The Being Formed Podcast

How would you answer these five Biblical questions from God?
- Who do you say that I am?
- What is your name?
- Where are you?
- What do you want?
- What do you have in your hand?
These five questions provide a framework for formational mentoring, a ministry of soul care which stands apart from a typical mentoring relationship, life coaching, or even a spiritual direction relationship.
"Formational mentoring has an emphasis on a posture that's seeking intimacy with God."
Becky Dietz is the Formational Mentoring Director at LifePoint Resources. She's also a writer, speaker, and retreat leader with many years of church and para-church ministry experience, both in rural and urban settings. Becky’s undergraduate work focused on Christian Education, and she holds a Masters degree in Christianity and Culture from Knox Theological Seminary.
Becky writes formational resources which help Christians from many cultures pursue and protect personal sacred spaces and rhythms. She loves to facilitate groups – large or small – where people are invited to understand and enjoy deeper friendship with God.
Visit LifePoint Resources to learn more about Formational Resources and connect with Becky Dietz.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

What does it mean to discern wisely? Is discernment all about making decisions, either as an individual or with a group, or is there more to it than that? Our guest, Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia, helps us form a broader definition of discernment which includes all of our life with God by "practicing a preference for God" in every relationship, every circumstance, every conversation, every single day.
Steve Macchia is a thought provoking author and is the Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc. LTI focuses on the spiritual formation needs of leaders and the spiritual discernment processes of leadership teams in local church and parachurch ministry settings nationwide. He is also the Director of the Pierce Center for Discipleship-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Visit stevemacchia.com to purchase your copy of Steve's recent book, "The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything."
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

We're grateful to Brandon Booth, the co-founder and president of Signpost Inn Ministries, for bringing his years of wisdom and insight related to the art of relational conversation to The Being Formed Podcast.
Brandon and his wife, Liv, run a retreat house in Colorado and provide hospitality through various retreats, spiritual direction, and masterfully crafted resources all designed to help people grow confidence in Christ's unfailing love, and help them to think wisely about theology, prayer, spirituality and more. Brandon and Liv offer spiritual friendship and support so that no one has to journey alone.
This episode is about learning to engage in more fruitful conversation primarily through practicing curiosity and active listening. As we learn to listen without cynicism and over-analysis, we become more open to the riches of relationship and friendship offered by the other.
This is true of our relationship with God.
Spiritual direction is a place and space where we are offered the gifts of curiosity and active listening. It's a place to pay attention to God's loving voice within. If you are seeking spiritual direction, please visit LifePoint Resources and connect with one of our spiritual directors.
Also visit Brandon Booth's website at www.signpostinn.org to connect with him as a spiritual director or to register for an upcoming retreat.
Brandon's book, Changing the Conversation, is available for purchase here.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Our host, Adam Ormord, discusses the spiritual practice of listening with Dr. Ann van der Merwe. Utilizing technological resources to curate musical experiences has never been easier than it is today. Is there value in considering the role of music in our own formation? How might we intentionally cooperate with God by allowing music and art to speak a better word to our souls? Is it possible God is present, beckoning us to be more present in and through the curated soundscape of our lives? If so, is listening a practice we might engage with more curiosity and attention? 
Ann van der Merwe currently works as an Adjunct Instructor of Humanities at Southern New Hampshire University. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Illinois and an MA and PhD in Musicology from The Ohio State University. She has two published books on music, both focusing on American popular music in the early twentieth century. She is also a lifelong follower of Jesus who has shared her love of music, writing, and the divine gift of human creativity in a variety of other ways, both in ministry and in life.
 
Two curated playlists for your practice of listening (from Ann):
Rest: I curated this playlist as an invitation to rest - to Sabbath, to being rather than doing, to relaxing both physically and spiritually, to trusting in and asking for God’s provision. The word “rest” appears throughout, and the sonic palette is intentionally restful as well. The songs collectively also reflect on and refer to a variety of Scripture passages inviting us to rest.
Rest - Andrew OsengaI Am - Jill PhillipsCome Away - Jason PolleyCome To Me (Acoustic) - Jadon LavikRest Easy - Andrew PetersonTake Five - The Dave Brubeck QuartetFill My Cup - Andrew RippGive It A Rest - The Arcadian WildRest - The Gray HavensLilies & Sparrows - Jess RayRest (Postlude) - Jess Ray
 
How Long?: I curated this playlist as a musical lament - a way to share grief, pain, impatience, frustration, and longing for the Kingdom. The words “How Long” appear frequently, and even when they are absent, the sentiment remains. Musical style varies more widely here, which intentionally reflects the range of emotions that accompany lament as well as our unique human expressions of lament.
Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2 (Songs of Surrender Version)How Long? - Bifrost ArtsThe Reckoning (How Long) - Andrew PetersonMy Soul Waits - Bethany BarnardCome Back Soon - Andrew PetersonO God, Will You Restore Us? - Bifrost ArtsThe Year of the Locust - Andrew OsengaThe Dark Before the Dawn - Andrew PetersonWaiting – Andrew Osenga“40” - U2 (Songs of Surrender Version)
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

How is it with you and God? What's God up to in your life? How is it with your soul These are some of the questions explored in spiritual direction, a ministry of listening. 
Debbie Schuster is the Director of Deepen, a two-year course of study designed for individuals who desire to grow in their own spiritual lives as well as to cultivate the spiritual lives of others in a cross-cultural setting. Grounded in multiple streams of Christian spirituality, the course offers a balanced learning environment blending spiritual formation with skills development through experiential, developmental and group activities.
A trained, practicing spiritual director for over 20 years, Debbie previously served as adjunct faculty and staff at Talbot School of Theology and the Institute for Spiritual Formation. Currently residing in Málaga, Spain, she is part of the SentWell multi-disciplinary member care team, providing services for cross-cultural workers serving around the world.
To learn more about Deepen and SentWell, visit https://www.sentwell.org/deepen. 
To meet with one of LifePoint's trained spiritual directors, visit https://www.lifepointresources.org/direction and request a consultation.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Why is listening so important to our spiritual journey? How can we learn to listen better? How can we offer the gift of deep listening to others, especially in a world with so much noise? What are some practices we can engage in to stay open to the still, small voice of God?
Join Adam Ormord, the founder of LifePoint, for this short explanation of the concept of listening "softer." This podcast episode serves as the launchpad for an upcoming series of conversations broadly exploring the theme of listening as it relates to our being with Jesus and becoming people of love.
Please take a moment to rate, review, and share The Being Formed Podcast with others in your community. More reviews and ratings equal more listeners finding their way to our conversations on soul care, spiritual direction, Christian spiritual formation, and life with God.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

On today's episode, Adam Ormord is joined by a dear friend in formation, LuAnn Roberson, the curator and founder of "A Simple Pause." LuAnn shares the story of her upbringing, her heart to come alongside hurting people as a nurse (of bodies and souls), and her desire to give the gift of "A Simple Pause" to all those in need.
We, at LifePoint Resources, are grateful to help spread the word about the gift of "A Simple Pause." Here's a brief description from their website:
"A Simple Pause ministry started out of a desire to create space for ourselves and others to experience a few minutes with God each day. Caring for our souls often happens in times alone in quiet and stillness, or one on one with a spiritual director or companion, or in a group with others who are seeking to deepen their relationship with God. We serve others in those three ways: through the app A Simple Pause, in one-to-one interactions of soul care, and through events/retreats we offer in collaboration with other ministries. LuAnn Roberson, the founder of A Simple Pause, is passionate about accompanying others on that deepening journey." (from www.asimplepause.org/about-us/)
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Let's face it...no matter who we are or what we do for a living, we're all in need of soul care.
We carry so much in our hearts, minds, and our bodies - pressures of the day, wounds from the past, hopes and concerns for the future - and we desperately need a space where we can be real in the presence of someone who will point us to God's love!
At LifePoint Resources, we are passionate about soul care for everyone! No matter your status or your story, we're here to walk with you. Adam Ormord, the host of the podcast has a background in pastoral ministry, particularly as a worship pastor in the local church. Adam regularly meets with pastors and leaders in all stages of ministry, but he will always have a place in his heart for men and women who lead their congregations in worship. 
 In response to God's leading, we're announcing plans for a new soul care initiative curated just for worship leaders. Adam welcomes Shawn Smith, a fellow soul care provider and worship leader, to the podcast to help explain the heart behind this new effort. We hope you'll listen and pass this conversation along to the worship leader in your faith community.
The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.