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Pocket-Sized Garage Sale

May 6, 2013 By

UPDATE: This sale is officially over! We sold all 1400+ copies in THREE DAYS. The good news is that the book is still available in its second edition via Amazon. Click here to purchase your copy: Pocket Guide to the Bible: A Little Book About the Big Book

I have a few friends who’ve had books published, or are in the process of writing and/or publishing books now. It has been fascinating to learn how publishing works by watching them and listening to their stories. One of the many tidbits I’ve picked up is that the work isn’t done once your book is written, printed, and shipped to stores. Sometimes, weird things happen, and you the author have to figure out what to do with dozens of boxes of your unsold books that your publisher or distributor will no longer store for you.

pocket guide to the bible in garageThis happened a few years ago to Jason Boyett’s book, The Pocket Guide to the Bible. (You may remember this interview I did with him a few months ago, about another book.) This book is thoroughly researched and well-written –it’s accurate and informative without being stiff, academic, stodgy, or, well, boring. Jason’s style is entertaining, informative, and refreshing, making this the perfect book for young people, new converts, and anyone interested in learning more about the Christian faith. So it was strange to hear that a few years ago, for reasons I still don’t quite fully understand, Jason had to find a home for over 9,000 copies of the book. A local church offered space in their facility for a number of years, and over time he has managed to sell almost 8,000 copies on his own. However, last week he lost that space and had to move the remaining 1400 books into his garage.
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Filed Under: Faith and Doubt 12 Comments

Highly-Recommended New Book PLUS 25 Free Gifts When You Order By May 7th!

May 1, 2013 By

My friend Frank Viola has just released a new book called God’s Favorite Place on Earth. I had no idea what to expect when I read it, but this book? I believe it could change your relationship with God. It could help you defeat bitterness, free you from a guilty conscience, and help you overcome fear, doubt and discouragement. I say this because it’s doing exactly that for me.

God's Favorite Place On Earth book cover

The premise of the book is simple and straight from the gospel accounts of Jesus’s life: when Jesus was on the earth, He was rejected everywhere He went . . . from Bethlehem, to Nazareth, to Jerusalem. The only exception was the little village of Bethany.

The curtain opens with Lazarus, who is now quite old and ready to die. He bring to life the sometimes-too-familiar stories of Jesus’ interactions with him, Martha, and Mary. God’s Favorite Place on Earth blends drama, devotion, biblical narrative, and first-century history in a riveting way that I found difficult to put down. But then, within each narrative, we see the common struggles we Christians face addressed and answered.

This is a book that will jar you out of your “Christian rut” and help you see everything through new eyes. It’s a quick, inspiring, and entertaining read.

In addition, when you order the book between May 1st to May 7th, you will also get 25 FREE GIFTS from 15 different authors including Leonard Sweet, Jeff Goins, Andrew Farley, Steve McVey, DeVern Fromke, Pete Briscoe, Frank Viola himself, and many others.

Over 47 Christian leaders have recommended the book, including me.

This is my endorsement for “God’s Favorite Place on Earth.”

“Frank Viola’s new book God’s Favorite Place on Earth couldn’t have reached me at a better time. For some time now, I’ve been grappling with the pain of being rejected, misunderstood, and judged by other Christians, and I didn’t know how dangerously bitter I’d become. Frank’s book gave me much-needed perspective on the way God reconciles these difficult experiences, both in Jesus’ life in the flesh and in ours. It showed me how I had slipped into the modern church’s focus on the self and success, and how that set me up to be bitter instead of forgiving, cynical instead of surrendered. I had forgotten that God’s greatest work comes in and through my weakness and brokenness. This book is a timely and poignant reminder, through the story of Jesus’ life and His one safe place, of the way God can redeem the pain of rejection by fellow believers and do amazing things through our own weakness when we embrace our brokenness and surrender to God.”

Go to GodsFavoritePlace.com to claim your 25 FREE GIFTS, read a sample of the book, and watch the video trailer.

Filed Under: Faith and Doubt, Reviews 1 Comment

On Loving, Hating, Bullies, and Forgiveness

April 12, 2013 By

My friend Nish shared this article by Beth Moore tonight, and I knew as soon as I read her words, that I needed to read it and that it was going to kick my butt. Then I read it, and I was right.

Life is hard enough without hatefulness rife in the Body of Christ. We are called to carry one another’s burdens, not pile relentlessly on top of them. We can still hold one another accountable. We can still ask questions. We can still disagree. But we can do it with respect.

I’m sick of the bullying. The mud-slinging and the meanness. I’m sick of careless, idle words thrown out there in the public square and professing believers in Christ standing on the necks of their own brothers and sisters to sound smart and superior. As if it’s not enough that we are surrounded in this culture by Christian haters, we’ve got to have our own hater-Christians. It’s insane.

When we turn people into caricatures, everything’s game. The moment we depersonalize them, our consciences harden and we can mock and slander at will and have a blast doing it. Snide blogs and tweets and Facebook posts about various leaders can also be effective ways to jump in their spotlight. Bullies aren’t just mean. They’re self-serving. They’re platform-hunting. They have to borrow one to perform.

Ouch. Sometimes I have prayed for the people I have criticized, but not always. Sometimes I have prayed for love in my own heart, but not always.

We need to do better. But first, I need to do better. Forgive me for my lack of grace and love.

I love the Body of Christ. I don’t want want to get cynical. I don’t want to sit around and hate the haters or I become one. But this morning I just want to say this. We can love each other better. Let’s do. People have enough hurt. Let’s be careful with one another.

Read Beth Moore‘s entire article, “Sadness and Madness,” here.

 

Filed Under: Blogging, Faith and Doubt
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