| Bible Beat CR July 2010 |
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| Written by Christine D. Johnson | |
| Thursday, 10 June 2010 01:11 PM America/New_York | |
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| Book Beat CR July 2010 |
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| Written by Production | |
| Monday, 07 June 2010 04:28 PM America/New_York | |
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Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees tells the story of his New Orleans Saints’ comeback after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. He offers a message of faith, hope and encouragement to readers, football fans or not, in Coming William P. Young’s The Shack (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group) has spent more than 100 consecutive weeks on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction best-seller list, with more than 50 weeks at No. 1, according to Hachette. There are more than 12 million copies of the self-published novel in print. Well-known apologistRavi Zacharias’ new Zondervan title, Has Christianity Failed Author and speaker Christin Ditchfield challenges women to embrace God’s gift of words and to think carefully about how they use that gift in A Way With Words: What Women Should Know About the Power They Possess. Each chapter includes wisdom from influential women throughout history and a Bible study for individuals and small groups. The Crossway-published book releases this month and retails for $12.99. Robert Benne addresses American political discourse in Good and Bad Ways to Think About Religion and Politics, an Eerdmans release this month. Benne argues against what he terms separationism and fusionism and for “critical engagement,” derived from the Lutheran tradition. The 120-page softcover book retails for $14. More book news: For additional book news content, including fiction and nonfiction reviews, visit www.christianretailing.com. |
| Bible Beat CR June 2010 |
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| Written by Production | |
| Friday, 07 May 2010 11:12 AM America/New_York | |
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Six million copies have been sold of The Million Bible Challenge Bible, released by Thomas Nelson in 2005. The $2.99 Bible, which features an introduction, three-column typesetting, a brief history of the Bible and tips on how to read the Bible, was designed as a way for buyers to give to their friends. Celebrating its landmark sales, the publisher will unveil a new cover design for the title’s next printing this fall.
Zondervan released the Quick Start Bible last month. Using the New International Version (NIV) text, the new Bible is packed with one-minute thought-starters, which provide a single memorable word to take through the day and options for going deeper in the material. The Quick Start Bible is available in a tan/rich red Italian Duo-Tone edition for $24.99.
Hendrickson Publishers released the KJV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible last month. As part of the publisher’s Value Price program, the Bible comes with a $24.95/$19.97 sticker and features Key Bible Promises, Harmony of the Gospels, Miracles of the Old Testament, Miracles of the New Testament, Parables of the Old Testament, Old Testament Prophecies of the Passion, Parables of the New Testament and a concordance. The thinline edition also comes with a Flexisoft leather cover in either chocolate/pink, cocoa/black or chocolate/blue for $24.95 each.
A large-print edition of the Celebrate Recovery Bible is releasing next month from Zondervan. Based on the popular recovery program developed by John Baker and Rick Warren, the Bible features eight recovery principles and Christ-centered 12 steps, recovery themes traced through biblical stories, side-column recovery-reference system and a 30-day devotional track. The Celebrate Recovery Bible, Large Print will release in hardcover for $44.99.
The Holy Bible Giant Print NLT is releasing from Tyndale House Publishers this month. The Bible uses 14-point type for easy reading as well as the words of Christ in red, 16 pages of full-color maps, ribbon marker, gilded page edges and a presentation page. The Bible is available in a brown/tan TuTone Leatherlike or a black, bonded leather edition for $59.99 each. Indexed editions will be available next month for $69.99.
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| Book Beat CR June 2010 |
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| Written by Production | |
| Friday, 07 May 2010 11:08 AM America/New_York | |
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Baker Publishing Group is releasing A Desperate Faith by Jo Kadlecek this month. An adjunct professor at Gordon College, Kadlecek examines the 40 days after Christ’s resurrection and how it changed those around Him. The book retails for $13.99. Simply Jesus: Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola present Jesus Manifesto (Thomas Nelson, $14.99) this month. Through the book, the authors attempt to bring Christianity back to being simply about Jesus, not about the ideologies, philosophies, social ethics or core values associated with the Christian faith.
Small groups are the subject of the new InterVarsity resource Soul-Shaping Small Groups by Kim V. Engelmann, releasing this month. The senior pastor of West Valley Presbyterian Church in Cupertino, Calif., Engelmann offers a fresh organizational approach to small-group ministry for churches. The softcover book will retail for $15 Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group, looks to a native Californian for an examination of the state’s spiritual and cultural impact. Monica Ganas, a professor at Azusa Pacific University, shows how Christians can respond to what she calls “California-ism” in Under the Influence, releasing this month for $18.99 retail. More book news: For exclusive and additional book news content, visit www.christianretailing.com. |
| Book Reviews CR June 2010 |
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| Written by Production | |
| Wednesday, 05 May 2010 09:09 AM America/New_York | |
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Hannah Shah Zondervan hardcover, 288 pages, $19.99 978-0-310-32575-8 After 10 years of enduring abuse behind the closed doors of her Muslim home, Shah had determined that it was time to flee before being sent to Pakistan and forced into marriage. After years of keeping up appearances for the sake of her family and her culture, Hannah could take no more and, at the point of contemplating suicide, she mustered the courage to leave the life she had known. While her escape opened up a new world of unimaginable freedom—revealing to her what love really is and bringing her into a new life in Christ—it did not come without dark hours and sheer terror, as her father hunted her down. Now married and living as freely as she can under a new name, Shah travels the world speaking to bring awareness to what happens behind closed doors and to bring the promise of a brighter future for Muslim women. The Imam’s Daughter: My Desperate Flight to Freedom is a powerful story for readers curious about the lives of Muslim women and for those who desire to see God’s love and power in action. —Heidi L. Ippolito
Curt Thompson Tyndale House Publishers hardcover, 304 pages, $22.99 978-1-414-33414-1 Psychiatrist Thompson provides an innovative look at the way God has wired the mind in Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections Between Neuroscience and Spiritual Principles That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships. Drawing on the problems of real-life patients as well as psychological studies of biblical figures, Thompson shows how understanding the workings of the mind leads to spiritual healing. For example, the logical, left brain allows one to know the facts of salvation, but the abstract, right brain permits experiencing God’s love. Likewise, the brain’s lower “reptilian” and “mammalian” lobes provide hardwired emotional responses to stimuli, but the cerebral cortex allows a Christian to override instinct when God requires it. The chapter structure provides a self-reinforcing progression to advancing God’s mercy and justice through what Thompson calls an integrated life, represented by the acronym FACES: flexible, adaptive, coherent, energized and stable. He admits he is not undertaking anything bold, like proving God’s existence via neurons, but is just challenging believers to examine their walk with Jesus in a new and scientific way. —John D. Leatherman
Robert Velarde IVP Books (InterVarsity Press) softcover, 168 pages, $15 978-0-830-83297-2 In The Wisdom of Pixar: An Animated Look at Virtue, Velarde offers a thoughtful perspective on Christian principles as presented in some of the most popular animated films in recent years. Cars, Up and Finding Nemo are just a few of the films he examines to find themes that support Christian values. While careful to point out that Pixar does not tie all its films to theology, Velarde draws sensible conclusions and connections between the Christian life and many Pixar characters and plotlines. The themes of hope and imagination run throughout many of the films—Remy from Ratatouillebecomes fascinated with humans because of their creativity, for example. Velarde discusses the creativity of God and how humans created in His image also have the gift of imagination. Other themes such as justice, humor, love and even technology are explored in depth. Concise chapters and discussion questions make this book accessible for group studies. —Bonnie Bruner
Dan Walsh Revell (Baker Publishing Group) softcover, 320 pages, $14.99 978-0-800-73389-6 A sequel to The Unfinished Gift, Walsh’s The Homecoming continues the story of Shawn Collins and his son Patrick as the pair navigate a new reality without wife and mother Elizabeth. Shawn’s relationship with his father, Ian, is repaired,yet Shawn’s military duties during World War II keep them apart. Readers will be happy to see character Katherine Townsend again, in a new role as Patrick’s nanny. Mrs. Fortini returns, too, offering food and friendship to all. The family must cope as Shawn is ordered stateside to speak at War Bond rallies—a job many would relish, but which he dislikes. How can he keep tabs on his son, and what about his father’s failing health? And how can he understand his feelings for Katherine? From a historical perspective, The Homecoming is entertaining. In fact, Walsh’s best writing occurs when he describes Shawn’s crash landing of his B-17 in enemy territory. The book flows slowly, though readers will soon become immersed in the drama of World War II and the Collins family. —Ann E. Byle
Tony Campolo and Mary Albert Darling Jossey-Bass (Wiley) hardcover, 256 pages, $21.95 978-0-470-43102-3 While the 21st century offers many ways to communicate—smartphones, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, Instant Messaging—paradoxically, these technologies can leave people feeling alienated and disconnected. In Connecting Like Jesus: Practices for Healing, Preaching, and Teaching, sociologist and preacher Campolo and communications expert Darling have combined forces to bridge the gap of interpersonal distance. Their goal: to help people “relate to others in ways that deeply satisfy the deepest needs of our souls.” Divided into three parts—Connecting Like Jesus, Practices of Soul Healing and Practices for Teaching and Healing—the book focuses on important themes, including self-awareness, overcoming fear and redeeming conflict. Connecting Like Jesus is an essential resource for churches and religious organizations. Yet it has broad appeal and will aid students, seminarians, counselors, church leaders and lay people. In sum, it will intrigue any reader interested in how the Holy Spirit can break down walls between people. —C. Brian Smith
Jeff Dunn and Adam Palmer Regal Books softcover, 144 pages, $9.99 978-0-830-74752-8 The Soul of Spider-Man: Unexpected Spiritual Insights Found in the Legendary Superhero Series follows a trend of authors using popular stories to illustrate biblical lessons. Taking their cue only from the films and not the comic books,Dunn and Palmer trace Director Sam Raimi’s trilogy about the wall-crawling superhero, inserting biblical narratives where possible. The wisdom of Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben and his catchphrase “With great power comes great responsibility” is driven home, as are lessons about love, fear, sin, bitterness and death. Since the awkwardness of Spider-Man alter-ego, Peter Parker, has resonated with young viewers, the authors have a wealth of material to mine. Written for younger teens, The Soul of Spider-Man is divided into short chapters with simple terminology, and will provide a helpful resource for youth groups. —DeWayne Hamby
Susan M. DiMickele David C. Cook softcover, 224 pages, $14.99 978-1-434-76462-1 In Chasing Superwoman: A Working Mom’s Adventures in Life and Faith, working mothers receive the support needed for the daily struggles they encounter when multitasking between work, family and a relationship with God. Sharing her experiences as a working professional and a mother, DiMickele addresses the emotional issues mothers face in meeting the expectations others put on them and the demands they place on themselves. She empathizes with her readers on the common concerns of guilt, fear and insecurities, time management and raising spiritually developed children. She also acknowledges how, often, the church fails to meet the needs of working moms, but encourages them not to isolate themselves. DiMickele helps mothers know that, with God’s grace, they can do their best, —and that the working mother does not have be a superwoman. —Nicole Anderson |
| Book Reviews CR May 2010 |
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| Written by Production | |
| Monday, 05 April 2010 09:07 AM America/New_York | |
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TOP PICK John Stott IVP Books (InterVarsity Press) hardcover, 144 pages, $15 978-0-830-83847-9 Christian Living
Stott, an elder statesman of evangelical Christianity, delivers what will most likely be his last book in The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling. The book, culled from a recent speech given by the 88-year-old minister, presents a back-to-basics approach to what it means to be disciple of Christ. Stott presents eight characteristics of discipleship—nonconformity, Christ-likeness, maturity, creation care, simplicity, balance, dependence and, finally, death, which symbolizes finishing well and dying to self. He uses the book’s final chapters to acknowledge his own frailty and impending passing while presenting lessons of faith. He even ends the book with a personal message to readers about the future of publishing and a final “farewell!” There’s a weightiness when someone offers final words, and with a respected theologian such as Stott, his final rallying cry to younger generations is inspiring. The Radical Disciple offers a spiritual diagnostic for all believers. —DeWayne Hamby
FICTION
Carla Stewart FaithWords softcover, 304 pages, $13.99 978-0-446-55655-2
At a time when her life should be carefree, Sammie is worried about everything—and then things go from bad to much worse. Her mother is found dead, by her own hand. Aunt Vadine, Sammie’s mother’s estranged sister, comes to help, complicating matters further. The frightened girl begins to worry that she may be mentally disturbed as well, but soon finds her hope in God. Chasing Lilacs is a page-turner with realistic characters, descriptive scenery and fast-paced action, and will especially appeal to those who recall 1950s’ small-town life. —Beth Anderson
Mike Dellosso Realms (Strang Book Group) softcover, 304 pages, $13.99 978-1-599-79918-6
Dellosso continues his run of supernatural horror in his latest release, Darlington Woods, a thrilling tale of a man’s relentless search for his missing son in the darkness of a village lost to fear. After losing his wife and son, Rob Shields travels to a small town in Maryland, expecting nothing more than to live out the remainder of his days enduring haunting dreams and hallucinations. Visiting the local diner, he encounters a peculiar man who seems to know something about the whereabouts of his son, who he starts to hope may still be alive. Juli, the waitress, also seems to be hiding what she knows, and when Rob insists on venturing to Darlington to find his son, she knows her calling is to go with him. Through the dark woods, Juli tells Rob that Darlington has only one way in and one way out. The town seems abandoned, yet each home glows with lantern light. As strong as fear may seem, the theme of Darlington Woods is that God’s light casts out all fear. Readers will enjoy the high suspense and plot twists, as well as the journey of finding faith in the midst of despair. —Bonnie Bruner
LEADERSHIP
Charles Stone Bethany House Publishers (Baker Publishing Group) hardcover, 224 pages, $19.99 978-0-764-20705-1
A pastor, Stone provides sustaining advice to his colleagues in Five Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them: Help for Frustrated Pastors. Using research from the Barna Group, Stone analyzes his profession almost as a business, with the congregation as the customers. His five “killers” are denial, emotional investment in the wrong issues, unhealthy response to frustration, over-reliance on self (or self and God) and neglect of spouse and family. Rather than deal with each in turn, Stone acknowledges the inevitability of frustration in any church, then outlines four decisions a pastor should make: speak up with courage, own up with humility, show up with integrity and open up with vulnerability. Stone hopes that by spelling out the challenges leaders face, it will help the lay community better understand and appreciate their pastor. —John D. Leatherman
David Platt Multnomah Books softcover, 240 pages, $14.99 978-1-601-42221-7
Platt, lead pastor of Alabama’s Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, wonders if the “American Dream” is compatible with the Great Commission, in Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream. The author contends that the American church has turned away from the message of Jesus and molded the Christian life into its own image—one that closely resembles materialism, excess and complacency. He encourages readers to re-visit the revolutionary message of Christianity. He draws inspiration from leaders such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who defied Hitler and urged believers to abandon attachments to this world. Ultimately, Platt challenges readers to partake in a Radical experiment. The book, in fact, includes a contract, an agreement to commit to five goals—praying for the entire world, reading through the entire Bible, sacrificing money for a specific purpose, spending time in another context and multiplying community. Platt’s work is, in a word, convicting. Radical will inspire Western readers to think beyond themselves and see through a global lens as well as spread the message of Christ. —C. Brian Smith
WOMEN'S ISSUES
Angie Smith B&H Books (B&H Publishing Group) softcover, 224 pages, $14.99 978-0-805-46428-3
Smith, wife of one of the members of the music group Selah, recounts the couple’s darkest days and the faith that pulled them through in I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy. In 2008, Smith and husband Todd discovered that their expected fourth daughter had health conditions making her “incompatible with life,” their doctor said. Advised to terminate, the Smiths determined to carry their daughter Audrey to term and eventually held the newborn for her brief two hours of earthly life. The biblical story of Lazarus is also recounted as Smith relates to the grief of Mary and Martha. She offers tips for those watching their loved ones grieve and shows how to help children cope with loss as well. I Will Carry You is heart-wrenching read, especially for parents, but it’s an important resource for those walking through their own valley of the shadow of death. As Smith quotes, “joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ.” —Hamby
Cecil Murphey Kregel Publications softcover, 256 pages, $13.99 978-0-825-43353-5
Popular author Murphey tackles the taboo topic of sexual abuse in When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman’s Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation. The book was spawned from a magazine article that generated significant response. Acknowledging that the problem is far too common, the author offers a sympathetic take on personal healing. In addition to providing many personal stories of couples who have faced such challenges, Murphey offers his own advice to wives, including allowing a husband’s inconsistencies and the need for honesty and not pushing him to forgive the abuser. Although men may glean insights that will help, Murphey’s attention is consistently pointed toward women. He even relates stories of the prominent role wives have played in the healing of men he has counseled. As an abuse survivor himself, Murphey, a New York Times best-selling author, combines balanced, heartfelt compassion and practical steps for healing. —Hamby |
Back Stronger. Retailing for $26.99, the hardcover book releases this month from Tyndale House Publishers. 
You?, releases this month. Retailing for $19.99, the jacketed hardcover examines the question of why many in the church live with silent doubt, while others leave the “evangelical fold.” 
Thomas Nelson
Tyndale House Publishers
A King James Version edition 
Andy Stanley
Palmer Chinchen, pastor of The Grove in Chandler, Ariz., challenges Christians to a new kind of spiritual formation in True Religion ($14.99), releasing this month from David C. Cook. Chichin holds that true religion is Christians engaging the problems of the world as they spread the gospel
The Imam’s Daughter
Anatomy of the Soul
The Wisdom of Pixar
The Homecoming
Connecting Like Jesus
The Soul of Spider-Man
Chasing Superwoman
The Radical Disciple
