Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

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.

Nathan ​talks again with writer and Renovaré Ministry team member ​Richella Parham, this time about the incarnation, creativity, and discovering the divine dance of the Trinity.

Soon the Renovaré Book Club starts reading On the Incarnation by Saint Athanasius. The facilitator is Renovaré President Chris Hall who joins Nathan this week to talk about Athanasius, a "theological street fighter" who was exiled for standing for the full divinity of Jesus.

Robert Moore-Jumonville (affectionately known as MoJo) is professor of Christian Spirituality at Spring Arbor University, a Methodist pastor, and author of Jogging With G.K. Chesterton. He talks with Nathan about Chesterton's humor, humility and optimism.

At a recent Ordinary Saints Gathering Nathan sat down with his father Richard Foster to talk about spiritual disciplines. In this candid conversation we're reminded disciplines aren't the point but serve to bring body, mind and heart before God, who does in us more than we can ever do for ourselves.

Andrew Ranucci, pastor of Coast Community church in Australia, talks with Nathan Foster about his intentional use of retreats for the soul health of his church leaders and members.

Author and speaker Trevor Hudson joins Nathan again, this time to talk about a word that's become synonymous with legalism, self-righteousness and conformity: holiness. Trevor helps reclaim the word. It turns out that holiness means being fully alive and wonderfully unique in Christ.

Nathan talks with author and spiritual director Adele Calhoun about coloring as a spiritual discipline—she just released a grown-up coloring book called Coloring the Psalms—and how to engage God in icons and art.

In this episode Richard Foster shares his 75th birthday idea: What if you gave $75 to someone in need or 75 minutes to someone lonely? This fun experiment runs through April 25th. We'll collect your stories (call 1-844-RENEW88 to record yours) and share them in a future podcast.

Nathan talks with author and Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren about her book Liturgy of the Ordinary. Tish helps us see not simply that ordinary life matters but how it matters and how we can be found by God in the ordinary.

Nathan Foster talks with Renovaré president Chris Hall about his recently passed friend, mentor and theologian Tom Oden. Chris also shares why ancient writings by the church fathers are more relevant than ever, and how C.S. Lewis defined an ignorant person.

Author, retreat leader, and spiritual director Jan Johnson joins Nathan again to talk about the importance of meditating on scripture, how it differs from eastern meditation, and even slowly walks us through a passage in Luke. Music during meditation is Song of Prayer, provided by Chad Lawson - chadlawson.com.

Cindy Wu, co-author of Our Global Families, lives in the most racially diverse county in America (in Houston). In this timely episode Cindy gently cuts through misconceptions about refugees and shares how caring for the stranger is easier and more rewarding than one might think.

Beth Allen Slevcove is a spiritual director, retreat leader, writer, surfer and mother in San Diego, California. Nathan talks with her about learning to grieve, the topic of her book Broken Hallelujahs.

Chris Smith is editor of The Englewood Review of Books, and a member of Englewood Christian Church, a church which helped spark Chris' book Slow Church. Nathan chats with him about living and reading slower and more intentionally.

Nathan talks with Charles Ayars, a spiritual director who works with the Renovaré Institute, about the life and poetry of St. John of the Cross.

Deirdre LaNoue's doctoral dissertation became the book The Spiritual Legacy Of Henri Nouwen. Nathan Foster talks with her about Henri's life, and his book Life of the Beloved which Deirdre facilitates in this year's Renovaré Book Club. (Join at renovare.org/bookclub).

Nathan Foster kicks off 2017 by interviewing long-time Renovaré supporter Mary Russell, 92, who shares her rhythms of reading Scripture and how she listens to God. Life With God Bible resources mentioned in podcast are available at renovare.org/bible.

For nearly each one of the last 25 years Carolyn Arends, Renovaré's Director of Education, has written a new Christmas song. In this episode, the last of the year, Nathan plays us three of those songs and talks with Carolyn to get the stories behind them.

Joe Davis is a minister, speaker, celebrant, Renovaré Institute grad, and part of the Renovaré UK leadership team. He talks with Nathan about his work and what it means to go through a "mid-faith crisis."