Hi friends,

This week’s Monday Mentions contains several books I’ve recently read or intend to read soon.

What are you reading?

Bobby

Unshakeable: Overcoming Fear to Discover a Life of Freedom by Lauren Kinney

I met Lauren a few weeks ago. She is really sharp and has a powerful message. This book is a great read for anybody … especially young adults. If you have a young adult in your family, this book would make a great gift for the holidays.

From Amazon:

Fear can wreck you.

Life is hard. At least until Lauren Kinney figured out that crying in the produce aisle at Target wasn’t going to change her circumstances.

Life changes. Things don’t go as planned. Expectations are unmet. Things feel out of control. What do you do when you are left feeling alone, hopeless, and stuck in fear and frustration?

Lauren’s college experience didn’t go like she expected. Instead of lifelong friends, social stuff every weekend, and a new bff roommate, she found herself feeling lonely, afraid, and overwhelmed by anxiety.

With vulnerability, sincerely and wit, Lauren invites you to discover the same freedom and joy she found by:

• losing control
  
• showing up when it’s hard
  
• overcoming the constant pressure to be perfect
  
• not living for the approval of others

This book isn’t just a guide. It’s a freaking pickaxe to take down the fear you’re ready to leave behind.

It’s time.

Indestructible: Leveraging Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love & Change in the World by Allison Fallon

After attending a worship led by Ally, I grabbed her book and couldn’t put it down. Her story is powerful.

From Amazon:

Indestructible tells the shocking story of a marriage that didn’t go as planned, the truth that shattered everything, and the beautiful unfolding of a woman who decided that saving her marriage wasn’t worth losing herself. Like most people, Allison Fallon didn’t get married thinking she would get divorced. In fact, marrying a pastor felt like the surest way to guarantee a safe and happy marriage. So when she found out the man she married was not the man she thought he was, she had some choices to make. A wrestling with faith and love, romance and drama, truth and fiction, this story calls into question what it means to fall in love, stay in love, and become a force of love and change in the world. Although Indestructible is only one woman’s story, it serves as a powerful reminder to anyone who has been disillusioned by love that falling in love might be harder and easier than they ever imagined; and that “the one” they’re looking for is closer than they think.

Good Money Revolution by Derrick Kinney

The premise of this book is really compelling: When good people make good money they can do more good in the world. I read this book a few weeks ago and was inspired by the many stories the author shared. 

From Amazon:

Do you feel like you deserve to make more money?

In Good Money Revolution, you’ll learn to make more money, live the life you deserve, and change the world, too. Derrick Kinney is the fresh financial voice to guide you there.

This book gives you a shame-free, simple success plan for your money—without cutting out your favorite latte!

You hate debt and worked hard paying it down. Now you wonder, What’s next? As you worry about the future, you can’t afford to get it wrong and need a financial plan that fits your unique goals and dreams. You want to make more money and make the world better, but you don’t have a clue where to start.

You should have a bigger paycheck, enjoy real financial freedom, and live the life you’ve always wanted. If you’re not making the money you deserve, and you’re not making the impact on the world you’ve always wanted, there’s a better way for your money today.

Money is good and you should have more of it. But not for the reasons you might think.

Here’s a secret: lots of money won’t make you happy—until you add meaning to your money. When you connect your cash to a cause, your money to a movement, and your profits to a purpose you love, you will make more money and create a life full of meaning and purpose.

In Good Money Revolution, you’ll discover:

• The secret to making more money—your Generosity Purpose
• 5 money mindsets keeping you from cash
• How to teach your money to make you money—and use it for good
• The 3 Levers of Money: Save More, Crush Your Debt, and Earn More
• How to transform your business and create a raving customer base

Don’t just make money. Make Good Money. This book will show you how. Welcome to the Good Money Revolution.

A Book I’m Reading – Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools

Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, and the National Director of
24-7 Prayer USA. Tyler’s newest book comes out in a few weeks and I can’t recommend it more.

A lot of believers find prayer something that is sleepy or boring and leaves them yawning. They miss the power of it.

Fun fact: I was privileged to buy to the first publicly available copy of the book. I’m just getting started with it, but it is already impacting the way I pray.

Check out this short trailer for the book:

A Great iPhone Accessory – Anker Magnetic Battery

Anker makes some incredible accessories. This is a magnetic batter that can stick to the back of an iPhone, providing extra power. It has a built in kickstand, making it easy to prop up your phone as well.

Protein Chips – Atkins Protein Chips

These protein chips from Atkins are pretty good. They are a nice alternative to regular potato chips.

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” — Karl Barth

A Book I’m Reading – Leading with Honor

Lee Ellis is an extraordinary human being. I look forward to meeting him in person in a few weeks and hope to have him speak at Sugar Hill Church soon.

From Amazon:

Make Every Step Count on Your Leadership Journey

How did American Military leaders in the brutal POW camps of North Vietnam inspire their followers for six, seven, or eight years to remain committed to the mission, resist a cruel enemy, and return home with honor? What leadership principles engendered such extreme devotion, perseverance, and teamwork?

In this powerful and practical book, Lee Ellis, a former Air Force pilot, candidly talks about his five and a half years of captivity and the fourteen key leadership principles behind this amazing story. As a successful executive coach and corporate consultant, he helps leaders of Fortune 500 companies, healthcare executives, small business owners, and entrepreneurs utilize these same pressure-tested principles to increase their personal and organizational success.

In “Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton,” you will learn:

• Courageous lessons from POW leaders facing torture in the crucible of captivity.
• How successful teams are applying these same lessons and principles.
• How to implement these lessons using the Coaching sessions provided in each chapter.

In the book’s Foreword, Senator John McCain states, In “Leading with Honor,” Lee draws from the POW experience, including some of his own personal story, to illustrate the crucial impact of leadership on the success of any organization. He highlights lessons and principles that can be applied to every leadership situation.”

An Album I’m Listening To – Phil Wickam’s Hymn of Heaven (Acoustic Sessions)

I’m really enjoying this album. My current favorite song is “It’s Always Been You.” In fact, I had it on repeat all day yesterday. Such a powerful truth!

A Good Cold Brew Coffee for the House – Califia Farms Cold Brew

I usually get cold brew from my favorite local coffee shop, but this is nice to have on hand at the house. My order came with several cartons of cold brew that are easy to store and convenient to drink.

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

Good leaders know who they are—their strengths, weaknesses, passions, talents, and values. And, developing leaders always starts with self-awareness.” ― Lee Ellis