Lisa Samson, author of Christy award-winner "Songbird" and the recently released novel "Straight Up," is known for excellence in writing as well as her artistic bent, but more than anything, perhaps, the name Samson brings to mind authentic stories that makes you think. One reader, Wendy Groenevelt from Colorado, puts it this way: “Reading Lisa Samson is like having a raw steak thrown on the plate in front of you with the admonition, ‘chew on this awhile.’”

Dealing with difficult issues has also given Samson a reputation for courage in her writing. What is less known about this author is the courage she has shown by stepping out of her comfort zone in real life. She and her husband, Will, have taken a huge step out of the traditional American box in an effort to follow the Biblical mandate to remember the poor and hungry.

Lisa and Will lived a comfortable suburban lifestyle in a half a million dollar home when they felt prompted to relocate to the inner city to share Christ’s love in that environment. After much soul-searching prayer, they sold their home, packed their bags, and moved to downtown Lexington, KY.

Lisa, what prompted this “out of the box” move?

It was a calling out, I believe. We’d long been hearing the whisperings of God that there was more to this walk of faith than going to church, reading your Bible, praying and serving at church.  We served like crazy, lived the suburban life of working, running around, always trying (and failing) to live a spiritually focused life, but finding ourselves depleted and discouraged no matter how hard we sought to please God.

Describe for us your goals in this life-style change.

Our goal is pretty simple: to follow God in the way of Jesus.  And beyond that, I’ve always loved Micah 6:8, “What is it, oh man, that the LORD requires of you, but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”

Jesus traveled pretty lightly, so one our goals was and is to get rid of as much extra junk as possible!  Isn’t that weird?  I know that’s not real sexy and spiritual sounding, but I guess we’ve thrown out or given away close to half of our possessions and lest you think we’re overly spiritual, we did get rid of the half we didn’t like so well as the other half!

Then, we relocated ourselves where issues of justice would confront us every day, where we couldn’t live our lives without stumbling over it, because basically, in the burbs, we failed.  We did not seek out those who were hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or in prison.