Happy reading!

Ripple Effects

by Pam Tebow

Join Pam Tebow and discover the difference only you can make in the world, using the key you never knew you had! For most of her life, Pam Tebow was serving quietly and faithfully as a wife and mom – answering the Lord’s call to mission work in the Philippines, and homeschooling before anyone knew what the word meant. But along the way, her experiencer were creating unexpected ripples of influence throughout her family, her community, and her world. In Ripple Effects, Pam uncovers and explores the miraculous motivating power of a woman’s influence can have on future generations, wherever she’s planted in life. Whether you are in the midst of endless diaper changes or climbing up the corporate ladder, Pam encourages you to maximise your God-given opportunities… then watch how far the ripples spread!

Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power

by T.D. Jakes

Has life dealt you a crushing blow? Bishop Jakes understands the pain you’re feeling. In his most personal offering yet, Bishop Jakes shares his own suffering over his teenage daughter’s pregnancy and his mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s – and he exhorts you to remain faithful in adversity. Bishop Jakes aims to show you that God uses difficult, crushing experiences to prepare you for unexpected blessings. If you are faithful through suffering, you will be surprised by God’s joy, comforted by His peace, and fulfilled with His purpose. Crushing is a read that will inspire you to have hope, even in your most difficult moments. It’s a reminder, that He will lead you through.

Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like and Apostle

by Alistair Begg

So many of us struggle with prayer. Many books have been written on the subject and there’s a reason for that. Prayer comes hard to most of us, in most seasons. And when we do pray, we often don’t know what to say. We ask questions like – what is it that my Father loves to hear about? What are the best things I could prayer for my family, my church, and myself? This short book by renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg combines warmth, clarity, humor, and practicality as he examines Paul’s prayers for his friends in the church in Ephesus. Paul clearly enjoyed prayer, and was excited about it. The truths that underpin and shape his prayers can serve to motivate us to pray and set an excellent example. This is a read that will help you to pray bigger and better prayers as we look to our heavenly Father to do more than all we ask or imagine!

The Next Right Thing

by Emily P. Freeman

When we have a decision to make, what we want more than anything is peace, clarity, and a nudge in the right direction. If you have trouble making decisions because of either chronic hesitation or decision fatigue, Emily P. Freeman offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advise: simply do the next right thing. With this simple, soulful practice, it is possible to clear the decision-making chaos and finally decide without regret or second-guessing. Whether you’re in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily will help you create space for your soul to breath – so you can live life with God at a gentle pace!

God, Where Are You?!

by John Bevere

Do you ever feel lost? Especially during a difficult season? Have you ever wondered – “God, where are you?!”? If so, this book from John Bevere is for you. Perhaps you heard God speaking, but now He seems silent. Maybe you moved forward in faith, but now His presence is nowhere to be found. Welcome to the wilderness, the place between receiving a promise from God and seeing it come to pass. In this eye-opening book, John Bevere equips you with key biblical insights and profound stories that will help you navigate your dry or difficult seasons and step into all that God has for you.

Always Near: 10 Ways to Delight in the Closeness of God

by Robert J. Morgan

In this fast-paced, always-busy world, have you ever found yourself just wanting to slow down and be present to God – and yourself? It takes practice and intentionality to do so! Through surprising anecdotes and encouraging wisdom, bestselling author and pastor Robert J. Morgan will help you learn to nurture a sense of the Lord’s abiding nearness and cultivate the blessings of his company. In Always Near, Morgan details 10 ways we can cultivate these blessings, including – discovering special places; abiding in Scripture; Trusting God in difficulty; and more. Through doing this, Morgan shows how you can better experience a relationship with the God who made you, who loves you, and desires for you to enjoy His presence. You’ll seek the Lord and soon discover He was, is, and always will be Always Near.

To discover more summer reading inspiration, click here!

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Did you love Valerie Fraser Luesse’s debut novel, Missing Isaac? If so, you’re in for a real treat! The author has now returned with new book, Almost Home. The latest read is also set in the South, this time during the start of World War II.

Readers will transported back in time and experience, through the character’s eyes, what life was like during that tumultuous period. It’s a book that will grip you from start to finish – you’ll surely be left wanting more from this incredibly talented author!

You can order your copy of Almost Home by clicking here!

Q: Your beautiful gift of storytelling was first introduced to readers in your debut novel, Missing Isaac. In Almost Home, you transport readers back to the South in a wonderful tale that is set during the start of World War II. Why did you select this time period?

A: I grew up hearing stories about the Great Depression and World War II because they deeply affected my family – as they affected all families back then. My mother had one brother who was training as a Navy pilot when the war ended and another who saw combat on Okinawa. When he came home, he used his Army pay to install indoor plumbing in his mother’s house, when I spent my childhood.

Both of my parents were children in the 1940s. I’ve heard my dad talk about scavenging for tinfoil because you could get into the movie theaters in Birmingham with a big ball of it, as theaters collected it for the military. I think the war years are fascinating because they were so elemental. There was too much at stake for people to get distracted by things that didn’t matter.

Q: The South was very integral to the war efforts. Can you explain what you have learned about this in your research?

A: Because land was cheap and plentiful here, and there was an eager workforce of people still struggling to pull themselves out of the Depression, the South made a perfect wartime factory for the military. There were shipyards on the coast and munitions plant that later became part of the paper mill where my dad worked in Childersburg, Alabama. With so many people moving to the South to work, there was no place for them to stay, so Southern families rented out rooms in their homes. I had great-aunts and great-uncles who took in boarders during the war. Alabama actually had POW camps housing German prisoners. From what I’ve read, America’s approach was to treat those captives well in the hopes that Germany would reciprocate. Some German POWs reportedly came back to visit Alabama after the war. It was an amazing time that brought together all sorts of people.

One of my Southern Living friends recommended Allen Cronenberg’s Forth to the Mighty Conflict: Alabama and World War II, which was very helpful. And I was completely mesmerized by a fellow Alabamian, the late Eugene B, Sledge, whose book With the Old Breed: At Pelileu and Okinawa should be required reading for anybody who thinks war is grand and glorious.

Q: With so many families moving to the South for jobs, this created a need for housing. In Almost Home, Dolly Chandler turns her own family home into a boardinghouse that attracts an interesting cast of characters. Can you touch upon some of the characters in Almost Home?

A: They’re a colorful bunch! Dolly and her husband, Si, have such a strong and loving relationship that their boarders initially have no idea what struggles and heartbreak they’ve weathered together. Jesse and Anna Williams are a young Illinois couple whose failing farm has driven them south. Jesse’s wounded pride has made him push away the person he loves most, his wife. Joe Dolphus is a sixty-something widower from Mississippi whose kindness and wry wit make him a favorite at Dolly’s. The Clanahans are an obnoxious couple from Reno – they’re trouble. Harry and Evelyn Hastings are out-of-work college professors from Chicago, who take to the South and the people of Dolly’s house.

And then there’s Reed Ingram, a young vet who grew up on the old loop with Dolly and Si and hopes that this place he loves will help heal his war wounds. Finally, Daisy Dupree is a young war widow who boards with Dolly’s neighbor. She is riddled with survivor’s guilt but finds absolution through her friendship with Anna and her relationship with Reed. There’s one more couple – Catherine, the minister’s daughter, and Andre, the river pirate – who were the first owners of Dolly’s house one hundred year’s ago. We meet them and unravel their secrets through journals that Anna and Daisy discover.

Q: Do you have a favorite character that you really resonated with?

A: Definitely Daisy. The book is dedicated to my late friend Melissa Caine. We became what I call sister-friends in college and remained close until she died of cancer when we were both thirty-two. I basically took everything I loved about Missey and poured it into Daisy. Other than her artistic talent, nothing in the book is based on my friend’s actual life because that would have been an invasion of her privacy and her family’s. But the qualities that make Daisy endearing are inspired by Missey, and the friendship between Anna and Daisy mirrors the relationship I enjoyed with my friend.

Q: Almost Home has an unexpected twist. What was the inspiration behind your creative plot?

A: A Grimm fairy tale I read in second grade! It was called The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and I’ve loved the idea of hidden spaces and secret passageways ever since.

Q: Almost Home celebrates sisterhood and women’s ability to connect and cheer each other on through both good and difficult times. Have you learned anything more about community and resilience as you wrote about women during this time period?

A: I think so many good things in life depend upon our willingness to be open – to new experiences, new relationships, new places… When we’re thrown into challenging circumstances and we can’t understand why, sometimes we just have to take a deep breath, keep an open mind, and see where God might be leading us. Also, we can’t let pride and fear get in the way of reaching out when we need help. Just admitting that we’re struggling is so hard sometimes, but nothing brings people closer together than helping each other the way the women of Dolly’s house rally together.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading Almost Home?

A: I’ve always loved that Dolly Parton line from Steel Magnolias: “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion”. I’m with Dolly. I want readers to fall in love with these characters, to hurt for them, laugh with them, take them to heart. I want them to get so caught up in the story that they’ll forget the war’s over. And I want them to see that the hardest person to forgive is always yourself.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: A while ago I started a sequel to Missing Isaac. Have you ever hear the expression “coming up a cloud”? It means a storm is coming. Pete and Dovey will be heading down to the Gulf Coast for a second honeymoon and get caught up in Hurricane Camille, leaving their newlywed parents to search for them in a time and place with no GPS, cell phones, or internet. so, while Missing Isaac brought these couples together, the sequel will explore how they weather storms, literally and figuratively.

I would also like to write a prequel to Almost Home, focusing on the river pirate and his young bride and their life in the Florida Keys.

Then there’s the World War II story on the Outer Banks. And a story set in the Louisiana bayous…

The great thing about working for Southern Living is that the magazine has taken me to so many fascinating places. Now I get to take characters and readers there.

Follow Valarie Fraser Luesse on Facebook 

You can order your copy of Almost Home by clicking here!

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The announcements were made at the ECPA Awards Celebration held on April 30th in Chicago at the ECPA Leadership Summit. The night saw the who’s who in Christian publishing come together to celebrate the best in Christian reads. Bestselling author of The Five Love Languages series, Gary Chapman was even there to entertain guests as keynote speaker!

Without further ado, here are the winners from each of the 12 categories… 

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Book of the Year

Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God is Holding You Close

Embraced is the beautiful new devotional from bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst. These 100 devotions have been written for women at every stage of life’s journey, touching on topics such as personal identity, parenting, marriage, self-worth and more. Throughout the devotional TerKeurst shares her own struggles and doubts to help readers understand that because we have been fully embraced by Him, we can spend our lives trusting His ways.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Bibles

ESV Archaeology Study Bible

The ESV Archaeology Study Bible is a cutting-edge academic resource for those looking to dig deeper into the historical context of the Bible. It features study notes written by field-trained Biblical archaeologists and scholars, color maps, photographs, and drawings. All of this content is designed to bring to life the ancient text of Scripture for readers. With editorial oversight from Dr. John Currid and Dr. David Chapman, the ESV Archaeology Study Bible assembles a range of modern scholarship, helping readers situate themselves in the Bible’s historical context.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Bible Reference Works

Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique

Many prominent Christians insist that the church must yield to contemporary evolutionary theory and therefore modify traditional biblical ideas about the creation of life. They argue that God used – albeit in an undetectable way – evolutionary mechanisms to produce all forms of life. Featuring two dozen highly credentialed scientists, philosophers, and theologians from Europe and North America, this volume contests this proposal. It documents evidential, logical, and theological problems with theistic evolution – making it the most comprehensive critique of theistic evolution yet produced.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Bible Study

The Gospel According to God

Often hailed as one of the greatest chapters in Scripture, Isaiah 53 foretells a critical event in God’s plan for salvation – the crucifixion of Jesus. In The Gospel According to God, MacArthur highlights important connections between Israel’s history and the New Testament, and provides a verse-by-verse exposition of this sometimes misunderstood text. Along the way, MacArthur demonstrates to readers how Isaiah’s prophetic words illuminate essentials truths for us today.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Biography & Memoir

Becoming Dallas Willard

Dallas Willard was a personal mentor and inspiration to hundreds of pastors, philosophers, and average churchgoers. His presence and ideas rippled through the lives of many prominent leaders and authors – including, John Ortberg, Richard Foster and more. As a result of these relationships and the books he wrote, he fundamental altered the way tens of thousands of Christians have understood and experience the spiritual life. The life of Dallas Willard deserves attention because he became a person who himself experienced authentic transformation of life and character. Here is a life that gives us all hope.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Children

God’s Big Story for You

This whimsically illustrated book is a wonderful way to share the gospel message with kids up to age 8. It emphasizes God’s love for everyone, and lets children know that they are a part of God’s big story. The creative, carefully chosen words draws children into the story, while the illustrations ignite children’s imagines as they see kids like themselves alongside characters from the Bible. This book is a great tool for parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, or anyone else who wants to explain to children why we need a savior.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Christian Living

The Art of Parenting

Dennis and Barbara Rainey have spent decades helping families find biblical help to strengthen and transform family relationships. Now, in The Art of Parenting, they bring insights and expertise gleaned from those years of ministry, as well as from their own personal experience of raising six children. Focusing on four crucial elements in your children’s lives – relationships, character, identity, mission – they offer advice on how to help your kids discover who they are in Christ, and understand God’s purpose for their lives.

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Devotion & Gift

The Wonder of the Greatest Gift

Ann Voskamp expands her presentation of the timeless Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree with this beautiful keepsake that can be handed down and enjoyed for generations. Each December, families can celebrate the coming of Jesus by opening the book to see a stunning 13-inch, three-dimensional Jesse Tree pop up from the page. Every day of December, readers open the enclosed booklet to read a daily love letter from The Greatest Story ever told, right from our beginning in Genesis to our King’s coming under Bethlehem’s Star. After the day’s reading, readers can open one of the 25 advent doors and discover that day’s Biblical ornament to hang on their own tree!

2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Faith & Culture

The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home

In The Storm-Tossed Family, bestselling author Russell Moore teaches readers – every one of whom is in a family in one way or another – that family is an echo of the gospel. Moore explains to readers that family can be the source of some of the most transcendent human joy, but family can also leave us crumpled up on the side of the road. Family can make us who we are, and family can break our hearts. Why would this social arrangement have that much power, for good or for ill, over us? Moore aims to explore this and show readers why it is such important an important part of life, yet oh so difficult at times.

 2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Ministry Resources

Alongside: Loving Teenagers with the Gospel 

Alongside supports both parents and youth ministry leaders and volunteers to love teenagers well. Through Scripture and captivating personal stories from years of experience working in youth ministry, Hill pulls back the curtain and invites readers to step into the unfiltered world of teenagers. Readers gain practical application and biblical truths to highlight the complexities of relational youth ministry, address the needs of real teenagers encounter in their daily lives and engage their hearts rather than just their behavior.

 2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: New Author

Seeing Green: Don’t Let Envy Color Your Joy

You know that feeling, don’t you? That heart sting when someone else receives the very thing you desire. When your best friend announces her engagement. When you sister says she’s pregnant. When your coworker gets the promotion. You tell yourself you’re happy for her, but you feel a hint of something else. Envy. Join Tilly Dillehay as she uncovers seven common sources of envy and challenges you to change the way you think about God’s glory. In doing so, you will learn to rejoice with others, you will experience greater contentment, and you will discover how to truly love you neighbor.

 2019 Christian Book Award® Winner: Young Peoples Literature

Bible Infographics for Kids

The Bible is far from boring, but sometimes it can feel that way to kids. Bible Infographics for Kids will help spark their excitement for God’s Word with this craze-mazing collection of infographic spreads. These colorful creations visually depict the key concepts, important people, and most unusual facts from the Bible in a new and exciting way. In addition to the incredible infographics found throughout, readers will love playing a Bible timeline board game that folds out from the middle of the book!

The post The 2019 Christian Book Awards Winners! appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Liz Johnson, the bestselling author of the Prince Edward Island Dreams series returns with a brand new book this fall! A Sparkle of Silver will be the first novel in her brand new series, Georgia Coast Romance. Set on St. Simons Island in Georgia (of course!), readers will be swept of their feet by a story spanning the generations. A definite must-read for any romantic fiction lovers out there!

Johnson sat down to answer a few questions about where she found the inspiration for this book as well as what is next for the Georgia Coast Romance series…

A Sparkle of Silver releases on October 16 and is available to preorder here. 

Q: Readers have loved your Prince Edward Island Dreams series. Now you are transitioning to a new series. How many books are proposed for the Georgia Coast Romance series?

A: I’m planning to write three books in the Georgia Coast Romance series. They aren’t tied together through an individual location the same way the PEI series is, but I think readers will enjoy the feel of the Georgia coast in these contemporary stories of characters exploring the past to find hope for the future.

Q: Why did you select Georgia for the setting of your new series?

A: Several years ago my aunt invited me to visit her on St. Simons Island, and we had such a lovely time there. It’s not only a beautiful island, but it’s also filled with so much rich history. Christ Church of Frederica was one of my favorite stops on our tour of the island, and I couldn’t wait to include it in a book.

Q: A Sparkle of Silver blends the past with a contemporary setting. Was it difficult to write a story involving two different eras?

A: I thoroughly enjoyed writing in both eras. The contemporary setting of the historical landmark was such fun. My hero and heroine are both dealing with such heavy things that I loved writing about their exploration of the Chateau. For a few hours they could almost forget their painful circumstances and just enjoy the discovery of the old home. Writing about the 1920s was a whole new challenge for me. It meant new types of research and exploring the era. And because the 1920s story line is told through journal entries, I had to really immerse myself in the character. She ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story.

Q: What was the inspiration for your new book?

A: About eight years ago my dad and I visited Hearst Castle in California. I’d never heard of it until our visit, but I was mesmerized by the opulence of this home built by William Randolph Hearst. He spared no expense in building this retreat in San Simeon, and I couldn’t get over the gold-plated tiles in the pool – or the fact that there were two pools on the grounds. He entertained actors and socialites, the elite of Hollywood and some of the richest people in the world. Yet year after year Hearst continued to expand the home until it had more than 160 rooms on the estate where he left in 1947. It just wasn’t ever enough.

By the time we finished the tour, I already had a story idea about an actress in costume at a similar estate. It’s changed a bit since then, but A Sparkle of Silver can be traced back to that trip to Hearst Castle and a somber realization that many and all it could buy would never fulfill Hearst.

Q: What type of research was required for writing A Sparkle of Silver?

A: I did a lot of research into the 1920s, everything from the way they used language to what would have been built into a grand estate in 1929. Of course, my trip to St. Simons was a great jumping-off point, with information about things like the feel of the wind off the ocean and the sound of the waves on the shore. This is also my first book with a character who is battling dementia, so I did quite a bit of reading about how that might manifest itself.

Q: Was there any part of this book that really surprised you once you began writing it?

A: Yes, but I can’t reveal it without giving away too much of the story. I will say that I was as shocked by the darkest moment in the book as the characters themselves. The revelation should have been apparent to me, but somehow I didn’t see it until the very last minute, and when it all came together, it felt like an enormous gift.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading your book?

A: I hope that readers are reminded that the very best things in life are free – the love of family, laughing with a friend, the grace of God. When we face financial struggles, it’s easy to focus on those and miss the joy in life. I also hope readers will be encouraged by the reminders that God has not forsaken us. When the storm rages on, many of us struggle to say, “It is well with my soul.” That’s okay. God is still on his throne. Our doubts and trials do not diminish who he is or his love for us.

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: Next is the second Georgia Coast Romance book. I’m working on it right now, and I’m excited to share this Savannah story with readers in 2019.

A Sparkle of Silver releases on October 16 and is available to preorder here. 

The post A Q&A with Liz Johnson – Author of A Sparkle of Silver appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Here at Christianbook.com we see a lot of books cross our desks, so we thought we’d round-up a few of our favorites perfect for those in ministry. Get ready to rest, reflect, and restore the rhythm of your ministry with these four summer reads!

An Unhurried Leader: The Lasting Fruit of Daily Influence by Alan Fadling

In the midst of the many different things we do, we are often tempted to grab control of situations in hopes of making good things happen. However, Alan Fadling proposes an alternative response in An Unhurried Leader, by unpacking what it means for leaders to live an unhurried life at the pace of Jesus—the pace of grace. Through biblical illustrations, personal examples, and on-the-ground leadership wisdom, Fadling directs his readers towards a new vision of kingdom leadership. A leadership model that is less hurried and hectic and more fruitful and joyful, opening the door to an abundant and transformed way of life.

Already read this? Why not try one of these related titles… 

Replenish: Leading from a Healthy Soul by Lance Witt

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton

Rhythms of Grace: Discover God’s Tempo for Your Life by Kerri V. Weems

Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down by Kirk Byron Jones

Building Below the Waterline by Gordon MacDonald

Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching As Worship by John Piper

What is the true purpose of a sermon? Building on the foundation established in his two previous works, A Peculiar Glory and Reading the Bible Supernaturally, John Piper, in Expository Exultation, makes the claim that it is more than just an explanation of the biblical text. Revealing insights from over forty years of experience in preaching and teaching, Piper shows preachers how and what to communicate from God’s Word, in a way that takes seriously the God-appointed task of advancing His message by expository exaltation—bringing glory to God from the pulpit.

Already read this? Why not try one of these related titles… 

A Peculiar Glory by John Piper

Reading the Bible Supernaturally by John Piper

Preaching as Reminding by Jeffrey D. Arthurs

Biblical Preaching by Haddon W. Robinson

Between Two Worlds by John Stott

Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World by A.J. Swoboda

The frenetic, achievement-oriented, productivity-driven world we “live” in can often lead to the destruction of our souls, bodies, relationships, society, and the rest of God’s creation. However, A.J. Swoboda, in Subversive Sabbath, argues that our lives can be more enriched and joyous when we establish a Sabbath rhythm that determines how we handle time, work, health, relationships, creation, worship, and the demands of overall discipleship. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Swoboda offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping that ultimately leads to fuller and more joyful lives.

Already read this? Why not try one of these related titles… 

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado

Rhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World by Shelly Miller

The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan

Soul Rest: Reclaim Your Life, Return to Sabbath by Curtis Zackery

The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst

Eschatological Discipleship by Trevin K. Wax

Christian eschatology forms a basic but necessary component of discipleship. Yet, eschatology is often thought to refer only to “end times” doctrines. However, eschatology in its broader sense encompasses the Christian view of time and the future of the world, informing both one’s evangelism and ecclesiology. Trevin K. Wax, in Eschatological Discipleship, therefore argues that failing to relate the eschatological dimension to discipleship leaves one with an incomplete worldview, imbalanced discipleship, and eventually, a tragic inability to model the Christian way of life. Wax provides discipleship pastors and spiritual life leaders with a clear, understandable connection between culture and history with that of eschatology and the mission of the church.

Already read this? Why not try one of these related titles… 

The Shape of Faith to Come by Brad Waggoner

Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches That Send by J.D. Greear

Eternity Is Now in Session by John Ortberg

Kingdom Disciples: Heaven’s Representatives on Earth by Tony Evans

Kingdom Learning by David Heywood

For more books to help build your Pastor’s Library, click here!

The post We Pick: Summer Books for Pastors appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association has spoken… here are the winners of the 2018 Christian Book Awards®! 

The announcements were made at the ECPA Awards Celebration held on May 1st at the newly opened Museum of the Bible in Washington DC. The night was a who’s who in Christian publishing with the legendary Anne Graham Lotz acting as keynote speaker.

Without further ado, here are the winners from each of the 11 categories… 

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Book of the Year

Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence by Sarah Young

Jesus Always is the new 365 day devotional by the bestselling author, Sarah Young. This devotional focuses on joy, a sometimes overlooked fruit of the Spirit. It aims to give readers hope and assurance in the the familiar voice they’ve come to love. Each day’s reading offers Scripture references so you can dive further into the reading and find even more encouragement. The perfect book to help you slow down for a moment and hear the call to joy!

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Bibles

The NLT Swindoll Study Bible

The Swindoll Study Bible offers the best of Chuck Swindoll’s wit, charm, pastoral insight, and wise biblical study. Swindoll’s informed, and importantly, practical insights get straight to the heart of the Bible’s message for the world today. Through your Scripture reading, you’ll discover more about the people who wrote it, where they wrote it, and why. It’s a great tool for delving further into the Scriptures and draw deeper into the study of God’s Word.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Bible Reference Works

Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh & Sean McDowell

In the first edition of Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell armed thoughtful Christians with historical documentation and modern scholarship, bearing witness to the truth of the Bible. Now, Josh is joined by his son, Sean McDowell, in this exciting new edition. It includes more historical insight to encourage those familiar with Evidence, as well as a new generation of believers, to embrace the truth of Christ in a skeptical culture. This is a book that invites readers to bring their doubts and doesn’t shy away from the tough questions.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Bible Study

Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

In ‘Adorned’ Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth delves into the power of cross-generational friendships by exploring an encouraging vision from Titus 2. Nancy reveals that all women are strengthened when young moms and singles widen their peer groups to include those who’ve “been there” and when older “veterans” shed their protective cocoons and invest in the next generation. Read this book and take your relationships to new depths!

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Biography & Memoir

I’ll Push You by Patrick Gray & Justin Skeesuck

Many said the 500-mile Camino de Santiago would be impossible in a wheelchair. But best friends Justin and Patrick wouldn’t give up. Their six-week trek with its physical challenges, colorful characters, and deep inner battles, would prove to be the most difficult and important journey either of them would ever take. I’ll Push You is the real-life story of their incredible pilgrimage – and the friendship that carried them through. An emotional read that is sure to leave you feeling inspired.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Children

Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin & Pat Barrett

Good Good Father  is a wonderfully illustrated story for young children aged 4 to 8 years. In the book, we meet Tucker, a little bear who seeks help from the King, and plans to bring Him a perfect gift. Along the way he encounters a variety of delightful and funny animals who each know one great thing about the King. But each of the animals has a different view of what makes Him so great. The advice confuses Tucker and he is still unsure of what to give as a gift. Just as Tucker is about to give up, the King runs to him offering love, acceptance, and help.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winners: Christian Living

Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community by Brett McCracken

It’s easy to dream about the “perfect” church – but what if instead of searching for a church that makes us comfortable, we learned to love our church, even when it’s challenging? What if some of the discomfort that we often experience is actually good for us? This book is a call to embrace the uncomfortable aspects of Christian community, whether that means believing difficult truths, pursuing difficult holiness, or loving difficult people–all for the sake of the gospel, God’s glory, and our joy.

Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God by Mark Batterson

God still speaks today. His voice and guidance wasn’t only for the saints and prophets of old, but for followers of Jesus now. In Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God, author and pastor Mark Batterson shares seven ways that God communicates with His followers, if they’ll stop to listen. Through the tools of Scripture, Doors, Dreams, People, Promptings, and Pain, God weaves divine messages of love, encouragement and insight, into our lives every day. A great read for those who want to deepen their relationship with God.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Devotion & Gift

GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart by Ruth Chou Simons

GraceLaced by Ruth Chou Simons presents a visual feast of 32 seasonal devotions accompanied by her beautiful watercolor illustrations and photography. In winter, spring, summer, and fall, you’ll be inspired to live a life rooted and established in God’s grace. Learn to rest in his character during hardship; rehearse his truth while in renewal; respond in times of growth; and remember his provision when in abundance or need! You’ll discover how to draw closer to God regardless of what season you find your heart in, and be encouraged to explore your own creative expressions of faith.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Faith & Culture

Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by John Dunlop MD

Drawing on years of professional experience working with Alzheimer’s patients, Dr. John Dunlop wants to transform the way we think about dementia. Rooting his vision of care in the inherent dignity that stems from the fact that all people are made in the image of God. He explains biblical principles, describes the experience of dementia, and answers common questions about the condition. Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia helps caregivers, family members, and anyone else affected by dementia honor God as they improve the quality of care to patients.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: Ministry Resources

Who Lynched Willie Earle?: Preaching to Confront Racism by William H. Willimon

It is imperative for 21st-century American Christians to constructively respond to racism. As a starting point, Willimon uses the true story of Pastor Hawley Lynn’s March of 1947 sermon about a lynching in Greenville, South Carolina. By hearing black pain, naming white complicity, critiquing American exceptionalism/civil religion, inviting and challenging the church to respond, and attending to the voices of African American pastors and leaders, this book helps pastors of white, mainline Protestant churches preach effectively in situations of racial violence and dis-ease.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winner: New Author

Follow the Cloud: Hearing God’s Voice One Next Step at a Time by John Stickl

As much as we’d like to see it, God doesn’t always give us the big picture. Our faith journeys often feel more like we’re picking up holy breadcrumbs on a long and winding trail. In Follow the Cloud, author and pastor John Stickl shares how God’s invitation to follow can lead to a life of freedom. When we learn to love ourselves in order to love others, extend forgiveness so we can be forgiven, and develop an attitude of trust, we’ll draw closer to who Jesus is and what we’re created to do.

2018 Christian Book Award® Winners: Young Peoples Literature

The Bible Explorer’s Guide: 1,000 Amazing Facts and Photos by Nancy I. Sanders

What did Noah’s ark really look like? Who was David and whom did he fight? What was daily life like in first-century Jerusalem? The Bible Explorer’s Guide lets children come up close and personal with everyday life during Bible times. Each two-page spread has images that bring history alive and drawings that help bring life to people and places that we can only read about. With fascinating, brief text and full-color captivating images, this is a reference that kids will come back to again and again.

The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith by Champ Thornton

Written with children aged 8-13 in mind, The Radical Book for Kids by Champ Thornton is a vibrantly-illustrated introduction to the roots of your child’s faith. This book will take children deep into the ancient roots and origins of the Christian faith exploring biblical history, theology and much more. Children will read about people who learned to trust Jesus and stand for him even when everything seemed against them. How did they do it? Radical faith.

For more great reads, visit our Christian bookstore!

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Eric Geiger, the bestselling author of books such as Designed to Lead and Identity, returns with his latest book, How to Ruin Your Life: And Starting Over When You Do. The upcoming release explores how a few small selfish decisions can implode the reputation and integrity of even the best Christians.

Eric Geiger sat down to answer a few questions for readers about the inspiration behind his latest book.

Q: In a nutshell, can you tell us what readers will find in How to Ruin Your Life?

A: The story of king David’s tragic implosion that impacted the rest of his life and the story of the grace and forgiveness he found in the Lord. Readers will learn from both his fall and his repentance.

Q: What was your motivation for writing on this topic? For whom did you write?

A: After seeing many leaders and believers make horrific choices, lose their leadership because of the character implosion, and generally ruin their lives, I gave a challenge to our team where I begged them to learn from the story of David. After giving the challenge several people encouraged me to turn the content into a book – that they found the message and the challenge both sobering and encouraging.

Q: Why did you choose David as a key Biblical example?

A: In David’s fall we see he was isolated, bored, and filled with price. All three of those sins can multiply and lead to our destruction. Those are the same sins I have heard from people who have admitted what was going on beneath the surface as they imploded.

Click here to download the FREE How To Ruin Your Life 5-Day Devotional

Q: While we may not be a king like David, how can we relate to him?

A: He struggled as we struggle. And he was not always king. He did not only live in palaces, but also lived in caves at one point in his life. In fact, he was at his best when he was not in the palace.

Q: What are some of the oft-ignored patterns underneath the surface that will lead to someone’s implosion?

A: Isolation. Boredom. Pride. When we are surrounded by people who are impressed with us, we are headed for destruction. When we are bored, we are not looking at Christ because He is never boring and always quenches and satisfies. And when we are not looking at Him, we are looking at something else that can pull us to our own demise. When we believe in ourselves and attempt to stand in our own merit and strength, we are setting ourselves up for a fall.

Q: There seems to be a lot of people in Hollywood, news media, and prominent churches who are falling from grace lately. Are public examples of implosion what we can expect in everyday life – are warning signs and fallout the same?

A: They should serve as warning signs to our own fragility and not something we look at in pride as if we are better or stronger than others because we are not.

Q: What message do you hope will resonate most with your readers? What is your hope for them after reading How to Ruin Your Life?

A: My hope is that people who have ruined their lives will find grace and forgiveness and a new start. My hope is for those who have not yet imploded that they will find grace to stand on the firm foundation of Christ.

How to Ruin Your Life: And Starting Over When You Do is now available to purchase – click here for more.

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We don’t know about you, but curling up with a book on a cold, wintery day is one of our favorite things to do. But sometimes it’s difficult to choose just which book to dive in to. To make it a little easier, we’ve rounded up some of our top new Christian living titles for your consideration… happy reading all!

All Things New by John Eldredge

We’ve heard the promise of the New Earth in Scripture, but what does that really look like? Most of our ideas about eternity come from popular culture rather than the Word of God. In All Things New, John Eldredge aims to show us how much more amazing, fulfilling and rich our eternal home and our lives will be. Far from a continual worship service, or a peaceful boredom, heaven will be a renewal of all that is, in a paradise free from pain and loss, bathed in the continual presence of God.

Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors

From the author of Kisses from Katie, comes an invitation to faith even when things turn out differently than you expected. As a teenager Katie moved to Uganda, founded a successful humanitarian organization, became a mother through adoption and served where God called her. However, after an unexpected tragedy rocked her family, she felt the first stirrings of doubt in God’s goodness. Yet in her doubts, Katie continued to turn to God. Here, she shares what she learned during that time and offers encouragement to readers to seek God even in those unexpected painful places.

The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio

True freedom comes when worship flows through us as naturally as the air we breathe. And it’s more than singing songs in church on a Sunday morning. Pastor and worship leader Louie Giglio believes that our whole lives can become worship when we open our hearts and minds to the wonder and presence of God each moment. Discover how you can build a life filled with the love our Creator and Savior has for us.

God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life by Timothy Keller

In this 365-day devotional, the Kellers offer a fresh, inspiring lesson for every day of the year. Unlock the wisdom God provides within the poetry of Proverbs! In this 365-day devotional, the Kellers offer a fresh, inspiring lesson for every day of the year to guide you toward a renewed understanding of the essence and goal of leading a Christian life. Each day’s reading includes a selection from Proverbs, a thoughtful reflection, and a prayer to help you internalize its wisdom.

Sing! by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Rediscover what it means to lift up your voice in praise. In Sing!, modern hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty explore why we sing and what that means for individual worshipers and churches. With attention to the Bible’s witness on worship, this book will help Christians better understand and more deeply appreciate praising God with music and in song. We sing to proclaim the gospel together in obedience to God and to celebrate the gift of faith.

A Place Called Heaven by Dr. Robert Jeffress

As Christians, we know someday we’ll leave Earth behind and be united with God. Yet most of us know very little about what to expect! Opening Scripture to unpack 10 surprising truths about heaven, Dr. Jeffress explains who we will see there, how we can prepare for our journey, what we will do, and more.

For more winter reading suggestions, click here!

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