In No Hurry with Cole Douglas Claybourn

I’m excited to introduce you to a new friend this week on the podcast. Her name is Kim Patton, and she’s an author as well as a foster and adoptive mom living in North Carolina with her husband, Kevin, and their daughters, Eden and Shiloh. Her journey into foster parenting and eventually adoption came after she and her husband endured years of infertility. That’s obviously something my wife Emily and I can relate to, and I’m so grateful Kim let us in on her experience. It’s an amazing example of dealing with deferred dreams and accepting that God’s will is different from our own. I love how she explains the ways in which she’s found beauty through it all.A big part of our conversation centers around her latest project, the Foster Mama Journal, which was created specifically for foster moms and families. Foster care can be a rather difficult endeavor, and Kim designed this journal to help foster moms process what they’re experiencing and reflect on what God may be teaching them along the way.Kim shares about the ups and downs of foster and adoptive parenting, the lessons God has taught her through those experiences, and how writing has helped her navigate difficult seasons. We also talk about her broader writing journey and some of the books she’s published over the years.If you’ve ever been connected to foster care or adoption, or simply walked through a season that felt heavy and uncertain, I think you’ll find a lot to resonate with in Kim’s story.You can learn more about Kim and her work, including Foster Mama Journal, online at kimpatton.com, on Instagram @fostermamafriend, and on Substack. She’s also the host of the Book Therapy Podcast.I’d also love to connect with you on Substack, where I write essays and share updates about future episodes. You can find that at ⁠The Road Ahead⁠.You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter ⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠, and on Facebook under ⁠Cole Douglas Claybourn⁠.All episodes are now available in full on YouTube. Just search ⁠In No Hurry Podcast⁠ and subscribe to be notified when new episodes go live.If you enjoyed this, consider sharing it with a friend or someone in your life who might need to hear it. And if you want to stay connected, follow In No Hurry Podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and the new ⁠TikTok⁠ page for clips, updates, and more from these conversations.

One of the best aspects about Substack is discovering and connecting with other writers whose words you resonate deeply with. Christina Book is one of those people for me, and I'm excited to introduce her as this week's guest.I came across Christina’s writing sometime last year, and I quickly noticed how similarly we think and write. I think a big reason for that is the fact that, as Millennials, we share many of the same life experiences — and have walked through many of the same bumps along the way in our faith journeys.We grew up with a vision of how life should look by a certain age. We were given a roadmap — and we trusted it. But for many of us, reality has turned out very differently. Now, we live with this pressure of feeling like we’re behind — not having checked off milestones like marriage, buying a house, or starting a family by the age we once assumed we would. At the same time, many are carrying the weight of student loan debt from degrees that haven’t delivered the return we were promised.Now in her early 30s, Christina offers a thoughtful and honest perspective on all of this. I especially appreciate her insights on dating and singleness — what it looks like to desire marriage and a family while also learning to live with contentment in the waiting. We also talk about the lasting impact of the Church’s “purity culture” messaging from our teenage years, and how we’re both still untangling some of that as we navigate dating and marriage.We also talk about the challenge of building friendships and meaningful relationships as adults — something that’s often harder than we expect and rarely talked about enough. From there, we get into the realities of navigating career changes and the pressure that comes with trying to make the “right” decisions in a season of life that can feel anything but clear.If you’re a young adult, this conversation is especially for you. But even if you’re not, I hope it offers a window into the unique struggles many young adults are facing and helps you become a source of wisdom, empathy, and encouragement in their lives.You can connect with Christina and read her work on Substack, where she runs Storystead Co. I’d also love to connect with you there — check out The Road Ahead to stay up to date on future podcast episodes and essays.You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter @ColeClaybourn, and on Facebook under Cole Douglas Claybourn.Starting this week, you can watch this episode — and all future episodes — in full on YouTube. Just search In No Hurry Podcast and subscribe to be notified when new episodes go live. If you enjoyed this, consider sharing it with a friend or someone in your life who might need to hear it. And if you want to stay connected, follow In No Hurry Podcast on Instagram and the new TikTok page for clips, updates, and more from these conversations.

One of my favorite kinds of conversations is the kind where it feels like you’ve known someone for a long time — even if you just met them.That’s exactly what this week’s episode felt like with author and poet Tanner Olson.From the very beginning, it felt like we had a lot in common. What followed was a fun and insightful conversation about writing, creativity, faith, and his new book, Getting Through What You’re Going Through, which releases on Feb. 17, 2026.Tanner shares how he got into poetry through a love of music, specifically punk rock, and a desire to put words to what he was feeling. That eventually led him into spoken word, traveling the country, and building a career out of something he never originally planned.We also talk about what poetry actually is — or maybe more accurately, what it doesn’t have to be. Tanner explains how he approaches poetry as a way to communicate something deeper that helps people feel less alone.A big part of our conversation centers around the heart behind his new book. Much of it was written during a difficult season in his life, including walking through unexplained infertility with his wife, and the general weight of living through uncertain times.It’s a conversation that, if you're familiar with what Emily and I have endured the last few years, hit pretty close to home for me.We talk about what it feels like to walk through seasons where you don’t know when or if things will change, the tension between hope and doubt, the questions you bring to God when the answers don’t come, and how sometimes, the goal isn’t to rush past what you’re going through, but to actually walk through it, one step at a time.Tanner’s book is rooted in the idea that even in the middle of pain, confusion, and waiting, there are still words that can carry you forward.If you’ve ever felt stuck in a season you didn’t choose, or wondered how to hold onto faith when life doesn’t look the way you expected, I think this conversation will resonate with you.To connect with Tanner, you can find him on Substack under Tanner Olson, on Instagram @writtentospeak, and his website writtentospeak.com.You can find Getting Through What You’re Going Through wherever books are sold.—I’d also love to connect with you.You can find me on Substack at The Road Ahead:coledouglasclaybourn.substack.comYou can also find more of my writing at:coleclaybourn.comAnd on social media:Instagram: @coleclaybournTwitter: @ColeClaybournFacebook: facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn

It's Valentine's Day, so what better time to talk about all things singleness, dating, and sex? My guest this week, Bridgett Blood, is here to provide some unique perspectives on all of these topics.Bridgett lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is a certified Connection Codes coach, speaker, and host of the Recover Your Life Podcast. She helps Christian singles, dating, and engaged couples understand their sexual story, and build relationships that align with their core values. Through her coaching and group programs, Bridgett creates spaces for honest conversations about faith, sexuality, and emotional health — empowering her clients to move toward the life and relationships they truly desire.With a background in pastoral leadership and a passion for trauma-informed discipleship, Bridgett understands the tension of holding both faith and desire. Her approach is rooted in curiosity and emotional safety, helping others reconnect with their wholeness.You'll hear me talk on this episode about how much I appreciate her social media content, so I highly recommend giving her a follow on Instagram @bridgettblood.You can links to all of her other resources, including her brand new free E-book on boundaries, right here: https://stan.store/bridgettblood I'd also love for you to connect with me on Substack on "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One of my favorite people, Hannah Brencher, is back on the podcast this week to talk about her new book: "The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World." If you're anything like me, you spend way more time than you should on social media. And if not social media, then you likely struggle to get away from the constant barrage of push notifications, text messages, emails and phone calls that bombard our devices. Perhaps it's left you feeling burnt out. That was the case for Hannah, and in the Spring of 2021 she realized the culprit was her constantly plugged-in lifestyle. Like so many of us, Hannah had been turning to her phone to cope with life in a time of isolation and uncertainty. Those coping mechanisms had calcified into habits she didn't know how to break. She felt a nudge to turn off her phone, and soon after a challenge was born: 1,000 unplugged hours in one year. She shared her tracker sheet on her website and thousands of people downloaded it and signed up for their own 1,000-hour challenge. What started out as a personal journey and practice for Hannah is now laid out in this practical book, which is released September 17. You can purchase the book anywhere books are sold. And while she advocates for an unplugged lifestyle, she knows it's not practical for us live a completely tech-free life. Plus, there are plenty of benefits to tech, and social media, it's just a matter of keeping them in their proper place. But in that vein, you can find her on Instagram @hannahbrencher, where she shares tons of practical and helpful content, and also on her website, hannahbrenchercreative.com, where you can sign up for her weekly email list, read blogs, sign up for courses and even get some freebies. I'd also love for you to connect with me on Substack on "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

As Father's Day approaches, it's a good time to reflect on our own fathers or father figures in our lives and let them know how much we appreciate them. As Blythe Daniel and her son, William, remind us in this week's conversation, fathers often go unappreciated. But their new book, "I Love You, Dad: Words to Honor and Humor You," is aimed at letting fathers know how much they're loved while pointing readers to our Heavenly father. Written along with Helen McIntosh, Blythe's mother, this book is somewhat of a companion book to one that Blythe and Helen wrote in 2022 called, "I Love You, Mom: Cherished Word Gifts from My Heart to Yours." This was such a fun episode because Blythe is my literary agent and this was William's second time on the podcast after he was on in 2023 talking about his book, "You're Joking Me," a joke book for kids. I was also honored to be asked to write an endorsement for this book! In this conversation, we reflect on the role of a father, how children can honor God while honoring their parents, and ways to show appreciation this Father's Day season. You can purchase this book through endgamepress.com as well as Amazon and ChristianBook.com. You can connect with Blythe and Helen through ourmendedhearts.com, and Blythe is on Instagram @blythe.daniel and Blythe McIntosh Daniel on Facebook. You can follow William @thewilliamdanielauthor on Instagram and Thewilliamdaniel on Facebook. I'd also love for you to connect with me on Substack on "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I'm excited to welcome back a repeat guest this week as Callie Picardo joins me to talk about the latest book she and her husband, Rosario, wrote called, "Healthy Money: A 30-Day Journey Toward Spiritual, Emotional, and Financial Freedom." Our book isn't just about financial tips; it dives into the emotional and spiritual sides of money, offering a fresh perspective on financial freedom. Through this 30-day guided journey, "Healthy Money" challenges readers to explore their money mindset, revealing the deep-seated beliefs and emotions that influence their financial decisions. It's a tool for profound healing, aimed at transforming one's financial life from the inside out. I also encourage you take the Healthy Money Mindset Assessment, which can help you on your journey to financial health and freedom: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QK36T7R?fbclid=IwAR0yVzunGwI3VTJ3eGwzfKVFyrIs18lL3d313PC2OhwfBnCBYBvQI-outys Roz and Callie were on Episode 75 where we talked about their previous book, "Money Talks: A Biblical Take on Earning, Saving, Spending, and Giving," so be sure to check that out after this one: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-75-biblical-approaches-to-managing-your-money/id1489106099?i=1000538891235 They both have a podcast together — The Better Together Podcast — which I recommend listening to along with reading their book. You can follow Callie on Instagram @callie.picardo. I'd also love for you to connect with me on Substack on "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do you ever follow someone on social media and just know you would vibe with them in real life? That's how I feel about this week's guest, Ashley Abercrombie. We've been following each other on the internet for a year or so, and I love her content and personality so much. And after my conversation with her this week, I love her story even more, and I know you will too. You may already be familiar with Ashley and her work as an author and speaker. She wrote Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like It Is, and Live with Holy Gumption in 2019, and Love Is the Resistance: Learn to Disagree, Resolve the Conflicts You've Been Avoiding, and Create Real Change in 2021. She's contributed to a variety of outlets, like RELEVANT and Virtue, she's the creator of After Hours on Substack and a co-host on the Why Tho Podcast. This week we talk about the right perspective on goal setting, the need for slowing down, being vulnerable, living authentically, and having tough conversations with grace. You can follow her on Instagram and Threads @ashabercrombie and online at ashabercrombie.org. I'd also love for you to connect with me on Substack on "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

One of my favorite parts of doing this podcast is getting to sit down with my wife every year around our anniversary and reflect on the past year of our lives. After a few years of chaos, highlighted by a December 2021 tornado that displaced us for almost nine months, this past year has been marked by a lot of blessings and far less turmoil. We traveled to Europe, bought a house, started leading a small group at church and saw several of our friends get married and have children. We experienced professional and creative growth and made memories that will last a lifetime. I'm excited for 2024. If you're an avid reader, I encourage you to check out my wife's bookstagram, @emsalwaysreading, where she rates and reviews the books she reads. We also recorded an episode earlier this year (Episode 96) where Emily talked about the joy of reading and gave some of her favorite recommendations. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In late October 2019, Ryan Ahlwardt and I sat down at a library near Indianapolis, Indiana to record the first episode of this podcast. Four years later, we're still going strong. As we've tried to do every year around the anniversary (we missed last year for some reason), Ryan and I reflected on the past year and celebrating the podcast turning another year older. If you're new to the show, the music you hear at the beginning and end was created by Ryan, a singer/songwriter who was previously a member of the highly acclaimed a capella group "Straight No Chaser." Ryan has become a good friend, and he's got some really cool life updates that he shares in this episode, including a new single called "Alone for Christmas" that you can listen to on any streaming platform. You can check out Ryan's music and social media at ryansongs.com. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do you ever just make up silly songs just for fun when you're at home alone? I feel like a lot of us do, but rarely do we ever share them with the world. Well, right out when the pandemic hit, that's what Sarah Maddack Bell started doing. Now, several of her silly songs have gone viral and she's created a social media platform where she can spread positivity and joy. Her songs are goofy and a bit annoying — her words, not mine! And that's on purpose. It's all about not taking yourself too seriously and being willing to have and just be yourself. I so appreciate Sarah's perspective on life and how she followed a feeling to pursue what felt right and fun for her. Her story is one of faithfulness in God and using the talents — as silly as they may be — for the purpose God gave her. Also, as you may imagine, with such a public social media presence and one centered around what many may perceive as "dumb" and annoying songs, she's gotten a fair share of nasty messages. We get into that and how she's dealt with rude comments from strangers as well as staying grounded despite her platform growing. Check her on Instagram and TikTok @sarahmadbell. You can also find her music on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A lot of us are burnt out. If you aren't feeling it now, you surely have at some point and probably will in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 left all of us feeling all sorts of ways, and I'm willing to guess burnout and weariness were just a couple of the emotions you dealt with. That was certainly the case for this week's guest, author Dai Hankey, who was asked by his publisher to write a book encouraging Christians not to quit. But this came during the pandemic, when he himself was in a bad season and just felt like quitting a lot of things. He was exhausted in every way and everything seemed bleak around him. In October 2020, there was a moment when he found himself flat on his back in his bedroom thinking he was just done and didn't have much left in the tank. He wasn't suicidal, he said, but just kind of feeling like he was done with life. The perspective he eventually gained by journaling and spending time with the Lord is what's in his new book, "Hopeward: Gospel Grace for Weary Souls." Dai is a church-planting pastor in Cardiff, Wales, and is also the founder of Red Community, a Christian charity that fights human trafficking. He's devoted his whole life to teaching the Word of God, which I think is what makes this book and this conversation so special. I think sometimes as Christians we might feel shame for feeling some of the emotions he speaks about, but all Dai was trying to do was be his authentic self, both before the Lord and in this book to his readers. I think that comes out through this conversation. It's a perfect follow-up to last week's conversation with Adam Ramsey, which I recommend downloading if you haven't yet. If you want to connect with Dai, you can do so on Twitter @daihankey or by email at daihankey@gmail.com. You can purchase "Hopeward" anywhere books are sold, but I'm also giving away a free copy of Dai's it to someone who is a part of my Instagram and Substack communities. If you're interested in winning this giveaway, make sure you're following me on both. Links are below. Substack Newsletter: "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Website: www.coleclaybourn.com Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We live in a world that tells us that doing more and staying busy are hallmarks of success. Having down time or relaxing is sometimes perceived as possessing a poor work ethic or being lazy. Most of us feel like we have to fill our schedules with work — sometimes multiple jobs — to keep up with the rat race of "moving up" in the world. For many Millennials and Gen Zers, it's a palpable feeling of not being able to break through the glass ceiling of the current economic and financial state to achieve some of life's milestones: getting married, having children and buying a house. We are weary. We need rest. Yet we are always looking forward, ready to do the next thing to keep up on the hamster wheel. So how do we stay present? Adam Ramsey's book, "Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of Where and When God Has You," is the perfect guide for how to do that. Adam joins the show this week to talk about his book and drops so much wisdom on contentment, fighting hustle culture and being present. You can connect with Adam on Instagram @adamramsey_. I'm giving away a free copy of Adam's book for those who are part of my Instagram and Substack community. If you're interested in winning this giveaway, make sure you're following me on both. Links are below. Substack Newsletter: "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Website: www.coleclaybourn.com Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“Receive the Holy Spirit,” Jesus said to his disciples in John 20:22. Yet, for many Christians, the Holy Spirit can feel like a mystery. How do we hear it? How do we receive it? How do we discern what it's telling us and what our spiritual gifts are? How do we know that what we hear is from God and not our own internal desires? This week on "In No Hurry," author Dan Wilt unpacks all of that as he shares about his 70-day devotional, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The devotional is a journey through the Scriptures, exploring the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Through stories, encouragement, prayers, and questions for group discussion, this book is great for Christians who want to experience God’s Spirit at work in their lives. Dan is an author of several books, a worship leader, a teacher, and an encourager of pastors and creative leaders. He has impacted thousands over his three decades in ministry, across diverse streams of the Church in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. He recently completed a doctoral studies program at Asbury Theological Seminary and works with Seedbed, a resourcing network that has the mission to “gather, connect, and resource the people of God to sow for a great awakening.” He lives with his wife Anita outside of Nashville, Tennessee, and they have three grown children. You can connect with Dan's weekly spiritual formation email at at danwilt.com. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For the last four decades, Dr. Steve Seamands has been a staple at Asbury University. As a student in the 1970s, he was part of what became a well-known and still-talked-about student-led revival. Now, as a retired professor at the seminary, he got to experience another revival on campus when, in February, a student chapel service just kept going on for weeks. In total, the revival, or "outpouring" as some called it, lasted 16 days and drew thousands of people from across the United States and overseas. He joins me this week to share about both experiences and the fruit he's already seeing from the latest one in February. He's also the author of a forthcoming book, "Follow the Healer: Biblical and Theological Foundations for Healing Ministry," which addresses some misconceptions on and further explains healing ministry. He spokes so eloquently about the character of God and provides some theological perspective on how we can understand pain and suffering or why some healing we pray for doesn't happen. "I have become convinced of the goodness of Jesus and the character of God," he says. "Even when I can't trace His hand, I still trust His heart." The book will be released on Sept. 5 and can be purchased anywhere books are sold. If you'd like to connect with Dr. Seamands, you can email him at steve.seamands@asburyseminary.edu. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

No matter how hard the tug might be to pursue a creative passion, jumping all in to do it can be scary. It's especially challenging when it requires leaving a steady career with good income for what might feel like an unknown future. But that's what Benecia Ponder did when, in 2006, she closed down her private law practice to write books and coach other aspiring authors to unlock their stories and see their book dreams become a reality. She's now the brains behind Inspirational Authors, which helps guide authors through writing, self-publishing and marketing their book. You can learn more about Benecia and the services she provides at www.inspirationalauthors.org. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Paul Putz serves as the assistant director of the Faith & Sports Institute, part of the Truett Seminary at Baylor University. Though Paul and I connected previously through social media, we met in person at a conference in June in Minneapolis and found out we have quite a bit in common, mainly our passion for Jesus and sports. If you're a Christian who likes sports, you'll especially enjoy this conversation. Earlier in 2023, Paul gave a chapel talk called "Jesus and James Naismith," where he explored the Christian roots of basketball. In our conversation this week, he shares a little bit about that history and the Christian origin of one of the world's most popular games. Even if you don't like sports, stick around for Paul discuss how he followed his passions to end up where he is now professionally as well as how he goes about his research and writing. Speaking of his writing, he's writing a book about the history of sports and Christianity in modern American culture, which should be published in late 2024 or early 2025. Paul is pretty active on Twitter, so give him a follow @p_emory, or on Threads @paulemoryputz. You can also email him at Paul_Putz@baylor.edu. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Scott Linebrink played 12 seasons in the major leagues — a long career in professional sports by any measure. After a successful college baseball career at Texas State University, Linebrink was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1997, and after three years in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut with the team in 2000. He was then traded later during his rookie season to the Houston Astros, where he bounced between the major and minor leagues for several years — a true test of faith and patience for any baseball player. In this week's episode, Scott shares what he learned about patience, both during the early parts of his career and toward the end. I love the perspective he holds, because it also involves a mindset of celebrating others, even when those on his team were the same people he was competing against in some way to make it to or stay in the major leagues. It all came from a heart of serving others, and that's what he's continued to do in his post-baseball life with Water Mission, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing clean water to underprivileged countries. Scott has some amazing stories from his many trips abroad with Water Mission, and he's shared many of those on his podcast, "Get in the Game," which is part of the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network. He often has fellow athletes on the show who have traveled with him on trips and they talk about the incredible work being done to provide the basic need of clean water to people who don't have access to it. I admired Scott as a baseball player, but I admire him even more with how he's used his platform to help serve people and share his faith in God. Be sure to check out his show and support Water Mission's work if you can. If you want to connect with Scott, you can follow him on both Twitter and Instagram @scottlinebrink. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I don't know anyone who reads more books than my wife, Emily. Seriously. In 2022 she read over 130 books! It's truly a joy for her to escape into a story and let her imagination run wild as she imagines these characters. A couple years ago, she started an Instagram account where she rates and reviews books and it's become a huge creative outlet for her, as well as a place to find community with other like-minded readers. She's gotten to meet some people who she considers friends and it's allowed her to have a ton of runway to talk about these books that she really loves. As we enter the heart of summer, we thought it would be fun for Emily to talk about some of her favorite books for 2023 and give some recommendations for summer reading. She's been on the podcast before, but this is probably the most excited she's ever been to be on. If you're a voracious reader, this episode is for you. If you have people in your life who love books, be sure to share this with them. Also, please give Emily's bookstagram a follow — @emsalwaysreading. She does such a great job on there and it's been really fun to see that outlet grow. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sports fans are passionate people. Sometimes, we take it a little too far and let our emotions get the best of us. Our team loses a big game or doesn't play well and we can let it affect our mood for days, weeks or even much longer. But as believers, how we conduct ourselves matters, even when it comes to seemingly trivial things like sports. If we're someone who likes to engage in public discourse on social media, what we say matters. That's especially true for believers and those who strike to be ambassadors for Christ. This week I'm joined by Jason Romano, the director of media at Christian sports outlet Sports Spectrum and the host of the Sports Spectrum Podcast. Jason shares some stories of where his sports fandom affected his behavior and how he had to put that in check. But this goes a little deeper, too, because as sports fans we are prone to letting our fandom become our identity. It's easy to over indulge and devote more time to sports than to our relationship with our spouse, friends or Jesus. Sports are a great hobby, but keeping them in their proper place and maintaining perspective when our team loses is paramount. That's the topic of our conversation this week. Be sure to connect with Jason on Twitter @JasonRomano and check out sportsspectrum.com for stories on the intersection of sports and faith. Use the code SPORTSSPECTRUM15 to get 15% off of a subscription to Sports Spectrum Magazine. Jason also mentions the Christians Working in Sports Conference coming up June 23-24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He and I will both be there, and you can DM him on social media to receive 50% off of the conference fee. I'd love for you to connect with me by signing up for my newsletter, "The Road Ahead": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of my articles and content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coleclaybourn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@coleclaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also find me on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like these as well: ⁠Episode 94: Leah Montgomery on Working In Christian Sports Media Episode 76: Coping With The Pandemic Through Sports & Faith with Sports Spectrum's Jason Romano⁠ ⁠Episode 35: Sports Spectrum Managing Editor Jon Ackerman