The Discerning Leader Podcast

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Gayle Heaslip “We create hospitable space, non-judgmental, gentle, supportive, deeply attentive to God’s work in our lives and our midst.” —Gayle Heaslip Trained counselor, spiritual director, LTI team member and Anglican priest, Gayle Heaslip, offers her wisdom on spiritual friendship, especially between and among women. Her ministry of hospitality has shown women (and many men) what it means to practice the hospitality of God, who welcomes, affirms, celebrates, and blesses us simply for who we are as his children.  Stirred in longing and wonder over the friendship between Ruth and Naomi, Gayle opens the eyes of our hearts to see the gifts of love that create congruency and wholeness in persons.  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: Rick Anderson "Friendship among men is elusive, but incredibly important." —Rick Anderson Who in your life is saving you from the worst of you and bringing out the best of you? Since most men life lives of quiet desperation, men in the body of Christ have an opportunity to pursue so much more. Spiritual friendship among the company of other men can be both formative and transformative. Shifting from playful bantering and competitive interactions, men can indeed experience empathy, compassion, and support from one another. With David and Jonathan as biblical examples, we explore the true meaning of covenantal companionship. 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: Richard Plass “At the core of who we are, we are relational beings, created by a relational God. Many leaders today, however, don’t have anyone to share their story.” —Rich Plass Today’s episode is an overview of Rich Plass’ book, The Relational Soul (IVP). He reminds us that our Trinitarian God is relational, as he invites relationship with us as his beloved children, and as he desires for us to have relationships of love with one another. Our family of origin sets the trajectory for our relational connections, or lack thereof. As adults, it’s important to have trusted friends with whom to courageously share our story, both the broken and whole aspects of our journey. Only then will we be set free to live the abundant life offered to us in Christ. 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: Richard Plass “Our long-standing spiritual friendship has been a tapestry woven together by the grace of God.” —Rich Plass Our host and guest have been friends and brothers in Christ for nearly 50 years. They speak authoritatively about the importance of friendship for all of us in the body of Christ. Recounting their shared history, they dovetail their reflections with the biblical text and a mature understanding of what makes for healthy, intentional, life-transforming friendship. They consider how friends are made and how they lead us into a healthy walk with God. Fresh insights are offered about being receivable, not reactionary, in loving and trusting ways. 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 “We’re all trying to listen deeply to what God wants of us throughout the entire prayerful process.” – David Vryhof, SSJE Prior to group discernment, it’s important to follow guiding principles: does the group have a stated covenant? Do we all share a faith view of reality and willing to be led by God prayerfully? Are we willing to bathe the process in prayer, laying aside our preconceived ideas, have holy indifference and an openness to consider various opinions? Will we honor one another, listen well, contribute positively, pause frequently, affirm silence to help us slow down when needed? From that unhurried, prayerful attentiveness, we enter a guided process with joy and gusto. 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 “Prayerful listening together is essential for us to know what we are to do and who we are to become in this season of life and ministry.” –David Vryhof, SSJE The Good Shepherd loves us and desires to lead us, for as we listen to God, we join him in his longings for us. But we need to be intentional about this pursuit of learning how to listen to God individually and collectively. From an attentive posture we then discern God’s affection for us as well as his intentions for us as his beloved ones. Each member of the group needs to share the priority of listening together to God and one another, otherwise it’s a bumpy road. Once the question(s) are clarified, asking God first will lead us smoothly into discernment as a team. 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 “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