New Releases: August 25, 2009

Deep Church
Jim Belcher
IVP Books, August 2009
Are you caught between the traditional and emerging churches? Belcher offers a third way! Exploring the ideas of Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, and others, he assesses the emergent church's strengths and weaknesses, weighs traditionalists' criticisms, and proposes a missional church that blends innovation in worship, the arts, and community with belief in creeds and confessions.




Awake
Skillet
Ino Records, August 2009
Skillet's eighth studio album, Awake, recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson, is set for an August 25, 2009 release. The album will contain 12 tracks, including 'Hero' and 'Monster' which were added to their live set during their Comatose Tour 2009.






You Deliver Me
Selah
Curb Records, August 2009
Five time Dove Awards Winners Selah has sold 2.4 million units over their career. You Deliver Me is the first studio record featuring Amy Perry since she joined the group.








Come Alive
Mark Schultz
Word Entertainment, August 2009
Platinum-selling, Dove Award winning recording artist, Mark Schultz, releases his long-awaited, fifth studio album. One of Christian music's most acclaimed singer/songwriters, Schultz's first new studio album in nearly three years is also his most personal recording to date, inviting listeners to 'Come Alive' through these songs birthed by stories of hope, loss, joy and redemption. New for Schultz, working with more than one or two producers for an album, Come Alive features the distinct and masterful touches from multiple GRAMMY Award winner Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Third Day, CeCe Winans), Shaun Shankel (Beyoncé, Hilary Duff), Bernie Herms (Natalie Grant, Avalon) and Paul Mills (Third Day, Bluetree). The album also features collaborations with such hit making songwriters as Bart Millard and Barry Graul of Mercy Me, Matthew West, Joy Williams and Bernie Herms. The combination of talent and Schultz's own vision for this album results in his most thought-provoking, musically diverse project to date.


Life Light Up
Christy Nockels
Sparrow Records, June 2009
One of Christian music's most recognizable and prolific female voices, Christy Nockels, was born in Ft. Worth, TX as a "seminary baby." She grew up in Oklahoma as the daughter of a pastor and a piano teacher, which infused her heart early with a love for both music and God's word. Together as Watermark, Christy and her husband Nathan recorded five albums with Rocketown Records. They composed a journey full of songs, 7 of which were #1 radio singles. They have been nominated for numerous Dove Awards, including Christy's nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year. Christy and Nathan have served at Passion Conferences since 1997 and in 2008, they moved to Atlanta, GA to be a founding family of Passion City Church. Christy releases her first solo worship project, Life Light Up, with sixstepsrecords on June 2, 2009. She's been busy playing before national audiences on Chris Tomlin's "Hello Love Tour," where she's singing vocals with Chris and debuting her new single "Life Light Up" each night. Christy's heart through leading worship and song writing is to help people communicate intimately with the living God, and to leave a legacy of proclaiming Jesus' fame to this generation.


The Lost Get Found
Britt Nicole
Sparrow Records, August 2009
Britt set the world on fire when her first album debuted. Now she ramps it up in her highly anticipated sophomore release! Filled with high-energy tracks and catchy hooks, it speaks to the hearts of today's teens in "Welcome to the Show," "Glow," "How We Roll," "Safe," "Have Your Way," "Like a Star," the title track, and more.

New Releases: August 20, 2009

Nooma: Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering (vol. 24)
Rob Bell
Zondervan, August 2009
We plot. We plan. We assume things are going to go a certain way. And when they don't, we find ourselves in a new place, a place we haven't been before, a place we never would have imagined on our own. It is the difficult and the unexpected, and maybe even the tragic, that opens us up and frees us to see things in new ways. Many of the most significant moments in our lives come not because it all went right but because it all fell apart. Suffering does that. It hurts, but it also creates. This book is an exploration of the complex relationship between suffering and creativity, driven by the belief that there is art in the agony.



Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson, September 2009
Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear. They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming. The plague of our day, terrorism, begins with the word terror. Fear, it seems, has taken up a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversized and rude, fear herds us into a prison of unlocked doors. Wouldn't it be great to walk out? Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less. Can you imagine your life without fear?



Your Jesus is Too Safe
Jared Wilson
Kregel Publications, June 2009
A provacative new book that calls Christians to stop making Jesus so "convenient". Cutting through the glossy, modern perceptions of Jesus, Jared C. Wilson returns to the gospels for twelve raw, realistic portraits of Christ in this revolutionary book. Your Jesus is Too Safe offers a clear image of the historical figure of Christ in his biblical and cultural context. Ideal for readers dissatisfied with the "Buddy Jesus" that has pervaded the evangelical landscape, Your Jesus is Too Safe provides a devotional, inspirational survey of Christ and his kingdom with a conversational style, humor, and a solid theological foundation.


Praying God's Word
Beth Moore
B&H Books, September 2009
Beth Moore's #1 best-selling book (more than one million copies in print) is available in paperback for the first time!Praying God's Word is the perennial favorite Scripture-prayer resource designed to help us decisively overcome specific strongholds: pride, idolatry, addiction, loss, depression, unbelief, temptation, and more. No matter how overwhelmed or out of control a person may feel today, Beth boldly reminds us that nothing is bigger or more powerful than the Lord. With this landmark book we learn to wield the sword of the Spirit, praying God's Word to break free from anything that has a hold on us until the joy and authority of Christ rules in our lives.



Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (DVD)
Sony Pictures, September 2009
A role model for today! Academy Award-winner Cuba Gooding, Jr., stars in the riveting true story of world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Discover how Dr. Carson's own struggle to overcome poverty and learning problems---with the encouragement of a loving mother---inspired him to treat impoverished children from all over the world. As seen on TNT. (PG-13.) 90 minutes.




iworship: Hymns: The Essential Collection CD
Various Artists
Sony, August 2009
The iWorship series continues with this eighteen song selection of timeless hymns, including breathtaking renditions of "Revelation Song" (Kari Jobe), "In Christ Alone"(Travis Cottrell), "I Surrender All" (Israel Houghton), and more.




Katinas: Live at the Rock San Diego CD & DVD
The Katinas
Executive Music Group, July 2009
Recorded live at The Rock church in San Diego, this powerful performance from The Katinas is a retrospective tour of the group's original hits and powerful worship standards. Featuring interwoven ministry from Pastor Miles McPherson, Live at The Rock also includes two brand new studio tracks, "Ancient Skies" and "Carry The Cross," heard in the TBN documantary "The Cross."



The Princess and the Three Knights
Karen Kingsbury
Zonderkidz, August 2009
Once upon a time, there was a princess---"the most beautiful in all the land"---and all the young men dreamed of winning her hand. When the king issues a challenge, contestants come from far and near. But who will capture his daughter's heart? A celebration of character, purity, and true love. Ages 4 to 7. 40 pages, hardcover from Zonderkidz.

New Releases: July 23, 2009

Jesus: Why the World is Still Fascinated by Him
Tim LaHaye
David C. Cook, July 2009
Jesus. Love Him or hate Him, He’s everywhere. On our T-shirts, bumper stickers, and even the covers of leading news magazines, year after year. We see Him on the silver screen, in the headline crawl on the TV news, and on the homemade signs held up at ball games. Hotly debated, He remains the most conspicuous figure of all time, even twenty centuries after His inglorious death. Best-selling author Tim LaHaye and coauthor David Minasian look back through history and peer into the prophetic future to show us why the world’s “Jesus fascination” should come as no surprise; every generation since Christ has grappled with the question: Who was He? What does He mean to us here, today? After reading about Jesus’ life, legacy, and pervasive influence, you may find yourself connecting the dots of your own spiritual journey and answering the timeless question that came from the lips of Jesus Himself: Who do you say that I am?


Your Own Jesus: A God Insistent on Making it Personal
Mark Hall
Zondervan, June 2009
Too many people inherit somebody else’s Jesus, mimicking what they see in their family, friends, and pastors rather than facing the need to find their own Jesus. If we exist on someone else’s faith, we will miss the spiritual vitality and joy that comes from our own journey and in times of trouble we will find an empty well to draw from. Casting Crowns’ lead singer Mark Hall asks, “Do you have your own Jesus?” Why do you feel close to God one minute and so far away the next? Why does your faith seem empty? Why is it so easy to compromise with the world? Perhaps it’s because we have merely inherited someone else’s Jesus, relying on what we’ve seen and heard from family, friends, or pastors. A true storyteller and a teacher with a heart for ministry, Mark Hall traces the downward spiral caused by spiritual compromise with the world, and then charts the upward road to wholeness and health that comes when we claim our very own Jesus. You need to discover your own Jesus. The real Jesus. The one who wants you to be honest, committed, and uncompromising. The one who is waiting to have a relationship with you. Move past imitating a religion to experiencing a relationship that is vibrant, personal, and fulfilling.



Game Plan for Life: Your Personal Playbook for Success
Joe Gibbs
Tyndale, July 2009
Three-time Super Bowl and NASCAR champion Joe Gibbs’s Game Plan for Life is an “average Joe’s” guide to what the Bible has to say about the 11 most-important topics for men aged 20-50. Topics such as: finances, relationships, living a life of purpose, finding the right vocation, physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and overcoming sin and addictions. Edited by Jerry Jenkins, and featuring contributions from Randy Alcorn, Ravi Zacharias, John Lennox, Tony Evans, Chuck Colson, Josh McDowell, Don Meredith, Walt Larimore, Ron Blue, Ken Boa, and Os Guinness, Game Plan for Life shows readers how to live a balanced, God-centered, purpose-filled life, using examples of Coach Gibbs’s own storied championship careers as a backdrop. A perfect blend of sports and basic theology, Game Plan for Life is designed to bring God’s word home to sports fans of all generations.



Friday Night Light: Inspiration for the Game of Life
Kurt Warner
Zondervan, July 2009
Devotional featuring quotations, Bible verses, and motivational stories pertaining to those involved in high school football. A Game Plan for Winning…On and Off the Field. There’s nothing like the thrill of Friday night football. For the athletes, their family members, coaches, and fans, nothing compares to the rush of adrenaline before the big game or the satisfaction that comes from contributing to the team. This heart-stirring, give-your-all brand of inspiration that motivates players on the field is now available beyond the bleachers. Selected and edited by NFL legend Kurt Warner, this unique sports devotional combines the enduring tradition of Friday night football with the limitless potential of God’s Word, focusing on timeless virtues such as humility, teamwork, and respect. Following a football season from tryouts to the playoffs, each chapter begins with a short introduction about the life lessons that good sportsmanship teaches us. Each inspirational reading that follows includes a related prayer, a relevant quotation about the sport, and an appropriate Bible verse. Friday Night Light is a perfect gift for players, parents, and coaches striving to bring themselves and those they love closer to winning … on and off the field.

Question of the Day:

What are you reading this summer? Is it a new release? Older book? What do you like about it? Blog us back!

New Releases: July 14, 2009

The Jesus You Can't Ignore
John MacArthur
Thomas Nelson, July 2009
Meek and mild. Politically correct. A great teacher. These are the popular depictions of Jesus. But they aren't the complete picture. Maybe because it's uncomfortable, or maybe because it's inconvenient, Christians and non-Christians alike are overlooking the fierceness of the Savior, His passionate mission to make the Gospel clear and bring people into the Kingdom of God. A mission that required he sometimes raise his voice and sometimes raise a whip. In the much-needed message in The Jesus You Can't Ignore, renowned Bible teacher and best-selling author John MacArthur reintroduces the compelling and often unsettling passion of Jesus' ministry. MacArthur points to the picture of the real Jesus the world is so eager to gloss over. And he calls readers to emulate Jesus' commitment to further the kingdom by confronting lies and protecting the truth of God.

Jesus: Why the World is Still Fascinated by Him
Tim LaHaye
Oasis Audio, July 2009
Jesus. Love Him or hate Him, He’s everywhere. On our T-shirts, bumper stickers, and even the covers of leading news magazines, year after year. We see Him on the silver screen, in the headline crawl on the TV news, and on the homemade signs held up at ball games. Hotly debated, He remains the most conspicuous figure of all time, even twenty centuries after His inglorious death. Best-selling author Tim LaHaye and coauthor David Minasian look back through history and peer into the prophetic future to show us why the world’s “Jesus fascination” should come as no surprise; every generation since Christ has grappled with the question: Who was He? What does He mean to us here, today? After reading about Jesus’ life, legacy, and pervasive influence, you may find yourself connecting the dots of your own spiritual journey and answering the timeless question that came from the lips of Jesus Himself: Who do you say that I am?


Drops Like Stars
Rob Bell
Zondervan, July 2009
We plot. We plan. We assume things are going to go a certain way. And when they don’t, we find ourselves in a new place—a place we haven’t been before, a place we never would have imagined on our own. It is the difficult and the unexpected, and maybe even the tragic, that opens us up and frees us to see things in new ways. Many of the most significant moments in our lives come not because it all went right but because it all fell apart. Suffering does that. It hurts, but it also creates. This book is an exploration of the complex relationship between suffering and creativity, driven by the belief that there is art in the agony.



Battlefield
Jordin Sparks
Jive Records, July 2009
2009 sophomore album from the American Idol winner. Battlefield takes her to another level and introduces us to a more mature voice surrounded by pure pop perfection. She has collaborated with an impressive list of producers on this album including Dr. Luke & T-Pain on 'Watch You Go' and Harvey Mason Jr. of the Underdogs on 'Don't Let It Go To Your Head'. Jordin also co-wrote several of the tracks on the album, including 'Was I The Only One' and 'Faith'.



Leave This Town
Daughtry
RCA, July 2009
Daughtry achieved global success with its self-titled debut, the biggest selling artist release of the past two years. The band's Grammy-nominated, quadruple-platinum debut garnered multiple American Music Awards, World Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. Daughtry spent most of the last two years on the road, performing to sold-out arenas, but is now back with the follow-up to the its massive debut. Leave This Town will be available on July 14, 2009, and was produced by Howard Benson.


Fireproof Soundtrack
Various Artists
Reunion Records, July 2009
Experience the stirring soundtrack to the hit film Fireproof! This blend of score and song features tracks from John Waller, Third Day, and Casting Crowns as well as orchestral compositions from the film by Mark Willard. This sixteen track companion also includes the Fireproof remix of Waller's hit single "While I'm Waiting," with poignant movie clips interspersed throughout the song.



Best Night of Our Lives
Everyday Sunday
EMI, June 2009
Everyday Sunday's anticipated fourth studio release is jam-packed with big rock anthems and bold lyrical proclamations. Best Night of Our Lives includes the hit single title track plus "Breathing For Me," "Where I Ended," and more.





The Real Thing
Pure NRG
Curb Records, July 2009
Introducing brand new music from pureNRG! The high-flying trio is back at it again, after completing their 2nd year on the 36 city Winter Jam Tour, performing for over 300,000 people across the country. Chock-full of the fun, upbeat songs kids and parents know and love, The Real Thing will have kids groovin' all the way back to school with songs like "Radio", "The Real Thing" and "Can You Handle It". Plus, The Real Thing includes 3 bonus sing-a-long tracks so kids can take center stage at home or in the car singing three pureNRG fan favorites- "Footloose", "Here We Go Again" and "Radio"!