Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton

Continuing the story of the Emmaus Road, Jesus plays dumb and models what spiritual companionship can look like. How do we become the kind of person who can listen rather than fix, and stand still being sad rather than rushing in with our own advice? In episode 3, we discover some great questions that can help us be better spiritual companions. Some great thoughts for leaders even if you don’t use a toolbox! The episode ends with a beautiful prayer; we hope you can pull over to the side of the road, stop what you’re doing, find a quiet spot and join us.   In this podcast: Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community by Ruth Haley Barton

Jesus wants to be in your juicy conversations. Just think about it—the Emmaus Road encounter would not have happened had the disciples not welcomed “the stranger” on their journey home. Welcoming the other’s experience and story are integral to the idea of welcoming the stranger. In episode 2, Ruth shares a story of how welcoming the other created a transforming community experience. What will you miss when you don’t welcome the stranger? The polarization of our culture is so acute, that the practice of learning how to recognize and welcome the stranger is more crucial than ever. Let’s make the radical choice to walk with others and discover how Jesus will meet us there! Mentioned in this podcast: Season 1: Episode 6 | Transformation Through Self-Knowledge and Self-Examination Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community by Ruth Haley Barton

Life Together in Christ: Cultivating Communities for Spiritual Transformation Many of us are carrying a lot of baggage regarding Christian community.  Ruth has often commented that it is one of the most over-promised, under-delivered aspects of the Christian life—which means that Christians who have been deeply involved in church are often the most cynical and disillusioned. In Season 2 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth and Steve will discuss how to cultivate communities where people regularly and routinely experience spiritual transformation. In episode 1, Ruth shares how God led her to the story of the Emmaus Road as a biblical model for transforming community. She unpacks the three nuanced ways of talking about community: Christian community, spiritual community, and transforming community, and also describes what Christian community is not—with a rich discussion of the role community plays in navigating liminal space.  In this podcast: Episode 6 | Transformation Through Self-Knowledge and Self-Examination Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community by Ruth Haley Barton Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation (Chapter 6) by Ruth Haley Barton

The final episode of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Ruth and Steve wrap up season 1 with a lively discussion of how to put it all together in your own sacred rhythms. Ruth confesses her true feelings about rules before she defines a rule of life and shares why it is so important for leaders to have one. Do you put sabbath keeping in the too hard file?  Ruth did until she got run over by a car! Ruth’s final words of season 1 will launch you on a great new journey! Mentioned in the podcast: Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Mueller Transforming Center

Are you a missional or a formational organization? Steve and Ruth take on this dualism. As usual, the conversation begins with looking at Scripture, showing the cause and effect relationship between our formation and the ability to discern the will of God. Ruth finally gets around to defining spiritual transformation and puts a stake in the ground – mission cannot be discerned and cannot be sustained without spiritual transformation. International Justice Mission gets a shout out for their commitment to connecting spiritual transformation and mission. Do you believe you can either have a healthy life or you can live your life for the sake of others, but you can’t have both? There is a third way. Lots to think about in episode 8 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Digging Deeper into this topic: Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership, Ruth Haley Barton Invitation to Journey, M. Robert Mulholland, Jr. Transforming Center

Discernment is not a subjective woo-woo experience! Ruth begins episode 7 by explaining why discernment is an art AND a practice. This discussion highlights the unlikely place discernment begins, and why it is important to remember God’s wisdom is often very different than human wisdom. Steve shares his own story of discerning together with other leaders and the surprising win that resulted for his team — transformation. Circling back to an earlier episode on spiritual direction, Ruth gets clear on the role of spiritual direction in the life of a spiritual leader. Facing a big decision? Listen to episode 7 of Season 1 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Mentioned in the podcast: Pursuing God’s Will Together, Ruth Haley Barton Glittering Images by Susan Howatch (Caution: contains some explicit content) Transforming Center

This podcast kicks off with a discussion of the ancient practice of the Examen. In case you are wondering, self-examination is so much more than just asking God to show us our sin. In this rich discussion straight out of Psalm 139, Ruth provides a clear definition of true self and false self and deals with the unsettling truth that most leaders are hired for their false-self strategies. Along with touching on the Enneagram, Ruth shares her own story of wondering if she was falling off the spiritual path only to discovering that this was in fact the spiritual journey. Listen to episode 6 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader for a glimpse of what the journey of faith really is — because you can’t have a faith journey without faith.  Digging Deeper into this topic: Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Ruth Haley Barton Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership, Ruth Haley Barton Transforming Center  

Ruth draws from Elijah’s story to shed light on the role of the body in the spiritual life. This episode explores the connection between our bodies and our spiritual lives.  Discover the joy of living in your body as a gift from God. Ruth and Steve discuss different practices for honoring God in our bodies, including learning how to live within limits. There is so much joy, life, and energy when we connect our spiritual lives with life in our bodies! Listen with your whole body to Episode 5 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Mentioned in the podcast: Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton Transforming Center

What happens to a leader’s soul when s/he only engages Scripture for ministry? Steve asks for a friend. ;) What can a pastor or leader do when they are no longer encountering God in Scripture? Join us for an enlightening discussion about the practice of finding yourself in the Biblical story — especially difficult for leaders who want to “make it happen.” Ruth affirms the importance of moving from information to transformation in our approach to Scripture, and emphasizes how important it is for pastors to create space for God to surprise them through Scripture. All this and more in episode 4 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Mentioned in the podcast: Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton Transforming Center

How does Ruth respond when a pastor admits they don’t know how to pray anymore? You will be surprised. This episode is for those who feel stuck in their prayer even though prayer is part of their job description. Ruth describes transitions in the life of prayer with a rich discussion of intimacy that isn’t about sex — or at least mostly not about sex. :) Ruth shares a liberating way to pray for someone when they ask, “Please pray for me.” Best of all, Ruth ends this episode by guiding you through a prayer practice. Don’t miss Episode 3 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Mentioned in the podcast: Sacred Rhythms, Ruth Haley Barton Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership, Ruth Haley Barton Transforming Center