16 Dec 2019

Beth & David Booram-episode 203

Beth and David Booram join me on the podcast this week. Beth was my very first podcast guest when Faith Conversations began, so it was wonderful to have her back and to have her husband and coauthor, David, join us.

The Boorams are the cofounders and directors of Fall Creek Abbey, an urban retreat center in Indianapolis, where they lead the School of Spiritual Direction and offer individual and group spiritual direction. Together they’ve authored When Faith Becomes Sight: Opening Your Eyes to God’s Presence All Around You.

One thing I knew for certain, nothing with the Booram’s name on it would be lightweight. If you desire to grow your soul, you’ll want to dive into their latest book and listen to the podcast. We look at how to recognize signs of God, how to discover the lenses we look through, and how to enter the d…Read More

09 Dec 2019

Michelle DeRusha-episode 202

Michelle DeRusha joins me again on the podcast. The first time she joined me, our focus was her book True You—a worthy read. I knew then that she needed to be a return guest because she was such a good conversationalist. So Michelle is back and we discuss topics from her newsletter and recent blog posts. She is a wonderful writer and her blog is one of the few I read regularly.

We talked about everything from ‘am I a gym person’ to what does it mean to ‘move at the pace of what is real.’ And, we take a look at what is on Michelle’s nightstand or what has most recently been there. Looking for some good books to read? Maybe you’ll find one in our conversation.

Books mentioned: Olive Kitteridge, Olive Again, The Summer Book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Podcast…Read More

02 Dec 2019

Andrew Peterson-episode 201

Long time friend, Andrew Peterson, joins me on the podcast as we talk about both a new book, Adorning the Dark, and a new album, the 20th anniversary edition of Behold the Lamb of God.

Andrew talked about writing and songwriting. We talked about community and what Behold the Lamb of God looks like on its 20th anniversary. We also talked about what Andrew is reading these days.

Here’s that list:
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Mudlarking
The Brothers Karamzov
Find Andrew here:
• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Rabbit Room
 

Note: When clicking through on links to products on Amazon, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….Read More

25 Nov 2019

Anita Lustrea-episode 200

Episode 200! It’s a milestone in my podcasting world. Most people who start a podcast do a few episodes, maybe 6 months’ worth, but episode 200 represents 4 years of nearly continuous podcasts. I’m a bit surprised that I made it this far. Many things compel me to go on and you’ll hear about that and more on this episode as my son, John Lustrea, picks up the microphone and interviews me!

These books were mentioned:
• Glory Happening by Kaitlin Curtice
• Always We Begin Again by Leeana Tankersley
• Once We Were Strangers by Shawn Smucker
• What Is The Bible by Rob Bell
 

Find Anita:
• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
 

Note: When clicking through on links to products on Amazon, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….Read More

18 Nov 2019

Robert J Wicks-episode 199

Dr. Robert J. Wicks is my guest this week on the podcast. He is Professor emeritus, Loyola University Maryland. He is a prolific author and a much sought after speaker and workshop presenter. I was intrigued by the title of his book, The Tao of Ordinariness: Humility and Simplicity in a Narcissistic Age.

The focus of our conversation was on issues of true self/false self and how one arrives at a stronger sense of self. As Dr. Wicks walked us through the important portals of humility, simplicity, alone time, courage, resilience, and mentorship, he helps us learn to appreciate our own sense of self.

Find Dr. Wicks:
• Website
• Facebook
 

Note: When clicking through on links to products on Amazon, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….Read More

11 Nov 2019

Mike Murphy-episode 198

It’s been awhile since I’ve had Mike Murphy on the podcast as a solo guest. We talked about life and spiritual growth, journaling, and of course Mike’s weekly post called Friday Rumblings.

We talk about something Mike has been pondering and praying about. We look briefly at politics and faith. We read and respond to a poem. And we talk about the main point of a sermon Mike once preached that he and I still think about.

Find Mike Murphy in these places:
• Spiritual Direction
• Facebook
 

Note: When clicking through on links to products on Amazon, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….Read More

04 Nov 2019

Sara Groves-episode 197

Sara Groves is a long-time friend and I love any excuse to connect with her. The excuse this time is a new Christmas Album titled Joy of Every Longing Heart. It’s been over 10 years since she released her first Christmas album and, in her words, releasing a Christmas album at all “feels indulgent.” I am glad she indulged herself and you will be, too.

We talk about life and music and hear clips of several songs from her latest project. Take a listen to the podcast as you just might find your way to winning a copy of Sara’s new project.

Find Sara here:
• Art House North
• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
 

 
Note: When clicking through on links to products on Amazon, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases….Read More

21 Oct 2019

Michelle Van Loon-episode 196

My friend, neighbor, and fellow author Michelle Van Loon joins me on the podcast this week to talk about how we make decisions. What is your decision making process based on regarding your stand on political and moral/ethical issues such as abortion, the death penalty, immigrations, etc.? As we grow in maturity, do we make decisions using the same grid we always have, or does that process change?

We also discuss what drawing water from the well looks like and what that means. If we’ve drawn from the same well and find ourselves still thirsty, do we lower the bucket down deeper into the well, dig a new well? What is our process for growth and refreshment when we find our soul is parched?

Michelle’s latest book is available for Pre-Order on Amazon. It releases next spring. Check out Becoming Sage:Cultivating Meaning, Purpose, and Spi…Read More

14 Oct 2019

Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson-episode 195

Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson join me on the podcast this week. They’ve written a couple of unique books pointing us to the spiritual practice of prayer. But not in the usual way. As they help us focus on The Lord’s Prayer through their latest book, May It Be So, they use a combination of language and imagery to help us gain spiritual clarity in our ongoing conversation with God.

A flourishing prayer life, Justin and Scott say, is sometimes just beyond our reach, so why not try engaging in a new practice that might help us relate better to God.

I hope you connect to their descriptions as we model, during the podcast, how to engage with their new book, May It Be So: Forty Days with the Lord’s Prayer.

Find Justin and Scott:

Justin’s website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Scott’s website
Facebook
Instagram
&nbsp…Read More

07 Oct 2019

Vinita Hampton Wright-episode 194

Vinita Hampton Wright joins me on the podcast to talk about writing, reading, and Ignatian Spirituality. Vinita is an editor with Loyola Press, and a prolific and excellent writer. Some of Vinita’s books include, Days of Deepening Friendship (a personal favorite), Dwelling Places (one of several novels), The Art of Spiritual Writing, and her most recent—which we will talk about on the podcast—Small Simple Ways.

I asked Vinita what she reads and found out her sources for book reviews and recommendations are The Christian Century and The Atlantic. She recently finished and highly recommends Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and is currently reading Dubliners by James Joyce, and is about to start Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson.

Vinita also mentioned a website that is a wonderful res…Read More