Explore every episode of the podcast The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HH #677 Surrendering to God's Leading with Priscilla Shirer | 14 Jun 2024 | 00:32:38 | |
Jamie recently released a statement on Instagram that she is stepping away from podcasting for a while. As a team, we have decided to air the six conversations that were recorded prior to May 20th. We decided to do this to honor the guests, the projects they have worked on, and the stories they are sharing. Time after time when we hear stories of people encountering Jesus, it almost always includes a story of hearing or seeing what God has done in someone else's life. On today's show, Priscilla Shirer shares with us how hearing someone's testimony in church led her to her first encounter with Jesus on a deeply personal level. Priscilla shares the encounters she's had with Jesus as she's learned to surrender her own will, how God launched her into full-time ministry, and the impact of sharing your testimony with others. We hope this episode encourages you and challenges you to surrender to the most unexpected paths God may have for you! Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend.
SHOW LINKS: -Connect with Priscilla Shirer | |||
| HH #676 Encountering Jesus with Kat Armstrong | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:19:28 | |
Jamie recently released a statement on Instagram that she is stepping away from podcasting for a while. As a team, we have decided to air the six conversations that were recorded prior to May 20th. We decided to do this to honor the guests, the projects they have worked on, and the stories they are sharing. On today's show Jamie Ivey and Kat Armstrong discuss the podcast series 'Holy Curiosity' and the encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus at the well. Kat Armstrong was born in Houston, Texas, where the humidity ruins her Mexi-German curls. She is a powerful voice in our generation as a sought-after Bible teacher, innovative ministry leader, and the host of the Holy Curiosity podcast. She holds a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and is pursuing a D.Min. from Houston Christian University. Kat is the author of No More Holding Back, The In-Between Place, and a 6-study Bible study series, the Storyline Project. In 2008, Kat cofounded the Polished Network to embolden women in their faith and work. She and her husband, Aaron, have been married for twenty one years and live in Dallas, Texas, with their son, Caleb, and attend Dallas Bible Church, where Aaron serves as the lead pastor. Jamie and Kat address misconceptions about the Samaritan woman's character and explore the theological conversation she had with Jesus. They also highlight the impact of her testimony on the people in her town and the significance of Jesus prioritizing this encounter. We hope after this conversation you'll see how everyone can encounter Jesus in unexpected places and be transformed by the power of encountering Him in our own lives. Thanks for listening and sharing with a friend!
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| HH #667 Finding Hope in the Midst of Suffering with Jamie Ivey and Toni Collier | 03 May 2024 | 00:58:38 | |
Hey friends! Today’s show is my first show back after a 3-month break. I wanted to come back and have a conversation with a friend about how I’ve been doing since my world fell apart in early February. My good friend Toni and I have a conversation about grief and pain, and I hope it is encouraging to you right where you are today - no matter what your world currently looks like. We both have walked through immense pain and grief in these last six months and on the show, you will hear us both process this in our own unique ways. I’m deeply grateful for this community! Your love and support from afar during my absence have meant the world to me. I’m thrilled to be back and look forward to the exciting things we have in store this month, including revisiting my book content and celebrating The Happy Hour’s monumental TEN-YEAR anniversary next week! Thanks for listening and sharing these episodes with a friend. I don’t take that lightly. SHOW LINKS: -Subscribe to Jamie’s Newsletter | |||
| HH #583 Living in the Present with Jeanne Stevens | 28 Apr 2023 | 00:42:19 | |
Do you struggle with living in the past? Do you find yourself worrying about the future? I’m sure at some point in your life you would answer those questions with a big YES! Today I sit down with Jeanne Stevens and discuss how it’s possible to find truth and peace by living in the present. Jeanne Stevens is the founder and co-lead pastor with her husband of Soul City Church in Chicago, Illinois. Jeanne seeks to live healthy rhythms while being a wife, mom, speaker, author, and leader. She is passionate about helping people wake up to their purpose as they pursue a life of wholehearted freedom. Jeanne shares how blame, shame, guilt, grief, and bitterness draw us back to our past, make us worry about the future, and keep us from living in the present. She encourages us to take our thoughts captive and dwell with God who is always in the present. Jeanne and I talk about the reality of this in our parenting journey and in our marriages. I’m so thankful for this conversation and for Jeanne’s work. I encourage you to check out the links from the show and grab yourself a copy of What’s Here Now?: How to Stop Rehashing the Past and Rehearsing the Future.
SHOW LINKS: Smart Brevity: How to Say More with Less Time: The Untold Story of the Love that Kept us Together when Incarceration Kept us Apart | |||
| HH #582 A Body of Praise with Dr. David Taylor | 26 Apr 2023 | 01:05:26 | |
Have you ever asked yourself if you’re worshiping God with your physical body? Have you wondered if the body is important to Jesus? On today’s show I sit down and answer these questions with author of A Body of Praise: Understanding the Role of our physical bodies in Worship, David Taylor. David is no stranger to The Happy Hour and you may remember him from last December when we discussed Advent. Today David and I talk about our bodies being used as an expression of praise and worship. We discuss how worship has very little to do with how we are raised, or our personality type, and instead has everything to do with what the scriptures commands of us. David draws on the wisdom of the Bible, church history, and theology. He takes a unique insight into the arts and sciences, ethics, and spiritual formation. David tells us there is something for our physical bodies to do that decisively forms Christlikeness in us within the context of corporate worship. I encourage you to listen to this episode with an open mind and ask God how you can bring all of yourself to worship him! SHOW LINKS: Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana Handle with Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and Ministry | |||
| HH #581 Kingdom Impact with Jessica Hotz | 21 Apr 2023 | 00:53:26 | |
Happy Friday, friends! Today is the final episode in our Unreached People Groups series. Today’s guest is founder of Activate Global and creator of Elevate, Jessica Hotz. Activate Global is a ministry committed to taking the love of Jesus to the most challenging places around the world. This mission is accomplished through the planting of sustainable churches and providing resources for people to create kingdom-minded business, like Elevate, that focus on empowering families. Today, Activate Global serves in the world’s 15 most challenging nations. It’s currently engaging with 142 people groups, has launched over 200 businesses, trained more than 600 leaders, and has planted 568 churches! On today’s episode, Jessica shares how this journey started in her twenties, how she knew God was calling her to the nations, and the adventure she and her husband have been on for the past decade. In the end, we talk about some of the products that Elevate is creating and the giveaway that’s happening on my Instagram! If you missed any episodes in this series – please go back and listen. I’m so proud of this series and would love for you to share them with friends. My biggest prayer is that God has awakened your heart for the nations and unreached people living without the knowledge of a Savior who loves them deeply.
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| HH #580 Loving the Nations with Andy Kampman | 19 Apr 2023 | 00:49:16 | |
Hey friends, today is part three of the four-part series of about Unreached People Groups. If you haven’t listened to our first two episodes, go back and listen to David Platt and Steven Morales to hear how God is moving around the world! Today’s episode is with my friend Andy Kampman. Andy is a pastor at my home church, The Austin Stone, and leader of Launch Global. To know Andy and his family is to know his heart and passion for the Gospel to spread to the Nations. Launch Global’s mission is to mobilize churches to develop laborers and leaders who multiply healthy churches among unreached people groups. On today’s episode Andy shares more about how to get connected to Launch Global and how we can be intentional in reaching the nations within our very own communities. This conversation challenges all of us to be intentional in cultivating hearts and lives that show the nations God’s heart for them. Check out all the links provided to find valuable resources for kids, young adults, and families!
SHOW LINKS: 6 Lessons on God's Heart for the World What is Unreached People Groups? for Kids
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| HH #579 The Fastest Growing Church with Steven Morales | 14 Apr 2023 | 00:44:56 | |
Hey friends! Welcome back to part two of our four-part series, Unreached People Groups. Last week you heard how over 3 billion people around the globe have never heard the name of Jesus. Today I’m excited to sit down with Steven Morales and discuss the fastest-growing church in the world! Steven is an amazing storyteller and pastor based in Guatemala City. He is passionate about spreading the Gospel around the nations and currently serves as content director for Radical. Steven hosts the documentary series, Neighbors and Nations, and friends, if you haven’t seen this series, click the link below and go watch it now! In today’s episode, Steven shares how the Gospel is spreading to the nations, and how the Iranian church is considered the fastest-growing church in the world. Despite the possibility of losing their businesses, being kicked out of school, and even being disconnected from their families, Iranians are choosing to spread the good news of Jesus! Hearing the stories coming out of Iran was so encouraging to me, and also convicting! Would I chose this life of Christianity if I knew there was so much to lose? Would I be able to endure what the persecuted church is enduring? I’m excited about this series, and I hope the episodes are moving your heart like they’re moving mine! I pray our hearts are pushing towards loving God’s people more and living bold and courageous lives for the sake of the Gospel! Don’t forget to share this episode with a friend and catch all of our interviews on YouTube. SHOW LINKS: | |||
| HH #578 Don't Hold Back with David Platt | 12 Apr 2023 | 00:46:14 | |
Hey friends! I pray Easter weekend was a blessing for you and your people! We enjoyed a Good Friday service where we reflected on the sacrifice of Jesus, and then celebrated his resurrection on Sunday with our family and friends. Today’s episode is the first of a four-part series: Unreached People Groups. Our first guest is new to The Happy Hour but a longtime friend, David Platt. David is a best-selling author, former president of International Missions Board, and currently pastoring in the Metro D.C. area. David’s mission is to equip the American church to reach unreached people groups around the globe. On today’s episode, David teaches us exactly what it means to be part of an unreached people group, and shares heroic stories of persecuted christians who are spreading the Gospel around the world. Friends, today’s conversation is both challenging and humbling as we dive into what it means to be a Christian in America. How are we stewarding our resources and freedoms? Are we choosing to live bold lives in our communities and workplaces for the sake of the Gospel? Is knowing and sharing the Word of God worth our life to us? I don’t know about you, but when I get to the end of my life, I want to have confidence that it was all about Jesus! Grab a copy of David’s new book Don’t Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully, and share today’s episode with a friend! SHOW NOTES: Don’t Hold Back: Leaving Behind The American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully | |||
| HH# 577: Is Easter Unbelievable? with Rebecca McLaughlin | 07 Apr 2023 | 00:42:14 | |
Hey Friends! Happy Good Friday! As we enter this weekend reflecting on Easter and the miracle of the cross, I’m thrilled to welcome back a long time friend to the Happy Hour, Rebecca McLaughlin. Rebecca McLaughlin is an award winning author and today we dive into her book, Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection Story. Let me ask you this, does your belief in Jesus being the Son of God, dying on the cross, and his resurrection change the way you live? Do these truths penetrate your heart to the point where your life looks radically different from those around you? In today’s episode Rebecca shares why and how they should. We discuss how Jesus’ love for us displayed through his death is even more stunning than his love for us shown through his life, how the Gospel gives us 4 pieces of evidence of his resurrection, and how our earthly relationships point us to reunification with our Savior! Friends, this is an important conversation to me. Wherever you are in your life right now, my prayer is that Jesus is appealing to you and that the miracle of the cross resonates with you. If you would like to talk more about what this means in your life or if you don’t have a Bible, please reach out to jamie@jamieivey.com. We’re here for you and we’re thankful to be on this journey together. Make sure to grab a copy of Rebecca’s book and share this episode with a friend. SHOW LINKS: Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection Story | |||
| HH# 576 God Knows with Lisa Whittle | 05 Apr 2023 | 00:46:16 | |
Hey friends! Today I sit down with my long-time friend, Lisa Whittle. For those that don’t know, Lisa does all the things! She is the founder of Called Creatives, Bible teacher, best-selling author, and host of podcasts Ministry Strong and Jesus Over Everything. On today’s episode we discuss Lisa’s newest book releasing April 18th, God Knows. God knows where you are weak and where you are strong. God knows your future, and he knows your pain. He knows where you seek vindication and where you need healing. Today Lisa shares with us how she learned to walk through this life with rest and reliance on trusting that God knows! Lisa and I share personal stories on how we are releasing bitterness and the need to seek vindication as we practice trusting that we are seen and known by our loving Father. Friends, this conversation with Lisa is so good, and I hope it provides encouragement to your life. Make sure to order her book on Amazon and tune into Season 2 of our podcast Launch!
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| HH# 575 Baking and the Goodness of God with Kendall Vanderslice | 31 Mar 2023 | 00:36:17 | |
Let’s be honest, relationships are complicated. Whether it’s a relationship with a family member, a church, or even food, relationships are layered with complexities! On today’s episode I discuss these complexities with Kendall Vanderslice. Kendall is a professionally trained baker, author, and founder of Edible Theology. She is passionate about helping people heal their relationships with food, their bodies, and the Body of Christ. In today’s episode you’ll hear Kendall’s take on why the best community happens around a table, and how the science of bread teaches us about growth and strength! If you’ve ever struggled with your relationship with food, family, or community, this episode is for you! SHOW NOTES: | |||
| HH #574 Holding Faith on Capitol Hill with Treneé McGee | 29 Mar 2023 | 00:43:56 | |
Hey friends! I am thrilled to have a conversation with a first time guest to the Happy Hour and a new friend, State Representative Treneé McGee. I first heard of Treneé while attending the Stand For Life conference and knew pretty quickly I wanted to learn more about her. Treneé McGee is the youngest black woman in the General Assembly for the state of Connecticut representing the 116th district. Treneé is a Whole Life advocate who is passionate about educating others on the history of abortion and its impact on the black community. She is also deeply entrenched in theatre and explains to listeners the relationship between arts and politics and how one prepared her for her main role today! On today’s episode we get to know Treneé a little better as she informs listeners on how we can advocate for unborn babies and their mothers from a whole-life perspective. You'll hear four practical actions listeners can take to bridge the gap between the pre-born and their mothers:
I hope today’s episode encourages you and equips you with ways you can put your beliefs into action! | |||
| HH #666 How to Grieve Well with Guest Host Toni Collier and Debra Fileta | 01 May 2024 | 00:45:48 | |
Happy May 1st friends! We are beyond excited to be in the month of May because we have so many things to celebrate with you! Jamie will be returning to the show this week and we can’t wait to have her back! The Happy Hour is also turning TEN YEARS OLD next week! We can’t get over how God has allowed us to be in this space for ten years, and we are so thankful for all of the guests and listeners who have showed up in this space with us! We love sharing stories of hope, encouragement, and God’s love with you! On today’s show we have Guest Host, Toni Collier, and Debra Fileta walk us through how to grieve well. It’s so easy to bury, numb, or run from grief, but at the end of the day, in order for healing to take place, we must honor the space of loss and allow our community to support us in seasons of grief. Toni and Debra emphasize the need to heal and move forward, taking ownership of our role in relationships and finding closure. Walking through grief may feel burdensome, but it’s nothing like trying to walk through life unhealed! We believe God can bring healing and redemption in the midst of hardship, and you can trust his good plan for your life! Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend! SHOW LINKS: | |||
| HH #573 Finding Peace From Anxiety with Katie Davis Majors | 24 Mar 2023 | 00:36:24 | |
Hey, ya’ll! Today I’m excited to welcome Katie Davis Majors back to the Happy Hour! Katie was on episode 208 and we always have the best conversations! In today’s episode we covered some important topics including her transition to living back in the United States after living in Uganda, dealing with anxiety, and a few practical ways she stays grounded when her anxiety is in full force. Katie also shares all about Amazima Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to providing basic needs and school attendance to the people of Uganda. Katie’s latest book Safe All Along: Trading Our Fears and Anxieties for God’s Unshakable Peace, releases on March 28th – make sure to grab a copy! I hope today’s episode reminds you that if you struggle with anxiety, you are not alone, and God is with you every step of the way!
SHOW LINKS: The Happy Hour Episode 208 with Katie Safe All Along: Trading Our Fears and Anxieties for God’s Unshakable Peace | |||
| HH# 572 Redeeming Your Time with Jordan Raynor | 22 Mar 2023 | 00:40:25 | |
Hey Friends! Welcome back from our little Spring Break! We missed you! Our family rested well and spent quality time together outside, around the dinner table, and in downtown Austin! I had a great conversation with author of Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive, Jordan Raynor. This was the first book my team and I read for our Lunch & Learn in January and February, and I highlighted a ton of stuff! This book isn’t only for those in the workplace but for anybody with time to manage, so ALL OF US! Jordan Raynor is a leading voice of the face and work movement. Through his bestselling books, podcast, and devotionals, Jordan has helped missions of Christians in every country connect the gospel to their work. In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own. In today’s episode, we talked about how this book is different from any other time management book published, how people can make their workplace sacred, and Jordan’s three-step method on taking control of your emails and texts! I hope this conversation is as encouraging to you as it was to me. Grab a copy of Jordan’s book and let me know which methods you’re incorporating into your life!
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| HH #571 What I Don't Want to Do with J.P. Pokluda | 10 Mar 2023 | 00:42:28 | |
Question for you. If the enemy was going to try to take you down today, how would he do it? Today I sit down with friend, pastor, and author JP Pokluda to discuss his new book, Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?: Replace Deadly Vices with Life-Giving Virtues. JP Pokluda is the lead pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. JP became a Christian in his early twenties and has a passion to inspire young adults to radically follow Jesus and unleash them to change the world around them. In his new book, JP challenges his readers to survey their life and recognize their vices. He reminds us that as we pursue Christ and holiness, we are not striving to not do certain things, but instead we are striving to become Christ-like. In today’s honest conversation, you’ll hear how JP has overcome addiction, how we can identify the idols in our life, and how all of us can grow and change. | |||
| HH# 570 Dangerous Jesus with KB | 08 Mar 2023 | 00:45:54 | |
Ya’ll, grab your sweet tea or coffee or whatever it is you drink and get comfortable for a possibly very uncomfortable conversation with our guest today, KB! I am thrilled to have him on the show and discuss his new book, Dangerous Jesus: Why the Only Thing More Risky Than Getting Jesus Right is Getting Jesus Wrong. Kevin Burgess, aka KB, is a husband and father of three children. He is an award-winning rapper, winning a Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year in 2020. KB is also a speaker, host of the popular podcast Southside Rabbi, and author. He is a studier of the Word and in his latest book, KB challenges us to look at Christianity as being more than our traditions, perceptions, and denominations, and look more like Christ! With a published study recently revealing that with every one person who joins the church, four leave, KB and I sit down to talk about the hard topics Christianity in America is facing. We discuss topics surrounding pro-life, race, success and wealth, and what it means for Christians to be dangerous. I want to encourage all of us to enter into the challenging spaces of this conversation because I truly believe there is goodness on the other side!
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| HH #568 With Jinger Dugger Vuolo | 01 Mar 2023 | 00:36:50 | |
Happy March friends! We have an amazing lineup of guests on the show this month and I'm so excited for the episodes ahead. Today I sat down with Jinger Duggar Vuolo and discussed her new book, Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear. Truthfully, when I first heard of this book, I didn't think I would be interested. After several friends encouraged me to give it a read, I was shocked! This is no "tell all", but instead Jinger does an amazing job of pointing us to Jesus as the Gospel is woven through every page! Jinger Duggar Vuolo grew up on television from the young age of ten years old. For almost 18 years she appeared on TLC's reality show, 19 Kids and Counting. Jinger has always been vocal about her faith, even as she entered into adulthood and began the terrifying process of detangling everything she had ever been taught. As Jinger watched lifelong friends leave God and christianity altogether due to church hurt and leadership abuse, Jinger felt compelled to share her story of how detangling her rigid childhood teachings actually led her to freedom in Christ. In today's episode you'll hear more about Jinger's journey, what she's still learning to let go of, and how every morning she reminds herself of how loving and gracious our God is. I hope you're encouraged by listening and remember to go grab yourself a copy of her new book! | |||
| HH #567 The Jesus Revolution with Cathe Laurie | 24 Feb 2023 | 00:45:58 | |
Happy Friday, friends! Cancel your plans and head to the theater TONIGHT for the release of the movie “Jesus Revolution.” I had the opportunity to view this movie and you can trust me when I say you don’t want to miss out! As someone who didn’t have the privilege of living through the Jesus Movement during the 60s and 70s, it was an honor to hear first-hand testimony from someone at the very center of this film, and today’s guest, Cathe Laurie. Cathe Laurie was raised overseas and her family moved to California during the hippy era. In searching for something more, Cathe looked in all the wrong places; that is, until a friend introduced her to Jesus. From there, Cathe and her husband Greg courted, married, and began a church in 1974 that they still pastor to this day! Cathe and her husband have been married for almost 50 years, have three children, and multiple grandchildren. This woman has lived a full life and remains faithful in finding ways to point people to Jesus! Cathe brings an honest and refreshing perspective on Christian life and ministry. On today’s episode, you’ll hear more about her thoughts in making the “Jesus Revolution” film, her conversion to Christianity, her prayer for revival, and how no one is outside the possibility of Jesus changing their life! Click here for show notes. | |||
| HH #566 All My Knotted Up Life with Beth Moore | 22 Feb 2023 | 00:48:08 | |
Y'all, I am THRILLED to have Beth Moore on today's episode! This will be Beth's 4th time as a guest on my show, and I swear each time gets better and better! Beth Moore was an inspiration to me as a young believer and her teachings continue to challenge and encourage me. Beth's memoir, All My Knotted-Up Life, released yesterday, and let me tell you, you want to run, not walk, to pick up your copy! Even after following Beth for decades, I learned so much about her that I never knew. Incase you're unfamiliar with Beth, she is an author, speaker, and founder of Living Proof Ministries. Her dynamic teaching and conferences take her all over the globe. She's authored several bestselling books and Bible studies and was Lifeway Christian's first official published Bible Study. Beth has been married to her husband Keith Moore for 45 years, and she's a mother of two daughters. Beth has faithfully served her local community and church for decades! As I finished Beth's memoir, tears rolled down my face. Today you'll hear how Beth knew the timing was right to author a memoir, the struggles their family has endured with mental illness, and how Beth looks back on hardships with the perspective that "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6). I pray the vulnerability of today's episode encourages you. Thanks for listening! Click HERE for show notes. | |||
| HH#565 Liberator Preview with Chelsea and Layton Boeve | 17 Feb 2023 | 00:50:16 | |
I am so excited to introduce ya’ll to a new podcast joining Ivey Media! This podcast is special to us as this couple went through our podcast course where we team up and support people who have a passion for podcasting. At the end of the course we chose one student to be part of Ivey Media and that leads us to Chelsea and Layton Boeve with Liberator Podcast. Chelsea and Layton currently reside in Michigan where they love their dog and are avid hikers. Layton lives and dies with Michigan football while Chelsea loves a strong black coffee! Chelsea and Layton are passionate about healthy relationships and strong marriages. Their podcast aims to bring the perspective of both men and women who have engaged with or been hurt by the use of pornography. Liberator Podcast has a goal of making people feel safe, find community through brokenness, and to equip people who have been hurt by or who struggle with pornography. Chelsea and Layton break down the science of addictive behaviors and how to find freedom. Chelsea and Layton’s goal is to help people break free from the stigma of pornography and create a new narrative of finding freedom. This podcast is for everyone and anyone. Whether you have personally been affected by pornography, or know someone who is, this podcast is a great tool to learn from and share with your friends! | |||
| HH# 564 Lent is for All of Us with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole | 15 Feb 2023 | 00:40:56 | |
Not too long ago a friend asked me, “Jamie, what is your assignment? What are you pouring your heart into?” and those questions changed my life. Today I sit down with that friend, the amazing Dr. Alicia Britt Chole. Alicia is a people grower who walks alongside people in the health of their soul and their nearness with Christ. She believes that reality is a friend (and denial is an enemy) of intimacy with God. She is a wife of 32 years of Dr. Barry Jay Chole and mom of Jonathan (25), Keona (19), and Louie (16), all through the miracle of adoption. Alicia is passionate about offering others a framework for processing spiritual pain as a friend of--not a failure of--intimacy with God. Buckle up for today’s episode because we dive in DEEP! We discuss how less is more, reality is our friend, the observance of Lent, and how we walk alongside the disciples in their most delusional space in their entire life. Alicia challenges us to break free from the “God if you do this, I’ll do that'' mentality and allow God to be the good Father He is. | |||
| Part 2: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shaped Us with Jasmine Holmes | 10 Feb 2023 | 00:46:02 | |
Happy Friday friends! Today we are diving into Part 2 of my conversation with Jasmine Holmes. We've been discussing women from her book, Carved in Ebony, and learning about remarkable women who changed the lives of the people in their corner of the world. Today we cover two more women who couldn't have come from more different backgrounds. Charlotte Forten Grimke, a born-free woman from the north, and Maria Fearing, a woman from the south born into slavery, lived lives that remind us that God can use anyone in BIG ways! Jasmine L. Holmes is an educator, research assistant, and the author of Carved in Ebony and Mother to Son. She creates public history resources for teachers and lifelong learners. Jasmine and her husband Phillip live in Jackson, Mississippi with their three sons. I am so grateful for the work Jasmine is doing and the way she encourages us to remember our past. Her resources and books help us remember that God can use anyone no matter who they are, where they're from, or what their past is. Charlotte and Maria were women who faithfully followed God and made a difference with whatever they were given! I hope you enjoyed this two-part series as much as I did! If you haven't yet, make sure to go back and listen to Part 1 of this amazing conversation! Click for all the Show Links | |||
| HH #665 10th Birthday Countdown: The Very First Convo with Susie Davis | 26 Apr 2024 | 00:55:30 | |
Hey friends! Welcome back to another birthday countdown episode! We are so excited about turning 10 years old in just a few weeks! Every Friday we've been playing episodes from our very first season. If you haven't caught up, we highly suggest you go back and listen! It's crazy how topics we talked about over ten years ago can still have so much relevance and meaning today! On today's show we throw it back to the very first conversation with Susie Davis. Susie is an author, blogger, speaker and church founder. Susie is married to Will Davis Jr., the founding and senior pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship, and together they have three children. Aside from family and ministry, Susie is helplessly addicted to horseback riding and McDonald’s coffee. In addition, one of her all time favorites is cooking and enjoying family dinners. Jamie and Susie discuss how they both ended up in radio accidentally, and also how hard it is to follow your passions individually when you also feel as though you are supposed to be giving so much to your family. Susie shares about what started her down the road of being a fearful person and how that ruled her world for so many years. We know by the end of this episode you'll be encouraged to live unafraid and kick fear to the curb! Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend! SHOW LINKS: -Unafraid: Trusting God in An Unsafe World -Loving Your Man Without Losing Your Mind -Parenting Your Teen and Loving It -Uncovered: Revealing the Secrets of a Sexy Marriage -The Time of Your Life: Finding God's Rest In Your Busy Schedule | |||
| Lessons from 2 Black Women that have shaped us with Jasmine Holmes | 08 Feb 2023 | 00:32:58 | |
Every month is a good month to learn about Black History, and in the special month of February I'm sharing with you some amazing people who have incredible resources we can learn from. Today I am SO excited to have Jasmine Holmes on The Happy Hour for the very first time! I'm so excited about it that I've actually invited her to be on TWO episodes this week! Jasmine L. Holmes is an educator, research assistant, and the author of Carved in Ebony and Mother to Son. She creates public history resources for teachers and lifelong learners. Jasmine and her husband, Phillip, live in Jackson, Mississippi, with their three sons. I am so grateful for the work Jasmine is doing and the way she encourages us to remember our past. Her resources and books help us remember that God can use anyone no matter who they are, where they're from, or what their past is. On today's episode we talk about Black history in America and two incredible women that changed the future for generations to come. Elizabeth Freeman and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper were courageous, smart, bold, and understood the dignity of people who were born in God's image. Don't forget to come back Friday for part 2 of this amazing conversation! Click for all the show links . | |||
| HH#561 Finding Courage with Ann Voskamp | 03 Feb 2023 | 00:32:47 | |
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Like you don’t have a seat at the table? Have you ever felt lost? If you have, this is the episode for you. Today I sit down with Ann Voskamp as we remember that we all need to sing a brave song over ourselves and our children. Ann Voskamp is a wife to The Farmer and a mother of 7 children. She is a New York Time’s Bestselling author and speaker. She has authored multiple books including One Thousand Gifts, The Greatest Gift, Unwrapping the Greatest Gift, and her newest children’s book, Your Brave Song. Your Brave Song is really for all ages as we all need reminding that we are chosen not for what we do, but for who we are… for WHOSE we are! Click for all the Show Links | |||
| HH#560 Chatologie Preview: Angie Elkins with Jodi Benson | 01 Feb 2023 | 00:40:49 | |
Today we’re celebrating Angie Elkins' 1 year Anniversary with The Happy Hour. For those of you who don’t know, Angie is The Happy Hour’s editor and Director of Podcast for Ivey Media. She resides in Florida with her husband and three kids where she loves studying God's Word, serving in the local church, and visiting Disney World. Angie is also the host her own podcast, Chatologie, a faith based podcast that invites guests to share how God has been present in their lives, what they are currently working on, and how their ministry is going out into the world. Today Angie sits down with singer/actress, voice of The Little Mermaid, and now author, Jodi Benson. Jodi challenges us to lay down comparisons and discover your own giftedness and passions. She shares about how one small decision changed her life forever! | |||
| HH#559 Bonus Episode: Compelling Stories with Paul Hastings | 30 Jan 2023 | 00:56:22 | |
This week we have a special episode with a fellow podcaster, Paul Hastings, who has a unique way of immersing listeners into people's life changing stories. He is the host of "Compelled", a podcast sharing stories about God transforming Christians around the world. Paul is an award-winning podcaster, filmmaker, speaker, entrepreneur, and proud husband and father. On this episode we remember the Space Shuttle Columbia crew and talk more about Compelled Episode #46 with Evelyn Husband Thompson, the wife of the shuttle Commander. Evelyn's story moved me deeply and was a great reminder that because we have hope in Jesus, there is life after tragedy. Click for all the Show Links | |||
| HH #558 Why Care About Teen Girls? With Tiffany Daniels | 27 Jan 2023 | 00:49:24 | |
Tiffany Daniels is the Founder and Director of THERE{4} Teen Gathering. Tiffany has a passion to see the hearts of high school girls transformed by the gospel of grace. Since 2016, God has used THERE{4} Teen Gathering’s 11 conferences (nine in the US and two in Kigali, Rwanda) to reach tens of thousands of girls in all 50 states and upwards of 30 countries worldwide via livestream.Tiffany lives in Arlington, Texas with her husband, David, Lead Pastor of Central Bible Church. Their three grown children are spread out between Fort Worth, Seattle and Nashville and she has 2 amazing little grandkids! Tiffany is as genuine as they come. One of those people who if she says she’s praying for you, you better believe she means it! In today’s episode we talk all things raising teenagers, a few upcoming trips we have together, and how no season is waisted by God! Be ready to be challenged in taking your next best step as you listen! Click for all the Show Links | |||
| HH #557 How to Human with Carlos Whittaker | 25 Jan 2023 | 00:36:52 | |
Collectively, we can look back on the year 2020 and remember how tough it was for everyone! But one thing I look back on with joy is how Carlos Whittaker emerged as a hopeful and steady voice online, walking us through tough conversations and being a true leader for many in what felt like a dark time. I am THRILLED to have Carlos back on the show today as we reflect on his journey over the past few years. Plus, we talk all about his new book, How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us. If you aren’t familiar with Carlos Whittaker, let me introduce you! Carlos is a podcaster, author, global speaker, and a follower of Jesus who desires to make people feel seen and cared for. His motto in life is, “Don’t stand on issues. Walk with people.” He lives in Nashville, Tennessee where you can find his family farming and dancing to Beyonce (seriously, Google it!). In How to Human, Carlos takes us through a three-part journey: “Be, see, and free.” BE fully who God created you to be. SEE humans around you, particularly those who feel invisible. Lastly, FREE humans through service! Through looking at the example of Jesus’ life, we can gain a fresh vision of exchanging a culture of division for real relationships. This book is for everyone and anyone who needs reminding that we can navigate hard times with grit, kindness, and a good joke or two! Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH #556 Love and Relationships with Debra Fileta | 20 Jan 2023 | 00:41:13 | |
We are THRILLED to announce today the newest member of the Ivey Media Podcasts collective, Debra Fileta, and her show Love & Relationships! Debra is a licensed professional counselor who believes that “healthy people make healthy relationships.” Love & Relationships is a hotline-style show where listeners call in with questions about dating, marriage and singleness. Debra also focuses a lot of her show on mental and emotional health so that each of us can become healthy individuals. Love & Relationships is impromptu, raw and unedited, just like a counseling session. The beauty of Debra’s podcast is that we can learn and grow through hearing other people’s growth. In today’s episode of The Happy Hour, you’ll hear a clip of Debra’s “Are you really okay?” series where she talks with Christine Caine about her journey of mental and emotional health. If you love it, also go check out similar conversations Debra has with faith leaders like Louie Giglio and Levi Lusko! Debra has her “Couples Therapy” series starting in February, and you’ll want to hang on until the end of the episode to hear about a new series of 5-minute episodes she’ll be releasing on Thursdays, too! Go subscribe to Love & Relationships, and follow Debra on Instagram! | |||
| HH#555 Remember Me Now with Faitth Brooks | 18 Jan 2023 | 00:38:48 | |
When Breonna Taylor was killed, her police report was virtually blank. Feeling as if she was suffocating in the initial silence and lack of public outcry, anti-racism educator and activist Faitth Brooks wondered, “Would the world care about and remember me if I was killed?” This love letter is celebrating and caring for the fullness of living Black Women. Faitth is honest and transparent with her experiences as a Black woman in the Christian space. She shared how often there was no celebration or care for her and how she was kept painfully silenced. ALL THE LINKS FROM THE SHOW HERE | |||
| HH #554 Ministry Strong Preview with Lisa Whittle | 13 Jan 2023 | 00:34:30 | |
In 2020, I launched Ivey Media, the company that contains everything I do – writing, speaking, and yes, podcasting. We thought as a team, “What if we had more podcasts that we could help, supporting people as they dream about and host their shows, and find advertisers so these hosts can make podcasting their jobs?” It’s from that place that the Ivey Media Podcasts collective was created and it launched last summer! One of the shows on our network is Ministry Strong. Ministry Strong exists to strengthen and encourage ministry leaders to serve Jesus with integrity for the long haul. Ministry Strong is hosted by my friend, Lisa Whittle, who you probably know if you’ve been a long-time listener of The Happy Hour. Lisa also co-hosts our new parenting show, Launch, with me. The second half of Ministry Strong’s first season is live TODAY, and I want to play an episode for you so you can get a sense of the conversations that take place on that show between Lisa and her Season 1 co-host, Joel Muddamalle. The episode you will hear today is episode five. Lisa and Joel tackle the topic of church hurt and spiritual abuse in this episode. They talk about the importance of clearly defining these terms and how to tell the difference. As a bonus, Lisa and Joel discuss how “honor culture” and entitlement fit into the equation. Take a listen. You won’t regret it!
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| HH#553 A New Year in the Bible with Kat Armstrong | 11 Jan 2023 | 00:38:30 | |
The same way you fall in love with your favorite authors and storytellers, whether it’s through movies or podcasts… allow God to become that again in your life” – Kat Armstrong If you are like me walking into the year, you have all these thoughts about wanting to eat better, exercise more, and maintain great friendships. Or maybe you are saying, “I want to get back into God’s Word.” If that is you, I have a great show for you today! My guest is Kat Armstrong and she is one of my favorite Bible teachers. Not only that, but she’s in the running for the guest we’ve maybe had on more times than anyone else – five times! Kat is wise, she is genuine, and she has two new Bible studies releasing next week. What I love about these studies is that they can be done individually or with a group. The “Storyline Bible Studies” will guide you through the storylines of scripture as they each follow people, places, or things in the Bible. Kat and I spend time today talking about the first two studies, Mountains and Valleys. We talk about what it means to get back into God’s Word if you’ve been afraid, if you’ve been hurt, or if you have felt unwelcome because of His Word. Kats shares how she would introduce someone who’s scared or overwhelmed to start reading the Bible. She says to keep reading until you run into a rabbit trail, and if you find yourself overwhelmed, pause your plan and give your brain a break to help dive in again. We really want to encourage you to look at God’s Word as one whole big story, telling God’s story of love toward us.
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| HH #664 The Connection Between Humility and Peace with Guest Host Esau McCaulley and Joel Muddamalle | 24 Apr 2024 | 00:52:27 | |
What comes to your mind when you hear the word, "humility"? Do you think doormat, walk over, self-deprecation, or strength, wisdom, boundaries, and peace? Humility can be a tough subject to tackle, but today we have the perfect duo to walk us through the connection between humility and peace: Guest Host, Esau McCaulley, and Dr. Joel Muddamalle. Esau is a long time friend of The Happy Hour and has provided us with incredible conversations around his books, Reading While Black and How Far to the Promised Land. Esau is an author and associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. His writing and speaking focus on New Testament theology, African American Biblical interpretation, and Christian public theology. His book Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope won numerous awards, including Christianity Today’s book of the year. Esau is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. His writings have also appeared in places such as The Atlantic, Washington Post, and Christianity Today. Joel serves as the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries and Lysa TerKeurst, and is a part of the preaching team at Transformation Church with Pastor Derwin Gray. Joel earned a PhD in Theology under Drs. Patrick Schreiner (NT) and Michael Heiser (OT) with an emphasis on Paul's household language in Ephesians as it relates to the Old Testament. He loves studying and teaching the brilliant truths found in Scripture and unpacking how they relate to our everyday lives. Whether we've incorrectly defined humility or underestimated its relevance to our daily life, we believe humility is the missing piece for the security, strength and confidence we all want. It's time to stop trying so hard to avoid our limitations or overcompensate for them. God has better for us and it begins with bowing low in humility! Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend! SHOW LINKS:
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| HH#552 A Reason to Return to Church with Ericka Andersen | 06 Jan 2023 | 00:33:00 | |
Hey friends, and happy Friday! Cheers to the second episode of The Happy Hour 2023! I have a first-time guest on today, Ericka Anderson, and she has listened to all five hundred and fifty-one episodes of The Happy Hour! Ericka is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and podcaster who recently wrote a book called “Reason to Return,” focused on the topic of women leaving the church. 16 million American women have left the church in the last decade, and Ericka shares a few reasons why. Some of these reasons include trauma, busyness, and church hurt. Other women may leave the church because they feel unseen or alone in their current season of life, such as single women not feeling like their needs are being met. Erica even shares her story of church trauma. I’m telling you, her experience is something worth listening to, even if it’s really hard to hear. For most women that walk away from the church, it’s not usually because they have a problem with God; it’s the people who have hurt them. After all, churches are full of broken, sinful people – you and me included! But Ericka’s hope in writing “Reason to Return” is to help draw women back to a body of believers, one that is good and healthy for them to be a part of. Ericka and I wrap up our conversation with a beautiful story about the friend Ericka had in mind when she wrote this book. This specific person was absent from the church completely. While Ericka was still writing the book, that woman walked into a church one day and gave her life to Jesus! What an answer to prayer! While Ericka’s friend didn’t read “Reason to Return” before that day, I pray this story brings you hope that there are Jesus-loving people in a church somewhere, ready to welcome you (or someone you know) into their church family. If you or a loved one is in hard church season, I pray you’ll pick up a copy of “Reason to Return” and see how Ericka’s story might minister to you. Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH#551 Happy New Year with Guest Host Jackie Hill Perry | 04 Jan 2023 | 00:43:52 | |
Happy New Year! I cannot believe we are entering another year! Welcome to the very first episode of The Happy Hour in 2023. It may be a little early in the year to declare this, but my conversation today is probably going to be one of my favorite episodes when I do a “2023 year in review” in December! The team and I thought about doing something different to start the new by letting my dear friend Jackie Hill Perry interview me. I think we all know who Jackie is, but if you’re not familiar, I’m delighted to introduce you! Jackie is a wife and mom, the author of Gay Girl Good God and Holier Than Thou, co-host of the Thirty Minutes with The Perrys podcast alongside her husband Preston, and a gifted preacher. I have never been interviewed on my show but this was so much fun! Jackie puts me in the hot seat, for sure! She’s asking all the questions and she does not hold back. We talk about me preaching for the first time in a church on a Sunday morning. We discuss the topic of women in leadership, as well as my obsession with watching “Sister Wives.” I even get very vulnerable about something that until this conversation, I had only shared with five people. You will definitely want to push play to hear what I share. Jackie leaves us with great wisdom with the reminder that God’s ‘no’ is not mean. His ‘no is never wasted or lacking in love, but when He says ‘no,’ it is training and disciplining us to trust the Father. Friends, I hope your new year is off to a great start!
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| HH#550 Someday Is Here with Vivian Mabuni | 23 Dec 2022 | 00:52:12 | |
Can you believe Christmas is this Sunday?! What a year this has been! I cannot believe this is the final episode of 2022. I’m closing out December with a conversation with my dear friend Vivian Mubani! Vivian is no stranger to The Happy Hour – she was my guest on Episodes #59 and #251. Today we talk about her podcast, Someday Is Here (which is on our Ivey Media Podcasts network!), her hope for the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, her cancer journey, and why representation matters. Vivian’s podcast is targeted towards Asian Americans, and she shares about the AAPI community and how the intersection of the eastern and western worlds impacts our faith, our leadership, and how we do life. Although Someday Is Here is meant to speak to the unique experience of Asian Americans, Vivian also welcomes those who do not identify as such, because Vivian understands that we are better when we are learning together. I have learned so much from my dear friend about the AAPI community and I hope you will join me in learning more about why the representation of these brothers and sisters really matters. A big THANK YOU to all of our Happy Hour listeners this year! This show wouldn’t be possible with you all, and I am so grateful that you take time out of your day to listen! Have a Merry Christmas, friends!
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| HH#549 2022 in Review with the Ivey Media Team | 21 Dec 2022 | 01:23:57 | |
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK! It is so very true, and today you get to meet my whole team! My heart overflows with love for each of the ladies you will hear from today. The gifts, talents, voices, and personalities they bring not only make our company better, but they make me better as well. Ivey Media has been through so much growth this year. It has also been so sweet to merge so many beautiful people together in one company! I ask each woman about four things: What they love about working at Ivey Media, their personal and/or professional goals for 2023, their favorite book they read in 2022, and their favorite episode of The Happy Hour from this past year. First up is Lyndsey Sweeney! Without Lyndsey, this show simply would not function. Lyndsey is our Director of Operations and she has been with me for five years now. Lyndsey shares how she has seen the company grow and how God moved her own personal story and giftings into the Ivey Media space. I am so honored to have Lyndsey on this team. Second up is Angie Elkins. Angie is our Manager of Podcasts, which means she edits all the episodes and makes sure they are ready for our listeners. Angie has been with Ivey Media for one year now and we are all so thankful for the joy she brings to work! Third up is Amanda Reed! Amanda manages our partnerships and she loves that her role helps bring podcasting conversations to life. Amanda and her husband also introduced me to Austin FC and let me just say, I’m a true soccer fan now because of the Reeds. I’m grateful for all the work Amanda does to keep Ivey Media moving forward. Fourth up is Shannon Stone! Shannon handles all things dealing with finances, HR, and insurance. Although Shannon is not in the office very often, I’m always mentioning her name in the office and want her input on many more things besides finances. Shannon is such a gift to me and our whole team! Fifth up is Ashley Colwell! Ashley recently joined our team as the Podcast Production Assistant, which means she talks to all the guests, does the scheduling, and does a whole lot of communicating via email. Fun fact: Ashley has listened to The Happy Hour since the very first episode, and even before then, she would read my blogs! It’s so fun to have her here now helping us to produce the show! And last but not least, Ashley Minor! Ashley’s role is Podcast Assistant, and she writes our show notes and schedules the episodes to go out on the blog and Simplecast so that they can then be downloaded or streamed by our listeners. Ashley was on The Happy Hour back in October of this year, when we talked about the Texas Longhorns and college ministry. Ashley, thank you for all you do!
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| HH#548 The Characters of Christmas (The Wisemen) with Preston Perry | 16 Dec 2022 | 00:22:18 | |
With the big day right around the corner, today is our last episode for our Characters of Christmas series! I personally feel like I have grown and learned so much with each conversation about Jesus’ birth, and my heart feels more ready to anticipate and celebrate on Christmas Day. Today’s guest is no stranger to The Happy Hour and he is going to end our series by sharing about the Wiseman – how they point us back to Jesus and how we can see the character of Jesus through them. Preston Perry is a poet, Bible teacher, and podcaster, and he gives us great insight about how we should imitate the Wisemen’s faith in Jesus. He said the Wiseman are wise not because of their own knowledge, but because their wisdom is rooted in their faith in God. They had to have a measure of faith to have traveled all that way to believe in the prophecy that the Messiah would come. Another thing Preston said that struck me was when he pointed out the 900 miles (!!) the Wiseman traveled to see Jesus. Preston said that causes him to observe his own life and ask the question, “How far am I willing to go to meet Jesus?” We ended our conversation by discussing the joy the Wisemen had when they finally laid their eyes on Jesus, and how we too should have great joy when we enter into His presence. What a series this has been! I am so thankful to be reminded of the real reason why we celebrate.
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| HH# 547 Characters of Christmas (The Shepherds) with Bryan Carter | 14 Dec 2022 | 00:18:12 | |
The holidays can be a tough time for people, but what we can find in today’s story is that God is faithful no matter what you are going through. God is faithful to His Word, He keeps his promises, and when we act in faith, we can know that He will always respond. Today my guest is Pastor Bryan Carter, senior pastor at Concord Church in Dallas. We are continuing our Characters of Christmas series, and today we are talking about the Shepherds. I ask Pastor Bryan why it’s important that the Shepherds were the first to hear about Jesus, and how their character points us back to Jesus. Considered unclean and without status, the Shepherds are included in the announcement of Jesus Christ. For us, that is good news because it shows us that God sees all people no matter their popularity. This shows Jesus as a Shepherd by choosing the Shepherds to be a part of the announcing of His birth. Pastor Bryan mentioned how the Shepherds did not delay going to Bethlehem, and that shows us their confidence and faith in God. We too should hear the voice of God and not delay when He calls us. Pastor Bryan also mentioned how this story links us to Jesus not only being a shepherd but also the Lamb who washes away all of our sins, which means that we can have hope that He will shepherd and restore His people.
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| HH#546 The Characters of Christmas (The Angels) with Ellie Holcomb | 09 Dec 2022 | 00:22:38 | |
I hope y’all are enjoying these seasonal episodes about the Characters of Christmas! Today we’re focusing on the angels, and there is no other person that I think fits this topic than my friend Ellie Holcomb. Ellie has been on The Happy Hour before and she also recently released her latest children’s book, Sounding Joy. Sounding Joy goes hand in hand with today’s show. I read a little of her book at the end of the episode, and I think after listening that you will want to buy a copy! We talk about how remembering the angels points us back to Jesus, what Ellie sees about the character of Jesus through the angels, and what stands out about the angels when Ellie thinks about the birth of Jesus this year. Ellie discusses a moment from her childhood when she remembers singing “Joy to the World” that led her to think about what it truly means to“Repeat the sounding joy.” Ellie shares how this song shows the heart of God – because the angels are the ones singing it, we are invited into the songs as well. Today’s episode ends with Ellie challenging us to think about what it would look like to continue to sing that song the angels sang all those years ago. Doing so points us back to being peacemakers, to being people who are about reconciliation, and being the hope for people who are in a time of suffering. Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH#545 Characters of Christmas (Joseph) with Ross Lester | 07 Dec 2022 | 00:24:22 | |
We are continuing our Characters of Christmas series with today’s guest Ross Lester. Ross is a friend of mine, he’s the campus pastor at one of our locations of The Austin Stone Community Church, and he is no stranger to The Happy Hour. Ross was on Episode #375, and I’m excited to have him back to talk about Joseph, the father of Jesus’ during His time spent on earth. Listen, you are in for a great episode! Ross and I talk about the relationship between Joseph and Jesus, and you guys, I’m really curious if Jesus gave Joseph a few secrets while they were working in the shop together. I wonder if they talked about all the daddy-son things. I ask Ross the same questions I have asked our previous guest during this series: How does Joseph point us back to Jesus, and what do we see about God’s character through Joseph and Jesus’ relationship? One thing I’ve never thought about that Ross mentioned is that when Mary, Joseph’s fiance, comes to him saying she’s pregnant as a virgin, Joseph could have immediately put her before the court. In that time, Mary would have been stoned to death publicly. But instead, Joseph is so Christ-like that he lives out the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8, instead wanting to divorce Mary privately instead of having her tried. Ross says he believes Joseph wanted to release Mary and actually give her another opportunity to rebuild her life instead of being put to death. The Bible describes Joseph as a righteous man and we see that all throughout the Bible when his name is mentioned. Joseph models Christ by being obedient. He kept the law, which is all about mercy. He signs up to take on a child that’s not his own biologically. He eventually has to move his young family to Egypt to protect Jesus. And Joseph is full of humility – he doesn’t center himself in the story. I don’t know about you, but my desire is to live a righteous life devoted to God like Joseph. After listening to today’s episode, you are going to love Jesus more as you learn more about the people who surrounded him at His birth. Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH# 544 Characters of Christmas (Mary) with Jami Nato | 02 Dec 2022 | 00:25:38 | |
Hi friends! We are continuing our Characters of Christmas series with my guest Jami Nato. Jami was on The Happy Hour back in 2016. We re-aired that episode in 2021 during our Flashback Friday podcast series, and now Jami is back with us to talk all about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Maybe December is a hard month for you or maybe 2022 has been a particularly challenging year for you. I want to encourage you to lean into this last month of the year standing on something that is unshakeable: Jesus Christ. On today’s episode, Jami and I talk about how Mary’s character points us to Jesus, and Jami tells us what she observes about the character of God through Mary’s role in His birth. Jami talked about how God built a community for Mary because He knew she would be afraid, and how even during His death, He provided for Mary. The beautiful thing is that Jesus is doing the same thing for us today. He knows that we are afraid of certain things, so He creates community for us. Then, with the Holy Spirit living inside of us as believers, He still guides us and gives us provision. That is the hope that you can stand on in this season. I hope you were encouraged during this episode and that you walk away from listening knowing that even during the hard days, you can still have joy, hope and peace through Jesus Christ.
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| HH# 543: Characters of Christmas with Rebecca McLaughlin | 30 Nov 2022 | 00:37:06 | |
Hi Friends! I have loved this last year with our rhythm of episode series, bringing you conversations all centered around a specific topic or theme. Today, we’re starting our next series, called Characters of Christmas! Today’s guest is my friend Rebecca McLaughlin who is no stranger to The Happy Hour. Some of you may remember Rebecca from Episode #402 when we talked about her book Confronting Christianity. Rebecca holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill College. Her first book, Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion, was named Christianity Today’s 2020 Book of the Year! In this episode, we talk about Rebecca’s latest book, Jesus Through The Eyes of Women. We discuss why we as Christians believe what we believe, because what we believe should inform the way we approach Christmas to honor and celebrate the birth of Jesus! There are four questions Rebecaa asks in this book that are very helpful if you are engaging with nonbelievers on the topic of Christmas. These questions are: Was Jesus a real person? Can we take the gospels seriously? How can you believe in a virgin birth? And finally, why does it matter? We’ve got even more Christmas conversations coming your way, and this episode with Rebecca really helps to set the scene for what’s to come. Enjoy! Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH #663 10th Birthday Countdown: The Very First Convo with Wynter Pitts | 19 Apr 2024 | 00:41:18 | |
Hey friends! We are continuing to count down to our 10th birthday! An entire decade of incredible people telling meaningful stories! If you haven't had the chance to listen to the other episodes from the first season of The Happy Hour, we encourage you to go back and listen now! On today's show we have a very special memory: Jamie's first conversation with Wynter Pitts. Wynter is an author of several books, including She Is Yours. She is also the founder of For Girls Like You. Wynter Pitts started For Girls Like You magazine in 2012 when she was trying to find Christian resources for her four young daughters. In just a few short years, she created a national magazine, devotionals, books and many other tools for girls and their parents. For Girls Like You, equips girls to boldly walk in the person God created them to be! In 2018 Wynter suddenly went to be with the Lord. Her sudden death impacted us immensely, but not as much as her legacy continues to impact girls for generations to come! Wynter's husband and daughters carry on her legacy through For Girls Like You and today we are offering you a discount code! Use the code "happyhour10" to get 25% off the entire website! Trust me, if you're a mom with daughters, you want to get this! Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with a friend! SHOW LINKS: -For Girls Like You - Use code "happyhour10" for 25% off the website! | |||
| HH# 542 Good and Beautiful and Kind with Rich Villodas | 25 Nov 2022 | 00:50:44 | |
Hey you guys! Today my guest on The Happy Hour is someone new to me, and that’s Rich Villodas. Rich is from New York, has been married to his wife Rosie for 16 years, and they have two children together, Karis and Nathan. Rich has been at New Life Fellowship Church for 15 years, 10 of those spent as head pastor. New Life Fellowship Church was founded in 1987 and there are over 75 nations represented in his church, in an area where 123 languages are spoken! Rich and I talk about his latest book that he released this past summer, Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World. This is a book we all need, because we are definitely living in a fractured world and we see those fractures around us all the time. Rich explains the three fractures he has seen in his church and fractures he sees happening all around the world. Rich says we are living in C.P.R. world: Covid, Political, and Racism. We are having a hard time breathing, and our hearts are whaling. In his new book, Rich starts with sin, reframing it in a way that would lean toward beauty, goodness, and kindness. Becoming whole is something we have been longing for as people since Genesis 3, and in Rich’s new book, he helps and guides us back to experiencing being whole again. We all long for beauty, goodness, and kindness, but we will not get there by accident. Transformation won’t take place without us actually doing the work. Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH# 541 Compassion Stories from the Dominican Republic | 23 Nov 2022 | 00:50:48 | |
Make connection today to a child through compassion. CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR Compassion International’s mission is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. During the episode, Jonathan and I talk about what Compassion does for children in the Dominican Republic, what happens when we say ‘yes’ to sponsoring a child, and how families and generations are changed forever through Compassion sponsorships. Jonathan shares his amazing story about what Compassion did for him! His sponsor, Jamie from Michigan, would write letters to him saying simple things like, “I’m thankful for you and I’m praying for you,” and that helped him to feel as though God had placed people around him for love and support, even thousands of miles away. Now Jonathan’s family – because of his sponsor Jamie’s $38 monthly gift – live a completely different life. He and his children are not enslaved to poverty, because of Compassion. Jonathan says Compassion is more than people writing a check: it’s about people truly joining in God’s mission. As a sponsor, I totally agree with Jonathan! My family and I sponsor four kids in Kenya, Haiti, Peru and Mexico City – it has not only been life changing for each of them but for my family as well. The second part of today’s episode is a conversation between Ivey Media’s own Angie Elkins and Yannely, another former Compassion child. Yannely also had an incredible sponsor, Dorothy, who encouraged her greatly, even prophesying that Yannely could be an amazing doctor – and now Yannely is a pediatrician! If you are not already sponsoring a child, I hope that you will pray about taking the next step to help another child who is waiting for sponsorship to change their life too. You never know what your $38 dollars can do for a child and for an entire generation.
Connect with Jamie | |||
| HH #540 Holiday Gift Guide Live | 18 Nov 2022 | 01:06:26 | |
It’s time again for one of my favorite things we do all year – the Holiday Gift Guide! Our team has been in the Christmas spirit since August as we’ve worked to pull together this year’s Gift Guide, and we’re thrilled to share it with you today. This year’s Gift Guide includes small and woman-owned businesses, ethically made products, companies with give-back models, and cause- or faith-based companies. As you’re planning your holiday shopping, our hope is that you’ll shop small and support these incredible people! We had the best time in early October at our Holiday Gift Guide LIVE! Event, and we captured all the fun through a podcast recording and YouTube video. In listening or watching, you’ll learn even more about these amazing brands and their products… plus these brands have exclusive discounts mentioned ONLY in the podcast + video content, so you’ll want to be sure and write those down too! Happy shopping, friends, and merry (early) Christmas! Connect with Jamie | |||