BUZZ
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WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT?
The Word on the World of Christian Fiction and Non-Fiction
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BUZZ!
Are you looking for a great read? Well, you have come to the right place. The Phone Tree Buzz can help you in your search. The Phone Tree Buzz is a resource page dedicated to all those searching for good Christian fiction, as well as non-fiction. This page is an excellent tool for finding out about Christian authors and books.
Discover a whole new world of material that “expounds and illustrates a Christian world view in its plot, its characters, or both, or which deals with Christian themes in a positive way.”
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(Book descriptions courtesy of Amazon.com)
Kim
May 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Making Room for Life: Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships
by Randy Frazee
“What If You Could . . . *get all your work done by 6:00 p.m.? *eat dinner with your family every night? *form deep, satisfying relationships? *naturally blend the world of church with your everyday life? *spend hours a week on your hobbies? You can! Making Room for Life reveals how to make all of these things a reality. Not by working faster or having more gadgets, but by simply choosing a lifestyle of conversation and community over a lifestyle of accumulation. Randy Frazee’s practical, motivating insights call you back to the kind of relationships and life rhythms you were created to enjoy. In Making Room for Life, Frazee shows you how—and why it’s so important—to balance work and play, establish healthy boundaries, deal with children’s activities and homework, bring Jesus to your neighbors, and build authentic bonds with a circle of close friends. Share these insights with those around you and help usher in an amazing transformation: your life and the lives of others blooming, in the midst of the chaos and fragmentation of today’s culture, into communities of purpose and peace.”
Kim Teamer
May 6, 2012 at 8:23 PM
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
by Jen Hatmaker
“American life can be excessive, to say the least. That’s what Jen Hatmaker had to admit after taking in hurricane victims who commented on the extravagance of her family’s upper middle class home. She once considered herself unmotivated by the lure of prosperity, but upon being called “rich” by an undeniably poor child, evidence to the contrary mounted, and a social experiment turned spiritual was born.
7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.
Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. They would spend thirty days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sacred pauses.” So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God—a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better existence.”
Kim Teamer
April 3, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Heaven Is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy
by Stephanie Nielson
“Go on an unforgettable journey, with a woman who has unimaginable strength.
Stephanie Nielson began sharing her life in 2005 on nieniedialogues.com, drawing readers in with her warmth and candor. She quickly attracted a loyal following that was captivated by the upbeat mother happily raising her young children, madly in love with her husband, Christian (Mr. Nielson to her readers), and filled with gratitude for her blessed life.
However, everything changed in an instant on a sunny day in August 2008, when Stephanie and Christian were in a horrific plane crash. Christian was burned over 40 percent of his body, and Stephanie was on the brink of death, with burns over 80 percent of her body. She would remain in a coma for four months.
In the aftermath of this harrowing tragedy, Stephanie maintained a stunning sense of humor, optimism, and resilience. She has since shared this strength of spirit with others through her blog, in magazine features, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Now, in this moving memoir, Stephanie tells the full, extraordinary story of her unlikely recovery and the incredible love behind it—from a riveting account of the crash to all that followed in its wake. With vivid detail, Stephanie recounts her emotional and physical journey, from her first painful days after awakening from the coma to the first time she saw her face in the mirror, the first kiss she shared with Christian after the accident, and the first time she talked to her children after their long separation. She also reflects back on life before the accident, to her happy childhood as one of nine siblings, her close-knit community and strong Mormon faith, and her fairy-tale love story, all of which became her foundation of strength as she rebuilt her life.
What emerges from the wreckage of a tragic accident is a unique perspective on joy, beauty, and overcoming adversity that is as gripping as it is inspirational. Heaven Is Here is a poignant reminder of how faith and family, love and community can bolster us, sustain us, and quite literally, in some cases, save us.”
Kim Teamer
March 25, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Wildflowers from Winter: A Novel
by Katie Ganshert
“A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. Until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.
Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. So when Bethany is left the land, he must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.
For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace she’s not even sure exists?”
Kim Teamer
March 12, 2012 at 4:49 PM
Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On: Trusting God in the Tough Times
by Stormie Omartian
“‘More and more, God is teaching me to trust Him for every step I take. I follow His lead, even when I can’t see where I’m going.’”
If you’re excperiencing a major life-change, making an important decision, or simply needing encouragement to make it through the day, you’ll find inspiration and hope in this candid, refreshing look at how to walk successfully through the difficult times of life. By following God’s lead and trusting Him to provide just enough light for each step you’re on, you can trade in anxiety about the future and regret over the past for joyful anticipation and peaceful assurance in the present.
Become confident that when God calls you beyond your comfort zone, you’ll be able to take His hand and let Him guide you into amazing possibilities. You’ll discover how to…
-overcome fear in times of darkness
-learn to see the positive side of challenging situations
-have enough strength to go through times of testing
-surrender your dreams to God and listen for His call on your life
-step out of the past and move into the future God has planned for you
Heartfelt prayers and helpful Bible verses assist you in moving ahead in your life, even without a clear picture of your destination, ready for the blessings and rewards that wait for you on the approaching shore.”
Kim Teamer
March 4, 2012 at 2:18 AM
You’re Already Amazing: Embracing Who You Are, Becoming All God Created You to Be
by Holley Gerth
“Women feel enormous pressure to be perfect. To have the perfect body, to be a perfect woman, to have the perfect career, and to have the perfect attitude. All the time. Under all that pressure and all those expectations are women carrying burdens they were never meant to carry and suppressing the dreams they were always meant to live.
In You’re Already Amazing, popular blogger and cofounder of (in)courage helps women understand and embrace the fact that they don’t need to do more, be more, and have more–because they’re already amazing just the way God created them to be. As a licensed counselor and certified life coach, Holley knows what readers need to hear. Like a heart-to-heart talk over coffee, reading this joy-filled book encourages women to forget the lies and expectations the world feeds them, instead believing that God made them for a purpose and that he loves them right now, at this moment, and always. Holley takes readers on a journey of the heart to discover their strengths and embrace all God created them to be.”
Kim Teamer
February 8, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Where Will You Go from Here?: Moving Forward When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
by Valorie Burton
“Has the unexpected knocked you off course? You lost your job to the latest round of layoffs. A relationship you thought would last forever, didn’t. A health challenge is disrupting your life. Life doesn’t always go according to plan, but with the right attitude and skills, you can persevere through even the toughest situations—and emerge stronger and better than ever.
Resilience to Get Through Any Challenge
In Where Will You Go from Here? Valorie Burton helps you navigate life’s obstacles and unexpected challenges. You’ll find all the tools you need to be resilient in the face of setbacks, now and in the future, including:
· The Five Commitments that propel every successful comeback
· Step-by-step guidance for restructuring your life
· Strategies to unearth the courage you need for any situation
· In-the-heat-of-the-moment words to combat negative thinking
· Practical exercises to become better, not bitter, as a result of adversity
Packed with uplifting insights and powerful principles, this personal coaching resource offers the wisdom and encouragement you need to think differently about your circumstances and take hold of the lessons God is offering you. As you experience the “post-traumatic growth” that comes only through adversity, you’ll be equipped to unleash a stronger, more authentic you.”
Kim Teamer
January 23, 2012 at 9:25 PM
The Guardian Duke: A Forgotten Castles Novel
by Jamie Carie
“The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.
Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.”
Kim Teamer
December 30, 2011 at 11:48 PM
Kisses from Katie
by Katie J. Davis
“What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. She has given up a relatively comfortable life—at a young age—to care for the less fortunate of this world. She was so moved by the need she witnessed, she’s centered her life around meeting that need. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of adopting thirteen children in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family.”
Kim Teamer
December 13, 2011 at 12:02 AM
Smitten
by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt and Denise Hunter
“Four friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country’s premier romantic getaway-and each finds her own true love along the way.
With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners-Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese–decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They’ll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!
As Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese work to save the town, each discovers romance in her own life. Meanwhile, the faith of a little child reminds the whole town what it means to have real faith in the God who is the always and forever Love.”
Kim
November 26, 2011 at 8:37 PM
Beautiful Battle: A Woman’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare
by Mary DeMuth
“Warfare…hell…demons…I’m just trying to drive my kids to school and stay on top of the laundry.
What does any of that have to do with me?
You’ve heard plenty of talk about evil. You’ve heard about binding Satan and breaking strongholds and calling demons by name. You’ve heard you should claim your victory in Christ…but you’re not really sure how to do that.
This isn’t a book about evil.
With passion and strength, Mary DeMuth brings balance and insight to the often murky realm of spiritual warfare. As you embrace the abundant life to which God calls his daughters, she’ll tell you why your voice matters for eternity. And on the darkest days, you’ll know that spiritual warfare is about bowing before the Creator, not cowering before the devil. It’s about finding freedom and beauty in the midst of devastation. It’s about the power of God to heal our hearts, to move mountains, to intercede when we’re weary. It’s about crucifixion and a defiant, glorious resurrection.
It’s about truth.
It’s about power.
Join Mary in the beautiful battle, and be renewed on the journey.”
Kim
November 20, 2011 at 12:15 AM
Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus
by John Eldredge
“Reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off. The result is a dry, two dimensional person doing strange, undecipherable things.
In BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW, John Eldredge removes the religious varnish to help readers discover stunning new insights into the humanity of Jesus. He was accused of breaking the law, keeping bad company, heavy drinking. Of being the devil himself. He was so compelling and dangerous they had to kill him. But others loved him passionately. He had a sense of humor. His generosity was scandalous. His anger made enemies tremble. He’d say the most outrageous things. He was definitely not the Jesus of the stained glass.
In the author’s winsome, narrative approach, he breaks Jesus out of the typical stereotypes, just as he set masculinity free in his book, Wild at Heart. By uncovering the real Jesus, readers are welcomed into the rich emotional life of Christ. All of the remarkable qualities of Jesus burst like fireworks with color and brilliance because of his humanity.
Eldredge goes on to show readers how they can experience this Jesus in their lives every day. This book will quicken readers’ worship, and deepen their intimacy with Jesus.”
Kim Teamer
November 3, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
by Sarah Young
“Jesus Calling is a devotional filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year. After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her. It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue. She knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages. They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah’s fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.”
Kim Teamer
October 21, 2011 at 10:25 PM
Believing God
by Beth Moore
“‘Is it working? Your belief system, that is. Is it really working? God’s intention all along has been for the believer’s life to work. From divine perspective toward terrestrial turf, God meant for his children to succeed. . .
Are our Christian lives successful? Are they achieving and experiencing what Scripture said they would? In a recent sermon my son-in-law preached, Curt told us the only way we were going to impact the world and the next generation is to prove that our faith in Christ is real and that it works. For countless Christians I’m convinced it’s real. My concern is whether or not we have the fruit to suggest it works.’—Beth Moore; Believing God”
Kim Teamer
October 1, 2011 at 10:33 AM
The Waiting Place: Learning to Appreciate Life’s Little Delays
by Eileen Button
“We all spend precious time just waiting. We wait in traffic, grocery store lines, and carpool circles. We wait to grow up, for true love, and for our children to be born. We even wait to die. But amazing things can happen if we open our eyes in The Waiting Place and peer into its dusty corners. Sometimes relationships are built, faith is discovered, dreams are (slowly) realized, and our hearts are expanded.
With humor and heart-breaking candor, Eileen Button breathes life into stagnant and, at times, difficult spaces. Throughout this collection of essays she contends that The Waiting Place can be a most miraculous place-a place where beauty can be experienced, the sacred can be realized, and God can be found working in the midst of it all.”
Kim Teamer
August 20, 2011 at 11:44 PM
The Resolution for Women
by Priscilla Shirer
“Written in partnership with Sherwood Pictures’ upcoming film, COURAGEOUS, in The Resolution for Women, popular speaker and author Priscilla Shirer challenges all women to be intentional about embracing and thriving in God’s beautiful and eternal calling on their lives.
Like the men in the movie who resolve to fully accept their responsibilities before God, Shirer explains how today’s women can and should live out their own resolution. It is “a defining banner that hangs over your life, written in the ink of your own choices.” A woman’s banner should be an accurate reflection of who she desires to be-someone completely Christ-centered who blesses and changes things in her world for the better.
The Resolution for Women inspires women with intentional, spirit-filled living from three unique angles. Section one, entitled, “This Is Who I Am,” helps a woman define herself as “authentically me, purposefully feminine, surprisingly satisfied, and faithfully His.” Section two, “This Is What I Have,” invites her to value “my best, my blessing, my honor, and my heart.” And Section three, “This Is What Matters To Me,” focuses on joyfully honoring God as a wife, mother, and family member while resolving to live with the grace that leaves a godly legacy. The Resolution for Women is designed to inspire a revolution.”
Kim Teamer
August 6, 2011 at 11:08 AM
A Confident Heart: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Live in the Security of God’s Promises
by Renee Swope
“Often the biggest obstacle to living out our faith is our own doubt–about our worth, our abilities, our relationship with God, and situations in our lives. A Confident Heart gives voice to the questions, doubts, struggles, and hopes so many women have. Author Renee Swope shows women how to identify, overcome, and even use doubt in order to live confidently in God’s power, truth, and grace. Perfect for women’s small groups or individuals, A Confident Heart is an authentic, insight-filled and encouraging message for any woman who wants to exchange destructive thought patterns with biblical truth that will transform the way she thinks, feels, and lives.
Step out of the shadows of self-doubt to live with a confident heart.”
Kim Teamer
July 31, 2011 at 11:29 AM
ScreamFree Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer
by Hal Runkel with Jenny Runkel
“Through the best-selling ScreamFree Parenting, Hal Runkel showed thousands of parents how keeping their cool can revolutionize their family life. In his groundbreaking new book, ScreamFree Marriage, Runkel now shows couples how learning to stay calm, in the face of common marital conflicts, is the key to creating and enjoying a deep, lifelong connection.
Every committed couple strives to hold on to the marriage they envisioned back when they first said ‘I do’–before the end of the honeymoon phase, before kids, mortgages, health crises, and all life’s inescapable issues. But the truth is this: conflict is unavoidable–it’s impossible for two people to see every single thing, face every issue, and experience every situation in exactly the same way. What results are couples ‘screaming’ at each other–sometimes literally yelling out loud, sometimes shutting themselves down and shutting their partners out, and sometimes avoiding the issue altogether–none of which leads to the passionate, intimate connection we all crave.
In ScreamFree Marriage, Hal introduces some radical new concepts about marriage, teaching couples how to embrace this inevitable conflict as a profound vehicle for strengthening a marriage. Rather than just a source of pain and disagreement, these ‘Fires of Commitment,’ as Hal describes them, can actually be the exact experience needed to grow couples into new levels of maturity and intimacy. By simply learning the ScreamFree formula of Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer, you too can cross through these fires and end up with a closer and more passionate marriage than ever before. Using accessible anecdotes and the disarming humor that readers have come to love, Runkel disproves prevailing marital wisdom, puts couples on a path to ‘intimate independence’ and reveals a whole new, fresh approach to marriage.”
Kim Teamer
July 18, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Day of War (Lion of War Series)
by Cliff Graham
“In ancient Israel, at the crossroads of the great trading routes, a man named Benaiah is searching for a fresh start in life. He has joined a band of soldiers led by a warlord named David, seeking to bury the past that refuses to leave him. Their ragged army is disgruntled and full of reckless men. Some are loyal to David, but others are only with him for the promise of captured wealth. While the ruthless and increasingly mad King Saul marches hopelessly against the powerful Philistines, loyal son Jonathan in tow, the land of the Hebrew tribes has never been more despondent—and more in need of rescue. Over the course of ten days, from snowy mountain passes to sword-wracked battlefields, Benaiah and his fellow mercenaries must call upon every skill they have to survive and establish the throne for David—if they don’t kill each other first.”
Kim Teamer
June 24, 2011 at 3:08 AM
In My Father’s House: Finding Your Heart’s True Home
by Mary Kassian
“We need to get to know God as Father and relate to Him as a blessed child. However, our relationship with our earthly father positively or negatively impacts how we relate to Father God. Mary Kassian encourages women to clear barriers hindering them from seeing their loving Heavenly Father, basing their relationship with God on the truth of who He is rather than falsehoods about Him.”
Kim Teamer
May 23, 2011 at 1:26 PM
Fatherless Generation: Redeeming the Story
by John Sowers
“What happens when givers of life give a lifetime of tears? The story of fatherlessness is written into the heart of our generation. It is heard in our songs, seen in our movies, read in our blogs. It is a story of shame, loneliness, and rejection. A story of missed potential and wasted opportunity. A story that desperately needs to be heard. But fatherlessness is more than a personal tragedy. It is a growing epidemic. Fatherlessness is a driving force behind gangs, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and suicide. And all too often, the fatherless are either marginalized or ignored. In Fatherless Generation, Dr. John Sowers asks: How can the faith community begin rewriting this tragic story? Written for those who are fatherless themselves and those concerned with social justice, Fatherless Generation uses culture, statistics, and testimonies to remind us that it is possible for a generation to find healing. Drawing on years of research and personal experience, Dr. Sowers shows us that intentional, intergenerational mentoring is the key to a new story of hope. It is in relationship that this generation has been wounded and it is in relationship that healing must begin. Mentoring is the most strategic way to reconcile our generation with God. Weaving in his own experience of fatherlessness, Dr. Sowers eloquently presents the desperate reality of fatherlessness in our culture and how awareness and compassion offer a solution of hope—a hope that will write new stories for generations to come. “
Kim Teamer
May 10, 2011 at 1:49 PM
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
by Ann Voskamp
“Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. ‘How,’ Ann wondered, ‘do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long—and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?’ In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God’s gifts. It’s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we’ve always wanted … a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved — by God. Let Ann’s beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!”
Kim Teamer
April 19, 2011 at 1:16 AM
Screamfree Parenting: The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool
by Hal Edward Runkel
“You Can Start a Revolution in Your Family . . . Tonight
ScreamFree Parenting is not just about lowering your voice. It’s about learning to calm your emotional reactions and learning to focus on your own behavior more than your kids’ behavior . . . for their benefit. Our biggest enemy as parents is not the TV, the Internet, or even drugs. Our biggest enemy is our own emotional reactivity. When we say we “lost it” with our kids, the “it” in that sentence is our own adulthood. And then we wonder why our kids have so little respect for us, why our kids seem to have all the power in the family.
It’s time to do it differently. And you can. You can start to create and enjoy the types of calm, mutually respectful, and loving relationships with your kids that you’ve always craved. You can begin to revolutionize your family, starting tonight.
Parenting is not about kids, it’s about parents.
If you’re not in control, then you cannot be in charge.
What every kid really needs are parents who are able to keep their cool no matter what.
Easier said than done? Not anymore, thanks to ScreamFree Parenting, the principle-based approach that’s inspiring parents everywhere to truly revolutionize their family dynamics. Moving beyond the child-centered, technique-based approaches that ultimately fail, the ScreamFree way compels you to:
focus on yourself
calm yourself down, and
grow yourself up
By staying calm and connected with your kids, you begin to operate less out of your deepest fears and more out of your highest principles, revolutionizing your relationships in the process.
ScreamFree Parenting is not just another parenting book. It’s the first parenting
book that maintains—from beginning to end—that parenting is NOT about kids . . . it’s about parents. As parents pay more attention to controlling their own behavior instead of their kids’ behavior, the result is stronger, more rewarding, and more fulfilling family relationships.
For those of you reading who are parents, know parents, or have had parents, the notion that the greatest thing you can do for your children is to learn to focus on yourself may sound strange, even heretical. It’s not. Here’s why: we are the only ones we can control. We cannot control our kids—we cannot control the behavior of any other human being. And yet, so many “experts” keep giving us more tools (“techniques”) to help us try to do just that. And, of course, the more we try to control, the more out of control our children become.
“Don’t make me come up there.” “Don’t make me pull this car over.” “How many times do I have to tell you?” Even our language suggests that our kids have control over us.
It’s no wonder that we end up screaming. Or shutting down. Or simply giving up. And the charts, refrigerator magnets, family meetings, and other techniques in most typical parenting books just don’t work. They end up making us feel more frustrated and more powerless in this whole parenting thing.
This practical, effective guide for parents of all ages with kids of all ages introduces proven principles for overcoming the anxieties and stresses of parenting and setting new patterns of connection and cooperation. Well-written in an engaging, conversational tone, the book is sensible, straightforward, and based on the experiences of hundreds of actual families. It will help all parents become calming authorities in their homes, bring peace to their families today, and give kids what they need to grow into caring, self-directed adults tomorrow.”
Kim Teamer
April 5, 2011 at 7:20 PM
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith: Trusting God Takes You to Amazing Places
by Lysa TerKeurst
“LysaTerKeurst knows what it means to walk in faith, starting from the cry she uttered years ago, ‘How do I take my broken life and allow God to use it for His glory,’ to her current position as president of Proverbs 31 Ministry.
Walking in Faith will change the way the reader…
recognizes God’s opportunities for growth
hears God speak through His Word
understands herself as a unique creation of her Heavenly Father
survives life’s hardest places
Lysa’s new book is filled with stories, Scripture, and encouragement for readers to discover the deeper truths of God.
As a bonus, Lysa has provided a Bible study section to help readers apply the principles in Walking by Faith. “
Kim Teamer
March 27, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Daughters of Eve: Women of the Bible Speak to Women of Today
by Virginia Stem Owens
“HAVE WOMEN CHANGED THAT MUCH SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME? Is there something about being a woman that transcends time and cultural differences? Are we, even after centuries of change, still “sisters under the skin” with women of radically different cultures who lived so long ago? Daughters of Eve invites you to examine some of the fascinating stories of biblical women. Some of these characters may be familiar to you; many you may have never heard of. As you learn about them, you may be surprised at what you learn about yourself.
Be forewarned-the women of the Bible weren’t always nice. But they were very real. And the ways in which they were courageous or cowardly, devoted or deceitful, are uniquely women’s ways. Many of the issues they faced (violence, multiple marriages, manipulation, motherhood) are issues of urgent importance to women today.
Much has changed since the first woman walked the earth. But at least one thing remains the same: being a woman is as challenging as it ever was. Come discover the uniqueness of womanhood-the things that after all these years still unite us as Daughters of Eve.”
Kim Teamer
March 8, 2011 at 4:50 AM
Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God: The Life Story of the Author of My Utmost for His Highest
by David McCasland
“Oswald Chambers was born in Scotland and spent much of his boyhood there. His ministry of teaching and preaching took him for a time to the United States and Japan. The last six years of his life were spent as principal of the Bible Training College in London, and as chaplain to British Commonwealth troops in Egypt during World War I. After his death, at age 43, the books that bear his name were compiled by his wife from her own verbatim shorthand notes of his talks.”
Kim Teamer
January 24, 2011 at 9:09 PM
Havah: The Story of Eve – A Novel
by Tosca Lee
“She knew this earth when it was perfect like her, for a time. Made by God in a manner like no other, she lived in utter peace without flaw in paradise until one fateful decision changed everything. Now, all humanity suffers for her mistake. But what did it feel like then to first sin and be exiled, to see all innocence crumble so vividly, and a strange new world take its place? Experience the epic dawn of mankind through the eyes and heart of Eve the woman first known as Havah. ‘A passionate and riveting story of the Bible’s first woman.’”
Kim Teamer
January 13, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Do You Know Who I Am?: And Other Brave Questions Women Ask
by Angela Thomas
“In her book Do You Know Who I Am? Angela Thomas asks God if He knows her—and ultimately does He love her—as she is, right now, today. In each chapter, she names a different identity issue, such as: ‘I am invisible,’ ‘I am worn out,’ ‘I am undisciplined,’ ‘I am ordinary,’ and ‘I am afraid to dream.’ With each honest admission, Angela teaches that God lovingly replies, ‘Yes, I know your heart. I see your struggle. Now…do you know who I AM?’
Ultimately Angela reveals that the secret to being known and loved lies in an intimate understanding of who God is. Each identity struggle is answered with a short biblical study on the character of God that assures readers that their personal, spiritual, and eternal fulfillment is not dependent on getting themselves together. Rather, God has a purpose for them just as they are—broken, afraid, disappointed, disillusioned.
Through vivid storytelling, biblical teaching, and practical application, readers will find the heartfelt answers they seek.”
Kim
December 20, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Faithful
by Kim Cash Tate
“Cydney Sanders thought she knew God’s plan for her life. She’d marry, have kids, and then snap her body back into shape by doing Tae Bo. But she’s celebrating her fortieth birthday as the maid of honor at her little sister’s wedding…and still single. Now her life is suddenly complicated by the best man. He’s the opposite of what she wants in a husband…and yet, he keeps defying her expectations. Starting with a lavendar rose–symbolizing enchantment–each rose he sends her reflects his growing love for her.
Cydney’s best friend Dana appears to have the perfect marriage–until she discovers her husband’s affair and her world goes into a tailspin. Then there is Phyllis–who is out of hope and out of prayers after asking God for six long years to help her husband find faith. When she runs into an old friend who is the Christian man she longs for, she’s faced with an overwhelming choice.
Life-long friends with life-altering struggles. Will they trust God’s faithfulness…and find strength to be faithful to Him?”
Kim Teamer
December 3, 2010 at 5:04 PM
The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future
by T. Suzanne Eller
“A woman’s experience as a mother is influenced by the mothering she received as a child. If neglect was a part of that upbringing, the woman who holds a newborn and faces the responsibility of parenting needs a healthy vision of motherhood.
T. Suzanne Eller compassionately discusses how a woman can turn from a painful past and embrace a godly example of motherhood. She shares
how shattered legacies can be put back together
the path to restoring the broken image of motherhood
ways to let go and embrace a new story
This is a celebration of God’s healing power and how all women can become the mom they want to be.”
The Phone Tree Edifier
November 24, 2010 at 1:29 AM
Blemished
by Jason Hayes
“What’s the last thing God said to you? What if He went silent after those words and you never heard from Him again? It wouldn’t be the first time. After centuries of dreams, visions, and words from prophets, the Lord went silent. He said nothing for 400 years. The last word God spoke to His people, before the New Testament, is recorded in the Book of Malachi. And it wasn’t good news.
Malachi is a book about unfaithful priests, half-hearted religion, and blemished sacrifices. It’s about people who lived by checklists, performing spiritual acts without the engagement of their hearts. Blemished points out how many Christ-followers are following in the footsteps of the people in Malachi’s day.”
The Phone Tree Edifier
November 12, 2010 at 3:38 AM
Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives
by Jocelyn Green
“If your spouse, or someone you know, has been deployed recently, the stress of that situation will resonate with you. Jocelyn Green speaks directly to the wives of deployed seamen, marines, airmen, and soldiers, via the experiences of their spouses.
This book is not a “ten easy steps” for a painless life, instead, it is a collection of devotions that squarely addresses the challenges wives face when their husbands are away protecting freedom. Challenges like: how does a military wife maintain a strong sense of patriotism without allowing her country to become an idol? What good can possibly come from moving every two to three years? And how can I be sure that God has a purpose for my life that is as strong as His purpose for my husband’s? The foundation of this devotional is the unchanging character of God and the anchor of Jesus Christ, even amidst the shifting circumstances of a military family.”
The Phone Tree Edifier
October 31, 2010 at 3:53 PM
The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
by Andy Stanley
“Your Direction, not Your Intention, Determines Your Destination.
There is often a tension between where we want to end up in life and the path we choose to get there. We fail to see that having good intentions is never good enough. Like Charlie Brown, we wrongly believe there’s something to be said for trying hard. We need to understand why, in spite of our good intentions, we may have ended up at the wrong destination with our finances, our marriages, our careers, or a host of other dreams. So how do we get from where we are to where we truly want to be? The Principle of the Path is a road map to proper direction and discipline.”
The Phone Tree Edifier
October 21, 2010 at 3:38 PM
Overcoming Emotions that Destroy: Practical Help for Those Angry Feelings That Ruin Relationships
by Chip Ingram and Dr. Becca Johnson
“Well-known teacher and speaker Chip Ingram teams up with psychologist and author Dr. Becca Johnson in this encouraging and practical book, showing how many emotions lead to anger, and many emotions follow from it. Their message is clear: as we deal with our anger, we deal with the primary cause for all emotions that destroy. Ingram and Johnson help readers identify whether they are spewers, leakers, or stuffers. Readers also learn the difference between good and bad anger, how to gain control of their anger, and how to direct it toward constructive ends. The authors cover solid biblical principles as well as the psychological aspects of our emotions, showing readers how they can actually be constructive tools used by God to transform lives and relationships. Counselors, pastors, and individual Christians will find this book a no-nonsense tool for handling destructive emotions in a healthy way.”
The Phone Tree Edifier
October 11, 2010 at 1:58 AM
Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible
by Steven Furtick
“If you’re not DARING TO BELIEVE GOD for the impossible,
you may be SLEEPING THROUGH
some of the BEST PARTS of your Christian Life.
‘This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien. I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years.
In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.’—STEVEN FURTICK, from Sun Stand Still”
The Phone Tree Edifier
October 1, 2010 at 2:26 AM
Surprised by Worship: Discovering the Presence of God Where You Least Expect It
by Travis Cottrell
“Surprised by Worship is a book for all adults, regardless of age, who suspect they are missing much of the joy of the Christian life, being distracted by the pain, fear, and anxieties of life in the trenches. Building on an amazing introductory chapter written by Beth Moore—a blogger with 41,850 unique monthly visitors, Travis Cottrell explores biblical and modern-day examples of people who are experiencing life’s travail, who bring greater meaning to their lives through spontaneous acts of worship. God’s goodness is predictable. His mercy is dependable. His ability to work in every moment of our lives, leading us to Him, is unfailing. But often in those moments when we are distracted by great distress, we don’t see or acknowledge God’s presence and provision. It’s at those times that worship can be our greatest resource, bringing us the hope, strength, even deliverance we so desperately need. It may be a startling headline on a web page, an unhappy email from a friend, a near miss on the freeway, or a scary diagnosis from the doctor. In every circumstance, God’s voice can be heard, especially in those moments when we never expect it that worship is most meaningful. “
The Phone Tree Edifier
September 21, 2010 at 7:30 PM
When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman’s Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation
By Cecil Murphey
“For all women who know and love a survivor of sexual assault, best-selling author Cecil Murphey has penned an honest and forthright book about helping the man in your life survive–and thrive–despite past abuses.”
edifier1
September 15, 2010 at 3:45 AM
IMMANUEL’S VEINS
by Ted Dekker
“It is a dangerous tale of times past. A torrid love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.
Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.
With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.
Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.
Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.
But remember, not everyone is for this story.”
edifier1
September 8, 2010 at 5:07 AM
A Woman of Strength: Reclaim Your Past, Seize Your Present, and Secure Your Future (Women of Confidence)
by Neva Coyle
“Neva Coyle challenges women to reclaim their past, seize their present, and secure their future through becoming women of strength, changing the world with gentleness and dignity through prayer, mentoring others, and doing what matters to God.”
edifier1
August 23, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Priceless
by: Tom Davis
“Author Tom Davis returns with Priceless, the second release in a fictional series that explores real-world issues through the eyes, and lens, of an international photojournalist.
Stuart Daniels has found purpose in life. After suffering the fallout of a tragic assignment, Daniels rediscovered faith and hope after a chance encounter with an extraordinary African orphan. Now his photo work also carries a personal mission: To educate people on the devastating effects of AIDS around the world. But when Daniels receives his next assignment to Russia, he unwittingly finds himself a key player in rescuing young girls caught in the tragic sex-slave trade.
Equal parts suspense and drama, Priceless is a provocative thriller that readers’ eyes to what’s happening in the world today.”
edifier1
August 19, 2010 at 11:50 PM
The Mailbox: A Novel
by Marybeth Whalen
“When Lindsey Adams first visits the Kindred Spirit mailbox at Sunset Beach, she has no idea that twenty years later she will still be visiting the mailbox–still pouring out her heart in letters that summarize the best and worst parts of her life.
Returning to Sunset for her first vacation since her husband left her, Lindsey struggles to put her sorrow into words. Memories surface of her first love, Campbell–and the rejection that followed. When Campbell reappears in her life, Lindsey must decide whether to trust in love again or guard herself from greater pain. The Mailbox is a rich novel about loss, hope, and the beauty of second chances.”
edifier1
August 15, 2010 at 2:18 PM
The Shack
by William P. Young
“Mackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack’s world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant “The Shack” wrestles with the timeless question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him.”
edifier1
August 9, 2010 at 8:43 PM
Watching the Tree Limbs
by Mary E Demuth
“Callously passed from relative to relative, 9-year-old orphan Mara takes comfort in her imagination—especially playing Nancy Drew with her best friend, Camilla. But some mysteries seem unsolvable. Who is her mother? Why won’t the neighborhood bully stop abusing her? Can she endure the heartache of a shattered childhood and begin again, with God’s help?”
edifier1
August 6, 2010 at 4:57 PM
A Grief Observed
by C.S. Lewis
“Written with love, humility, and faith, this brief but poignant volume was first published in 1961 and concerns the death of C. S. Lewis’s wife, the American-born poet Joy Davidman. In her introduction to this new edition, Madeleine L’Engle writes: “I am grateful to Lewis for having the courage to yell, to doubt, to kick at God in angry violence. This is a part of a healthy grief which is not often encouraged. It is helpful indeed that C. S. Lewis, who has been such a successful apologist for Christianity, should have the courage to admit doubt about what he has so superbly proclaimed. It gives us permission to admit our own doubts, our own angers and anguishes, and to know that they are part of the soul’s growth.”
Written in longhand in notebooks that Lewis found in his home, A Grief Observed probes the “mad midnight moments” of Lewis’s mourning and loss, moments in which he questioned what he had previously believed about life and death, marriage, and even God. Indecision and self-pity assailed Lewis. “We are under the harrow and can’t escape,” he writes. “I know that the thing I want is exactly the thing I can never get. The old life, the jokes, the drinks, the arguments, the lovemaking, the tiny, heartbreaking commonplace.” Writing A Grief Observed as “a defense against total collapse, a safety valve,” he came to recognize that ‘bereavement is a universal and integral part of our experience of love.’”
edifier1
August 5, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Sistergirl Devotions: Keeping Jesus in the Mix on the Job
by Carol Mackey
“It’s not always easy to live your faith during the nine to five. But no matter where you work, that’s the mission field in which God has placed you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a waitress or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company–you’re equally important to God. And he wants to use you to build his kingdom.
Sistergirl Devotions is for you–the working woman who wants to grow spiritually while on the job. Using Scripture, “sistergirl” wisdom, and true stories, each down-to-earth devotional shows how your faith can empower you to have success no matter where you work. With topics such as respect, resourcefulness, image, timeliness, honesty, setbacks, and balancing work, church, and home, each devotion ends with a “Power Move”–practical affirmations that will drive you toward victory.”
edifier1
August 3, 2010 at 2:20 AM
Healing Waters
by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn
“When life seems to conspire against you, how do you find the courage to dive into Healing Waters?
When Lucia Coffey looks at her reflection, she sees fat and failure. When she looks at her sister Sonia, she sees svelte and success. When she looks at God, she sees that divine love can’t possibly be doled out equally. All her life, Lucia has coped by throwing herself into taking care of those who seem more worthy of God’s goods, and feeding the dreams she has buried alive.
But when tragedy strikes Lucia’s family, she meets Sullivan Crisp–a decidedly offbeat psychologist who is trying to cope with his own shattered past. They form an alliance to try to hold her family together and, in the process, both tentatively dip their toes into the waters of healing. Step by faltering step they wade in, forging an unlikely community and digging deep for the courage to face a lurking danger that could pull them under . . . or remind them what it’s like to dance on the waves.”
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