Christian Book Blurb Matt McChlery

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 Morris Dancing! Listen now.
Links
This episode was kindly sponsored by Standing in the Storm: Living with faith and cancer
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Get yourself a copy of The Sound of Musings from St Andrews Bookshop
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Visit Bryony Wood's Website
Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com
Takeaways
The Sound of Music movie can be a powerful tool for exploring Christian themes and deepening one's faith.Songs like 'Edelweiss' and 'Climb Every Mountain' in the film contain symbolism that can be related to God's love and our journey of faith.
The intermission in the film mirrors the intermission in God's story, where we are living in the 'now but not yet' of God's kingdom.
The Sound of Musings book offers a rich resource for churches and individuals to engage with the film and explore its spiritual themes.
Bryony Wood provides downloadable study guides and offers live events and retreats based on the book.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Sponsorship04:28 The Inspiration Behind The Sound of Musings09:14 Finding God in Films and Books23:08 Getting to Know Bryony Wood30:52 Extras: Resources and Events36:02 Conclusion and Sponsorship
 

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 book offers a refreshing perspective on marriage, addressing the hard stuff and providing practical advice for couples. Claire and Steve also chat about their love of music and going to the theatre, watching The Great British Bake-Off and Dragons Den with their kids and they share what their favourite worship song at the moment. Listen now.
 
Links
This episode was kindly sponsored by St Andrews Literature Festival:  stalitfest.co.uk
Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery
Get yourself a copy of Grace Filled Marriage from St Andrews Bookshop
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Visit Claire Musters' Website
Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com
 
Takeaways
Building a healthy marriage requires hard work and effort.
Taking responsibility for one's actions and attitudes is crucial in a marriage.
Dying to self and prioritizing the needs of one's partner is essential for a thriving marriage.
Open and honest communication, seeking support from trusted friends, and relying on God's grace are key elements in a healthy marriage.
Marriage is a mission field, and couples should strive to support and encourage each other in their individual and shared journeys.
Marriage is a reflection of Christ and the church, and sacrificial love is at its core.
Marriage preparation courses, cultivating friendships, and having a shared vision for the future are important for couples starting their marriage journey.
Complacency can be detrimental to a long-term marriage, and regular check-ins and intentional efforts are necessary to keep the relationship strong.
For those who have experienced a breakdown in their marriage, it is important to seek healing individually and give space and time for reconciliation.
There is no condemnation in Christ, and God's grace can restore broken marriages.
Claire and Steve Musters have written other books on topics such as grief and lament, and their books can be found on Claire's website.
Chapters
00:00 Building a Healthy Marriage: The Importance of Hard Work14:28 Dying to Self: Prioritizing the Needs of Your Partner26:01 Healing and Reconciliation: Restoring Broken Marriages with God's Grace34:29 Other Books by Claire and Steve Musters: Grief and Lament

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 addresses the topic of doubt. They also chat about Georgie's love of reading her Kindle in the bathtub, enjoying chocolate mug cake and Marvel movies with her family and meeting friends in cafes. Listen now.
Links
This episode was kindly sponsored by Michael T Gowen's book series 'Daniel: Being distinctive in uncertain times' and 'Daniel: being faithful in uncertain times'
Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery
Get yourself a copy of The God Who Sees You from St Andrews Bookshop
Sponsor an episode of this podcast Click for Advertising info
Visit Georgie Tennant's Facebook Page
Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com
Takeaways
The God Who Sees You is a devotional book that speaks to those who feel unseen.Vulnerability and weakness can be sources of strength and authenticity in our faith.Recognizing God in the ordinary aspects of life can deepen our faith and appreciation for His presence.Doubt is a natural part of the Christian journey and can be addressed through honest reflection and seeking support.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Sponsor00:30 Introducing The God Who Sees You01:27 Target Audience04:12 Living with Weakness05:46 The Value of Vulnerability07:36 Recognizing God in the Ordinary09:28 Self-Image and Finding Identity in God11:51 Knowing God Sees Us in All Circumstances13:16 Dealing with Doubt15:39 Structure and Format of the Book22:20 Encouragement for Those Feeling Unseen25:09 Getting to Know the Author30:05 Future Projects32:21 Conclusion and Sponsor
 

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 resurrection in understanding weakness and strength. We also chat about John's love of science fiction books, doing DIY projects and his predictable restaurant ordering habits. Listen now.
Links
This episode was kindly sponsored by The Transparent Truth by Martin Whitehouse
Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery
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Visit Union Publishing's website to find John Hindley's book
Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com
Chapters
Chapters
00:00 Introduction00:48 Introduction to the Book03:14 Misunderstanding of Strength and Weakness04:36 The Role of Weakness in Creation07:01 Embracing Weakness08:28 Strength in Dependence11:13 The Weakness of Jesus12:39 The Crucifixion and Strength16:06 Embracing Weakness Leads to Strength21:53 Future Perspective on Weakness and Strength25:28 Getting to Know the Author30:14 Becoming a Christian33:05 Current and Future Projects36:22 Conclusion and Sponsor

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 her discipleship experience and the evolving nature of her journey. They also discuss James' love of food and cooking as well as his photography hobby. Listen now.
Takeaways
Discipleship is a lifelong journey of walking with Jesus and walking with others in God's church.
Discipleship goes beyond attending church and acquiring knowledge about the Bible; it involves a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus and others.
Roadblocks to discipleship include unforgiveness, pride, disobedience, unanswered prayer, and condemnation.
The mentoring relationship in discipleship is characterized by active listening, accountability, and mutual growth.
Discipleship is for everyone, but it requires trust, patience, and a willingness to learn and grow.
Links
This episode was kindly sponsored by the fictional novel 'The Mantle' by Mark F. Hobson PhD. 
Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery
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Visit James Poch's website regen.church
Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction00:30 Discipleship Defined03:21 Mutuality and Trust in Discipleship04:18 Introduction to the Book 'Holy Grit'05:46 The Illustration of Grit in Discipleship06:44 The Uncomfortable and Determined Nature of Discipleship09:02 Roadblocks to Discipleship12:56 The Mentoring Relationship18:46 Iman's Discipleship Experience20:12 The Evolving Nature of Discipleship21:56 The Role of Mentors23:50 The Family Nature of Church25:43 Lessons Learned and Doing Discipleship Differently27:36 Individuality and Organic Discipleship29:29 Getting to Know James Poch31:20 Hobbies and Interests35:34 Future Projects and Equipping Churches42:12 Conclusion and Contact Information
 

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 languages can improve relationships. Dr. Chapman explains the five love languages and how they apply to various relationships. He also discusses the influence of Christian faith on love languages and the importance of apologizing and forgiving.
Takeaways
Celebrate relationships by cooperating with special days like Valentine's Day.
Selfishness is a major obstacle in relationships; love requires an attitude of service.
Understanding and speaking each other's love languages can greatly improve relationships.
The five love languages are words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch.
Links
Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery
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Visit Dr, Gary Chapman's website 5lovelanguages.com
Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction00:59 Valentine's Day and Celebrating Relationships02:30 The Difficulty of Relationships03:55 Difficulties in Marriage06:21 Changing Attitudes and Improving Relationships08:15 Reconciling Biblical Roles and Serving Each Other10:40 Discovering the Love Languages13:35 Overview of the Five Love Languages16:30 Primary Love Language and Changing Circumstances19:28 Love Languages in Various Relationships21:27 Identifying a Child's Love Language23:23 Influence of Christian Faith on Love Languages29:38 Apologizing and Forgiving in Relationships34:25 Upcoming Projects and Where to Find More Information35:23 Conclusion