Rough Drafts: How God Writes His Love in Our Stories

This episode was a throwback for me...all the way back to 8th grade Bible at David Lipscomb Middle School. Today's guest is Mike McPherson - youth minister, coach, Bible teacher....he wears a lot of hats. You may have heard his story in the past about navigating depression...and navigating his wife's death to ALS. In our conversation today, he shares some of the...less-than-helpful...things that w...

I met Tim Hines when we landed in Honduras last summer. Immediately, I knew he was going to be someone I wanted to know. He's got a fantastic sense of humor (that I'm still a little afraid of)...incredible faith... and a generous heart. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, either. You've heard great things from his son, Dalton, in a previous episode!

Big news from Burns Church! We welcome Chuck Ramseur to our staff as our new associate minister. In this episode recorded on day 1, you'll get to meet Chuck, hear his story, and how he ended up in ministry.

You're going to love today's guest! She's the chair of Kinsman Redeemer Homeless ministry in Dickson. She has a heart to help people...and she's going to tell you (at least!) two stories...her story, and the story of this ministry. She's going to open your eyes to the realities of the homeless in Dickson and so much more!

John Smith (yes, that's his real name!) serves at Dickson First Presbyterian Church and as an Air Force reservist Chaplain. He's also the brains behind Dickson's "Theology on Tap." He's got stories - but those aren't the stories he shares today! John takes us on the journey of his faith...the ups and downs...and how he went from performing to be God's favorite child to relishing the love of Jesus....

John Mark Hicks shares a story of loss and disorientation - how his understanding of God changed his implicit deal wit God.

It's Brittany 4 of 4 this week - the last of our month of Brittanii. Brittany Callaway shares her stories of sports and faith and surgeries...you'll be blessed!

The month of Brittany continues....with Brittany 3 of 4!  Today you'll hear about how God's plans...well, they don't always line up with ours, but they turn out so much better. God knows what he's doing, especially when we don't!

I don't know anyone who does more to advocate for the special needs community and our kids in general than Robyn Lampley...and she's our guest on today's bonus episode of Rough Drafts! Just listen to these lines: "We say CAN not CANNOT." "Nothing ABOUT me WITHOUT me" "Assume competence." "Find the ability in the disability" "People-first language" "Stairs and stares" "No one wants pity." You're go...

It's the second of our month of Brit'ys.... Brittany Hardin! Today you get to hear from a volleyball coach, teacher, mom...someone you're going to really enjoy. One of my favorite parts of Brittany's story is hearing about how impactful the church she worshipped with during her college years was. It makes you appreciate that special time in life and that ministry. 

You're in for some fun for the next few weeks on Rough Drafts....we're having....a month of Britneys...or Brittanies... well, they don't all spell them the same, but they sound alike! You'll get to hear from four friends who share a name and a church, and along the way, you'll find out what else they share. Going first is the newest Britney to my circle of friends - Britney Andrieu. She and her fa...

A couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to do one of the coolest things I've ever done. Marshall Fuson invited me to join him on a trip to Santa Ana, Honduras, to see the completion of a project to dig a well & share water with an entire village. Today's guest is the man who made all of that possible - Dalton Hines. Dalton and his family serve as the on-the-ground missionaries in Honduras....

It's amazing how clearly we can remember the hurtful words we heard decades ago, isn't it? That's where the title of this week's conversation comes from.  Renee is the executive director of the Dickson County Help Center, Dickson's food bank, assitance ministry, thrift store, and location of all sorts of crazy good stuff. Her story could have very easily have gone a different way, but now, Renee l...

You heard from Sierra on Tuesday, now it's Joey's turn! Joey takes us through some really difficult times, moments that change everything. Consider this your warning, there are some tough moments in this episode, but God is good, and Joey shows us that God knows what he's doing!

Guess what! It's another couples' week on Rough Drafts. Today you'll hear from Sierra Wenck. She's got so much to share! You'll hear a story about a mission trip that doesn't go the way anyone planned. You'll hear about teaching and tragedy and the ups and downs of relationship. Come back Thursday and hear part 2 - Joey's story!

Ventriloquist. Intentional Interim. Barefoot runner. Author. Minister. Jerrie Barber wears a lot of hats and has learned a lot of lessons. In this week's episode, Jerrie shares a bunch of his stories including one of the most difficult days of his life, how he learned to enjoy criticism, and what happens when you run barefoot in Nashville.

We're back from our Christmas break with a fun one! Margaret Cole is the CEO of CareNet Pregnancy Medical Center in Dickson. She's involved in Leadership Dickson and Leadership Middle Tennessee and all the good things going on in our community. You got to meet her in Episode 52 ("The Three Charity Musketeers"), but today you get to hear her story.  If you want to hear more about CareNet - check ou...

You'd never think that a warning about a Coke machine could make a pretty good plan for life...but that's what Big Al got and that's what Big Al shares with us this week.  Al Griffin shares his story...times of anger with God...times of frustration at church...but NEVER underestimate the power of God's Spirit to do big things! 

How you win may say more about your character than how you lose. I knew I'd like Tim when I found out how he celebrated his election as Dickson County Sherriff: with a celebratory round of chocolate milks! You'll enjoy hearing Tim's God stories - the ups, downs, and middles of trying to do right. (PS> If I get arrested, assume it's because I chose this picture!)

Every morning when I drop the kids off for school twelve seconds before the bell rings, I get to see this week's guest. She's been an educator for 17 years. She's lived in Minneapolis, Augusta, and the cradle of civilization, Dickson, TN. She is a guru of helping kids who are navigating trauma, because she knows that *nothing* in life ever goes the way you plan it. Jessica Southerland, thank you f...

Today's episode isn't so much a person's God story...but several God stories from three great organizations in Dickson. Paul Pitney represents the Dickson County Family YMCA. Margaret Cole is the guru of the CareNet Pregnancy Medical Center. Renee Boehm is czar of the Dickson County Help Center. And I'm really lucky to call all three friends and ministry partners. It's giving Tuesday, and you're c...

Nearly 50 of our friends join us for this Thanksgiving Special episode of Rough Drafts. What's a weird thing you're thankful for?

Griffin experienced a horrible fate - he was one of my youth ministry interns! So don't be surprised if he sounds beaten, broke down, and generally despairing of life itself. In this week's conversation, Griffin talks about "God story envy," finding God while fishing, the troubles of launching into life during covid, and his first years in full-time ministry.

You got to hear from his wife already this week...today you get a bonus episode...his side of the story! You'll enjoy hearing from Taylor Welch as he talks about his journey of faith. 

What does faith look like when you're not really in church and life is kind of unstable? How do you think of God when you don't know much about him? Kayla Welch tells us the story of the friendship she found with God even from a very young age.