Reflections Along the Way
From the desk of Steve Macchia

Discovering the Rest of God

“Most of us feel utterly ransacked. We are waylaid by endless demands and stifling routines. Even our vacations have a panicky, task-like edge to them. ‘If I only had more time,’ is the mantra of our age. But is this the real problem? What we’ve really lost is ‘the rest of God–the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of himself’ we can know only through stillness.” (From The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan)

On July 1, Leadership Transformations turns “7” years young! It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed since this ministry was first launched in 2003. We’ll be commemorating this milestone the weekend of November 12/13, 2010 with special guest speaker, Mark Buchanan. Mark lives in Vancouver Island, Canada, with his wife and three children, serves as a pastor and has authored several books, including my favorite on the subject of Sabbath, The Rest of God. In this book he reminds us that Sabbath is a gift from God and is to be practiced both as a set-apart day as well as a lifestyle. “Sabbath, truly kept, is delightful. It is a weekly festival that subverts the tyranny of clock and chore. Sabbath allows us to live more fully into our status as free people, people released from the grueling, incessant demands of taskmasters. We anticipate, in the sweet shadow of Sabbath, the ultimate rest, heaven. Far from being some starched and dour day only to be endured, Sabbath is a day wide and bright, brimming with laughter, enough to lend beauty to all our other days.”

I’m very excited to introduce Mark Buchanan to the LTi family and hope that you will be able to join us for the following special events: On Friday, November 12, a leadership gathering at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary from 9am-3pm. Then, on Saturday, November 13, a soul care mini retreat co-sponsored with Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA. That evening we will gather with donors and friends for our Annual Celebration event which will be the capstone of our weekend events. Save the dates and keep an eye out for more details! In the meantime, can I recommend reading The Rest of God this summer? Complimentary copies are available for all LTi donors and others for purchase on the LTi store. Secure your copy today and have a fabulous summer of true spiritual rest, refreshment and renewal.

Sign Posts on the Trail 
LTi ministry highlights

Selah Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction is now accepting applications for cohort #3.  Beginning this fall, we are kicking off a new 2-year cohort every year beginning with a retreat in September.  Coming from all over the US, and from various types of ministries, these Selah interns seek to grow in their attentive practice of one-on-one spiritual companionship, in ways that reflect a Biblical grounding, a Trinitarian theology, and a contemplative listening-to-the-Holy Spirit stance. Is there a Spiritual Director inside of you?  Perhaps one of the spaces in the new cohort is for you!  For additional Selah details visit the Selah page on our website or contact Susan Currie at susan@leadershiptransformations.org.  For a downloadable Selah application, click here (requires Adobe Acrobat).  Do you know someone who might be interested in Selah?  Please forward this email to them.

Spiritual Leadership Community (SLC) #4 begins this fall. Spiritual Leadership Communities are unique groups of leaders who desire ever deepening attentiveness to the presence and movement of God within their lives and among one another.  Each community gathers together for four topical retreats over a period of nine months, which include times of prayerful community, shared spiritual journeys, and exposure to practical resources and training. We’re saving a spot for you!  For details visit the SLC page on our website or contact Diana Bennett at diana@leadershiptransformations.org.  For a downloadable SLC application, click here (requires Adobe Acrobat).  Do you know someone who might be interested in participating in SLC?  Please forward this email to them.

The Family Health Assessment was developed through our collaborative effort with Focus on the Family.  The Family Health Assessment gives churches all across the country and the world the ability to evaluate the state of their family units according to three major themes: Health, Legacy, and Impact with follow up resources and materials from Focus on the Family.  For details on the Family Health Assessment, visit www.churchfamilyhealth.com. 

The CHAT Survey has recently received a major new feature that gives churches the ability to not only ask their own questions but also run custom reports that compare the responses of various demographics groups including: Age, Gender, Marital Status, Number of Years at Our Church, Education, and Ethnicity—and up to two additional demographics groups added by the church.  Check out this Sample CHAT Report or go online to www.healthychurch.net for more information.  Our Free Guide to Church Assessment is being downloaded by church leaders all over the country and the world several times each day!

NEW FEATURE!  Full-Day Soul Care Retreat Guide on "Sabbath"

You may already be familiar with our Half-day Retreat Guides.  We're excited to now offer our first Full-day Guide on "Sabbath"!

This guide will help you facilitate a full-day retreat for yourself or a group.  Spend an entire day in Sabbath rest, experiencing God’s presence in a time of ceasing from your daily tasks and pressures and celebrating the life God has given you to enjoy.  Use the materials provided to consider how to craft your own future Sabbath practice.

Included in this guide are instructions, suggested schedule, 3 worship outlines and handouts on "Sabbath Ceasing", "Resting", "Celebrating and Embracing", worksheets on "Sabbath Rule of Life", Refreshing Rest" and more! 

FREE Monthly Spiritual Formation Resources!

Did you know?  Hundreds of people have already signed up and are receiving free monthly spiritual formation resources from LTi conveniently right in their email inboxes!  If you'd like to be one of them, it's easy!  Click here to sign up!

It's just another way LTi continues to encourage and resource the Church toward spiritual formation, discernment and renewal!  Check out our extensive list of recommended books, retreat resources and reflective readings.  Click around in our online store 24/7!