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

New book - Your Powerful Prayers by Susie Larson

Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith by Susie Larson - The all-powerful God of the universe loves you and wants to talk with you! Drawing from thirty years of journaling, trusted author and radio host Susie Larson shares the secrets to effective prayer. She will help you put into action the powerful combination of a humble reverence before God and a tenacious hold on the promises he gives his beloved children, drawing you closer to God and changing how you see yourself and your circumstances.

Sharing personal stories and biblical insights, Susie shows how to:

- Pray specifically and persistently for God's promises

- Overcome common hindrances to effective prayer

- Move from begging and pleading to praying and believing

Discover your unique identity in Christ and confidently embrace his personal provision, power, and love.

Book information:

Title: Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith

Author: Susie Larson

Call number: 245 LAR

New book - Surprise the World by Michael Frost

Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People by Michael Frost - Christianity is a surprising religion. It has changed the world in remarkable ways throughout history simply through Christians living out their faith. More recently, we've become afraid of a habituated Christianity, thinking that routines will rob our faith of its vitality. The net effect is that we've replaced the habits that surprise the world with habits that mimic the world - and both we and the world suffer for it.

Integrating the five habits in the BELLS model--Bless others, Eat together, Listen to the Spirit, Learn Christ, and understand yourself as Sent by God into others' lives--will help you spread the gospel organically, graciously, and surprisingly.

Michael Frost, a world-renowned expert on evangelism and discipleship, makes evangelism a lifestyle that is fulfilling, exciting, effective, and easy to live out! 

Book information:
Title: Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People
Author: Michael Frost
Call number: 264 FRO

New book - The Volunteer Revolution by Bill Hybels

The Volunteer Revolution: Unleashing the Power of Everybody by Bill Hybels - Pastor Bill Hybels believes that there is a new reality in America. The church has entered an era of growth and unprecedented spiritual opportunity to share the Gospel, yet at the same time we face a shrinking economy and a world in crisis. This poses a great resource challenge for the church. In order to reach out to people who are spiritually hungry, the church needs more people to be equipped to serve others. Hybels passionately believes the key to the future of the church is the equation "X (paid staff) + Y (volunteers) = Z (bearing much fruit for God’s glory)." Churches cannot afford to continue hiring more and more staff with limited budgets. The key to resourcing the church is what Hybels calls "the Y factor." The Y factor is the pool of volunteers in every church. The great need of the church is to grow the church’s volunteer base through the equipping ministry of church staffs. As churches recover the message of Ephesians 4:11-12 to "equip God’s people for works of service" they will launch a Volunteer Revolution. People are just waiting to discover the gifts and passions that God has given them to serve others and then be invited to use those gifts and passions through the local church in order to advance the kingdom of God on Earth.

Hybels believes that every church staff should be helping people discover their spiritual gifts, passions and place of service in order to meet the growing needs in our churches and world. Hybels makes a clarion call to move beyond volunteer retention to volunteer acquisition. By attracting, connecting, training, and sustaining volunteers, churches will mobilize people into places of service that will bring new meaning to their lives and understand why God put them on planet Earth. Hybels also outlines how we can build lifelong volunteers in the church through community, celebration, and commendation.

Book information:
Title: The Volunteer Revolution: Unleashing the Power of Everybody
Author: Bill Hybels
Call number: 201 HYB

New book - Simplify by Bill Hybels

Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul by Bill Hybels - Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Overscheduled. Sound familiar? Today's velocity of life can consume and control us ... until our breakneck pace begins to feel normal and expected. That's where the danger lies: When we spend our lives doing things that keep us busy but don't really matter, we sacrifice the things that do.

What if your life could be different? What if you could be certain you were living the life God called you to live--and building a legacy for those you love? If you crave a simpler life anchored by the priorities that matter most, roll up your sleeves: Simplified living requires more than just cleaning out your closets or reorganizing your desk drawer. It requires uncluttering your soul. By eradicating the stuff that leaves your spirit drained, you can stop doing what doesn't matter--and start doing what does.

In Simplify, bestselling author Bill Hybels identifies the core issues that lure us into frenetic living--and offers searingly practical steps for sweeping the clutter from our souls. 

Book information:
Title: Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul
Author: Bill Hybels
Call number: 201 HYB

New book - Descending Into Greatness by Bill Hybels and Rob Wilkins

Descending Into Greatness by Bill Hybels and Rob Wilkins - In a society where "upward mobility" is the highest goal, Bill Hybels asks a tough question: Do Christians place God's desires first-or their own? In Descending into Greatness, Hybels and writer Rob Wilkins take the example of Christ's downward journey as it was meant to be; the radical and essential answer for every Christian. In fourteen powerful chapters, the authors explore such topics as How Jesus managed power. The intentional decisions necessary to move down. The uplifting nature of true humility. Abundant life through dying to self. The ambush of joy. Moving down is never an easy matter that can be reduced to a formula. It involves a life committed to discipleship. Descending into Greatness introduces you to the touching stories of modern men and women committed to advancing the kingdom of God: from the pro football player, to the medical missionary, to a businessman wrestling with the priorities in the world of finance. Descending into Greatness asks tough questions and gives hopeful answers. Now, this powerful, urgent message also includes a discussion guide so that you can follow through, too. "Like Christ, we must descend-into self-abandonment, unconditional giving, sacrifice, and death to self. And, like Christ, we will then ascend-into fulfillment, blessing, joy, and purpose."

Book information:
Title: Descending Into Greatness
Authors: Bill Hybels and Rob Wilkins
Call number: 201 HYB

New book - Who You Are When No One's Looking by Bill Hybels

Who You Are When No One's Looking: Choosing Consistency, Resisting Compromise by Bill Hybels - "When I listen to the evening news or read the morning paper these days my reaction is always the same: what's wrong in our world will not be set right until people who love God and who refuse to cave to these overwhelming challenges put the things they believe into action, things like courage and discipline and love." Bill Hybels.

Who You Are When No One's Looking has pointed the way to godly character for more than twenty years. Now Bill Hybels's essential book is completely revised and updated, featuring a new introduction, a new concluding chapter ("World-Change: When Character Counts Most") and a discussion guide for groups. Read this book to discover who God is calling you to be in the world around you.

Book information:
Title: Who You Are When No One's Looking: Choosing Consistency, Resisting Compromise
Author: Bill Hybels
Call number: 201 HYB

New children's book - Big Truths for Little Kids

Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt -

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Deuteronomy 6:6-7a

Your children are a blessing from God. A gift that brings an abundance of joy and the privilege of teaching them God's ways. When they're young their potential to learn is amazing. And because actions and beliefs go hand in hand, the lessons they learn from you now will shape their lives forever.

This wonderful book, with its easy-to-use story format, can help you teach the basic truths of the Christian faith to your children. They'll learn right along with Caleb and Cassie that God's ways are the best—and that even as kids, they can live for His glory every day.

Book information:
Title: Big Truths for Little Kids
Authors: Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt
Call number: 940 HUN