As a child, were you ever treated poorly by your classmates? Did they ever call you names? Such might have been the case with the wee little man, Zaccheus. As a tax collector, he was hated by many and scorned for his actions. Yet, in the eyes of Jesus, he was someone special. Hear the story of Zaccheus along with others shared by Luann and Rachel at the Encouragement Cafe.

Think about the analogy between kiwis and carrots. If you slice open a kiwi, you'll find that the color and texture is different from what might be on the outside. On the other hand, if you were to slice open a carrot, you find that is the same on the inside as it is on the outside. This same analogy holds true with our own lives. How do people see us? Are we the same on the inside as we are on the outside? Which are you - a kiwi or a carrot?

Everyone leads. Moms lead their children. Pastors lead their congregations. Teachers lead their students, and bosses lead their companies. It's never a sprint but a marathon. This week, Luann talks with author and leader Brian Sanders about how to endure as a leader.

It's almost a cliche that Christians will fight over what color the carpet in the church should be. Luann and Rachel discuss how to disagree with other Christians, on issues from dogma to drapery.

Life gets serious, and we get stressed. Sometimes you just need to laugh to lighten your load. Rachel and Luann talk about the need for levity and laughter in our lives. Come laugh with us.

Within our own friend circles, there are a number of unique personalities. Some of us love to laugh at life, while others take a more serious, ponderous look at life. How do we react, however, during those stressful moments of struggle in life? Join Luann and Rachel as we share life together and try to better understand the weight of our words.

They say that the only constant in life is change. Let's face it, friends. Change is not always easy. It's sometimes hard to change, adapt, or adjust with the times. Yet, we often forget that change may be a blessing from God. This week, join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we share stories and experiences of how "new and improved" can be a good thing.

If we were to take a moment, we would realize that not everyone sees things the same way. We all come from different backgrounds and different creeds; yet, how do we interact with other in light of our differences? Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we discuss those "Jarring Conversations" with others.

While living with his family in Florida, Pete Dechat was startled by the sound of a loud crash. An airplane had crashed into his neighbor's home, and the engine's fuel tank had exploded into his own home. Pete Dechat went back into the home to rescue his daughter; he was not successful and his efforts resulted in 96% of his body being burned. He would spend the next few months in a coma. Join guest host Theresa Mills as she shares the story of Pete Dechat - a story of healing and discovery.

Ever feel worn down by the monotony or the responsibilities of life? Life gets serious, but God gifted us with the ability to laugh and to play. Rachel and Luann wonder, "Is that what's missing in our days?"

Join guest host Theresa Mills for an in-depth discussion with Anson and Dawn from Set Beautiful Free, an initiative of Bombay Teen Challenge. For more information, visit their website at http://www.setbeautifulfree.org

Millions of Americans share a common issue - sleep deprivation. What is it that causes us to have trouble sleeping? While the cause may be different for some, there are a number of things that may help us to recover some of those lost hours of sleep. Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we discuss how simple acts of gratitude may help us get a better night's sleep.

It's not the easiest thing to admit when we're wrong. Let's face it; as humans, we like to think that we are right and know what is best. The beauty of admitting our errors is that the admission often strengthens our relationships with our family, friends, and colleagues. Join Luann and Rachel at the Cafe as we share life together and realize that sometimes we just need to admit we're wrong.

Join host Luann Prater as she welcomes our friend and special guest, Natasha Owens. Earlier this year, Natasha released the album, "Warrior." Natasha and Luann share life together as they journey through how trying experiences have shaped them into the women they are today. For more information on Natasha, you can go to https://natashaowensmusic.com.

After listening to an interview with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Rachel and Luann discuss what they learned about making decisions.

Join Luann at the Encouragement Cafe this week as she sits down with author Jeannie Burlowski. Jeannie is the author of “Launch: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt-Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward." Luann and Jeannie will discuss some of the strategies within the book along with the experiences that inspired them.

It's safe to say a majority of the population feels like they need more self-discipline. Luann and Rachel talk about the source of our self-control or procrastination struggles, and the solutions available to us.

"I'll stop procrastinating tomorrow." How many times have we said those words? Maybe it's calling on someone or doing something that you've put off time and time again. Join Rachel and Luann as they talk about how to get it in gear and take action.

Sometimes big problems feel like they require big faith and yet in the face of a big problem it can be hard to muster even a little. Rachel and Luann talk about facing problems with faith.

Is failing ten times a sign you’re just not cut out for something? What about ten thousand times? Do you give up when success doesn’t come relatively quickly or relatively easy? If you wish you could find a surefire path to success, this episode is for you.

Life is filled with cherished moments - the birth of a child, the first day of school, graduation, and marriage just to name a few. Between these milestones, we often find smaller, yet just as important, moments to cherish for a lifetime. Join Luann and Rachel as together we celebrate the many milestones in life.

Got more things on your plate than you have time for? Having trouble focusing, and feeling guilty about it? Yep. Rachel and Luann talk about getting stuff done without overwhelming ourselves.

Get off the Couch, Buy the Tickets, Share Life - Do you ever wish life was more fun? That you had more friends? Or that your relationships ran deeper? The solution might just be getting off the couch and into the game. Rachel and Luann talk about how to connect with and do life with others in meaningful ways.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is worth as well? Listen in as Rachel and Luann discuss Jesus' direction to store up treasure in heaven and Luann shares how she views "treasure."

Luann and Rachel talk about how we respond when we’ve worked hard to make something successful, or expectations are high for all to go well, and then our plans fail.

Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow (or yesterday) but how hard is that?! Luann and Rachel talk about staying present in the moment