New Non-Fiction

H. Norman Wright

Finding the Right One for You is rich with guidelines and practical exercises developed by marriage enrichment expert and author of the bestseller Before You Say “I Do” Norm Wright. Designed to help people in the process of dating make the choices that will lead to the kind of marriage they’ve always longed for, this book is a must for every person involved in or hoping to be involved in a relationship.

Those seeking God’s direction in their decision will appreciate Norm’s straightforward answers to questions such as...

• How can I know if I’m in love?
• Where do I find a lifelong partner?
• How can we know if we’re compatible?
• When should I get out of a bad relationship?
• How do I recover from a broken relationship?
• What if I’ve already been married before?

Formerly titled Finding Your Perfect Mate

View more by H. Norman Wright

Pete Gall

The author of My Beautiful Idol is on a quest to be successful—in a lucrative job at an advertising agency, in ministry work, even in his relationships. And in a futile attempt to control the sources of love and security, he has turned these things into idols he can keep in his soul's back pocket. He pulls the idols out when he feels vulnerable and defenseless, and hides them again when things are going well. But the idols keep failing—even when he turns to his own Christian faith. In a creative narrative style rooted in raw honesty, My Beautiful Idol invites readers to identify with the young would-be Christian hero as he seeks God, and as he hides from God. Far from reducing complex matters to simplistic formulas, Pete Gall weaves together stories both sublime and wretched, ego-building and humbling, humorous and painful, and successfully celebrates the messiness of faith, the importance of validating truth, and the unscripted nature of experiencing a God who is intimately involved in all of life.

Francis Chan

Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?

It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe-the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor-loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you've verbalized it yet or not.we all know something's wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Brian Jones

Living with an unforgiving heart is like living with a gorilla. The beast follows you everywhere. He squeezes marriages. He stinks up friendships. He growls at family gatherings and beats his chest at church.

An unforgiving heart ruins relationships, affecting everyone and everything you touch. Maybe you’ve tried and failed to forgive someone who’s hurt you. Maybe you aren’t sure you even want to try.

In these confessions from Brian Jones’s own struggle, find hope and strength for finally getting rid of the gorilla in your life.

Les and Leslie Parrott

Couples who are stepping on each other’s toes should try walking in each other’s shoes. Trading Places reduces conflict, deepens your commitment, and helps you live as better friends and lovers. Mutual empathy—the revolutionary tool for instantly improving a relationship—can be learned and practiced, say the authors of this groundbreaking book. Their guidance will transform your marriage.

Jack Christie

Through his popular guidebooks and media appearances, Jack Christie has helped countless Vancouverites and visitors alike appreciate the renowned natural beauty and diverse recreational opportunities of the Pacific Northwest since the 1980s. From the first time he decided to pull together his favorite day trips from Vancouver into a single book, a success story was born. Now fully revised and updated, including five all-new trips and an exploration of all new regions and parks, 52 Best Day Trips will enrich the west coast experience for many new adventurers.

The best views, biking, beaches, and outings for kids—they’re all here, described in the clear, upbeat, observant prose that is Jack’s trademark. From Delta to Whistler, West Vancouver to Maple Ridge, detailed directions (including driving distances and times) and custom maps and indexes help you find your way and enjoy the sights en route.

Brian McLaren

In a sense, every day of our lives is labor. It is questionable if you can ever be exactly the same person waking up on two consecutive days. How are spiritual sojourners to cope with the constant change? Many are beginning to explore the ancient Christian spiritual practices that have been in use for centuries, everything from fixed-hour prayer to fasting to sincere observance of the Sabbath. What is causing this hunger for deeper spirituality?

Brian McLaren guides us on this quest for an explanation of these spiritual practices, many of which go all the way back to Abraham and the establishment of Israel. In the midst of contemporary Christianity, we discover the beauty of these ancient disciplines and the transformation through Christ that each can provide.

Nigel James

Nigel James, road pastor for Third Day, gives insight into the touring life of one of the top Christian rock bands--the excitement, the homesickness, the relentless schedule, the challenge to stay committed to God's purpose while on the road.
Nigel, with major contributions from Tai Anderson, Brad Avery, David Carr, Mark Lee, and Mac Powell, gives a real look at some of the trial that they face.  Just because they're members of a rock band on the road doesn't make them exempt from the realities of life. 
Also included:

• Devotions James shared with the guys of Third Day
• Stories behind some of their songs
• Memories from some of the many tours the guys have been on over the last few years

This book will take you into the life of Third Day and open up to you amazing spiritual insights from Nigel James as he shares lessons from the road.

Timothy J. Stoner

Emergent theology is raising some of the most provocative and divisive questions in the church today. For some, these ideas embody the true spirit of the gospel, trading tired religion for authenticity and relevance. Others dismiss it as a heresy that compromises the gospel in the name of tolerance and dilutes the truth to attract a jaded generation.  Is there any room for middle ground?  Timothy Stoner thinks so. Join him as he provides an honest response to the postmodern cry for authentic spirituality.
Filled with humorous insights and challenging ideas, The God Who Smokes imagines a twenty-first-century church where hope hangs with holiness, passion sits next to purity, and compassion can relate to character. Timothy celebrates the good within Emergent while providing a balanced and thoughtful critique. Throughout, you’ll discover not only the issues that can divide but also the burning passion that can unite us all.

Dr. Kevin Leman

Change your child's behavior--fast!

Want a kid without the attitude? Without the behavior that makes you slink away in the grocery store and pretend you're not the parent? A kid with character who isn't a character? If you're tired of defiant attitudes and power struggles with your little ankle-biters or the disrespectful hormone group, read this book and follow the simple principles, and you'll have a new kid by Friday. Guaranteed!

Have a New Kid by Friday is your 5-day action plan--Monday through Friday--that really works! With his signature wit and commonsense psychology, internationally recognized family expert Dr. Kevin Leman reveals why your kids do what they do and what you can do about it--starting right now.

Anyone can do it. All it takes is you deciding to stand up and take charge. Want a great kid? Want to be a great parent? Then take the 5-day challenge. Someday your kid will thank you for it.

Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Timeless Answers to Timely Questions

Some two thousand years after he walked the earth, Jesus Christ is still a hot topic. And for all the ridiculous, twisted, Da Vinci Code-esque conspiracy theories and lies about Jesus that have permeated popular culture and even the academy over the years, the truth about his character, nature, and work has not changed. So what exactly is the truth about Jesus Christ?
That's the question the authors of Vintage Jesus seek to answer by breaking it down into a number of sub-questions about Jesus, including Is Jesus the only God? Why did Jesus come to earth? Did Jesus rise from death? Why should we worship Jesus? and others.

Charles R. Swindoll

This next release in the Great Lives series unveils the life of Jesus and inspires readers with insight, teaching, and historical information.

In Great Lives: Jesus, pastor and Bible teacher Charles R. Swindoll dives into the life of the Savior. The book's message presents theologically rich content and a straightforward, honest, and chronological journey that appeals to readers' hearts as well as their minds. Along the way, Dr. Swindoll's trademark warmth and insight offer up life application for the reader drawn straight from the words and works of Jesus. As Dr. Swindoll writes, "The power of His resurrection is a quiet, transforming force that results in the steady growth of hope and life within the believer." Encountering the great life of Jesus is all a believer needs to truly experience that power

Phil Callaway

You’ve been warned about middle-age spread. But no one told you about the squeeze.

You’re in the “Middle Ages”–sandwiched between the “greatest generation” and the “gimme” generations, busily juggling both with no relief in sight. Children are driving, and parents are not. Money is tight and so are your favorite jeans. And things that never ached before are beginning to give you trouble! For every baby boomer who wonders if it’s possible to navigate the Middle Ages with grace and style, Phil Callaway offers plenty of hope and a little hilarity, too. Because there’s nothing like a smile to make wrinkles less noticeable.

The author of Who Put My Life on Fast Forward? and Laughing Matters offers this lighthearted look at the challenges of the middle years — and promises that while we can’t slow down the aging process, we can ease the worries it brings by focusing on what really matters most.

Lisa Bevere

   Nurture (verb): 1. To give tender care and protection. 2. To encourage to grow, develop, thrive, and be successful.

This beautifully describes what God's daughters so desperately need. In this heartfelt work, Lisa explains how women of all ages must awaken and restore their capacity to give and receive nurture.

The need for this indelible force is far more urgent than we know. Is it possible we are too busy surviving to assure that the vulnerable among us thrive? Are we too guarded, wounded, and afraid to open our lives to the nurture of others? What can be done to reestablish this language of the feminine heart? It is time women are healed and empowered.

If you have never experienced nurture, this is your season. Lisa's stirring message shows you how to make these vital heart connections. We need each other's comfort and assurance as we define ourselves, find our voice, and begin to fulfill God's purpose on Earth.

Carolyn Nystrom and J. I. Packer

Your Shepherd Promises to Guide You

We face decisions every day--some big, some small. As Christians, we seek to submit the choices we make to God's will. Unfortunately, for many the process of discerning God's will has become fraught with fear and confusion, leading to such questions as: Does God guide? If so, how? How will I know when he does? What if I make a mistake?

J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom seek to free us from such fear. Beginning with an exploration of Psalm 23, they show that in his covenant role as our Good Shepherd, God has promised to both guide and guard us, his sheep. We need not doubt that he will lovingly grant the guidance we need as we seek him. And we can take comfort that just as a shepherd retrieves and redirects sheep that go off course, he will do the same for us.

In this rich study of divine guidance, Packer and Nystrom show the importance of cultivating a lifestyle of Bible-based wisdom and discernment. And they take seriously the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding his people, neither downplaying the supernatural element of divine guidance nor elevating it beyond our reach to the level of the "super-spiritual," or worse, the superstitious.

Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw

Jesus for President is a radical manifesto to awaken the Christian political imagination, reminding us that our ultimate hope lies not in partisan political options but in Jesus and the incarnation of the peculiar politic of the church as a people “set apart” from this world. In what can be termed lyrical theology, Jesus for President poetically weaves together words and images to sing (rather than dictate) its message. It is a collaboration of Shane Claiborne’s writing and stories, Chris Haw’s reflections and research, and art and design.
 
Drawing upon the work of biblical theologians, the lessons of church history, and the examples of modern-day saints and ordinary radicals, Jesus for President stirs the imagination of what the Church could look like if it placed its faith in Jesus instead of Caesar.
 
A fresh look at Christianity and empire, Jesus for President transcends questions of “Should I vote or not?” and “Which candidate?” by thinking creatively about the fundamental issues of faith and allegiance. It’s written for those who seek to follow Jesus, rediscover the spirit of the early church, and incarnate the kingdom of God.

Mark Mittelberg

In a world of spiritual options, people constantly tell us what to believe. Yet, while we hear these pleas, we’re already functioning with existing beliefs--even if they are beliefs by default. So how do we choose what to believe--especially in the area of faith? Do we need to choose?
In Choosing Your Faith, Mark Mittelberg encourages us, as Socrates does, not to lead an unexamined life. He invites us to examine why we believe what we believe. This examination will resonate with Christians and seekers alike.

Also available in Audiobook format.

Ben Carson, M.D.

No risk, pay the cost. Know risk, reap the rewards.
 
In our risk-avoidance culture, we place a high premium on safety. We insure our vacations. We check crash tests on cars. We extend the warranties on our appliances. But by insulating ourselves from the unknown—the risks of life—we miss the great adventure of living our lives to their full potential.
 
Ben Carson spent his childhood as an at-risk child on the streets of Detroit, and today he takes daily risks in performing complex surgeries on the brain and the spinal cord. Now, offering inspiring personal examples, Dr. Carson invites us to embrace risk in our own lives. From a man whose life dramatically portrays the connection between great risks and greater successes, here are insights that will help you dispel your fear of risk so you can dream big, aim high, move with confidence, and reap rewards you’ve never imagined.
 
By avoiding risk, are you also avoiding the full potential of your life?
 
The surgery was as risky as anything Dr. Ben Carson had seen. The Bijani sisters—conjoined twins—shared part of a skull, brain tissue, and crucial blood flow. One or both of them could die during the operation. But the women wanted separate lives. And they were willing to accept the risk to reach the goal, even against the advice of their doctors …

Take the Risk guides the reader through an examination of risk, including:

• A short review of risk-taking in history.
  
• An assessment of the real costs and rewards of risk.
  
• Learning how to assess and accept risks.
  
• Understanding how risk reveals the purpose of your lives.

John Cox

When people search for God—as if they entered His name in Google—they sometimes can’t decipher the religious language or get past the inaccurate representations they find. With honesty, clarity, and unfailing hope, this fresh new look at the heart of the Christian message bypasses inaccurate stereotypes and presents the good news in a way that even spiritual cynics and fringe observers will appreciate:

• God is more wonderful than we have imagined, and He wants to share His life with us.
• Jesus is the most engaging Person who has walked the planet.
• Faith and science need not be mutually exclusive.
• Religion is everywhere, but only authentic spirituality sets people free.
• The Bible can be difficult to understand, but it is completely relevant to our lives today.

Skeptics and seekers alike will enjoy this enlightening exploration of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

John Eldredge

Walking with God moves through a year in the life of John Eldredge showing and teaching what an intimate relationship with God looks like day to day.

God longs to speak. And it is our right and privilege to hear His voice. Our deepest longings could all find sufficient fulfillment in God's company. Yet, somehow, the looming discontent of most Christians is a lack of intimacy with God. Walking with God is unlike any book John has written. It moves through a year in his life showing and teaching what conversational intimacy with God can be like. It teaches readers how to make decisions aligning with God's will, understand barriers and "agreements" keeping them from the life God intends, fight spiritual battles for their own heart and for others, and much more. Ultimately, Walking with God shows readers that walking intimately with Him can be a normal part of the Christian life.

Bruxy Cavey

The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus

Sick of religion? So was Jesus. 

Was Jesus of Nazareth an irreligious agitator? Was his message more radical than we’ve been led to believe? Has the Christian religion missed the point?

Bruxy Cavey thinks so.

In The End of Religion, Cavey contends that the Jesus described in the Bible never intended to found a new religion; instead he hoped to break down the very idea of religion as a way to God. With a fresh perspective on biblical stories, Cavey paints a picture of the world God originally intended and still desires: a world without religion.

Ed Gungor

In his first release since the best-selling There is More to the Secret, Ed Gungor challenges the church to return to authenticity and community.

Over and over again in scripture Christians are encouraged to "make vows to the Lord" (e.g., Psalm 76:11). Is it possible that making vows-- intentionally inserting various Christian practices into our lives-- would have great value to 21st-century Christians? What if we thoughtfully and publicly articulated vows before God and those we love? Would it help our lives take on the tone of the eternal? Has something been lost in the openness of the 21st century? The answer is yes!

Gungor says: "Vow-making is an old trail that was very familiar to the ancients who have gone before us, but is virtually unknown for we moderns. As I have wandered down this path, it has been both intriguing and empowering, and, on another level, just plain dangerous. But I really think it's leading somewhere. That's the why of this writing."