BOBBY MCGRAW

speaker + instigator of hope

Monday Mentions 3.27.23

Hi friends,

This week’s Monday Mentions includes two excellent books.

What are you reading?

Bobby

Uncharted by Ines Franklin

I had the pleasure of meeting Ines Franklin via Zoom last year. So naturally, I was excited to see her first book come out. This great book has been a long time in the making. I’d encourage you to check it out.

From Amazon

DISCOVER THE UNCHARTED PATH FULL OF MYSTERY & FULL OF FAITH

Every faith journey is unique―a beautiful and at times frightening mystery―fully known only to our Creator. Unfortunately, this journey can also be confusing. The struggles of life, the inability to hear God, and our desire for control can all complicate the abundant life and leave us unsure where we’re supposed to be heading. And when life runs into us headfirst, or the fog of uncertainty envelops us, we may find ourselves stumbling into―or even falling off the edge of―disorientation.

Pastor Inés Franklin offers her own courageous journey of faith and biblical insights―providing healing and hope for those still finding their way or doubting their path. Her careful analysis and scholarly approach to the Bible will encourage readers to discover the truth that at the very foundation of the Christian faith lies an invitation to active surrender––to offer and release all our circumstances to our perfectly loving God, giving him complete authority over our lives. Active surrender leads to a thriving faith that gives us the courage to take risks and be open to the unknown as we pursue our God-given purpose.

In the foreword, Dr. John Townsend says, “A book that is worth your time investment requires an answer to the question, How do I move forward with these truths? What are the steps? We need a path to guide us in transforming our everyday lives. Inés provides us with a framework of best practices for the faith journey.

In Uncharted, you will find a practical rhythm to grow in your faith, transforming your fears into trust and your hesitation into commitment.

  1. Knowing God’s Desires
  2. Overcoming Challenges
  3. Blessing through Obedience
  4. Thriving by Thirsting for God

In a world full of obstacles, comparison, and uncertainty, the most rewarding journey you will ever undertake is the uncharted walk with God.

Forever Young by Mark Hyman

I love learning about health. Mark Hyman is a functional medicine doctor … meaning he thinks of the body as one system instead several distinct parts. The benefit of this thinking is that you are often able to treat the underlying problems, whereas other approaches tend to mask symptoms. Your biological age does not have to match your chronological age. If you are looking for ways to improve your health, this book might be for you!

From Amazon

Bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman presents the definitive guide for reversing disease, easing pain, and living younger longer.

Aging has long been considered a normal process. We think disease, frailty, and gradual decline are inevitable parts of life. But they’re not. Science today sees aging as a treatable disease. By addressing its root causes we can not only increase our health span and live longer but prevent and reverse the diseases of aging—including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

In Young Forever, Dr. Mark Hyman challenges us to reimagine our biology, health, and the process of aging. To uncover the secrets to longevity, he explores the biological hallmarks of aging, their causes, and their consequences—then shows us how to overcome them with simple dietary, lifestyle, and emerging longevity strategies. You’ll learn how to optimize your body’s key longevity switches; reduce inflammation and support the health of your immune system; exercise, sleep, and de-stress for healthy aging; and eat your way to a long life, featuring Dr. Hyman’s Pegan Diet. You’ll also get exclusive insight from Dr. Mark Hyman on which supplements are right for you, where the research on aging is headed, and so much more.

With dozens of science-based strategies and tips, Young Forever is a revolutionary, practical guide to creating and sustaining health—for life.

Monday Mentions 3.13.23

Hi friends,

This week’s Monday Mentions includes a book, dad jokes, and a great podcast.

What are you reading?

Bobby

How to Grow Your Small Business

Written by New York Times bestselling author, Donald Miller, this book makes growing a small business accessible to anyone. 

From Amazon

Running a small business is no easy feat. As a small business owner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of hats you have to wear to be successful. You started the business so you could share the product you love with the world, but logistics are getting in the way.

Donald Miller knows this frustration all too well. He faced the same challenge when starting his company. While he knew his time was best spent creating content for small-business owners, he was constantly being torn away to focus on things he didn’t understand. After several years of figuring it out, Donald has decided it’s time to share what he learned. In this book, you will learn:

  • An easy-to-understand framework that can be applied to any business.
  • How to navigate the ins and outs of finding and hiring the best candidates available to you.
  • The best way to organize your company structure to maximize your skills and allow you to identify areas best handled by someone else.
  • How to identify your and reach your key customers.
  • Areas where you can increase capacity to better serve your customer.
  • And much more.

Growing a successful business is not easy, but it’s not impossible. With the right guidance, anyone can expand their company and reach new customers.

Have a Good Laugh Today – Dad Jokes

Do you need a laugh-break today? You might want to check out this short video from my friends. What’s Forrest Gump’s password? Check out the video!

A Fantastic Podcast – The Positive Talk Podcast

In a world full of anger, anxiety, and negativity, we could all use a positive word. Each week, co-hosts, Chuck and Julie unpack the integration of faith and psychology. With encouragement and truth, you can discover your best you.

Monday Mentions 3.6.23

Hi friends,

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

What are you reading?

Bobby

Live No Lies by John Mark Comer

I am re-reading John Mark’s latest book for a group I am part of. John Mark does such a great job of outlining the battle we are in. If you’re not familiar with the battle, I highly encourage you to check out this book.

From Amazon

We are at war. Not with a foreign government or domestic terrorists or a creepy new artificial intelligence hell-bent on taking over the world. No, it’s a war we feel deep inside our own chests: we are at war with lies.

The problem isn’t so much that we tell lies but that we livethem. We let them into our bodies, and they sabotage our peace. All around us in the culture and deep within our own body memories are lies: deceptive ideas that wreak havoc on our emotional health and spiritual well-being, and deceptive ideas about who God is, who we are, and what the good life truly is.

The choice is not whether to fight or not fight, but whether we win or surrender.

Ancient apprentices of Jesus developed a paradigm for this war; they spoke of the three enemies of the soul: the devil, the flesh, and the world. Live No Lies taps into this ancient wisdom from saints of the Way and translates the three enemies for the modern era, with all its secularism and sophistication. As a generation, we chuckle at the devil as a premodern myth, we are confused by Scripture’s teaching on the flesh in an age where sensual indulgence is a virtue not a vice, and we have little to no category for the New Testament concept of the world.

In this provocative and practical book, bestselling author John Mark Comer combines cultural analysis with spiritual formation. He identifies the role lies play in our spiritual deformation and lays out a strategic plan to overcome them.

Do you feel the tug-of-war in your own heart, the inner conflict between truth and lies? The spirit and the flesh? The Way of Jesus and the world? It’s time to start winning. It’s time to live no lies…

A Cool YouTube Stream – Nambia Waterhole

Take a look at this live feed from a waterhole in the heart of Namibia. I find it very relaxing to watch.

A Cool YouTube Stream – Bald Eagle Nest

Take a look at this live feed from a bald eagle nest in Big Bear Valley.

Monday Mentions 2.27.23

Hi friends,

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

What are you reading?

Bobby

The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier

I think every team member deserves a coaching leader. This book will help you become one!

From Amazon

In Michael Bungay Stanier’s The Coaching Habit, coaching becomes a regular, informal part of your day so managers and their teams can work less hard and have more impact.
Drawing on years of experience training more than 10,000 busy managers from around the globe in practical, everyday coaching skills, Bungay Stanier reveals how to unlock your peoples’ potential. He unpacks seven essential coaching questions to demonstrate how–by saying less and asking more–you can develop coaching methods that produce great results.

  • Get straight to the point in any conversation with The Kickstart Question
  • Stay on track during any interaction with The Awe Question
  • Save hours of time for yourself with The Lazy Question, and hours of time for others with The Strategic Question
  • Get to the heart of any interpersonal or external challenge with The Focus Question and The Foundation Question
  • Finally ensure others find your coaching as beneficial as you do with The Learning Question

A fresh innovative take on the traditional how-to manual, the book combines insider information with research based in neuroscience and behavioral economics, together with interactive training tools to turn practical advice into practiced habits. Witty and conversational, The Coaching Habit takes your work–and your workplace–from good to great.

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

I am working on a writing project this year. This book comes highly recommended by writers. I plan to read it very soon.

From Amazon:

On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day, as almost everybody does in the age of e-mail and the Internet.

Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts or about yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre, On Writing Well offers you fundamental priciples as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.

Monday Mentions 1.30.23

Hi friends,

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

What are you reading?

Bobby

Mind Your Mindset by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller

I read a pre-release version of this book and it is incredible. It is packed full of science and practical insights.

My biggest takeaway is this quote:

“You are not stuck with the stories you have about yourself. You can train your Narrator to create a newer, truer storyline for your life.”

From Amazon:

Do you trust the voice in your head?

Our brains are remarkable. They subconsciously translate the events around us into meaningful storylines that inform what we think and how we live. The problem is, the stories our minds feed us as facts aren’t always true.

Worse, these stories turn into false beliefs about others, the world, and ourselves that keep us from our true potential.

These limiting beliefs confront us all. But what if you could harness your brain’s operating system to tell a new story? Not just any story. A true story that empowers you to overcome limitations and surpass your goals.

Drawing upon the latest insights in performance psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science, as well as case studies from their own clients, New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller outline a framework anyone can follow to test their own assumptions and start living better, truer stories that shape superior outcomes in business and life.

How (Not) to Save the World by Hosanna Wong

From Amazon:

A practical, straightforward guide for Christ-followers who want to talk about Jesus without feeling weird or pushy.   

Ten years ago, Hosanna Wong packed her life into suitcases and started traveling the country to talk to people about Jesus. She quickly discovered lies she had believed that held her back from actually sharing God’s love.

It turns out, believing lies that you’re not enough, your story doesn’t matter, and there’s no way for you to make an impact… that’s how not to save the world.

Through faithfully studying God’s Word and fumbling through her own flawed progress, Hosanna uncovered what the Bible says about revealing God’s love in our everyday lives.

With honesty and humor, Hosanna will help you:

  • Embrace your unique story to naturally talk about Jesus through your real life and authentic relationships;
  • Discover the three most effective steps to take when fighting for a loved one who is in a tough place;
  • Overcome the lies that hold you back so you can step into your calling and empower people to encounter God.

It turns out, you can naturally share God’s love in your everyday life. You can fight for those you love, and a world Jesus loves. There is a way for every person you know to realize how valuable they are to God. You’ve been created for it, equipped for it, and you’re ready for it. Let’s go!

Let’s change the world together!

Let's start the conversation.

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