France, the Hugenots and “Is God good?” with Janet Joanou Weiner!

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 …

What is the Opposite of Thanksgiving?

This is the month many of us set aside to contemplate our blessings…or so we say. We see social media posts about gratitude, make holiday plans with our families and enjoy an abundance of rich, decadent food. I fear we’re choking on our wealth, empty inside from the striving to have more. Several years ago, I spoke at a woman’s …

Wielding Nerf Swords: How to be a Grown-Up in a No-Accountability Culture

“I think I thrive under a lack of accountability.” ~Michael Scott, The Office Welcome to Accountability 101. Truth is a very valuable commodity. I think it’s safe to say it’s the most valuable commodity. That and love. And time. And hummus. Okay, maybe not hummus but that’s why I need accountability. I need people to tell me when I’m off …

What’s the Deal with the Christianese?

Something that cracks me up about believer lingo is the way some of us inadvertently slip into Christianese—you know, that unique way of speaking that identifies us as “Christian” to the outside world. The problem with Christianese is that it’s only understood by people within the same subculture. Much like consulting the Urban Dictionary to understand what on earth your …