Ruah Space: Recent Episodes
Ruah Space
Join us as we explore how to make your faith come alive through practicing spiritual disciplines, studying Scripture, and being inspired by others in the "cloud of witnesses."
In this episode, Richard Foster and Brenda Quinn join the podcast to discuss Richard’s new book Learning Humility. Richard Foster is an author of many books on Christian spiritual formation, including Celebration of Discipline, the book that helped launch the entire Ruah Space journey. Richard takes us into the book and the journey of growing in […]
In this episode, Fr. Albert Haase returns to the podcast to discuss his book Soul Training with the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. We discuss this famous prayer of St. Francis, the role of detachment in spiritual formation, and more! A friend of Ruah Space and a listener favorite, Fr. Albert challenges and encourages us […]
Luke Wilson, author of the book 40 Days with the Fathers: A Journey Through Church History, joins the podcast today to discuss the lives and practices of some of the most formational people in the history of the Church. We talk about some of their lives, including what we know from The Life of Anthony, […]
Dr. Tremper Longman returns to the podcast to discuss his new book Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes. Scholar, author, and Professor, Tremper takes us into one of my favorite books of the Bible to discuss how we can best understand it when we see it in light of the Old Testament. Tremper shares how he […]
James Bryan Smith returns to the podcast to discuss his great new book The Good and Beautiful You. The fourth book in the Good and Beautiful series, Jim helps us understand one of the most important aspects of our life and faith: that we are loved, good and beautiful. We discuss the purpose of spiritual […]
Dr. Caryn Reeder, professor and author, joins Phil to discuss her new book The Samaritan Woman’s Story. This much understood story in John 4 has had a massive impact on the Church and the formation of men and women in the Body of Christ, but not always in helpful ways.Caryn digs into the historical and […]
Arthur Aghajanian, contemplative, essayist, and educator joins the podcast today to discuss Christian contemplation and art! Visual mediums are a beautiful way to explore our relationship with God, to enter into times of prayer and meditation, explore our own story and faith, and feel. Arthur talks art, the place of art in the Church, his […]
Author and philosopher Os Guinness joins the podcast to discuss the journey of coming to faith and his new book The Great Quest: Invitation to an Examined Life and a Sure Path to Meaning. We explore the importance of living an examined life, how the questions we ask shape the journey, seeking truth ,and what […]
Susan Maros joins Ruah Space to discuss calling and her new book Calling in Context. Susan shares stories from her own life and those she has worked with to reveal what she has learned about our calling as people following the way of Jesus. Susan helps dispel some thoughts around calling that aren’t always helpful, […]
Messiah College professor and author Dr. Eric Seibert joins the podcast to share practical ways we can engage the Old Testament and actually enjoy it! His new book “Enjoying the Old Testament: A Creative Guide to Encountering Scripture” is phenomenal, offering tangible and creative ways for anyone to read and understand what the Old Testament […]
David Cole (Brother Cassian) returns to the podcast to talk Celtic Christianity, Lent, and practices from the Celtic tradition that can guide us through Lent. We explore his book Celtic Lent: 40 Days of Devotions to Easter, prayer rhythms, the desert tradition, the importance of practices, and more. You can find out more about David […]
Today I am joined by pastor and author Kelly Vander Woude to discuss Lamentations and Kelly’s book The Honesty of Lamentations. Lament is not something we are usually taught to do well, especially as Christians. The Bible, however, has no problem offering lament to God. There’s a whole book about it! In our conversation and […]
Pastor Oscar Banks, senior pastor at Palm Lake Christian Church, joins the podcast to discuss reconciliation in the Church. The Body of Christ is intentionally diverse, but we have not always done very well at loving each other or living in a way that invites everyone to the table. From race and sex to theology […]
Author Amanda Flinn joins the podcast today to discuss her new book “God Made All Your Feelings.” This is a book I wish I had when I was younger and didn’t know how to listen to or trust my feelings. It taps into something that I have discovered to be absolutely true the past few […]
In today’s episode, we are joined by author and professor Dr. Joshua Knabb to discuss his new book Christian Meditation in Clinical Practice. Josh takes us into the amazing connections between our stories, minds, struggles, and Christian spiritual practices. Written for therapists and the rest of us simply trying to work through all of our […]
In today’s episode, I am joined by master yoga instructor Sally McAteer! Also known by here social media username Sally’s Mat, Sally was one of my trainers in YogaFaith and joins the podcast to discuss calling, Christian yoga, yin, and the importance of great story in Scripture where Jesus invites someone he has healed to […]
Today we are joined by author, worship leader, and YogaFaith Director Jody Thomae to discuss her new book Jesus in My Practice: Bringing the Questions of Jesus to My Movement, My Meditation & My Mat. Approaching Jesus as our master teacher, Jody explores the questions Jesus asks in the Gospels and invites us to creatively […]
Sometimes everything can feel like it’s on fire. Like it’s falling apart. When this happens to our faith, it can be alarming. Questions. Doubts. Issues. Sometimes this fire can be destructive and unhelpful. Simply destroying everything in its path. Sometimes fire can be helpful, however. Fire can refine. Reveal. Clarify. Brian Zahnd, pastor and author, joins the podcast to […]
Jeff Campbell, author of the new book Examining the Examen, joins the podcast to take us into the well-known Christian practice known as the Ignatian Examen. A contemplative practice based on the ministry of Ignatius of Loyola, this creative practice helps us reflect on our lives in order to better see the movement of God. […]
Randy Woodley, activist, scholar, author, teacher, wisdom-keeper, and Cherokee descendant, joins Ruah Space to discuss his new book Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth. Randy takes us into a better understanding of our interconnectedness with all things, especially the creation, and what this means for our lives and relationships, including our relationship […]
Friend and modern contemplative J Randall Ory joins the podcast to discuss the contemplative life. Jason has been a source of wisdom and encouragement for me, and I am so excited to have the opportunity for him to share his story and journey with you here. We talk about what contemplation is in the Christian […]
Poet Luci Shaw and artist/illustrator Ned Bustard join Phil to discuss art, poetry, creativity, and their new children’s book The O in Hope. Luci and Ned share the process of writing this book together, the creative process in general, and how art and creativity intersect with their faith. The O in Hope is a poetic […]
Tremper Longman, professor, author, scholar, and more joins the podcast to help us understand and grow in wisdom. Diving into topics such as the fear of the Lord, Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly, Proverbs, and more, we explore exactly what wisdom is as well as some practices that can help us become more wise. From […]
Professors and authors Ryan Brandt (Grand Canyon University) and John Frederick (Trinity College Queensland) join us today to discuss their new book Spiritual Formation for the Global Church. An insightful and timely book with contributions from diverse members of the Body of Christ, John and Ryan explore the importance of community in spiritual formation, Beatific […]
Christine Valters Paintner, online Abbess at the Abbey of the Arts, joins us today to discuss her new book Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred. Benedictine oblate and author, Christine takes us into the world of breath prayer including what breath prayers are, the unique blessings of incorporating breath prayer into our […]
Author and speaker Ashley Hales joins the podcast to discuss her new book A Spacious Life. We explore what keeps our lives small, constricted, and hurried as well as what can open us to accept the invitation to a more spacious life and what such a life looks like. We discuss the invitations God offers […]
In our 200th episode (!?!), author and breathing expert Patrick McKeown joins the podcast to talk about the importance of breath, what happens when we don’t breathe correctly, what proper breathing through the nose is, and guides us in some helpful practices to breathe. Our breath is connected to everything in our lives and learning […]
In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Bauman, author of the book Stumbling Toward Wholeness. In this book and our conversation, Andrew takes us into the Parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15 and shares how all of us have all three of the main characters in this teaching inside of us. […]
Steve Dancause, pastor and author, joins the podcast to talk all things Trinity! We explore a communal understanding of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the impact this has on our faith. If God is a community of three persons who are one God, and we are made in this God’s image, this affects […]
In this episode, Pastor Jon Fogel joins the podcast to discuss his recent series on Job and how this book challenges us to rethink much of what we may take for granted in the Bible, life, justice, and theology. We explore wisdom literature, the state of the Church, how Jesus relates to the book of […]
In this episode, Shane Claiborne joins the podcast to discuss spiritual formation in community and the relationship of our relationship with God to justice, particularly the death penalty and gun violence. We explore some of his story from his time in India with Mother Teresa as well as his community in Philadelphia, then dive into […]
In this episode, David Cole (Brother Cassian), joins the podcast to discuss Celtic Christianity, navel gazing (yes it can be a good thing!), David’s book The Art of Peace: Life Lessons From Christian Mystics, and contemplation in action. David is an author, the Founder and Director of Waymark Ministries CIC, and a spiritual teacher and […]
James Bryan Smith joins the podcast to discuss Room of Marvels, his fiction book exploring grief and heaven, as well as spiritual formation. We dive into his experience writing the book, which came from a prayer practice over a period of time, and the importance of knowing the end of our story. Jim shares about […]
In this episode, author and pastor Eric Elnes joins Phil to discuss Christian meditation and spiritual formation practices, specifically the practice of 4 Bows Meditation. We discuss Christian meditation, his experience with spiritual disciplines, as well as the creation of the beautiful practice known as of 4 Bows Meditation. After the discussion, Eric leads us […]
Terry Wildman, lead translator of the First Nations Version of the Bible joins the podcast to discuss this new translation of the Bible, some of the beautiful language used in the translation, the Lord’s Prayer, his own story of coming to faith, and offers challenge and encouragement to the church and followers of Jesus for […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Thomas Jay Oord to discuss Open and Relational Theology. Tom is a theologian, philosopher, scholar, author, and professor. His book on Open and Relational theology challenged me and offered a unique and helpful perspective on issues such as suffering, prayer, the future, and our call to join God […]
Winn Collier, Professor and Author of A Burning in My Bones, joins the podcast to discuss the life and impact of Eugene Peterson. I absolutely love biographies, and this is one of my favorites. Eugene Peterson was the translator of The Message Bible and many other books that have impacted the lives of countless men […]
This breath prayer practice with Psalm 23 is from our “Experiencing Psalm 23” series on Patreon. In this series, we want to help you experience the truths, challenges, and encouragement in Psalm 23 in your everyday life. Having knowledge is one thing, but we want you to know this psalm to be true in your […]
What if anger and other deep emotions aren’t meant to be avoided or shoved down, but are invitations to a deeper place and can help us understand something of the heart of God? In this episode, I explore those feelings that happen in us automatically in the context of Mark 3 where Jesus gets angry. […]
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Ron Ruthruff, Associate Professor at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, author, and faith leader. Ron was an important part of my development as a follower of Christ, helping me ask important questions and dig into my story in relation to racism and intercultural relationships. In […]
In this episode, I am joined by Mark Scandrette- author, teacher, speaker, leader and more. Mark’s work has deeply impacted my formation as a follower of Jesus for more than a decade and I guarantee it can do the same for you. In this episode, we explore some of his work around actually living out […]
Today, Phil teaches and guides the prayer form known as the Sign of the Cross. Many of us have either never been taught this physical act of prayer or grew up with it but stopped doing it somewhere along the way. A beautiful way to enter into prayer, the Sign of the Cross invites our […]
In today’s episode, we share the audio from a sermon Phil gave on Patreon. Exploring the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Phil asks the question that Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” A simple question from a well-known parable, Jesus teaches us that everyone is our neighbor, including our enemies. In […]
In this episode, Dr. Lauren Artress returns to the podcast to explore her new book The Path of the Holy Fool: How the Labyrinth Ignites Our Visionary Powers. In this discussion, we explore the imagination, the archetype of the Holy Fool, the invitation of the labyrinth and other spiritual practices in getting to know our […]
In this episode, we explore what it has been like to rest as we transition in our journey to a new place, career, and community. We share what has surprised us, what it has meant to gain a new perspective on what we are passionate about, what comes up in our story and body as […]
In this episode, we explore what happens when we feel called by God, or have a clear direction, but things don’t work out or everything seems to be going wrong. Sharing our own experience with this recently and digging into a little of what the Bible has to say about suffering and life not going […]
In this episode, we share our experience of journeying into the unknown, following the invitation of God even when it wasn’t necessarily the most logical or clear path, but was clearly the path God was laying before us. On such a journey, things often go wrong and people in our lives don’t always understand. When […]
In this episode, we continue to explore our journey following Jesus into the unknown and our recent major move and life changes. We discuss more of our process of discernment, one of the most important aspects being listening to our own story, listening to our past, present, and where God is inviting us into the […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Calvin University Professor and author of the phenomenal book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. They explore the book, discussing the formation of modern American evangelicalism, how we are shaped as Christians in America, how […]
In this episode, we explore our process of discernment around major life transitions, including our most recent one which included leaving ministry at a church, downsizing our home, and moving across the country without knowing how it would all work out. We explore questions such as: How do we grow in hearing the voice of […]
This week, we continue to share our journey into and through simplicity, building upon last week’s episode but getting a little more personal with how we engaged simplicity. We share some revelations around why we own certain things and why we have concluded there are some things we simply don’t need to own to enjoy. […]
In this episode, we begin to share our story of moving from Chicago to St. Petersburg to follow God’s invitation for the next steps in our journey. This major life shift has been rooted in our spiritual practices and what the Spirit has called to us in that space. Central to it all was a […]
In this episode, Steve Denler joins Phil to continue their conversation from last week’s episode “Rethinking Sin.” They continue to explore how understanding sin in relational terms, especially as turning away from relationship, impacts our lives and ultimately how we understand and live out redemption. Touching on God’s pursuit of us, grace, forgiveness, the incarnation, […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Steve Denler. Steve is a mental health therapist, fronts a post-emo rock band, writes theology, and more! In this conversation, Steve takes us deep into Genesis 1-3, combining theology with therapy and culture to help us understand sin from a new angle, revealing how it is related to […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Kurt Willems, pastor, host of the Theology Curator podcast, and author of the book Echoing Hope. In this episode, Phil and Kurt explore suffering and pain, what the humanity of Jesus has to say about our suffering, and explore some practices for walking through suffering. We all suffer […]
In this episode, Phil and Erin discuss a couple of the names of God that challenged them and invited them into a deeper space and relationship with God during the 40 Days of Praying the Names of God program. Erin discussed what she learned praying to God the provider and Phil shares his thoughts on […]
In this episode, Phil and Erin discuss the experience of praying the names of God, and Jesus, for 40 days. They explore what a consistent practice of making space to connect with God meant to them, what they learned and realized along the way, and what a consistent spiritual practice, short-term or long-term, could mean […]
Jesus died and rose three days later. We frequently remember and celebrate the day Jesus died, and we celebrate the resurrection, but we often forget about the time in between, the Saturday. The space between death and resurrection when all seemed lost and nobody knew what was going on. We live in a time when […]
In this episode, Phil and Erin discuss the Biblical invitation to rest. Rest, while sometimes considered unnecessary or even lazy, as something that takes us away from what really needs to be done, is something we desperately need and are invited to take “seriously.” Rest is something that God literally built into the creation with […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Tori Goebel, the National Organizer and Spokesperson for YECA – Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. Tori and Phil discuss climate change and why Christians should care about this central issue. It turns out that climate change doesn’t only affect the creation, but is linked to issues of justice, […]
Ann Spangler, author of Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, Praying the Names of God, and Praying the Names of Jesus, joins Phil and Erin to discuss prayer with the names of God. God’s names reveal something of God’s nature, and Ann shares what praying these names can mean for our prayer life, shares […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by AJ Swoboda, professor and author of the new book After Doubt. In this conversation, we dig into the role of doubt and deconstruction in our world today, the questions, critiques, and issues that come up with and against Christianity, the Bible, and Jesus. While such issues can frequently […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Fr. Nicholas Amato, the author of the new book Happiness and Joy: Can a Spiritual Life Have Both? They explore these two important concepts, discuss how we can cultivate a life of joy, contemplative practice and action, gratitude, and more. Joy is ultimately a gift from God connecting […]
In this episode, we explore the amazing reality that God has revealed God’s self to us. The names God reveals to us aren’t just words we say but revelations of God’s nature. For example, El Roi means the God who see me. Alpha and Omega shows us that God is the beginning and the end. […]
In our final episode in the Exploring Revelation series, we look at chapters 10-11 of Revelation, discussing the two witnesses and the end (or really the beginning…..or the continuation) of all things. Believe it or not, God wins and heaven comes to earth in Revelation 11! We discuss what this means and the invitation of […]
In the fifth episode of our series exploring the book of Revelation, we take a look at the locusts as described in chapter 9, the connection of this section of the letter with the Exodus, repentance, and more! We also compare this scene of pain and suffering with the throne room as a means for […]
In the fourth episode of our series exploring the book of Revelation, we look at the throne room scene found in Revelation chapter four. We explore how the scene makes us feel and the challenges and encouragements that it brings up. This is one of the most important scenes in the letter and has a […]
In the third episode of our series exploring the book of Revelation, we continue look at the 7 churches and what they mean for our lives today. These churches and the challenges they were facing are meant to help us feel, see, and understand how we continue to face these same issues today. Rather than […]
This is this second episode of our series exploring the book of Revelation, we begin to look at the 7 churches. These churches and the challenges they were facing are meant to help us feel, see, and understand how we continue to face these same issues today. Rather than focusing on how these issues exist […]
This is the first part of our series exploring the book of Revelation. In this episode, we discuss the importance of feeling what the book is saying before trying to use logic or understand every single part of it, the importance of applying what we read and experience to our lives, the temptation to only […]
In this episode, we share with you some really exciting news of new content, memberships, and more coming to Ruah Space in 2021! From Christian Yoga and Revelation to more guided practices and expanded Patreon offerings, 2021 is going to be a great year. Check out the episode and then go deeper with us at […]
In this final Advent episode, we explore the them of joy with the Book of Revelation. What is joy and what does the Book of Revelation possibly have to reveal to us about joy? Joy is much deeper than happiness and is deeply rooted in the work God is doing and has already accomplished in […]
In this third week of Advent episode, we explore the Advent them of love through the lens of the Book of Revelation? What is love and how is it expressed? What does Revelation reveal about the way the world loves and how does God love? What does this mean for how we love God and […]
In this episode, we explore Advent and the theme of peace through the lens of the Book of Revelation. The Apocalypse of John, while often understood to be about the future, has endless insight into life today, especially when it comes to what it means to truly experience and live a life of peace. Peace […]
In this episode, we begin to explore Advent, specifically hope during Advent, through the lens of the Book of Revelation. The Apocalypse of John, while often understood to be about the future, has endless insight into life today, and lots to say about remembering, celebrating, and preparing for the coming of Jesus. Phil’s new book, […]
In this episode, Phil and Erin discuss grief and gratitude during this holiday season in the midst of a pandemic. We discuss how we are feeling at this time and what has helped us get creative and connect with God even though life is difficult and not how we would normally picture this time of […]
In this episode, we are joined once again by Sybil MacBeth, the author of Praying in Color, for a guided prayer practiced known as Lectio Divina in Color. This episode is taken from the Lectio in Divina Live event we did together that is available on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZagle0XIqc Lectio Divina is an ancient prayer […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Sybil MacBeth, the author of the book Praying in Color. They discuss the invitation to pray through art and doodling, entering a conversation with God that incorporates our whole being. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, exploring gratitude, how praying in color helps us get […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Michelle Thielen, the founder of YogaFaith and the author of the new book Exit Wilderness. Michelle guides us through a roadmap through and out of the wilderness based on 2 Chronicles 20 and her own story, exploring important concepts and practices such as vocalizing God’s Word, fasting, praise, […]
In this episode, we explore quantum physics and what some weird findings may have to say about the importance and impact of prayer! We explore a famous experiment called the “double slit experiment” and how what science is saying about the power of human observation might impact intercessory prayer. Don’t worry about needing to know […]
In this episode, Phil shares some thoughts about learning to listen for God in all things. Like we listen for a word or phrase that stands out to us in Lectio Divina with Scripture, we are invited to listen for God speaking through creation, art, people, experiences, pain, emotion, trials, and more. God speaks through […]
In this invitation to prayer and meditation, we explore Lectio Divina with creation and the changing seasons, what some call Lectio Tierra. Just as we listen for a word or phrase that jumps out to us in Scripture in Lectio Divina, and then listen for what that might mean for our lives, we do the […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Christine Sine, the author of The Gift of Wonder. Jesus invites us to follow him like children, meaning we are invited to play, create, and find joy in the life happening all around us. Christine helps us regain the eyes to see such wonder and shows us how […]
In this episode, Dan Kent returns to the podcast to discuss his book Confident Humility. Dan guides us into a deeper understanding of humility rooted in God’s love for us. God leaves each and every one of us equally and invites us to live freely out of such love. When we look at ourselves too […]
Phil is joined by Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen, the authors of the brand new book 2020s Foresight to discuss living the way of Jesus in light of accelerating change in our world. We are facing climate, health, financial, relational, spiritual, and interpersonal challenges that understandably cause fear and confusion. Tom and Dwight reveal, however, […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by the award winning author Paul J. Pastor. They explore the Holy Spirit through the lens of Paul’s book The Face of the Deep. This episode is an invitation to see and experience the Holy Spirit. To know and be known. To love and be loved. To see the […]
Our bodies are created by God to be good and to communicate to us through feelings and emotions. We often don’t listen to our bodies though because we are too busy, have been harmed, or don’t love parts of our body. In this guided prayer and mediation practice, you are invited to sit in prayerful […]
In this episode, we share our most recent insights related to faith, life, justice, spiritual formation, and more that we learned this summer. We explore the impact of mindfulness and spiritual practices on our memory, what we have learned about justice and simplicity from fast fashion, a devotional Erin has been reading, and a little […]
Phil and Erin begin to answer the question, “How do I know if what I am hearing is from God?” When we pray, meditate, or engage in any spiritual discipline, how do we know if what we hear in response is simply our own imagination, a deception, or truly from God? We discuss this question […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Richard Lewis, the author of the new book Sitting With God. Phil and Richard discuss contemplative prayer practices, specifically Centering Prayer, and the impact such prayer can have on our lives in terms of how we understand God and ourselves, how it affects our lives outside of our […]
In this episode, we discuss some lessons we have learned about rest and the truth that we are enough from some life changes we have made recently related to the Sabbath, simplicity, and taking the space we need. We share the impact these changes have had on our relationships with God, ourselves, each other, and […]
We have been asked a lot lately questions such as: What do I do in the face of Christian silence? How do we respond when people don’t “get it”? How do we deal with people who are Christian supporting positions of injustice or refusing to join the side of justice? In this episode, we engage […]
In this episode, we explore the seventh and final dwelling place of St. Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle. This dwelling place is about union with God. We focus on the effects of such an intimate union with God, returning to familiar topics such as humility, self-sacrifice, love, forgiveness of enemies, and submitting our will […]
In The Interior Castle’s Sixth Dwelling Place, we explore St. Teresa’s teachings about visions or words from God revealed to the soul. We explore what this means, draw some conclusions for all of us whether or not we have ever had such an experience, and talk about how growing closer to God can actually cause […]
In this episode, Phil shares how he learned about perspective, humility, and grace from the book Flatland. While it may not be a book about spiritual disciplines or God, it has a lot to teach us as followers of Jesus. Written over 100 years ago, this book shares how a two-dimensional being (a square) teaches […]
We practice Imaginative Prayer with Jesus for our Spiritual Sunday Practice this week as we engage spiritual disciplines to make space for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No experience is necessary for engaging this prayer practice. It’s about the intention of making space to connect with God, ourselves, the present moment, and others. Take […]
In this episode, we continue to explore our interior life and what it looks like to grow deeper in our relationship with God. St. Teresa has a lot to say about the type of person who may begin to experience a deeper connection with God, the type of relationship that truly begins to fulfill the […]
Jesus-Inspired Life Compass Guided Prayer Practice for Spiritual Practice Sunday (Monday for the podcast)! Every Sunday on YouTube, and most Mondays on the podcast, we will release a guided practice to help make space for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives. From Lectio Divina and prayer to guided meditations and reflections, each […]
In part 5 of our series on St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, we explore the fourth dwelling place. In this chapter, St. Teresa begins to explain a type of prayer that is a pure gift from God. It is not something we can earn or bring about through our own efforts. We can be […]
In this 4th episode in our series exploring St. Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle, we look at the third dwelling place. As we grow in our spiritual life, getting to know God and ourselves better, it is normal for periods of dryness to occur. During such times, we feel like prayer is boring or […]
In this episode, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Mark 3:1-6. Lectio Divina is an invitation to create space to encounter the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Scripture. Sit back, find a comfortable place to listen, and open to hear from God! We are going to begin releasing Lectio Divina episodes every other […]
In part three of our series exploring St. Teresa of Avila’s book The Interior Castle, we explore the second dwelling place of the soul. In this dwelling place, we look at what it means to grow in our ability to hear God, know God, and understand God’s will. We also touch on how distractions can […]
In part two of our series exploring St. Teresa of Avila’s book The Interior Castle, we begin exploring the first dwelling place of the soul. We dive into this dwelling place by exploring the importance of self-knowledge and humility, and what both of these mean for getting to know God and growing in our relationship […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Chris Griffith, the pastor of Rhythm Church and a worship leader, to discuss racism, justice, Black Lives Matter, and what it means to listen well and make space for the “other.” If we desire to make space for God in our lives, connect to our breath and story, […]
In this episode, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with John 3:16-21. This passage hones in on God’s love for all people and all things while also inviting us to see the light that God has sent into the world. Lectio Divina is an invitation to create space to encounter the Father, Son, and Holy […]
In this episode, we begin a new series exploring St. Teresa of Avila’s book The Interior Castle. Written nearly 500 years ago, this book has blessed, challenged, and encouraged many in the journey to connect deeper with God. In this episode, we introduce the book, Teresa of Avila, what the interior castle is in our […]
In this episode, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Matthew 11. Many of us are weary. Many are tired. This is a beautiful passage to sit in God’s presence with as we listen for what God is saying to us today. May you find peace and rest in this time of silence, meditation, and […]
In this episode, Phil shares some of his own story and why spiritual disciplines have become so important. From helping with anxiety to getting in touch with his own story, spiritual disciplines have been helped him connect deeper with God, himself, others, and the present moment. We hope some part of Phil’s story can help […]
In this episode, Phil guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 119:81-88. You are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might be speaking to you today. Psalm 119:81-88 (NIV)
Today’s episode is session 1 of our “An At Home Retreat With The Lord’s Prayer” with Fr. Albert Haase. This 12 day FREE retreat is a video series on YouTube with spiritual practices to engage what we teach in each session. You can check out the entire retreat on our YouTube channel as well as […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with James 3:5-12. You are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might be speaking to you today. You can join us for this practice on Facebook Live every Sunday at 8pm central time here. […]
This episode is taken from a video event Ruah Space hosted with Fr. Albert Haase OFM that is available on YouTube. In this discussion and practice, Phil and Fr. Albert Haase discuss darkness, Fr. Haase leads a Lectio Divina practice with our lives, and they discuss the experience in light of a difficult event in […]
In this episode on Mother’s Day, Phil guides us through Lectio Divina with 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. You are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might be speaking to you today. Blessings as you abide in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Passage: 1 […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Meredith Dancause. Meredith is a pastor, speaker, and guide in the life of marriage and parenting. She gives us helpful insights into the life of parenting, especially how we respond when we are stressed and how we can bless our children as we teach them the ways of […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 121, a Psalm of Ascent. You are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might be speaking to you today. Blessings as you abide in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Consider joining […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Dr. Lauren Artress, the founder of Veriditas, an author, and an expert in labyrinths. For decades she has taught about the labyrinth and today invites us into this beautiful space. She explains how walking the labyrinth is a metaphor for life, shares it’s history, explains the invitation it […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with John 15:1-8. You are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might be speaking to you today. In this passage, Jesus invites us to be branches connected to the life that He provides. Blessings […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Chrissy Ball! Chrissy is a yoga instructor, stuntwoman, and wise follower of Jesus. She shares lessons she learned making movies such as X-Men, honors us with her story with trauma and how she has worked through it with faith and yoga, and encourages us on our journey no […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Jeremiah 29:4-9. During these difficult times around the world as many fight illness, loss of jobs or income, social isolation, and numerous other issues, you are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Michelle Thielen, the founder of YogaFaith! They discuss the invitation yoga offers Christians as a way to make space for the Holy Spirit, become present to ourselves, work through trauma and the “issues in our tissues,” and many other benefits. Michelle also shares some of her favorite postures […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Luke 24:13-35. During these difficult times around the world as many fight illness, loss of jobs or income, social isolation, and numerous other issues, you are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might […]
In this episode, Erin and Phil dive into some of Jesus’ last actions before being turned over to the Romans as told in John 13. In this passage, Jesus washes the feet of His friends and His betrayer, and then invites us to do the same. While we may not normally think of service as […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Pastor and author Dan Kent. Dan brings us into the world of spiritual warfare through his series The Training of KX12. They discuss a number of issues surrounding spiritual warfare, the realities of how this plays out in our internal space and relationships, and then spend some time […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Lamentations 3:21-26. During these difficult times around the world as many fight illness, loss of jobs or income, social isolation, and numerous other issues, you are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might […]
In this guided meditation and time of prayer, Phil invites us to hear and experience the promises of God in the midst of silence. During difficult times, it’s important for us to root deep in truth, remembering what God has said to us and continues to say to us today. Here, we take a few […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 19. During these difficult times around the world as many fight illness, loss of jobs or income, social isolation, and numerous other issues, you are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Seth Alan Taylor, the author of Feels Like Redemption and On Frame. They discuss the importance of feeling and diving deep into what our body and emotions are telling us. They explore energy, the Bible, Seth’s story, and how frequently we deny the crucifixion in our lives. Where […]
In this episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Exodus 14:10-14. During these difficult times around the world as many fight illness, loss of jobs or income, social isolation, and numerous other issues, you are invited to take a few minutes to be present, enter silence, hear Scripture, and listen for how God might […]
In this episode, Phil leads a guided meditation centered around 7 phrases Jesus spoke from the cross as found in the Gospels. We are invited to reflect, pray, and sit with these words, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak in, through, and to us. May Jesus’ words take root in your life and guide you […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Lent, Phil guides a Lectio Divina practice with 1 Peter 5:6-11 Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift […]
In this episode, Fr. Albert Haase returns to the podcast to discuss the 4 D’s: Dryness, Desolation, Dark Nights, and Depression. No matter who you are or where you are on the faith journey, these 4 D’s are experiences we have all had. Fr. Albert explains each “D” and offers practical wisdom, insights, and practices […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Lent, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Jeremiah 18:1-8 Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Jeremiah 18:1-8 (NIV) This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down […]
In this episode, Erin and Phil dive into Bible translations! What might sound boring or trivial can actually open up a world of possibilities when we understand how the Bible is translated and that each translation is trying to accomplish a very specific task. We help you understand where different Bible translations fall on the […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Lent, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Matthew 4:1-11 Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted v […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Myron Bradley Penner, the author of “The End of Apologetics.” Apologetics is the defense of the faith, but in its modern formulation it may not be the most helpful form of sharing the Good News. Myron shares with us an encouraging alternative to sharing our faith where we […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Psalm 103:11-19. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 103:11-19 (NIV) 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love […]
In this episode, we look at the story of Jacob wrestling with the man/angel/God as an example for our invitation to wrestle with Scripture. Things may not always make sense and sometimes we won’t have answers, and that is ok. We are invited to continue wrestling until we are blessed, until the Good News brings […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Heather Hutzel, or H.R. Hutzel to those of you who have read her books! Heather is an author of both fiction and non-fiction literature, and today she takes us into the world of stories. We discuss narrative in general and the story of God that we are all […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Psalm 8. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 8 (NIV) For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. 1 Lord, our Lord, […]
In today’s episode, we explore an ancient interpretation method known as Gezera Shava and a concept some today call “stringing pearls.” With these tools, we connect words and passages together to help gain greater insight into what God’s Word is communicating. This is perhaps one of the most important and most common occurrences in the […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides a Lectio Divina practice with Luke 18:1-8. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Luke 18:1-8 (NIV) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray […]
In this episode, Erin and Phil dive into the importance of numbers in the Bible. Through the use of Numerology and Gematria, big names with simple meanings, we can gain insight into what the authors of the Bible were trying to convey to us. Understanding the symbolism and connections they were making can help us […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Phil guides a Lectio Divina practice with 1 Kings 19:19-21. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NIV) 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was […]
In this episode, Phil and Erin dive into the importance of repetition in Scripture. Authors would repeat words, sometimes right next to each other and sometimes at the very beginning and end of a book or letter, to point out a major theme or give direction for how to understand everything else they are writing […]
In this guided meditation, Phil leads a short visualization, tells a couple stories, and guides a short meditation in stillness. No matter what we are feeling, whether it be fear or anxiety, doubt or joy, stillness helps us become present to it, name it, and engage it in a life-giving way in the presence of […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Phil guides a Lectio Divina practice with 2 Peter 3:8-13. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! 2 Peter 3:8-13 (NIV) “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a […]
In this episode, we discuss the importance of context when reading Scripture. Using a line a Rabbi taught Phil that “God doesn’t waste ink,” we explore why we need to pay attention to not only the passage we are reading, but the words, phrases, and larger movements of the text that surround it. We use […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 82. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 82 (NIV) 1 “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”: 2 “How long will […]
In this episode, we tackle chiasms! A literary device that sounds weird but is a structure that Bible authors used in order to point us to important lessons found in their writings. We teach the basic idea and then look at how the story of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19 is a chiasm and what […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Dr. Paul Wallace, a physicist who also has a Master of Divinity degree, to discuss how creation, and therefore science, has so much to teach us about God, love, and ourselves. Rather than threatening our faith, science invites us into a larger, more mysterious, and humble faith. Whether […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Luke 14:7-14. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Luke 14:7-14 (NIV) 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he […]
One of the most important lessons we have learned when it comes to engaging Scripture is we have to ask the right questions. When we try to make the Bible something that it isn’t or place expectations on it that it cannot bear, we end up hurting ourselves or others. In this episode, we share […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Dan White to discuss some of the ideas from Dan’s book Love Over Fear. Understanding and overcoming fear may be one of the most important issues facing the Church and our world today. They dive into the root of fear, what fear is, the issues fear causes, and […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Phil guides us through Lectio Divina with Isaiah 43:14-21. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Isaiah 43:14-21 (NIV) 14 “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I […]
In the first episode of the Exploring Scripture study, Phil and Erin discuss the importance of knowing our own lens, or story, as we approach the story of Scripture. Engaging Scripture is a spiritual discipline that will challenge us, encourage us, and is bound to turn things upside down. When we approach it with humility, […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Phil guides us through Lectio Divina with Hebrews 12:28-13:6. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Hebrews 12:28-13:6 (NIV) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, […]
In this episode, Phil shares a practice based on the Ignatian Examen where we make space to reflect on our year in order to engage what happened and where God was, explore how we changed, become aware of where we need to express gratitude and repentance, and gain perspective on how the previous year can […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Advent, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 145. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 145:10-21 (NIV) 10 “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of […]
In this Advent episode, we dive into history and the land of Israel to paint a picture of the world Jesus was born into. Our desire over this 3-part series is to explore the world of Jesus so as to better understand our Messiah. Today, we dive into the birth story of Jesus found in […]
In this episode, Phil teaches and guides a prayer practice known as the “Hands Up Hands Down Prayer.” In this practice, we lay down those thing we cling on to such as fear, envy, anger, and control, and then we open our hands to receive God’s will, blessing, and love. This is a prayer of […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Advent, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Matthew 1:18-25. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV) “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother […]
In this Advent episode, we dive into history and the land of Israel to paint a picture of the world Jesus was born into. Our desire over this 3-part series is to explore the world of Jesus so as to better understand our Messiah. Today, we dive into the religious situation at the time. We […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Advent, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Isaiah 26. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Isaiah 26:3-9 (NIV) 3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they […]
In this Advent episode, we dive into history and the land of Israel to paint a picture of the world Jesus was born into. Our desire over this 3-part series is to explore the world of Jesus so as to better understand our Messiah. Today, we explore the political situation of Israel as occupied by […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Father Albert Haase to discuss how each of us can accept God’s invitation to a deeper relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the present moment. He shows us how accepting this invitation isn’t something just for the “spiritual elite” and isn’t something that takes hours […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during Advent, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Revelation 21:1-7. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Revelation 21:1-7 (NIV) “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first […]
In the final episode in the “Season of Gratitude”, we discuss gratitude as part of the foundation of all of life and look at how we can cultivate a lifestyle of giving thanks in all things. Scripture Referenced (NIV) Colossians 3:15-17 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of […]
In this episode, Phil guides a meditation on gratitude, offers some reflections on gratitude, and concludes with a reading of Psalm 139. Whether or not you have ever meditated, you are invited to make space for a few minutes to practice gratitude and make space for the Holy Spirit! Scripture Referenced (NIV) 1 Thessalonians 5:18 […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during our “Season of Gratitude”, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 34:1-10. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 34:1-10 (NIV) “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise […]
In this episode, Erin and Phil explore gratitude in the midst of suffering, grief, and other difficult times. We explore what it means to experience gratitude during these times and how to practice it as a spiritual discipline even when we aren’t feeling it. Scripture Referenced (NIV) Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only so, but we […]
In this Lectio Divina episode during our “Season of Gratitude”, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Luke 1:46-55, also known as the Magnificat. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Luke 1:46-55 (NIV) “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies […]
In this episode, we kick off a short series focused on gratitude as we move toward Thanksgiving and Advent. We explore gratitude as a habit, that gratitude is the celebration that everything is a gift from God, and invite the community into a practice for cultivating gratitude. Scripture Referenced (NIV) James 1:17 – “Every good […]
In this episode, Phil discusses the pain that exists inside each and every one of us and how that pain can lead us to hurt one another. Understanding this pain in ourselves, being able to name it, and being open to understanding how pain operates in the lives of others can help us receive and […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Micah 6:1-8. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Micah 6:1-8 (NIV) Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let […]
In this episode, we explore the final line of the Lord’s Prayer. We discuss its place in the Lord’s Prayer, why it’s an excellent way to end the prayer Jesus taught, it’s challenge for our lives today and how we relate to the powers of the world, and how it can help us as we […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Romans 8:37-39. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Romans 8:37-39 (NIV) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. […]
This episode is recorded from a community prayer event on Facebook Live. We prayed the Lord’s Prayer as a community taking one line, “give us this day our daily bread,” and used it as a guide to pray and reflect on every line in the Lord’s Prayer. We also had a short time of discussion […]
In this episode, Phil shares an experience getting lost in Amman, Jordan, the people who helped him, and how their risky love changed his life. Maybe not his most brilliant moment, this experience is one that helped shape him into who he is today.
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 93. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 93 (NIV) “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and […]
In this episode, we explore one of the most difficult lines of the prayer in terms of interpretation and implementation. We explore the line from multiple angles of what it means to be tempted and tested, share how others have understood this line, and even disagree a bit about what it is saying! Scripture Referenced […]
In this episode, Erin shares a story about a recent meditation practice. She shares her experience, how she ultimately encountered Jesus weeks later, and invites us to explore our relationship with God and the spiritual disciplines in creative ways.
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in […]
In this episode, we continue exploring the Lord’s Prayer by diving into forgiveness. In this beautiful line, Jesus invites us to freedom from our own sin and the guilt it causes as well as the sins of others and the ways we continue to carry what they have done. Jesus invites us into an entire […]
In this episode, we share from one of the most painful things we went through in our lives, the loss of two children by miscarriage. We explore grief, what helped us and what hurt us during our period of loss, what it looks like to turn to God in such times, and what brought us […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Isaiah 55:1-5. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Isaiah 55:1-5 (NIV) “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no […]
In this episode, we continue our Lord’s Prayer series by exploring the challenge and invitation of asking God to provide us with our daily bread. Bread has many dimensions to it related to the manna in the wilderness of Exodus and Jesus declaring that He is the Bread of Life. Praying this line is a […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with James 1. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! James 1:2-8 (NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, […]
In this episode of the Lord’s Prayer series, Phil guides us through praying the second line of the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We pray this line over ourselves, a loved one, a stranger, and an enemy. This practice helps us go deeper into […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Richard Lewis to discuss centering prayer. Rich teaches the steps for centering prayer, it’s history, and his own journey with this spiritual discipline. A simple but profound practice, centering prayer is a beautiful invitation for anyone looking to make space for the Holy Spirit in their life. Where […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 13. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 13 (NIV) How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face […]
In the 3rd part of the Lord’s Prayer Series, we discuss the second part of the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We look at this line in terms of the reconciliation of all things and how truly incapable we are of not just doing […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Dale Cooper in an amazing conversation about Coop’s life journey, his spiritual disciplines, how he remembers so many names (and why), and so much more. The chaplain of Calvin College for 30 years, Coop brings a wealth of wisdom to the conversation as well as some personal stories […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Luke 14:16-24. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Luke 14:16-24 (NIV) Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At […]
In this short guided meditation, we take a few minutes in silence to listen to truth from God’s Word. We focus on our breath, pay attention to thoughts that come up, and speak truth into our lives from Scripture. It’s easy to get lost in our minds or not even realize how our thought patterns […]
In this episode, we dig deep into the first line of the Lord’s Prayer. We explore the journey it takes us on and the invitation to explore it in many different ways as we enter God’s presence in prayer. We look at praise, confession (our unworthiness), redemption by our Father, and God making God’s self […]
In this episode, we discuss the importance of all truth belonging to God and therefore to all of us in Christ. Wherever truth is found whether it be in science, philosophy, or even another religion, we are invited to own it, take it captive for Christ, and redeem it. This was something done throughout both […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Proverbs 15:1-4. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Proverbs 15:1-4 (NIV) “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of […]
A new series is here! In this episode, we begin to explore the Lord’s Prayer, discuss some of its main themes, and discuss what happens when we pray this prayer. In the rest of the series, we will be going line by line, sometimes word by word, through the Lord’s Prayer to discover the life […]
In this episode, Phil is joined by Dr. Cyndi Parker to discuss the importance of place and geography and the Gospel stories of Jesus “crossing to the other side.” Cyndi guides us into understanding how the situation around the Sea of Galilee deeply affects how we understand these stories and what it means to “cross […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Philippians 2:5-11. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in […]
When we think of spiritual disciplines, we often think of practices such as prayer or meditation. The discipline of simplicity is not usually thought of in the same way because it manifests itself in a much more external way and largely deals with our relationship with our possessions. Like the other spiritual practices, however, simplicity […]
In this episode, Phil interviews Tauya Forst around the topic of restorative practices. Restorative practices have a lot to teach us about listening and bringing restoration to our relationships, workplaces, and communities, especially when there has been harm done in a relationship or situation. Resources Tauya Recommends iirp.edu Costello, Wachtel, and Wachtel – The Restorative […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 20. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! Psalm 20 (NIV) “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God […]
In this episode, Phil and Erin discuss their new singing bowl and the history of using bells in the Bible and Church history. Used as a call to worship, to call us back to the present, and to remind us to open ourselves to God’s presence and the voice of the Holy Spirit, singing bowls […]
In service, we are invited to love God and love others for the thriving and reconciliation of all things. When we serve, we experience God in and through the other. We open ourselves to join the Holy Spirit in the work God is already doing all around us. Scripture Referenced (NIV) Amos 5:21-24 – “I […]
In this 5 minute Ruah Space guided meditation, Phil guides a basic breath meditation with a focus on growing in wisdom and learning to respond rather than react. Whether or not you have ever meditated, this episode is a great place to join the Ruah Space community in meditating! Further Reading What the Bible Says […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Mark 4:308. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along […]
In this episode, we explore the spiritual discipline of engaging the Bible. We look at why we have the Bible, what (or who) the Bible leads us to, and the overall story of the Bible that our story is invited to join. Scripture References (NIV) Revelation 1:3 – “Blessed is the one who reads aloud […]
In this episode, Phil interviews an economist, Dr. Steve McMullen, from Hope College. They discuss how to make space for the Spirit, and how to shape our heart to love God and love others, by understanding our interactions with the world through Economics. Economics has some deeply spiritual undertones to it and they explore them […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with 1 Chronicles 29:10-14. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God […]
The Sabbath is one of the first spiritual disciplines mentioned in the Bible when God shows us the importance of rest and space. This invitation to rest, create a day of space, and reconnect with God, ourselves, others, and creation is a beautiful practice that holds within it boundless blessings. Scripture References (NIV) Genesis 2:1-3 […]
Phil and Erin discuss how many of their faith and life mentors were shaped by time in prison. Some deserved to be there and some didn’t, but the common thread was that each of them were shaped for the better by their time of suffering because of how they went through it. Suffering holds within […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Philippians 2:12-16. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in […]
Fasting is one of the most common spiritual disciplines practiced throughout the Bible. It is an invitation to create space for what matters, gain perspective, and connect deeper with God. From reorienting our lives and growing in humility to repentance and justice issues, fasting is a beautiful and necessary practice. Scripture References (NIV) Matthew 6:16-18 […]
Welcome to the first Ruah Space guided meditation! In this 5-minute beginner meditation, Phil discusses the basics of practicing meditation and guides listeners through a basic breath meditation. Whether or not you have ever meditated, this episode is a great place to join the Ruah Space community in meditating! Further Reading What the Bible says […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 42:1-5. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for […]
We talk about prayer all the time in our faith journeys. We pray together and by ourselves. So what else is there to know about prayer? Join us in this conversation about the invitation to pray freely no matter where you are in your walk with Christ or what you are going through. Scripture References […]
In this episode, Phil interviews Dr. Dwight Friesen- professor, author, pastor, and more. They explore what it means to be present in the place God has rooted us. It’s so easy to live fragmented and disconnected lives today, yet God calls us to be present to our places and the people in those places. As […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Matthew 5:33-37. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture! “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but […]
Silence and solitude are two spiritual disciplines that tend to be overlooked. They certainly aren’t ‘trendy’ in our day and age. But they play a key role in Jesus’ ministry and are part of his teachings to the disciples. Check out this episode to find out what it can mean for your life and faith. […]
In this Lectio Divina episode, Erin guides us through Lectio Divina with Psalm 1. Lectio Divina is a way of listening to Scripture with a prayerful Spirit. Sit back, create some space, and encounter God in Scripture!
Lectio Divina – the prayerful listening to Scripture – is an ancient practice that draws us closer to God. Through this spiritual discipline, we come to hear God speaking into our life right now through the Scriptures. Rather than studying Scripture in an academic way (which we totally endorse!), Lectio Divina is all about letting […]
Meditation is becoming increasingly popular in our world, and as Christians it is important that we ask ourselves first and foremost: what does our Scripture teach us regarding the practice of meditation? You may be surprised to learn that meditation has a strong Biblical endorsement throughout Scripture, as well as a long history in Church […]
What are spiritual disciplines? Should I be doing them if I am a Christian? We explore these questions in this overview of spiritual disciplines and how they can have a profound impact on our faith and life. Scripture References (NIV) Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you […]
Why is it important to make space in your life for spiritual development? We explore why we are convinced that making space in your life is the most important thing you could choose to do today.
In our inaugural first post, we introduce you to the meaning of the word "ruah" and why it is an important part of our ministry.