Tuesday, December 15, 2009

New Releases

The Me I Want to Be
John Ortberg
Zondervan, December 2009
The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg—the bestselling author of When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box; God Is Closer Than You Think; and The Life You’ve Always Wanted—will help you discover spiritual vitality like never before as you learn to “live in the flow of the spirit.” But if God has a perfect vision for your life, why does spiritual growth seem so difficult? John Ortberg has some intriguing answers to that question, and he has organized his thoughts and God's words into a straightforward and timely guide for living your best life in The Me I Want to Be. This book will show how God's perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise. All those who trust in God "will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be. Then he provides detailed tasks and exercises to help you live in the flow of the Spirit, circumventing real-world barriers—pain and sorrow, temptations, self-doubt, sin—to flourish even in a dark and broken world. As you start living in the flow, you will feel: — a deeper connection with God — a growing sense of joy — an honest recognition of your brokenness — less fear, more trust — a growing sense of being “rooted in love” — a deeper sense of purpose God invites you to join Him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life. The Me I Want to Be shows you how to graciously accept His invitation.

Know Doubt
John Ortberg
Zondervan, December 2009
Without a doubt Ever "stumbled" in your faith? Wrestled with uncertainty? Wondered if you're a true believer? If the answer is yes to any of these questions—and it probably is—you have reason to celebrate. In this candid book based on his own struggle with doubt, John Ortberg traces the line between belief and unbelief and finds that it's less a dividing line between hostile camps than a razor's edge that runs through every soul. His findings point toward the relief of being totally honest. Doubt … Questions … Honest faith … Outrageous hope … It's a chain reaction that can actually strengthen our relationship with God, and that, says Ortberg, is cause for celebration.

L.O.V.E.: Putting Your Love Styles to Work for You
Les & Leslie Parrott
Nobody else on the planet is just like you. The same holds true for your spouse. That's why this book and its accompanying online assessment zeroes in on each of your personal qualities and reveals how the unique combination of your two personalities creates a "Love Style" that is unlike any other. Crack the code and enjoy the deepest love you've ever known.


Where Is God?
John Townsend
Thomas Nelson, December 2009
Hard times make us look for God. Everyone has problems. But if we could solve all our difficulties ourselves, would we ever search for God? Psychologist John Townsend says "It is actually the very unfixability of our problems and our powerlessness to bring right results that keep us asking, 'Where is God?'" With a compelling narrative, Townsend offers new insights into the pursuit for God's help and presence. Designed to give readers hope and meaning, he divides the discussion into three parts:
  • Why does a loving God allow us to experience difficulties?
  • How is God active in the middle of our hard times?
  • How can I find God?

With powerful stories and practical applications, Where Is God? assures readers that even when it feels as though God is absent it is his nature to be in relationship, to connect with, love, and guide us. And when we seek him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, he shows up in ways that transform us forever.

Happy Spouse...Happy House
Pat and Ruth Williams
Standard Publishing, November 2009
Pat and Ruth draw on personal stories, shared wisdom, and God's Word to encourage men to be the BEST leaders, lovers, and listeners they can be. And with humor and heart, they empower women to be the BEST partners and players in a winning relationship. Whether your marriage is on the road to victory, in foul trouble, or just needs a halftime pep talk, you'll find compassionate and competent coaching in Happy Spouse . . . Happy House.

• Based on the BEST acronym: blessing, edifying, sharing, and touching.

• Ideal for newly married couples as well as couples married for many years, marriage counselors, men's and women's small groups, and book clubs.

• Designed to also work as a guide for a small group study. Each chapter concludes with questions for discussion and to encourage a further look at what God's Word has to say about the topic being considered in the chapter.

How to Inherit the Earth
Scott Bessenecker
Intervarsity Press, November 2009
Ambition isn't bad; it just does bad things. In a culture that too often prizes leadership uncritically and unreflectively, a faith that calls us to take up crosses, lay down lives and otherwise submit ourselves to something outside ourselves simply sounds like a bad idea. Nevertheless, this is the faith that we find Jesus talking about. Scott Bessenecker has learned from new friar communities, from the history of Christianity and from the mouth of Jesus that there's something wonderfully subversive about saying no to ourselves every now and then, something that could even change the world.

The Screwtape Letters Audiobook
Paul McCusker, C. S. Lewis
Tyndale Entertainment, September 2009
From the award-winning audio drama team that brought you Radio Theatre’s Amazing Grace and The Chronicles of Narnia. In his enduringly popular masterpiece The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis re-imagines Hell as a gruesome bureaucracy. With spiritual insight and wry wit, Lewis suggests that demons, laboring in a vast enterprise, have horribly recognizable human attributes: competition, greed, and totalitarian punishment. Avoiding their own painful torture as well as a desire to dominate are what drive demons to torment their “patients.” The style and unique dark humor of The Screwtape Letters are retained in this full-cast dramatization, as is the original setting of London during World War II. The story is carried by the senior demon Screwtape played magnificently by award-winning actor Andy Serkis (“Gollum” in Lord of the Rings) as he shares correspondence to his apprentice demon Wormwood. All 31 letters lead into dramatic scenes, set in either Hell or the real world with humans—aka “the patient,” as the demons say—along with his circle of friends and family. This Radio Theatre release also stars Geoffrey Palmer (Tomorrow Never Dies), Laura Michelle Kelly (Sweeney Todd), Eileen Page (The Secret Garden), and other world-class actors.
Includes 10 new songs inspired by the classic book, four behind-the-scenes video documentary featurettes, and a 5.1 surround sound mix. Four CDs, approx. 4 hours total.