Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

Mimi Dixon invites us to let Julian of Norwich teach us that “all shall be well" in this encore episode that first aired in 2017. 

Nathan Foster takes a famous quote from Julian of Norwich and festoons each phrase with his own thoughts. Come linger over Julian’s words in this audio retreat, with music by Joshua Banner.

With gratitude for the life of Donn Thomas, we share this episode from the Renovaré Podcast archive (originally aired April 13, 2020). Donn speaks with Nate about his cancer diagnosis and other scary situations, and how God's presence helps us move from fear to confidence.

Monica and Jeremy Chambers join Nate to discuss ways of engaging with two transforming prayers for the Christian life: Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer.

Katie Davis Majors shares her story of formation through suffering and explains the message of her book, Safe All Along.

Tina Dyer (Renovaré Board Treasurer) and Grace Pouch (Renovaré’s Content Manager) talk with Nathan Foster about the brilliance of Sojourner Truth and how her story has impacted their lives. Tina and Grace will lead the Renovaré book club through The Narrative of Sojourner Truth beginning on March 27.Show Notes[1:51] I am curious to know how you two discovered Sojourner Truth.[4:26] How has her story impacted you two?[10:08] What makes her credible?[13:02] I think I know you two well enough to know that you're both open to having potentially difficult conversations about your experiences and about race. So what was that like for the two of you to explore Sojourner's life together?[19:06] How would you like people to approach Sojourner's story?[22:11] Could you share one [question from Sojourner that you’re sitting with]?[23:10] What is your hope for people to take away from Sojourner's work? Resources:The Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Sojourner Truth, written by Olive GilbertBeautiful Vessels by Bakht Singh, Sojourner Truth, Richard J. Foster, Tina Dyer, Grace Pouch

Renovaré Ministry Team member and pastor, Kai Nilsen, talks with Nate about what we can learn from recent disruptions to church norms.

In this week’s episode of the Renovaré Podcast, Nathan talks with Miriam Rockness and Mimi Dixon about the life and faith of Lilias Trotter. Show Notes[ ] What has drawn you and fed you about her life? How did you discover her?[ ] Is it accurate to say we might have lost some of these pieces of her work had it not been for your journey?[ ] What I’m hearing, Miriam, is that you said Yes, and it reminds me a little of Lilias. She said Yes. Mimi, do you have any sense as to where she had the courage to say Yes? What did you hear in her words?ResourcesA Passion for the Impossible, Miriam Huffman RocknessParables of the Cross, by Lilias TrotterCreative Prayer, by Emily HermanThe Way of the Sevenfold Secret, Lilias TrotterMany Beautiful Things (movie about the life of Lilias Trotter)Miriam Rockness website

Show notesWhat is visio divina, Viv?And how do you do that?What you're saying is that it's something we do all the time.—it's just taking a little extra pause or intentionality with what we're seeing?Can I do visio with nature… look out my window?What is your practice? Do you find a painting and say, “I'm gonna spend a half hour with this?”So it would be a little like sitting down to read a book. I'm gonna sit down and read visually, like a painting or a scene. Is that how you would do it?What is your practice for selecting a piece to use and how do you get a certain space in your house or what?You mentioned you don't watch television. Does that tie in?How does this fit into the practice of retreat, or does it?How does that practice [of choosing art for a space] tie into retreat … for example, you've built a retreat house?What do you look for when you go on retreat?What kind of experiences are you hoping to craft with the retreats at the house?...Find out more about Vivianne's retreat house, Vilayala.

Nathan Foster talks with Winn Collier about the penetrating and practical spiritual wisdom of 17th-century archbishop and writer François Fénelon.Show Notes [3:42] Could you share a little about Fénelon? [10:35] There’s almost a level of pain that one needs to feel in order to find the comfort... I wonder if it's a season of life, if you’re in a space where you’re really needing a kind of brokenness.[11:57] I would go beyond identifying [pain]... It’s giving a map.[13:26] Do you know his influences, what shaped him in his life?[15:18] What were you hoping to do with the book?[16:45] What did you learn from the project?[19:56] Do you get any indication that he was a person of joy?[21:28] You can dip in anywhere in his letters ... I will usually read one at a time and just sit with it, reading it multiple times before moving to another one. Am I doing it right?[23:07] Thoughtful, honest pastor—this reminds me of another friend of ours beyond the grave. How would you connect him with Eugene Peterson? Would you?[24:17] How are things with the Eugene Peterson Center?ResourcesLet God: Spiritual Conversations with François Fénelon, by Winn CollierLet Go, by François FénelonA Burning in My Bones, by Winn CollierEugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination