The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Curtis Almquist, SSJE

"Advent invites us to slow down and create space in order to receive Christ in the fullness of our being." – Curtis Almquist, SSJE

Discerning God during the season of Advent takes prayerful intentionality, especially with the onslaught of alluring messages from our over-commercialized world. It's the beginning of the church year, where we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ in his physical nativity, in our own hearts, and in his future second coming. It's also a time of disciplined fasting and abstinence, a time to ponder and pray, which helps us to get in touch with our deepest longings as we prepare our hearts for the prophetic and mysterious coming of Christ into this world.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Kyle Strobel

"The Lord's Prayer is at the very heart of what prayer is supposed to be, as we pray with and in Jesus." – Kyle Strobel

Featuring Kyle Strobel's latest book, Where Prayer Becomes Real, today's episode is on the importance of honesty and sincerity in prayer. Kyle and his co-author John Coe write on prayer from a practical, theoretically rich approach, addressing what happens existentially when we pray. He shares that we actually are dishonest in our prayers, as if it's a performative act before God, based on our preconceived notions of how we should pray. He then focuses on the importance of watchfulness and the need for us to cultivate a life of earnest, unceasing 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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Barbara Peacock

"As Africans were being transported across the Middle Passage to America in slave ships, their formation was practiced while in chains." – Barbara Peacock

The author of Soul Care in African-American Practice inspires us on today's episode with words of wisdom and grace. And, even offers a song for our weary soul. With the backdrop of Africans in slave ships heading to America, she enlightens us with how spiritual formation and soul care has been a central part of the African-American experience. Reading excerpts from her book, Barbara shares with us how Black leaders have embodied spiritual practices for generations. Spiritual disciplines open us up to receive God's love and in turn to love others in God's name.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Steve Smith

"We can experience hitting the wall, burnout, and exhaustion, all the while working to build up the Kingdom." – Steve Smith

Steve Smith, Founder of Potters Inn, a ministry of soul care for local church and professionals in the marketplace, confronts head on the soullessness of leaders today. With God as the Potter, we are his clay, and if we want to be formed into his likeness, we need to practice ancient rhythms of prayerfulness in Christ. Overcoming the fears of silence and solitude is the place to begin. Like Jesus, who often withdrew to lonely places, so too shall we. Going solo in the spiritual practices will lead us home to the Father's loving embrace and into the abundant life.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Tara Owens

"As much as we think we're not, we're heavily defended against God; we have a lot of walls up, but creativity sneaks around those walls and opens us up to God." – Tara Owens

Tara Owens, founder of Anam Cara (which means soul friend, coming alongside another in spiritual friendship), shares about how we deepen our affection for God through creative expressions. God is a creative God…he could have made just one kind of flower or one kind of grass, but he chose to be creative instead. Jesus celebrated children as representatives of the kingdom of heaven, for they are the ones who innocently play and joyfully create. What are the creative outlets that enhance your prayerfulness and your fruitfulness as co-creator with 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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Alan Fadling

"We have a cultural assumption that fast is good and slow is bad…how might slow be good for your soul?" – Alan Fadling

Today we commence a new season focusing on the pace of your soul. Our souls don't operate at the pace of our smart phones and so much slower than the speed of technology. Our brokenness, weariness, and hunger for more of God leads us into a deeper, more reflective space. Learning how to walk the pace of Jesus will bring us into the pace of grace, love, and peace, fostering the depth and quality of our lifestyle and relationships. Jesus often withdrew to alone and quiet places to find some rest and reconnect with the Father. Perhaps we can too.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Alice Fryling

"I want to look back on my life to see what I've learned about God and apply it to my life now and in the future." – Alice Fryling

The aging process is never-ending, and it's a goldmine for transformation. We have a choice as we age: will we do so selfishly and begrudgingly, or will we age gracefully and faithfully? Alice Fryling offers us wisdom for how best to lovingly give of yourself in the twilight years as we embrace the holy invitation of growing older. If we are vulnerable in our old age, we will acknowledge our weakness and losses, and shift from a transactional to a transformational spirituality. It's a tipping point with a choice to keep growing in God or hang it up forever.

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

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

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Amy Murgatroyd

"When you live as if you're dying, you begin to see the world in a much different way." – Amy Murgatroyd

Mom, wife, and award-winning photographer and film-maker, Amy Murgatroyd (amymurgatroyd.com) shares today about the importance of capturing our emotions and relationships. She invites us to consider how we can become story catchers, who with wide-eyed wonder see the glory of God in the beauty that surrounds us, particularly in the people with whom we share our lives. Seeing with the eyes of our heart and listening to the whispers of God is a great spiritual practice. We are designed by God to co-create with him in this life.

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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gary Thomas

"What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" – Gary Thomas

Imagine what your marriage would look like if you first and foremost prioritized your relationship with God. "If only we could just be Christians first, then our marriages wouldn't become so difficult," according to our guest Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage. Best marriage advice: seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Marriage isn't for our personal romantic passion and family happiness, it's for helping each other deepen our affections for God. When we focus on reverencing God, we in turn can love our spouses.

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