Pathways Our Spiritual Journey Together March 2010
Reflections Along the Way From the desk of Steve Macchia "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew
11: 28-30, The Message)
Learning the unforced rhythms of grace
requires practice. We're prone toward fulfilling the prolonged pace of the
busy life. We wake up each day and maximize every moment before us...getting ready as fast as possible, eating a quick breakfast before running out the door, jam-packing every possible moment with meetings, work, chores, children, exercise, driving, shopping, eating, emails, phone calls, errands, ministry...just
to name a few. Yes, our lives are stretched to the maximum; our days are
full from the time we awaken to the time we drop into bed at night. And,
although we're living very full days we often come to the realization that
in fact we're quite unfulfilled because there's no time to simply be.
20th Century spiritual formation author
Evelyn Underhill says it this way, "We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to want, to have, and to do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual—even the religious—plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb: to be...and that being, not wanting, not having and not doing, is the essence of a spiritual life." Sounds
to me like she understands the heart of learning the unforced rhythms of
grace.
As we conclude Lent 2010, let me urge
you to ponder afresh what Christ has done in your behalf to usher you into
an ever-deepening fellowship with the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus himself.
The sacrificial gift on the cross makes the rhythms of grace a reality for
all of us—now and for all eternity. Embrace that gift and walk in spiritual
renewal today.
Sign Posts on the Trail LTi ministry highlights
Since the start of the new year, LTi has been on the road, up close and personal:
› Training Cornerstone Church Network leaders in Wisconsin
› Consulting with the American Baptist Churches of Ohio
› Serving the Korean Pastors Network in Toronto, Canada
› Facilitating a Soul Care Retreat for ABC Pastors in Northern New England
› Teaching Selah interns in the new Spiritual Direction Certificate Training Program
› Coming alongside our Spiritual Leadership Community with a focus on Sabbath lifestyle
› Leading the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Mission to Moldova
For the second year in a row, Steve Macchia and Rick Anderson will travel on mission to the country of Moldova. Blessed and sent from their local churches (Grace Chapel in Lexington MA and Vanguard Church in CO), Steve and Rick will serve Jesus Savior Church in Chisinau, Moldova, and the local Christian college and seminary. Their focus will be on spiritual leadership development initiatives among the pastoral staff and volunteer ministry teams at Jesus Savior Church, as well as preaching, teaching and consulting. Please pray for them beginning on March 19 for safety in travel, physical health, and ministry effectiveness as they serve together in Jesus' name.
Steve and Rick with the pastoral leadership team (in front of Jesus Savior Church). Senior Pastor Vitalie Fedula is second from the left:
Steve
and Rick with Vitalie Fedula (red tie) at a remote country village chapel
for an evangelistic crusade. More that 40 people gave their lives
to Christ that afternoon.
Steve preaching
(w/ Vitalie interpreting) at the Sunday morning service at Jesus Savior
Church in Chisinau (largest Baptist church in Moldova):
Rick speaking (w/ Vitalie interpreting) at the mid-week youth/young adult service at Jesus Savior Church:
Resources for the Journey
LTi is continuing to develop resources in spiritual formation, discernment and renewal:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew
11: 28-30, The Message
