{"id":19542,"date":"2025-05-16T12:14:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T17:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/?p=19542"},"modified":"2025-05-20T08:45:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:45:40","slug":"bonus-the-gift-of-desperation-12-steps-as-a-model-for-spiritual-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/2025\/05\/bonus-the-gift-of-desperation-12-steps-as-a-model-for-spiritual-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"BONUS | The Gift of Desperation: 12 Steps as a Model for Spiritual Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-19544\" src=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"John Ortberg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pic_420c_Ortberg_John-96x96.jpg 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>In this special bonus episode Ruth converses with pastor, author, speaker and long time friend, John Ortberg about his new book<em> Steps, A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn&#8217;t Enough.<\/em> They explore the intersections between spiritual formation, transformation, and the powerful principles behind the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). John shares his personal journey, insights on profound spiritual practices, and the importance of vulnerability and safety in transformational spaces. Their discussion delves into the crucial role of rigorous self-examination, authentic confession, and the deep, often painful, realization of powerlessness in achieving true spiritual transformation.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"clear: both;\" \/>\n<p><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/strengthening-soul-your-leadership-ruth-haley-barton\/id1214483830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can also access podcast on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ruth-haley-barton\/strengthening-the-soul-of-your-leadership?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stitcher<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/41tz8kmZTi7wyYakvWUKZz\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px); height: 150px;\" title=\"BONUS | The Gift of Desperation: 12 Steps as a Model for Spiritual Transformation\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/player-v2\/?i=rmrmz-18acee7-pb&amp;from=pb6admin&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Arial&amp;skin=1&amp;font-color=auto&amp;logo_link=episode_page&amp;btn-skin=7\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\" scrolling=\"no\" data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"button outline\" href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/strengthening-the-soul-of-your-leadership-podcast\/season-twenty-six\/\">Listen to other episodes from Season 26<\/a> <a class=\"button-secondary outline\" href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/strengthening-the-soul-of-your-leadership-podcast\/\">Access past podcast seasons<\/a><\/p>\n<hr style=\"clear: both;\" \/>\n<p><strong>Mentioned in this episode:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Fbdwys\"><em>Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower isn&#8217;t Enough<\/em><\/a> by John Ortberg<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ETw8TE\"><em>The Dangers of Christian Practice: On Wayward Gifts, Characteristic Damage, and Sin<\/em><\/a> by Lauren F. Winner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Music Credit:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist<\/li>\n<li>Anthem from <em>Music in Solitude<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr style=\"clear: both;\" \/>\n<p><strong>Join us for our next Online Oasis!<\/strong> On June 11, we will be hosting a full Online Oasis entitled,<a href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/online-oasis\/\"> &#8220;What&#8217;s Not Working? Transitions in the Life of Prayer.&#8221;<\/a> \u00a0Whether you&#8217;re feeling spiritually dry, overwhelmed, or simply longing to connect more deeply with God, this Online Oasis will offer rest, renewal, and practical ways to pray when words are hard to find. AND we will actually pray! <a href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.ticketspice.com\/whats-not-working-transitions-in-the-life-of-prayer-\">REGISTER HERE<\/a> to join us on Wednesday, June 11, from 12:00\u20131:30 CST for this bit of respite in the middle of your day.<\/p>\n<p>Are you interested in learning more about <strong><em>Haven,<\/em> our newest community offering<\/strong> from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. <a href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/transforming-community\/haven\/\">Learn more about dates and how to apply!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Support the podcast!<\/strong> Patrons receive special bonus episodes that explore the season&#8217;s content more deeply. Become a patron today by visiting <a href=\"https:\/\/patreon.com\/transformingcenter\">our Patreon page<\/a>!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/\">Transforming Center<\/a> exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next <em><a href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/tc\">Transforming Community<\/a>:\u00ae A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.<\/em>\u00a0 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/transformingcenter.org\/transforming-community\/\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"copywrite\">*this post contains affiliate links<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this special bonus episode Ruth converses with pastor, author, speaker and long time friend, John Ortberg about his new book Steps, A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[141],"tags":[4589],"class_list":["post-19542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-season-26"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v26.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BONUS | The Gift of Desperation: 12 Steps as a Model for Spiritual Transformation - 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