Broken and Whole: A Leader's Path to Spiritual Transformation

212 Pages·2015·4.483 MB·English

by  Stephen A. Macchia

A Leader’s Path to
Spiritual Transformation
Stephen A. Macchia
InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515‑1426
ivpress.com
[email protected]
©2015 by Stephen A. Macchia
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from InterVarsity Press.
InterVarsity Press® is the book‑ publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA®, a
movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools
of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship
of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, visit intervarsity.org.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New
International Version®. niv®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Some names and identifying information in this book’s stories have been changed to protect the
privacy of individuals. The details of some stories are composites of actual people and events.
Cover design: Cindy Kiple
Interior design: Beth McGill
Images: © Kritchanut/iStockphoto
ISBN 978‑0‑ 8308‑9917‑3 (digital)
ISBN 978‑0‑ 8308‑4606‑1 (print)
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Macchia, Stephen A., 1956-
Title: Broken and whole : a leader’s path to spiritual transformation /
Stephen A. Macchia.
Description: Downers Grove : InterVarsity Press, 2015. | Includes
bibliographical references. | Description based on print version record
and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015036013 (print) | LCCN 2015037643 (ebook) | ISBN
9780830899173 (eBook) | ISBN 9780830846061 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Corinthians, 1st, XIII--Criticism, interpretation,
etc. | Love--Biblical teaching. | Love--Religious aspects--Christianity. |
Healing--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Christianity--Psychology.
Classification: LCC BS2675.52 (print) | LCC BS2675.52 .M23 2015 (ebook) | DDC
253--dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015037643
This book is dedicated to the suffering, heartache,
sinfulness and imperfections of my life, all of which are
teaching me to trust and love God with my whole
heart, soul, mind and strength.
Only through the ongoing restoration of God’s steadfast
love within my soul can I offer redemptive and transform-
ative love to my neighbor as myself.
May it be so in my heart and yours, graciously
and gratefully for the glory of God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28‑31
For we are God’s handiwork, [re]created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (niv)
Contents
Introduction: An Invitation to Discover Strength
in Weakness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The most excellent way
1 Impatience Isn’t a Virtue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Love is patient and kind
2 When Envy and Jealousy Ransack the Mind . . . . . . . 35
Love does not envy
3 Is It Ever Acceptable to Have a Competitive Spirit? . . . 47
Love does not boast
4 The Tight Grip of Pride and Close‑ Fisted Greed. . . . . 59
Love is not proud
5 The Maddening Manipulation of Self and Others. . . . 71
Love is not rude
6 Is an Independent Spirit in Your Veins and Arteries? . . . 85
Love is not self‑ seeking
7 The Destructive Power of Unbridled Anger. . . . . . . . 99
Love is not easily angered
8 The Truth Always Sets Us Free. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Love keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil,
but rejoices in truth
9 When Fear and Worry Ensnare a Heart . . . . . . . . . 127
Love always protects
10 The Pitfalls of Needing to Be Wanted. . . . . . . . . . . 139
Love always trusts
11 When Hope Waxes and Wanes 153
Love always hopes
12 No Pain Is Ever Wasted 167
Love always perseveres and never fails
13 Befriending Brokenness and Inviting Redemption 185
The greatest of these is love
Conclusion and Benediction: Broken and Whole 199
Acknowledgments 203
Praise for Broken and Whole 205
About the Author 208
Leadership Transformations 209
Also by Stephen A Macchia 210
Formatio Page 211
More Titles from InterVarsity Press 212
Behold the patient love of God
Become what you receive
Behold the kind love of God
Become what you receive
Behold the protecting love of God
Become what you receive
Behold the trusting love of God
Become what you receive
Behold the hopeful love of God
Become what you receive
Behold the persevering love of God
Become what you receive
Behold the unconditional love of God
It does not envy, it does not boast
It is not proud, it is not rude
It is not self‑ seeking, it is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs,
it does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth
It never fails
Prophecies, tongues and knowledge will cease,
still and pass away
Faith, hope and love remain
But the greatest of these is love
Become what you receive
1 Corinthians 13: 4‑13
as adapted by Stephen Macchia