New Books – April 2005

Jesus: An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, and His People, by Leith Anderson. A new biography that harmonizes and integrates the four Gospels into chronological order, expanded to include the culture, politics, and personal relationships that shaped the world in which Jesus walked.

The Mark of Jesus: Loving in a Way the World Can See, by Timothy George and John Woodbridge. Christians need to be keenly aware of how their actions are interpreted by the watching world. In this book, two distinguished scholars unpack what Francis Schaeffer called the “final apologetic”—living lives of peace and righteousness that testify to the redeeming power of Christ.

Not the End But the Road: The Journey Toward a Virtuous Life, by Gary L. Thomas. The author says that the Christian life is a process, not an event, and that transformation occurs along the path of everyday living. Here he examines 14 of the essential virtues recognized throughout the ages as hallmarks of mature Christian living.

The Blazing Center: The Soul-Satisfying Supremacy of God in All Things, by John Piper (DVD). In these eight 30-minute sessions, Piper explains why God is so passionate about His glory, why our happiness depends on God’s pursuit of His glory, how abandoning God and pursuing our happiness in lesser things is a sin, and related topics. Recorded in the intimate setting of a retreat for youth leaders and students; ideal for both adult and youth Sunday School classes or small group settings, or for families.

One Day: One Passion, by John Piper (DVD). Includes two messages by John Piper (Boasting Only in the Cross/A Generation Passionate for God’s Holiness) in which he calls this generation of students to a life of singular passion for the cross of Christ and a radical consecration to the holiness of God.

To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life, by Gracia Burnham with Dean Merrill. Gracia Burnham was the missionary to the Philippines who spent a year as a captive of terrorists, and who was rescued after a gun battle that killed her husband. Her story was documented in the book In the Presence of My Enemies. In this follow-up book, she uses her experiences during the year in the jungle and since returning home, to talk about how it is possible not only to survive, but even to soar after life has knocked you down.

Christ Plays in a Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology, by Eugene H. Peterson. Reunites spirituality and theology in a cultural context where these two vital facets of Christian faith have been rent asunder. Lamenting the vacuous, often pagan nature of contemporary American spirituality, Peterson firmly grounds spirituality once more in Trinitarian theology, and offers a clear, practical statement of what it means to actually live out the Christian life.

The Grace of Catastrophe: When What You Know About God Is All You Have, by Jan Winebrenner. Discovering a pathway of hope through catastrophe that leads to the grace of God.

The Lord of All: Developing a Christian World-and-Life View, by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe. The authors say that believers may have a “Christian life” view that applies to their spiritual lives and to their relationships with others, but lack a Christian world-and-life view that allows them to live out their faith in all of life. In this book, they define the Christian world-and-life view by considering the six main spheres of influence that Christians should be working to strengthen, from the global and national levels down to the church and family.

So Help Me God: The Ten Commandments, Judicial Tyranny, and the Battle for Religious Freedom, by Roy Moore with John Perry. Moore is the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama, who put up the controversial Ten Commandments and was removed from office after refusing to obey an order from a federal court to remove them.

PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline, by Janet Holm McHenry. After suffering from depression, weight gain, and exhaustion, the author began a prayerwalk routine that not only transformed her life but resulted in a rich, full prayer ministry.

Confessions of a Prayer Wimp: My Fumbling, Faltering Foibles in Faith, by Mary Pierce. In her humorous, conversational style, the author deals with our fumbling attempts to grow closer to God, and invites us to laugh, cry, love, embrace life, and pray!

The Passion and the Empty Tomb, by John Ankerberg and John Weldon. The case for the resurrection of Jesus.

Turn, by Max Lucado. The author calls America to remember our foundations and turn toward God’s glory and toward His Word, in prayer and in repentance.

Blog: Understanding the Information Reformation That’s Changing Your World, by Hugh Hewitt.

A Resilient Life: You Can Move Ahead No Matter What, by Gordon MacDonald. The author says that life is like a long distance marathon, and the key to finishing the race is to develop resilience—the courage and ability to get up when you fall, to keep running when you are bone-weary, and to keep your eye on the goal even in the murkiest moments.

Serving the Good and Great: The Amazing True Story of Violet Riddle, by Violet Riddle, as told to Mary Batchelor. When Violet started out in domestic service, she never imagined the surprises her life would hold. She had hoped to become a missionary in China, but was instead a quiet witness to powerful leaders and ambassadors through her service below stairs. She served Churchill at 10 Downing Street, survived a London bombing, and kept a humble, unwavering faith through it all.

Terrify No More, by Gary A. Haugen with Gregg Hunter. The true story of an international team of investigators who went undercover to infiltrate a ring of brothels in Cambodia and free the girls as young as five who were held there in virtual slavery. Gary Haugen is the founder and president of International Justice Mission, a non-profit human rights organization that investigates and intervenes on behalf of victims of oppression.

Rising to the Call, by Os Guinness. Based on his widely read book The Call, this small book (99 pages) addresses in a more abbreviated fashion the concept of “calling”, which the author says is far bigger than career, deeper than personal accomplishments, and higher than your wildest dreams of self-fulfillment. For “calling” addresses the very essence of your existence.

On Reading the Bible: Thoughts and Reflections of Over 500 Men and Women, from St. Augustine to Oprah Winfrey, edited by Bill Bradfield. Hundreds of heartfelt, perceptive comments by men and women from all walks of life, compiled and edited by Dallas author Bill Bradfield.

The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations, by Ron Rhodes.

Eat My Martian Dust: Finding God Among Aliens, Droids, and Mega Moons, edited by Michael Carroll and Robert Elmer. A science fiction collection of out-of-this-world adventures that show God’s promises hold true beyond time and space. Authors include Sigmund Brouwer, Robert Elmer and others (Juvenile Fiction, ages 9+).

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FAMILY VIDEOS/DVDs