. He is the author of sixteen books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective),  Baker bestseller Becoming a Healthy Church, and Crafting a Rule of Life (IVP). He lives in the Boston area with his wife Ruth and is the proud father of two grown children, Rebekah and Nathan, daughter in-love Ashley, and papa to his beloved granddaughter, Brenna Lynn and twin grandsons, Aiden Joseph and Carson Stephen. “My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.

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