Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton

Season 6: Episode 8 | Space for Discernment

If you have gotten this far and are still wondering if a retreat is a necessary practice, we knock it out of the park with discussing Jesus’ pattern of retreat. Jesus utilizes retreat for discernment even though he knew everything. Ruth shares three categories of discernment that can be practiced on retreat. Settle the crazy down! Don’t miss the great discussion Ruth and Steve have about discernment as a relationship instead of as a transaction.  

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Retreat,Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude
Ruth Haley Barton
Steve Wiens

Become a patron: Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. Learn more.

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 6: Episode 7 | Relinquishing False Self Patterns

We start with defining what is meant by false self patterns and where it fits into our spiritual journey. Ruth shares her perspective on the current popularity of the Enneagram right now. Just noticing is an important part of the journey of relinquishing. The good news is there are spiritual practices for each number on the enneagram and there are specific ways you can approach retreat based on your enneagram number. We end with some helpful advice on how to approach the enneagram to help you utilize it for your transformation.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Retreat,Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community
Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation,  M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude
Ruth Haley Barton
Steve Wiens

Become a patron:Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. Learn more.

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 6: Episode 6 | Letting Go of Your Grip

Steve has control issues even if surrender is one of the major movements of the spiritual life. Retreat is a powerful tool to practice surrender. Could your absence from those you love while on retreat be a ministry? Ruth discusses the ministry of absence. Ruth also shares a personal story about her daughter, and how being away on retreat was an opportunity for God to care for those she loved.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:

Music in Solitude
Ruth Haley Barton
Steve Wiens

Become a patron: Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. Learn more.

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 6: Episode 5 | Sweet Hours of Prayer

Fixed hour of prayer. It is as simple as praying at fixed hours of the day. It is about reorienting ourselves to God. Ruth shares the four prayer movements that are used in the Transforming Community experience at the Transforming Center. Whether this is new or you have written this practice off as too rote, you're invited to pray these prayers as if you really mean them.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community
Iona Abby Worship Book
Praying with the Church: Following Jesus Daily, Hourly, Today, Scot Mcknight

Exploring Further:

Music in Solitude
Ruth Haley Barton
Steve Wiens

Become a patron: Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. Learn more.

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 6: Episode 4 | Finding Your Rhythm on Retreat

Human beings are made with rhythms and for rhythms. A beautiful conversation ensues about the beauty of rhythms, and how to find and recognize rhythms. In the Christian tradition tears are always a gift. Ruth provides a great encouragement to let the tears come. We end this episode with Ruth sharing a personal story of how the rhythm of retreat opened up space for God to speak to her.

Go deeper with this content and purchase Ruth's newest book, Invitation to Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude Ruth Haley Barton Steve Wiens

Become a patron:  Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. 

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 6: Episode 3 | The Sources of our Exhaustion

Are you living out of external expectations instead of God’s calling on your life? Learn more about common sources of exhaustion. Could it be that our desire to serve is more about staying in control? Ruth names some of her own sources of exhaustion. Go deeper with this content and purchase Ruth's newest book, Invitation to Retreat:The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude Ruth Haley Barton Steve Wiens

Become a patron:  Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. 

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 6: Episode 2 | Just Flop Down

Too busy? When is the best time to go on retreat? Join Ruth Haley Barton and Steve Wiens for episode 2, and don’t forget your pillow. A great discussion about how technology has caused many of us to feel we can never do enough to feel like we've done enough. Listen and discover how to let go and go on a retreat. Ruth final word in this episode is about guilt. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude Ruth Haley Barton Steve Wiens

Become a patron:  Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. 

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Special Episode: Discovering Advent

Season 6: Episode 1 | Strategic Withdrawal

Why did Ruth write another book? How does it relate to Invitation to Solitude and Silence? We start with a delicious word – invitation. Ruth moves in to define our terms and discuss how retreat has been compromised in our culture. Ruth and Steve even discuss who should go on retreat. Lets reclaim the word retreat!

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude Ruth Haley Barton Steve Wiens

Become a patron:  Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. Learn more.

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.

Season 5: Episode 12 | For the Sake of Others

Why does Ruth end a book on silence and solitude with a chapter on for sake of others? Listen to find out. Ruth describes her own journey of moving out of silence and solitude and how it transformed her interaction with teenagers. A great discussion of words and why silence and solitude are important for both introverts and extroverts, along with a strong encouragement to not make this practice legalistic. As we close this season, Ruth leaves us with a practice to help us connect with God from the place of our deepest desire. 

Mentioned in this podcast:
Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Ruth Haley Barton
Transforming Community

Exploring Further:
Music in Solitude
Ruth Haley Barton
Steve Wiens

Become a patron:  Join a growing movement of transforming leaders. We have gotten fantastic feedback about the podcast, and we would like to create even more content. We need you! Become a patron and receive exclusive bonuses and our gratitude. Learn more on our Patreon.com page.

Music Credit: The intro and outro by Aaron Niequist.