Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

In this week’s episode of the Renovaré Podcast, Nathan talks with Miriam Rockness and Mimi Dixon about the life and faith of Lilias Trotter.   Show Notes [ ] What has drawn you and fed you about her life? How did you discover her? [ ] Is it accurate to say we might have lost some of these pieces of her work had it not been for your journey? [ ] What I’m hearing, Miriam, is that you said Yes , and...

Show notes What is visio divina , Viv? And how do you do that? What you're saying is that it's something we do all the time.—it's just taking a little extra pause or intentionality with what we're seeing? Can I do visio with nature… look out my window? What is your practice? Do you find a painting and say, “I'm gonna spend a half hour with this?” So it would be a little like sitting down to read a...

Nathan Foster talks with Winn Collier about the penetrating and practical spiritual wisdom of 17th-century archbishop and writer François Fénelon. Show Notes  [3:42] Could you share a little about Fénelon?  [10:35] There’s almost a level of pain that one needs to feel in order to find the comfort... I wonder if it's a season of life, if you’re in a space where you’re really needing a kind of broke...

Brenda Quinn and Richard Foster join Nathan to talk about Richard’s new book, Learning Humility: A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue . Show Notes [4:38] Dad, could you give us an overview? [9:38] Brenda, what was your journey like as you were reading the chapters and how did this work for you as a Christ follower and a pastor? [17:08] Dad, the humble mumble – could you explain that? How did...

Robyn Wrigley-Carr returns to the Renovaré Podcast to talk with Nate about Evelyn Underhill—the 20th century author, spiritual director and retreat leader—and about Baron Friedrich Von Hügel, whose spiritual direction transformed Evelyn’s life with God. Show Notes [2:15] Here’s a quote from Eugene Peterson: “The most extensive and inviting introduction … a brilliantly written book.” How did it fee...

Professor, pastor, and author Robert Moore-Jumonville talks with Nathan Foster about Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. Show Notes [0:57] What do you like about Chesterton? [5:09 ] How would you describe Orthodoxy to someone? [7:32] I’m struggling with the term “dense,” because it’s not boring... [12:41] For some reason I hear Kurt Vonnegut in Chesterton – the satire, the unexpected. Chesterton surpris...

Most years Lacy Borgo re-reads A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly. She joins Nathan Foster to discuss how this spiritual classic has impacted her life. Show Notes [3:02] You mentioned to me some time ago that you read this book every year. What’s that about? [5:06] How would you describe A Testament of Devotion ? [6:23] What are the pieces this year that are ringing to you? [8:37] As a spirit...

Nathan welcomes Mark Buchanan to the podcast to discuss the wonderfully “reliable” spiritual practice of walking, which is the topic of Mark’s newest book, God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul. Show Notes [1:17] I’m curious, how long have you been a speed walker? [2:09] What has your experience and practice been with walking? [3:58] What did you learn from writing the book? [5:48] What happe...

Trevor Hudson talks with Nate about his new book, Seeking God: Finding Another Kind of Life with St. Ignatius and Dallas Willard , and unpacks what it means to be a “seeker” in a Christ-following way. Show Notes [1:43] I’m curious to know how you discovered St. Ignatius and how he’s impacted your life. [3:30] What was that experience like for you, personally, to go through the Exercises? [4:59] Fo...

Renovaré President Ted Harro discusses his recent pilgrimage with his son along the Camino de Santiago, including how its unexpected detours taught him the beauty of humility. Show Notes [1:00] You recently went on a pilgrimage. Can you discuss pilgrimage as a spiritual practice? [4:55] I love this question, where are you going and why? That sounds like a Jesus-type question. So is the point the d...

Show Notes [1:24] You have a new book out. Why did you write this book? [4:18] Can you share a little about your journey? [7:51] What made a difference for you? How have you worked your narratives and what is that process like?  [9:41] Many Christians know…the reality of some of the things you're saying. How do you move that from your head to your heart? [11:52] When I see others as beloved image...

Terry Wardle of Healing Care Ministries shares how an emotional breakdown at the height of his “success” in ministry played a pivotal role in moving him from information about God to encounter with God, from performance-oriented to grace-oriented, and from broken to beloved. Show Notes [1:00] I'm really curious to hear a little about your story. [5:32] When there's a pressure in our life, there's...

Authors and founders of Unhurried Living, Gem and Alan Fadling, share insights into how we experience soul change, share key questions that open the door to spiritual transformation, and explore the difference between self-help and spiritual formation.

Hip hop artist and author, Sho Baraka, joins Nate to talk about refreshing our theology of work, strengthening the relationship between creatives and the Church, and adding variety to the genres and voices we turn to for spiritual nurture. [2:08] Could you tell us a little about your book (its creation)? [6:47] Could you say a little about help for creatives and what you hope to see? [8:33] One of...

Author and Spiritual Director Sharon Garlough Brown speaks about using the medium of fiction to connect readers to the God who grieves and suffers with us and enlarges our capacity to receive joy. Show Notes [2:23] Could you tell us just a little about your love of Van Gogh? [5:12] Could you talk about how you work with fiction? [7:13] You go into spiritual direction not really knowing where this...

A classic talk by Renovaré Ministry Team member and retired pastor Glandion Carney on the collection of practices that create room in his life for dwelling with God and receiving grace.

Author Robyn Wrigley-Carr joins Nathan on this week’s episode to discuss Evelyn Underhill’s Prayer Book. Show Notes Who was Evelyn Underhill? Tell me a little bit about her prayer book prior to your visit to the retreat house. I’m hearing joy. Was it a joyful process for you? She does something bold, taking a prayer from some great Saint and adding her own lines, making her own contribution to it....

Steve Macchia, author and founder of Leadership Transformations, shares insights on cultivating discernment as a listening lifestyle—rather than merely a decision-making strategy—and how to humbly place God’s agenda ahead of our own. Show Notes [:] You take a different spin of sorts on the topic of discernment. Could you share with us a little about some of your thinking on that?  [:] What does a...

Author Jan Johnson joins Nathan on this week’s episode to discuss Dallas Willard’s book Renovation of the Heart (an upcoming selection for the Renovaré book club), and how to live it out in daily practice.

In this guided audio meditation, Nathan Foster offers a prayer from the heart for Ukraine and the world.

Nathan speaks with one of his favorite authors, Marilyn McEntyre, about why “words matter more than we can imagine.” She explores words as sacraments, as creative forces, as conveyors of truth, and as precious ingredients in the feast called conversation. Show Notes [2:21] Where did your love of words begin? [4:52] Could you explain a little about how caring for words is a moral issue? [6:34] How...

How do pastors prevent burn out and keep first things first? Renovaré Ministry Team member Mimi Dixon shares insights and lessons from her decades of experience as a senior pastor. Show Notes [1:11] There's an article in Christianity today about pastors that you had mentioned to me. Could you share a little about that? [6:35] What are some things that you think might be helpful for pastors in this...

Ted Harro joins Nathan Foster to talk about his unexpected journey to become Renovaré’s new president. Show Notes  [2:53] I caught wind that you were really pushing to get this position. Is that accurate?  [5:51] What changed, to get you in a position where you actually did apply and follow through? [8:23] How are you feeling about coming into the position? [8:54] What first drew you to Renovaré a...

To write Eugene Peterson's biography, Winn Collier spent considerable time with at the Peterson's home, read Eugene's letters, and conducted countless interviews. He discovered a man with a pastor's heart who, while far from perfect, had integrity and a deep love for God.  Show Notes  [1:40] Are you tired of talking about Eugene now? And if so, why?  [2:26] What do you think Eugene would think abo...

Podcast guest Carol Berry talks with Nate about how she came to know the life of Vincent van Gogh through the teachings of Henri Nouwen, and what she has learned from these two men about solidarity, compassion, and art as a way to touch people’s lives. Show Notes [2:11] Can I tell you about how I discovered Van Gogh? [4:18] When did you first begin to love Vincent’s work? [7:25] What do you think...