Shalom Sessions

I'm so excited for y'all to meet Carrie Wilson. I learned about Carrie and her ministry to women who have been diagnosed with STDs when I heard her on Jamie Ivey's podcast interview with Jamie Golden. Carries is passionate about create safe spaces for women who struggle with sexual shame in the church, specifically those who have been diagnosed with an STD. She knows that isolation and shame well, not too long ago, Carrie was diagnosed with HSV 2 and if it were not for loving leaders in the church coming alongside her she wouldn't have been able to find joy and purpose even after her rock bottom moment. What's subversive about her joy is that historically, the church has not been a safe and kind place who have sexual pasts but Carrie listens to God's call to change that on her church campus, she created "New" a small group for women in her church to find the joy of authentic and kind community. I just love our conversation and can't wait for you to listen.

Shame in the church

The prayer campaign that started it all

The value of a strong support system.

on Facebook

(this is her personal page, so make sure you message her before friend-ing her)

on Instagram

This month all our episodes will be around the theme "we will choose subversive joy". So this month I have some pretty fabulous shows planned for you:

Oct 3: Carrie Wilson (Joy after hitting rock bottom)

Oct. 7: Shalom Book Club! Cara and I will discuss "Love Warrior"

Oct. 10: Kelly Gordon (Sabbath: enjoying the life you have)

Oct. 17: Kacie Feeny of Persimmon Prints (Joy after infertility) + A GIVEAWAY!

Oct. 21: The Happiness Dare with Jennifer Dukes Lee (giveaway winner announced)

Oct. 24: Katherine Wills Pershey, "Very Married" in difficult times and joyful times.

Oct. 28th: Shalom Book Club! Cara and I will discuss "Roadmap to Reconciliation"

Oct. 31th: GILMORE GIRLS themed show.

Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss a week of joy on the podcast.

Keep the conversation going over at the Shalom Sistas' Hangout where Carrie and I will be answering questions or cheering you on as you consider joining a small group or even starting a group.

If you learned something, laughed, or smile during the episode please leave a review in iTunes, it helps other women find the show.

Shalom in your earbuds,

Osheta

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Today's guest is one of my favorite women, Victoria Tiedemann. She and I only know each other from online— we're both Anabaptist women bloggers who love fashion and justice...were were bound to meet and become friends. Victoria is passionate about ending modern day slavery, she's what some call an abolitionist. She tells us about the Justice Network and how she started working with them to educate others about human trafficking and she gives us some VERY SPECIFIC ways we can practice shalom when we shop. You are going to love how practical and fun this episode is.

What we talk about:

• The Justice Network
• How Target is actually a GREAT PLACE to shop...Glory be Lord.
• Resource Lists for Shopping Ethically:

Non-consumable ethical & Fair Trade list of goods:

https://justice-network.org/resources/fairtrade/

Ethical and Fair Trade chocolate (GREAT for Halloween)

https://justice-network.org/resources/chocolate-companies/

• How her Anabaptist convictions encourage to love and humanize everyone caught in the system of modern day slavery— even the traffickers themselves.
• Her perfect day in Summit, New Jersey

Victoria's blog, "Justice Pirate" is here

Keep the conversation going over at the Shalom Sistas' Hangout where Victoria and I will be answering questions or cheering you on as you practice shalom while you shop.

If you learned something, laughed, or smile during the episode please leave a review in iTunes, it helps other women find the show.

Shalom in your earbuds,

Osheta

Welcome to the sixth edition of the "Shalom Book Club" where once a month, my friend Cara Meredith joins me to talk about a book. Like I said in the first episode of this series this is partly to solve a very real problem I have- I simply can't work in a book club in my week here in L.A.. This month we read the "The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love' by Sarvenaz "Sarv" Tash.

Stats:

249 pages, 26 chapters

Authors: Sarvenaz "Sarv" Tash was born in Tehran, Iran, and grew up on Long Island, New York. She received her BFA in film and television from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. That means she got to spend most of college running around making movies (it was a lot of fun). She has dabbled in all sorts of writing, including screenwriting, copywriting, and professional tweeting. Sarv currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. New mom!

Context: Graham met his best friend, Roxy, when he moved into her neighborhood eight years ago and she asked him which Hogwarts house he'd be sorted into. Graham has been in love with her ever since. But now they're sixteen, still neighbors, still best friends. And Graham and Roxy share more than ever - moving on from their Harry Potter obsession to a serious love of comic books.

When Graham learns that the creator of their favorite comic, The Chronicles of Althena, is making a rare appearance at this year's NYCC, he knows he must score tickets. And the event inspires Graham to come up with the perfect plan to tell Roxy how he really feels about her. He's got three days to woo his best friend at the coolest, kookiest con full of superheroes and supervillians. But no one at a comic book convention is who they appear to be ...even Roxy. And Graham is starting to realize fictional love stories are way less complicated than real-life ones.

Paper Towns by John Green

He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt

32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter

Princess Bride— the best motion picture ever...well in my biased opinion ;)

16 Candles— errr...this is awkward...I do love me some 80's teen romances. Jake Ryan, Birthday cake and candles, anyone?

Cara and I are so excited this book has been sitting our in our to be shipped (or downloaded) queue for months. We both pre-ordered it, pretty much the moment Glennon announced it was ready.

Buy your copy and get ready for a great discussion on Shalom and Marriage next month on the podcast.

Falling in love, Awesomely 80's references, Comic-Con Dreams, and Shalom

Osheta

On the show today I talking to one of my favorite women, Melanie Dale.

Melanie runs the website, Unexpected where she writes about motherhood, friendships, infertility, adoption, orphan care, and so much more. What I love about her site is it feels like one big hug and then a completely satisfying belly laugh. Melanie is also the author of two books: Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends and It's Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn't Choose.

We talk about that "It's Not Fair" on the episode since it just released LAST WEEK! Whoo-hoo! Go, Mel!

In fact, I loved this book so much I have an extra copy to give away; directions are in the podcast episode.

On the podcast we talk about the Shalom Sista Manifesto point, "We Will Choose Subversive Joy". She gives is the best advice on motherhood and laughter, she's gives us permission to own our feelings, and she her end of the show quote is spot on!

It was a really great conversation and I hope you'll take a listen.

Practicing the Shalom of Laughter,

Osheta

Cara and I discuss the book the Knock-off, if we feel old (even though one of us, is a true Millennial), and how to have relationships with women and NOT lose our minds.

Join us for next month's book, "The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love"

Today I have on Jamie Ivey from the Happy Hour podcast.

I've been listening to Jamie's show several years now and she's actually a huge inspiration to me so when she said yes to coming onto the show I kinda did a happy dance all across my living room. True story. The reason why and why you'll find out soon in our conversation today about her work in a prison ministry with Redeemed Ministries is that Jamie is incredibly genuine, intelligent, and passionate. Her desire to make Jesus known and to offer her support to women in need is infectious. You simply want to be better after listening to Jamie. Which is why her podcast is a favorite of mine. Today Jamie share with us sex trafficking opened her eyes to the needs of women in jails, how the book Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson opened her heart to have compassion for people entangled in the justice system, and how Redeemed Ministries is opening doors for her to love and encourage women trying to overcome the hard things in their lives that landed them in jail. It's a really inspiring conversation and I hope you stick around.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Sign up for the Shalom in the City Newsletter to find the Shalom Steps and next steps if you want to seek wholeness for women who are incarcerated.

http://eepurl.com/bLBUqz

Redeemed Ministries is the organization Jamie works with and they exist "To bring Christ's loving redemption and amazing liberation within our communities by providing environments conducive for holistic healing and guiding adult survivors of domestic sex trafficking to healthy, productive and independent living."

http://redeemedministries.com/

Books* that helped Jamie form this practice of Shalom:

"Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not For Sale: A Memoir" by Rachel Lloyd

Just Mercy A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

*affiliate links

Jamie's end show quote came from a song by Sara Groves

"I Saw What I Saw"

Next week we have Kelly Gordon from Love Well Blog and the Sorta Awesome podcast to talk about self-care, Sabbath, and shalom.

Until then...

Shalom in your earbuds,

Osheta

From Amazon:

"There are hundreds of metaphors for God, but the church only uses a few familiar images: creator, judge, savior, father. In Wearing God, Lauren Winner gathers a number of lesser-known tropes, reflecting on how they work biblically and culturally, and reveals how they can deepen our spiritual lives."

Exploring the notion of God as clothing, Winner reflects on how we are "clothed with Christ" or how "God fits us like a garment."

In this "Shalom Book Club" episode, Cara and I discuss "Wearing God" by Lauren Winner.

Have you ever picked up a book and wanted to love it so much but something keeps you from diving in? Yeah...that's a little how Cara and I felt about "Wearing God" we both love Winner and we both wanted to jump right into the book, but we both had a hard time. Cara read it last year so it was a re-read for her, I started is last summer and couldn't finish it. As we chatted on the podcast, we realized that maybe it wasn't the book, but the season. We both think Lauren F. Winner is the perfect author to read in the cooler months. So we chat a bit about what happens when you're struggling with a book and how to reconcile the voracious reader in you with that sense of obligation that you must finish a book you start.

We also share our favorite essays, and how we're both finding God in the every bit of our lives— adjusting to gluten-free eating and walking around downtown L.A.

It's a really fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

Don't forget to join us later this month when we discuss, "The Knockoff"

The Knockoff: A Novel

Shalom in your Earbuds, Y'all!

~Osheta

I'm so thankful for my friend, Alice Colegrove.

For nearly twenty years, Alice has worked on initiatives to help youth and young adults exit homelessness. She has worked on the issue of homelessness at nearly every level including local direct service, city and state policy initiatives, and national academic forums. Locally, she has over fifteen years of direct service experience, including street outreach with homeless youth and young adults in Boston and Cambridge, MA, and she is an active member of the advisory board for the Y2Y youth shelter in Harvard Square.

And today she came on the podcast to tell us her story and teach us about homelessness and what we can do to alleviate the suffering of so many people. This episode was particularly special for me because of the make up of our church, we're so close to Skid Row and oftentimes I feel out of my depth. I know I want to help and I'm moved by the need every time I drive downtown, but I don't know where to being.

Alice really spoke to those concerns and gave me the pep talk I need. If you've been wondering where you fit in to God's story of shalom for those experiencing homelessness, I know this is an episode you'll love.

I'm amazed at her story; as a young girl in D.C. she had a heart for persons experiencing homelessness. I loved her person-centered language in "say this not that" segment and how she encouraged us to learn the names of the homeless we meet.

I was so challenged by that!

Alice empowered us with the Shalom Steps of:

I also appreciated her thoughts on when you first start to volunteer at a homeless shelter that go along with Shalom Step #1:

Instead of thinking about what you're doing, think about but you're seeing and let that guide you on what to do next.

When I'm downtown L.A. I want to have courage and compassion to make eye contact and say hello.

On this Episode We Walk About

What a day in the life of a youth experiencing homelessness looks like.

The answer to the question, "Should I give change to a homeless person"

How she balances motherhood and ministry

The biggest needs and challenges for homeless youth.

It was a really important conversation for me, especially since I've been thinking about this putting together the homeless care packages from last episode with my kiddos, but didn't want to do it just to pat myself on the back, I wanted it to mean something. With Alice's advice to "check my heart" and funnel my desire to help alleviate the suffering of those experiencing homelessness through the lens of Micah 6:8, I feel to energized to seek shalom of homeless youth and young adults.

Shalom in your earbuds, Sistas!

~Osheta

My guest on the podcast this week is Rachel Hollis. Rachel Hollis the brilliant founder of the Chic Site, head of the #chictribe and one of the most authentic women I've ever met.

I've followed her site for almost a year now and I can tell y'all that every single time I read a post or watched a #RachTalk I thought, 'This woman is practicing Shalom in such a profound and important way' so I knew eventually I'd invite her to come onto the show. Then last Christmas, I attended a holiday party with a purpose at the Chic Site's headquarters just minutes from my house and I KNEW I needed to have her come teach us how to #PartywithPurpose and how she practices shalom in her everyday life. It was an incredible conversation.

We talk about everything from her upbringing as a PK (pastor's kid) and how that inspired her to see the sacred in gathering people together. She share with us the how the ChicShows Up Christmas Event came to be— which I have to say, y'all was a highlight of our first Christmas in L.A.

What I loved most about the event was that is was crazy festive, (I got my Mariah Carey "All I want for Christmas" sing on, for sure), but it was SHALOM IN ACTION. All of us worked to create a Christmas care package for families transitioning from homeless into their new homes.

CRAFTS for the babies. Rachel thoughtfully planned these packages to love on every single person in the family. What an amazing Shalom Sista!

I was working at the pumpkin pie mason jars station. I smelled amazing at the end of the event!

Pier One partner with the Chic Site by providing cute aprons for the care packages.

Even Rachel's family showed up to party with a purpose.

Here's Rachel's Shalom Steps to help us ease into gathering and loving people with a purpose.

How Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker that changed her life

Her favorite coffee shop is Priscilla's in Burbank, which since we tape the show (back in March) I've visited at least once as week, y'all. I have a problem :).

She's involved in Door of Hope, a faith-based organization in Los Angeles whose mission is to equip homeless families and rebuild their lives.

and her book series, "The Girls" was a spark of joy and Jesus' way of saying, "I see you, Osheta. You need to laugh right now" for me when my mother in law died last fall.

She also mentions these homeless care packages that she keeps in her care. I'm so moved by the needs of the homeless community and I'm always asking God how to practically care for them, especially in this season of mothering, these were genius. Go to her post on it for a video walk through how to do these packages with your kiddos...methinks there's a #SummerofShalom Instagram party op here...

Finally, we're kicking off the #SummerofShalom Instagram Challenge next Monday so don't forget to download (or claim) your FREE SUMMER GIFT here. Follow me on Instagram @OshetaM to see how I practice Shalom this summer. https://www.instagram.com/oshetam/

Shalom in your earbuds Sistas,

Osheta

My guest on the podcast this week is Sarah Quezada. Sarah and I write for some of the same places and so we've been cheering each other on on the interwebs, but I feel for her over chips and salsa when I was in Atlanta this past fall after the Allume conference.

Sarah Quezada is the author of the blog, "A Life With Subtitles" where she writes about living a multicultural life in Atlanta, GA with her Guatemalan husband and two talkative kiddos!

Today's episode is a follow up to my book club conversation with Cara Meredith on the book, "Esperanza Rising". Since so much of the book focuses on the struggle of the immigrant worker in California during the Depression Era and we see glimpses of the gaps in the immigration policies in America, I thought it was important to bring on my friend to share her story of falling for an undocumented worker and EVERYTHING they've gone through to secure his citizenship.

Check out "Immigration Love Story"! It's a fantastic detailing of her love story with Billy in three parts.

Her "Say This, Not That" section was fantastic and I'm so inspired by her Shalom Steps.

"Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible" M. Daniel Carroll

"Welcoming the Stranger" by Matthew Soerens

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @MatthewSoerens

Brunch Spot: The Majestic Diner

Coffee Shop: Community Grounds

Urban Oasis: Grant Park

Date Night: Barnes and Noble

I'm really motivated to learn more about immigration in our country. I'm taking to heart the words of MLK:

Don't forget to claim your hard copy of the #SummerofShalom printable. They're going out in the mail on Monday so that you get them in time for the first official day of Summer, June 20th.

You can follow Sarah on her blog and Twitter.

As always, you can continue the conversation in the Shalom Sistas Hangout.

Shalom in your earbuds, y'all!

~Osheta