Moments that Matter

Moments that Matter was delighted to spend time with the musical duo Chatham Rabbits (aka Austin and Sarah McCombie), talking about all things music and all things life. You can get to know them even better at chathamrabbits.com!

Join us for this presentation by our dear friend, Rev. Natasha Dongell, exploring the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, highlighting her suffering and resilience. From the moment she is told by the angel she's going to have a baby, Mary endured significant hardships, including her son Jesus's crucifixion. Natasha draws parallels to her personal experiences of suffering, emphasizing the grace that enables believers to endure and draw closer to God. The message underscores the importance of staying with Jesus in pain, seeing his kingdom in dark places, and synchronizing one's life with his. The ultimate goal is to embody the power of Christ's resurrection and bring God's kingdom to earth.

Dive into the profound and heartfelt journey captured in "When Lynn Died," a memoir by Reverend Natasha Dongell. Your hosts discuss this powerful book with its author, who recounts her experience navigating the depths of grief after losing her first husband, Lynn Erskine. Natasha, a pastor and writer, interweaves personal revelations, dreams, and biblical insights to create a deeply moving narrative that transcends her own story, offering hope and wisdom for anyone facing loss.

Through her vivid storytelling, she explores the complexities of grief, the power of vulnerability, and the transformative process of embracing pain to find healing. Natasha’s reflections on the cultural challenges surrounding death and her insights into building meaningful relationships during grief make this book a must-read.

Available now on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats, "When Lynn Died" is more than a memoir—it's a guide for navigating the darkest nights toward the sunrise of healing. Read it, reflect, and leave a review to support this incredible work. https://www.amazon.com/When-Lynn-Died-Journey-Resurrection-ebook/dp/B0DHV4657R?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Perfect for those on a grief journey or looking to support someone who is.

Scott Williams interviews Paul Shotsberger and David Conley about their new book Who Is Your Resilience Builder?: Loss, Friendship, and Creativity. Join us!

We're excited to continue our Books that Matter series this week, talking with Mary Campbell Huss Norman about the Fredrik Backman book Anxious People. MC is a Clemson graduate with a degree in English and is currently living and working in Tennessee.  On this episode, MC shares her thoughts with Dr. Shotsberger from her recent journey through Anxious People.  You will most certainly wish to check it out!

We are picking back up this week with part two of our discussion with Lauren Schaupp.  Keeping in line with our current series, Books that Matter, Lauren shares a book that has been incredibly meaningful to her, Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor.  Listen in and discover why the difference between light and dark is not always as clear as we think and why there is some purpose to the darkness we all encounter, whether it be physical, metaphysical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological.  For more information check out your own copy of Learning to Walk in the Dark and be sure to listen next week for the brilliant conclusion of this episode.

It is an honor to welcome back a previous and beloved guest to the podcast, Lauren Schaupp.  In our last interview she described her experience hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2021 and is back to continue our current series, Books that Matter.  This week Lauren shares a book that has been incredibly meaningful to her, Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor.  Listen in and discover why the difference between light and dark is not always as clear as we think and why there is some purpose to the darkness we all encounter, whether it be physical, metaphysical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological.  For more information check out your own copy of Learning to Walk in the Dark and be sure to listen next week for the brilliant conclusion of this episode.

For those who have been following this podcast, this information will be familiar news but for others, this may be the first introduction to Dr. Paul Shotsberger's latest book: A Love Letter to Twentysomethings Everywhere.  Several weeks ago Dr. Shotsberger was invited to the Rickman Library to share a summary of his new book, answer any questions, and read a selected passage or two.  With this previously recorded session, you will hear new insights as well as new content and if you have not yet already read or reviewed this timely book, visit Amazon for your own copy of A Love Letter to Twentysomethings Everywhere.

Continuing with our recent series of Books that Matter, cohost Scott Williams shares one of his personal favorites, A Short and Easy Method of Prayer by Madame Jeanne Guyon.  A longtime favorite author, Madame Guyon gained great notariety in the late 1600's with her passionate life of prayer and deep connection with God.  Her work finally found her thrown into the Bastille for, as she stated, the crime of loving God too much.  Her short work on prayer directs those hungry for greater intimacy with God to practical yet profound concepts of attainable and abiding prayer.  Give it a read and you will be awfully glad that you did: A Short and Easy Method of Prayer.

As we continue our current series of Books that Matter, Dr. Paul Shotsberger provides his reaction and thoughts on Fredrik Backman and his novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer.  The book shares the moving tale of an aging grandpa and his interactions with his loving grandson, Noah.  However, there's a bit of a twist to this story and the impact to its readers is promised to be significant.  This is a book that carries a wealth of meaning to readers in each stage of life and you will no doubt derive your own as you read it for yourself.  For more information on the book or to secure your own copy, you can find it at Amazon, or your favorite bookstore.