Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

Lacy Borgo talks with Nathan about prayer, play, Psalms of lament, and "holding center" in a pandemic while being married to an ER doctor.

"Jesus' way of being lifted up is not the way of the world," says author Marlena Graves. "Nouwen called it downward mobility...You might not win accolades but you will bring great joy to God and you will do much good in the world." She talks with Nathan about her new book The Way Up Is Down.

Roger Fredrikson, part of Renovaré's Ministry Team, would have celebrated his 100th birthday in November 2020. In this message from the 1999 Renovaré International Conference, his topic is from The Divine Conspiracy, on moving beyond sin management. Dallas Willard and Richard Foster join for Q&A.

Put on some headphones, find a comfortable spot, and set your heart and mind on Psalm 19 in this 15-minute guided meditation. This "audio retreat" is a collaboration with Joshua Banner from The Invitation Podcast.

Author and spiritual director Fil Anderson takes us deep into the heart, or as he puts it, the womb of mercy. “I’ve come to believe mercy is the most defining characteristic of God.”

"Every tongue tribe and nation will be together in heaven," says author and counselor Sheila Wise Rowe, "we have an opportunity to figure out how to do that now." She talks with Nathan Foster about racial trauma, and how healing comes through community.

What kinds of healthy risks should we take? How do we discern God's voice? What if I'm in too much pain to pray? Carolyn Arends asks these and other listener questions to Pete Greig (founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement) and Lisa Koons (24-7 Prayer USA Director) in this webinar recap bonus episode.

"You cannot think a spiritual muddle clear, you have to obey it clear." Oswald Chamber's words helped singer-songwriter and Director of Communications Brian Morykon overcome resistance and start a new album. He chats with Nathan about fear versus humility, joy in obedience, and shares two new songs.

When the life of Pastor Juanita Rasmus came to a screeching halt after what her counselor called "a major depressive episode," she found that she had to learn to be—with herself and with God—all over again. She talks with Nathan about that season which is captured in her new book, Learning to Be.

Diane Bolduc believes the local church could benefit from the rigorous honesty found in recovery programs like AA. Having experienced transformation through 12-step recovery, she and her husband now lead a ministry to help others find freedom from addiction.

Cindy Bunch, director of editorial at InterVarsity Press, believes that cultivating compassion toward self is a way to cultivate compassion toward others. This is at the heart of her new book_Be Kind to Yourself, which she talks with Nathan Foster about in this episode.

Myisha Cunningham is the Senior Pastor of Raven-Brook Recovery Church. From the context of being a black woman in a denomination with mostly white male leadership, she brings welcome perspective on race, white privilege, and how individuals and churches can obey the two greatest commandments.

Beth and David Booram, spiritual directors and cofounders of an urban retreat center in Indianapolis, invite us to look for God in places we normally overlook, and listen for God in places we might try to ignore (like negative feelings).

The joy of surrendering to Jesus is evident in Jill Weber's voice. Her "yes" to God took her on an unexpected journey—including helping found the Greater Ontario House of Prayer, and now her work as Global Convener of the Order of the Mustard Seed, a lay ecumenical religious order.

Author and professor David Taylor—known for producing a short film with Eugene Peterson and Bono—talks with Nathan Foster about rediscovering the Psalms, a book that can "help us name reality so that we can live in it."

We’re all going through this together. That's unique for a crisis. This also means everyone at various levels is grieving. Fil Anderson chats with Nathan Foster about how to recognize—rather than minimize—what we've lost and bring it to Jesus so that we can heal.

In this classic talk from the Renovaré 1999 international conference, Dallas Willard explains how, no matter what hurt may come, the world is a perfectly safe place for us to be when we entrust ourselves to God's care.

An accomplished business leader in the defense and aerospace sector, Lane Cohee came to learn he couldn't control away life's trouble. But he could release that imagined control to Jesus and find peace for his disquieted soul, as he shares in this honest conversation with Nathan Foster.

Pastor, worship leader, and gospel recording artist Donn Thomas shares about his personal battle with cancer, how worship is a weapon for overcoming fear, and how his church is thriving in a stay-at-home context.

Special thanks to Chad Lawson and Dwell App for the music.

Responding to listener questions, retired pastor Dr. Miriam (Mimi) Dixon and Renovaré President Chris Hall offer practical ways to think and act in redeeming ways in the unexpected learning space of an international crisis.

An audio meditation led by Nathan Foster to help us set our minds on what is good, beautiful, and true in the midst of uncertainty.

When it comes to the Charismatic Stream, Renovaré president Chris Hall coaches, "Avoid cookie cutter paradigms." He shares with Nathan Foster personal stories of experiencing the Holy Spirit in unexpected ways.

In 1991, members of a small church gathered for eight weeks to hear Dallas Willard teach on Psalm 23. Nearly three decades later the pastor of that church, Larry Burtoft, along with Dallas's daughter Rebecca Willard Heatley compiled those talks into a book. They join Nathan Foster to talk about it.

Renovaré Ministry Team member and author Dr. Lacy Borgo has years of experience working with (and raising!) children, learning from them how to enter the Kingdom of God. She joins Nathan Foster on the podcast about her new book Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together.