Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

Renovaré Director of Education Carolyn Arends spoke recently at Pacific Community Church on the true power of being meek.

Wendell Berry is the kind of writer that when you read his work it can change the way you live. Ragan Sutterfield, author and Episcopal priest in training, talks this week about Berry, sabbath, and permaculture—working with God's order instead of manipulating the world to our own ends.

When the love of God is experienced—known deeply and personally with the heart—it gives us courage to face our brokenness and be vulnerable with one another. Chris Webb returns to talk on that topic and others from his new book God Soaked Life, which is part of the upcoming Renovaré Book Club.

Podcast editor Brian Morykon interviews Nathan Foster and they share a few favorite clips from the first 100 episodes.

Chris Webb is an Anglican priest, author, and former president of Renovaré. He shares stories of his past ministry in churches in the idyllic Welsh countryside, and gives some needed perspective and advice for the American church.

"Compassion is the experience of a heart that has known its own suffering and has been made expansive by the healing power of the love of God." Juanita Rasmus, co-pastor of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Downtown Houston, shares on social justice at Westmont College.

Josh Banner, host of The Invitation Podcast, joins Nate again to discuss his journey into making audio prayer retreats, and how ministry is as simple as being present to others.

Take a 20 minute "audio retreat" as Nathan Foster unfolds a quote from Julian of Norwich to guide us into prayer. This episode is a collaboration with Joshua Banner from The Invitation Podcast (invitationpodcast.org).

How can a woman whose family and community is ravaged by the Black Death say, "All shall be well?" Pastor and Renovaré board member Mimi Dixon opens up the world of Julian of Norwich, a Medieval Christian with a surprisingly contemporary voice.

"I see it happening, this great new gathering of the people of God," writes Richard Foster in Streams of Living Water. Richard along with Renovaré Board member James Catford join this week to talk about the treasure in the diversity of the Church.

"Our massive souls deserve a really good story," says James Bryan (Jim) Smith in this conversation about his new book that uncovers a gospel of beauty, goodness and truth.

​Two families embarked on a yearlong experiment to implement twelve small practices of radical faith, right where they were—in suburban Michigan. With humor and honesty guests Erin Wasinger and Sarah Arthur talk about the journey chronicled in their book, A Year of Small Things.​

For over 50 years Dunklin Memorial Church has focused on hosting a residential alcohol and drug recovery program that brings men into healing through community, service, and hearing God's voice. Nick Reynolds is director at Dunklin.

"Contemplative prayer isn’t prayer in which we ask God to do things for us. It’s being with God and listening for God’s input whenever God may choose to speak." Jan Johnson returns to talk about hearing God, and quieting that noisy mental committee who tries to drown out his voice.

Renovaré's resident expert on kids is back again to talk with Nathan about how a child goes from innocence to character, who shapes a child's image of God, and three things every child needs (and every adult, too).

Renovaré's new Director of Communication and Special Projects, Brian Morykon, talks with Nathan about worship, living full-time in an RV, and learning to swim in the charismatic stream.

What is worship, why do we do it, and how can we enter more fully into worship on Sunday and everyday? Dallas Willard answers those questions with his characteristic wisdom and gentleness in this archive interview with John Ortberg at Menlo Park Church.

Having worked several years with churches in France and Switzerland, Linda Gist knows first-hand how lonely and isolating ministry can be. After graduating the Renovaré Institute she started Rhythms of Grace, a retreat ministry for pastors. She joins Nathan to talk about the importance for leaders to have a safe place to be vulnerable and find rest.

Nathan recently spoke at a conference in Australia hosted by Coast Community Church. The pastor of that church, Andrew Ranucci, joins Nathan again to talk about the positive effect retreats have on everyday life, the importance of giving God time and attention, and the "three divinas."

Joshua Banner is a spiritual director, a retreat leader, and creator and host of The Invitation Podcast. Nate talks with Josh about his contemplative prayer outreach in prisons.

In this episode Jon Bailey, co-founder of Lightstock.com and current Renovaré board chair, shares with Nathan some practical ways to pare down in order to free up the heart and mind for God.

Professor and author Robert Moore-Jumonville (MoJo) joins Nathan again, this time to talk about C.S. Lewis and prayer. They dive deep, covering topics like how to reconcile yielding to God (Thy will be done) with praying by faith (cast this mountain into the sea). Further up and further in!

Writer and spiritual director Judy Villanueva shares with Nathan Foster on how to listen for God in the smallest of things. Along the way, Nate learns "it is what it is" isn't so much a statement of defeat as a way of making peace with the reality God has and is for us.

Nathan talks with Bob Fryling, author and former publisher of InterVarsity Press, about how to find a truly authentic, integrated way to lead—from both our internal relationship with God and our external relationship with others.

For his 75th birthday Richard Foster asked the Renovaré community to consider giving $75 to someone in need or 75 minutes to someone lonely. In this episode Nate Foster shares with his dad stories of how you did it.