South African Spiritual Director Adri-Marie van Heerden talks with Nate about making friends cross-culturally, the need for humility, and learning to see others as God sees us — with great regard. Adri-Marie's organization is called Tending the Fire. You can contact her at [email protected].

Nathan talks with prison chaplain John Paul Westin about the penitentiary as parish and learning to see each person there as God's "friends and special ones." Show Notes A few annotated book suggestions from John Paul: Cur Deus Homo — Anselm of Canterbury thinks about why God needed/chose to become human.The 3 Colors of Community, Christian A. Schwarz — How highly flawed individuals can use their propensity to sin to help build healthy Christian community.Fearfully and Wonderfully, Dr. Paul...

Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore, authors of Liturgies for Wholeness, join Nate to talk about the formational power of liturgy and friendship. Friendship is a relational connection point many people struggle with, but it's a grand invitation into deeper relationship with God. —Nathan FosterShow Notes Books by Elizabeth Moore and Audrey Elledge Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in BetweenLiturgies for Wholeness: 60 Prayers to Encounter the Depth,...

This meditation by Nathan Foster on Luke 22 invites us to the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed “let this cup pass from me.”

Trevor Hudson shares reflections on the influence that Desmond Tutu had on his life — as a friend, colleague, cellmate, and “contemplative in action.” Show Notes Desmond Tutu's Nobel Prize biography pageMade for Goodness by Desmond TutuBooks by Trevor HudsonOther Episodes With This Guest Ep 47: Trevor Hudson — Friendship with GodEp 73: Trevor Hudson — Holiness is Better Than You ThinkEp 131: Trevor Hudson — Listen to the GroansEp 154: Trevor Hudson — Meeting Christ in Our TearsEp 153: Trevor...

“We enriched each other.” Luci Shaw speaks with Nate about her rich friendship with Madeleine L'Engle and how they made one another better writers and better followers of Jesus. Show Notes + TranscriptNate: Lucy, we get to talk about your friend today. How did you first come to meet Madeline? Luci: Well, Madeleine and I met originally at Wheaton College at a conference on, on literature, and she was a speaker and I was a speaker, and so we just happened to connect at that, at that time, and...

Amisho “Sho” Baraka joins Nate for a fascinating conversation about George Washington Carver — a man whose faith directed his genius toward the good of others. Resources The Man Who Talks with the Flowers: The Intimate Life Story of Dr. George Washington Carver, by Glenn Clark Essential Writings of the American Black Church, by John HuntTuskegee UniversityHe Saw That It Was Good, by Sho BarakaAlbum: ​“The Narrative,” Sho Baraka, 2016“Bravery to Faithfully Create,” article by Sho Baraka on...

Pastor and author Andrew Arndt talks with Nathan Foster about how the stories and examples of the desert fathers and mothers move from exhaustion, burnout, and pain into a more vibrant faith.

Mimi Dixon shares how the life and words of Catherine Doherty—a pioneer for interracial justice and mentor to Thomas Merton—helped her to return to her first love. Resources Poustinia, by Catherine DohertyCatherine Doherty writes about prayer and sacraments as ways to welcome and know the presence of God in “First Meet God” Luminous Lives, a Renovaré e-course hosted my Mimi Dixon

Matthew Clark joined Nate in-person to tape this week's podcast conversation on the topic of truth — truthful storytelling, truthful music, true relationships and true worship.  Visit Matthew Clark's website. Books by Matthew Clark Tale of Two Trees   Only The Lover Sings  Find Matthew's music on Spotify and Apple Matthew's Podcast — One Thousand Words: Stories Along the Way

Printmaker Sally Kendrick talks with Nate about the creative act of finding and printing specimens from nature as a way of cultivating "openness to the presence of God and willingness to receive the love of God."  Sally Kendrick is a Maryland-based photographer with Carolina roots. She began experimenting with cyanotypes as a way of cultivating a habit of attentiveness to the beauty in the natural world around her.  Read Sally's essay "Attention Grows into Love" on renovare.org. True...

Sarah Clarkson spoke with Nathan Foster from her home in the UK about her experiences with grief and fear and the way God has been restoring faith, hope, and love in her life through the gift of beauty. Sarah's Website: https://sarahclarkson.com Books by Sarah:This Beautiful Truth: How God's Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness Book Girl: A Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life Caught Up in a Story: Fostering a Storyformed Life of Great Books & Imagination...

Mark Buchanan, author of God Walk: Moving at the Speed of your Soul, talks with Nate about the restorative gifts of God available to us in natural world. Books by Mark Buchanan  God Walk: Moving at the Speed of your Soul David: Rise David: Reign The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath Your God is Too Safe: Rediscovering the Wonder of a God You Can't Control  Visit Mark’s website  Renovaré resources with Mark Buchanan Webinar: Good Grief Article: “Being More Pedestrian”

The Renovaré Podcast with Nathan Foster returns with new episodes and a new name... Life with God. The next several episodes center the conversation around things that restore our souls—places of connection to God and gifts from the Lord that bring us inward healing. Katelyn Dixon leads off the series by looking at the creative act of writing as spiritual healing. Read Katelyn's writing on Renovare.org Visit Katelyn's website

A 20-minute meditation—an audio retreat—on Psalm 131. Put on some headphones, find a comfortable spot, and let your soul be quieted. This episode is a collaboration with Joshua Banner from The Invitation Podcast (invitationpodcast.org).

Prayer doesn't have to be perfect, just real. Brian Morykon and Nathan Foster talk about music and writing as forms that help us craft authentic prayers in this 2015 episode of the Renovaré Podcast. Brian's song that is referenced in the podcast conversation and played at the end of the episode is What Can I Do (lyrics below), from The Smallest Seed, released December 18, 2012. (c) All rights reserved. Please give me grace to be weakThe moment I'm strong I get up and leaveWhere am I going in...

"Each day is God's gift… But we have a choice." Jan Johnson talks with Nate about how to rejoice and be glad with the help of spiritual disciplines.   Find more Jan Johnson resources at janjohnson.org

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...