New Releases

The Cause Within You
Matthew Barnett with George Barna
Tyndale, January 2011
Whether we realize it or not, each of us was created for a great cause—and we will never be truly fulfilled until we find and pursue it. Matthew Barnett, son of a well-known megachurch pastor, discovered his great cause when he relinquished his dream of building a big, successful church like his father’s and began listening for God’s dream for his life. Sensing that God was calling him to serve the poor and powerless of Los Angeles, Matthew founded the Dream Center, a beacon of hope for homeless families, drug addicts, abused women and children, victims of human trafficking, teen runaways, gang members, and many others whose lives were filled with brokenness. If you are hungry for a life full of passion instead of apathy; if you are ready to use your specific gifts and abilities to make a mark on the world; if you need to be reminded that God loves you and has a plan for your life—The Cause Within You is the book that can change everything. Through his own story and the stories of others whose lives have been transformed, Matthew Barnett will lead you to the cause of your lifetime.

The Lord's Prayer
Richard Jesse Watson
Zonderkidz, January 2011
'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.' The Lord's Prayer pulses with new life through the exquisite illustrations of award-winning artist Richard Jesse Watson, and simple, yet insightful commentary by bestselling author Rick Warren. Watson's use of vibrant color and detailed imagery beautifully captures the essence of Jesus' words to his disciples, and Warren's thoughtful words help make the King James Version of this prayer come alive for readers young and old.

New Releases

No Greater Love DVD
Lions Gate, January 2011
Jeff and Heather were the "lucky ones.” Best friends from childhood, high school sweethearts, and married by 22, they were inseparable soul mates. Jeff’s world is dramatically rocked when Heather disappears after the birth of their son. Heather shockingly reappears ten years later in the most unusual place.

Soul Print: Discovering Your Divine Destiny
Mark Batterson
Multnomah, January 2011
There never has been and never will be anyone like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you. The problem? Few people discover the God-given identity that makes them unlike anyone else. Mark Batterson calls this divine distinction our soulprint. God would like to introduce you to yourself. In Soulprint, Mark pours the contagious energy he’s known for into helping you experience the joy of discovering who you are and the freedom of discovering who you’re not. The wonderful fact is that your uniqueness is God’s gift to you—and it’s also your gift to God. A “self-help” book that puts God at the center rather than self, Soulprint encourages you to recognize and explore the moments of your life that determine your future. Along the way, you’ll find that you’re not just turning the pages of a book. You’re turning the pages of your remarkable, God-shaped, world-changing life.

Necessary Endings
Henry Cloud
HarperBusiness, January 2011
In Necessary Endings, Dr. Cloud demonstrates that, when done well, "necessary endings" allow people to stop pain, foster growth, reach personal and business goals, and live better lives. When done poorly though, good opportunities are lost, and misery either remains or is repeated. In this new book, Dr. Cloud draws on years of experience as an executive coach and therapist and offers a mixture of advice and anecdotes to give reader the tools they need to begin pruning the bad and the broken from their lives so that the good may begin growing again.

Leaving Eden
Brandon Heath
Provident, January 2011
Since his 2006 debut, Christian music's beloved and twice honored Male Vocalist of the Year (2009 and 2010) Brandon Heath has an Emmy Award, been nominated for two Grammys, an American Music Award, and holds multiple GMA Dove Awards. Heath's soaring career includes three No.1 hits,"I'm Not Who I Was", "Wait and See" and 2009 GMA Dove-winning Song of the Year, "Give Me Your Eyes". Staying true to his signature autobiographical style, Brandon Heath's lyrics for his latest release Leaving Eden celebrates God's heart and the pure immensity of His love for us. Heath, and acclaimed co-writing partner/producer Jason Ingram, penned the record's first single "Your Love" as a testament to God's abounding love that never leaves us, gives purpose and lights our way.

In God We Still Trust: A 365 Day Devotional
Richard Lee
Thomas Nelson, January 2011
A year-long devotional that explores the Godly principles on which our country was founded. Experience gratitude for country and love of God with this 365-day journey through America's historical events as Dr. Richard Lee introduces the people who established and shaped our nation, and teaches the Godly principles on which it was founded. Each devotional is followed by a Patriot Prayer and Promise. Scripture is taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Berenstain Bears and the Forgiving Tree
Jan and Mike Berenstain
Zonderkidz, January 2011
In The Berenstain Bears and the Forgiving Tree, Cousin Fred accidentally damages Brother's brand-new bike. When Brother Bear gets angry, can Sister Bear help him see that forgiving his friend is the right thing to do?

God Gave Us the World
Lisa Tawn Bergen
Waterbrook Press, January 2011
Little Cub’s trip to a special museum exhibit, “Bears Around the World,” sparks a flurry of questions from the young polar bear who is just beginning to learn about life beyond her North Pole home. As Mama Bear shares with her about the different types of places that God has put the various types of bears, with their different kinds of fur and eating habits, Little Cub begins to wonder: Why didn’t God make us all the same? With Mama’s loving guidance, Little Cub is taught to see the vastness of God’s wonderful creation, his abilities as an amazing, inventive Creator, his desire for us to care for our world, and especially the important lesson that… “Every bear has a special place in God’s great, big world.” This adorable story offers young children who are discovering their place in God’s big world an opportunity to learn about the wonder of diversity, the gift of creativity, the importance of caring for His gifts, and how each child, each creation, is special to God.

Book Review

Unlocked
by Karen Kingsbury
c2010 Zondervan

reviewed by Diane Busch

Heart-warming fiction read. So many subjects are dealt with in this one book: autism, bullies, suicide, friendship, hurting marriages, and the effect of Christ in a person's life and relationships.
The reader gains hope that there may be a way to "unlock" the autistic person. I am left wondering: is this really possible or is this just fiction?
Zondervan gave us our copy of this book free to read and review. We have a copy in our library and our bookstore.

New Releases

Unplanned
Abby Johnson
Focus on the Family, January 2011
Abby Johnson quit her job in October 2009. That simple act became a national news story because Abby was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas who, after participating in her first actual abortion procedure, walked across the road to join the Coalition for Life. Unplanned is a heartstopping personal drama of life-and-death encounters, a courtroom battle, and spiritual transformation that speaks hope and compassion into the political controversy that surrounds this issue. Telling Abby’s story from both sides of the abortion clinic property line, this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the life versus rights debate and helping women who face crisis pregnancies.

Courage to Stand
Tim Pawlenty
Tyndale, January 2010
Long before he was considered a top prospective presidential candidate for 2012—even before he landed on John McCain’s short list of potential running mates in 2008—Governor Tim Pawlenty had already earned legendary status in conservative circles. In his hard-left-leaning home state of Minnesota, the man known as “T-Paw” somehow erased a $4.8-billion budget deficit while simultaneously reforming health care, creating jobs, improving education, and supporting renewable energy reform--all without raising taxes. In Courage to Stand, Pawlenty reveals, for the first time, how he found the resolve to get the job done, taking readers all the way back to the lessons he learned as a boy in the gritty meatpacking town of South St. Paul. From the devastating early death of his mother to the struggle to work his way through college and law school and his epic political battles as governor, Pawlenty opens up about his deepest beliefs and shares his vision for a better America.

Ministering Through Spiritual Gifts (Life Principles Study Series)
Charles Stanley
Thomas Nelson, December 2010
God gives every believer a spiritual gift the moment he or she accepts Christ. Many Christians haven't identified their gifts, or they're not sure how to use them for God's glory. In the ten lessons of Ministering Through Spiritual Gifts, Dr. Charles Stanley encourages you to pinpoint your God-given strengths by exploring the seven gifts in Romans 12. He then challenges you to consciously develop your gifts- not for your own personal gain, but to minister to others and to ultimately bring glory to God. Dr. Charles Stanley's Bible study guides feature the insights and wisdom of this beloved pastor and author. Small groups and individuals who want a Bible study that's spiritually-sound and practical will find a wealth of ideas to help them understand and apply the Scriptures to the real world. Each title takes a unique four-fold approach to get the most out of Bible study time-emphasizing personal identification with the Scripture passage, recognition of your emotional response, reflection of the passage's meaning and application, and taking steps to apply what's been learned. This is a sound way to explore the Word of God.

New Releases

Right Here Right Now
Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford
Baker Books, December 2010
People in all walks of life are discovering what it means to be involved, concerned, missional Christians. But simply having block parties or spending more time downtown is not enough to describe what it means to be a missional people. What is needed is a reformation of the way we actually live our lives as Jesus followers. We need to see a way of living faithfully to God's mission in the world, right here, right now. In this inspiring yet practical book, Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford equip believers to live missionally regardless of situation, vocation, or location, making the concept of being missional accessible to the whole body of Christ. Touching on issues of discipleship, spirituality, and church at every level of experience, Right Here, Right Now calls readers to be the people God has made them to be.

The Law of Happiness
Henry Cloud
Howard Books, December 2010
Drawing from the latest scientific and psychological research on the quest for happiness, The Law of Happiness reveals that the spiritual truths of the Bible hold the secrets to the happiness we desire. As Dr. Cloud unpacks these universal, eternal principles, he reveals that true happiness is not about circumstances, physical health, financial success, or even about the people in our lives. In other words, it’s not about the factors that are frequently beyond our control. Rather, happiness is found in choosing to become the kind of people God created us to be. With chapter titles like “Happy People Connect,” “Happy People Are Envy-Free,” “Happy People Have a Calling,” and “Happy People Forgive,” Cloud shows just how happiness is achieved as he sets readers on a pathway of spiritual transformation that connects them with the God of the universe. With these new tools, readers will discover that their relationships, their careers, and their inner selves are infused with the joy they’ve been seeking.

Looking Up Devotional Journal
Beth Moore
Thomas Nelson, December 2010
When life is looking down, look up and find God's deliverance! Life can be hard…sometimes to the point of feeling as though your struggles will never end, and God isn't anywhere near. The Looking Up Devotional Journal is Beth Moore's timeless message of hope and deliverance taken from Psalm 40. You'll discover you are indeed not alone, and that God's gracious provision of love and faithfulness is at work, pointing you toward a life of wholeness and fullness. Guided journaling gently leads you out of hardship into a brighter future of purpose and peace. This lovely devotional journal is based on Beth's bestselling book, Get Out of That Pit.

Hunter Brown and the Eye of Ends (The Codebreaker Series vol. 3)
Christopher and Allan Miller
Warner Press, December 2010
In Hunter Brown and The Eye of Ends, the heart-pounding conclusion of Hunter's previous adventures begins with an even bigger surprise-his memory is gone. With no knowledge of his last visit to Solandria, Hunter must fight to piece together the growing puzzle of his past under the constant surveillance of an intimidating detective, who isn't all that he seems. But what begins as a harmless search for memories quickly leads him into a deadly hunt for his missing father and a lost relic said to predict the story's end. Answers lie in the Eye of Ends, but one question remains: can the Eye be trusted? Will Hunter succeed in finding his father, or will the mysterious Watcher erase everything Hunter has fought for and everyone he loves, before the final page is turned?


Trust Us...They'll Ask
Group Publishing
Group Publishing, December 2010
Trust Us...They'll Ask is for parents of preschoolers through preteens who want to be prepared ahead of time for the day their child asks them a difficult question. Kids always do ask and parents need to be ready to give an answer to any question that's asked. In this book you'll find more than 100 topics on body development, substance abuse, Internet usage, sexual issues and other commonly asked questions. Learn to communicate your Christian values along with factual information to your child.

Ncv Revolve 2011 Dream On Complete New Testament
Nelson Biblezine
Thomas Nelson, December 2010
Dream Big! Dreaming about her life? who she’ll be, what she’ll do, where she’ll go? It's all part of the package when it comes to teen girls. Revolve understands the many things teens dream about—but we also know that God’s plan for their lives is bigger and better than even they can imagine. With all new articles, interviews, devotions, quizzes, and notes, Revolve is back and better than ever, including:
* Notes by Jenna Lucado
* Dating tips from Chad Eastham
* Free music downloads from Revolve artists Group 1 Crew and Britt Nicole