New book - God's story, your story by Mark Matlock and Max Lucado

God's story, Your story: When His Becomes Yours (Youth Edition) by Mark Matlock and Max Lucado - Is there a story behind the daily drama of your life? Being a teenager isn’t always easy. From homework to after-school jobs to having to think about the future, life can feel chaotic. But did you know that the chaos and confusion, as well as the joys and excitements you experience, are part of God’s ordered plan? In this teen adaptation of God’s Story, Your Story, bestselling author Max Lucado explores the divine narrative in the New Testament, as well as several contemporary examples, to show how your everyday life is part of God’s bigger redemption story, and that God is there, no matter what you may face in your life. Real teen responses and real-life application questions are also included to help you further connect God’s narrative to your own. Because God’s story is your story — and he is adding to your chapter every day.

Book information:

Title: God's story, Your story: When His Becomes Yours (Youth Edition)
Authors: Mark Matlock and Max Lucado
Call number: 249.6 MAT

New book - Wesley on the Christian Life by Fred Sanders

Wesley on the Christian Life: the heart renewed in Love by Fred Sanders - John Wesley was one of the most important figures behind the founding of modern evangelicalism. From his crucial role in the Great Awakening to his inspiring a renewal movement within the Church of England, Wesley's historical significance is undeniable and his legacy still challenges us today, regardless of our denominational affiliation or theological perspective. Offering an approachable introduction to Wesley's life and writings, Fred Sanders invites us to learn from Wesley's reliance on the Spirit, passion for holiness, and zeal for the gospel in this winsome portrait of an extraordinary Christian leader.

Book information:

Title: Wesley on the Christian Life: the heart renewed in Love
Author: Fred Sanders 
Call number: 267.3 SAN

New book - Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado - 

Common people ...

Story after story marked by scandal, stumble, and intrigue. Who are these people? They're the people of the Bible.

And they're us. We find our stories in theirs. We find our hope where they found theirs. In the hands of an uncommon God.

In the midst of them all ... hovering over them all ... is the hero of it all: God. Maker. Shaper. Rescuer of sinking hearts. God. Passing out high callings, second chances, and moral compasses to all comers and takers.

In this gathering of inspiring stories from his numbers best-selling books, master storyteller Max Lucado revisits some of his favorite biblical characters -- all of whom were very human and imperfect, just like us.

If God can find a place for them ... He might just have a place for us too.

Book information:
Title: Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God
Author: Max Lucado
Call number: 201 LUC

New book - Every Season Prayers by Scotty Smith

Every Season Prayers: Gospel-Centered Prayers for the Whole of Life by Scotty Smith - Topically Arranged Prayers for Individual, Family, and Church. God calls us to pray, and we want to talk to our heavenly Father. But so often we don't know what to say, or we feel like our words are getting no higher than the ceiling above us. Prayer should draw us closer to God, but guilt over past prayerlessness or confusion over what to pray can have the opposite result. 

In the pages of "Every Season Prayers," pastor Scotty Smith offers readers a treasure trove of prayers that will lead them into a more intimate relationship with God. Topically arranged so readers can easily find the sentiments that match their needs, issues, and moods, this delightful book includes prayers for: 

• everyday concerns, from health and relationship issues to expressing gratitude
• voicing our feelings, stories, and struggles to God
• listening to the heart of God
• congregational confession and worship
• Advent, Lent, and Passion Week
• and more 

No matter what their season of life or their daily reality, readers will find a prayer that they can lift up to God.

Book information:

Title: Every Season Prayers: Gospel-Centered Prayers for the Whole of Life
Author: Scotty Smith
Call number: 245 SMI

New book - I Am a Church Member by Thom S. Rainer

I am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference by Thom S. Rainer - Best-selling author and ministry leader Thom S. Rainer drew an exceptional response when he posted a 500-word declaration about church membership to his daily blog. "I Am a Church Member" started a conversation about the attitudes and responsibilities of church members -- rather than the functional and theological issues -- that previous new member primers all but ignored.

Thoughtfully expanded to book form, I Am a Church Member begins to remedy the outbreak of inactive or barely committed church members, addressing without apology what is expected of those who join a body of believers. When a person's attitude is consistently biblical and healthy, matters of giving, serving, and so forth will fall into place more naturally.

Book information:

Title: I am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference

Author: Thom S. Rainer

Call number: 261 RAI

New book - Living in the Light by John Piper

Living in the Light: Money, Sex & Power by John Piper - Whether we’re rich or poor, married or single, in a position of great influence or not — all of us face temptation in the areas of money, sex and power. They are the dangerous opportunities of our time—opportunities to destroy our own souls, or to experience the true joy of using them for God’s glory. John Piper shows us that when we have the blazing glory of Christ at the center of our spiritual solar system, the planets of money, sex and power find their true and beautiful orbits. 

This book is for every Christian and will help you to wake up to the all-satisfying glory of God, and discover what you were made for. 

Book information:

Title: Living in the Light: Money, Sex & Power

Author: John Piper

Call number: 201 PIP

New book - Shaken by Tim Tebow

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms by Tim Tebow - First, he was a beloved college football champion, Heisman trophy winner, media sensation, and best-selling author drafted in the first round of the 2010 Draft. Then he had a miracle playoff run with the Denver Broncos before being traded to the New York Jets. After one season he was cut by New York. Next he was signed by the New England Patriots then let go after training camp—a scenario that repeated itself the following summer with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tim Tebow has achieved big victories and plunged the depths of failure, all while never letting go of his faith, even in the face of doubt and disappointment. In Shaken he explains why neither the highs nor the lows of his life can define him—and he reveals how you, too, can find confidence in your identity and know who you are. In revealing passages, Tebow pulls back the curtain on his life, sharing the vulnerable moments of his career that have shaken him to his core—while also teaching the biblical principles that will enable you to keep the faith, no matter what comes your way.

Book information:

Title: Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms'

Author: Tim Tebow

Call number: 267.1 TEB

New book - After College by Erica Young Reitz

After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships and Faith by Erica Young Reitz -

"The first year out was one of the hardest years of my life." - Curt 

The years after college can be some of the most uncertain, unstable times of life. Recent graduates grieve the loss of community, question their place in the world and struggle to find meaningful work. It can be shocking to discover that college did not fully prepare you for the challenges you now face. 

"It's much rougher than I thought. I thought things would just play out, and they didn't. I don't have friends, I don't have a job and I hang out with my parents every night." - Kate. 

But you are not alone. For more than a decade, Erica Young Reitz has specialized in helping college seniors and recent graduates navigate the transition to post-college life. Drawing on best practices and research on senior preparedness, she offers practical tools for a life of faithfulness and flourishing during a critical, transitional time. This practical guide addresses the top issues graduates face: making decisions, finding friends, managing money, discerning your calling and much more. Discover how you can thrive beyond your undergraduate years. If you feel lost in transition, here are resources to help you flourish as a Christ-follower in a complex world.

Book information:

Title: After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships and Faith

Author: Erica Young Reitz

Call number: 249.6 REI

New book - Jesus Among Secular Gods by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale

Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale - Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale defend the absolute claims of Christ against modern belief in the "secular gods" of atheism, scientism, relativism, and more.

The rise of these secular gods presents the most serious challenge to the absolute claims of Christ since the founding of Christianity itself. The Christian worldview has not only been devalued and dismissed by modern culture, but its believers are openly ridiculed as irrelevant. In JESUS AMONG SECULAR GODS, Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale challenge the popular "isms" of the day, skillfully pointing out the fallacies in their claims and presenting compelling evidence for revealed absolute truth as found in Jesus. This book is fresh, insightful, and important, and faces head on today's most urgent challenges to Christian faith. It will help seekers to explore the claims of Christ and will provide Christians with the knowledge to articulate why they believe that Jesus stands tall above all other gods.

Book information:

Title: Jesus Among Secular Gods: The Countercultural Claims of Christ

Authors: Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale

Call number: 138 ZAC