In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery speaks with author Joanne Gilchrist about her journey into writing children's literature, the importance of Christian resources for children, and her latest book, 'Why Did God Make Me?'. They discuss the challenges and joys of writing for children, the role of illustrators, and the impact of the God for Kids app. Joanne shares insights on engaging with children during school visits and offers advice for parents on...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Clive Bowsher about his book 'One: Being United to Jesus Changes Everything.' They discuss the significance of Jesus' 'You Will' sayings, the importance of unity with Christ and among believers, and the deeper meaning of worship. Clive shares insights on intimacy with Jesus, practical steps to live out this unity, and the challenges of obedience. They also discuss Clive's slight obsession with dark chocolate and...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews veteran Christian author Bob Hartman. They discuss Hartman's extensive body of work, focusing on the importance of children's literature in passing on faith. Bob shares insights into his creative process, the significance of storytelling in faith, and the balance between fun and respect for biblical narratives. The conversation also touches on his collaborative work with illustrators and his upcoming projects, including...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Jenny Sanders about her book 'Polished Arrows'. They discuss the metaphor of arrows in relation to God's work in our lives, the process of discipleship, the importance of community, and the challenges of forgiveness. Jenny shares insights on how to navigate the journey of faith, emphasizing the need for personal transformation and the role of relationships in spiritual growth. They also chat about...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Michael T. Gowen about his book 'Daniel Being Distinctive in Uncertain Times.' They discuss the relevance of the Book of Daniel in today's society, the importance of devotional Bible reading, and how to live authentically as a Christian in the workplace. Michael shares insights on purity, wisdom, and navigating crisis points, emphasizing the need for community and support. We also hear about Michael's love of...

In this episode of The Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews authors Ellie Limebear and Jane Kirby about their book 'Say Goodbye to Anxiety.' The authors discuss the prevalence of anxiety among Christians and the rising levels of anxiety in today's culture. They share their personal experiences with anxiety and the tools they have found helpful in managing it. The book is written in a short devotional style, with interactive elements such as journaling and suggested songs. The...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Christine Westhoff about her book 'Reframing the Prophetic.' They discuss the definition of the prophetic, its purpose, and its relevance in today's world. They also explore the difference between the office of a prophet and operating in a prophetic gifting. The conversation touches on the importance of testing and weighing prophetic words, as well as the role of community in stewarding the prophetic...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Stephen McAlpine about his book 'Future Proof.' They discuss living for Jesus in a changing culture and the challenges Christians face in navigating societal changes. McAlpine emphasizes the importance of the church in providing a framework for Christians to navigate cultural changes and maintain meaningful community. They also touch on topics such as the loneliness crisis, caring for creation, and the...

In this episode of The Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Joanne Berthelsen about her book Swan Song. They discuss the importance of speaking life-giving words and the impact our words can have on others. Joanne shares that there is so much negative talk in society and that our world needs hope, which can be provided through positive and uplifting words. They also discuss the different types of life-giving words, such as empathy, encouragement, affirmation, challenge,...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Jamie Erickson about her book 'Holy Hygge' and the importance of hospitality in our relationship with God and others. Jamie shares her journey of discovering the art of hospitality and how it is linked to her faith. She explains the concept of hygge, a Danish word that encompasses feelings of coziness and contentment, and how it can be practiced in Christian homes. The conversation also touches on discipleship...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Jennifer Kvamme about her book 'More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships.' They discuss the importance of understanding the biblical perspective on sexuality and relationships, the significance of the body in the Christian faith, and the challenges of navigating gender and identity issues in today's culture. Jennifer emphasizes the need for compassion,...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McCleary interviews author Andy Bannister about his book 'How to Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like an Idiot.' They discuss the fear and panic that often accompanies conversations about faith, the importance of asking questions, and the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. Bannister also shares his favourite question to ask when engaging in conversations about spirituality. We finish with a discussion about Andy's love of...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Kevin Elliott about his book 'See Miracles.' They discuss the definition of miracles, whether miracles still happen today, and the reasons why some prayers for healing may not be answered. Kevin shares stories of miracles he has witnessed in Macedonia and emphasizes the importance of faith and obedience in praying for miracles. They also chat about Kevin's love of coffee and his former days as a DJ and budding rock...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author Bryony Wood about her book, The Sound of Musings, which explores the connection between the Sound of Music movie and God. Bryony shares her love for the film and how it inspired her to write a devotional book. She discusses the symbolism in songs like 'Edelweiss' and 'Climb Every Mountain' and how they relate to Christian themes. They also chat about her love of food, games and her new-found passion for...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews authors Claire and Steve Musters about their book, Grace-Filled Marriage. The couple shares their personal journey of building a healthy marriage and the challenges they faced along the way. They discuss the importance of hard work, taking responsibility, and dying to self in a marriage. They also emphasize the need for open and honest communication, seeking support from trusted friends, and relying on God's grace. The...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author Georgie Tennant about her book 'The God Who Sees You.' The book is a devotional that speaks to those who feel unseen and draws inspiration from biblical characters who may have felt the same way. Georgie shares her personal experiences of loss and grief and emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and finding identity in God. She also discusses the value of recognizing God in the ordinary aspects of life and...

In this episode of Christian Book Blurb, host Matt McChlery interviews author John Hindley about his book 'Weakness Our Strength: Learning from Christ Crucified.' The conversation explores the misconceptions surrounding strength and weakness, the role of weakness in creation, and the importance of embracing weakness instead of running away from it. Hindley emphasizes that strength is found in dependence on God and each other, and highlights the significance of Jesus' crucifixion and...

In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews author James Poch about his book 'Holy Grit: Gaining Traction on Life's Journey with Jesus.' The conversation explores the definition and importance of discipleship, the role of walking with others, and the concept of grit in discipleship. They discuss roadblocks to discipleship and the mentoring relationship, highlighting the organic and individual nature of the process. Iman, a member of James' church, shares...

Summary In this episode of the Christian Book Blurb podcast, host Matt McChlery interviews Dr. Gary Chapman about the language of love. They discuss the importance of celebrating relationships, the difficulties in relationships, and the role of selfishness in causing problems. Dr. Chapman shares his personal experiences in marriage and how changing his attitude transformed his relationship. They also delve into the concept of love languages and how understanding and speaking each other's love...

I had a wonderful discussion with author Russ Ewell about how we can discover God for ourselves, based on his book 'He's Not Who You Think He Is'. We speak about how to build relationship with God as well as how to form a deeper connection with Him. We also discuss his love of music, basketball and his favourite TV show Downton Abbey. Listen now. Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery Sponsor an episode of this podcast Click...

Author Katherine Blessan takes some time out from an Air BnB retreat to chat with me about truth telling and cancel culture - two big topics that are explored in her novel 'T for Tolerance'. We also talk about her love of travelling, how the Holy Spirit communicates with her as well as her involvement with the social enterprise 'Kaleido Arts For Wellbeing'. Listen now. Thank you to See Miracles for sponsoring this episode. Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee...

Welcome to our 2024 New Year's Special episode! I chat with author and church leader Malcolm Macdonald about his passion for revival and his book 'Saturated with God'. We also speak about the importance of prayer and a return to a dependence upon Jesus for every Christian. He shares his heart for the local church and we hear about his involvement with the New Wine Festival and his love of watching rugby from his armchair. Listen now. Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a...

We could all use a bit of forgiveness in our lives, as well as learning how to give it away a little better too. In this episode I chat with award-winning author Chris Fabry about his new novel 'Saving Greyson'. We chat about forgiveness and reconciliation as well as Alzheimer's disease, working on talk show radio, rattlesnakes in the back yard and the new Kendrick Brothers movie coming out in 2024. Listen now. Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee...

Anna Hawken shares her heart as well as practical tips on how parents can learn about God and about being His child by observing their children, based on her book 'Being God's Child: A Parents Guide'. We also chat about Christmas season mayhem, how to hear God's voice, the importance of asking questions as well as the Great British Bake Off (also known as The Great British Baking Show in the USA), food and friends. Also, can you help us to decide which is best - brownies or pastries? Listen...