Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

In this episode, Nathan talks with author and musician Michael Card about hesed, an untranslatable Hebrew word that expresses God’s love and faithfulness. Michael believes it may be the most important word in Scripture and spent ten years writing a book to unpack its meaning. --- Show Notes [2:29] What would you tell your younger self? [3:05] What is it that you care about these days? [6:16] You w...

Nate talks with author John Eldredge about healing from the trauma of the pandemic, benevolent detachment, what it means to consecrate your empathy to Christ, and learning to hear the voice of God. Show Notes [1:19] What was the impetus for this book? [3:57] I'm glad to hear you reference the pandemic in this way. It has really baffled me how silent people are in terms of its effects. I think it’s...

Eighteen century preacher and abolitionist John Woolman, whose journal is a Renovaré Book Club selection, had a profound impact on Renovaré founder Richard Foster, who like Woolman is Quaker. In this episode, Richard discusses the life and work of this humble yet bold follower of Jesus. Show Notes How did you discover John Woolman’s Journal? What was it, as a college student, reading Woolman’s jou...

Nathan talks with author Hannah Anderson about seasons, humility, and how the God we love in scripture is a God who is being revealed through nature. Show Notes  [1:24] Why do you write? [2:19] How important is it for you to be honest in your writing? [8:21] Could you share a little about your draw to the wonder and mystery in nature? [10:38] How are you in nature, in terms of observing and being?...

Spiritual director and author Alice Fryling believes aging is an invitation from God to embrace our limitations and discover fruitfulness and transformation in unexpected places.   Show Notes [2:13] What was it like for you to write this book? [5:07] As you’ve been aging, what has been happening in your soul? [7:56] It’s interesting that the idea of living within our limitations is seen as a negat...

How do we thoughtfully monitor and moderate our consumption of media? How can we fill our minds with what is good and beautiful rather than simply go to media to escape? This episode with Paul Patton—author, playwright, and professor emeritus at Spring Arbor—dives into these questions. Show Notes [2:38] I really liked the subtitle you guys came up with for the book. The book is Everyday Sabbath: H...

In this week’s episode of the Renovaré Podcast, Nathan talks with Charles Moore, of Plough Publishing, about his upcoming book, Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together . Show Notes [2:55] Why is the Sermon on the Mount so important to you at the Bruderhof community? [7:18] Tell me a little about your process of making decisions about what to put in the book and what not to. [10...

Nathan Foster talks with Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens, New York, about his book The Deeply Formed Life , which is the first selection of the 2021-22 Renovaré Book Club . Show Notes [2:08] Your church has a logo of an iceberg. What’s that about? [4:28] Tell us about your book, The Deeply Formed Life . [8:03] Could you talk about each section of the book? Contemplative...

In this edited version of a June 2021 webinar conversation, spiritual directors and authors Trevor Hudson and Jan Johnson talk with Carolyn Arends about Christian spiritual direction. They contrast it with counseling, discuss if it's for everyone, and recommend where to find a director. For spiritual direction resources and the full unedited replay, visit the webinar page . Browse previous Renovar...

In this talk from the 1999 Renovaré International Conference in Houston, following an entertaining introduction by James Bryan Smith, Richard Foster outlines the practical means by which we grow in grace.

Jill Weber is a prayer missionary and author who for the last five years has been establishing a new monastic community at the Waverley Abbey Estate in the U.K. Her desire is to cultivate "thin spaces" where Jesus is loved. Show Notes [2:12] Could you share with us about the Waverly project you’ve been working on for the past 5 years, and also about Order of the Mustard Seed. [10:45] What does it...

In this episode, Nathan interviews Alan Fadling of Unhurried Living , Kristi Gaultiere of Soul Shepherding , and Steve Macchia of Leadership Transformations to discuss spiritual formation and soul care for leaders. Show Notes [5:45] Why leaders? What was it in you that you felt to compelled to move in that direction? [9:55] What are some of the challenges that leaders in the Christian community fa...

Mark Scandrette talks with Nathan Foster about seeing the world the way Jesus did, the hidden wisdom in the Beatitudes , and applying the Sermon on the Mount to everyday life. Show Notes [1:10] What was Jesus doing with these weird sayings, these Beatitudes? [2:15] How do you think it was received by the hearers? [4:38] In your work, you have 2 lines: “this is a new way to be human,” and “a journe...

In this episode, philosopher J.P. Moreland shares honestly about his experience with severe anxiety, and the spiritual practices that helped him receive receive God's peace. [1:08] I’m really interested to know how a philosophy professor ends up writing a book on anxiety and depression. [3:53] The other thing you do that I found really helpful is that you address a lot of concerns that Christians...

From the Renovaré 1999 international conference, Dallas Willard talks about what it means for our lives to become eternal—to be caught up into God's life.

One of the highlights of attending a Renovaré conference back in the 1990s and 2000s was George Skramstad leading songs and hearing his "History of Worship" presentation from the piano. Nathan talks with George about worship as expressed in music and life. Show Notes [3:35] How did you get into music professionally? [6:32] What do you like about music? [8:00] When you are leading worship, what do...

Luci Shaw's zest for life is contagious. At 92, the poet and writer is still discovering and creating. She talks with Nathan Foster about her new book, The Generosity , her creative process, and her close friendship with Madeleine L'Engle. Show Notes [2:40] Where did the title of new book, Angels Everywhere, come from? [3:37] The Generosity – where did that title come from? [7:55] Would it be safe...

James Catford, board chair at Renovaré and SPCK (UK's largest Christian publisher), talks to Nathan about a wonderfully practical book with an austere title: William Law's A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life . James is facilitating the Renovaré Book Club starting in April 2021. In the episode, you'll hear Richard Foster and Dallas Willard introducing the book at the 1999 Renovaré Internationa...

Writer, teacher, and pastor Keith Matthews had the unique opportunity to teach beside Dallas Willard for 18 years. Pastors and students who had read Dallas would often come and say: "We know his writing is special, but we're here to find out if he's for real." In this episode, Nathan and Keith discuss Dallas Willard's thoughts on character, his legacy, and the work being carried on through Dallas...

"Let's all get maladjusted to a world gone mad," sings Carolyn Arends. In this episode, she shares two songs from her new album—"Maladjusted" and "To Cry for You"—and the stories behind them. You can find Carolyn's music at her website, CarolynArends.com . Show Notes [1:00] Tell us about your new album Recognition . Many of the songs feel like Renovaré-birthed songs. [4:30] Did I have something to...

In this episode, Nathan asks candid questions about race: What's your experience of being black in America? What do you want white people to know? What is the Church's role? Tina Dyer, a racial equi­ty, diver­si­ty, strate­gist and now Renovaré Board member, answers with honesty and humility.

Eric Peterson used to hide from people who his dad was. Not that he was ashamed—his dad is his hero, as you'll hear in this interview—but he needed to establish his own voice and identity. Now an author and long-time pastor himself, he's glad to say, "Eugene Peterson, that's my dad."

If we cannot trust God to keep bad things from happening to us or to those we love, how do we trust God at all? Author and Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren wrestles with this question in her new book and in this conversation with Nathan Foster.

Richard Foster helps introduce a new podcast from Renovaré called Friends in Formation, featuring Nathan Foster, James Catford, and Richella Parham.

Eric Eugene Peterson has devoted much of his pastoral life to studying, teaching, and trying to live into what many think of as a one-time act: baptism. Eric helps us dive deeper into the waters of this well-known sacrament.