When a “Nobody” Says YES!
Self-described "nobody," Barbara Demorest, describes how a personal encounter with cancer inspired her to find a solution for a common problem facing breast cancer victims. She said "Yes," when many others may have taken a pass. We talk about walking through open...
Justice in the Hands of the Ordinary
David Zach is the lead singer and songwriter of Remedy Drive, a rock band. He also is an undercover operative for an anti-sex trafficking organization, the Exodus Road. David talks about how this association came to be, how his past prepared him for this work, and...
Year in Review
Beth looks back over the year of inspiring episodes we have shared, explaining why one in particular holds a special place in her heart. She gives an update on the Graham Fam, and forecasts what's in the future for Lessons From Living. There's a special podcasting...
A Dance With Cancer
Following a devastating breast cancer diagnosis, Lindsay McDonnell did all of the right things, including challenging accepted traditional medical protocols and procedures. Yet, it returned not once, but three times. Today, Lindsay lives with a body full of cancer...
Book Review: The Last Arrow
Erwin Raphael McManus offers a thought-provoking, motivating treatise in The Last Arrow, published in 2017. In this episode, Beth discusses some of McManus' themes, such as what is represented by arrows, why we tend to hold back from pursuing our most important...
When Life Throws a Curveball
Dennis Mellen knew from the age of ten that he wanted to be a pilot, and set the entire trajectory of his life toward that goal. At fifty-six, he had enjoyed his dream career for more than 30 years when tragedy struck, and his well-planned life was...
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Latest Blog Posts
Merry Christmas Thank You
In this extraordinary season of blessing and gratitude, I would like to take a moment to thank you, my friends, for making Lessons From Living possible. This is a ministry and mission of love. Still, without a community that inspires the subject matter and provides...
To Unity!
I am captivated by the picture of the early church in Rodney Stark’s The Rise of Christianity: “Christianity attracted people from all strata of society, but particularly from among the poor and marginalized. In the Christian community, ethnic divisions were...
Addressing Apathy in an Election Year
A friend recently told me that she had not voted in 12 years. She said the political process was repulsive to her, and it made her feel lousy to be a part of it. I certainly sympathize with this sentiment; as enlightened as our country is in some ways, the political...
A Prayer for Patriotism
I recently had the privilege and great joy of meeting a young man from the Philippines. I knew very little about his country; only that it is still considered a developing country. I have since learned that according to 2021 statistics, nearly 25% of the population...
MLK: Wisdom for Today
In this time of turmoil in the United States, I find myself wishing that a fellow like Martin Luther King was still with us. How we need his wisdom today! While we remember him as an advocate of healthy race relationships, I think his words speak to today’s...
Growing a Family Through Fostering
When Jessica Spencer, her husband, and birth son decided to dip their toes into the waters of fostering children, they had no way to know that within days their little...
Patchwork of Possibilities
Perhaps you know a senior who is lacking purpose, or not feeling fulfilled. Perhaps you ARE that senior! It’s time to find another way of living, and author Sharon Rolphe is here to share her secrets. Sharon is a stunning 74-year-old, but her wisdom...
Pathway to Peace
Do you experience any conflict in your relationships? Are all of your conversations peaceful and productive? Did you think that strife and struggle was just a part of any human relationship? Well, maybe not! Doug Noll, author of DeEscalate: How to Calm an Angry...
Hope in Healing
Heather Hutchison has lived her entire life with a disability, as well as anxiety, depression and suicidal inclinations. After a close call which nearly cost Heather her life, she received the help she desperately needed, and did the hard work to reach a place...
The Power of Purpose
Why is it important to figure out your purpose, and pursue it with intentionality? Terry Tucker, who has been living with a rare form of cancer for ten years, and enduring all that is required to stay alive, knows quite a bit about the power of purpose. We talk...
Capturing Thoughts
Life coach Robyn Moore describes the process of taking captive your thoughts, and therefore taking back your life from forces that seek to control you. This is scriptural, described in 2 Corinthians 10:5 as "taking captive every thought to make it obedient to...
Lasting Legacy
Ken Wimberly has earned much wisdom over the years, finding success in both business and family life. He shares tidbits about relationship-building, connecting others, finding purpose, manifesting a goal, daily rhythms, being people of action, living with intention,...