New Releases: May 19, 2009

A Praying Life
Paul Miller
NavPress, May 2009
Miller offers a practical real-life approach to prayer for busy families! His honest down-to-earth advice shows you how to practice praying in the midst of daily routine. You'll learn to pray like a child, live your Father's story, understand unanswered petitions, and more. Includes tips on using tools such as prayer cards and journaling. 272 pages, softcover from NavPress.



Dare to Dream
Paula White
Faithwords, May 2009
Let God change your painful past into a brighter future! Through real-life illustrations, personal stories, and stirring insights, White reveals the keys to healing, hope, and identity. She shows you how to move beyond loss, establish boundaries, take control, embrace transformation---and find victory, one step at a time. Previously published as You're All That! 272 pages, softcover from Faithwords.



The Wholehearted Marriage
Dr. Greg Smalley and Dr. Shawn Stoever
Howard Books, May 2009
Has a busy lifestyle, personal baggage, or loss of a loved one come between you and your spouse? Restore your passionate connection with this encouraging handbook! Offering practical advice born of experience counseling couples, Smalley and Stoever help you overcome the struggles of a loveless marriage to build a happy and fulfilling partnership. 336 pages, softcover from Howard.



A Dream to Call My Own
Tracie Peterson
Bethany House, May 2009
Lacy Gallatin, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, is a woman with a mission: to find her father's killer. Haunted by the belief that she's failed him, Lacy is also battling a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can't quite figure out. Enter Dave Shepard, deputy sheriff for the area. Dave has been fervently trying to find the man who killed George Gallatin, but he always feels inadequate when it comes to the beautiful Lacy. When they are together, the tension crackles between them--both when they argue and when they kiss. Lacy finds him frustratingly irresistible but is it truly love?


Lunatic (The Lost Books, v.5)
Ted Dekker
Thomas Nelson, May 2009
New York Times best-selling author Ted Dekker revisits the universe of his half-million selling Circle Series with the continuation of this popular YA series--and brings along a member of "The Circle" as his coauthor. Johnis, Silvie, and Darsal found the Books of History, and now it's time to return home--but five years have passed at home, and nothing is as it was. The Horde has taken over Middle, Thomas and the rest of the Forest Guard are in hiding, and a strange new force is challenging everything they thought they knew. Should the Chosen One continue to follow his heart . . . or is his heart finally leading them astray?


Elyon (The Lost Books, v.6)
Ted Dekker
Thomas Nelson, May 2009
Darsal is trying to love the Horde as Elyon asked her to, but she's torn between this new mission and her original one . . . especially now that Johnis and Silvie no longer seem to be on her side. The Chosen Ones are facing their greatest threat--extinction--and only by Elyon's grace will they survive to tell the tale.


Daniel's Diary: How God Saved Me from the Lions
Allia Zobel Nolan
Harvest House Publishers, June 2009
Beloved author Allia Zobel Nolan follows her Noah’s Notebook with this creative retelling of Daniel’s story from the Bible in diary form for kids. Clever art, contemporary language, and kid–friendly humor express Daniel’s adventure of trusting God’s will, praying faithfully, and praising God in all circumstances. “Dear Diary, Guards are waiting outside, so I have to be quick. The plan is to march me over to the lions’ den and throw me in. Ezra and Aaron insisted the king put his seal on the heavy rock—in case I try to get out. As if. Boy, do they have it in for me! I know God will do what He thinks is right. But I AM a teeny bit nervous.—Daniel” Young readers will be captivated by the book of Daniel. Great for individual or Sunday school reading and ideal as a family time selection.


Do You Want a Friend?
Noel Piper
Crossway, May 2009
A sweet story that helps children ages 3–7 recognize that potential friends are all around them, while reinforcing that Jesus is the best friend of all. For any adult who ever wanted to introduce kids to the friendship of Jesus, Noël Piper’s sequel to Most of All, Jesus Loves You! is a wonderful choice. The story begins with a little boy whose family has just moved to a new place. As he sits on his front steps calling out for friends, he is surrounded by a diversity of would-be friends—up and down the street, in windows, around corners; he just can’t see them yet. Before long, though, he finds them and they find him. Then the story broadens: “Do you want a friend too?”—“a friend who… loves you? comforts you when you are sad or sick? helps you know God? makes you happy? forgives you when you do something wrong? will save you from danger?” Pointing to Jesus as the only one who cares for us in all these ways, all the time, this colorfully illustrated book helps three- to seven-year-olds recognize Jesus as the best friend of all.


Let's Explore God's World
Debby Anderson
Crossway, May 2009
This cheerful romp across God’s wide world introduces kids to environmental responsibility in a captivating way and celebrates the five senses he’s given them to explore it. Not only has God given us backyards, beaches, cities, mountains, and rainforests to explore, but he’s given us five senses to enjoy them with! What’s more, he’s assigned each of us an important part in protecting his creation—and this playful picture book helps kids connect it all. Its energetic romp across God’s wide, wonderful planet prompts kids to join in the experience of nature while cheerfully guiding them in the adventure of caring for his world. Author-illustrator Debby Anderson—who doubles as a kindergarten teacher and mom—further draws in kids by suggesting fun, age-appropriate environmental tips and interactive ideas throughout the book. With so much to investigate and celebrate, children ages 3–7 will eagerly return to Let’s Explore God’s World again and again, finding something new each time. Combining an instructional focus on the five senses with a spiritual focus on God’s gift of life, the book encourages kids and caring adults to have a blast exploring—and learning to protect—our earthly home.

New Releases: May 14, 2009

Life is Good
Stellar Kart
Word Entertainment, April 2009
With Life Is Good, Stellar Kart packs the best of their energetic pop-punk sounds on to one infectious "Best of," including three rarities ("Lifeguard," "Centerfield," and "Punk the Halls").




Supernatural Healing
Sid Roth
Destiny Image, May 2009
After over thirty-five years of investigating miracles, I do not have all the answers only God does. But of this I am sure. God is good. God is love. God wants to develop intimacy with you. God wants you to be healed more than you want your healing. God is not confined to formulas. Yeshua (Jesus) healed people in many different ways. I believe that God will use one or more ideas in this book to build your faith for healing and that the healing anointing will splash off the pages as you read these testimonies."" --Sid Roth


The Myth of a Christian Religion
Gregory Boyd
Zondervan, April 2009
The kingdom of God is a beautiful revolution. Marked by the radical life, love, servanthood, and humility of Jesus, it stands in stark contrast to the values and ways of the world. Regrettably, many who profess to follow Christ have bought into the world’s methods, seeking to impose a sort of Christianized ethical kingdom through politics and control. In this illuminating sequel to his bestselling book The Myth of a Christian Nation, Dr. Gregory Boyd points us to a better way—a way of seeing and living that is consistent with the gospel of Jesus and his kingdom. Between the extremes of passivity on the one hand and political holy war on the other lies the radical, revolutionary path of imitating Jesus. In twelve areas ranging from racial and social issues to stewardship of the planet, this book will convince and inspire you to live a Christlike life of revolt and beauty—and it will help you attain a practical lifestyle of kingdom impact.



Broken Angel
Sigmund Brouwer
Waterbrook Press, May 2009
Carved from the United States after years of government turmoil, the oppressive church-run nation of Appalachia eliminates anybody who's "flawed." Abandoned by her father, 15-year-old Caitlyn's mutated body has made her an on-the-run outcast---and the target of bounty hunters. Can she escape to learn the secrets of her past---and the destiny she must fulfill? 256 pages, softcover from Waterbrook.



Championship Fathering
Carey Casey
Focus on the Family, April 2009
As CEO of the National Center for Fathering, Carey Casey uses his experience and stories—and his engaging, personable tone—to inspire champions-to-be in fathering. Championship Fathering will help fathers raise healthy, well-adjusted, confident kids—mentally, physically, and spiritually. It will help fathers use the principles of championship fathering: Loving, Coaching and Modeling. Men will appreciate Carey Casey’s experiences in sports. He is currently chaplain for the Kansas City Chiefs, and the book includes insider accounts from his days working with the Dallas Cowboys (under Coach Tom Landry) and the summer Olympics. The book also includes a foreword by Tony Dungy. A 3-minute daily radio feature hosted by Carey Casey, Today’s Father, is heard on over 600 stations nationwide.


When Kids Hurt
Chap Clark & Steve Rabey
Baker Books, April 2009
Chap Clark's groundbreaking Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers revealed the hard truth about contemporary adolescence: societal changes and systemic abandonment have left teenagers struggling to navigate the ever lengthening and ever more difficult transition to adulthood without caring adults. When Kids Hurt offers these challenging insights to youth workers and parents in a more accessible form, with greater focus on how adults should respond. Practical sidebars and application sections, contributed by other youth experts, provide additional insights into youth culture and how adults can better guide adolescents into adulthood. This book will be an important resource for youth workers, parents, counselors, and others who work with youth.



How Noah Knew What To Do
Karen Moore
Thomas Nelson, April 2009
Children are often afraid to try something new. This story will show them how they can trust God to help them do what they need to do-just like He did Noah. How Noah Knew What to Do shows how, even though Noah wasn't a veterinarian or even a ship builder, he listened to God and trusted Him to help him build the ark and fill it with animals. Karen Ann Moore's delightful rhyming text along with Pete Kersten's whimsical illustrations make this a fun way for children to learn they can rely on God in every situation, even when they're doing something they've never done before. Kids will see that obeying God can mean saying "yes" even when the obstacles seem hard to overcome. A gel-pack water-waves novelty that's built into the front cover makes for lots of giggles.



The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors
Jan & Mike Berenstain
Zonderkidz, May 2009
The Little Lights Berenstain Bear series helps children learn how God wants them to live every day. Most of the Berenstain Bears’ neighbors are like the Bear family—they keep their homes neat and clean. Except for the Bogg Brothers who live in a run-down shack. In The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors children learn that being a good neighbor takes more than keeping a nice home.




The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game
Jan & Mike Berenstain
Zonderkidz, May 2009
The Little Lights Berenstain Bear series helps children learn how God wants them to live every day. Coach Papa Bear wants his team to play fair. But the other coach just wants to win. The Berenstain Bears Play Fair shows that players and coaches should act in a way that pleases God.



There's a Princess in Me! (Gigi, God's Little Princess)
Sheila Walsh
Thomas Nelson, February 2009
Every little girl wants to feel like a princess. What a great feeling it is when they discover they are daughters of the King of kings. Gigi knows there is a princess in her! She may not always look like a princess, act like a princess, or feel like a princess, but she knows that God always loves her and she's a princess in His eyes. This padded hardcover picture book with its die-cut window and mylar mirror allows young girls to truly see themselves as God's little princesses.

New Releases May 7, 2009

The Jesus of the Bible
Stephen M. Miller
Barbour Books, February 2009
More than any other Bible character, Jesus is the person both Christians and non-Christians admire and want to better understand. Now, from Stephen M. Miller, author of the bestselling Who's Who and Where's Where in the Bible, this brand-new reference details the life of Christ, His teachings, and the faith He introduced to the world - all in Miller's casual, easy-to-read journalistic style. Miller sets the story in the Roman world where Jesus lived, adding new insights from archaeology and ancient history. Gorgeous full-color illustrations, fascinating sidebars, and a complete topical index round out this important book, a tremendous value at less than $15.



Success Kills
Wayde Goodall
New Leaf Publishing Group, April 2009
SUCCESS-we crave it, work for it, dream of it, want it as a personal achievement, but how we each define it differs. Power, influence, wealth, fame, or a position of authority the hallmarks of success we strive for can just as easily become the cause of our destruction, if we don t have a clear set of boundaries by which to live. Corporate and religious scandals of recent years have caused unprecedented havoc and heartache in the world's economy and in the church world. Executive and spiritual arrogance causes a toxic atmosphere in too many organizations. There are safeguards and principles we must focus on to ensure balance with excellence in what we do. Core questions to be considered include: Should you fear success? Why do so many fail when they attain success? Is failure considered a friend or foe? Do you have a balanced ego or a pre-occupation with self? Take a discerning look at the concept of success in a personal, professional, and spiritual context in Success Kills. Explore the gift of adversity, finding a moral "north", learning from mistakes, and why some fear "successful" leaders. Discover a more important definition of success and the principles you can put in place today to achieve without compromising yourself or your future.


Eyes Wide Open
Jud Wilhite
Multnomah Books, April 2009
I had it all backwards. The main thing was not my love for God, but his love for me. And from that love I respond to God as one deeply flawed, yet loved. I’m not looking to prove my worth. I’m not searching for acceptance. I’m living out of the worth God already declares I have. I’m embracing his view of me and in the process discovering the person he created me to be. In Eyes Wide Open, Jud Wilhite invites you to discover the real you. Not the you who pretends to be perfect to satisfy everyone’s expectations. Not the you who always feels guilty before God. Not the you who secretly feels God forgives everyone else but only tolerates you. Not the you who looks in the mirror and sees a failure. The real you, loved and forgiven by God, living out of your identity in Christ. A travel guide through real spirituality from one incomplete person to another, Eyes Wide Open is a book of stories about following God in the messes of life, about broken pasts and our lifelong need for grace. It is a book about seeing ourselves and God with new eyes–eyes wide open to a God of love.


Not Just a One Night Stand: Ministry with the Homeless
John Flowers
Discipleship Resources, March 2009
Every church and Christian disciple can find a variety of channels to use to minister to those who are homeless. Flowers and Vannoy help open the eyes of church communities so they can see these opportunities for ministry outside the walls of the church. The authors provide experiential anecdotes and reflect on ways in which congregations can minister with homeless persons. This book is a word from one companion to another rather than a guilt-inducing text on social action.


Rethinking Retirement: Finishing Life for the Glory of Christ
John Piper
Crossway Books, April 2009
John Piper challenges fellow baby boomers to forego the American dream of retirement and live out their golden years with a far greater purpose in mind. They say it’s a person’s reward for all those years of labor. “Turn in your time card and trade in your IRAs. Let travel plans and golf-course leisure lead the way.” But is retirement really the ideal? Or is it a series of poor options that ignore a greater purpose—and will kill a person more quickly than old age? John Piper responds: “Lord, spare me this curse!” And his resounding message is for anyone who believes there’s far more to the golden years than accumulating comforts. It’s for readers who long to finish better than they started, persevere for the right reasons (and without fear), experience true security, value what lies beyond their cravings, and live dangerously for the One who gave his life in his prime. With this brief book, Piper is sure to spur fellow baby boomers in their resolve to invest themselves in the sacrifices of love—and to grow old with godly zeal.



This Momentary Marriage
John Piper
Crossway Books, April 2009
Reflecting on forty years of matrimony, John Piper exalts the biblical meaning of marriage over its emotion, exhorting couples to keep their covenant for all the best reasons. Even in the days when people commonly stayed married “’til death do us part,” there has never been a generation whose view of marriage was high enough, says Pastor John Piper. That is all the more true in our casual times. Though personal selfishness and cultural bondage obstruct the wonder of God’s purpose, it is found in God’s Word, where his design can awaken a glorious vision capable of freeing every person from small, Christ-ignoring, romance-intoxicated views. As Piper explains in reflecting on forty years of matrimony: “Most foundationally, marriage is the doing of God. And ultimately, marriage is the display of God. It displays the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his people to the world in a way that no other event or institution does. Marriage, therefore, is not mainly about being in love. It’s mainly about telling the truth with our lives. And staying married is not about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant and putting the glory of Christ’s covenant-keeping love on display.” This Momentary Marriage unpacks the biblical vision, its unexpected contours, and its weighty implications for married, single, divorced, and remarried alike.



Dear Diary
FM Statik
Tooth & Nail Records, March 2009
Thousand Foot Krutch offshoot FM Static returns with the groups first concept album where every lyric is the innermost thought of a soul- searching teenager. Although Dear Diary is a work of fiction, Trevor McNevan says, "the songs reflect thoughts me and my friends all had growing up. And there's a lot of me in the more serious songs toward the end." Includes "Man, Whatcha Doin?", "Take Me As I Am," "Sometimes You Can Forget Who You Are," and more.



The Moment Between
Nicole Baart
Tyndale, April 2009
Abigail Bennett was completely in control of her life until tragedy pushed her to the brink of something she's never experienced: Obsession. Now she's given up everything she's worked for to chase down the object of that obsession. His name is Tyler Kamp. As Abigail follows him across the border into Canada, her journey is awash in memories of family and childhood, especially those of her younger sister, Hailey. Even as Abigail races into her future, her past pulls her back. Only when she is brought to the edge of her obsession will she be able to come to terms with the tragedy that ignited it.



Unfashionable
Tullian Tchividjian
Multnomah Publishing, April 2009
Tullian Tchividjian remembers the Sunday morning he woke up hung over, still dressed in the clothes he'd worn until passing out during a night of partying. After five-years of hard living, Tullian had come to the end of himself. He got up and went down the street to church. What he found there shocked him--a community of Christians who joyfully and radically lived out the Gospel in ways he’d never seen before. The encounter showed him a new way of living in the world–and he came to personal faith in Christ. Tullian's experience convinced him that young Christians today don’t want a faith community that tries to come off as appealing and trendy. Christ followers are called to embrace a standard that’s “out of this world.” Why? Because the only way to make a difference in the world is by being different.



Parenting Your Teen and Loving It
Susie Davis
Baker Publishing, April 2009
Moms know: it's never been tougher to be the parent of a teenager. Slammed doors. Cell phones and Facebook. Surging hormones. How can a mom build a great relationship with her teen? With humor and biblical wisdom, Susie Davis guides frazzled moms through the stormy teen years. This seasoned mother of three shows how to effectively influence teens without irritating them, offers scriptural help for tough situations, and shares prayers and promises from Scripture that will encourage even the most discouraged moms. Readers will discover how to set reasonable limits and cultivate fair-minded expectations. Mothers will gain better perspective on a teen's emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical development, while learning to become the mom God designed them to be.



Dance Me, Daddy
Cindy Morgan
Zonderkidz, April 2009
"If I am your princess, then you are king of the world.” Singer and songwriter Cindy Morgan celebrates the love God blesses between a girl and her father in this picture book that families will treasure from childhood to wedding day. Includes a CD of the song King of the World performed by Point of Grace and author Cindy Morgan reading the book.



American Patriot's Bible: The Word of God and the Shaping of America
New King James Version
Thomas Nelson, April 2009
THE ONE BIBLE THAT SHOWS HOW 'A LIGHT FROM ABOVE' SHAPED OUR NATION. Never has a version of the Bible targeted the spiritual needs of those who love our country more than The American Patriot's Bible. This extremely unique Bible shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world. The story of the United States is wonderfully woven into the teachings of the Bible and includes a beautiful full-color family record section, memorable images from our nation's history and hundreds of enlightening articles which complement the New King James Version Bible text.



In the Hands of God
Newsboys
Inpop Records, April 2009
With five gold albums, more than twenty #1 radio hits, a mantel of Dove Awards, Grammy nominations, and more than six million records sold, Newsboys' pop/rock sound, groundbreaking tours, and live performances continue to satisfy diehard fans---and win new ones! Includes "No Grave," "Glorious," "The Way We Roll," "My Friend Jesus," the title track, and more.



Jars of Clay
The Long Fall Back to Earth
Essential Records, April 2009
The acclaimed rock band is back with lyrics that explore real-life issues and day-to-day experiences of the beauty and tension of relationships---and why they're worth fighting for! Arena-swelling rhythms and '80s-influenced sound flavor this 14-track CD that includes the songs "Two Hands," "Closer," "Hero," "Headphones," "There Might Be a Light," "Scenic Route," "Forgive Me," and "Heaven."



Love Takes Wing DVD
Fox Faith, May 2009
The seventh heartwarming installment in Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly saga! When a plague ravages their small Missouri town, citizens blame the local orphanage. Feisty doctor Belinda Simpson (Sarah Jones) joins forces with Lee (Jordan Bridges), a handsome young blacksmith, to prevent them from shutting it down. Will a righteous cause lead to romance? Stars Cloris Leachman, Patrick Duffy, and Haylie Duff. Approx. 90 minutes.




Faith Like Potatoes
Affirm Films, May 2009
Where there's love, there's hope. Adapted from the best-selling autobiography Faith like Potatoes, this inspirational film weaves together the moving journey of a man who, like his potatoes, grows his faith - unseen until the harvest. This powerful DVD includes God's Farmer, a gripping, 54-minute documentary on the real life of Angus Buchan. Rated PG. Approx 115 minutes.