Podcasts about embracing rhythms

Jodie Niznik Kay Daigle Jodie Niznik and Kay Daigle discuss exploring spiritual practices beyond prayer and Bible study to help us walk with God. If you feel your spiritual life has become simply something to check off on a to-do list, exploring a spiritual practice that is new to you may be the key to revitalizing your soul. Jodie encourages us to try something new slowly, exploring spiritual practices one at a time. You can also watch a video version of this episode. Recommended resources Jodie's “So Much More” podcast Jodie's website BOW Podcast episode with Jodie: Why Take a Personal Retreat? Laura Murray's Digital Silent Retreats Jodie's New Season Guided Retreat Ruth Haley Barton's book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again Additional resources suggested by Jodie Timestamps: 00:32 Introduction 01:50 Defining spiritual practices 05:42 Silence and solitude 18:42 Sabbath 30:17 Fasting 35:34 Community 42:43 Final encouragement 43:43 Further resources TranscriptKay >> Hi. I'm Kay Daigle of Beyond Ordinary Women Ministries. Welcome to our podcast and video. Our special guest today is Jodie Niznik. Welcome Jodie. Jodie >> Thanks, Kay. So always good to be with you. Kay >> And we always love it when you come on here. We've had some great conversations and I'll get into some of those at the end so that people know more about them. Today we're going to talk about spiritual disciplines. And Jodie, I need to tell you a little bit more about her before we get into our conversation. Jodie is an author, a Bible teacher. She desires to help people make space for God in their lives. And she has a Scripture meditation podcast, which is fabulous, and it's called So Much More. And where can I get to that, Jodie? Jodie >> Yeah, if you go to my website, which is jodieniznik.com, there are links there, but it's also on any podcast platform. So wherever you listen to podcasts, you can Google so much more scripture meditation and you'll find it. Kay >> All right. Thanks for letting us know yeah. Well, as we start talking about spiritual disciplines, I just wanted to say from the from the get go that growing up in the church, all I knew was I was supposed to pray. I supposed to read my Bible, and I was supposed to give money. So I definitely came a long way. And I'm sure that there are people out there that don't even know what spiritual disciplines are. So let's sort of start from the beginning. How would you define them? Just tell us about them. Jodie >> Yeah, I love that you started with the basic spiritual disciplines that we know prayer, Bible study, giving to the church. Those are the practices that we know. But spiritual disciplines are actually much bigger and they all come from what we see Jesus doing. So Jesus, when he invited us to be followers, he said, “Come follow me.” That's what he said to the original disciples. You all know that. And when we look at what he was actually inviting them to do, he was actually inviting them into a way of living. He was inviting them to do the things that he was doing so that they would become more like him. So spiritual practices are often called spiritual disciplines. Those two words are interchangeable. I like practices a little more than discipline because I think discipline, especially if we're breaking out of even kind of a legalistic background it feels a little harsher to us and not as invitational as a practice. Practice has a little bit more freedom in the word for me, but a spiritual practice is something we see Jesus doing, but with the intention that we are being formed to be more like him. Another thing I think is really important about spiritual practices is we're all being formed into something. We are all being formed intentionally and unintentionally, and some of the ways that we are unintentionally formed are the things that we do, the things that we read,

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with author, spiritual director, and founder of the Transforming Center, Ruth Haley Barton about the importance of spiritual formation for pastoral care. Ruth Haley Barton offers up so many moments of pure gold as she talks about the soul, the art of discernment, and how she came to discover the goodness with spiritual formation decades ago. This is an important episode for any pastor and leader. If you haven't read her work, please check out Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Sacred Rhythms, Pursuing God's Will Together, or Life Together in Christ. BIO Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary) is founder of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors, Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve (www.thetransformingcenter.org). A sought-after teacher, retreat leader, and trained spiritual director, Ruth is the author of numerous books and articles on the spiritual life. Educated at Northern Seminary, the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies, she has served on the pastoral staff of several churches including Willow Creek Community Church and is Professor of Spiritual Transformation at Northern Seminary. EPISODE LINKS @transformingctr on Instagram www.ruthhaleybarton.com www.transformingcenter.org @steveryancarter @craft_character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the third and final episode in our mini-series on Sabbath. Austin Catalano has been with Gina the last two episodes - and she's here once again! Austin has become convinced that all disciples of Jesus should consider the instruction of the Lord for His people to take a weekly (and literal 24 hour) Sabbath. This is something she has been doing now for some time, and she has been very honest with us about how reluctant she was to do this - and how hard it was at first. Like all of us, she's busy - busy being a wife and mom, a school leader, and a house church leader. On this episode, she gives us some helpful insight into how to not only press-in to sabbath ourselves, but how to as disciple-makers encourage and lead others in this practice as well.www.3dmovements.com"Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest" by Ruth Haley Barton"Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton

This is the second episode in our three-part series on Sabbath featuring discussions between our host, Gina Mueller, and Austin Catalano. Austin is a wife, mother, school leader and house church leader who has embraced taking a weekly 24-hour Sabbath. She's back on this episode to continue talking about how important it is to rest by pressing-in to the God-given gift of Sabbath so that disciples can move toward living a more balanced Jesus-Shaped Life.www.3dmovements.com"Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest" by Ruth Haley Barton"Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton

This episode begins a 3-part series on the Sabbath where Gina and Austin Catalano talk about how important it is to rest and press-in to the God-given gift of Sabbath so that we can live a balanced Jesus-Shaped Life. Austin is a familiar voice on this podcast, and she's back to talk about the importance of Sabbath - mainly because she's studied it at length and because she fought against the concept of Sabbath keeping for a long time like most of us probably do! She is a wife, mother, school leader, house church leader, and Sabbath keeper, and she has so much to offer us as we think about our own work/rest rhythm and the importance of taking advantage of the gift of Sabbath that God offers us.www.3dmovements.com"Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest" by Ruth Haley Barton"Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton

It is no secret that law students and attorneys exist in a stressful environment. The American Bar Association (ABA) has conducted a study that shows how this environment tends to contribute to high rates of mental health disorders and substance abuse. In an effort to face this challenge, LSM is proud to launch the Wellness Program—focused on providing students resources and discussions to face this issue, together. For our inaugural event, the Wellness Program is privileged to host a very special guest—Ruth Haley Barton. Her topic will focus on pursuing wellness through established rhythms and an abiding relationship with God. Ruth has spent over 20 years as a student, a practitioner, and a leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation. She served on the staff of several churches before founding the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to creating space for God to strengthen the souls of leaders, equipping them to lead transforming communities. Her website here. She is the author of numerous books, including Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, and Invitation to Solitude and Silence (purchase here). Music Credit(s): Tokyo Music Walker & Rexlambo.

This is a replay of a previous episode of The Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast. While we take a small hiatus from normal programming to attend to the work of The Transforming Center as well as a special Digital Film Capture project we invite you to revisit some of our previous seasons. Please enjoy this episode from Season 17: Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again.   Please visit our website to learn more about the work of The Transforming Center and our Digital Capture project! We're here this week to talk about the elephant in the sabbath room… technology. Ruth and guest, Tiffany Shlain, talk all about how our technology impacts our ability to truly rest, why a “tech Shabbat” has been a lifeline for Tiffany, and the nitty gritty details of how Tiffany goes completely screen-free (and we mean completely) for 24 hours each week. We also hear from one of the founders of our sponsor, Good Kind, Chris Pappalardo, about the Sabbath Boxes they created to help people really unplug on the sabbath.   Tiffany Shlain is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, filmmaker, and public speaker. Her work explores the relationship between humanity and technology; the future of work, digital wellbeing and happiness; gender and women's rights; and neuroscience and creativity. ​Honored by Newsweek as one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century," Tiffany is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder of the Webby Awards, and author of the national bestselling book 24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection.   Chris Pappalardo is editor at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. He is the author and co-founder of GoodKind, an organization that cultivates practices that draw people to God and to one another. He is married to Jenn and is the proud dad of Lottie, who wants to save the planet, and Teddy, who wants you to read him another book.   Mentioned in this episode:  24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection by Tiffany Shlain GoodKind Sabbath Boxes   .   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is available wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also order the Sabbath Journal.  This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Reflection from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with Ruth Haley Barton. In this episode, James and Ruth discuss her book, “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again” In her book, Ruth offers hard-won wisdom and practical steps for developing rhythms of work and rest that bring life—to us […] The post Conversation with Ruth Haley Barton appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

There is no such thing as work-life balance. You always end up cheating something. The key is creating rhythms.  Creating a rhythm of work and rest is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding burnout. Without it, it's easy to become overworked and stressed, leading to relational, physical and mental health problems. A rhythm of work and rest ensures that you have dedicated time to focus on work or other responsibilities while also making time for self-care, relaxation, and rejuvenation. This balance allows you to be more productive, focused, and effective in your work while improving your overall well-being.   TOPICS INCLUDE: Embracing healthy rhythms rather than balance Living by priorities in 5 keys areas Identifying and adapting to seasons Embracing a team rhythm of work and rest Communicating and monitoring each other's seasons to create unity and accountability. Tips for when to take vacations or when to schedule downtime.  Establishing a weekly work/rest rhythm and having a monthly reflect/reset routine. DOWNLOAD STUDENT NOTES ► https://parallelleaders.com/podcast/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-rest/   SUBSCRIBE Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated with the latest content! ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2lR_WXSBAZGicnmiiF2KQQ?sub_confirmation=1 and tap the bell icon to get notified when the next episode releases. ► On Apple podcasts or Google Play https://link.chtbl.com/parallelleaders   CONNECT WITH PARALLEL LEADERS: On our website, social media or by subscribing to our weekly email for resources at https://feedlink.io/parallelleaders

Welcome back to Part 2 of my conversation with guest, Sarah Pascual. If you missed the last episode, I encourage you to go back and check it out! In today's episode, Sarah and I review a book that we both recently read together, called Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, by Ruth Haley Barton. This […]

Ruth Haley Barton is the Founder and Chief Essence Officer of the Transforming Center and the author of Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest.There is so much to do as pastors and leaders.  And if I'm going to get everything done, there's very little time to rest.  Or if I do take some time to rest, work and responsibility are just gonna sneak their way into that time of rest, anyway.In this episode, Ruth Haley Barton and I ask:  How am I called and invited to practice this gift of Sabbath?  And how will a Sabbath practice impact, not only my personal life, but also my life of ministry leadership? THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Ruth Haley Barton is the Founder and Chief Essence Officer of the Transforming Center and the author of Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest.As a child, Ruth Haley Barton's family practiced Sabbath in a very legalistic way, but stopped practicing the Sabbath as a young adult.  Ruth began practicing the Sabbath in her forties.Sabbath involves stopping, resisting, and delighting.Ruth Haley Barton says there is an edginess to Sabbath in that it is designed in part to release us from whatever oppresses us.Sabbath involves doing the kinds of things that bring us delight.Sabbath is not the same thing as solitude and silence.  Sabbath is a communal practice.Ruth Haley Barton explains how she navigated implementing the Sabbath when her kids were teenagers.Churches need to consider whether they encourage people—including their clergy—to practice the Sabbath.It is helpful for a church staff to take Sabbath together.If pastors would rest for twenty-four hours once a week, they would bring a healthier quality of leadership to their churches.Ruth Haley Barton points out that the Sabbath gives us an opportunity to trust God with what is bothering us.Ruth Haley Barton offers some suggestions for how we can begin to dip our toes into a regular Sabbath practice.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Books mentioned:Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, by Ruth Haley BartonTransforming CenterChurch Leadership InstituteRelated episode:Ep. 70: The Subversiveness of Sabbath, with A.J. SwobodaLearn how to lead your church into ministry that matters. Check out my online course, Engaging God's Mission.

We are wrapping up our sabbatical season by turning our attention to the congregation; how does a congregation benefit from a pastor's sabbatical. Ruth sits down with her brother, Pastor Jonathan Haley, to discuss the thoughtful and intentional ways he included his congregation in his sabbatical planning, how he stayed connected with them and how they, together, wrapped up the entire experience. Then, Ruth shares some final thoughts about sabbatical, her takeaways from her conversations this season and things to think about as you go forward with the idea of a sabbatical. Finally, Ruth closes with a meditation inspired by Psalm 46:10 by Henri Nouwen.   Jonathan Haley -- also known as Taylor -- is a husband, father, pastor and endurance athlete. Jonathan was a part of the first Transforming Community, and has served numerous  communities, as well as served on the board of directors for the Transforming Center. Jonathan earned his D.Min. from McCormick Seminary, where he researched and reflected on how a pastor's spiritual practices shape a congregation. In 2018 he enjoyed a 3-month renewal leave, during which he biked across the country, with a personal and congregational focus on "experiencing our bodies as God's gift to us." He has served First Presbyterian Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin as pastor/head of staff for 20 years.       Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also order the Sabbath Journal, meant to accompany you on your sabbath journey and give you space to share what your soul wants to say to God.   Interested in applying to Transforming Community 19? You can review the dates and apply today!   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Springs of Living Water from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Are sabbaticals just for pastors? This week, Ruth sits down with guest Andy Crouch to talk about sabbatical from an everyman perspective. Andy has taken full responsibility for his own rhythm of regular sabbaticals by saving up and risking the need to find a new job at the end of his time away. Ruth and Andy also talk about the place of trust sabbaticals take us, the rhythms Andy sees happen when you start to take a regular sabbatical, and of course, since it's Andy Crouch, we're going to talk about technology   Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books including The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, and Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling.   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also order the Sabbath Journal, meant to accompany you on your sabbath journey and give you space to share what your soul wants to say to God. Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Dusk from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Bishop Todd Hunter dialogues with new friend Ruth Haley Barton about her latest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. Ruth shares the importance of sabbath and spiritual formation for the Christian leader, as well as practical ways to engage them in your busy life. Ruth's unique voice as [...]

Bishop Todd Hunter dialogues with new friend Ruth Haley Barton about her latest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. Ruth shares the importance of sabbath and spiritual formation for the Christian leader, as well as practical ways to engage them in your busy life. Ruth's unique voice as [...]

Inevitably, every sabbatical will meet a challenge, a place where the outside world creeps in and threatens to call you back to the work you've committed to set aside. When that happens, what is a leader to do? Ruth sits down with Dr. David C. Alves to discuss how to discern the necessary boundaries each individual must create for their own sabbatical, the resistance they may encounter and how congregations can help their pastors set and keep boundaries.   Then Ruth brings back former guest Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker to discuss their shared story of a time when they had to discern together whether or not to hold firm to the boundaries Ruth and the Transforming Center board set for Ruth's sabbatical. This period of dormancy for Ruth and the organization coincided with the national tragedy of George Floyd's murder and the question of if and how to respond publicly was difficult to discern. Dr. David C Alves is a New Hampshire writer, and the author of both A Sabbatical Primer for Pastors: How to Initiate and Navigate a Spiritual Renewal Leave and A Sabbatical Primer for Churches: How to Love and Honor the Pastor God Has Given You. As well as three other books. David holds earned degrees from Asbury University and two schools of divinity. He is a past member of the Evangelical Press Association. A semi-retired pastor. And a recovering widower. He currently lives in Concord, NH. He enjoys family, friends, and an intimate relationship with, and love for, God and His creation.   Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker is a preacher, teacher, singer, spiritual director, and consultant. Founder and principal of Word & Wisdom, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of change and shalom in the world. She serves as Director of the Center for Community Care, Formation & Vitality at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University and is Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation. Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also order the Sabbath Journal, meant to accompany you on your sabbath journey and give you space to share what your soul wants to say to God. Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Dusk from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Message from Matt Ham on January 22, 2023

We have two extra special guests this week! First, Ruth sits down with Christine Lee, Priest-in-Charge of St. Peter's Chelsea in New York City. She and Ruth discuss how Christine discerned what was most important for her sabbatical and how she responded when her plan for sabbatical coincided with a challenging time for her congregation.    Then, friend of the Transforming Center B.J. Woodworth joins Ruth to discuss how he structured his sabbatical in a very unique way: around brewing beer. He and Ruth discuss practically what that plan looked like and the very surprising spiritual connection he discovered to the brewing process. Ruth also shares about her own sabbatical planning process when she took her first sabbatical.   Both guests provide real life, practical examples of what the sabbatical planning process looks like and the challenges and opportunities pastors and churches face when they embark on this journey. Christine Lee is the Priest-in-Charge of St. Peter's Chelsea, an Episcopal Church in New York City. She is married to Jimmy, her husband of 19 years, and served as Vicar of All Angels' Church before coming to St. Peter's in October 2019 with a team as part of a church revitalization effort in the Diocese of New York.   BJ Woodworth has served in the PCUSA for the last 28 years as a teacher, church planter, pastor, and spiritual guide. Currently he is the part time Director of Spiritual Life and Taizé Ministries at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Previously he served for 15 years as the founding and lead pastor of the Open Door, Presbyterian Church.   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also order the Sabbath Journal, meant to accompany you on your sabbath journey and give you space to share what your soul wants to say to God. Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Yesterday Today Forever from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Happy New Year! We are ringing in the new year by talking about sabbatical! Friend of the Transforming Center Rick McCall is back with us, and he and Ruth are sharing their experiences with sabbaticals, what ways Ruth sees it as an extension of sabbath, and why it's so important for the church to build in sabbatical plans in pastors' job descriptions.   If you are a pastor or a church congregant, we think this topic of sabbatical is so important to the health and survival of churches and their leaders and the new year is a great time to start thinking about what that might look like in your organization. Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also order the Sabbath Journal, meant to accompany you on your sabbath journey and give you space to share what your soul wants to say to God. Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led By the Spirit from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

“The Sabbath is the greatest gift from God outside of Jesus Himself.” - Dr. Ruth Haley BartonThe practice of the Sabbath has received quite a lot of attention in recent years and if you're interested in learning more, today's conversation will be a perfect compliment to your journey.On this edition of the podcast, Michael welcomes Dr. Ruth Haley Barton to the conversation. Ruth is an author, spiritual director, teacher, and founder of Transforming Center in Wheaton, Illinois.In October, Ruth's book, “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again” was released to ground us in God's intentions in giving us the gift of the Sabbath, providing practical steps for embedding sabbath rhythms in our lives. And as a result of today's conversation, we hope you learn how to think about Sabbath as a gift and that Sabbath helps us live in our true identity. HELPFUL RESOURCES:RTS_164James Bryan Smith “Good and Beautiful God”RTS_237Gem Fadling "Hold That Thought"RTS_238Alan Fadling"An Unhurried Life"RTS_239Dr. Janelle Hallman "Fostering Wholeness"Contact Restoring the Soul:- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.comThanks for listening!

In this episode, Caleb talks with Ruth Haley Barton about her book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest and more.Links MentionedRuth Haley BartonEmbracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again by Ruth Haley BartonStrengthening the Soul of Your Leadership PodcastCaleb's newsletter

Ruth has spent over 20 years as a student, a practitioner and a leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation.  She served on the staff of several churches before founding the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to creating space for God to strengthen the souls of leaders, equipping them to lead transforming communities.   She has authored several books including Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership and her newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. You can purchase her newest book, which is the topic of this podcast, at the link above for 30% off and free shipping with the code MUCHMORE until 11.23.22 Some highlights from our conversation: We talk about Ruth's personal experience with Sabbath and how she resisted practicing Sabbath for many years. We discuss the theology of Sabbath. We also talk about the practicalities of practicing Sabbath, setting up wise boundaries and making good choices for your Sabbath. Ruth warns us about one of the hard things that can come from Sabbath – having to deal with our pain and grief. But reminds us that this pain and grief needs to be moved through no matter what. Jesus often healed on the Sabbath, perhaps that's what he's inviting us into too. Finally Ruth gives us her own personal account of what Sabbath has come to mean for her and her family.   Here's how you can connect with Ruth, the Transforming Center and her podcast: Transforming Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingctr/  Transforming Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingcenter Transforming Center on Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformingctr  Ruth's website: https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com Transforming Center website: https://transformingcenter.org Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast: https://transformingcenter.org/strengthening-the-soul-of-your-leadership-podcast/

We're wrapping up our sabbath season with a solo episode. Ruth is on the mic to help us discern the something we can do to start our sabbath journey. What are your invitations and resistances? What are the obstacles you face as you attempt to “return to rest?” At the end of the episode producer Colleen and the two share what their souls each want to say to God at the end of this podcast season.   In January we'll continue the conversation with a short season focused on sabbatical. We have more incredible guests and practical help for you in planning and executing a sabbatical.   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Yesterday Today Forever from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Note: Meditation starts at 1:45   Lectio Divina is the divine or sacred reading of Scripture. Create some sacred space for God and spend a few quiet moments engaging with his Word. As you allow the Spirit to lead, you may be surprised by where he leads you.   Once you've listened to this Scripture Experience podcast, then head over to the next episode and catch the interview with Ruth Haley Barton, author of Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again.   You can find Jodie at Jodieniznik.com Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @jodieniznik Download your free Lectio Divina Guided journal here.   The exact verses read in this podcast are printed here for your use. Hebrews 4:1, 9-11 (NRSV) Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 10 for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

Elon Musk announced his takeover of Twitter by carrying a porcelain sink into the headquarters. Will his plan to loosen restrictions on social media help our hurt the country? Archeologist have discovered a new way to verify events in the Old Testament, but Phil wonders if anyone really cares. And is it ever loving for Christians to mock their opponents? The gang examines six rules for Christian mockery from the 17th century and why they may not apply today. Then, spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton explains how she came to see sabbath as a gift rather than an obligation. Her new book, “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest,” looks at why we struggle to practice sabbath rest, the challenge of technology, and how to make sabbath a lifestyle and not just a weekly discipline. Plus, the saving power of worm spit. Patreon Bonus: Christian Asks...How do we build unity around the cross? - https://www.patreon.com/posts/74098797/ Shop Holy Post merch - https://www.holypost.com/shop News Segment 0:00 - Intro 5:08 - Worm spit 9:12 - Elon Musk and Twitter 18:57 - Geomagnetic fields and Biblical narratives 29:46 - Rules for Christian mockery 45:21 - Sponsor: Biola University's Talbot School of Theology Visit www.biola.edu/talbot for more information and to apply today. Interview with Ruth Haley Barton “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again” - https://amzn.to/3FSkMgP Ruth Haley Barton - https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com 46:33 - Interview intro 49:09 - Spiritual formation 52:59 - Value of sabbath 56:34 - Guilt around sabbath 1:00:47 - More than a day of rest 1:04:46 - Sabbath as delight 1:07:00 - Challenges of technology 1:17:55 - A communal practice 1:24:24 - Credits Links from news segment: “Worm spit could be a secret cure to the world's plastic problem” (Inverse) - https://www.inverse.com/innovation/worm-saliva-plastic-pollution “TAU, HU Scientific Breakthrough: Geomagnetic Fields Reveal Truth of Biblical Narratives” (Jewish Press) - https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/tau-hu-scientific-breakthrough-geomagnetic-fields-reveal-truth-of-biblical-narratives/2022/10/25/ “Can you laugh at your enemies and love them? Rules for Christian mockery” (The Christian Post) - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/can-you-laugh-at-your-enemies-and-love-them.html Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Today I'm glad to welcome Ruth Haley Barton to the podcast to talk about an important and often misunderstood spiritual practice: sabbath. Ruth has spent over 20 years as a student, a practitioner and a leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation. She served on the staff of several churches before founding the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to creating space for God to strengthen the souls of leaders, equipping them to lead transforming communities. Ruth has written several books that have been transformational in my own life, and her most recent release is called Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again which is what I can't wait to talk with her about today. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Ruth's podcast: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

As we've camped out around this idea of a “sabbath community” the last few weeks, we've explored the possibility and very real struggles of what that kind of commitment to sabbath looks like for pastors. This week we're speaking with a pastor whose community is living out that practice in a variety of ways. In Ruth's conversation with pastor Rich Villodas, he speaks about the power of a community oriented around sabbath and the ideas his church members are exploring as they try to make rest available to all, and not just the privileged few.    Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church in Elmhurst, Queens, whose congregants represent more than seventy-five countries. He is also a key speaker for Emotionally Healthy Discipleship—a movement that has touched hundreds of thousands of people. His award-winning book, The Deeply Formed Life, was released in September 2020; followed by his second book, Good and Beautiful and Kind, in July 2022. He and his wife, Rosie, have two beautiful children and reside in NYC.   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led By the Spirit from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Rest is a challenge for almost all of us in our frantic and distracted world. For anyone who is longing to stop and rest and delight but feels stuck in a pattern of never-enough-time, this conversation is for you. Ruth Haley Barton talks with Amy Julia Becker about rest as a healing practice given to us by God that leads to a spacious, generous life. Ruth is the author of many books, including her latest, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest. ___Giveaway: We are giving away a copy of Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest. To enter to win, share this podcast episode on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, and be sure to tag me! The contest will end on Sunday, November 6, at 11:59 pm ET.___Guest Bio:“Ruth has spent over 20 years as a student, a practitioner and a leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation. She served on the staff of several churches before founding the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to creating space for God to strengthen the souls of leaders, equipping them to lead transforming communities. Ruth's voice is courageous, authentic and unique. She is bold in tackling the issues of the day while always inviting us into deep spiritual practices that draw us nearer to God.”___Connect Online:Transforming Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingctr/ Transforming Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingcenterTransforming Center on Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformingctr Ruth's website: https://www.ruthhaleybarton.comTransforming Center website: https://transformingcenter.orgStrengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast: https://transformingcenter.org/strengthening-the-soul-of-your-leadership-podcast/On the Podcast:Ruth's booksNewest book: Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainWayne Muller's Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy LivesMark 2:27-28Podcast: Strengthening the Soul of Your LeadershipPodcast episode: Season 17: Episode 5 | The Power of Unplugging___Transcript & More: https://amyjuliabecker.com/ruth-haley-barton/____Season 6 of the Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast connects to themes in my book To Be Made Well.*A video with closed captions will be available on my YouTube Channel.Connect with me: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Thanks for listening!

This week, author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton sat down with Brandon, Kevin, Rachel, and Liz (one of our volunteers) to have a conversation around silence, solitude, and navigating spiritual disciplines. Ruth opens up about her journey through spiritual direction into solitude and silence and offers practical tips around how to engage with God's invitation into that discipline. Ruth also shared about her new book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again.    If you're interested in diving a little deeper into the practice of silence and solitude, you can join us for a four week Practice Lab on October 30 from 1:30-3:00 pm. You can register here.   Guest Bio  Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founder of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors, Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. A sought-after teacher, retreat leader, and trained spiritual director, Ruth is the author of numerous books and articles on spiritual life. Educated at Northern Seminary, the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies, she has served on the pastoral staff of several churches including Willow Creek Community Church, and is a Professor of Spiritual Transformation at Northern Seminary.   Highlights   Introducing: Ruth Haley Barton - 3:06 How Ruth Haley Barton cultivated the practice of silence and solitude in her own life. Moving towards becoming an author and spiritual director. The invitation to silence and solitude. A structure for intimacy - 19:26 Navigating the push-pull phenomenon of integrating the spiritual disciplines. What engaging with silence and solitude can look like across different life stages. Talking through preconceived notions around silence and solitude. Silence and Solitude in real-time - 37:00 Processing the counterbalance of mountain and valley experiences in our own faith journeys. The reimagined definition of productivity and success. Ruth shares a little about her new book. Practical applications to try out in your own time (including a guided minute of silence) Kevin, Brandon, Rachel, and Liz debrief about their conversation.   Resources Ruth Haley Barton's Website The Transforming Center Invitation to Silence and Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton 1 Kings 19 - The Story of Elijiah Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again by Ruth Haley Barton The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)   Quotes “...whatever we're experiencing in the early parts of our journey into solitude and silence, it's pretty normal. And that it's not a quick fix: discipline, solitude, and silence are not the quick fix. It is a long obedience in the same direction. And then we begin to see the results eventually.” - Ruth Haley Barton “If you're feeling the push-pull, then you know you wanna press through. And it's not so much about should, as much as it's about touching the deepest desire of your heart, which is to have a real relationship with this person and to keep doing the things that help you to cultivate a real relationship. So you wanna drop down to the deepest desire that you have in this relationship and towards this person. You're not gonna press through because of "ought and should", you're gonna press through because you know it's gonna be good for your relationship if you go ahead and push through. And that's really different than odds and shoulds.” - Ruth Haley Barton  

We have long respected and honored the work of today's podcast guest and are so excited to share Lisa's interview with author and podcaster Ruth Haley Barton. Today, Ruth highlights her most recent book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. We know you'll find yourself leaning in and savoring her bold call to rest in God and delight in His goodness. Buy Ruth's latest book Visit Ruth's website Listen to Ruth's Podcast

We have long respected and honored the work of today's podcast guest and are so excited to share Lisa's interview with author and podcaster Ruth Haley Barton. Today, Ruth highlights her most recent book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. We know you'll find yourself leaning in and savoring her bold call to rest in God and delight in His goodness. Buy Ruth's latest book Visit Ruth's website Listen to Ruth's Podcast

Today's conversation is an honest and vulnerable one about the challenges of leading communities in the ways of the sabbath. Ruth sits down with Christine Lee who leads a busy church in New York City. Christine shares her own journey of practicing sabbath herself and the struggles she sees to “lead a sabbath community.” She also speaks tenderly about the fear that is stirred when she considers letting things lie dormant in service to making space for her congregation to experience the sabbath.   Christine Lee is the Priest-in-Charge of St. Peter's Chelsea, an Episcopal Church in New York City. She is married to Jimmy, her husband of 19 years, and they became pandemic dog parents to their rescue puppy, Baxter. She served as Vicar of All Angels' Church before coming to St. Peter's in October 2019 with a team as part of a church revitalization effort in the Diocese of New York.    Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Dusk from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

There is something special, something powerful, something beautiful about the concept of Sabbath rest. And yet, as pastors and ministry leaders, it often feels just outside of our grasp. It's something we're happy to teach about and share with others, but something that is challenging for us to experience fully in our own lives. In this week's conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Ruth Haley Barton, founder of the Transforming Center, and author of numerous books, including Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Sacred Rhythms, and her latest, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest. Together, Ruth and Jason explore the spiritual reality of rhythm in our lives, and look at the idea of Sabbath in a way that is accessible for pastors and ministry leaders just like you. Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more at http://PastorServe.org/networkSome key takeaways from this conversation:Ruth Haley Barton on the relationship between goodness and rhythm: "The goodness is in the rhythm… the Sabbath is one of the main ways that God has given to us to actually establish sane rhythms of work and rest"Ruth Haley Barton on the danger of getting out of a Sabbath rhythm: "When we do get out of rhythm, we are functioning beyond human limits. And when that happens, the human person can't sustain a life of living beyond human limits. We can't tolerate it in the body, but also not in the mind, mentally, we're not as fresh and clear. And then in the soul, we get very, very out of touch with God in the depths of our being and out of touch with who we are in God, and what God is calling us to do. And so it can be quite dangerous for a person to live for very long outside of the human, God-ordained rhythms that we've been created to live within."-------Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the entire Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide (Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our amazing guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how that episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your regular staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.)Love well, live well, and lead well --------Complimentary 1-hour Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesessionFollow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram 

Dr. Ruth Haley Barton joins the podcast this week for a discussion about rest, sabbath, and her new book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest.

In this episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then, Dr. Ruth Haley Barton, author of the newly released "Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest", contends that the sabbath is one of God's greatest gifts to humanity – and the antidote to the crazy busyness that rules our lives! * EPISODE PAGE: https://henrinouwen.org/listen/dr-ruth-haley-barton-2/ To PURCHASE "Embracing Rhythms of Work & Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again" by Ruth Haley Barton Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/3LVinCJ Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/3dWQDRQ ____________ * TO WATCH FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY "Journey of the Heart: The Life of Henri Nouwen": www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U8M1gx5Rk4&t=1808s * LISTEN on iTUNES: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/henr…ty/id1468489942 * LISTEN on SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/show/2Cxu6BwtNHlzFT7RzlixWJ * WATCH the PODCAST on YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iObxkzRYD…hJK5NW-5ERuN2XAH0 * TO SIGN-UP FOR FREE DAILY E-MEDITATIONS: henrinouwen.org/meditation/ * FOR HENRI NOUWEN SOCIETY CAREGIVING RESOURCES: henrinouwen.org/caregiving/ * MORE FREE RESOURCES: www.henrinouwen.org * READ HENRI NOUWEN BOOKS: henrinouwen.org/read/

GUEST Rev Tom Hall ... Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 6th Ave downtown. Breaking Open: How Your Pain Becomes the Path to Living Again (new book) … GUEST Jacob Armstrong … pastor of Providence Church in Mt. Juliet, TN. Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest:  From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again (new book) … GUEST Ruth Haley Barton … founding president of the Transforming Center, a spiritual formation ministry to pastors & Christian leaders … A trained spiritual director, teacher, and retreat leader, she is the author of “Invitation to Solitude and Silence,” “Sacred Rhythms,” and “Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GUEST Rev Tom Hall ... Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 6th Ave downtown. Breaking Open: How Your Pain Becomes the Path to Living Again (new book) … GUEST Jacob Armstrong … pastor of Providence Church in Mt. Juliet, TN. Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest:  From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again (new book) … GUEST Ruth Haley Barton … founding president of the Transforming Center, a spiritual formation ministry to pastors & Christian leaders … A trained spiritual director, teacher, and retreat leader, she is the author of “Invitation to Solitude and Silence,” “Sacred Rhythms,” and “Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next few episodes we are turning our attention from a leader's personal sabbath practice towards how they can form and shape their communities around sabbath. We'll be talking to a number of pastors and leaders about their efforts and challenges in leading others in the practice.   Today Ruth sits down with Jeanne and Jarrett Stevens. As co-pastors of a busy church in Chicago, the Stevens have been saved by rhythms of work and rest. Ruth talks with Jeanne and Jarrett about their own practices of sabbath, the ways they've tried to incorporate these rhythms in their church, and the challenges and opportunities presented in this as we emerge from COVID. They also pose the question, what would it look like as a leader to leave a legacy of sabbath keeping in their community?   Jarrett & Jeanne Stevens founded and have served as co-lead pastors of Soul City Church in Chicago, IL for the past 11 years. They have both authored several books. Jarrett wrote “The Deity Formerly Known as God,” “Four Small Words”, and his latest release, “Praying Through.” Jeanne has authored many devotionals, “Everyday Brave,” “Grit & Grace,” and “You are Enough.” She is a contributing author to “Twelve Women of the Bible” and “Real Women, Real Faith.” She has a new book released in May of 2022 called “What's Here Now?” They are both passionate about helping people wake up to the transforming love of Jesus and experience soul-level change in every area of their lives.  Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Yesterday, Today, Forever from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Doug and Bob talk with Ruth Haley Barton about her newest book Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again.  We packed a ton of content into this interview.  We hope you will enjoy this episode.  And If you haven't already, be sure to check out the book.  Ruth's new book: https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-restRuth's site: https://www.ruthhaleybarton.comRuth's podcast: https://ruthhaleybarton.podbean.com/Information for coaching and spiritual direction can be found atwww.kairospartnerships.org We'd love to hear from you. Drop us a line. Doug – doug@kairospartnerships.orgBob – bob@kairospartnerships.org If you haven't signed up for J.R.'s every other week FREE newsletter 5 Things in 5 Minutes (yes the entire thing can be read in less than 5 minutes or less), here's the link: www.kairospartnerships.org/5t5m**Monday Morning Pastor is produced by the incredibly gifted Joel Limbauan. Check out his great video and podcast work at On a Limb Productions www.onalimbproductions.com If this podcast adds value to you, your team, or your organization, consider (1) subscribing (2) leaving a review and (3) sharing it with others 

In this episode we continue discussing how each season or stage of life presents its own challenges and opportunities with regard to sabbath keeping. Today we're joined by two guests, Phaedra Blocker and Vicki Degner.   In the first half Phaedra and Ruth talk about sabbath keeping in seasons of singleness. Phaedra shares the ways in which the church can often fail to support single people in the practice, and what she does to make the day feel special and set apart. She also shares her own perspective on the notion that the sabbath is a privileged concept.   Then we hear from Vicki, who shares about her experience with sabbath during seasons of intense caregiving. Vicki has an adult son with special needs as well as two aging parents and she and Ruth discuss very practical ways in which they still strive to keep sabbath during this difficult season.   Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker is a preacher, teacher, singer, spiritual director, and consultant. Founder and principal of Word & Wisdom, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of change and shalom in the world. She serves as Director of the Center for Community Care, Formation & Vitality at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University and is Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation.    Vicki Denger is trained and certified through Christos Center for Spiritual Formation as a spiritual director, and has been practicing for 18 years. She serves the Transforming Center as the Coordinator of Spiritual Direction Ministries and also on the TC board. She is married to Gerry, has two adult children, and two grandchildren that are the light of her life.   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. It is out now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org).   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Reflection from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

As we continue to discuss the idea of a sabbath practice and the very practical ways one can incorporate it into one's life, we want to acknowledge that each season or stage of life presents its own challenges and opportunities with regard to sabbath keeping. In the next two episodes we're going to speak with a variety of guests in different seasons of life about their own sabbath practices.   This week we're joined by Kyle and Charity McClure, Ruth's eldest daughter and son-in-law. Kyle and Charity are parents to three school-aged children and began carving out a sabbath practice when their kids were all very small. In this conversation they share how they reframed their posture towards the day in a season where life at home was anything but restful, how sabbath has shaped what they look for in a church and the ways in which it allows them to give their kids a different kind of presence on that day. Plus, they ask Ruth some tough questions about how she gave her own children the space to fall in love with sabbath on their own. Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. You can preorder now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org). If you buy it directly from our publisher, Intervarsity Press, you can get it before October 11th! If you pre-order the book be sure to sign up to attend our Release Day Virtual Celebration!   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led by the Spirit from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!  This week's installment will be available to everyone, regardless of whether or not they are a patron. The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

We're here this week to talk about the elephant in the sabbath room… technology. Ruth and guest, Tiffany Shlain, talk all about how our technology impacts our ability to truly rest, why a “tech Shabbat” has been a lifeline for Tiffany, and the nitty gritty details of how Tiffany goes completely screen-free (and we mean completely) for 24 hours each week. We also hear from one of the founders of our sponsor, Good Kind, Chris Pappalardo, about the Sabbath Boxes they created to help people really unplug on the sabbath.   Tiffany Shlain is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, filmmaker, and public speaker. Her work explores the relationship between humanity and technology; the future of work, digital wellbeing and happiness; gender and women's rights; and neuroscience and creativity. ​Honored by Newsweek as one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century," Tiffany is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder of the Webby Awards, and author of the national bestselling book 24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection.   Chris Pappalardo is editor at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. He is the author and co-founder of GoodKind, an organization that cultivates practices that draw people to God and to one another. He is married to Jenn and is the proud dad of Lottie, who wants to save the planet, and Teddy, who wants you to read him another book.   Mentioned in this episode:  24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection by Tiffany Shlain GoodKind Sabbath Boxes   Win a GoodKind Sabbath Box! Share the show on social media or with a friend to be eligible!  If you share on social media and tag us, you will be immediately entered to win. If you share via text or email, simply screenshot the conversation and email it to podcast@transformingcenter.org for an entry into the giveaway. You have from September 27- October 4 to submit your entry and be eligible. The winner will be notified via email on October 5, 2022.   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. You can preorder now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org). If you buy it directly from our publisher, Intervarsity Press, you can get it before October 11th! If you pre-order the book be sure to sign up to attend our Release Day Virtual Celebration!   You can also pre-order the Sabbath Journal, which will be available sometime in January 2023.   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Reflection from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Our guest this week is Rabbi Evan Moffic, a rabbi leading a congregation in the Chicago suburbs who also teaches and writes about the Jewishness of Jesus. He and Ruth discuss the importance of the sabbath and its roots in the Jewish faith, the communal aspect of the practice, and how the activities we engage in on the sabbath can shape our “sabbath character.”   (A note- the audio quality for this episode is not what we usually like to have, but we felt the content of the episode was more than worth it and too important to leave out.)   Rabbi Moffic is a Rabbi sharing Jewish wisdom, stories, and inspiration with people of all faiths. A graduate of Stanford University, Rabbi Moffic leads a congregation in the Chicago suburbs and teaches across the world.    Mentioned in this episode:  What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Jewishness of Jesus by Rabbi Evan Moffic   Win a copy of Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest! Leave a review of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Screenshot your review and email it to podcast@transformingcenter.org for an entry into the giveaway. You have from September 20-27 to submit your entry and be eligible. The winner will be notified via email on September 28, 2022. (Need help knowing how to leave a podcast review? This article will help!)   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. You can preorder now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org). If you buy it directly from our publisher, Intervarsity Press, you can get it before October 11th! If you pre-order the book be sure to sign up to attend our Release Day Virtual Celebration!   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Dusk from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Nearly ten years ago, I wrote my first book, An Unhurried Life. It's subtitle was “Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest.” Discovering and following those rhythms of life and work have been a primary focus for Gem and for me in this last decade. So you can perhaps appreciate how glad I was when I saw that Ruth Haley Barton's next book is titled, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. In light of these intense last few years that we've all lived together, this book could hardly be more timely!  Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president and CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, and Pursuing God's Will Together.  Connect with Alan at UnhurriedLiving.com

We had so much goodness in our conversations around the idea of sabbath as resistance that we decided to release them as separate episodes. In this episode, Ruth and guest Cole Arthur Riley continue the discussion with a conversation around whether or not sabbath is just for the privileged few. Cole shares how she experiences rest in honor of her ancestors who were not allowed to do so, and the two discuss the tender places sabbath can take us.   Cole Arthur Riley is a writer and poet. She is the author of the NYT bestseller, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Guernica, and The Washington Post. Cole is also the creator and writer of Black Liturgies, a project that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body. Mentioned in this episode:  This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley Beloved by Toni Morrison   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. You can preorder now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org). If you buy it directly from our publisher, Intervarsity Press, you can get it before October 11th! If you pre-order the book be sure to sign up to attend our Release Day Virtual Celebration!   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Tender Moment from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

We continue to celebrate the launch of Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. This week, Ruth sits down with pastor and poet Drew Jackson to discuss the idea of sabbath as resistance. Ruth and Drew discuss how the practice of sabbath itself can be a critique of a culture that does not value human beings, and the ways sabbath has helped them to in turn resist that culture. And, of course, because of their shared love of poetry, both Ruth and Drew share poems that bring language to the beautiful gift that is sabbath.    Drew E. Jackson is a poet and pastor. He is the author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming and the forthcoming collection Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. His work has appeared in Oneing, Made for Pax, The Journal from the Centre for Public Christianity, Fathom Magazine, and other publications.   Mentioned in this episode:  God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God's Unexpected Coming by Drew Jackson Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way by Drew Jackson A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems 1979-1997 by Wendell Berry This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems by Wendell Berry A Small Porch: Sabbath Poems 2014 and 2015 by Wendell Berry   Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. You can preorder now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org). If you buy it directly from our publisher, Intervarsity Press, you can get it before October 11th! If you pre-order the book be sure to sign up to attend our Release Day Virtual Celebration!   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Grace and Peace from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

We're back! This season we are celebrating the launch of Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. Ruth has invited a number of friends to come on the show to discuss the themes found in her book. These episodes are for pastors and leaders who are tired and longing for new rhythms of rest and work.   This week, Ruth has invited her friend, Pastor Rick McCall. Ruth and Rick discuss why creating a regular Sabbath practice can be so difficult; why Ruth is unabashedly addressing church leaders in her book; how Sabbath can be transformational, and more.    Purchase Ruth's new book! Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest comes out on October 11, 2022. You can preorder now, wherever you buy books (Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org). If you buy it directly from our publisher, Intervarsity Press, you can get it before October 11th!   This season of our podcast is sponsored by GoodKind. GoodKind is all about helping people cultivate the GoodKind of habits and holiday practices that allow them to engage with God and one another throughout the year. They have a great tool for Advent, a Sabbath Box to help you practice unplugging, and more. To learn more about them and the products they make, you can find them at goodkind.shop    Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Chasing Butterflies from Transforming Center Resource Music in Solitude   Support the podcast! This season, patrons will receive an overflow of bonus content from the episodes, including exclusive conversations between Ruth and guests, clips that we couldn't fit into the final cuts, and more! Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

For more information on Ruth Haley Barton check out her website at https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/ and learn more about the Transforming Center at https://transformingcenter.org/Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainEarly Release from IV Press: https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-restAmazon (Oct 11): https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Rhythms-Work-Rest-Sabbatical/dp/1514002639This episode really just took a surface level look at Sabbath and barely even introduced the topic of sabbatical. If you want to go deeper, check out Ruth Haley Barton's book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest by winning a copy from us or by purchasing an early release copy directly from Intervarsity Press. Or you can wait for the regular release in October and buy it from Amazon. We will be giving out a pair of the books and their are two different ways to enter. We will choose the winners via a random drawing on September 7th. The first method of entering is to leave a review for this podcast on your podcast player of choice. It doesn't even have to be a good review, it can be any review. Just take a screenshot of your review and send it to me at info@lumivoz.com The second method is to find lumivoz on Facebook and leave a comment on the contest post with your favorite or best sabbath tip. You can enter both ways and as many times as you link in order to win. Good luck! I can't wait to talk with you on the next 5th Wednesday! ★ Support this podcast ★

For more information on Ruth Haley Barton check out her website at https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/ and learn more about the Transforming Center at https://transformingcenter.org/Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainEarly Release from IV Press: https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-restAmazon (Oct 11): https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Rhythms-Work-Rest-Sabbatical/dp/1514002639This episode really just took a surface level look at Sabbath and barely even introduced the topic of sabbatical. If you want to go deeper, check out Ruth Haley Barton's book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest by winning a copy from us or by purchasing an early release copy directly from Intervarsity Press. Or you can wait for the regular release in October and buy it from Amazon.We will be giving out a pair of the books and their are two different ways to enter. We will choose the winners via a random drawing on September 7th. The first method of entering is to leave a review for this podcast on your podcast player of choice. It doesn't even have to be a good review, it can be any review. Just take a screenshot of your review and send it to me at info@lumivoz.comThe second method is to find lumivoz on Facebook and leave a comment on the contest post with your favorite or best sabbath tip. You can enter both ways and as many times as you link in order to win. Good luck! I can't wait to talk with you on the next 5th Wednesday!

For more information on Ruth Haley Barton check out her website at https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/ and learn more about the Transforming Center at https://transformingcenter.org/Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainEarly Release from IV Press: https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-restAmazon (Oct 11): https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Rhythms-Work-Rest-Sabbatical/dp/1514002639This episode really just took a surface level look at Sabbath and barely even introduced the topic of sabbatical. If you want to go deeper, check out Ruth Haley Barton's book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest by winning a copy from us or by purchasing an early release copy directly from Intervarsity Press. Or you can wait for the regular release in October and buy it from Amazon.We will be giving out a pair of the books and their are two different ways to enter. We will choose the winners via a random drawing on September 7th. The first method of entering is to leave a review for this podcast on your podcast player of choice. It doesn't even have to be a good review, it can be any review. Just take a screenshot of your review and send it to me at info@lumivoz.comThe second method is to find lumivoz on Facebook and leave a comment on the contest post with your favorite or best sabbath tip. You can enter both ways and as many times as you link in order to win. Good luck! I can't wait to talk with you on the next 5th Wednesday!

For more information on Ruth Haley Barton check out her website at https://www.ruthhaleybarton.com/ and learn more about the Transforming Center at https://transformingcenter.org/Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back AgainEarly Release from IV Press: https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-restAmazon (Oct 11): https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Rhythms-Work-Rest-Sabbatical/dp/1514002639This episode really just took a surface level look at Sabbath and barely even introduced the topic of sabbatical. If you want to go deeper, check out Ruth Haley Barton's book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest by winning a copy from us or by purchasing an early release copy directly from Intervarsity Press. Or you can wait for the regular release in October and buy it from Amazon.We will be giving out a pair of the books and their are two different ways to enter. We will choose the winners via a random drawing on September 7th. The first method of entering is to leave a review for this podcast on your podcast player of choice. It doesn't even have to be a good review, it can be any review. Just take a screenshot of your review and send it to me at info@lumivoz.comThe second method is to find lumivoz on Facebook and leave a comment on the contest post with your favorite or best sabbath tip. You can enter both ways and as many times as you link in order to win. Good luck! I can't wait to talk with you on the next 5th Wednesday!

We can't wait for you to hear this encouraging conversation between Ruth and Glenn Packiam, a pastor and author of The Resilient Pastor: Leading Your Church in a Rapidly Changing World. Glenn and Ruth shared their thoughts on why it's so hard for pastors to prioritize their life with God, performing our spirituality vs. cultivating a spiritual life, challenges facing pastors and the church, and what we're learning about pastors' spirituality. We hope this conversation encourages you today.  Check out The Resilient Pastor and Glenn's podcast, "The Resilient Pastor Podcast."   You can preorder Ruth's next book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again! Want to be a part of the book launch? Learn more.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Innocence from Music in Solitude   Support the podcast!  Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self!

Part 7 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 6 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 5 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 3 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 4 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 2 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders. 

Part 2 in this series. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves.   Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.   Ruth's newest book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, will focus on rest and the need for leaders to take a Sabbath.    If you are interested in learning more about Ruth's work with the Transforming Center please visit their website. You are invited to join their next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices