Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

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, an expert on Henri Nouwen's spiritual legacy, discusses her research journey and her book, 'The Spiritual Legacy of Henri Nouwen.' She explores Nouwen's transformation from an academic to a pastoral figure, emphasizing his humility and dedication to marginalized communities. Themes of loneliness and connection in Nouwen's writing reveal universal human experiences. LaNoue also delves into insights from 'The Life of the Beloved,' showcasing Nouwen's accessible and profound spiritual messages that resonate with a wide audience.

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."

James Catford joins Nathan for part two discussing Bill Vaswig and healing prayer. This time they dive into more specifics about prayer and why heart posture matters more than a perfect process.

This week Renovaré releases interviews with the late Bill Vaswig, a Lutheran minister and long-time Renovaré ministry team member who focused on healing prayer. James Catford, a Renovaré board member and close friend of Bill, talks with Nathan to give us a glimpse into Bill's life and ministry.

"Spiritual formation is intensely relational." This week Chris Hall helps us understand how we become "ever more human as we become ever more like God." Taken from a recent Renovaré Making Ordinary Saints Gathering in Paoli, PA.

Steve Macchia, founder of Leadership Transformations and author of Crafting a Rule of Life, explores the concept of a 'rule of life' as a pathway to freedom. He reveals its historical roots linked to St. Benedict and emphasizes that such rules protect love rather than restrict it. Macchia discusses how everyone has an implicit rule shaped by daily choices and outlines key components like roles and passions that guide intentional living. He also shares personal practices for balance and self-care, encouraging listeners to embrace flexibility and grace in their spiritual journeys.

Steve Fawver, pastor of Spiritual Health & Care at Newberg Friends Church in Oregon, talks with Nathan about the value of retreats and reflects on a recent 30 day stay at a Trappist monastery.