The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

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:Soul City ChurchSpeed of TrustSmart Brevity: How to Say More with LessThe Psychology of MoneyTime: The Untold Story of the Love that Kept us Together when Incarceration Kept us Apart

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:The Last Duel Film 2021The Body Keeps the ScoreWhat Happened to You?Prayer in the NightWhy Humans Like to CryChrist the Lord: The Road to Cana  Christ the Lord: Out of EgyptHandle with Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and MinistryEpisode 299 w/Lore Ferguson Wilbert

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. SHOW LINKS:Watch Jamie on YouTubeActivate GlobalElevateJoshua Project Finishing the TaskDon’t Hold Back Up From Slavery Women Who Risk

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:Launch GlobalWeave FamilyThe Traveling Team 6 Lessons on God's Heart for the World State of the World Red Zones with David PlattUnreached People Groups Reaching the Unreached What is Unreached People Groups? for Kids 

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:Neighbors and NationWatch Jamie on YouTubeNoonday CollectionRadicalRadical’s Secret ChurchThe 50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus in 2022The Power of Geography Everywhere Everything All At Once

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 FullyThe ChosenSecret ChurchRadical on YouTubeWaiting on God

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 StoryNavigating Gospel Truth Bible StudyBorn Again This WayA Secular AgeBiblical Critical TheoryEpisode 314 with Rachel Gilson

​​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! SHOW LINKS:God Knows

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:Edible TheologyBy Bread AloneThe Lives We Actually HaveTogether

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:Build community relationshipsAttend local meetingsOffer prayerRedirect our financial loyaltyI hope today’s episode encourages you and equips you with ways you can put your beliefs into action!