Podcast appearances and mentions of ruth haley barton

Ruth welcomes Tiffany Childress Price and her husband, Bobby Price, into a conversation focusing on their experiences with neurodivergence as a physiological reality and place of encounter with God. Tiffany explains neurodivergence and “twice exceptional” (2E) brain differences in her sons, describing asynchronous development and the advocacy burden when children are misunderstood, labeled, excluded, or shamed in school. Bobby shares receiving an autism spectrum diagnosis in his 50s after his sons' evaluations, naming lifelong masking, the grief of not feeling included, and the relief of language that affirms God's inclusion. Together they reflect on rejecting moralized views of brain difference, practicing curiosity, radical acceptance, deep Sabbath rest, and recognizing gifts such as sensitivity, discernment, and compassion. On Substack this week, Tiffany shares the different ways their family practices Sabbath as a place of radical and life-saving rest.   Season 29 is titled Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few. Mentioned in the Episode:  Maus 1: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History,  by Art Spiegelman A Liturgy for All Bodies, by Kimmothy Cole Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led By the Spirit from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

This week Ruth is joined by TC Alum Jake Partridge for a conversation on mental health. Jake shares his story of three major depressive episodes and ongoing anxiety, describing depression as prolonged, reality-coloring despair, isolation, languishing, and a loud inner critic, and anxiety as obsessive, control-seeking mental overdrive. Together they discuss biopsychosocial-spiritual integration, the role of medication in “raising a baseline,” and the influence of transitions and attachment insecurity on faith. Jake describes learning to “rest the mind,” make peace with God's love, and meet Emmanuel in weakness, offering encouragement to seek help at the pace of grace and cultivate compassionate, appropriately bounded community.    Season 29 is titled Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few. Mentioned in the Episode:  Invitation to a Journey by Robert Mulholland “How Shall I Pray” (poem by Ted Loeder)   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Chasing Butterflies from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

Matthew 6:9:“Pray then like this:‘Our Father in heaven…'” This is stunning. Because Jesus is teaching ordinary people how to relate to God. And He intentionally begins with intimacy. In first-century Judaism, God was holy, revered, majestic, and transcendent. And He is.But Jesus introduces something astonishing: closeness. The word Jesus uses carries familial intimacy. This is relational nearness. Jesus is saying: Prayer begins by remembering who you belong to.Before requests. Before confession. Before intercession. Belonging.Ruth Haley Barton writes, “The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, resourceful, savvy, self-sufficient, and yet exceedingly shy.” Many of us have souls that have learned to hide.Prayer becomes the place where the soul slowly comes out of hiding in the presence of a safe Father.You belong first. Prayer is that place where true “belonging” begins. 

This week we have a special episode with two people very close to the hearts of our Transforming Community. In our first conversation Ruth welcomes TC alum Christine Boye in a  conversation that was recorded in January of 2025 about illness and mortality as part of the experience of being human. Christine was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in June 2019, discovered she was pregnant the same week, and learned in September 2022 that the cancer returned and spread to her liver, bones, and lung; she continued to navigate stage four cancer for over two years while parenting three daughters and serving part-time at church. Christine shares about her journey with cancer, and the humbling loss of control as her body weakens. Ruth and Christine discuss agency in medical decisions, meaningful ways others can accompany her, and the grace to live present while facing the future. Sadly, Christine passed away four weeks after this interview was recorded. The second half of the episode includes a conversation with Christine's husband, Paul, where he and Ruth reflect on re-listening to the original conversation with Christine, now 15 months later, honoring her desire for deeper conversations beyond medical details. Paul shares the pain of wishing for more time, unresolved questions about agency and choices at the end of life, and the trauma and mystery of Christine's rapid decline after coming home from the hospital expecting continued treatment. They discuss mortality, disappointment, and what it's like to sit with God in quiet, experiencing both God's silence and presence through settling, memories, and guidance for decisions Christine couldn't help plan.  These conversations are tender, honest and incredibly vulnerable about facing our own mortality and the mortality of those we love.   Season 29 is titled Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few. Mentioned in the Episode:  Being Mortal, Atul Gawanda All the Honey, Rosemary Trommer (the specific poem was  For When People Ask)   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led By the Spirit from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

Ruth welcomes Rev. Dr. Prince Rivers to discuss becoming human with God in our bodies through the complicated embodied realities of race and ethnicity in the United States. They reflect on current events in May 2026, including a Supreme Court ruling challenging Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, racial profiling, and immigration fears, and Prince describes the heightened anxiety, hesitation, and economic insecurity he sees in his congregation. As a parent, pastor, and leader, he shares concerns for his children, the strain of counseling laid-off workers, and the impact of shrinking educational resources for Black and brown students. They emphasize the need for deep listening, empathy, and reimagined formation—including justice—grounded in scripture, lament, and hope, and Prince speaks to the whole church about solidarity, resisting colorblindness, and honoring the incarnation.    Over on Substack Prince shares the practices that have helped him to stay faithful in hope and keep him working in this area of being human in the midst of pain.   Season 29 is titled Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few. Mentioned in the Episode:  Won't You Celebrate With Me (Poem by Lucille Clifton)   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Tender Moment from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

This week Ruth welcomes Donna McIntosh, a spiritual director and hospital-trained chaplain and TC alum, to speak to the experience of when our body betrays us. Donna describes experiencing a stroke while in seminary and the primary and secondary losses that followed—health, confidence, work, reading tolerance, gait, balance, clapping, speech, and fine motor skills—along with ongoing physical challenges and the need to slow down and accept care for herself. She shares wrestling with healing expectations and blame, finishing seminary despite these challenges, and experiencing God as increasingly real and present as she “processes this every day,” finding companionship with Jesus, who also walked with a limp. Over on Substack Ruth and Donna continue their conversation where Donna shares the most important practices that have held her in recent seasons.   Season 29 is titled Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few. Mentioned in the Episode:  Limp by Jonathan McReynolds   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Springs of Living Water from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

Pastor burnout often goes deeper than physical exhaustion. Ruth Haley Barton helps uncover what's really happening beneath the surface.Many pastors and ministry leaders are carrying exhaustion that goes far deeper than physical tiredness. It's the quiet depletion that comes from years of overextension, emotional strain, and the pressure to keep showing up even when the soul is running on empty. Ruth Haley Barton helps uncover what's really happening beneath the surface and why so many leaders feel depleted even when everything still looks fine on the outside.In this highlight from our full conversation (https://youtu.be/6pj_BvKqyeg?si=TRMANOJCCQUiwIh3), Ruth Haley Barton joins Jason Daye to name a reality many pastors quietly carry. You can keep showing up, leading well, and caring for others… while something inside is beginning to wear thin. Ruth brings clarity to why this happens, how ministry culture can reinforce it, and what it looks like to begin moving toward real healing.Together, they discuss:Why so many pastors live beyond their God-given limitsHow ministry culture quietly reinforces exhaustionWhy the interior life often breaks down firstHow solitude, silence, and rest become places of restorationWhy naming your exhaustion takes courageHow God meets you in truth, not performancePractical ways to begin restoring your soul in the midst of ministryThis episode is especially helpful for pastors and ministry leaders who feel stretched thin, emotionally drained, or aware that something isn't right beneath the surface. It will help you recognize what's really going on and begin taking steps toward a healthier, more sustainable life with God.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 Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.Love well, live well, & lead wellComplimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesessionFollow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookConnect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram...

With longtime friends and ministry colleagues Glenn and Margo Balsis, Ruth introduces a spiritual conversation on grief and loss. Margo and Glenn recount their daughter Kristen's cystic fibrosis diagnosis, 28-year life, and death, and their journey with God through grief. Glenn describes the pressure to “defend God,” and the loneliness of others trying to fix their pain. Together all three reflect on marriage, debunk divorce statistics after child loss, and share the formative role of contemplative practices and Transforming Community in their grief journey. They also delve into other unexpected experiences with grief throughout their lives and how they've met God there.   Over on Substack the three continue their conversation with Margo and Glenn sharing the practices that have been helpful and sustaining to them in their journeys with grief.   Season 29 is titled Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few. Mentioned in the Episode:   How Can So Many Pastors and Leaders Be Godly and Dysfunctional at the Same Time? By Todd Wilson  The Guest House by Rumi (poem) Pilgrimage Through Loss by Linda Lawrence Hunt   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Tender Moment from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

Welcome back for our twenty-ninth season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast. This season is years in the making. We've long wanted to bring a season full of Spirit-directed conversations on the experience of being human, in all its complicated glory, but the timing was never quite right. And now, it's finally here: Season 29 | Becoming Human: With God in Our Bodies. Our goals this season are to confront the dualism between life in the body and life in the spirit, to hear stories of people who experienced their bodies as a place of encounter with God, and to explore the connection between the integration of life in our bodies and our spiritual lives with our leadership. We will be having deep, spiritual conversations with friends of the Transforming Center about their very human experiences in their bodies and how they've experienced God in and throughout these experiences. We will explore God in concrete bodily realities like gender, sexuality, race, ability, aging, illness, and death, to name a few.   In this first episode Ruth helps to set up our upcoming season, laying down the biblical and foundational groundwork for embodied spirituality. Drawing on Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, she reminds us that we are “spiritual beings learning to become human.” This episode is a map to help us know where we're going this season. Ruth concludes with Brian Wren's hymn “Good is the Flesh.” Mentioned in the episode: Soulful Spirituality by David Benner  How Can So Many Pastors and Leaders Be Godly and Dysfunctional at the Same Time? By Todd Wilson   Tending Soul, Mind and Body, the Art and Science of Spiritual Formation by Todd Wilson Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton Honoring the Body Biblical Foundations (document Ruth references in the episode)   Music: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Led by the Spirit from Music in Solitude   We're on Substack! “On the Journey with the Transforming Center” is our home for “reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.”  It includes thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This is also where you find all of our podcast patron content! There are free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.  Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus conversations with each of our guests. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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!   *this post contains affiliate links

Here we are on the threshold of another Lenten season! Since the Paschal mystery is the culmination of the Lenten season, we are going to "begin with the end in mind" by exploring this great mystery of our faith and where it might be playing itself out in our own lives.  Relying on Fr. Ron Rolheiser's description in The Holy Longing, Ruth identifies the five movements of the Paschal mystery and the inner dynamics that can help us enter more fully into our own journey of suffering, death, burial, and transformation. This bonus episode is intended to usher you in to the Lenten season with purpose and thoughtfulness. Mentioned in the episode:  The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Returning from Lent Music in Solitude There's still room to join us in our upcoming course, Theology that Shapes the Soul. Many Christian leaders have a well-formed theology of what they believe about God, but far less clarity about a theology of spiritual formation: how those beliefs shape the way we live and lead. Led by Ruth Haley Barton, Theology That Shapes the Soul is a six-week guided experience for leadership groups who want to engage a biblical, theological, and spiritual framework for Christian formation—not merely as abstract ideas, but as truth to be embodied within communities. The course begins on March 4, 2026. Find out more and register here.   We've started a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack.   Support the podcast! During Lent we are providing paid Substack supporters guided practices to help them journey through Lent meaningfully. Led by members of our TC alumni community, these practices include a prayer of surrender, a scripture based breath prayer, a practice of holy naming and truth telling before God, a guided meditation of one of the Gospel accounts of Jesus' passion and more. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

In this final episode of the Advent season Ruth and Marilyn discuss the unique spiritual invitations and soul work of the winter season. They touch on the inward journey of self-examination, processing grief, and embracing the transformation in life's dormancy. They conclude with a deep discussion on themes of letting go, living in the present, and the spiritual significance of endings and new beginnings. The episode also features a poignant poem by Robert Hayden and an Advent-themed prayer by Ted Loder.   Questions for Reflection: How would you name or characterize the season that you're in?  How can we be present in the season that we're in versus clinging to something else?  How  can we trust the letting go process of one season, letting go of one in order to embrace the next?    In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.    Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Joseph's Prayer from Advent Music in Solitude   We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

In this week's episode, Ruth and Marilyn discuss the themes of winter and vulnerability. They explore the metaphorical storms of winter, praying beyond safety, and infinite longing. The conversation also touches on the challenges posed by climate change, the significance of collective humility, and the importance of grappling with complex, real-world issues within church communities. Marilyn concludes by reading her poem 'After the Fire,' reflecting on loss, renewal, and the essential nature of vulnerability in the spiritual journey.   Questions for Reflection:  How do we open up to moving beyond safety? How do we pray beyond safety? How do we find security within the midst of our frailty and fragility and vulnerability?  Where does our security come from even if we've lost things that are the most certain to us? Where does our security come from and what are the particularities of our situation that we're being invited to live in fully?    In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.    Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist O Come O Come Emmanuel from Advent Music in Solitude   We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

This week, ​​Ruth and Marilyn discuss the concept of Blue Christmas services that acknowledge grief during the festive season and offer consolation to those experiencing loss. The episode also delves into the idea of dormancy, likening spiritual dormancy to the natural world's winter phase, where growth happens unseen. The conversation highlights the importance of creating space for mourning, acknowledging our vulnerabilities, and the need for faith and guidance during these seasons of grief and apparent inertness. Questions for Reflection:  Where do you feel that you need to mourn? Have you had the guidance that you've needed for your mourning? And if not, how might you seek that out? Is there any place in your life right now that can be explained or given meaning through an understanding of dormancy?  In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.    Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology. Mentioned in the Episode: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi Moby Dick by Herman Melville Wintering by Katherine May The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist A Light Unto My Path from Advent Music in Solitude   We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.  This week, Ruth and Marilyn discuss the importance of recognizing and responding to the invitation for inward focus during this time and the subsequent freedom it can bring. We conclude with practical suggestions for embracing the quiet and contemplative aspects of the season and posing the following questions for reflection: How are you perceiving or sensing the invitation inward?  As you sense or perceive that invitation, do you feel yourself resisting, or are you willing? And finally, do you have any sense at all of what you might be invited to freedom from and freedom to?   Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology.   Mentioned in the Episode: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande Reconstructing Illness by Anne Hunsaker Hawkins   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Come Thou Long Expected Jesus from Advent Music in Solitude   Join us for our next Online Oasis—a sacred pause in a busy season. Together we'll remember Christ's coming, anticipate his coming again, and open ourselves to the tender ways he is coming to us even now—with light for darkness, peace for turmoil, and hope for despair. Join us this Wednesday, December 3, from 12 to 1pm CST for this Online Oasis, MakingRoom for Advent. The cost is flexible, as it is our hope that everyone who wishes to participate will be able to do so. Register today! We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

Who knows a rested woman? We all know women who are stressed out, burned out, exhausted, successful, anxious, depressed—but truly rested? This question from "The Relaxed Woman" stopped me in my tracks and led to one of the most important decisions I've made in years. In this deeply personal episode—number 77, a number that speaks of completion and perfect forgiveness—I'm sharing why I'm pausing the podcast for this season. But this isn't just my story. It's an invitation for every woman who's been giving her best to everyone else and her exhaustion to her family. We'll explore: The biblical significance of 77 and what completion really means Why pruning isn't punishment—it's preparation for new growth How hurry and love simply cannot coexist The revolutionary power of celebrating each other's brave NO's The parable of the fake pearls and what God might be asking you to release Featuring wisdom from Dallas Willard, John Mark Comer, Ruth Haley Barton, Emily P. Freeman, and Eugene Peterson's beautiful translation of Jesus' invitation to "live freely and lightly." This episode is for every woman stepping into November wondering how she'll survive another holiday season. It's permission to open your hands. It's an invitation to trust that God holds all things together—not you. What fake pearls are you clutching? What if your Father has real ones waiting? Episode Note: This is the final episode for this season as I step into Spiritual Direction training and explore finishing my degree at Mississippi State after 27 years. Thank you for 77 beautiful conversations. See you in the next season.

As we wrap up our season on Taming our Technologies: [Spiritual] Practices for a Digital Age, Ruth and Jay delve into the topic of technology's impact on deep and creative work. They discuss the transformative impact of technology on creativity, productivity, and the ability to perform deep, meaningful work. Jay highlights the distinction between human creativity and artificial intelligence, and Ruth shares personal insights from her writing process, stressing the sacred and divine nature of creative endeavors. Thank you for journeying with us this season as we explored the realities of technology and its impact on various aspects of our lives.   Questions to ponder this week:  Ask regularly this week, “God, what have you given me to give to others?”  How in touch am I with the deep work to which God has called me? Am I clear on what the work is for which I've been created and God has prepared for me?  We're back for Season 27, titled “Taming our Technologies: [Spiritual] Practices for a Digital Age.” This season we have a special co-host, pastor, author, and podcast host Jay Y. Kim! Jay will be joining Ruth all season long to explore the impact technology is having on our lives with God, our attention span, our parenting, our community, and our creativity. Jay and Ruth will wrestle with their own questions and wonderings about finding balance in using technology in good and helpful ways while also acknowledging its challenges. This season aims to be gracefully thought-provoking, practically helpful, and ultimately hopeful and encouraging.   Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at West Gate Church in the Silicon Valley of California. He's the author of several books including Analog Christian, Analog Church, and Listen, Listen, Speak. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast and much of his work focuses on the intersection of the digital age and spiritual formation.  Mentioned in the episode: Analog Church by Jay Y. Kim  Analog Christian by Jay Y. Kim Deep Work  by Cal Newport   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Chasing Butterflies from Music in Solitude   We're launching our first video series! On October 13 Ways of Praying will be available for purchase! Through reflection, guided silence, and heartfelt teaching, Ruth Haley Barton encourages leaders to move beyond “the honeymoon phase” into deeper levels of intimacy with God. Each video guides you through a different kind of prayer practice, so you can discover the rhythms that resonate with your life and leadership. You can find out more and purchase Ways of Praying HERE. Use the code BUNDLE to save $20 off the cost of the Ways of Praying video bundle. Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes that incorporate a spiritual practice to help balance out the technological woes discussed in each episode. 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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

Life comes with seasons—times of joy, growth, loss, and transition. In this episode, April is joined by therapist and Community Care Lead Jean Crane to explore the metaphor of life's seasons and how each one offers unique challenges and opportunities for growth.Drawing from personal stories, biblical wisdom, and years of counseling experience, Jean shares how to recognize the season you're in, honor it fully, and stay anchored in God's faithfulness no matter what.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeHow the four seasons—fall, winter, spring, and summer—mirror the rhythms of our livesWhy fall invites reflection, evaluation, and letting goHow to walk faithfully through winter, a season of grief, loss, or waitingThe fresh hope and courage that spring brings with new beginningsHow to flourish in summer while balancing busyness with gratitude and presencePractical ways to honor your season without comparing it to othersSpiritual and personal practices that ground you in every stage of lifeResources MentionedEmotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete ScazzeroWorks by Ruth Haley Barton on seasons, Sabbath, and spiritual rhythmsReflective practices such as journaling, seasonal letters to yourself, and community supportCall to ActionAsk yourself: What season am I in right now? Name it, reflect on it, and seek God's presence in the middle of it. Remember, every season has purpose, and none of them last forever.If you're in a hard season and struggling to find your footing, Care to Change is here to walk alongside you. Visit caretochange.org to learn more.

Grow in Your Leadership Calling Through the Example of JesusDiscover the profound impact of spirituality on leadership with Formed to Lead, a compelling exploration of how the Holy Spirit shapes effective leaders. Guided by Jason Jensen, a seasoned leader in spiritual foundations, Formed to Lead takes you through an inspiring narrative that bridges divine guidance and practical leadership. You'll uncover the nature of Christian leadership by examining Jesus' leadership in Luke 3-4. Each chapter offers insights into the temptations of leadership, learning humility through discipleship, and encountering God in vulnerability. With group Bible studies and discussion questions, it's perfect for individuals or groups seeking a deeper and more faith-driven approach to leadership. Formed to Lead shows leaders how to: examine how a combination of tender humility and bold faith enhance faithful Christian leadership explore the connection between spiritual discipline and strong leadership qualities learn strategies to overcome common leadership challenges by drawing from Jesus' example discern the Holy Spirit's movement in your own growth and in your leadership calling reflect on personal leadership journeys through guided discussion questions Ideal for readers of Ruth Haley Barton and Henri Nouwen, Formed to Lead is a guide for aspiring leaders committed to following Jesus' example. Join a community of like-minded individuals who are reshaping leadership through spirituality. Transform your approach and lead with humility, character, integrity, and discernment by reading Formed to Lead.Buy the book: https://a.co/d/3JO6um9Website: https://formedtolead.com

In this episode, Ruth and returning guest Jay Kim explore the intersection of technology and community within the church. They discuss the nuances of digital and in-person church experiences, the impact of the pandemic on church attendance and engagement, and the idea that “digital informs and analog transforms.” As always, they end by offering questions to ponder this week as it pertains to technology and community.   Questions to ponder this week:  What is the one barrier that keeps you from getting up and going and being with a church community? And then when you identify that barrier, is that barrier really worthwhile?   In our community, for our community, what is appropriate for digitized delivery, or technological delivery and what must be done in person to be effective?   We're back for Season 27, titled “Taming our Technologies: [Spiritual] Practices for a Digital Age.” This season we have a special co-host, pastor, author, and podcast host Jay Y. Kim! Jay will be joining Ruth all season long to explore the impact technology is having on our lives with God, our attention span, our parenting, our community, and our creativity. Jay and Ruth will wrestle with their own questions and wonderings about finding balance in using technology in good and helpful ways while also acknowledging its challenges. This season aims to be gracefully thought-provoking, practically helpful, and ultimately hopeful and encouraging.   Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at West Gate Church in the Silicon Valley of California. He's the author of several books including Analog Christian, Analog Church, and Listen, Listen, Speak. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast and much of his work focuses on the intersection of the digital age and spiritual formation.  Mentioned in the episode: Analog Church by Jay Y. Kim   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Tender Moment from Music in Solitude   We're launching our first video series! On October 13 Ways of Praying will be available for purchase! Through reflection, guided silence, and heartfelt teaching, Ruth Haley Barton encourages leaders to move beyond “the honeymoon phase” into deeper levels of intimacy with God. Each video guides you through a different kind of prayer practice, so you can discover the rhythms that resonate with your life and leadership. You can find out more and purchase Ways of Praying HERE.   Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes that incorporate a spiritual practice to help balance out the technological woes discussed in each episode. 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! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

Episode 71: Becoming: Still Enough to Listen with Cherisse Hixson Episode Description Welcome back, sweet friends! After a three-month summer sabbatical, I'm so excited to be back with you as we launch our new fall series on BECOMING. In this heartfelt episode, I'm sharing about a transformative weekend Solo Retreat that shifted everything for me - from learning to rest "between His shoulders" to discovering that it's actually NOT all up to me. If you've been feeling weary from the constant pace and pull of life, if you're longing to know Jesus more deeply, or if you're curious about what it means to slow down enough to actually hear His voice - this episode is for you. What We'll Explore Together: ✨ The beautiful gift of being completely unknown and accepted just as you are ✨ Why "silence" with Jesus is actually full of rich conversation ✨ How to create sacred containers for encountering God in the everyday ✨ Breaking free from the "if it is to be, it is up to me" mentality ✨ Learning to measure our days by the fruit of the Spirit instead of accomplishments ✨ What it means to rest securely in God's sufficiency Soul-Stirring Quotes Featured: Henri Nouwen on solitude as the place of conversion Dallas Willard on solitude as primary spiritual formation Eugene Peterson on finding our quiet center Ruth Haley Barton on silence making solitude possible Jim Branch on discovering we're not alone Scripture Anchors: Psalm 139:1-6 (You have searched me, Lord, and you know me) Deuteronomy 33:12 (Rest between His shoulders) Psalm 91:1 (Living under His shelter) Beautiful Bonus: I close our time together by reading Emily Dickinson's powerful poem "Hope" - the same words that anchored my soul during that sacred Friday morning. Connect & Continue the Journey Your soul needs this, friend. If this episode stirred something in your heart, I'd love for you to: ⭐ Leave a 5-star review - Your words help other weary souls find hope and rest in Jesus

Join us for this encore episode with Ruth Haley Barton, founder of the Transforming Center, as she explores the critical question every leader must face: 'How is it with your soul?' Discover why leaders who neglect their inner spiritual life risk losing themselves, and how cultivating spiritual disciplines can transform both your leadership and your organization's culture. Find full show notes here: https://workplaces.org/podcast/458-how-is-it-with-your-soul-strengthening-leadership-from-the-inside-out Share the love. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate it on Apple Podcasts and write a brief review. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flourishing-culture-podcast/id1060724960?mt=2   By doing so, you will help spread our podcast to more listeners, and thereby help more Christian workplaces learn to build flourishing cultures. | Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on X https://twitter.com/allopus  | Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allopus/ | Email our host at al@workplaces.org

Show Notes:We don't often create space for God in our communal decision making process, and we rarely, as a staff, community, group, or church, attempt to discern God's will for us together. Ruth Haley Barton is working to change that. Ruth Haley is spiritual director, teacher, and retreat leader, and author. She is the founder of the Transforming Center, an organization that creates space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. For Ruth Haley, discernment--recognizing the presence of God and listening to God's voice in our everyday lives--is a habit that we can practice daily as we make small decisions, which will help us make bigger personal decisions, and eventually will guide our corporate decisions. Resources:Learn more about Ruth Haley hereBuy Ruth Haley's books hereLearn more about the Transforming Center hereListen to Ruth Haley's podcast, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

What we do is what we become. Christians replace cultural habits we've imbibed with spiritual habits we intentionally embrace. What if we thought of our spiritual community as a spiritual habit?The sermon today is titled "The Habit of Silence." It is the eleventh installment in our series "Follow Me", and the third in the sub-series "Spiritual Habits." The Scripture reading is from 1 Kings 19:1-18 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on April 13, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Disciplines.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Ruth Haley Barton, Invitation to Solitude and Silence (IVP Books), 2004.Tim Keller Sermon, “The Still Small Voice,” Sep 26, 1999.Peter J. Leithart, 1 & 2 Kings, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible.Iain W. Provan, 1 & 2 Kings, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

In the first episode of our weekly Lenten series, we invite you to take a moment to slow down, quiet your heart, and hear what God may be saying to you. Throughout the season of Lent, we'll be releasing weekly episodes focused on themes of reflection, prayer, and contemplation.On March 19, 2021 we were delighted to host Christian author, leader, and teacher, Ruth Haley Barton. Barton is founding President/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of Christian leaders and the congregations and organizations they serve. Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership and Sacred Rhythms. She reflects regularly on spirituality and leadership in her blog, Beyond Words, and on her podcast Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.We hope you enjoy this conversation around her book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence. Our attention, Barton believes, has become a commodity that we must protect if we are to avoid being swept away by our distracted age. She invites listeners to engage in these ancient biblical practices to find the rest for our souls that Jesus promises. In this Lenten season, we hope this will inspire you to pursue God's transforming presence in new ways and contemplatively sit in solitude and silence with the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Learn more about Ruth Haley Barton. Watch the full Online Conversation and read the transcript from March 19, 2021. Related reading:A Shocking Lack of Solitude, Cherie Harder Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:Blaise PascalJohn MiltonC.S. LewisRichard RohrDallas WillardHenry NouwenShop Class as Soulcraft, by Matthew B. CrawfordRabbi Abraham Joshua HeschelJulian of NorwichInvitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence, by Ruth Haley Barton Related Trinity Forum Readings:Confessions | A Trinity Forum Reading by St. Augustine, introduced by James K.A. Smith.Pilgrim at Tinker Creek | A Trinity Forum Reading by Annie Dillard, introduced by Tish Harrison Warren.Devotions | A Trinity Forum Reading by John Donne, introduced and paraphrased by Philip Yancey.The Long Loneliness | A Trinity Forum Reading by Dorothy Day, introduced by Anne and David Brooks.Wrestling with God | A Trinity Forum Reading by Simone Weil, introduced by Alonzo McDonald.The Pilgrim's Progress | A Trinity Forum Reading by John Bunyan, introduced by Alonzo McDonald.

Welcome to another episode of The Cutting Room Floor, where we further unpack Sunday's message, discuss practical applications, and hear some of what didn't make the final cut. Pastor Donny shares some final insights as we conclude our series in Ecclesiastes.Resources Mentioned in this episode:The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark ComerSacred Rhythms - Ruth Haley Barton

It is no secret that law students and attorneys exist in a stressful environment. As Amy Levin recently wrote, "[l]aw student mental health is at an all-time low." 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 has launched the Wellness Program—focused on providing students resources and discussions to face this issue, together. Our first episode was with Ruth Haley Barton on Establishing Rhythms & Abiding in God (here). Our second was with Dr. Barbara L. Peacock on developing spiritual disciplines for soul care (here). On this episode, we are joined by Starr Tomczak to discuss her brand new book called Living Well: Inspired by the Story behind the Bible. Starr not only went to law school and had a succesful law practice as a corporate lawyer, but she also felt the calling to enter seminary and eventually write this book. She has a BA from Carleton College, a JD from New York University Law School, and an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Check out her website here. Music Credit(s): Tokyo Music Walker & Rexlambo.

Crafting a rhythm of life isn't just about adding more to your schedule—it's about making intentional choices that shape who you're becoming. Inspired by Ruth Haley Barton's question, “How do I want to live so I can be who I want to be?” this episode explores the beauty of setting limits as a doorway to creativity, discernment, and rest. We'll discuss how a rhythm of life can act like a trellis, supporting your growth and flourishing. With insights from spiritual writers like Margaret Guenther and Evelyn Underhill, we'll uncover practical ways to create daily, weekly, and seasonal practices that feel life-giving and sustainable. Join me as we take one small, simple, and gracious step toward cultivating a life that aligns with God's invitations and your deepest desires.

This week, we continue our conversation on mental health and the various reasons why law students don't get the help they need. My guest is Amy Levin—someone who not only understands the legal profession, but has also spent much time in studying the social and psychiatric components of mental well-being. Amy has a new paper out soon entitled The Kid Aren't Alright, where she emphatically admonishes students to normalize seeking help. In our discussion, we focus on common stressors, which students struggle the most, why other professions seem to be doing better, and what are the various ways that law students can improve their own mental health. Amy is clinical professor of law at Loyola Marymount University. She is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law, Program in Public Interest Law and Policy, and the Department of Social Welfare, where she was an editor on the UCLA Law Review and earned membership in Order of the Coif. Amy also clerked for the Honorable Richard A. Paez of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Faculty bio. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. NOTE: In an effort to help normalize the conversation surrounding mental health, CLS launched the Wellness Program as part of Law Student Ministries. We hope to provide you not only training and support, but also forums where these topics can be discussed and destigmatized. Our first three conversations can be found here (w/ Dr. Tina Armstrong on healthy leadership), here (w/ Ruth Haley Barton on daily rhythms), and here (w/ Dr. Barbara L. Peacock on soul care).

It is no secret that law students and attorneys exist in a stressful environment. As Amy Levin recently wrote, "[l]aw student mental health is at an all-time low." 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 has launched the Wellness Program—focused on providing students resources and discussions to face this issue, together. Our first episode was with Ruth Haley Barton on Establishing Rhythms & Abiding in God (here). This week, we are joined by Dr. Barbara L. Peacock to talk about spiritual disciplines as soul care. Dr. Peacock is the author of the award-winning book Soul Care in African American Practice (book + workbook). Her newest book is Spiritual Practices for Soul Care 40 Ways to Deepen your Faith (buy). She is passionate about the disciplines of prayer, spiritual direction (soul care), lectio, and visio divina. In 2013 she founded Barbara L. Peacock Ministries. This ministry is committed to providing safe spaces for encounters with God. She founded Peacock Soul Care, whose mission is focused on nurturing souls, educating minds, and cultivating spirituality through soul care and spiritual experiences. Her personal website is here. Her ministry website is here. Music Credit(s): Tokyo Music Walker & Rexlambo.

Join today's guest host Kerry Smith as she interviews Jenni Keller. Jenni is a ministry leadership coach and consultant where she is an integration specialist that helps leaders align the good work they're already doing with the best practices, leadership systems and people practices they desire. Listen in as they discuss the vital role that emotional intelligence plays in our own leadership health and the health of the church, bringing both reasoning and emotion together to form a more whole approach to leading the church.   https://jennikeller.co/ Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves and Winston T. Smith  Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton

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

Join Jordan as he dives into the heart behind spiritual disciplines and their importance. He discusses the practices of Solitude, Study, Silence, and Prayer, drawing on insights from authors Dallas Willard, Henri Nouwen, and Ruth Haley Barton. On the next episode, he'll continue the conversation, exploring a few more practices. Have a question for the podcast? Submit your question HERE.

Listen as Kathy reads a poetic reflection called, "On Time" by Ruth Haley Barton, on the importance of slowing down and savoring life's moments. Consider this in your own practice of self care, or if you don't yet have your own, please feel free to use this as a starting point. Kathy: I just invite you now to think about the words of this poem and check in with your soul. It is called "On Time" and it's by Ruth Haley Barton: There have to be times in your life when you move slow. Times when you walk rather than run, settling into each step. There have to be times when you stop and gaze admiredly at loved ones, marveling that they have been given to you for this life. Times when hugs linger and kisses are real. When food and drink are savored with gratitude and humility, rather than gulp down on your way to something else. There have to be times when you read for the sheer pleasure of it, marveling at the beauty of words and endless creativity in putting them together. Times when you settle into the comforts of home and become human once again. There have to be times when you light a candle and find the tender place inside you that loves or sorrows or sings and you pray from that place. Times when you let yourself feel, when you allow the tears to come, rather than blinking them back because you don't have time to cry. There have to be times to sink into the soft body of yourself and love what you love simply because love itself is a grace. Times when you sit with gratitude for the good gifts of your life that get lost and forgotten in the rush of things. Times to celebrate and play, to roll down hills, to splash in water or make leaf piles, to spread paint on paper or walls or each other. There have to be times to sit and wait for the fullness of God that replenishes body, mind and soul. If you can even stand to be so full, there has to be time for the fullness of time or time is meaningless.

Summary Kevin and Kathy discuss the concept of 'soul care' and practices to nurture one's soul. Their discussion explores the importance of solitude, silence, and stillness as means to connect with one's inner self and find peace amidst the distractions and noise of daily life. Interspersed are helpful personal anecdotes, practical tips, and a poem that encourages slowing down and appreciating the present moment. Kevin Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of Coping. We took off a few weeks ago, giving you all a vacation and we also took a vacation ourselves. Kathy Yes, and we thought it was a great time to begin a new series we're calling Summer Soul Care. I wonder, Kevin, what comes to your mind when you think about soul care? Kevin Well, I work in a hospital, and our department is called the spiritual care department. So I actually spend a lot of time thinking about spiritual care, soul care, and how to do that effectively, especially for those who are sick and in the hospital setting. So the first thing that comes to mind for me is something that's active, to make sure that when you care for either your own soul or somebody else's soul, it's an action that you do, a practice that you take, something that you offer that's tangible. Kathy Hmm. Yeah, that's a good and easy, practical way to think about it. And especially as we're thinking about our souls, we can link it to something that we'll be doing. So let's get started. Kathy So one of our favorite podcasters and authors, her name is Ruth Haley Barton. She writes this quote, I really love this thought provoking quote. She says, "losing your soul is sort of like losing a credit card. You think it's in your wallet or purse, so you don't give it much thought until one day you reach for it and you can't find it. Kathy The minute you realize it's gone, you start scrambling to find it, trying to remember when you lost it or last used it or at least had it in your possession. No matter what is going on in your life, you have to stop and look for it because otherwise there could be major damage done. Kathy Some of us know that we are losing bits and pieces of our souls every day and we are scared to death that we might be very close to going over an edge." So as a chaplain, how have you experienced this with those you serve? Kevin Yeah, this is something I help patients wrestle with on a daily basis. The reality is most people don't give a lot of thought to their spiritual life, to their souls. It's only when we are sick, when we are ill and in pain, that we look for strength and often look inward for that strength to be able to push through and to cope with whatever we're going through. Kevin And so what happens, like that analogy that's so vivid and so true about the credit card, if you haven't been investing into that fund, you don't have the funds to tap into on that card and that soul, then you find yourself not being able to use it when you need it most. Kevin And, you know, my belief is that we never lose our soul, we never go to a point where we don't have it. But if we're not investing in it, then it's certainly not going to be valuable to us when we perhaps need it most. And so when we encounter somebody who has deficient funds on their card or in their spiritual life, it's a chaplain's job to come alongside them and to help them tap into their strengths in their life, to help them connect to their faith practices, their rituals, the things that give their life meaning so that they could begin to cope with their illness and then find a pathway to healing that encompasses not just their physical body, but their emotional, spiritual mental selves as well. Kathy Yes, that sounds very practical and helpful. And like you said, it often doesn't happen until the body begins shutting down. A part of ourselves is not working, that we then begin to think about that. Kevin For sure that's exactly it. Whenever one part of ourselves feels deficient we tap into the other parts of ourselves to find what we're missing. I wonder for you as a coach where do you see this in the lives of your students? Kathy Well, I think they're like most people not thinking about their souls, like they don't have time to or they don't know what that looks like or what that means. And so if there's no awareness about soul care and practices, then you can't move forward. You can't, like you said, you won't have anything to show in those times where you need it the most. And so today we want to discuss the first three S's of soul care in hopes of beginning this discussion. Kathy So the first S is solitude. And we're going to define solitude as uninterrupted alone time in a distraction free environment. Uninterrupted alone time in a distraction free environment. It's kind of a joke where we think, what? Which environment is distraction-free these days? But what are your thoughts on solitude and how do you think that we can find this in the busyness of our world? Kevin Yeah, what you pointed out in that definition is what stood out to me is the distraction free environment. I can't think of an environment that is distraction free. Likewise, we fill our lives with a lot of positive distractions as well, friends, family, hobbies, things that we like to do. Kevin But solitude is that practice that we are intentionally letting go of those things that keep us busy, that keep us distracted from what's actually going on inside. And it becomes the way that we cope with our pain and our lives being the way that they are so hectic and crazy is by continually moving from one thing to the next to keep our mind busy so it's not flooded with those deeper, harder feelings that are conjuring inside. And so it's definitely a hard one. But something that comes to mind is the need to sacrifice something to find that solitude often will require saying no to things or to people and creating that intentional space for that solitude. Kathy And in our community, what we talk about that might be helpful is to actually schedule in times of solitude. One homework assignment – and our listeners can do this – this week is to schedule a soul date for themselves where they can enter into the solitude. I would say that doesn't have to be long. It can be 20 minutes. It doesn't have to be, oh, I don't have an entire day. It can be a short period of time. It could be 20 minutes. And the best thing about entering into solitude, the best benefit we have from solitude is that it allows us after we've been in solitude to be more present. Kevin And that leads us well into our next S of soul care, is silence. And so we define silence as abstaining from speaking, reading and noise in order to be quiet. Gosh, I'm thinking about how noisy my work is, how noisy the world is, the freeways are, the news is, my phone can be, gosh, Kathy, how do we find silence in this day and age? Kathy Another good question, the first thing I would say is I think everyone needs to stop and think about how they feel about silence. Does it make you nervous if things are too quiet? Are we okay with there being no noise or background music or background TV? We turn on all of these things to avoid the silence, so I think it's important to have a little conversation with ourselves to determine how we feel about the silence, and if we're giving ourselves permission to enter the silence, then silence practices will be beneficial to us. Kevin That's so true. And I think just from personal experience, learning to be comfortable with silence. For most people, I think they're adverse to being in silence because the silence isn't silent. When you're starting off trying to be silent, that's where all the noise comes up with your thoughts, your feelings, all of those fears and concerns, the worries, the to-do list, everything starts to rush in when you create that space and that silence. And so if you find yourself struggling to find that silence, even when you're being intentional about it, my encouragement is to keep trying. Kevin Keep creating that space for silence. You can keep a pad of paper next to you so that if thoughts and things that you need to remember flood in in those moments of silence, write them down and then move back to your silent place again. It's so important that we continue to practice silence, knowing that it's a hard thing to do and continue to go back to it again and again because after we move through all of that noise that floods in when we are silent, on the other side of that is that peaceful silence that I think that we're all craving. Kathy 100% true. And yeah, the notebook is a really good idea. And then if you like to be active when you're trying to enter the silence, this is one that I do often is you can go on a walk without any music. But what you can do is listen to the sounds that you hear on your walk. You can start counting them. You can start cataloging them. Really what you are doing is you are entering silence, even though it sounds like you're not because you're hearing noises, but you're allowing the natural sounds to enter in instead of what we typically have are the distracted noises of the world entering in. Kathy So if you're going on this walk, it's a very good way. Maybe it's like a bridge to entering silent places. This is like a really good way to do it as well. And the main benefit from entering into silence when you do these practices is that then we're actually attuning our ears to listen. Kevin And attuning our ears to listen to self, all of those things that we push down and we're moving away from, those difficult feelings and thoughts. But when we learn to listen to self, we then are better able to listen to others and what their experiences are and be present to them in their pain and their story. And that leads us into our last S for this episode. And our third S is stillness. How are we defining stillness? Kathy Stillness is defined as "to stop, cease, desist, and disconnect from the outside world". Kevin Man, these are getting harder and harder, aren't they? They seem to also be building on one another. How do we get to this third S of stillness? Kathy Well, there's I think something that's been the theme of our discussion today is that there needs to be a lot of intentionality around this practice. So believe it or not, you may or may not know about this feature on your phone. It's called Do Not Disturb. And guess what? We can turn it on. And one practice that you can do is to turn it on on your phone for an hour a day. Put on Do Not Disturb on your phone and allow the stillness to come in as you disconnect. Kathy It doesn't mean that you're just going to be still during that time, but you're disconnecting from that usual hustle, bustle, chaos, noise. You could do something else in the stillness. It's not that you have to sit still. Notice that's not what we said. But the major benefit from entering into stillness is that we can become better engaged after being still. Kathy So out of these three, solitude, silence, or stillness, which one do you think is easiest for you? Kevin Gosh. I've had a lot of practice with silence, learning to be silent, and to tune into that silence. So I think that that's probably the one that's easiest for me. It's the hardest to find, but when it's there, I feel very comfortable with it, if that makes sense. What about for you? Kathy Uh, the easiest, and again, these aren't easy, but they come more naturally if you keep practicing, um, I would say is solitude because I really now look forward to times when nobody is at home, like, um, I think it was an hour today of no one being here so that I can enter into the solitude. Kevin Right. And which one's difficult for you? Kathy I think stillness is still hard for me. I'm the one telling you to put on do not disturb. The reason is, is I am such a breaking news type of person that, and especially these days, we've had a lot of breaking news that has been very important to our world that I don't want to miss out. It's the FOMO, that's terrible. But like, you're gonna miss out on hearing something or a text message or someone was trying to call you, but in the days when we didn't have technology, we all just waited. Kathy I lived during that time period. It was totally fine that we didn't find out for three hours about the breaking news or whatever it was, nothing happened. And it was actually all better because then we were all more, we weren't on this 24 hours a day, seven days a week, nonstop, chaotic, stressful rollercoaster of what we all are living on right now. Kevin And so to end our podcast today, we'd like to invite everybody to take a moment to do their own soul check-in. And so I'm going to hand it over to Kathy, who will lead us through that. Kathy Yes, I just invite you now to think about the words of this poem and check in with your soul. It is called "On Time" and it's by Ruth Haley Barton. There have to be times in your life when you move slow. Times when you walk rather than run, settling into each step. There have to be times when you stop and gaze admiredly at loved ones, marveling that they have been given to you for this life. Times when hugs linger and kisses are real. When food and drink are savored with gratitude and humility, rather than gulp down on your way to something else. There have to be times when you read for the sheer pleasure of it, marveling at the beauty of words and endless creativity in putting them together. Times when you settle into the comforts of home and become human once again. There have to be times when you light a candle and find the tender place inside you that loves or sorrows or sings and you pray from that place. Times when you let yourself feel, when you allow the tears to come rather than blinking them back because you don't have time to cry. There have to be times to sink into the soft body of yourself and love what you love simply because love itself is a grace. Times when you sit with gratitude for the good gifts of your life that get lost and forgotten in the rush of things. Times to celebrate and play, to roll down hills, to splash in water or make leaf piles, to spread paint on paper or walls or each other. There have to be times to sit and wait for the fullness of God that replenishes body, mind and soul. If you can even stand to be so full, there has to be time for the fullness of time or time is meaningless.

In this heartfelt episode, I open up about a deeply personal journey—my decision to take a sabbatical from my business later this year. Join me as I share why I've chosen to step away, how I've been preparing both spiritually and logistically, and the challenges that come with such a bold move. You'll hear about my reflections around turning 63, the inspiration from Ruth Haley Barton's work, and my desire to model rest and renewal in the entrepreneurial space. Plus, I'll be updating you on my progress monthly, inviting you to journey alongside me as I prepare for this transformative time.Time Stamps: 00:00 Uncommon for business leaders to take sabbaticals.05:34 Embracing work and rest for balanced living.08:11 Entrepreneur taking sabbatical for personal and professional growth.10:30 Podcast invites on sabbatical preparation journey.14:22 Scheduled sabbatical from November 4 to January 6.18:05 Preparing for sabbatical, including European cruise.23:36 Trusting in uncertainty, finding courage in faith.25:14 Coveting prayers, building business, rest, journey together.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest - Book by Ruth Haley BartonPracticing the Way book by John Mark ComerThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerThomas Merton Prayer Transforming Center Podcast on Sabbath and Sabbaticalhttps://transformingcenter.org/strengthening-the-soul-of-your-leadership-podcast/season-eighteen/FREE RESOURCES:Take the FREE Intro to Needs & Values AssessmentReady to discover what uniquely matters to YOU? CLICK HERE to take our FREE Intro to the Needs & Values Assessment.FREE Download: 4 Steps to Simplify Your CalendarReady to uncover more time on your calendar? This FREE download will help you remove what doesn't matter, so you have space for what does. Click here to get this FREE resource!Get to know the story behind the REALIFE Process® through our film, Rested Success!CLICK HERE to watch the 15-minute documentary film where you'll hear Teresa's story, how the REALIFE Process® began and developed, plus how our Certified Facilitators are using the Process in the work that they do.OTHER RESOURCES:Check out our YouTube Channel!Prefer to watch AND listen? Check out our YouTube channel for the podcast episode on video! Make sure to subscribe so you get all the latest updates.My Book LinkMy new book, Do What Matters, is available NOW! Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.LifeMapping ToolsWould you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & CONNECT WITH ME:Become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.Connect with your host, Teresa McCloy, on:Facebook - The REALIFE Process® with Teresa McCloyInstagram - teresa.mccloyLinkedIn - teresamccloyAbout Teresa McCloy:Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®. The REALIFE Process® is dedicated to equipping others and providing community, training, tools and resources,in order to cultivate bothpersonal and professional development and growth. Teresa's mission is to see individuals and groups grow in self awareness, develop sustainable rhythms, and increase their influence and impact at the intersection of faith and work in their everyday life story.

In this BONUS episode of "Rhythms that Restore," host Cherisse and her guest Allison Bradsher, Cherisse's Spiritual Director, discuss the importance of Discovering Stability through Anchoring ourselves. Learning the "practice of subrtaction" and learning to "create a container" that can be filled only with the presence of the Lord.  Allison shares her story & journey into contemplative practices and the role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual direction and practice of retreat. They explore metaphors for finding clarity in God's presence and the need for a sustainable pace in life. The episode covers the offerings of The Retreat House Memphis, including an upcoming Pentecost retreat on May 19th, and concludes with a prayer and an invitation to engage with the podcast's community.   Welcome and Introduction (00:00:02) Cherisse introduces the podcast with Psalm 27:7-8 and sets the tone for the episode, inviting listeners to join in on the conversation. Reading from Psalm 27 (00:01:24) Cherisse reads and reflects on Psalm 27:7-8, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's face and finding comfort in His presence. The God Who Sees (00:02:33) Cherisse shares a reflection on the name "El Roi" meaning "the God who sees," emphasizing God's care and presence in our lives. Introduction of Guest, Allison (00:05:02) Cherisse introduces Allison, a spiritual director, and shares her personal connection and experiences with her. Allison's Introduction (00:05:41) Allison shares her role as a spiritual director and the importance of hospitality and welcome in her life. Contemplative Practices Journey (00:07:58) Allison discusses her spiritual journey and how she was drawn to contemplative practices, specifically the impact of silence on her spiritual growth. Spiritual Direction and Counseling (00:13:34) Allison explains the differences between spiritual direction and counseling, highlighting the prayerful and listening aspect of spiritual direction. Practicing the Presence of God (00:15:46) Cherisse and Allison discuss the importance of being still and creating space for God's presence, using the analogy of settling sediment in water. Embracing a Natural Pace (00:19:26) Allison shares the importance of finding one's natural pace in life and the impact of bringing a peaceful presence into daily activities. Checking in with Pace (00:21:51) Allison discusses the importance of checking in with thoughts, emotions, and body to notice pace and avoid overwhelm. Guardrails for Pace (00:23:15) Cherisse introduces the concept of setting guardrails to run at one's own pace and avoid falling off track. The Role of the Holy Spirit (00:24:54) Allison explains how the Holy Spirit communicates with us through scripture and encourages attuning to the Spirit's presence. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit (00:26:32) Allison discusses the challenge of surrendering personal plans to align with the powerful and beautiful plans of the Holy Spirit. Opportunities for Connection (00:29:45) Allison shares local and remote opportunities for connecting with spiritual practices and offerings at The retreat house Memphis. Final Thoughts and Prayer (00:32:02) Allison emphasizes the invitation to offer presence to God and closes with a prayer for settling and stillness. Closing Remarks (00:35:13) Allison concludes the episode, inviting feedback and sharing ways to stay connected and support the podcast. ---------------------------------------------- "Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: A resource that provides information on various spiritual disciplines for the spiritual life."  "Silent Retreats: A practice of setting aside time for silence and solitude to create space for God to speak and impress."  "Counseling: A practice of seeking professional help to process and address personal and emotional challenges." "Spiritual Direction: A prayerful listening space where a spiritual director helps individuals attune to the presence of God and explore their spiritual journey."  "Spiritual Disciplines Handbook" "Practicing the Presence of Jesus: Engaging in practices that allow individuals to be present with Jesus and listen to His voice." "Lectio Divina: A practice that helps to attune to the Holy Spirit and notice God's movements in daily life." - 00:25:20 "Pentecost Retreat: A retreat related to Pentecost, a day where the Holy Spirit was given." "Spiritual Direction: A practice that can be done in person, over the phone, or on Zoom." "Content Conversations: One-hour webinars to learn, take notes, and ask questions about spiritual formation and spiritual direction."  "Macrina Whitaker's Prayer: A prayer from Macrina Whitaker." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Allison Bradsher at "The Retreat House Memphis" for Spritual Direction Instagram: @TheRetreatHouseMemphis               Website: www.bfrlocal.com  Email: Allison@bfrlocal.com  ----------------------------------------------------- Join our "Rythms that Restore" Community: Click below and pull up a chair with us and walk through life IN COMMUNITY and beside others who are learning and putting these new Rhythms in place. Click: https://www.facebook.com/groups/339272845793051/ -------------------------------------- Follow "Rhythms that Restore Podcast" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhythmsthatrestorepodcast?igsh=Z3lmY2UzcXZzMTlq&utm_source=qr -------------------------------------------- Tune In- Subscribe, Rate, and Share: If you found value in this episode, be be sure to subscribe, rate, and share with "Rhythms that Restore" Podcast with a friend who can be encouraged through the message. Help us share this incredible transformative message of Gods word through the beautiful act of "ceasing to strive" and learning to "simply BE". ------------------------------------ Connect more with me on Instagram, Facebook and Email: Email Me: cherissehixson@hotmail.com  Facebook: Cherisse Mathias Hixson  DM on Instagram: @cherissehixson01 &  @rhythmsthatrestorepodcast 

In this podcast episode, host Cherisse from "Rhythms that Restore" discusses the concept of strategic withdrawal - a military term. But likening it to turtles who must bask in the sun for survival. She emphasizes the need for humans to retreat and find stillness to restore themselves, addressing the societal pressures that lead to exhaustion and the performance mentality. Cherisse talks about the importance of setting boundaries, healing from unhealed wounds, and resolving toxic relationships. She offers practical advice for incorporating a "retreat rhythm" into their own life, such as scheduling downtime and creating their own a silent retreat time, urging listeners to listen to their authentic desires and find restoration. The welcome (00:00:02) Cherisse welcomes the audience and sets the tone for the episode. Gratitude and authenticity (00:01:17) Cherisse expresses gratitude and emphasizes her authenticity, encouraging listeners to embrace their imperfections. Deep breath and pause (00:03:35) Encouragement to take a deep breath and pause, setting the intention for the episode's focus. Reading from Isaiah (00:05:51) Cherisse reads from Isaiah 30, setting the stage for the topic of "invitation to retreat." Visual of wilderness (00:10:21) Cherisse shares a personal visual metaphor of feeling exhausted and being guided through a wilderness, reflecting on her journey. Strategic withdrawal (00:14:06) Discussion of the concept of strategic withdrawal and its relevance to personal retreat and healing. Recognizing wounds (00:16:32) Exploration of the impact of unhealed wounds and the importance of strategic withdrawal for healing and growth. Choice to fight or retreat (00:18:50) Reflection on the choice to stand firm or withdraw, emphasizing the importance of equipping oneself for life's battles. Wisdom whispers (00:21:20) Emphasis on the gentle guidance of wisdom and the need to pull back, rest, and set new strategies for personal growth. The importance of strategic withdrawal (00:22:33) Discussing the need for strategic withdrawal to restore the body and soul, using the example of turtles basking in the sun. Recognizing the need for rest and retreat (00:23:37) Exploring the societal pressure to constantly be available and the importance of recognizing the need for rest and retreat for healing and restoration. Challenges of living in a distracted society (00:25:05) Addressing the cultural norms around grieving and healing, highlighting the challenges of living in a constantly distracted society. Operating out of an inordinate sense of ought and should (00:27:07) Examining the exhaustion stemming from operating under the pressure of "oughts" and "shoulds" and the impact on personal capacity and boundaries. Struggling to receive help and setting boundaries (00:28:26) Discussing the difficulty in receiving help, the struggle to set boundaries, and the impact of living as a performer rather than an authentic self. The impact of deriving self-worth from performance (00:33:46) Exploring the impact of deriving self-worth from performance and the struggle to pause, listen, and pay attention to authentic desires. The need for boundaries and rest (00:40:45) Highlighting the importance of setting boundaries around availability and service to avoid burnout, along with the need for rest and retreat. Addressing unhealed wounds and toxic relationships (00:43:54) Discussing the burden of unhealed wounds, unresolved tension, and toxic relationships, and the impact on overall well-being. Release and Let Go (00:44:57) Discussion on the practice of releasing emotions and letting go of the need to control everything. Healthy Boundaries (00:45:55) Importance of setting healthy boundaries around time and space for personal capacity and well-being. Choice to Lean In (00:47:17) Reflecting on the choice to either avoid dealing with emotions or lean into God's rest and mercy. Closing Remarks (00:48:43) Encouragement to embrace God's mercy and rest, and a reminder to stay connected for future episodes. "Book: "Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton": "00:00:28" "Podcasting Course": "00:10:21" "Scripture: Isaiah 30": "00:05:51" "Quote: "I have lived too long where I am reachable" by Rumi": "00:15:20" "Ephesians 6:12": "00:20:17" "Wisdom Whispers": "00:21:20" "Book: "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessell Van De Kolk MD": "00:31:41" "Practice of Retreat at The Retreat House Memphis  Follow the podcast and leave a 5 Star review. Then share this episode with a friend who could be encouraged from todays message.  Email me at cherissehixson@hotmail.com if you have any questions or want to know more Lets connect on www.instagram.com/cherissehixson01    

in this podcast episode, Cherisse discusses the transformative experience of her first silent retreat and the lessons from "Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton. Initially resistant to stillness, she learns the value of silence and solitude for restoring one's spirit. Cherisse explores the concept of prioritizing life's "big rocks" and the countercultural call to retreat for self-care and spiritual replenishment. She shares personal stories and invites listeners to embrace the peace offered by Jesus, emphasizing the importance of rest and reflection in a busy world. Introduction (00:00:02) Cherisse introduces the podcast and its purpose, inviting listeners to join her on a journey of restoration. Gratitude and Recap (00:00:27) Cherisse expresses gratitude for listeners and recaps previous episodes, highlighting key moments and guest appearances. Silent Retreat Invitation (00:02:27) Cherisse shares her experience of being invited to a silent retreat by a friend and the initial challenges she faced. Struggle with Silence (00:06:46) Cherisse describes her internal struggle with embracing silence and stillness during the silent retreat. Discovering Inner Longings (00:11:09) Cherisse reflects on her longing for retreats and the deeper questions it raised about her own heart and life. Impact of Busyness (00:13:21) Cherisse discusses the impact of busyness and compulsive behaviors on her well-being and spiritual journey. Prioritizing Rest and Replenishment (00:16:03) Cherisse explores the importance of prioritizing rest, self-care, and replenishment in the context of spiritual life. Invitation to Retreat (00:19:20) Cherisse delves into the significance of Jesus' invitation to retreat and the value of creating space for quiet and solitude. Silence and Solitude (00:21:54) Cherisse discusses the impact of silence and solitude on her relationship with God and the importance of intentional time alone with Him. Intentional Time with God (00:23:56) Cherisse compares intentional time with friends to intentional time with God, emphasizing the depth of conversation and relationship building. Invitation to Wilderness (00:26:03) Cherisse explores the significance of Jesus inviting us to the wilderness as a place of rest, intimacy, and restoration. Rest and Sabbath (00:29:19) Cherisse emphasizes the importance of prioritizing rest and taking a Sabbath, drawing from the example set by God and Jesus. Reflection and Surrender (00:31:42) Cherisse leaves the audience with questions about recognizing God's stirring in their hearts and surrendering to His invitation to rest. Resources and Retreats (00:32:38) Cherisse recommends a book and retreat experiences for those interested in exploring the themes discussed in the episode. Closing Thoughts (00:33:45) Cherisse concludes the episode with a reminder of God's willingness to meet us with an open heart. "Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton" "00:02:27" Enneagram: "00:09:03" Quote by Dallas Willard: "00:13:21" Concept of "Big Rocks" by the Pastor: "00:16:03" Spiritual Retreat and Self-Care: "00:19:20" God's Economy vs. Our Economy: "00:20:46" The Retreat House Memphis on Instagram. Follow the podcast and leave a 5 Star review. Then share this episode with a friend who can be encouraged from todays message.  Lets connect on www.instagram.com/cherissehixson or email me at cherissehixson@hotmail.com 

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

In this episode of "Rhythms that Restore," Cherisse recounts her experience hosting a rest retreat for her friends, inspired by Joanna Gaines. She emphasizes the importance of rest and connection, creating a safe space for women to share their feelings and faith stories. The retreat featured worship songs, vulnerability, and testimonies, reflecting on the balance of solitude, community, and ministry. Cherisse concludes with Psalm 23, inviting listeners to explore their own rest retreats and offering resources for silent retreats, reinforcing the value of finding peace in God's presence.   Scripture: Matthew 11:28 - 00:00:02 Book: "Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton - 00:08:26 Book: "How to Know a Person" by David Brooks - 00:12:42 Magazine: Magnolia Magazine - 00:15:51 Location: The Country Place in Moscow - 00:19:14 Words on Notecards - 00:22:05 Worship Songs - 00:23:01 Abba, We Belong to You - 00:24:52 Without Wavering by Alexandra Hoover - 00:30:01 The Retreat House Memphis - 00:32:06 Psalm 23 - 00:34:54   Follow the podcast and leave a review and share with a friend who could benefit from todays message.  Email me at cherissehixson@hotmail.com and share your feedback from todays episode. Lets connect on www.instagram.com/cherissehixson 

In this week's episode of the For Everyday Leaders Podcast, Brandon and Alex sit down with Dave Choutka. In this conversation, Dave shares his story in a refreshing and transparent way of how to navigate extended seasons of challenges and obstacles.  Dave is the Executive Director of Lead 222 and the author of the book, Walking Through the Valleys.  Dave is passionate about helping others in life's valleys which led him to write Walking Through The Valleys which focuses on his story of navigating through eight years of difficult valleys in life and ministry. Show Notes: Walking Through Valleys Book: https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Through-Valleys-only-through/dp/B0CKGX4MN9 Lead 222: https://www.lead222.com/ Dave's website https://www.davechoutka.com/ Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton: https://www.amazon.com/Strengthening-Soul-Your-Leadership-Transforming/dp/083084645X/ref=asc_df_083084645X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312137955333&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2079669950176605254&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016086&hvtargid=pla-493606575255&psc=1&mcid=231eb560425832aeacbbe2461fffa949&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60258871617&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312137955333&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2079669950176605254&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016086&hvtargid=pla-493606575255&gclid=CjwKCAjwh4-wBhB3EiwAeJsppIqTUwznq8oPkNvY5a3rLXHkOHt2SYameIiZzXulosLVTEBr1FRsSBoCYzkQAvD_BwE

This week we talk about the Rodeo and Holy Week. We talk about an article written by Ruth Haley Barton at transformingcenter.org. We also discuss how we can use the image of the crucifix as a visual cue for reflection. Holy Week—is all of us going through the rhythm of death, burial, and resurrection. It is not a rhythm that any of us would willingly choose or even know how to choose; it is usually thrust upon us. Even Jesus admitted to having mixed feelings about the inevitability of it all. Now my soul is troubled.  And what should I say— “Father, save me from this hour?”  No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. (John 12:27)

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

Spiritual director and author, Ruth Haley Barton says “we are in need of a sacramental approach to life, in which the body is understood to be sacred because it is the place where God's Spirit has chosen to dwell. Given this, all aspects of life in the body can become places where we meet and know God in unique ways.” As we pay attention to what is going on internally, in our body, it is possible to also become more aware of God's presence with us in our body and in our experiences. Taken from Ruth's book Sacred Rhythms, today's spiritual practice is a simple way of praying, talking to God, when we may not have the words to express what we are feeling. I hope you'll join in. I'd recommend listening to today's episode when you have time to be still and uninterrupted. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Ruth Haley Barton's website. Today's material taken largely from Sacred Rhythms. Prayer Movements: First, hold your hands in your lap, palms open to the sky. As you do this, bring to mind one element of your life, such as your family, your work, or yourself. You don't need to put words around it, just allow your thoughts to flow into your consciousness. Allow yourself to think about any joys you are celebrating, any concerns or desires you have, any problems that need resolving. For the 2nd movement, lift your hands slightly and hold these thoughts in God's presence. For the 3rd movement, raise your hands all the way up and move them apart to surrender your prayer to God. When you are done, return your hands to your lap, again with palms open, and just rest in the awareness that you've released your prayer into God's capable hands. Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

As the year begins, allow yourself and your team the power to take hold of your pace and passion for work. Brenda Jank, Founder and CEO of Run Hard, Rest Well, joins Matt Burke and Abby Miller from the Center for Congregations to talk about how to help clergy and congregational leaders find rhythms of rest in order to lead well. Compelling, practical, and eye-opening, this episode will help to create a work life balance that is life-giving, transformative, and powered by God. Resources Run Hard, Rest Well (organization) Increasing Wholeness: Jewish Wisdom and Guided Meditations to Strengthen and Calm Body, Heart, Mind and Soul (book) Flourish by Martin Seligman (book) Ruth Haley Barton (website, author) Check out her podcast and the books Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Sacred Rhythms and Invitation to Solitude and Silence. Kirk Byron Jones (website, author) Check out his books Addicted to Hurry and Fulfilled

The farther I run away from the place where God dwells, the less I'm able to hear the voice that calls me the beloved. And the less I hear that voice, the more entangled I become in the manipulations and power games of the world.     Henri Noun   In this episode I'll share a few of the questions that I'm pondering as I look back at 2023 with an honest perspective and look forward to 2024 with hope and expectancy. Now, I realize not everyone likes this type of introspection, but I think it may be different this time than the typical questions of ‘how can I be better?'. Come along, have a listen and let me know what you think!   The real issue in self examination is not that I'm inviting God to know me, since He already does, but I'm inviting God to help me, know me.  Ruth Haley Barton

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 10: Invitation to a Journey   Please visit our website to learn more about the work of The Transforming Center and our Digital Capture project! We begin this episode by redeeming the word “disciplines" by offering up the word “practices” and looking at disciplines through the lens of desire and about opening ourselves up to God, reminding us that we are not in charge of our spiritual journey. Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Weins discuss four practices: prayer, spiritual readings, lectio divina, and liturgy. They sound familiar, but be prepared for some refreshing ideas on how to use them to open yourself up to God. SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES You can also access podcast on Google Play or Stitcher. Listen to other episodes from Season 10 | Access past podcast seasons Mentioned in this podcast: Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, M. Robert Mulholland Become a patron: Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We've received fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more episodes. We need you! Become a patron this summer! Music Credit: I am New by Joel Hanson. Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

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.