May 8 2012

May 08, 2012 — More News

Featured in this extra issue: Mike Berenstain, Darrell Bock, Mark Buchanan, Ben Carson, Francis Chan, Rachel Coker, Alton Gansky, Billy Graham, cliff graham, Bear Grylls, David Jeremiah, Scot McKnight, Shauna Niequist, Haddon Robinson, Tim Shoemaker, Shane Stanford, Lois Tverberg, Kay Warren, and Rick Warren.

Tyndale House leading Bible vendor for 2nd year at Deeper Calling Media Online Christian Books

« Zondervan is holding onto the third spot in DCM’s top Bible vendors with a particularly strong performance in the last year in the Amplified Bibles category. Since its release in the 1950’s the Amplified Bible has been the Bible of choice for those seeking a better understanding of the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Its system of amplifications—parentheses that enclose the extra or deeper nuances of the original Hebrew and Greek texts—allow readers to fully divine the original meaning of the authors without having to learn a foreign language. The NIV translation was another strong performer although demand has dropped since the release of the new NIV translation in 2011.… »

Times Union
Cliff Graham: Two-fisted Bible stories

« Struck by the realisation that many believe that the Bible is only filled with genealogies and Jesus petting lambs, Army vet-turned-author Cliff Graham commenced writing his epic Lion of War series—depicting the life and times of David and his Mighty Men. "The Bible is an exciting true story filled with the blood, sweat and tears of men and women whom God used in mighty ways to bring glory to Himself, and any notion of it being a dry and dull book is false," shares Cliff. "By reading and experiencing this take on God’s Word in a vivid way, people will hopefully be excited to read the real account."… »

FamilyFiction.com
Billy Graham speaks out (says a good source)

« Now, my point here is not to start a debate about Billy Graham‘s statement or even the wisdom of the world’s most famous Protestant making that statement. Don’t click "comment" to talk about that. The purpose of this post is to praise two specific journalism points in this ticklish, "nuclear" story. First of all, note the balancing act in the second half of the lede. It notes, accurately, two crucial points about Graham’s history in public life, especially in the second, post-Watergate part of his life. Graham rarely enters politics and, when it does so, it’s when he believes a Christian doctrine demands that he do so. His stance on nuclear weapons, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is a perfect example.… »

GetReligion

See Also:
• Billy Graham backs North Carolina anti-gay marriage amendment via The Town Talk
May 2012 bestsellers list of Black Christian authors

« America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great by Ben Carson (Zondervan) is #9 in May 2012 Top 50 Black Christian Bestsellers List (Non-fiction). • Gifted Hands and Think Big are listed #7 and #9, respectively, in the May 2012 Top 50 Black Christian Amazon.com Kindle Ebook Bestsellers List (Non-Fiction). • Finally, Think Big and Take the Risk by Ben Carson are listed #2 and #4 in May 2012 Top 50 Black Christian BarnesandNoble.com Nook ebook Bestsellers List (Non-Fiction).… »

PRWeb
Survivor expert Bear Grylls shares meal of worms, maggots with Rick Warren

« Extreme-survivor expert and "Man vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls made a special appearance at Saddleback Church Saturday—at one point receiving some audience participation from the church’s pastor, Rick Warren. "Who wants to see your pastor eat a maggot?" Warren calmly let Grylls place a few live maggots and worms in the palm of his hand. "Wait, we need to bless this!" said pastor Warren. "Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and our bodies to your service. Oh, and thank you for the protein." He then not only ate the maggots and worms in his palm, but grabbed an extra handful from Grylls and tossed them in his mouth.… »

The Christian Post
Dr. Jeremiah: “When we pray, God goes into action”

« This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. David Jeremiah, National Day of Prayer Task Force chairman and founder of Turning Point television and radio ministry in San Diego, California. Jeremiah used biblical references to demonstrate how God answered prayers in seemingly impossible situations. He also addressed what critics of the Obama administration describe as attacks on America’s religious liberty. "While the government, the enemy, whoever you may want to call them, while they stretch out their hand especially more so than ever before to try to harass the Church, when we pray, God goes into action and we have nothing to fear," he told the audience.… »

The Christian Broadcasting Network

See Also:
• Day of Prayer may have been largest ever via Baptist Press
Rick and Kay Warren, Francis Chan urge Christians to end orphan crisis

« Business as usual will not get the job done, Rick Warren told about 2,000 people in attendance and a live webcast audience. "Jesus said you can’t put new wine in old wineskins. The way we have been doing it for the last 100 years has not ended the crisis. We have to do a radical, revolutionary—may I say—biblical approach. The issue is to get these kids into families." The number of Christians in the world amounts to the "largest network of people on the planet," he said, amplifying the reason that he feels churches are the solution to the orphan crises.… »

The Christian Post
Dallas/Forth Worth Metroplex atheists challenge the power of prayer

« Dr. Darrell Bock of the Dallas Theological Seminary finds the challenge amusing. "These promises about prayer are not carte blanche and you get anything you ask for. They’re much more complicated than that," explained Dr. Bock. "I think the whole thing is a wonderful publicity stunt and the fact that they do billboards and that kind of thing just shows they’re learning from us and that’s nice," he joked.… »

CBS DFW
Mike Berenstain talks about the Berenstain Bears’ 50th anniversary

« This year the Berenstain Bears celebrate 50 years in their country tree house home, and Mike Berenstain, writer and illustrator of the series, shares its beginnings and tells TheCelebrityCafe.com what the future holds. Mike recalled that his parents, Stan and Jan Berenstain, were successful magazine cartoonists in the 1940s and 1950s, and their work, featuring children, appeared in publications like Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping. The Berenstains were influenced by Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, an editor at Random House Publishers. "My brother, Leo, and I were reading Dr. Seuss in the late 1950s and when he started a new brand with famous cartoonists like Phil Eastman (author of Sam and the Firefly), my parents said, ‘That’s a fine idea. Why don’t we do it?’"… »

The Celebrity Cafe

See Also:
• Review: God Bless our Home latest Berenstain Bears offering via Celebrity Cafe
• Review: God Bless our Home & Under the Baobab Tree via Our Out of Sync Life
• Mike Berenstain debuts meaning of Home Sweet Home via Blog Talk Radio
Interview: Shane Stanford, author of Making Life Matter

« Shane Stanford is a pastor, author and teacher. He is the Senior Pastor of Christ UMC in Memphis, TN, one of United Methodism’s largest and most influential congregations. Mr. Stanford is a former church planter as well as the Director/Host of the United Methodist Hour, a radio and television ministry airing in 30-million homes nationwide. Shane Stanford is the author of eleven books which include: A Positive Life (Zondervan).… »

Seattle PI
Christian writers conference adds track for literary ministers

« The May 20-24, 2012, conference at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center has added a workshop track for pastors and ministers, which will be led by Alton Gansky, director of the annual event. Gansky, a full-time writer, served as a pastor for 22 years and has authored 40 books.…"Writing has always been part of God’s plan to spread the gospel," Gansky said. "The apostle Paul was a writer. God used Paul to write half of the books in the New Testament. Writing remains a powerful and enduring way of touching lives and changing the world."… »

Florida Baptist Witness
What’s needed to preach to a culture of skeptics?

« Haddon Robinson, who currently serves as the distinguished professor of preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass., told The Christian Post Thursday that the media is much bolder in its criticisms of the church than it used to be, and in many ways it builds upon the skepticism already found in the culture. This dramatic shift in attitude toward the church and the Bible means, to some extent, preachers may have to adjust their approach to preaching.… »

The Christian Post
Quadruplets, flash mob bring excitement to Azusa Pacific University graduation

« Shauna Niequist, the New York Times best-selling author of Cold Tangerines, delivered the commencement address. Her message of holding on to relationships and friendships was on point, Student Government Association President Carter Posladek said.… »

SGV Tribune
Review: A holy experience

« A Canadian pastor, no one quite wields words like Mark Buchanan—a pastor’s heart, a poet’s pen, a storyteller’s wit, Mark’s words leap off the page, shake you awake, and startle you by Grace and Truth and Beauty and Christ • Scholarly yet in layman’s terms, what Lois Tverberg uncovers brings Scripture to light in contextual, astonishing ways. • Theologian and professor, Scot McKnight cuts to the quick and shakes you up and uprights you and this is one very thought-provoking, needful read.… »

A Holy Experience
Review: Interrupted by Rachel Coker

« I loved the emotions that leaped off the page. This book made me feel. Sorry for Allie. Sorrow for her loss. Hurt for how hurt she felt. Happy-but-almost-afraid-to-feel-happy when Sam made her laugh at the beach in that first sweet scene after they’re reunited and she figures out where she knows him from. I also loved that although, yes, author Rachel Coker is seventeen years old, her style is mature. Not just for her age, either. Mature, period, in a grab-my-heart-glue-my-hands-to-this-story way.… »

Inspiring Daring
Review: Secrets weigh heavily in Code of Silence

« Code of Silence—the debut middle grade novel from speaker and devotional author Timothy Shoemaker—has a familiar premise, most recently seen last summer in the blockbuster Super 8: friends forced to keep a traumatic event they witnessed a secret. In this case, the secret doesn’t involve a train car with a mysterious creature inside, but the consequences are nonetheless dramatic. In the novel’s first pages, middle school-aged friends Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy witness an armed robbery at their favorite burger joint and are appropriately scared out of their wits.… »

Crosswalk

See Also:
• Review: Code of Silence—living a lie comes with a price via Book Reporter

Note: This is a collection of recent stories and news items mentioning authors who have published with Zondervan. This list is not comprehensive, it is not always ‘positive,’ and the order of the stories is arbitrary. The views and opinions expressed in this content do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of Zondervan, its authors, agents, employees, or leadership.

Apr 24 2012

April 24, 2012

Zondervan offers statement of condolence on the passing of Chuck Colson, plans to contribute to Prison Fellowship Ministries

« "God gifted Chuck Colson in incredible ways, and he gave it all back to the kingdom for Christ. We were honored to work with him and help carry his message to a hurting world, and I am grateful to have gotten the chance to meet and know Chuck. His passion, focus, energy, stamina, drive, and commitment made everyone who came in contact with him a better person and a better warrior for Christ. Our thoughts and prayers are with Patty, Emily, and the rest of his family during this time," said Scott Macdonald, Zondervan President and CEO.… »

PRWeb

See Also:
• Remembering Charles Colson, a man transformed @ Christianity Today
• Chuck Colson and the conscience of a hatchet-man @ Christianity Today
• Remembering Chuck Colson @ The Colson Center for Christian Worldview
• Chuck Colson media mentions @ Google News
• Zondervan’s Chuck Colson Image Set @ Flickr
• Zondervan’s Chuck Colson Pinboard @ Pinterest
• Zondervan’s Instagram Images (many featuring Chuck Colson)
This Week transcript: Rick Warren

« A lot of people worry about this question, ‘why is there evil in the world? Why does God allow evil?’ To me that’s not the issue. The issue is, why is there good? It’s easy to explain away evil. We have a free choice and our greatest blessing is also our greatest curse because I don’t always make good choices.… We don’t always find answers. Explanations don’t comfort. What comforts is the presence of God, not the explanation of God.… »

ABC News

See Also:
• Dogs go to heaven, maybe not you
• Fundamental differences between Mormons and Christians
• Rick Warren on ministering to Trayvon Martin community
• Rick Warren’s dependency
After losing his wife, Stefanie, to cancer, Chris Spielman shares their story in new book

« Chris Spielman has tackled single fatherhood with the same intensity he once displayed on the football field. More than two years after the death of his wife, Stefanie, of breast cancer at age 42, the former Ohio State and NFL linebacker juggles parenting; work as an ESPN college-football analyst; and numerous appearances to benefit the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, established in 1999.… »

Columbus Dispatch

See Also:
• Chris Spielman details battle with wife’s cancer in new book
• Chris Spielman readies for campus book signing, Ohio State football Spring game
• Ex-Massillon Tiger Spielman sets April 28 book signing
• Q&A with Chris Spielman: his very personal new book
• Spielman wants to offer hope in book
• Buckeye football fever – Chris Spielman’s new book release
Karen Kingsbury debuts at #1 on New York Times bestseller list with latest Zondervan novel, Loving

« Karen Kingsbury debuted at #1 on "The New York Times Bestseller List (Trade Fiction)" with her latest release, "Loving" (March 26, 2012), the much anticipated final installment in the Bailey Flanigan series. Kingsbury said, "I am beyond grateful to my reader friends and my team at Zondervan, along with my agent Rick Christian for their belief in me and for their work on seeing “Loving” hit #1. But more than anything, I am grateful to God. This doesn’t happen outside His moving mountains to make it possible."… »

PRWeb

See Also:
• Who are today’s superstar novelists?
• Christian fiction spring book buzz
The Story Wins Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year

« World Vision-sponsored album "Music Inspired By The Story" has won the 2012 Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year, the Gospel Music Association announced ahead of today’s Dove Awards broadcast. "Music Inspired By The Story," which features 18 songs written by Dove Award-winners Nichole Nordeman and Bernie Herms, is a collaboration between the WOW partnership, Zondervan, Proper Management, and World Vision.… »

Standard Newswire
Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin among athletes on TIME 100 list for 2012

« TIME has released its "TIME 100 for 2012", a listing of "The 100 Most Influential People In The World"…, and Jets quarterback/furor fulcrum Tebow and injured Knicks point guard Lin are both on it, despite neither player having made it through a full professional season as a starter.… »

SB Nation
Taking life "To the Max": Emily Colson talks about the joys and trials of raising an autistic child

« "Twenty years ago, when I was expecting with Max, life looked smooth," said Emily. "I had a husband, a home, and a career." Then, Max failed to tick off the normal milestones of infancy. "He wasn’t walking, crawling or babbling. Finally, at 18 months, he took his first steps." Their son was diagnosed with autism, and "three days later, my husband walked out."… »

Naples Daily News
Author Francis Chan brings answer to Rob Bell’s Love Wins to Holland church

« The soft-spoken author of top-selling Christian books such as "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God" says he’ll be addressing issues of faith he has been grappling with over the past several years when he speaks April 26 at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland. His daughter and Rend Collective Experiment are featured musical guests.… »

MLive

See Also:
• Book review: Erasing Hell
Author Shauna Niequist featured at Lipscomb’s girls only "Naked" event

« Niequist was eager to engage in an open dialogue with the audience, and after opening with a prayer, she spent over an hour answering questions on topics such as relationships, careers, dieting, and personal struggles. These issues correspond with the overall theme of this year’s Naked event, "Lusts of the Flesh."… »

Examiner
New Jersey pastor burned credit card offers in protest

« The rain didn’t stop Rev. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, yesterday from burning credit card offer letters his members brought to church. Standing in the rain, Soaries publicly burned the credit card offer letters in the church parking lot to send a message that financial companies should stop targeting vulnerable borrowers.… »

Christian Newswire
5 leadership lessons in 4 years

« In their book "Sifted", Larry Osborne, Francis Chan, and Wayne Cordeiro talk about the tendency of young leaders to get their leadership energy by "pushing off" the perceived mistakes of other ministry models.… »

Christian Living Resources
Ben Carson on his Local Scholars program

« Dr. Ben Carson has another bestseller on his hands. The iconic director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital’s new book, "America The Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made America Great" (Zondervan), was released in January and hit "The New York Times" bestseller list by February.… »

Baltimore Jewish Times
Calvin College presents the world premiere of Walter Wangerin Jr.’s The Book of the Dun Cow

« Director Stephanie Sandberg loved the book when she read it in grade school but couldn’t find an adaptation that she liked. When the book’s author Wangerin, Jr., was visiting Calvin, Sandberg discussed her dilemma with him, and he suggested she adapt it herself.… »

MLive
Campbellsville University hosts David Brody, Christian Broadcasting Network political correspondent

« "We all go into the lion’s den every day," David Brody, chief correspondent with the Christian Broadcasting Network, said in Campbellsville University’s weekly chapel service. "Mine is the mainstream media."… »

readMedia Newswire

See Also:
• Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody speaks at Campbellsville programs
Karen Spears Zacharias

« You have to admit, "Will Jesus Buy Me a Doublewide (Cause I Need More Room For My Plasma TV)" is one that will get your attention. She spoke of having her first kiss, smoking her first and last cigarette, and asking Jesus into her heart on bended knee in a trailer. She fell madly in love in a trailer (a couple of different times, she says) and gave birth to her first child in a trailer. While writing the book she became unemployed and bought a flat-screen plasma TV. Her publisher, Zondervan, is known for its Christian ethic. So I knew right away this was a book I had to read. Was it a good one? Yes. Was it what I expected? Not at all.… »

Cullman Times
Craig Groeschel urges generations to set aside resentment

« Pastor Craig Groeschel, speaking before 3,500 Christian leaders at Catalyst West, urged younger and older generations within the church to invest their time and efforts toward each other to create the unity needed for change. The leader of the multi-site LifeChurch.tv that draws 30,000 people every week told those in attendance at the conference… that it was time to address "generational tension."… »

The Christian Post
Expert speaks out against sex addiction, porn at lunch

« "Pornography has a neutering effect on men," Arterburn told the more than 200 attendees. "When you saturate yourself with images and fantasy, it becomes increasingly difficult to have a relationship with a real woman." And in a world of cable television, the Internet and instant messaging, impressionable young people are increasingly exposed to images and situations difficult to deal with. Without the benefit of context, Arterburn said, they can adopt the values they see on screen in their lives.… »

Your Houston News
New book fare

« No. 4 in Nonfiction Hardcover: "The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears," by Mark Batterson… »

Washington Post
Renowned speaker/author Carolyn Custis James is keynote speaker at Scenic City

« Carolyn Custis James is known for saying, "the moment the word ‘why’ crosses your lips you are doing theology." Her book, "When Life and Beliefs Collide," delves into the subject that what we know and believe about God is the basis for how we deal with tragedy in our lives. With so many people in the Chattanooga area facing the devastating aftershocks of the tornados, illness, job-loss and economic hardship, the organization was moved to lead this much-needed and timely ministry for the community.… »

Chattanoogan
The Evangelical left in history and today

« Today, stereotyping evangelicalism as a whole only fortifies the influence of the political right on a movement that has a much more varied history. Democrats should therefore applaud President Obama and others working to transcend these traditional political barriers.… »

The Huffington Post
Theologians are OK with Bible translation replacing Jesus Christ, angel

« Dr. Darrell Bock, professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, worked on the Luke-Acts portion of the translation. Bock told "The Christian Post" that although the word "Christ" does not appear in the text, the meaning of the word is still present in the form of the term "Anointed One," which was frequently used in its place.… »

The Christian Post
Review: Your Church is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan

« The tone of the book is genuine and non-judgmental, with contents that could be used as a roadmap for churches who want to be all that God intended them to be. Such a book as this is long overdue. I strongly recommend church leaders, pastors and laity read it. There’s something for everyone in these pages from a pastor who reminds us that "…the gospel should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted."… »

Examiner
Review: How to Read the Bible Through a Jesus Lens by Michael Williams

« This is a charming little book that gives an overview of every book of the Bible and how it relates to Jesus. Williams says: "Reading the Bible through the Jesus lens is reading it the way it was intended. It keeps our reading, understanding, teaching, and preaching properly focused on God’s grand redemptive program that centers on his own son."… »

Patheos
Review: Sketchy Behavior by Erynn Mangum

« I really like the main character, Kate Carter. The author, Erin Mangum did a great job of bringing Kate’s character to life. I also like the way the author tackled the subject of introducing someone to God and the church. Kate had heard of God, but she… »

Christian Children’s Book Review
Review: Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by L.L. Samson

« Self-conscious chapter titles ("Welcoming the Character that Rounds Things Out") and references to literature throughout the narrative make this a feast for middle-grade book lovers. Kids who like quirky adventure stories with idiosyncratic characters will enjoy a simpler kind of fun.… »

Publishers Weekly
Review: The Imam’s Daughter by Hannah Shah

« All in all this is a good read. The story flows well, and the editing has been done with care. Anyone with ties to the British Pakistani diaspora or women’s rights or Muslim evangelism will find much to interest them in this volume.… »

Duane Alexander Miller
Review: My Holy Bible for African-American Children

« What I Like: Everything. The people depicted in most illustrated Bibles are light-skinned. I don’t know what it’s like to be an African-American, but I believe if I were I would appreciate a Bible of this nature.… »

Christian Children’s Book Review
Mike Haynes: C.S. Lewis College encounters money woes

« Two years ago, plans for a "great books" college in Northfield, Mass., named for the great Christian writer, had just been announced, and I wrote, "It would be cool for the Texas Panhandle to be represented in that first class …" in fall 2012. Now I think it would be cool if CSL College opens at all.… »

Amarillo Globe-News
Comerica Bank’s 6th annual Women’s Business Symposium Courage to Change

« This half day event will feature speakers including Dr. John Townsend, nationally known psychologist and author; Rhonda Sciortino, author of Succeed Because of What You’ve Been Through; Trindl Reeves, Principal of Barney & Barney; Trina Norman, Package Division Manager of UPS; Michelle Duong, Managing Partner of AM Solutions Group; M.J. Ryan, best-selling author; and Bonnie St. John—Olympic athlete.… »

PRWeb