Space for Life

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 church
Why Christianity is the only world religion built on the claim that God came to you, not the other way around
The historical and extra-biblical evidence that gives the resurrection credibility 2000 years later
Why Tommy believes the resurrection can't be proven but says the preponderance of evidence is overwhelming
The C.S. Lewis framework: Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord
What Tim Keller meant when he said the gospel changes everything
Drew's raw story of asking God for a week off from belief during the hardest season of church planting, and what happened the next morning

Timestamps:
(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 Church

Resources / 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.

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Loneliness is rising in a world that has never been more connected.
In this episode, Tommy sits down with longtime friend and recently retired pastor Dr. Nelson Ould to explore the power and practice of presence.

Drawing from decades of pastoral ministry and personal experience, Nelson shares a simple insight: in life’s most difficult moments, people rarely remember the exact words that were spoken, but they always remember who showed up. Together they discuss why distraction and hurry are eroding real connection, why loneliness continues to rise, and how the simple act of being present with someone can transform relationships.

They also share practical ways to grow in presence, including listening for open doors in conversation, asking thoughtful follow-up questions, creating margin before important interactions, and checking back in with people after meaningful conversations.

In a culture filled with noise and constant distraction, this conversation is a reminder that one of the greatest gifts we can offer someone is our full attention.

(0:00) Loneliness, distraction, and why presence matters today
(2:16) How pastoral ministry revealed the power of presence
(9:39) The biblical foundation of presence and God with us
(19:01) Listening for open doors in conversation
(22:07) The two enemies of presence, distraction and hurry
(29:42) Practicing presence with the people closest to you
(32:09) The underrated power of following up with people
(40:02) Creating margin and quieting distraction before conversations

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 Pain

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So many people carry the quiet dream of writing something meaningful. A book. A devotional. A story that has been sitting inside them for years.
But the question lingers Where do I even begin?

In this episode of Space for Life, Tommy sits down with Terry Whalin, acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing and author of more than 60 books, to talk about what it really takes to move from dream to discipline.

Terry pulls back the curtain on the publishing world and explains why most aspiring authors start in the wrong place, what publishers are actually looking for, and why writing success is often 80 percent about the author and 20 percent about the book. They explore the catch 22 of publishing, the power of critique groups and apprenticeship, and why becoming a better reader is foundational to becoming a better writer.

If you have ever considered writing, or simply want to understand how books truly shape lives, this conversation offers practical clarity and grounded encouragement for taking your next step.

(0:00) Why So Many People Dream of Writing
(6:41) How One Book Can Change a Life
(14:16) What Publishers Really Look For
(18:07) Where Aspiring Writers Should Start
(32:32) The Catch 22 of Getting Published
(40:19) The Power of Critique Groups
(48:34) Why Reading Shapes Better Writing
(58:53) Building Consistency as a Writer

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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 Intro
7:41 Avoiding Comparison
13:04 Guiding Principles
26:23 Making Decisions Easier
34:13 Now Versus Later
53:56 Auditing Your Habits

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://tommythompson.org