Space for Life

Charis Napier, Worship Lead Pastor at Hope Church, joins Tommy to talk about what worship is and why it's so much more than the singing before the sermon. They cover how to worship when you can't carry a tune or don't feel like it, what it means to sing words you're still growing into, and the many ways people worship beyond Sunday morning. Charis also shares how worship carried her through loss, and how it can be a place of healing in the hardest seasons of life.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeCharis's two-part view of worship: being honest before God, then acknowledging who he is.The John Piper definition she says she doesn't need to improve on.Why genuine worship is the most beautiful thing she sees from the stage, no matter how it sounds.The 5am morning she told God she wasn't feeling it, and the psalm that turned it around.How singing words you don't feel yet can be faith, not dishonesty.Ways to worship beyond singing, from her husband's drumming to her mother-in-law's work with the dying.How the Psalms give language to grief and lead back to praise.A simple way to start if worship has only ever meant Sunday morning.(0:00) Why worship, why now(3:29) Meet Charis Napier(4:36) Her dad's diagnosis and her mom(6:19) Leading the youth band at 14(10:16) How Charis defines worship(13:18) John Piper on worship(15:58) If you can't carry a tune(19:12) Why we gather on Sunday(21:37) When you don't feel like going(24:29) The 5am "I'm not feeling it"(26:47) Singing words you don't feel yet(28:08) Leading "I Trust in God" after loss(31:55) The many ways we worship(38:21) Her mother-in-law's quiet worship(41:06) Worship in lament(43:22) Praise in the waiting room(46:49) The honesty of the Psalms(48:11) In lament, praise erupts(51:07) Where to start(54:01) Thank you, CharisLearn more about Charis at Hope Church.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

Braxton Byerson grew up in a military family, played with both brothers at Virginia Union, then took the game to Uruguay and China before the ball stopped bouncing for him. Now he coaches, speaks, and writes about confidence, choices, and character, including the hard question he puts to young men: who are you when you do not get applause? Tommy talks with Braxton about getting cut, starting over with middle school girls basketball, life after a divorce, and why the words young people need most are I'm with you.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeBraxton grows up in Chester, VA, rooted in faith and humility by parents who cared more about character than applause.All three Byerson brothers play together at Virginia Union, a first in CIAA history.Pro ball in Uruguay and China puts him outside his language and comfort zone, and teaches him to sit back and listen.Confidence, choices, and character become his trifecta for student athletes.Getting cut in sixth grade, then again overseas, and choosing to show up anyway.Coaching a middle school girls team that had won three games in eight years into the playoffs four years running.Writing Stay on the Tracks, getting certified as a life coach, and taking the leap when fear and trust in God cannot share the same seat.Why youth open up when an adult says I'm with you, and Galatians 6:9 as the line he leaves people with.(0:00) Intro(3:50) Military kid to Chester, Virginia (7:45) Three brothers at Virginia Union (9:15) Pro ball in Uruguay and China(15:15) Confidence, choices, and character(19:25) Who are you without applause(20:45) The ring of existence(27:10) Bigger than basketball(27:35) Cut in sixth grade, then overseas(33:15) Coaching middle school girls(38:15) Writing and life coaching(48:30) I'm with you (57:05) Galatians 6:9 (58:27) How to connect with BraxtonStay on the Tracks, A Journey of Patience and Perseverance You've Got This, The Student Trifecta for Academic Achievement https://braxtonbyersonent.carrd.co https://www.instagram.com/braxb_7/ https://vuusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/braxton-byerson/966 Instagram and TikTok: braxb_7 Facebook and LinkedIn: Braxton ByersonLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

Tommy sits down with Drew Daniels, founding pastor of Boulevard Church in Richmond, Virginia, to explore what the resurrection of Jesus Christ actually means, not just theologically, but historically and personally. They walk through the evidence, wrestle with the hard questions, and land on why a 2000-year-old event still changes everything about how we live today. Drew brings an honest, grounded faith to one of Tommy's favorite conversation topics of the year.What You'll Hear in This Episode:Drew's family inheritance of faith, from a self-taught preacher grandfather in rural Nebraska to his own call to plant a churchWhy Christianity is the only world religion built on the claim that God came to you, not the other way aroundThe historical and extra-biblical evidence that gives the resurrection credibility 2000 years laterWhy Tommy believes the resurrection can't be proven but says the preponderance of evidence is overwhelmingThe C.S. Lewis framework: Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or LordWhat Tim Keller meant when he said the gospel changes everythingDrew's raw story of asking God for a week off from belief during the hardest season of church planting, and what happened the next morningTimestamps:(0:00) Intro(3:37) Drew's story(10:31) Why the resurrection matters(22:57) Historical evidence for the resurrection(26:11) The disciples' martyrdom and women at the tomb(34:03) What difference does it make?(50:22) Final Thoughts + Connect with Boulevard ChurchResources / Next Steps: Learn more about Drew and Boulevard Church at blvdchurchrva.com. They meet Sundays at 1212 N Arthur Ashe Blvd in Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood. Whether you're a person of faith or still figuring out what you believe, they'd love to have you.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

Fifteen years ago, Pastor Steve Ruetschle was left paralyzed after a catastrophic motorcycle accident. Doctors told him he would never walk again.But this episode is not primarily about a medical outcome. It is about something deeper.In this conversation, Steve reflects on the different ways God heals, the power of community, and what it means to participate in the fellowship of suffering. He shares how the faith of others carried him when he could not believe for himself, how pain can either harden the heart or deepen it, and how redemptive healing does not always mean the removal of suffering. This is a thoughtful and pastoral conversation about chronic pain, unanswered prayer, community, gratitude, and the surrounding love of God.If you are walking through illness, loss, or long term suffering, this episode offers a steady reminder that you are not alone and that God’s faithful love surrounds you even here.(0:00) Introduction and How Steve’s Story Reached Space for Life(2:19) The Motorcycle Accident and Becoming Quadriplegic(6:31) Degrees of Paralysis and Living with Chronic Pain(11:26) Community and the Story of the Paralytic(16:00) The Turning Point and Moving His Toe(21:10) Different Types of Healing(30:06) Redemptive Healing and the Fellowship of Suffering(36:33) Guarding Against Bitterness(45:09) A Word for Those Walking Through PainLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

Your 30s can feel like a decade full of tension. The tension between freedom and responsibility, living fully now and preparing wisely for the future, wanting clarity without becoming rigid. In this episode of Space for Life, Joe joins Tommy for an honest conversation about what it really means to live well in your 30s with freedom and intention.Rather than offering formulas or life hacks, this conversation explores the deeper internal work of defining what truly matters. Joe and Tommy talk through why so many decisions feel exhausting, how guiding principles and guardrails can simplify life’s gray areas, and why postponing life often trains us to keep postponing it. They close by reflecting on how habits, more than any single decision, quietly shape the direction of our lives. This episode is for anyone navigating the weight of this decade and looking for a calmer, more grounded way to move forward.0:00 Intro7:41 Avoiding Comparison13:04 Guiding Principles26:23 Making Decisions Easier34:13 Now Versus Later53:56 Auditing Your HabitsLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

This is one of the most difficult and meaningful conversations Space for Life has ever held.In this episode, host Tommy Thompson is joined by David Dwight, Senior Pastor at Hope Church Richmond, and Ray Paul, National Board Chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Together, they share deeply personal stories of losing close family members to suicide and reflect on what it means to grieve, to care for one another, and to hold hope in the midst of profound loss.Listener discretion is advised. This is a heavy and sensitive topic, and we encourage you to listen at your own pace and with support if needed.This conversation is rooted in lived experience, not theory. With honesty, compassion, and care, they explore:What makes suicide-related grief uniquely complexHow to recognize warning signs and risk factorsHow to talk about suicide without shame, fear, or judgmentThe role of community, presence, and faith in healingHow we can better support both those who are grieving and those who may be at riskThis episode is for anyone who has lost someone they love, is walking alongside someone who is struggling, or wants to learn how to respond with greater care and understanding in these moments.Important Support NoteIf you or someone you love is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the United States, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, to connect with trained counselors 24/7.You are not alone.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to a Difficult Conversation 03:49 Personal Experiences with Suicide 11:27 Understanding Grief and Loss 24:08 The Complexity of Suicide 32:17 Statistics and Prevention Strategies 42:56 Navigating Conversations about Suicide 54:34 The Role of Community and Support 01:06:17 Faith and Understanding in Grief 01:14:35 Final Thoughts and ResourcesKey Themes & TakeawaysSuicide loss carries layers of grief that are often misunderstoodPrevention and compassion must exist togetherWarning signs often show up as subtle changes in behavior or moodAsking direct questions and listening carefully can save livesPresence matters more than having the “right” wordsThe way someone dies does not define the value or meaning of their lifeHealing often happens in community, not isolationResources MentionedAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) https://afsp.orgWhat to Do When Someone Is at Risk https://afsp.org/what-to-do-when-someone-is-at-risk/Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Warning Signs https://afsp.org/risk-factors-protective-factors-and-warning-signs/Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) Call or text 988Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, host Tommy Thompson is joined by Dr. Wendi Lord, Vice President of Localization for the Come and See Foundation, the organization responsible for taking The Chosen to the world.Wendi shares her journey from the corporate and publishing worlds into a calling that sits at the intersection of faith, technology, and human flourishing. The conversation explores the ambitious mission to translate The Chosen into 600 languages, the importance of delivering content in heart languages, and how emerging technologies like AI are being thoughtfully used to serve people who would otherwise never hear the story of Jesus.Together, Tommy and Wendi wrestle with both the promise and the risks of new technologies, discussing how AI can support spiritual formation, creativity, and global connection without replacing human discernment, community, or God’s sovereignty. This episode offers a hopeful and grounded vision for engaging technology faithfully while staying rooted in what matters most.Key TopicsThe mission of The Chosen and the Come and See FoundationDr. Wendi Lord’s journey from corporate leadership to faith based workWhy localization is more than translationThe concept of heart languages and cultural relevanceReaching a billion people through technology and storytellingUsing AI to support translation and lower resourced languagesOpportunities and threats presented by emerging technologiesFaith, discernment, and God’s sovereignty in a digital ageHuman flourishing in a technology driven world(0:00) Introduction and Wendi’s Story(4:34) From Corporate Leadership to Calling(12:07) The Chosen and the Mission of Come and See(18:15) Reaching a Billion People Through Story(26:09) The Role of AI in Localization and Translation(31:48) Speech to Speech Technology and Heart Languages(39:31) Risks and Threats of Emerging Technologies(49:14) Opportunities for Faith, Creativity, and Human Flourishing(56:30) Balancing Technology With Human Connection(1:05:49) Final Encouragement and HopeLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy Thompson is joined by pastor and longtime ministry leader Tuck Knupp for a thoughtful conversation on kindness. Drawing from a men’s Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit, they explore how kindness is often misunderstood as niceness or weakness, when in reality it is rooted in strength, humility, and generosity of spirit. Together, they discuss kindness in relationships, leadership, work, self-reflection, and even cultural and political discourse. The conversation challenges listeners, especially men, to grow in kindness by embracing humility, receiving God’s kindness personally, and allowing that transformation to shape how they live, lead, and relate to others, particularly during the Christmas season. Key Takeaways- Kindness is not the same as niceness, it is rooted in strength and truth- True kindness requires humility and an honest view of our own brokenness- Kindness reflects a generosity of spirit that believes the best about others- Protecting someone’s reputation is a powerful expression of kindness- Kindness should extend to work, home, relationships, and public discourse- Receiving God’s kindness fuels compassion toward others- Self-kindness is essential for growth and freedom from performance- Kindness may lose short-term battles but can win long-term warsTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Kindness05:09 Reframing Kindness Beyond Niceness11:22 The Strength and Truth Within Kindness18:23 Growing in Kindness Through Humility25:36 Kindness in Relationships and Self-Compassion32:09 Reflecting on Kindness During Christmas36:20 Kindness in Society, Culture, and Politics45:42 A Challenge to Men47:11 Final Reflections and ClosingLove the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org