New Releases: July 9, 2009

LT & Me
Loreane Tomlinson
Tyndale House Publishers
When San Diego Chargers running back and NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson (“LT”) was a senior in high school, he wrote his mom a letter making three promises: He was going to go to college, he was going to play professional football, and he was going to make her the proudest mother in the world. In LT & Me, Loreane Tomlinson tells the behind-the-scenes story of how all of these once seemingly impossible dreams came true. Her fascinating and poignant tales of raising LT through her days as a struggling single mom, and watching him doggedly overcome obstacles in his quest for greatness, will inspire you to bring out the champion in your kids—and in yourself. Contains a foreword by LaDainian Tomlinson and a color photo insert.


Any Minute: A Novel
Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bradford
Faithwords, July 2009
Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success no matter what the cost. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves--especially children and her husband, Joe--but her desire to succeed in her career too often leaves little time for family. One cold, autumn afternoon, all of that changes when Sarah's car plunges off a bridge and into a river. She is presumed dead by those on the "outside," but Sarah's spirit is still very much alive. What she discovers on the other side transforms everything about Sarah's view of life--past, present, and future. When Sarah is revived, she is a changed woman. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again.


Purpose-Filled Presentations
Tony Jeary
Standard Publishing, May 2009
Provides Tony's time-tested "Seven Steps to Effective Presentation"—skills that are vital for everyone who leads or volunteers in the church. • Includes easy-to-follow tips to help readers gain confidence, improve self-esteem, enhance credibility, and maximize response. • Covers the following ministries of the church: small group, Sunday school, first impressions, outreach, volunteer training, and many more! • Includes a wealth of resources, templates, checklists, and sample exercises.



Conquer Your Fear, Share Your Faith
Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort
Regal Books, July 2009

The co-hosts of The Way of the Master TV series and radio program, Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort; offer this simple and flexible curriculum for churches and small groups who want to obey the Bible’s command to tell others about Jesus. Kirk and Ray guide participants step by step through their straightforward method of evangelism, made popular through their award winning show. Those who complete the course will have every tool they need to overcome their fear and talk about their faith with friends, neighbors, coworkers and even strangers! Four complete lessons can be presented in a one-day crash course or offered in four weekly sessions.

Wrestling Prayer
Eric and Leslie Ludy
Harvest House Publishers, June 2009
Eric and Leslie Ludy have a strong platform among 20–to–40–year–olds—because their lives show that “Christian ideals,” when practically lived out, become realities that make the lives of Christians the most satisfying and challenging on earth. In Wrestling Prayer, readers who hunger for this pattern of living will see that a great prayer life is more than a nice–sounding concept—it’s down–to–earth and attainable. Eric and Leslie urge transformation—

• from doubting God’s power to expecting His supernatural intervention
• from distance from God to connection with Him
• from the sense of falling short to the strength of victory
• from “bless this food” prayers to world–changing intercession
• from feeling defeated to setting people free

Readers whose concept of prayer has fallen into disrepair will newly desire to pray and bring God’s purposes to bear on earth. Wrestling Prayer will light a soul–fire that can burn bright and hot for years to come.

Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship
Various Artists
Reunion Records, July 2009
The follow-up to David Nasser and Mac Powell's well-received Glory Revealed, Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship is another set of spiritually rewarding compositions from some of today's greatest songwriters and musicians. With thematic roots planted solely in scripture, this standout twelve-song release features music from Mac Powell, Casting Crowns' Mark Hall, Brandon Heath, Natalie Grant, Aaron Shust, Kari Jobe, Amy Grant, Jason Crabb, and more.

New Releases: July 2, 2009

The Justice Game
Randy Singer
Tyndale House Publishers, June 2009
After the target of an investigative report storms a Virginia Beach television station, he kills one of the anchors before the SWAT team takes him down. Following the victim's funeral, her family files a lawsuit against the gun company who manufactured the killer's weapon of choice. The lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant-Kelly Starling and Jason Noble-are young, charismatic, and successful. They're also easy blackmail targets, both harboring a personal secret so devastating it could destroy their careers. Millions of dollars-and more than a few lives-are at stake. But as Kelly and Jason battle each other, they discover that the real fight is with unseen forces intent on controlling them both.


First Things First
Kurt & Brenda Warner
Tyndale House Publishers, June 2009
Kurt Warner is the two-time NFL MVP–winning quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. Brenda Warner is an ex-Marine turned stay-at-home mom who collects coats for low-income kids and rocks babies to sleep at a hospital for chronically-ill infants. Together they’re the parents of seven, going into their 12th year of marriage, and founders of a foundation that helps disadvantaged children and families. Their formula for success? They put First Things First—family, faith, and giving to others—it’s their family motto, and it drives everything they do. First Things First is an honest, insightful, and entertaining look at life inside the Warner household. Kurt and Brenda speak candidly about their marriage, the values they are working to instill in their kids, things they’ve done right, mistakes they’ve made, the importance of giving back, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Includes a 16-page full-color photo insert.

New Releases: June 25, 2009

Knowing Christ Today
Dallas Willard
Harper Collins, June 2009
In the tradition of Mere Christianity, author and Renovare staff member Dallas Willard, presents a rational case for the Christian faith in our day. In Knowing Christ Today, he argues that spiritual truths are as a reliable body of knowledge as philosophy or science and form a trustworthy source of wisdom. Each chapter includes discussion questions for group study.



Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions
Mark Driscoll
Crossway Books, June 2009
After 343,203 online votes on the Mars Hill Church website, nine questions for Pastor Mark Driscoll emerged as the ones most urgently calling for answers. Inspired by 1 Corinthians, in which Paul answers a series of questions posed by the people in the Corinthian church, Pastor Mark Driscoll set out to determine the most controversial questions among visitors to the Mars Hill Church website. In the end, 893 questions were asked and 343,203 votes were cast. The top nine questions are now each answered in a chapter of Religion Saves. After an introductory chapter devoted to the misconception that religion is what saves us, Driscoll tackles nine issues: birth control, humor, predestination, grace, sexual sin, faith and works, dating, the emerging church, and the regulative principle. Because the purpose of this book is to address commonly asked questions, all readers will find relevant, engaging material, written in Driscoll's distinctively edgy, yet theologically sound style.


What Bothers Me Most About Christianity
Ed Gungor
Simon and Schuster, May 2009
A Provocative Discussion on the Messiness of Faith. It may seem odd that an avowed Christ follower would write a whole book on the bothersome aspects of Christianity. But if we're honest, we can't ignore the fact that some things about Christianity are just plain messy. Without fear or hesitation, Ed Gungor joins the discussion generated by the multitude of atheistic books, as he explores the most difficult aspects of the Christian faith, including...

Why doesn't God just show Himself?

Why does a loving God allow evil in His world?

If the Christian faith is so good, why are some Christians so bad?

Why was God so harsh during Old Testament times?

Why is the Christian faith so exclusive?

Maintaining that faith is not intellectual suicide and that mystery is an essential quality of the Christian belief, Gungor speaks with reason, candor, and a touch of humor to thinking people on both sides of the debate.


What's Happening to My Teen?
Mark Gregston
Harvest House Publishers, May 2009
More often than not, teens who behave inappropriately are not rebelling; they’re just responding the best way they know how to life’s challenges. In What’s Happening to My Teen?, youth specialist Mark Gregston contends that all too often parents spend so much time correcting their teen that they forget the teen’s greater need for connection. If parents spent more time trying to understand rather than trying to change behavior, they would see a transformation in their teen’s attitudes and actions. What’s Happening to My Teen? offers wise counsel that will help parents of teens succeed at one of the most difficult tasks they’ve ever encountered. As they draw from Gregston’s expertise, parents will become better equipped to:

• respond constructively to the inevitable conflict
• recognize when their teen’s behavior is rebellion and when it’s not
• avoid words and actions that provoke their teen
• create a safe environment that promotes truth and open communication

For parents concerned about their teen’s behavior, this book provides the scriptural insight and the skills they need to see their family thrive during those challenging teen years.

Life is Beautiful
Press Play
EMI Records, May 2009
Weaving strands of pop, rock, and worship styles, the debut from Press Play bursts with energy, excitement, and devotion to the Lord. Life Is Beautiful features guest spots from Darlene Zschech and Lil iROCC. Audio clips from this product are available to listen to before you purchase - just click on the track title to play the clip.


Take Two
Karen Kingsbury
Zondervan, June 2009
The second book in the Above the Line series finds independent filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison at the center of Hollywood wheeling and dealing. The two friends discover that all that glitters is not gold—and that success in Tinsel Town could cost them everything—their relationships as well as their ideals. Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers’ dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase’s marriage is strained and Keith’s daughter — Andi Ellison — is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film — but is the change worth the cost?

New Releases: June 9, 2009

The Disappearance of God
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Multnomah Books, May 2009
Is God changing his mind about sin? What is good or bad about the Emergent movement? Are churches selling out to keep members? Battling to preserve the foundations of Christianity, Dr. Mohler confronts contemporary teachings and "feel-good" ideas. Combining a careful study of Scripture with wit and wisdom, he'll help you defend the faith! 176 pages, hardcover from Multnomah.



Crazy Enough to Care
Alvin C. Bibbs, Sr.
IVP Connect, June 2009
The injustice, pain, and suffering in the world seem overwhelming. Is there anything we can do? Taking you on a journey to the core of the gospel, Bibbs offers practical strategies for reaching out to people we know and those we don't. Join him for 12 sessions and you'll start changing the world by caring for others! 156 pages, softcover from InterVarsity.



Maggie Rose (The Daughters of Jacob Kane vol. 2)
Sharlene MacLaren
Whitaker House, June 2009
In the summer of 1904, Maggie Rose Kane, Jacob's spunky, independent middle daughter accepts God's call to leave her beloved hometown of Sandy Shores, Michigan to work as 'house mother' at New York City's Sheltering Arms Refuge, a home for displaced and orphaned waifs. There she meets the cynical, hard-nosed Luke Madison, a 27-year-old news reporter from the New York World who's been thrust upon the orphanage for a three-month period with an order to research the city's problem of "Street Arabs", the name pinned to these impoverished children. Sparks fly as Maggie and Luke come to terms with their growing attraction. Will Maggie win the struggle to remain attuned to God's direction for her life, staving off her foolish, romantic notions-or does the Lord have a greater purpose than she ever imagined for leading her to New York?

New Release: June 4, 2009

Think Orange
Reggie Joiner
David C. Cook, May 2009
Former family ministry director Reggie Joiner looks at what would happen if the church and families both decided that they could no longer do business as usual, but instead combined their efforts and began to work off the same page for the sake of the kids. Written to support the Orange Conference and Tour, Think Orange shows church leaders how to make radical changes so they can:

• engage parents in an integrated strategy;
• synchronize the home and church around a clear message;
• recruit mentors to become partners with the family;
• provoke parents and kids to fight for their relationship with each other; and
• mobilize the next generation to be the church.