30 Second Book Club: Recent Episodes
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Is trying to be “the best you” actually ruining you? There's a lot of people talking about living your best life but what is God's plan for our life? Dean Inserra dissects that and more messages that are so popular on Social Media now.
This will be the Series Finale of the 30 Second Book Club Podcast. Thanks for your support and for listening, and look for a brand new podcast from me in 2022!
Since the day you were born, there have been giants in your life. Tyrants of immense size who try to exert negative influence over your destiny. Giants try to intimidate you into inaction and apathy - find out how to defeat them with examples from the bible in this book.
If you're looking to spruce up your house a little bit during the holidays - HGTV's decorator of the year Ginger Curtis has some advice to beautify your home and your heart.
You spend too much time dealing with people who are toxic to your life. You might feel like you have to because Jesus said to love everyone. But Jesus walked away from toxic people in his life and you can too.
Gary Thomas talks about biblical examples of how to deal with Toxic people in his book, When to Walk Away.
If you've ever thought you'd be better at prayer by now and want a close communication with your Father which can transform even the most difficult moment of your life, this book can help start your journey.
Life can come at you fast - it did for Dallas Louis when she had three kids within the first 26 months of being married!
She shares the things about parenting that your friends won't - and help you laugh at everyday situations, too.
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Some-Animals-Their-Young-ebook/dp/B093PFQ641
There have been many books that have talked about productivity, but none from the lens of Jesus Christ. Jordan Raynor examines the life of Christ and the 7 things we can learn and apply to our lives.
Do you know someone struggling with mental illness? Or wonder if you are actually seen, loved, or valued? Could loneliness be the cause? Dr. Mark Mayfield's book can help you develop habits that move you from isolation to connection.
Praying is a practice -- one which I have never been very good at. If you need some ideas on how to pray, Amy Boucher Pye has some great suggestions for you in her new book and on the 30 Second Book Club Podcast.
Some days you feel as if you take one step forward only to fall back two—or ten— steps. You struggle and push through one obstacle after another.
You know God is present, but when is he going to rescue you from all the storms, shipwrecks, and snakes surrounding you?
Samuel Rodriguez takes you through Paul's story in Acts and how you can discover how to navigate through life’s challenges to truer wholeness and bigger victories from God.
With so many “experts” touting different approaches to raising thriving children, how do you know which is the best one? Dr. Rhonda Spencer-Hwang, professor of public health at Loma Linda University and mom of three, found 8 principles for raising happier, healthier children who are equipped to flourish.
Getting organized can feel like an impossible task. But it doesn't have to be complicated! Melissa shares more in her book, Simple Organizing.
What do you do when it seems like everybody else is getting their dreams and you're not? Heather Thompson Day talks about what to do while you're waiting, and how to know when it's time to move.
You're probably familiar with the Golden Rule, "Treat others the way you want to be treated." But it can be the thing that is burning you out and holding you back from having a bigger, more positive impact in your community.
Emily Golden talks about a different way to look at that rule, in The New Golden Rule - by treating yourself the way you want others to treat you, you will be able to be the healthiest version of you - which will enable you to serve others like never before.
It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by all the life hacks and Pinterest tips that you never start making any positive changes in your life.
Kendra Adachi created a whole system for you called the Lazy Genius movement, and her new book, The Lazy Genius Way will help you embrace what matters, ditch what doesn’t, and get stuff done.
At the heart of every family is a mother because she brings order, connection between family, a deep sense of belonging, and the safety that comes from just being known and held.
Noelle's book will inspire you on how to bring beauty, order, and meaning to the people and place you love most: Home.
There's a moment in ever conversation where you can either move toward the other person or away from them - Nicole Unice talks about that in her new book and in this interview.
When pain is a weight choking your breath, When suffering is a gaping wound in your chest, and when grief is a shapeless darkness against which you helplessly flail...
What does it mean to walk with God?
What does it mean to come to God?
Erik Tonjes explores this in his book, Either Way, We'll Be Alright, as he shares his own journey with losing his wife to terminal cancer.
Maybe you've heard the word "Adulting" - it's the process of doing grown-up things like working full time, paying rent, or owning a car.
And whether you are a teenager, twenty-something, or older, this book that can help you become a healthy and successful adult.
Weight loss can sometimes be a very self-focused endeavor. Maybe you have struggled with your weight your entire life, riding a constant roller coaster of numbers that go up and down. Or maybe you are finding yourself more stressed out by the world and all its demands. Perhaps you just don’t feel as well in your body as you do in your spirit.
In The Wellness Revelation, certified fitness professional Alisa Keeton will challenge you to get fit with God so that He can free you to complete your purpose. She teaches that when we get fit physically as well as spiritually, we will be better equipped to love and serve others.
If you have difficulty trusting God, this book is for you -- as it takes you through an in-depth journey into inspirational, personal, and biblical stories that will help you find trust truths in the midst of pain, difficulties, or hardships.
It can be tough to know how to follow Jesus in the workplace, and this book can help you discover thirty-one biblical promises to decree over your career, coworkers, community, and family.
If you struggle with trying (and failing!) to live up to Pinterest-looking, air-brushed, and Insta-filtered "real life" role models telling you that you're not quite good enough, this is the book for you!
If you feel like reading your bible, going to church, and being a good "Christian" has left you filled with shame, there's a new book from J. Kevin Butcher called Free - his incredible story will encourage you and help you find true Love and Healing through Jesus.
It's Spring Cleaning time! And as you try to figure out what should stay or go in your garage, it's a great time to see what else you can simplify in your life - and uncover the abundant life God offers. Courtney shares ways to practically unclutter your life for a simpler, more fulfilling faith and life.
If you've had some setbacks in your life, Ruth understands that, when her whole life crumbled around her.
As she rebuilt from the ground up, she learned some powerful lessons about being resilient and how you can overcome your biggest fears.
You may think you know the Easter story inside and out, but you might be surprised to know more about the different people who played a part in the greatest story ever told, and how you can enter their stories and ultimately draw closer to Christ Himself as you encounter His Passion through their experiences.
If you've ever felt pressure -- and guilt -- when you see "perfect" parents on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, The 6 Needs of Every Child can help reduce that by looking at parenting as a journey, not a job.
They look at psychological research, neuroscience, and biblical truth to help you not just be an authority for your child, but to be with them in relationship as a parent.
Annie F Downs wants you to have more fun, and has some practical ways on how to do that in her latest book, That Sounds Fun!
If you've ever had a God-Sized dream, I think Tiffany Johnson's story about how a poem she wrote as a child turned into a beautiful book called My Shadow will encourage you.
Marsha had her life mapped out—practice law and shape public policy—only to have God interrupt her plans and issue a call that took her in a completely different direction. Her journey led her to the realization that “the Lord is an out-of-the-box God with out-of-the-box ideas, and he’s constantly stretching us to new heights.”
She started a Christian Magazine and wrote a devotional, CALLED to Inspire, which she shared about in the 30 Second Book Club Podcast:
Keeping the romance alive is vital for any relationship, and this book gives you 52 ideas to recharge and reconnect.
Educator and parenting coach Deborah Davis drills down three decades of accumulated experience with kids and teens into easy-to-follow strategies and reflexive exercises to help you reclaim your role as an awesome, decision-making mother!
In a time where people are "canceled" for what they say on-line and in person, and we are all offended by everything, grace seems like such a foreign concept. This book helps you discover what the Bible says about Reckless Grace and 4 steps to accept it in your life.
In 2021, I'm hoping you have the breakthrough you've been looking for - and that's why we are revisiting a talk with Drew Dyck about his book talking about self-control.
This has been a hard year for everyone, especially people in ministry. That's why Daniel Henderson has written a book called Glorious Finish: Keeping Your Eye on the Prize of Eternity in a Time of Pastoral Failings.
There is a lot in the book for everyone that needs a reminder of the things that strengthen our faith in trying times, and Daniel shares a lot of great tips in his interview.
Ebony invites us into the 'God-story' of her life, revealing―with vulnerability, humility, and insight―how God has not wasted a single marker in her life for his greater purpose. And The Leader in You is about God's story in you!
If we’re too preoccupied with not offending each other, can we truly have the conversations it takes to effect real change?
In his book, UnOffendable: No Offense. None Taken., viral documentary-maker, executive coach and speaker Ryan Leak argues that being unoffendable isn't about never getting offended. It's about not stayingoffended.
When Josh was deployed to Afghanistan, it was tough on his wife Paige. Then she got the call that Josh had lost both of his legs - and could lose his life.
What happened next will make you laugh, cry, and see that God is in the details of your life - big or small.
One thing that has been hard for some people during this time of social distancing is that there are video conferences for everything.
For church, work, school, and even just to check in with our friends!
John Paul Mendocha has been working remotely for 20+ years and has some great advice in his new book, Remote Work for a Better World! - from working from home, best practices for Zoom meetings, and how to nail your next job interview.
It's so easy to feel overwhelmed by all the life hacks and pinterest tips that you never start making any positive changes in your life
Kendra Adachi, the creator of the Lazy Genius movement, invites you to live well by your own definition and equips you to be a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn’t.
Summer's not over yet! And if you want to find some outdoor hidden gems in the Twin Cities to explore, Julie stops by to share 6 of them from her book.
"I don’t remember anything after the collision. I can tell you that it was bad, and I could have been killed. Yet instead of my life coming to an end that day, I like to think that it was when it all began." Cody's incredible story can help you discover the power to break free from yesterday's troubles.
With the racial divisions coming to the forefront in the past few months, Cara's book paints a beautiful path of reconciliation and seeing the image of God in every face.
We are all called to change the world, yet many of us don't know how to answer that call. Find out how to find the courage you need to live the life God wants for you.
If you are hungry for a more fulfilling spiritual life, Phylicia Masonheimer has written a book that will help you go deeper in your faith.
This book is about getting comfortable being uncomfortable. Jason, as a Former Green Beret Commander, knows what discomfort in high pressure situations is all about, and shares the things he has learned in his book, Deliberate Discomfort, and on the 30 Second Book Club Podcast!
We all crave those "mountaintop moments" - a moment of such spiritual clarity and closeness that nothing else can seem to match up. This book provides an overview of the mountaintop experiences mentioned in Scripture where God met with his followers for the express purpose of greater clarity on two questions: Who is God? and Who am I?
We have all been thrust into the homeschooling world, and it looks like that may continue in the fall. Tara McClary Reid went through that years ago and has some advice, along with how to share spiritual truths to your kids in her devotional Point Me To Jesus.
Everyone wants to be happy. We spend money, time, and energy chasing after “the good life,” and we run ourselves into physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion on the way. But what if the happiness we’re all striving for isn’t the happiness we were created for? Pastor of a multi-generational and multi-ethnic church, Dr. Derwin L Gray talks about that in his new book.
If you are a mom, you may feel overwhelmed with the pressures to do everything the world and social media says you should be. Amy takes a look at how you can do great things and raise great kids while still accepting your imperfections.
Even during the quarantine, your life can still seem busy and out-of-control. This book can help you find stillness in a busy world -- and reconnect with god through seven mindful practices.
Is your soul crying out for more? That hunger is rooted in a raging spiritual battle taking place inside every one of us -- A battle between flesh and Spirit for the same territory. This book can empower you to allow the Holy Spirit to live victoriously within you and win the battle against your flesh.
If we don’t slow down and pay attention, life can happen in a flash right before our eyes.
You may be finding yourself being more open to God moments now more than ever as we are all in a "new normal" for the time being.
The key is to learn how to prepare for, recognize, and be faithful in these moments. This is what Pastor and Bible teacher Sheryl Brady shares in her new book, Don’t Miss the Moment, How God Uses the Insignificant to Create the Extraordinary.
If you are looking to restore a Mother / Daughter relationship, Blythe Daniel and Helen McIntosh share their experiences and give you conversation starters to speak life into your relationship with your mother or daughter. Discover powerful words that usher in healing for wounded hearts and rebuild, restore, and reconcile your connection.
In a time of uncertainty, Jennifer wants to help you show up for your life without feelings of guilt, fear, or being overwhelmed.
Since you're probably at home now more than ever, how do you keep things clean and organized? Melissa Michaels has a ton of advice for you in the 30 Second Book Club Podcast!
What does success look like for you? A nice car, lots of followers on Instagram, and being looked at as a leader could be a few answers, but how does following God play into it? Thann's book can help you as he digs through the bible story of Habakkuk.
In this unique season of life, you may find yourself overwhelmed with all the extra challenges of working from home, managing family schedules who are home with you, and so much more.
Morgan Tyree wants to help you take back your time with practical advice in her new book, Take Back Your Time.
If you feel pressure to fit in, measure up, and get it together, this book is an invitation to let go of who you think you're supposed to be and becoming who you really are.
Do you eat the cookie (or the sleeve of cookies!), or eat the salad?
If you struggle with decisions like this every day, you are not alone. That's where self-control kicks in. But if you feel like it is like the fun police that shows up and shuts down any fun you are having, the truth is that people who cultivate this lead freer, happier, and more meaningful lives.
Drew Dyck's book could be the thing to help you become the person you want to be!
What if the mess of your life is where God is about to do his best work? If you have a hard time believing that right now, this book (and podcast) is for you!
If you feel like there's something missing in your relationship with Jesus, it could be a real connection with the Holy Spirit. Sam Hunter breaks down what that looks like, along with the four steps to having more of the Holy Spirit in your life.
What is God doing in your story?
If you don't feel like your life could be a story with a happy ending, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Robert Wolgemuth share about their own story as well as many of their friends' stories.
They show how God can be trusted with the outcome even when things don't make sense.
Raising teenagers has always been hard. But it is much harder these days. The toughest thing for parents is that what worked for you as a teen probably won't work now.
Dr. Christine Carter has advice with the backing of the latest findings in neuroscience, sociology, and social psychology, in her book, The New Adolescence: Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction.
This journal explores one simple thought: What if you replaced the lies you believe with God's truth? It's full of places to write about your journey, along with examples from the bible and other people who have done the same. Lisa shares their stories and more on this special podcast replay of episode 16.
And you can find a special promo code to save 25% on your own journal. (that's about 1 minute in!)
If you've put too much value on your pant size or the number on the scale, this book can help set you free. God’s desire for you is one of beauty, dignity, confidence, and strength from the inside out, and Janelle Keith talks about how she discovered that in her health journey on the 30 Second Book Club Podcast!
You say around 7,000 words every day. How many of them connect the way you want them to? Whether you want to be a better communicator in your personal or professional life, Robert Paolini's book can help!
Robert talks about the 4 steps of communication that helped transform his business... and his life.
If you want to strengthen your faith in 2020, Platinum Faith is a book that looks at twelve unique properties of the precious metal platinum–including valuable, rare, unreactive, and highly useful–to show you how to embrace your true worth and cultivate a deeper faith in God.
Caregiving is no vacation, but you can cruise more smoothly through it!
Jennifer FitzPatrick shares simple tips in her book, Cruising through caregiving, and on the podcast!
If you've been a Christian for years, or you are just starting a faith journey, it's always good to go back to the words of Jesus. And in Evangelist Ray Comfort's new devotional, he looks at 365 different things that Jesus said, and what we can learn from it to be more like Him.
How do you hold on to faith when it seems God himself is gone? Michelle Cushatt shares her journey in discovering that God is with us in her new book, Relentless, and in the 30 Second Book Club Podcast!
If you are overwhelmed with stuff, bills, and appointments on your calendar, Courtney's journey of downsizing things and finding more margin for family, friends, and faith might help you!
It might be a friend, a relative, or a coworker. Their one goal in life seems to ruin your life. And, since you try to be a good person (and Christian!), you try to love them anyway.
But surprisingly, sometimes the best thing to do is to walk away (or let people walk away). That's even what Jesus did from time to time!
Gary Thomas' new book dives deep into this topic, and he is in the 30 Second Book Club this week
If you've ever wanted to help others in need, this is a book for you! But what you'll find is as you are on a journey to help others, you will need to change yourself first.
If you want to live a better life, it starts with replacing the lies you believe and replace them with God's truth. That's why this Journal is so powerful, giving you prompts to examine your life and truth to encourage you to change!
As a mom, you may drive yourself crazy striving for perfection, and the pressures can be overwhelming!
Thankfully the Bible provides a framework for you, and Erin Brown Hollis shares that in her book, Cheers to the Diaper Years!
Faith. Family. Fitness. Finances.
Todd believes that mastering these four crucial areas of life will help you become a happier and more successful man.
We dig in to his book and talk about practical tips in the 30 Second Book Club!
It's the call you never want to get in the middle of the night. What do you do when you find out your child is in trouble?
Judy Slegh has been through that with her son and wrote a book on how she found forgiveness and shared some great advice in the 30 Second Book Club Podcast!
You do it every day, whether it's just a quick text to a loved one, an email to a boss, a Facebook post, or a page in the first draft of your book. In this podcast, Carla Bass shares simple tips to help you every time you write.
If you've ever wondered, "what is my teenage child thinking?" This book can help! Shannon Perry talks about bullying, beauty, and self-harm in this interview about her book, Stand.
If you don't feel like you fit in at Church but still love Jesus, this is the book for you! Brant and I talk about not "feeling" Jesus, how to actually pray if it's awkward for you, and a perspective to the age old question, "Where is God in tragedy"?
Technology has made our lives easier, but it has also made us more distracted and less connected with others. Arlene Pellicane's book talks about 5 rules for a balanced digital life, and shares some of them on the podcast!
In a world where whoever shouts the loudest and most shocking thing wins, this is the book that could help remind us to take a moment to listen to someone else. Becky Harling gives some practical biblical advice in her book, How To Listen So People Will Talk.
If you've read about fasting and praying in the Bible and wondered if it would work for you, then this conversation will help open your eyes to the power that comes from it! Suzanne and Wendy started a Fasting and Prayer journey together years ago and wrote a book about their ups and downs called Fast Friends: The Amazing Power if Friendship, Fasting, and Prayer.
If you are an adult and feel like you don't really have everything figured out, you may wish you had someone alongside you to help out. Susie Davis found that her children's friends would always come to her for advice and decided to write it down so we can all learn from it!
Ben wrote this book to help ignite a fierce rebellion against hopelessness, and it has so many powerful bits of truth, this is one of those books that you can read a few minutes and find the hope you need for the day. We dig deeper into depression, prayer, authenticity, enemies, the bible, and failure.
If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to subscribe and leave a review on your podcast app!
There may have been moments in your life where you thought that your story was over. That God had given up on you, so you should give up too. I think Nikki Leonti Edgar may have felt that way after she signed a record deal and was climbing to the top of the Christian charts until she became a single mom, and felt alone.
But God didn't give up on her, and now she wants to encourage other single moms that:
"There is not a past too messy that can keep God from transforming the most hopeless situation into a beautiful story." (Back cover)
So she wanted to share her journey and insights in her devotional, All Things New, and on the 30 second book club!
The world goes out of its way to make you believe you are not good enough. In his book, Matthew West helps you discover your true identity and rip off those labels that others have wrongly put on you.
In this transparent conversation, Matthew talks about his issues with Dairy Queen, how to take off the label of regret, what to do when you are feeling insecure about your number of Instagram followers, and how life is like sitting at the Airport.
What would you do if fear no longer stood in your way?
That's the bold question that Ruth Sokup asks in her new book, Do it Scared.
We dive in to: * The most common fear archetype (and how to overcome it). * What to do if you are a rule follower. * What is a stretch goal and why should you have one? * The one thing you can control. * Why going through divorce, bankruptcy, and depression taught Ruth that there are no mistakes, only lessons. * The truth about balance.
If you're like me, you are trying to "Marie Kondo" your life by decluttering and simplifying. I think it's something that is pretty biblical, too, when you think about how we are supposed to throw off "everything that hinders" (Hebrews 12:1). I would say that is the perfect word to describe a messy home -- hindering!
That's where Melissa Michaels can help! She has a fantastic blog called The Inspired Room, and has written many helpful books, including Simple Organizing.
We talk about where to start in our organizing journey, how to organize meal time, the benefits of having a "Family Command Center", and more!