The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "We all have a rule of life, a way of living, already. The question is, are we living in response to God's invitation for us?" – Steve Macchia A "Rule of Life" has nothing to do with rules. The best way to translate it is the "way" of life. All of us have a rule of life already at work. The question is, are we living in the way that God wants us to be living? In episode eleven, 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 having a Rule of Life. Steve defines a Rule of Life as "Spirit-empowered rhythms and relationships that create, redeem, sustain, transform the lives that God invites us to humbly fulfill for Christ's glory." Steve and Matt share how a rule of life will be much more meaningful if we take the time to ask questions about our unique thumbprint and footprint. Our unique thumbprint has to do with the roles and relationships we have, our gifts, our desires, our vision, and our mission in life. Our unique footprint encompasses our spiritual life, our relational life, our physical life, our financial life, and our missional life. If this episode has been helpful for you, you may be interested in other Rule of Life resources from LTI including online workshops, previous podcast episodes, the Crafting a Rule of Life book, and the www.ruleoflife.com website. 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 This is a reprise of the Holy Week Interlude episode 2 which aired on April 6, 2023 "Death gives way to life. Not only lived out by Jesus but meant to be lived out by each of us." – David Vryhof, SSJE Holy Week is considered the climax of the Christian year. The service that starts on Maundy Thursday continues all the way to the Easter Vigil and is the capstone of Holy Week. Steve Macchia and Brother David Vryhof return to the podcast to discuss how the liturgical worship of holy week very much engages our body with our mind and heart. During these days we recognize the death of Christ that leads to His rising. This process of death to new life is an ongoing conversion process that we are invited to participate in daily. 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 This is a reprise of the Holy Week Interlude episode 1 which aired on March 30, 2023. "We are offering ourselves in fresh new ways to God in Lent." – David Vryhof, SSJE Holy week has the potential to invite us into intimacy sharing with Jesus not only his triumph and resurrection but his path of suffering. Commencing a two-week interlude, Steve Macchia and his spiritual director, Brother David Vryhof of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (Episcopal Monastic Community based in Cambridge, MA) explore ways that we can value and participate in the work of Christ during holy week. All of us are in pursuit of a deeper affection for Christ. Times like Holy Week bring us to that deeper place of desire, longing towards Jesus.

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Matt Scott "Gratitude is a remedy for my bent towards entitlement." – Matt Scott In this world filled with gripes, gossip, and guesswork in relationships, saying an occasional "thank you" is good for our souls. In episode ten, 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 gratitude. Matt shares how gratitude is a remedy towards entitlement, the belief that God or others owe us something. Gratitude works in our discontentment, self-centeredness, and selfish ambition. Steve shares how we can express gratitude through trials, being able to say "Thank You Lord even for that tough experience in my life. This episode concludes with a guided reflection to help you adopt the practice of gratitude. 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: Matt Scott "We can't be restless all the time. Sabbath is the place of greatest freedom, life, and joy."–Steve Macchia We can all agree that the Ten Commandments are important. But for some reason, many of us have only brought nine of the Ten into the modern day. We've left behind the command to Sabbath. In episode nine, 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 Sabbath. In our modern culture, we no longer observe Sabbath and instead celebrate busyness. We hold each other accountable to the other nine Commandments, but not the Sabbath-the place of greatest freedom, life, and joy. Matt and Steve share four elements of a good Sabbath (cease, rest, feast, and embrace). This episode concludes with a guided reflection to help you adopt the practice of Sabbath. 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: Matt Scott "What does it say about me if I'm not busy?" – Matt Scott Our culture invites us to find rest in so many other places. We are constantly in motion because we are afraid of what rest will look like or create for us. In episode eight, 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 rest which is a beautiful invitation to live in freedom - a place of lightness rather than being weighed down, burdened, or having a heaviness. Matt points out that our resistance or hesitancy to rest is based in fear, and lack of trust - fear that we would be seen as lazy, the fear that the things that we deem essential won't get done. Steve encourages us to adopt a mindset of "My life is full but I'm finding my rest in the Lord." This episode includes a guided reflection to help you embrace the practice of resting. 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: Matt Scott "Fasting is not an opportunity for us to enter into a diet experience. If we are giving up something hoping that at the end of the fast we might also be down five pounds, that seems to miss the heart of what Jesus is talking about." – Matt Scott Prayer and fasting go together. This is to realign your heart with God's heart. In episode seven, 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 fasting. Fasting welcomes and invites discomfort and suffering into our physical body. We practice fasting because it is biblical, important and Jesus gave His followers instructions for fasting, saying "When you fast." Steve admits that even though he knows how good fasting is for the soul, he still struggles with it. We may fast along with the church calendar, in repentance, for discernment, or dependence on God. All of these reorder our attachments and realign our priorities around God's priorities which deepens our relationship with God and with others. This episode includes a guided reflection to help you start the practice of fasting. 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: Matt Scott "We truly are as sick as our secrets." – Steve Macchia Discerning leaders need to understand the importance of saying "I'm sorry I was wrong. Please forgive me. In episode six, 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 confession. In confession, we are given the opportunity to be honest, and truthful, and speak of the reality of our given life experience. Confession breaks us out of hiding and living a shame-filled life. The invitation to confession is light and life. Confession is not limited to our sin but also includes our confession of our faith in God. This episode includes a guided reflection to help you practice confession. 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.

In this insightful conversation, Matt Scott, a creative director and minister of spiritual formation, dives deep into the transformative practice of examen. He and host Steve Macchia explore how daily reflection can help keep the soul in tune with God's presence. They discuss the roots of examen in confession and forgiveness, share personal experiences, and emphasize its adaptability in daily life. The episode culminates with a guided reflective practice, encouraging listeners to enhance their spiritual awareness and connection with God.

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.