New Releases

Live Second
Doug Bender
Thomas Nelson, November 2012
Athletes and actors, models and musicians, pastors and politicians … many have stepped forward, looked in the camera, and proclaimed, “I am second.” But most in the I Am Second movement are not celebrities. They are ordinary people—and they’ve come to the simple realization that when God comes first in their lives, everything makes sense. But living second is not easy. It takes grit and humility, submission to God’s will, a willingness to listen and serve, an openness to God’s healing and call. Live Second is a daily guide to help you. With 365 readings, prayers, actions steps, and an invitation to join other Christ-followers online, what you hold in your hands is a tool built with truth, scripture, and a sure path to put Jesus first every day.
The Christian life is not meant to be easy, just worth it. Live Second is exactly what you need as you become the new, inspired, God-honoring creation he made you to be.
 
Heaven on Earth
Chris Seidman & Joshua Graves
Abingdon Press, November 2012
So often, our view of the good life is the busy, exhausted, driven, and unhappy life. But what if there was a different way to live--now, not when we get to heaven, but now? A short list of “blessings” called the Beatitudes is Jesus’ declaration of what “the good life” is, and an invitation to immerse ourselves in it. If we understand the Beatitudes, we realize they are less about what we do and more about what God is doing--what God values, how He operates, and what He’s up to in our (actually His) world. Authors Seidman and Graves offer a practical guide to changing our course to realize the good life now. 

One Thousand Gifts Devotional
Ann Voskamp
Zondervan, November 2012
Renew your appreciation for the breathtaking beauty that surrounds us in life's simplest details. Encouraging you to ruminate even deeper on the concepts explored in her best-selling book One Thousand Gifts, Voskamp offers 100 wisdom-soaked devotions, complete with Scripture verses, prayers, reflection questions, and space to record your own insights. 208 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.

The Letter Writer DVD
Bridgestone Media, October 2012
Maggy Fuller is a rebellious teenager whose life is headed for trouble---until she receives an affirming letter from a mysterious source. Discovering Sam, its author, in a rest home, she begins to see the power of positive words and choices. Can Sam's influence truly alter her path, or will she reject the redemption he offers? Dove approved (All Ages). Widescreen. Closed captions. Approx. 86 minutes.

The Way We Worship CD
Ffc
Provident Music, October 2012
Take Jennifer's earthy vocals and Jeremy's modern sound, add a mix of hymns and popular praise songs, and you have the perfect blend---sure to transport you in worship! Features "Always"; "First Love"; "Come, Thou Fount"; "Jesus Paid It All"; "In the Garden"; "As for Me"; "Glorious King"; "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"; "The Greatness of Our God"; and more.

NEW FOR 2012 CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Heavenly Christmas
Jackie Evancho









 
Christmas: God With Us
Jeremy Camp

 
Ultimate Christmas
Various Artists









 
Christmas With Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery

Christmas
Francesca Battistelli








 
Great Worship Songs for Christmas vol. 13
Various Artists








 
Do You Hear What I Hear? Songs of Christmas
Various Artists








 
Joy to the World: A Christmas Collection
Lincoln Brewster








Christmas Time's A-Coming
The Oak Ridge Boys

Christmas Together
Jamie Grace










It's Christmas: Christmas Angel Edition
Mandisa

Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy
Jason Gray

Christmas Live!
Kenny Rogers








 
Christmas: A Season of Hope
Don Moen

Christmas Around the Piano
Stan Whitmire








 
Christmas Elegance
Beegie Adair & David Davidson

Ultimate Christmas for Kids
Various Artists

New Releases

Grace, Gold, & Glory
Gabrielle Douglas
Zondervan, November 2012
Read about Gabrielle Douglas's story of faith, perseverance, and determination as she stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner on the 2012 U.S. gold-medal-winning women's gymnastics team. Featuring full-color inserts of photographs of Gabby and a full-color poster.

C is for Christmas
David and Warren Wiersbe
BakerBooks, November 2012
Throughout history many non-essential traditions have woven themselves into the celebration of Christmas that it's difficult to understand just what the season of Christ's birth is all about. Now beloved writer Warren W. Wiersbe and David W. Wiersbe give adults their very own A-Z primer to Christmas entitled C is for Christmas: The History, Personalities, and Meaning of Christ's Birth. Cutting through the wrapping paper and pretty bows to expose and explain the backgrounds and reasons for our various symbols and traditions. From angels and Bethlehem to yuletide and Zechariah, the information in this unique collection is sure to enlighten. Anyone who wants to have a deeper understanding of Christmas will love this insightful resource.

Everyday Church
Tim Chester & Steve Timmis
Crossway, September 2012
HOW DOES THE CHURCH REACH THE UNCHURCHED? We live in an increasingly post-Christian culture. More and more we find ourselves on the margins as less and less people have any intention of ever attending church. What used to work doesn't work anymore and we need to adapt. Helping us to see the way forward, this book offers practical ideas and personal stories for engaging with Western society. Find out how to effectively reach people in the context of everyday life and take hold of the opportunity to develop missional communities focused on Jesus.

Jesus Calling Teen Edition
Sarah Young
Thomas Nelson, September 2012
Is your teen's devotional time limited to prayer requests? Young's used to be, until she began the practice of waiting on God to receive and record his answers---and her monologue became a dialogue. Your 12- to 17-year-olds will experience a greater sense of Jesus' peace while reading these messages paired with Scripture. (Same content as adult edition.) 392 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

O God Save Us All CD
Disciple
Provident, November 2012
Tennessee-born metal mainstays Disciple return with their ninth full length album, an eleven song set of shout-along anthems and fist-pumping grooves with messages of faith, perseverance, and hope in the midst of struggle. O God Save Us All includes the firey lead single "Draw The Line" plus "Unstoppable," "Beautiful Scars," the title track, and more.

Game On : Find Your Purpose--Pursue Your Dream
by Emmitt Smith

Reviewed by Diane Busch

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  Excellent!  And I am a woman who doesn't even follow football.  Emmitt writes with such enthusiasm and encouragement.  Interwoven between the lines of his life's story, he gives advice on how to turn your dreams into goals and your goals into reality.  He gives tips on recognizing your dreams, identifying your vision, following your path, getting rid of fear, widening your horizons, building your team, enhancing your attitude, and deciding wisely.  You come away feeling like you really could accomplish anything that God calls you to do, with His help.

To Heaven and Back : A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again
by Mary C. Neal
WaterBrook Press 2012

Reviewed by Diane Busch

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.  I had set out to read the book merely to be informed of its content since it was on the best-seller list.  I was skeptical about reading another book about a "near death experience".  But I found the author to be genuinely encouraging and insightful.  She tells her story with honesty and truth--no gimmicks here.  Due to her knowledge as a doctor, she adds many medical details that help you understand the situation better.  She shares scripture where applicable.  As a believer in Jesus, she leaves you looking forward to a future in heaven with Him.

New Releases

Every Good Endeavor
Timothy Keller
Dutton, November 2012
Do you find it challenging to be a Christian in a competitive workplace? Discover how to enjoy a successful career without sacrificing your soul! Encouraging you to hold firm to your faith in win-at-all-costs corporate environments, Keller helps you carry your beliefs from church to job, stay true to your values, make God-honoring choices, and more. 288 pages, hardcover from Dutton.

Once-A-Day 25 Days of Advent Devotional
Zondervan, October 2012
Prayer and anticipation are now in season: 25 Devotions for Advent Beginning on December 1, this Once-A-Day Christmastime devotional booklet takes you through the entire Advent season with thoughts on the person of Jesus: his involvement at the creation of the world, his life in the Gospel accounts, and who he is today. Along the way you will meet and examine the lives of various individuals involved in the incarnation, and during the week of Christmas examine the response to this miraculous and gracious event, both in heaven and on earth. Written by Dr. Kenneth Boa, president of Reflections Ministries, these 25 devotions offer select Scripture passages that allow readers to gain a fuller perspective on Jesus' presence throughout the Bible. In addition, each devotion provides thoughts and questions for meditation, along with a prayer for each day, making them perfect for your own personal, family, or small-group use. The 25 days of reading are broken out as follows:* The Old Testament presence of Jesus: who He was at creation, where He shows up in other parts of the Old Testament, and more* The people associated with the Nativity: Zechariah and Elisabeth, Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist, Herod, and the Magi* The specifics and the people directly involved in the nativity: the shepherds, the angels, and the baby Jesus himself * A Christmas reading that points ahead to his ministry, his passion and his rule as King.

Cross Roads
Wm. Paul Young
Faith Words, November 2012
Anthony Spencer is egotistical, proud of being a self-made business success at the peak of his game, even though the cost of winning was painfully high. A cerebral hemorrhage leaves Tony comatose in a hospital ICU. He 'awakens' to find himself in a surreal world, a 'living' landscape that mirrors dimensions of his earthly life, from the beautiful to the corrupt. It is here that he has vivid interactions with others he assumes are projections of his own subconscious, but whose directions he follows nonetheless with the possibility that they might lead to authenticity and perhaps, redemption. The adventure draws Tony into deep relational entanglements where he is able to 'see' through the literal eyes and experiences of others, but is "blind" to the consequences of hiding his personal agenda and loss that emerge to war against the processes of healing and trust. Will this unexpected coalescing of events cause Tony to examine his life and realize he built a house of cards on the poisoned grounds of a broken heart? Will he also have the courage to make a critical choice that can undo a major injustice he set in motion before falling into a coma?

Jesus Culture with Martin Smith: Live from New York CD
Jesus Culture
Integrity Music, November 2012
Pairing Martin Smith's powerful songs of worship with Jesus Culture's signature call to bold praise, this album was recorded live in concert. Includes "Fire Never Sleeps," "Forevermore," "Pursuit," "Walk with Me," "Waiting Here for You," "Our God Reigns," "Song of Solomon," "Set a Fire," "Allelujah," "Holy Spirit," "Did You Feel?" "God Is Coming," and "I Belong to You." Two CDs.