Lori Neff joins me this week on the podcast. She is a dear friend and former colleague. Currently, she is a marketing manager with InterVarsity Press. She is an avid reader and a wonderful writer. We focus on a recent blog post of hers called, “Being Childless.” We also discuss The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu, a book Lori recently read.

Also discussed are these books:

And these websites:

Michelle Van Loon joins me on the podcast to respond to email from last week’s episode as well as tackle a new and important topic of the Larry Nassar case and the powerful victim impact statements made in court. We look at the hard and powerful words of Rachael Denhollander made in her victim impact statement.

We also talked about Boz Tchividjian’s organization GRACE.

Michelle is author of Moments and Days, as well as the soon to be released book, Born to Wander.

She is co-creator of The Perennial Gen blog for those in midlife and beyond.

Follow Michelle @michellevanloon on Twitter. Find her here on Facebook.

Michelle Van Loon is the author of five books, including the upcoming release, Born to Wander: Recovering The Value of Our Pilgrim Identity.

This week on the podcast we focus on how to be human! We look at how we interact with people who’ve moved to the margins and even out the door of our churches as well as how loneliness is epidemic in our society. Great Britain just appointed a Minister of Loneliness. Check out this article.

Follow Michelle @michellevanloon on Twitter.

Find her here on Facebook.

Author and radio host Chris Fabry joins me on this week’s Faith Conversations. His newest novel, Under A Cloudless Sky, just released. It tackles some difficult topics like the secrets we keep and how they shape us, and how our relationships change over time with our parents. Loving aging parents for who they are and not who we want them to be can be a challenge. With Chris’s help, there are some thoughtful characters in Under A Cloudless Sky to walk with us over this tricky terrain. Once again Chris writes a novel set in his native West Virginia that tugs at our heartstrings and equally makes us think.

Mike Murphy joins me for a New Year’s podcast, focusing on a quick look back, and a look at some ways to live in the new year.

The following books were mentioned:

Marla Taviano is an author, blogger, and library builder in Cambodia. She and her husband Gabe and their three daughters moved to Cambodia three years ago and have lived a kind of three-steps-forward-two-steps-back life. Once the building of libraries started, however, they’ve not looked back.

On this episode of Faith Conversations, we talk about what it looks like for people to live the lives they were meant to live. How do we walk into the fullness of who God created us to be? There has to be some discovery, some answering of a few self-focused questions. Marla touches on all of those in her new e-book, What Makes You Fart: A Highly Scientific Formula for Living the Life You Were Meant to Live.

Want to start off 2018 moving toward your intended purpose? Listen to the podcast and then download a copy of Marla’s book. It’s only $2.99!

Find Marla in these places:

Lia Huber is an entrepreneur, consultant, recipe developer, and food writer. She speaks widely about food and faith. Honestly, I wish I was her next door neighbor so I could try a few recipes she develops! She is charming and has a story worth reading. Her book Nourished is beautifully written, takes you all over the world, and makes you hungry while you’re reading!

Check out NOURISH Evolution. Lia is the founder and CEO for which she was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and Cook the Seasons, a subscription-based real food community and online menu planner.

Eric Motley is an amazing man and gracious as they come. He grew up in the freed slaves’ town of Madison Park, Alabama. From this beginning in the Black community, he rose to become a special assistant to President George W. Bush. Currently, Eric is an executive vice president of the Aspen Institute based in Washington, D.C. He is a Samford University graduate, and as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, he earned a Master of Letters and a Ph.D. as the John Steven Watson Scholar.

Our conversation focused on Madison Park and the deep importance of community. We covered prejudice and education and the movement of God in our lives. His memoir, Madison Park: A Place of Hope, is an excellent read!

Sara Groves is a singer/songwriter and recording artist with a passion for justice and a deep heart of mercy. She happens to have just released a new album titled Abide With Me, her first hymns album—and it’s a gem.

Sara is a great conversationalist and we go all over the place in the podcast. We talk about the new album, how old her kids are now, what season of life it is for the Groves family, and what music Sara listens to (Sandra McCracken, Jill Phillips, Andy Gullahorn, John Mark Nelson, Taylor Leonheart), along with what she is reading (Blood Meridian).

Gregory Coles joins me on the podcast to talk about his personal journey of faith and sexual identity. He talks about what it looks like and feels like to belong nowhere. Choosing to say one is gay sets off all kinds of landmines, especially if the one coming out is also a Christian. Greg Coles tells his story as we talk about the content of his book, Single, Gay, Christian.

Wherever you are—open and affirming; not sure even stating that one is gay is ok for a Christian; or, if you’re ok with that but believe a celibate life is expected—this podcast will speak to you.