To write Eugene Peterson's biography, Winn Collier spent considerable time with at the Peterson's home, read Eugene's letters, and conducted countless interviews. He discovered a man with a pastor's heart who, while far from perfect, had integrity and a deep love for God. 

Show Notes 

[1:40] Are you tired of talking about Eugene now? And if so, why? 

[2:26] What do you think Eugene would think about the biography coming out and all the interviews and such? 

[3:32] I'm curious to hear, how did you come to write the book, be the biographer? 

[8:31] What surprised you in that journey? 

[9:39] Eugene was like the anti celebrity, but yet in a sense he was the perfect celebrity, because their hospitality… I've heard so many stories of people who they just invited in. 

[11:43] I found it delightful that at the beginning of the book there’s the map of Montana, and it kind of has that, you know, Tolkein feel to it. How important was place, for Eugene?

[14:51] How much do you think some of his thinking was influenced by [his mom]? 

[18:37] What do you hope people remember about Eugene? 

[20:52] Do you have a favorite story from the book? 

[24:30] Eugene did pauses when he talked. What was that like for you when you were interviewing him? 

[32:40] It sounds like a number of these values Eugene and Jan embodied you're trying to lean into ... Could you tell folks a little about what you're up to there in Holland, Michigan? 

Resources

• The Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination
• Pastor Theologians Podcast
• Connect with Winn Collier on winncollier.com
• Winn’s book A Burning in My Bones (This is the next book featured in the Renovaré Book Club.)

Podcast guest Carol Berry talks with Nate about how she came to know the life of Vincent van Gogh through the teachings of Henri Nouwen, and what she has learned from these two men about solidarity, compassion, and art as a way to touch people’s lives.

Show Notes

• [2:11] Can I tell you about how I discovered Van Gogh?
• [4:18] When did you first begin to love Vincent’s work?
• [7:25] What do you think Vincent was trying to say to people?
• [10:06] Those doors [of pastoral ministry] were closed for him, correct?
• [15:13] I’ve always been curious about Starry Night. The church light… why is it out?
• [16:56] What was it like to sit in Nouwen’s class in 1979?
• [19:05] The compassionate life… can you speak a little about that?
• [22:08] Did you get a sense of Henri’s favorite Van Gogh painting?
• [24:06] Is there any connection you see between the two [men’s lives]?
• [26:51] The end of Vincent’s life… what do you make of how things turned out for him?
• [29:33] You did another book on the spiritual life of Vincent. Can you tell us a little about that book?
• [31:01] How did these two men impact your life?
• [33:14] There’s an honesty in Vincent’s work that I don’t understand, but I think he told the truth. What are your thoughts on that?

Resources

• Learning from Henri Nouwen and Vincent van Gogh: A Portrait of the Compassionate Life, by Carol Berry
• Vincent Van Gogh (Modern Spiritual Masters), by Carol Berry
• Connect with our friends at the Henri Nouwen Society
• Renovaré Podcast Episode 63 with Deirdre LaNoue - The Spiritual Legacy of Henri Nouwen

In this episode, Nathan talks with author and musician Michael Card about hesed, an untranslatable Hebrew word that expresses God’s love and faithfulness. Michael believes it may be the most important word in Scripture and spent ten years writing a book to unpack its meaning.
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Show Notes

[2:29] What would you tell your younger self?

[3:05] What is it that you care about these days?

[6:16] You wrote a book about one word. Tell us about the book.

[9:22] What does the word mean to you personally?

[10:31] How do you live into it?

[15:05] I’m noticing in your writings and in your music this love of Scripture. Where did that come from?

[18:31] What do you hope people take away from the book?

[22:25] How do you personally work with Scripture these days?

Resources

• Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness, by Michael Card
• Michael Card’s website
• “Hymn to the Kindness of God,” from his album To the Kindness of God

Nate talks with author John Eldredge about healing from the trauma of the pandemic, benevolent detachment, what it means to consecrate your empathy to Christ, and learning to hear the voice of God.

Show Notes

[1:19] What was the impetus for this book?

[3:57] I'm glad to hear you reference the pandemic in this way. It has really baffled me how silent people are in terms of its effects. I think it’s going to take 5 or 10 years out of this to realize some of the ways that it has negatively impacted, and I wish people talk more about it.

[8:25] What do you think people should do (to heal their trauma response)?

[15:23] I think I’m hearing that instead of coping mechanism that don’t yield fruit or good results, but coping mechanisms that bring life.

[19:50] I really like the idea of benevolent detachment.  How do you detach and yet use your ability to change for good?

[24:26] One of the phrases I’ll use is trusting people to God.  As much as I would like to control and manage things, there are some limitations.

[25:06] What does this look like for you, and what are some of the challenges you face in moving into benevolent detachment?

[30:33] Why do you think so many Christians are hung up on the idea of hearing from God?

Resources

• Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices in a World Gone Mad, by John Eldredge
• Beautiful Outlaw, by John Eldredge
• The One Minute Pause app

Eighteen century preacher and abolitionist John Woolman, whose journal is a Renovaré Book Club selection, had a profound impact on Renovaré founder Richard Foster, who like Woolman is Quaker. In this episode, Richard discusses the life and work of this humble yet bold follower of Jesus.

Show Notes

• How did you discover John Woolman’s Journal?
• What was it, as a college student, reading Woolman’s journal?
• Woolman’s first experience with slavery.
• The story of Benjamin Lay.
• Woolman dealt with the three great isms of our day: racism, militarism, and consumerism.
• Could you help folks understand a little about Quakerism and the Friends?
• Tell us about your doctoral dissertation.
• What would you hope for people reading the book to take away from it?

Resources

• The Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman, edited by Phillips P. Moulton
• Join the Renovaré Book Club to read Woolman's book in December 2021

Nathan talks with author Hannah Anderson about seasons, humility, and how the God we love in scripture is a God who is being revealed through nature.

Show Notes 

[1:24] Why do you write?

[2:19] How important is it for you to be honest in your writing?

[8:21] Could you share a little about your draw to the wonder and mystery in nature?

[10:38] How are you in nature, in terms of observing and being?

[12:37] What is it about seasons that you’re drawn to?

[15:06] Make the connection between your experience growing up and appreciating nature and scripture.

[18:04] What are some rhythms or practices for you, being in the created order?

[21:44] How did your book, Turning of Days, come to be?

[24:55] This summer in Colorado the wildflowers were off the charts. I’ve tried learning their names, and the names of the trees. I found in being able to name them, it enriched my experience. Is this a similar experience for you? Am I on the right path?

[29:55] In which Hannah reads a selection from Fall: Section 7 (p. 116)

Resources

• Turning of Days: Lessons from Nature, Season, and Spirit, by Hannah Anderson
• Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul, by Hannah Anderson
• Hannah’s website, Sometimes a Light

Spiritual director and author Alice Fryling believes aging is an invitation from God to embrace our limitations and discover fruitfulness and transformation in unexpected places. 

Show Notes

[2:13] What was it like for you to write this book?

[5:07] As you’ve been aging, what has been happening in your soul?

[7:56] It’s interesting that the idea of living within our limitations is seen as a negative and something to be fought. Is part of aging learning to live within the limitations that have now presented themselves?

[9:58] As you are talking about your limitations, you’re smiling. How have you gotten to that place where this is not something to be fought and hated, but embracing where you’re at?

[14:29] In the book you talk about productivity and fruitfulness. Can you share about those things?

[17:51] Do you have a word for folks who are really struggling with navigating aging?

[25:57] Why do we fight growing older?

[27:52] You wrote a book on the Enneagram. How is that helpful in aging?

Resources

• Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older, by Alice Fryling
• Mirror for the Soul: A Christian Guide to the Enneagram, by Alice Fryling
• Alice's Website

How do we thoughtfully monitor and moderate our consumption of media? How can we fill our minds with what is good and beautiful rather than simply go to media to escape? This episode with Paul Patton—author, playwright, and professor emeritus at Spring Arbor—dives into these questions.

Show Notes

[2:38] I really liked the subtitle you guys came up with for the book. The book is Everyday Sabbath: How to Lead Your Dance with Media and Technology in Mindful and Sacred Ways. It’s a wonderful way to say everything that’s in the book. Tell us a little about the book.

[6:32] Could you unpack a little when you say “dance with pop culture?”

[8:27] Part of what I’m hearing in this dance is to be intentional, to not be a victim. How have you learned to take the lead in the dance?

[9:45] So if I conclude that I’m scrolling through stuff for reward or relief, does that mean I stop?

[11:00] One of the things I appreciate about the book is that this is road tested. The other piece I found helpful is the practices. Could you talk a little bit about how spiritual practices tie into our dance with pop culture?

[18:53] Do we know how to steward our boredom?

[20:10] Historically, when has the term binge ever been positive?

[22:08] A while back we did a podcast on your habit of memorizing, of stewarding the stirrings of your soul. Are you still doing this?

Resources

• Everyday Sabbath: How to Lead Your Dance with Media and Technology in Mindful and Sacred Ways, by Paul Patton and Robert Woods, Jr.
• Renovaré Podcast Episodes with Paul Patton: Leading the Dance with Pop Culture, Story and the Importance of Memorization, We All Have Secrets
• Soul Stirrings Podcast with Paul Patton

In this week’s episode of the Renovaré Podcast, Nathan talks with Charles Moore, of Plough Publishing, about his upcoming book, Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together.

Show Notes

[2:55] Why is the Sermon on the Mount so important to you at the Bruderhof community?

[7:18] Tell me a little about your process of making decisions about what to put in the book and what not to.

[10:40] I I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I have failed to grasp how this really was spoken to community and meant to be lived out in community. I'm really curious to hear what that looks like for you guys to try and live this out, and practically, day to day what this looks like.

[14:55] In compiling all the essays, were there new insights that you gained personally or different ways in which you begin to see the sermon on the Mount?

[19:05] Do you have a favorite?

[21:08] Give me your hope for readers. What is your hope for this book?

[24:00] Could you let people know a little about Plough? 

Resources

• Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together
• Bruderhof Community

Nathan Foster talks with Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens, New York, about his book The Deeply Formed Life, which is the first selection of the 2021-22 Renovaré Book Club.

Show Notes

[2:08] Your church has a logo of an iceberg. What’s that about?

[4:28] Tell us about your book, The Deeply Formed Life.

[8:03] Could you talk about each section of the book?

• Contemplative Practices
• Racial Justice and Reconciliation
• Sexual Wholeness
• Missional Presence

[28:12] How was writing this book helpful for you?

Resources

• The Deeply Formed Life
• Renovaré Book Club