The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: David Vryhof

"God enters our lives in unusual ways, often in places where we are weakest and most vulnerable, where he delights to bring change to our lives." —David Vryhof, SSJE

The art of discernment takes time and experience, as we learn how to recognize the voice of God and discover the yearnings God has for us. Our culture is so dominated by the decisiveness of the business and commerce community. Instead, the church needs to lean more toward a discernment model for leadership. St. Ignatius of Loyola offers principles and practices for individual and group discernment, beginning with unpacking our deepest desires, and then pursuing them in freedom. Overarching principle: know, love, and serve God – all for his glory.

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: David Vryhof

"In order for us to hear the voice of God, it's not about our ears, but much more about our hearts." —David Vryhof, SSJE

Instead of using the term "God's will" David and Steve unpack a healthy alternative: God's yearnings for us. God desires for us is to live with him, noticing his empowering presence, and trusting him to abide in us. Paying attention to God's yearnings is a lifelong pursuit, marked by times of obvious lucidity when the way forward is clear. Other times, we are confronted by multiple choices, and we pay attention to the consolation or desolation in our hearts. Still, there may be a need for us to simply wait on God and fulfill our heart's desires in God's timing.

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: 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

In this new series, 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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Mark Buchanan

"Endurance. All walking eventually gets hard, lonely, tedious. All start with exhilaration, but end with some level of perseverance." – Mark Buchanan

God's faithfulness is understood deeply and fully amidst a life of perseverance. He invites us into a long obedience in the same direction. His pace is slow because it's the pace of love. God longs to form us into his image and he's comfortable doing so at his pace, slower than we as humans prefer. But, like the allegory Pilgrim's Progress, life is a long journey to the celestial city. As we endure to the end, we embrace the heart of God and pursue the priorities of God's Kingdom through his most excellent way – love. Notice today the gifts of walking at Godspeed.

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: Mark Buchanan

"Walking with a friend is soul formative and nurturing, especially among God's creation as we walk and pause in awe together." –Mark Buchanan

Walking has a built-in requirement to attentiveness. Not only the noticing of where we are heading and the terrain under our feet, but in our awareness of God and the companions that join us. In this episode we explore walking as friends, with animals, as prayer, and for the sake of attentiveness and remembering. As we walk, we discern God's movement among us as he invites us to trust him and grow in his grace. Slowing down to notice the leaf, the ducks in the pond, the beauty that surrounds us, evokes a graced awareness of God. Enjoy a walk 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

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Mark Buchanan

"I've always been in a rush and it's not served me well for my deeper formation." –Mark Buchanan

God invites us into a life of receptivity and grace, walking with God as he companions us at his pace: 3 mph. As we seek to resemble Jesus, we need to learn how to slow down our fast-paced lives. Here we discover so much more about his faithful affection for us as his beloved children. As we walk with intentionality and purposefulness, we are embodying life as a pilgrimage. Only when we pace ourselves appropriately will we experience our genuine quest to encounter God. God Walk is a sequel to The Rest of God, both written by our special guest, Mark Buchanan.

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: Mark Buchanan

"Our Sabbath practices began by taking one do-nothing day each week…and it changed everything." –Mark Buchanan

The spiritual rhythm of Sabbath rest is good for our souls, our relationships, and our service to others. Learning to linger at the pace of grace, Sabbath teaches us to slow down long enough to savor every important morsel of life. We need to build capacity and practice Sabbath in order to overcome our addictive patterns and realign around God's invitation to rest. In this episode we discuss practical ways to lean into Sabbath, including how best to prepare for Sabbath. Our mindset for receptivity is key to savoring the richness of Sabbath. Receive the day – it's a gift!

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: Mark Buchanan

"Jesus saved me and then the Sabbath saved my relationship with Jesus." –Mark Buchanan

Mark Buchanan, author of The Rest of God, reminds us that we spend many of our waking moments pursuing adrenaline rushes. Activity, noise, productivity, and even relationships can hinder us from a life of attentiveness and receptivity. Sabbath slows us down and awakens within us a fresh, renewing way of being. As we practice noticing God, we experience clarity, calmness, and a rich sense of well-being in Christ. Sabbath teaches us to be receptive to all that God delights to offer us as his beloved children, made to live abundantly in the image of 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: Dave Currie

"A living church always needs new expressions in song to meet the immediacy of current and particular circumstances." – Dave Currie

Spiritual songs and hymns help us become more discerning leaders. As we sing, regardless of our unique context, we join with the voices of saints from around the world who worship musically with songs of our Christian faith. How may distinct races, denominations, or ethnic groups have you joined in song? Engaging in song theologically, emotionally, and experientially is good for the soul. We evaluate a good song theologically by holding it up to Scripture; we are invited fully into the song experientially and emotionally. Good songs stand the test of time.

For more information about today's hymns:

• Background: https://hymnary.org/text/lord_you_have_come_to_the_lakeshore
• https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-lord-you-have-come-to-the-lakeshore
• Solo guitar & duet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdsab4mm4nI&pbjreload=10
• Choir in Spanish & English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdXrgsqIZ8k

• Background: https://hymnary.org/text/here_o_lord_your_servants_gather
• https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-here-o-lord-your-servants-gather
• Japanese/English Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiT6WSdBNhw

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: Dave Currie

"Do everything for the glory of God – and with a song in your heart!" – Dave Currie

Singing is a great way to help us notice what God is doing in our midst. When we let the message of Christ dwell among us richly, it's the songs, hymns, and spiritual songs – offered from our hearts – that solidify the truths about God in our souls. We are made in God's image, and we share in God's creative process as we sing and make music in our hearts. What is it about singing that characterizes the formative work of God in us? We explore this question and notice the dynamic work of God as our head and our heart cooperate with one another in song.

For more information about today's hymns:"GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH"

• Background: https://hymnary.org/text/guide_me_o_thou_great_jehovah
• Sung in English & Welsh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT4n1hGjDDg

"BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE!"

• Background: https://hymnary.org/text/blessed_assurance_jesus_is_mine
• Alan Jackson/Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vfqYwfTqlE
• CeCe Winans/Gospel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMLOlYWM03g

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