24 Jun 2019

Karen Gonzalez-episode 180

The podcast gets a refresher this week. I hope you like it!

I’m excited to have Karen Gonzalez join me to talk about Immigration. Karen works for World Relief and she has a unique viewpoint because she is an immigrant. She arrived in the United States from Guatemala when she was 9 years old and became a citizen at age 19. She’s written the book The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong. I highly recommend it as she tells her story with the backdrop of some biblical characters and some of the important sacraments of the church.

Find Karen:
• Twitter
• Facebook
 

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

17 Jun 2019

Mike Murphy-episode 179

Mike Murphy joins me on the podcast this week after a 2-week hiatus—after the passing and memorial service for my dad. We talk about life, death, transition, and eventually focus in on a couple of Mike’s Rumblings from this past week. The Rumblings are below for those who don’t get them on Facebook. Friend me or Mike, or Like my professional/author page and you can see them each Friday.

Find Mike on Facebook

Rumblings. 6.14.19

1.The late, great, Robin Williams, once said that ”You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

So true. I love being around people who have a gleam in their eye and a touch of mischief about them. They are always interesting. I pray that none of us ever lose that precious spark of madness we’ve been given. Be a little weird. It will be good for you.

2.”People can…Read More

03 Jun 2019

melinda schmidt & michelle van loon-episode 178

 My two good friends Melinda Schmidt & Michelle Van Loon join me on the podcast this week. We do some freeform conversation reminiscent of the Millrose Club, for those who used to listen to Midday Connection.

Our first topic centered on favorite vacations. Topic number two looked at how we grow and if we need to move beyond things that once helped us grow.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Email us at producer@anitalustrea.com.

Find Michelle
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Find Melinda
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
 

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

27 May 2019

Belinda Bauman-episode 177

What does it look like to experience the audacious power of empathy? Belinda Bauman joins me on the podcast this week to talk about the message of her book Brave Souls. We touch on cutting edge neuroscience as well as biblical parables along with stories of brave women from across the globe. Belinda’s journey toward empathy can also be ours.

Check out these links:
• One Million Thumbprints
• Empathy Quiz
• Belinda on Twitter
• One Million Thumbprints on Facebook
 

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

13 May 2019

Christopher Smith-episode 176

Christopher Smith is a writer, community developer, and founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. He has authored a number of books, including the award-winning Slow Church. This week he joins me on the podcast to talk about How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church. 

We are wired for community and in order to cultivate community we must be in conversation. It seems to be a lost art in our society including our churches. Chris writes with such insight including the theological roots of conversation as well as the healing potential of conversation.

Find Chris on Twitter and Facebook.

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

06 May 2019

Marilyn McEntyre-episode 175

Marilyn McEntyre joins me again on Faith Conversations. She is an award-winning author of several books on language and faith. Her current title is another beauty, When Poets Pray. Marilyn is also a retreat leader and workshop presenter. We dive into the content of several poems on the podcast and Marilyn has the opportunity to explicate them for us.

Many ask how to understand poems and Marilyn gives two questions to keep in mind as we read poetry:
1. What does this poem invite me to do?
2. What does this poem require of me?
She says sometimes we need to let go of figuring it out!

Marilyn also mentioned a book by Carol Gilligan, In A Different Voice.

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

29 Apr 2019

Michelle Van Loon-episode 174

Michelle Van Loon joins me again in follow up of our last conversation where Michelle posed the question, “When was the last time God moved you deeply?” We’d love to hear your stories as well. Send an email to producer@anitalustrea.com. Michelle also mentioned two older books of hers, Parable Life and Uprooted. 

Find Michelle in these places:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
 

…Read More

22 Apr 2019

Parker Palmer-episode 173

I’ve taken this week off. In the post-Easter fog I thought I’d release again the Parker Palmer podcast from last fall. It’s one of my all-time favorite conversations. If you missed it, check it out. If you heard it last fall, it’s worth another listen. Hope you had a wonderful Easter!

Parker Palmer joins me on the podcast this week. I asked Mike to co-host and we had an incredible conversation with this nearly 80-year-old Statesman. Parker is founder and senior partner emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal and the author of ten books, including Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, and Healing the Heart of Democracy. On the podcast we talk about his latest and possibly final book, according to him, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity & Getting Old.

Parker’s latest book, as well as much of our conve…Read More

15 Apr 2019

Michelle Van Loon-episode 172

Michelle Van Loon joins me at my kitchen table this week as we encourage you to look for ways to connect to God during Holy Week. We talk about the stations of the cross and Michelle asks us to think about when was the last time we connected deeply with God. She also mentions a great liturgical resource website, www.crivoice.org.

We move from Holy Week and how we connect with God to a discussion about nostalgia in worship. We would love to hear what you think. Shoot us an email at producer@anitalustrea.com.

Find Michelle:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
 

…Read More

08 Apr 2019

Christie Purifoy-episode 171

 
Christie Purifoy joins me on the podcast this week. Had a few technical difficulties in the first 10 minutes. Hang in there because the conversation is amazing!! Christie holds a Ph.D. in English Literature and she traded the classroom for a farmhouse, a garden, and a writing desk. She is a gorgeous writer. We had a beautiful conversation about Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace. It’s interesting to me how much of my life I lived feelings that beauty was a luxury and not a necessity. As you hear Christie’s story and her heart, I believe it will encourage you in the things of God that we sometimes feel are selfish pursuits but aren’t!
Find Christie here.
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

…Read More