Today I chat with chaplain, speaker, singer and all-around awesome guy Brian Spahr! Brian and I talk about the most frustrating, and funny, stories about church ministry and Brian gives the low-down on being a hospital chaplain. We delve deep into 'stepping into the sacred' in ministry, as well as 'listening for the sacred' in music and art. Brian talks about creating safe spaces in grief and he gives me the low-down on his brand-new book Don't You Care That We Are Drowning?...which is a look at the not-so pretty prayers we cry out during times when life hits hard.…

Today I sit down with one of my very favorite people...my buddy Joy K. Massenburge! Joy and I bonded years ago at the National American Christian Fiction Writers Meeting when we discovered we are both PKs. (Preacher's kids, for the laymen out there.) Today, Joy and I talk about life behind the scenes of ministry, being a Gigi, and the astounding story of how her future husband loved her to Christ. (Get the tissues ready.) We discuss how to memorize God's Word...ideas like implementing ABC memory verses and how Joy memorized ALL of Psalm 119. Also in this episode... Learn…

Today, Tara is chatting with her lovely, sweet friend Janet McHenry! Janet is the author of 50 Life Lessons for Grads, Prayer Walk, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus, Prayer Streaming, Girlfriend Gatherings and many more. The ladies chat about the three distinct callings Janet has explored with God, along with their current story ideas, and how God once told Janet to "Pursue Me". They also discuss how prayer walking changed the lives of those in Janet's community, and how a nightmare led her into teaching. Also in this episode.... Nancy Drew, whisperings from God, and praying on…

I watched my eight-year-old son carry his Bible into the dining room before resting it on the table. He slid into an empty chair and opened to the index. I looked up from the salad I was tossing on the counter. “Hey, buddy. Whatcha doing?” Nate frowned. “I have been feeling bad lately about not reading my Bible like I should.” His expression brightened into earnest fervor. “So I’m going to start reading my Bible every single day.” Oh, how I love his tender heart. I smiled. “Good idea! Where are you going to start? Genesis maybe?” “Nah.” He ran…

Welcome to This is my Story! Today, we get to chat with one of the most talented and uplifting ladies I know...and she has the cutest giggle ever. Say hi to Pepper Basham! On today's show, Pepper and I talk about raising cool kids, learning to listen, and the pros and cons of traditional versus independent publishing. We chat about Appalachia, and Pepper's early story inspiration: The Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Jane Eyre and all things British. Also on the show... Writing through grief, God speaking in story, being tested on what we write, snotting through sad scenes, and…

On today's show, Tara visits with her friend Janet Joanou Weiner, an author and missionary to France! Janet and Tara talk about culture shocks, the theology of niceness and the beauty of living in a 600-year-old chateau. Janet tells us all about her new book Though Darkness Descend, and the amazing history of the Hugenots that inspired it. Also in this show.... Where God is in suffering, happiness versus joy, and how story forms our view of the world. And the big question...what would Laura Ingalls think of our world today? Links: Home | Fig & Vine La vie est…