Heart Sounds

We end Season 2 of Heartsounds by connecting the metaphor of water to Christ, and finding our nourishment as the Risen Christ lives in us

In this episode we look at the final stream of Living Water that Richard Foster identifies in his book, 'Streams of Living Water.' It is the stream that incorporates all the others, giving rise to ordinary holiness--the spiritual life that we live daily through our accustomed routines and activities.

In this episode we explore the "good news" (Evangel) which flows into us through Christ so that grace triumphs and love wins.

The Water of Life flows into and out of us as social holiness. In this episode we show how the social justice stream is at the heart of Scripture and tradition within Christianity, and at the core of every other authentic religion as well.

We live "by the Spirit," inwardly and outwardly. This episode explores the Water of Life in relation to the Holy Spirit.

In this episode, I step back from the current subject to say thanks to new (and continuing) listeners, and to announce a new plan for uploading new episodes.

The Water of Life comes into us to nourish us so that we can nourish others. That's the essence of the Holiness Stream that we explore in this elisode.

God's living water nourishes us in love and moves us to love as we become more and more attentive and live from the heart. We explore aspects of the contemplative life in this episode.

God's life-giving Water comes to us from many streams. Today's episode provides an overview of them, helping us to drink deeply and broadly.

In this episode we use the metaphor of water to explore the essence (H2O) of the spiritual life as it's described in the Perennial Tradition

Water is a major metaphor for life in relation to spirituality. We begin our look at the water of life using Jesus' words in John 7:38

In this episode we begin a new season of "Heart Sounds" exploring the infrastructure of the spiritual life: the water, electrical, framing, and sewer components that give us nourishment, energy, strength, and cleansing for living well.

Looking back on the previous 30 episodes, this one draws together the various threads to show the overall tapestry that is the "Heart Sounds' vision.

We live the spiritual life by cultivating the parts of it that have the greatest potential. In this episode we look at ways for doing that.

The spiritual life is one of congruence, where our profession of faith and our expression of faith match. In this session we look at ways we make alignment a reality in our spirituality.

In the spiritual journey we inevitably come to the place where we have to let go of some things in order to make progress. In this episode we explore the idea of abandonment, and how it opens the way to further formation.

We appropriate the spiritual life by applying Jesus' words: ask, seek, and knock. In this episode we look at each of these practices to learn how they turn our discoveries into experiences.

We practice the spiritual life by paying attention, by being mindful. In this episode we look at nature, scripture, and our lives as doorways into attentiveness, and doing so naturally.

Awe is our response to awakening. In this episode we look at awe as the bridge that leads us into a wonder-full life.

The spiritual life begins to be lived in an experience of awakening. In this episode we explore aspects of this "waking up" to God and abundant living.

In this episode we begin looking at the sixth and final foundational question of the spiritual life, the "how" question. It's the application question, the one that moves theory into practice--the inevitable question that expresses our hunger for God in terms of behavior. Today's episode provides an overview of the "how" question, a look we will offer in more detail in upcoming episodes.

In this episode I offer the paradigm, the "big picture" that I am using to move the series along...and...I connect the series to the larger Oboedire ministry of spiritual formation that I launched in 2010.

The present moment is the only real time we have, so spirituality is reality. It is the time for cultivating faith, fullness, and formation.

In this episode we explore the connection between spirituality and location, focusing on six places that foster growth in the spiritual life.

Turning to the "Who" question, we discover the spiritual life is for everyone and everything. This episode explores both of those aspects, with the aim of showing the attractiveness and attainability of the spiritual life.

The spiritual life is important because it cultivates virtue: inward character, outward conduct, and healthy community. We thrive when these three qualities define and direct our lives.

The spiritual life is important because it gives us vision--the vision that we are God's beloved children, and that we have a place in God's plan. We look at these two things in this episode.

The spiritual life is important because it increases our sense of "aliveness." In this episode we look at vitality from the vantage points of expansion, wholeness, and hope.

This episode begins a new round of visits in which we will explore the significance of the spiritual life--looking at its importance in relation to intentionality and growth.

Periodically, I will step out of the thematic flow of the podcast and interact with you about things I am hearing from you. Today, I respond to inquiries about the vision which gives rise to "Heart Sounds," the brevity of the episodes, and the sharing of resources that give us a big-picture look at the spiritual life.

In this episode we look at one final aspect of the Grand Story: cosmic community, manifested in our interbeing, individuation, intercommunion, and interdependence. We have lost this aspect of the Grand Story, and in doing so we have descended into toxic life that is destroying us as a people and a planet. Our survival depends on recovering this sense of community.

Continuing our look at the Grand Story, we focus in this episode on joy, exploring its inward and outward dimensions in the spiritual life.

Continuing our look at the Grand Story, we explore desirability in this episode, learning that the spiritual life is not imposed upon us. It arises from us. Psalm 42:1 is the focal text for this episode.

In this episode we look at a second aspect of the Grand Story: mystery, and how it enriches the spiritual life.

Ultimate Reality (God) is one. In this episode we look at how singularity enriches our view of God and our understanding of ourselves. We show that a recovery of oneness is a crucial need in the world today.

Our longing to live a spiritual life is older than any of the world's religions. Before there were stories, there was the Grand Story. We look at it in this episode

Today we explore a phrase many are using to describe their hunger for God while being honest about their disillusionment with institutional religion. This episode offers some ways to live when we feel this way--things we can do to move ahead in our spiritual formation.

Spiritual formation is the way we enrich the spiritual life. In this episode we look at why it is necessary and how it occurs.

The word 'spirituality' is used to describe a variety of things in our spiritual life. This episode looks at four of them.

In this episode we look at "life," the energy of the spiritual life. We explore its two fundamental dimensions and our need to grow in both of them.

We will use the six basic questions (who, what, when, where, why and how) to lay the foundation for the spiritual life. We begin with "What?" This episode looks at what it means to say life is "spiritual."

We live well when we live from the core, from the essence of who we are: unique, sacred persons...and...universally connected to everyone snd everything.

"Heart Sounds" is an exploration of the spiritual life, aimed to help listeners live well. This episode is an overview of the vision that's given rise to the "Heart Sounds" series, a description of each episode's format, and an invitation to be on the journey. I hope you'll join me. Steve Harper, host.