Podcast appearances and mentions of Richard Foster

Thursday, September 17, 2026What happens when we learn to recognize God's voice—and have the courage to follow where He leads?Today we continue Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from “The Journal of George Fox” alongside Acts 8. Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian reminds us that God is always at work, often inviting us to join Him in unexpected places. Join us as we reflect on listening to the Spirit, responding in obedience, and being available for God to use us.

Wednesday September 16, 2026What would change if we really trusted God with what we're worried about today?We continue Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with Martin Luther's “The Place of Trust”, alongside Matthew 6:25–34 and 7:7–11. Jesus invites us to release our anxiety, trust the goodness of our Father, and confidently ask, seek, and knock. Join us as we discover that faith isn't having everything figured out—it's knowing the One who holds everything in His hands.

Tuesday, September 15, 2026What does it look like to truly pursue God—even when He asks us to surrender what we hold most dear?Today we continue Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from A. W. Tozer's “The Pursuit of God”, alongside Genesis 22:1–18. Abraham's story challenges us to consider the depth of our trust, the cost of surrender, and whether God Himself is truly our greatest desire. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and a fresh invitation to pursue God with our whole heart.-----This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

Monday September 14, 2026What does it really mean to live a holy life?Today we continue Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from Phoebe Palmer's “The Way of Holiness”, alongside Romans 8:24–35. We'll reflect on the hope, perseverance, and confidence we have in Christ—and the powerful truth that nothing can separate us from His love. Join us as we consider what it means to pursue holiness while resting in the grace of God.This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

Nathan talks with pastor and poet Joshua Luke Smith about practicing presence and contentment in the “leftovers” of your life, because the hard parts are holy ground.

Thursday September 10, 2026Today we continue our journey through “Spiritual Classics” by Richard Foster with a reading from J. B. Phillips' “Ring of Truth”, alongside 2 Corinthians 7.Paul speaks honestly about sorrow, repentance, encouragement, and the joy that comes when our hearts are brought back into alignment with God. What does genuine spiritual growth look like? Today's reading invites us to discover the “ring of truth” in a life transformed by God.--This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

Wednesday September 9, 2026Today we continue our journey through “Spiritual Classics” by Richard Foster with a reading from Lilias Trotter's “The Way of the Sevenfold Secret”, alongside John 10:1–14 and 27–28. Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd—the One who knows His sheep, leads them, protects them, and gives them life. Today, we'll reflect on what it means to recognize His voice and follow Him with confidence. Listen in and be reminded: you are known, you are loved, and you are safely held by the Good Shepherd.——-This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding

Tuesday September 8, 2026Today we continue our journey through “Spiritual Classics” by Richard Foster with a reading from George MacDonald's “Creation in Christ”, alongside Mark 8:1–21. We'll reflect on God's work of renewal in our lives and Jesus' challenge to His disciples to see beyond their circumstances and remember what God has already done. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we learn to trust Jesus more deeply and become more like Him. This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

Andrew Maclean, Cillian Sheridan & Richard Foster discuss the Celtic & Rangers wins over the weekend, ticket allocation and Craig Mulholland's proposal Listen to previous shows on Rayo: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/Follow Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on X: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessb

Tuesday, September 1, 2026Today we continue our journey through “Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster” with a reading from John Henry Newman's “Parochial and Plain Sermons”, alongside Genesis 32:24–30. We'll reflect on Jacob's encounter with God and the way genuine encounters with Him can leave us changed. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we seek a deeper walk with God and become more like Jesus.This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

Monday August 31 2026Today we continue our journey through “Spiritual Classics” by Richard Foster with a reading from Catherine Marshall's “A Closer Walk”, alongside Isaiah 58:3–9. We'll reflect on what it means to move beyond religious activity into a life that genuinely seeks God and loves others. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we pursue a deeper walk with Jesus.This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

Has Derek McInnes' Rangers reign finally found some momentum? Jonathan Sutherland is joined by Scott Allan and Richard Foster to dissect a dramatic Premiership weekend. Rangers responded to their European disappointment with a hard-fought victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, easing the pressure on their manager and raising questions about whether this could be a turning point. Celtic bounced back from their European frustrations to see off Falkirk and remain top of the table, while Hearts and Hibs both picked up wins ahead of a highly anticipated Edinburgh derby. The panel also examines Motherwell's spectacular late equaliser against St Mirren, discusses the importance of communication and defensive organisation in modern football, and asks what has gone wrong at Kilmarnock after three defeats, zero points and 13 goals conceded. Plenty of goals, debate and talking points from another fascinating weekend.

The Go Radio Football Show: August 31st, 2026 with Scottish Gas. PLAY and HIT SUBSCRIBE, and NEVER miss an episode! Rangers finally gave Derek McInnes something to smile about with a hard-fought win at Aberdeen, while Celtic bounced back from their European disappointment to stay top of the Premiership. Paul Cooney is joined by Charlie Mulgrew and Richard Foster to break down a huge weekend of Scottish football. The team debate Rangers' response to criticism, Celtic's growing injury concerns, transfer deadline activity, and the latest controversy surrounding Old Firm ticket allocations. Plus, an honest and fascinating discussion on the mental side of football, as Charlie and Richard reveal the fears, pressure and self-doubt they experienced during their playing careers. Episode Highlights Rangers earn a crucial victory at Pittodrie and ease the pressure on Derek McInnes. Celtic recover from European heartbreak but concerns remain over squad depth and injuries. Debate over the decision to allocate just 300 away tickets for the next Old Firm cup clash. Transfer window latest from both Rangers and Celtic. Lionel Messi retires from international football, with Charlie reflecting on playing against him. Charlie Mulgrew and Richard Foster share powerful stories about confidence, nerves and mental resilience in football. Predictions for a busy week of Premiership action and the upcoming derby fixtures. The Go Radio Football Show, weeknights from 5pm-7pm across Scotland on DAB, YouTube, Smart Speaker - launch Go Radio - and on the Go Radio App. IOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/go-radio/id1510971202 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.thisisgo.goradio&pcampaignid=web_share Watch the Replay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/e65BMXbDXCE?si=IDytCso1tqzPcmLz  For more Podcasts from Go Studios, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/

Thursday August 27, 2026Today we continue our journey through “Spiritual Classics”by Richard Foster with a reading from Simone Weil's “Concerning the Our Father”, alongside Luke 11:1–9. We'll reflect on the prayer Jesus taught His disciples and what it means to approach God with humility, persistence, and trust. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we deepen our prayer life and grow more like Jesus.This is the unfiltered and unscripted daily podcast of Dr. Terry Rolen. Whether you're a devout Christian seeking spiritual growth or someone curious about the teachings of the Bible, this whimsical podcast offers a dynamic, relatable platform for deepening your faith and understanding.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover WPP's court filing against Richard Foster's whistleblower claims; Meta's decision to strip advertisers of the ability to exclude ad placements, and preliminary talks between Paramount and California officials over its $110bn Warner Bros Discovery acquisition.

Monday, August 24, 2026Today we continue our journey through Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from André Louf's “Teach Us to Pray”, alongside selected passages from the Apostle Paul. We'll reflect on the invitation to grow in prayer and depend more deeply on God's presence and grace. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we seek to become more like Jesus.

Nathan talks with Jon Bailey, Renovaré Ministry Team member and new author of the book Dwelling in Christ (first book in this season's Renovaré Book Club). The two discuss how Jon came to experience and write about the never-ending journey of transformation in Christ.

Wednesday August 19, 2026Today we continue our journey through Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from Thomas Merton's “The Seven Storey Mountain”, alongside Psalm 1:1–6. We'll reflect on the path of spiritual formation, the choices that shape our lives, and what it means to be deeply rooted in God. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we seek to grow deeper and become more like Jesus.

Listen back to Paul Cooney, Andy Walker and Richard Foster as they talk all things Scottish football.

Tuesday August 18, 2026 Today we continue our journey through Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from Joyce Huggett's “Learning the Language of Prayer,” alongside selections from Psalm 119. We'll reflect on what it means to grow in prayer—not simply as something we do, but as a language we learn as we draw closer to God. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.

Spiritual abuse doesn't begin with one bad person. It grows through a culture of approval, secrecy, fear, and loyalty that slowly teaches people to stay quiet, play along, and mistake control for faithfulness. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford break down the eight phases of a power-through-fear church and contrast them with the kind of community Jesus actually builds - a pocket of tov, where goodness, wholeness, and courage can exist without hype or performance.If you'd like to support the work at VOXOLOGY, and join us next month for the book club, you can join here: https://www.patreon.com/c/voxology/postsIf you're interested in Spiritual Coaching, you can email tim@voxpodcast.comTimestamps00:00 - Opening banter, kids back in school, and community updates02:01 - Spiritual coaching and the Patreon book club announcement03:49 - Frustration with corruption, outrage fatigue, and local engagement09:31 - Refugees in Tennessee and creating pockets of hope12:08 - A listener asks if introversion is sinful14:54 - Quiet time as formation for community, not a spiritual end point17:24 - Why introverts can still be harmed by solitude without structure18:38 - Why spiritual disciplines need purpose, framework, and discernment21:50 - Spiritual abuse is a culture, not just a bad person24:48 - Step one: power concentrated in one person26:14 - Insider approval, status enhancement, and filtered influence28:09 - Outsiders, status degradation, and fear of disapproval30:04 - Secrecy, image management, and what happens behind the wall32:59 - Banishment, loyalty tests, and being expelled from the circle34:29 - How church culture also shapes who gets seen as a leader36:34 - Compassion and empathy as the first marks of a healthy culture38:30 - Grace, failure tolerance, and hierarchy as responsibility41:25 - A bottom-shaped triangle: leadership exists for the community45:17 - Putting people ahead of the institution47:39 - Truth telling, confession, and why churches avoid self-exposure50:25 - Justice over loyalty culture and the misuse of Matthew 1852:26 - Power dispersed, not accumulated54:25 - Service over celebrity and power-under leadership56:18 - Overperforming, underperforming, and leaders inserting themselves between God and people58:08 - What heroes a culture celebrates and why ordinary faithfulness matters61:27 - How do you build a healthy church in a hype-driven world?62:55 - Practices of resistance: no hype language, no sermon-series hype machine65:42 - The woman caught in adultery as a model of calm, teaching, and restoration69:03 - Christ-likeness over leadership culture and the CEO model of church72:12 - Richard Foster's marks of spiritual power: love, humility, self-limitation, joy, vulnerability, submission, freedom73:11 - Mike's daughter testifies in a stalking case and the cost of being believed77:31 - Why he stays in an organized church and what a healthy community can look like80:33 - Why people won't stay just for hype, and the need for pockets of tove81:53 - Building boring, sustainable, life-giving communityAs always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.Our Merch Store! https://www.etsy.com/shop/VOXOLOGY?ref=shop_sugg_marketLearn more about the Voxology PodcastSubscribe on iTunes or SpotifySupport the Voxology Podcast on PatreonThe Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology RadioFollow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on FacebookFollow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerreMusic in this episode by Timothy John StaffordInstagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Andrew Maclean, Richard Foster and Brian Graham are in the studio as they bring you live coverage of Rangers v St Mirren at Ibrox in the Scottish League Cup. we hear from Gabriel Antoniazzi live from the game. The lines are open as the callers give their thoughts on their teams performances in the cup.Sébastien Jean Pocognoli has been named as the new Scotland men's national team.Beat The Pundit as wellListen to previous shows on Rayo: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/X: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessb

Nate speaks with retired psychiatrist Dr. Hilary Johnson about how the indivisibility of body, mind, and spirit means that wellness is, at some level, always a spiritual endeavor—empowered by God in and through loving relationships.

Andrew Maclean is joined by Jim Duffy & Richard Foster as we look back at the first weekend of the Scottish Premiership as Rangers draw with Dundee Utd, Hearts capitulate late on against Aberdeen ad we have to belters on Sunday afternoon before Celtic and Dundee wrap the weekend up tomorrow night!Listen to previous shows on Rayo: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/X: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessb

For all the changes implemented in the era, this was a quiet revolution. Quietly adopted as a mechanism to help adjust the number of teams in the First Division, it was quickly obvious that there was something to it and so, a dramatic end of to season was born. Richard Foster, author of The Agony and The Ecstasy: The Comprehensive History of the Football League Play-Offs, joins Martyn to explain why and how they began, those first matches and how it evolved into something very different. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, join our Nessun Dorma community chat, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast⁠⁠⁠ where you can subscribe for only $3.99 a month (less than 75p a week!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gabriel Antoniazzi is in the hot seat tonight alongside Richard Foster, as we react to the news that Rangers manager Derek McInnes has received a four-game ban following comments from last season. The former Hearts boss will serve three games with one suspended. We're hearing your thoughts on the incident, and if the punishment is justified.It's also one of your last chances to play Beat The Pundit in our summer league against Richard Foster.Check out our YouTube channel and subscribe via: https://www.youtube.com/@Clyde1SSBX: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessbListen to previous shows on Rayo: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/

On Life With God, Nathan has a fascinating conversation with author Mark Buchanan about his WWII novel, What Is Left of the Night—why he wrote it, what he learned, and how it offers a vision of kingdom living we can carry into present-day crises.

Andrew Maclean and Richard Foster are in the studio taking your calls on all things Scottish football as League Cup fixtures also take place. One caller believes Rangers must sign a player to take over the vacant captaincy role with Derek McInnes yet to reveal who will wear the armband. Meanwhile, Gary in Blantyre lost Beat the Pundit to Richard Foster after a tie-breaker question. Check out our YouTube channel and subscribe via: https://www.youtube.com/@Clyde1SSBX: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessbListen to previous shows on Rayo: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/

We invite you to enter a time of prayer with Nathan Foster as he works through the Litany of Humility's three movements and expands them with his own meditations. The prayer begins, “O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me.”

Andrew Maclean, Tony Watt and Richard Foster are in the studio, with Gabriel Antoniazzi live from Boston.The phone lines are dominated by the news that Hearts boss Derek McInnes is taking over at Ibrox after Danny Rohl's departure from Glasgow was officially announced, with the news of the next manager's unveiling breaking during the show.And we have more build-up with two days until Scotland's second World Cup group match against Morocco on Friday night.Plus Beat the Pundit!X: https://x.com/ClydeSSBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clyde1ssbTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clydessbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/clyde1Check out our YouTube channel & subscribe via: https://www.youtube.com/@Clyde1SSBPrevious shows: https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/superscoreboard/

Help bring to life a new Renovaré course: renovare.org/streams.Nathan Foster talks with author and priest Ragan Sutterfield on the sacramental nature of birding and other patient pursuits which train our attention so that we can live awake to our transcendent God and the invisible realm of his kingdom.

Reject the "Renaissance" of Spiritual Formation - A Critique of Practicing the Way, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. John Mark Comer credits Richard Foster with launching a "renaissance" of spiritual formation in Protestantism. Bob DeWaay warns this movement replaces confidence in Scripture with mystical practices and calls believers to approach God through Christ alone. (duration 00:22:23) Click here to play

Help bring to life a new Renovaré course: renovare.org/streams.In this bonus episode we share a conversation from a Renovaré webinar called Shaped by the Word. Host Carolyn Arends speaks with Tim Mackie and Carla Harding about how Scripture functions in the lives of Jesus' disciples to form us and draw us into a living relationship with Father Son and Spirit. 

Three Renovaré staff members—Carolyn Arends, Monty Harrington, and Brandan Spencer—joined Nathan on Life with God to describe the team's pilgrimage to Montgomery to give sustained attention to injustice against Black people in the United States and celebrate the legacy of God-empowered resistance and resilience.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast, Hank brings up the issue of why God would allow bad things to happen.Hank also answers the following questions:The word “lie” means any intentional deception. Isn't God's command to Abraham to kill Isaac an intentional deception? Mike - Trinidad, CO (6:02)I heard teachings about “little Jesuses.” Have you addressed this teaching? Susan - AZ (9:22)Regarding Celebration of Disciplines by Richard Foster, is what he says about simplicity and redistribution of wealth accurate? Susan - CA (15:10)How do you know that God exists? Tom - Kansas City, MO (18:36)

Nathan talks with Grace Pouch about her new book Savoring Childhood and how small steps toward a slower, simpler lifestyle create space for a deeply rooted life of love for God and others.Grace's book Savoring ChildhoodA few excerpts:A sample chapter from the publisher"Animal Friends""Simple Tastes""Joy is in the Waiting" on Christianity TodayGrace's website gracepouch.comFollow along for reflections on family life, spiritual formation, and the slow work of renewal on Grace's Substack @GrapplePie, and on Instagram @Grace.Pate.Pouch 

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (04/27/26), Hank answers the following questions:What is the meaning of “the Scriptures cannot be broken” in John 10:35? Christopher - MI (0:56)How was David able to pick up the giant's sword, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 17? Walter - Orange, NJ (3:07)What is the meaning of Jesus' statement about “no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah” in Matthew 16? Tammy - Calgary, AB (6:09)What about the prophetic healing and deliverance ministries course with Life Ministries? Is this program biblically based? Sam - Atlanta, GA (7:13)Where does one get information about the history of the Bible? Fanny - TN (9:45)Regarding Celebration of Disciplines by Richard Foster, is what he says about simplicity and redistribution of wealth accurate? Susan - CA (15:10)How do you know that God exists? Tom - Kansas City, MO (18:36)

On Nathan Foster's recent trip to England, he recorded an in-person conversation with Roy Searle, board member for Renovaré Britain and Ireland and elder in the Northumbria Community, about seeking and finding God in the era of “great unravelling.”Show NotesRoy is a Companion in the Northumbria Community and a former Pioneer Ambassador with the Baptist Union of Great Britain. A popular speaker, writer, leadership mentor, spiritual director, retreat leader and advisor, he is passionate about encouraging people to know the transforming love of God, helping them to realize their potential and encouraging people to love both God and neighbor and live generously. He is a Fellow of St. John's College, Durham, an Associate Tutor at Spurgeons College, London, a member of the Renovaré Board in Britain and Ireland and an associate of The Commons Co-operative.Roy's latest book - Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unraveling by Alan J. Roxburgh and Roy SearleThe Northumbria Community websiteCeltic Daily PrayerCeltic Spirituality - A Beginners GuideThe Patrick Compline is an evening prayer from the Celtic Daily Prayer collection — a collection and practice used by the Northumbria Community as part of their shared rule, or community rhythm.

“The burdens of slavery did crush some people. They elicited outright armed rebellion from others. And between those two extremes, there's all manner of response. But black culture was what most historians say it was: rich, semiautonomous — and yet there is all kinds of cross-fertilization that goes on.” — Melvin Patrick Ely As we approach the 250th anniversary of the republic, America is still struggling to come to terms with its original sin — slavery. With his new micro-history, A Terrible Intimacy, Melvin Patrick Ely takes all the abstractions, moral and otherwise, out of the story. The meticulous Ely has spent many years in the county records of Prince Edward County, Virginia, going through 75 cartons of nineteenth-century papers: court cases, lawsuits, plantation ledgers, testimony from black and white witnesses alike. The result is a history of six criminal trials which reveals the intimacy of life between whites and blacks in the slaveholding South. In Prince Edward County, as on most small Southern farms — and contrary to our plantation mythology, fully half the enslaved people in the South lived on small properties of fewer than twenty people — black and white people knew each other personally. They drank together, worshipped together, spoke the same dialect, shared the same folk knowledge of weather, nature, and time. Ely tells the story of an enslaved man named Tom and his white overseer Richard Foster who consumed a quart of whiskey together in the morning, and then fought to the death that same afternoon over a surcingle strap. That was how blacks and whites lived and died. Such intimacy, Ely is careful to make clear, did not mitigate anything. Everyone knew the master who gouged a slave's eyes with sticks and pulled sound teeth out with pliers. But he was the outlier. Life was mostly more tragically complex. That was the terribly terrible intimacy about America's original sin. Five Takeaways •       Thirty Years in the County Records: Five or six entire summers, six days a week, eight hours a day, in the Library of Virginia — plus months of collating, plus years of writing. Seventy-five cartons of papers from Prince Edward County: court cases with witness testimony, plantation records, mercantile ledgers, letters, building contracts (including the bill from the carpenter who built the gallows on which one of the book's central figures was hanged). Ely's method: go through tens of thousands of documents looking for needles in a haystack — nuggets of revelatory information about how the society actually operated. Most historians process that research behind the scenes and deliver a smooth narrative. Ely does it in front of you, in conversation with the reader. •       Tom and the Overseer: A Quart of Whiskey and a Fight to the Death: The book's first chapter is built around one criminal trial. An enslaved man named Tom is on trial for killing his white overseer, Richard Foster, with the handle of a hoe. The testimony — from white witnesses including the dead man's own sister, and from other enslaved people on the farm — reveals that in the morning of the day of the killing, the two men had sat down and drunk together as much as a quart of whiskey. Then, later in the day, a stupid verbal exchange about a missing strap escalates into a fight to the death. In a single day: drinking like buddies, then killing. That is the terrible intimacy — closeness and callousness, not as opposites, but as the same thing. •       Half the Enslaved Lived on Small Farms: The plantation is the dominant image of American slavery — the sprawling estate, the hundreds of enslaved people, the distant master. But fully half of the enslaved people in the South lived on small properties of fewer than twenty people: farms where black and white people of every legal status — enslaved, free black, poor white, slaveholder — were in daily personal contact. They shared the same churches, the same dialects, the same understanding of nature and time. Black culture was rich and semiautonomous, but there was also constant cross-fertilization. The binary of master and slave does not capture what was actually happening in most of the South. •       Nobody Said a Word While He Was Alive: One chapter centers on an enslaved man who killed his master — a man the testimony reveals had beaten him with sticks, broken sticks over his head, gouged his eyes, whipped him, chained him to the floor, and pulled sound teeth from his mouth with pliers. At the trial, white witnesses are called. Their testimony ranges from glossing over the abuse to calling it “barbarious.” But not one of them had spoken up while the master was alive. Not one ever said: beating a slave with a stick must never be done. The range of white feeling about permissible cruelty was finite — some drew the line at near-blindness, some did not. Nobody drew it at the start. That is the system. •       Beyond Pride and Shame: Two hundred and fifty years on, the temptation is still to resolve slavery into a usable narrative — either the sentimental Southern white memory of paternalist kindness, or the equally schematic counter-narrative of unremitting oppression met by constant resistance. Ely resists both. Unremitting oppression does grind people down — but it also elicits armed rebellion, quiet subversion, rich cultural creation, and all manner of response in between. White Southerners were not all identical — but the range of their difference was constrained by a system that made economic gain dependent on the legal ownership of human beings. The book doesn't offer resolution. It offers accuracy. Which, in the 250th anniversary year, is the harder and more necessary thing. About the Guest Melvin Patrick Ely is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Humanities and Professor of History at the College of William & Mary. He is the author of A Terrible Intimacy: Interracial Life in the Slaveholding South (Henry Holt, April 14, 2026), Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern Experiment in Black Freedom from the 1790s Through the Civil War (Bancroft Prize), and The Adventures of Amos ‘n' Andy. He lives in Richmond, Virginia. References: •       A Terrible Intimacy: Interracial Life in the Slaveholding South by Melvin Patrick Ely (Henry Holt, April 14, 2026). •       Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern Experiment in Black Freedom from the 1790s Through the Civil War by Melvin Patrick Ely — Bancroft Prize winner; the companion volume to this book. •       Episode 2871: Beverly Gage on This Land Is Your Land — the road trip through American history that opens Ely's interview as a point of departure. About Keen On America Nobody ask...

Dallas Willard believed that the aim of God in human history is the formation of a community of loving persons — people apprenticed to Jesus, shaped by his character, and prepared to co-reign with him in eternity. In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Dan Hummel sits down with Keas Keasler, author of the first comprehensive academic study of Willard's theology. Together they trace Willard's life from Depression-era Missouri to the halls of USC, unpack the philosophical roots of his spiritual formation theology, and ask why his vision for discipleship feels especially urgent in the church today.WHAT YOU WILL LEARNWhy Keas Keasler spent seven years researching Dallas Willard — and what he discovered that surprised himThe key biographical facts of Willard's life: a broken childhood, a pivotal choice between philosophy and seminary, and 47 years at USCHow Willard's friendship with Richard Foster and a small Quaker church in Southern California helped birth the modern spiritual formation movementWhy Willard chose phenomenology — the study of consciousness — and how it shaped his theology of transformationWhat it means that Willard was a committed metaphysical and epistemic realist — and why that grounds everything he taughtWillard's vision of humans as co-rulers with God: what it means, what the parable of the pounds has to do with it, and why formation is training for that callingThe famous Willard line: “Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning” — and the sophisticated theology behind itThe Golden Triangle of spiritual formation: the Holy Spirit, the spiritual disciplines, and the ordinary decisions of daily lifeThe “sanctification gap” that Richard Lovelace identified in the 1970s — and why it has only widened sinceWhy there is a crisis of character in the church today, and what Willard's vision offers as a remedyGUEST BIOKeas Keasler (PhD, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) is Associate Professor of Spiritual Theology at Friends University, where he also serves as Program Director of the MA in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership. He is a Research Affiliate of the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture and the Dallas Willard Research Center at Westmont College. An ordained Baptist minister, Keasler has traveled to over forty countries and preached on six continents.RESOURCES & LINKSKingdom Apprenticeship by Keas Keasler (IVP Academic)Hearing God by Dallas Willard (IVP)Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas WillardThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardRenovation of the Heart by Dallas WillardBecoming Dallas Willard by Gary MoonThe Kingdom Among Us by Michael Stewart RobbCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterConversatio.org – Dallas WSend us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour

Lori Melton joins Nate on the Life With God podcast this week to share about the spiritual practice she writes about in her new book, Journey with a Giant. 

We have one of our staff who has a pretty regular assignment. That is, show up at the post office every morning. Yeah. The one who goes there is a pretty familiar figure. They know about what time to expect our person to come in, and they know it's important. See, the orders are, "Don't stop at the office. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go straight to our post office box." See, that daily trip to the post office is really our lifeline. He checks the box and there we find the contributions that really keep us going, very important communications, maybe answers we're looking for. And I'll tell you what, if he's sick, we'll send somebody else over there first thing in the morning. We are dependent on that daily pickup. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Don't Miss Today's Message." Now, our word for today from the Word of God is actually written by a prophet who's in the pits. Now, you didn't know prophets got in the pits. Well, you thought they were on top of everything all the time? No, the neat thing is that the heroes of the Bible have their down days. And I'm so glad, because so do I; so do you. Lamentations...now how do you like that for the name of a book written by a prophet? Right away you know the fellow's not feeling too good. Lamentations 3, and listen to the mood he's in as I begin verse 19. "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me." I think in Hebrew that means, "In the pits." Right? "This I call to mind and therefore I have hope." What do you call to mind, Jeremiah? Well, here's what he says. "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, For His compassions never fail." Now, get this. "They are new every morning." And then you remember that hymn that comes from these words, Great Is Your Faithfulness. Do you know what the margin of survival is when you're overwhelmed, when the pressure's coming at you, when your feelings are at low ebb? He says, "It is the Lord's compassions..." and notice "...new every morning." Now, it may be that you're limping along right now because you have started too many days without checking your box. I mean to fill up with today's special strength, with today's special love, with today's special words from His book for this day and all of its needs. Richard Foster, the author of Celebration of Discipline, writes that when he prays, he likes to pray palms up/palms down. He puts his palms down first of all to empty out all of yesterday, and then he prays with his palms up to get all that God has to give him that he's going to need for that day. That's a pretty good idea, dropping yesterday's accumulation; receiving today's strength. And the key words are "every morning." We live life, not as years, not months, not weeks. We live days. That's why a once a week fill up won't do it, or some occasional spiritual highs. We're wired for an every morning relationship. The alternative is a growing mountain of stress, and frustration, and paralysis, frayed nerves, frayed relationships. See, it's possible to go through a daily Bible reading and prayer ritual without picking up the Lord's love for that day. I'm talking here about having a transaction with Him each new morning. Like our staff person going to the post office, your first responsibility of the day is to stop and see what's come from God for you for that day. There will always be what you need if you stop to pick it up before you rush into your day. Your Father has something special to give you for this day. So, don't forget to check your box.

We have one of our staff who has a pretty regular assignment. That is, show up at the post office every morning. Yeah. The one who goes there is a pretty familiar figure. They know about what time to expect our person to come in, and they know it's important. See, the orders are, "Don't stop at the office. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go straight to our post office box." See, that daily trip to the post office is really our lifeline. He checks the box and there we find the contributions that really keep us going, very important communications, maybe answers we're looking for. And I'll tell you what, if he's sick, we'll send somebody else over there first thing in the morning. We are dependent on that daily pickup. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Don't Miss Today's Message." Now, our word for today from the Word of God is actually written by a prophet who's in the pits. Now, you didn't know prophets got in the pits. Well, you thought they were on top of everything all the time? No, the neat thing is that the heroes of the Bible have their down days. And I'm so glad, because so do I; so do you. Lamentations...now how do you like that for the name of a book written by a prophet? Right away you know the fellow's not feeling too good. Lamentations 3, and listen to the mood he's in as I begin verse 19. "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me." I think in Hebrew that means, "In the pits." Right? "This I call to mind and therefore I have hope." What do you call to mind, Jeremiah? Well, here's what he says. "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, For His compassions never fail." Now, get this. "They are new every morning." And then you remember that hymn that comes from these words, Great Is Your Faithfulness. Do you know what the margin of survival is when you're overwhelmed, when the pressure's coming at you, when your feelings are at low ebb? He says, "It is the Lord's compassions..." and notice "...new every morning." Now, it may be that you're limping along right now because you have started too many days without checking your box. I mean to fill up with today's special strength, with today's special love, with today's special words from His book for this day and all of its needs. Richard Foster, the author of Celebration of Discipline, writes that when he prays, he likes to pray palms up/palms down. He puts his palms down first of all to empty out all of yesterday, and then he prays with his palms up to get all that God has to give him that he's going to need for that day. That's a pretty good idea, dropping yesterday's accumulation; receiving today's strength. And the key words are "every morning." We live life, not as years, not months, not weeks. We live days. That's why a once a week fill up won't do it, or some occasional spiritual highs. We're wired for an every morning relationship. The alternative is a growing mountain of stress, and frustration, and paralysis, frayed nerves, frayed relationships. See, it's possible to go through a daily Bible reading and prayer ritual without picking up the Lord's love for that day. I'm talking here about having a transaction with Him each new morning. Like our staff person going to the post office, your first responsibility of the day is to stop and see what's come from God for you for that day. There will always be what you need if you stop to pick it up before you rush into your day. Your Father has something special to give you for this day. So, don't forget to check your box.

I'm going to talk about money today and specifically how we can be victorious over money—how we can refuse to be enslaved to it. And if you don't know this already, let me tell you if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, he's going to mess with your money. You remember at one point Jesus positioned himself in the temple where the offerings were deposited and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury (Mark 12:41). Imagine! He intentionally watched people bringing their money into the temple. It was not a private matter with him; he knows where your treasure is, there your heart is also (Matthew 6:21), and he took notice of who was giving money, how much they gave, and how sacrificially they gave. He's watching us, too, and our money and what we do with it is not a private matter with Jesus. We are accountable to him for what we take in and how we spend it. The Seductive Power of Money Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Money is a rival god that seeks to control us by claiming to have the power of deity. It tries to convince us it can do for us what only God can do. It claims to give us security, to give us freedom, to give us power, and to meet all our needs. It clamors for the place in our heart only God can fill. Jesus made this clear in his dealing with the rich young ruler, who wanted to know what he must do to get eternal life. Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). Notice when this young man went away sad, Jesus didn't run after him and say, “Wait, you don't really have to sell everything, just change your attitude toward money.” No, Jesus meant what he said to that young man; he had to be converted from loving and serving money to loving and serving Jesus, and he wasn't willing to do that. It's very easy to be in bondage to money—for it to become an idol in our lives. It has far more power over us than simply its purchasing power. We think: It's mine; I earned it; I depend on it; I need it; I like it! Don't mess with my money! The Dangers of Money How can you tell if money has become your master? Here are some checkpoints: Are you continually worried about money, either not having enough or losing what you have? Is that one of your greatest fears? Do you tend to hoard your money and keep it for yourself? Are you stingy with your money? Do you think of your money as your security blanket? Are you dependent upon money to solve your problems? Do you evaluate yourself and others by their financial status? Are people more important to you if they have more money? Do you make decisions solely based on money? These are some telltale signs money has become our master, and believe me, it can happen to any of us. The spiritual power of money is very strong; that's why Jesus said you cannot serve God and money. We need to be set free from the demonic control money would have over us. It's not unusual to hear someone give a testimony of how God has set that person free from sexual sin or some addiction. Perhaps we need to make it comfortable and acceptable for Christians to confess that they have been seduced by money, and they want to be set free. So, here's the question for you today: Do you serve God or money? That's a heavy question, and a disciple of Jesus Christ needs to face it head on—because Jesus is going to mess with your money, one way or the other. Our challenge is to use the money and possessions God gives to us for good but never let them have power over us. Richard Foster writes: “Rather than run from money, we are to take it—evil bent and all—and use it for kingdom purposes…Money is to be captured, subdued, and used for greater goals. We are called to use money to advance the kingdom of God” (Foster, 1989).[1] We must intentionally learn a new attitude toward money. And the first part of that new attitude is to understand that we are possession-less. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me (Job 41:11). As a disciple of Jesus Christ, everything you have is simply on loan to you. You are given the stewardship of those assets, but you own nothing, because you yourself are owned by God. You know how your company has labels on everything: Property of such and such company. You're using the property—the desk, the computer, the chair, etc.—but you're using it for the benefit of the company you work for. We need to put that kind of label on “our stuff” to constantly remind us we don't own anything. We are simply entrusted with some possessions and money to use while we're here on earth. In fact, I encourage you to make some labels which say something like: “Property of God, on loan from God, to be used for God's glory,” and then put some of those labels on some of your “stuff” to remind you that you are a steward, not an owner. I'm serious; we must constantly fight money and its design on our hearts, and we need to be reminded that we are possession-less. This is one way to learn to do that, to put some labels on some of your treasured possessions. Then pray this into your life regularly: I am possession-less. I own nothing. Everything is loaned to me by God. I will give an account to God for all that he has entrusted to me. Are you worried about money now? I know many are facing some hard times financially, and I know how easy it is to get depressed about money. But I believe we can use these tough times to learn some very important lessons, and we can come through these days refined like gold. Our challenge is to make money our servant not our master. Here is the most powerful way to do that, as given by Richard Foster in his book, The Challenge of the Disciplined Life: Give it away. Dethrone money by giving it away. Show money you are not its servant; you do not value it more than people, more than God. Foster writes, “It would do us good to find ways to defame it, defile it, and trample it under our feet. “So step on it. Yell at it. Laugh at it. List it way down on the scale of values—certainly far below friendship and cheerful surroundings. And engage in the most profane act of all—give it away. The powers that energize money cannot abide that most unnatural of acts, giving. Money is made for taking, for bargaining, for manipulating, but not for giving. This is exactly why giving has such ability to defeat the powers of money.” (Foster, 1989) How much are you giving away? Some people use the tithe—ten percent—as a measure of how much to give God. If you think that is legalistic, then by all means, don't use it. Give fifteen percent instead! But if you are regularly not giving God at least a tenth of all your money, you need to search your heart, seek God's face, and find out what you should be giving. You will discover the joy of giving. You will discover the thrill of helping others. You will find yourself wishing you could give more. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). The principle of sowing and reaping is that you reap what you sow, you reap more than you sow, you reap in a different season than you sow. If you need money, the first and most important thing you need to do, before you do anything else, is to start giving away at least one-tenth of your money to God. God LOVES a cheerful giver. Do you want to please God? Be a cheerful giver! He LOVES it! Another effective way to make money your servant, not your master, is to: Refuse to let money be the sole determinant of what you will or won't do! When money makes our decisions, we are then servants of money. For example: If you are trying to find a job that pays more money, because you need more money, then money has made that decision. Instead, you need to ask God if it's good for you to find a new job. What will that do to your life? How will that affect your relationships? Can you handle more money? If you want to buy a new car and you can afford it, then money makes that decision. You buy it because you can afford it, and you want it. Perhaps, if you prayed about it, God would say, “Make your car last another five years and send the money you would have spent on a car to the church.” If you believe God is leading you into some kind of ministry, but that would take money and you don't have the money, so you don't move forward into that ministry. Money has made that decision. If God is leading you, you don't decide not to do it based on lack of money. You have to trust him to provide it. As Foster writes: “If money determines what we do or do not do, then money is our boss. If God determines what we do or do not do, then God is our boss. My money might say to me, ‘You have enough to buy that,' but my God might say to me, ‘I don't want you to have it.' Now, who am I to obey?” (Foster, 1989). Learning to see money as a tool God gives you to steward and use and not be controlled by is a lifelong pursuit for most of us. But we can learn to be set free from the control of money by trusting Jesus and giving him the final word on how we spend our money. Again, I encourage you to make some labels that say: “Property of God, on loan from God, to be used for God's glory,” and put them on some of your possessions. The point is we have to learn we are simply stewards of God's goodness. Everything we think we own is truly just on loan from God, and we will give an account of how we used it. [1] Foster, R. J. (1989). The challenge of the disciplined life : Christian reflections on money, sex & power. Harper & Row.

Nate talks with author and Renovaré Institute alum Emily Bain Murphy about her new middle grade fiction book and the potency of stories for spiritual formation.

Nate speaks with author and Willard scholar Keas Keasler about the enduring helpfulness of Dallas Willard's life and work.

Send a textWhen a student walked into the office during the pandemic asking whether his father would live long enough for a transplant, it exposed a gap many youth pastors feel but rarely name: we can teach Scripture and organize programs, but do we know how to shepherd teenagers when fear, grief, and uncertainty overwhelm them?We sit down with Dr. Randy Jackson to talk about a gospel-shaped approach to soul care that equips parents as the primary shapers of a teen's faith. We trace his journey from a pandemic crisis to building a practical framework that deepens conversations at home and in small groups and why equipping parents remains the most strategic work in student ministry.This episode offers practical tools for youth pastors, volunteers, and parents who want to move beyond behavior management and into Christ-centered care for the inner lives of teenagers.

Nathan Foster talks with Tiffany Clark about what the 20th century Indian Christian mystic Sundar Singh can teach us about encountering God. 

Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, Brad East, and James Wood trace the evangelical spiritual formation movement from Richard Foster through Dallas Willard to John Mark Comer. They explore why disciplines resonate today amid technological distraction and desire for embodied faith, while navigating tensions between individual and communal formation, liturgy's role, and concerns about practices becoming self-optimization divorced from gospel foundations. — Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership. Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity: Inspiring True Stories from the Early Church Around the World, by going to  Apply for a full-tuition scholarship for Beeson Divinity School's M.Div program that begins Fall 2026 here: https://bit.ly/beesonscholarships — Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:06 – Tracing the Spiritual Formation Movement 08:35 – Why Spiritual Disciplines Resonate Today 19:45 – Technology, Attention, and the Appeal of Forms 25:00 – Critiques: Self-Optimization and Theological Drift 33:12 – The Role of Set Prayers and Liturgy 44:50 – Inhabiting Forms vs. Formalism 53:00 – Suffering as Spiritual Formation 58:47 – The Danger of Christian Elitism 01:12:54 – The Parable of the Three Bricklayers

Pete Greig, author of the book How To Hear God (up next in the Renovaré Book Club), joined Nate for a wonderful conversation on the ways that God speaks and what it looks like to listen well.