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Three New November Releases

Posted on by Kim

We have three new releases today:

  • Rescue Plan: Charting a Course to Restore Prisoners of Pornography by Deepak Reju & Jonathan D. Holmes
  • Rescue Skills: Essential Skills for Restoring the Sexually Broken by Deepak Reju & Jonathan D. Holmes
  • Ready to Restore, New Edition: An Introductory Guide to Biblical Counseling by Jay E. Adams

Rescue Plan: Charting a Course to Restore Prisoners of Pornography by Deepak Reju & Jonathan D. Holmes

256 pages | $16.99 $10.19 | READ A SAMPLE | ebook: $9.99

About

Pornography addiction is a pervasive problem—even in Christian circles. If you want to help someone who has become a prisoner of this sin, you’ll need to know your enemy and the terrain on which you’ll be fighting. Rescue Plan draws on the research and experience of two biblical counselors, giving concrete information and helping you to shape an effective plan of attack for strugglers young and old, whether single, dating, or married.

Although it can stand alone, Rescue Plan pairs with Rescue Skills, also by Reju and Holmes, for maximum effectiveness.

Endorsements

“An extremely practical resource, rooted in the gospel, for porn strugglers and those who want to help them to find freedom.” —John Freeman, Founder, Harvest USA

“Packed with practical, thoughtful truth [and] rooted in scriptural wisdom to help you to lean on Jesus for help.” —Garrett Kell, Pastor, Del Ray Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia

“A practical, biblical, and gospel-saturated guidebook .  .  . remarkably candid .  .  . saturated in gospel hope.” —R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“A comprehensive, hope-filled, and practical guide for sexual sinners regardless of gender, age, or life stage.” —Brenda Pauken, Biblical Counselor, Sterling Park Baptist Church, Sterling, Virginia

“Priceless practical tips, honest words of hope, and an invitation for strugglers to love Jesus more than their sin. . . . [An] excellent resource.” —Darby A. Strickland, Counselor, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation

Rescue Skills: Essential Skills for Restoring the Sexually Broken by Deepak Reju & Jonathan D. Holmes

272 pages | $16.99 $10.19 | READ A SAMPLE | ebook: $9.99

About

Do you know someone who is struggling with pornography use? Unfortunately, it’s likely that you do—but you may not know how to help. In this book, counselors Deepak Reju and Jonathan Holmes provide a treasure trove of straightforward, biblical strategies for guiding a fellow believer toward recovery. You’ll learn how to listen well, develop a plan, understand the body’s role in sexual struggles, and, by God’s grace, keep your friend focused on Christ throughout his or her journey to freedom.

Although it can stand alone, Rescue Plan pairs with Rescue Skills, also by Reju and Holmes, for maximum effectiveness.

Endorsements

“Has the potential to . . . change the way you offer ministry to women and men who battle sexual sin.” —Ellen Mary Dykas, Women’s Ministry Director, Harvest USA

“The most realistic yet hope-filled book I’ve read on helping people with pornography.” —Alasdair Groves, Executive Director, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation

“Compassionate, fresh, practical, convicting, and reproducible. . . . The right book at the right time.” —Dave Harvey, President, Great Commission Collective

“Offers the most comprehensive approach . . . to equip counselors to offer wise, practical, biblical advice to people who indulge in pornography.” —Jim Newheiser, Executive Director, The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship

“A stockpile of necessary wisdom. . . . Your arsenal will be filled with multidimensional tactics specific to the battle against porn.” —Jenny & Curtis Solomon, Authors, Reclaim Your Marriage and Redeem Your Marriage

Ready to Restore, New Edition: An Introductory Guide to Biblical Counseling by Jay E. Adams

160 pages | $12.99 $7.79 | READ A SAMPLE | ebook: $8.99

About

This accessible introductory volume brings Jay Adams’s counseling expertise to ordinary Christians who want to counsel peers in need. Redesigned for its fortieth anniversary and celebrating more than 60,000 copies sold, this edition includes updated lists of critical resources.

Endorsements

“Returns counseling to laymen and women who are well-schooled in biblical hermeneutics, theology, and discipleship. It has all the foundational ideas that make biblical counseling effective.” —John D. Street, Chair of the Graduate Department of Biblical  Counseling, The Master’s University and Seminary

“A very readable small book that will help you to cut your teeth on the basics of biblical counseling.” —Lou Priolo, Pastor of Counseling, Christ Covenant, Atlanta

“The mainstay of many lay counseling training programs since it was first published.” —Jim Berg, Professor of Biblical Counseling, Bob Jones University

“You will be hard-pressed to find a better brief introduction to the biblical rationale and fundamental methodologies of biblical counseling.” —T. Dale Johnson Jr., Executive Director, Association of Certified Biblical Counselors

“The essence of the biblical counseling movement. A primary primer for the encouragement and training of lay folks who do the work of this important ministry.” —Howard Eyrich, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Birmingham Theological Seminary

“This volume contains excellent information on some of the fundamentals of truly biblical counseling.” —Wayne Mack, Director, Association of Certified Biblical Counselors—Africa

Author Interview with John Crotts

Posted on by Kim

This week’s author interview is with John Crotts. He is the author of Hope: Living Confidently in God (31-Day Devotionals for Life series).

  • Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m originally from Virginia Beach, VA. My wife, Lynn, and I have been married for 31 years. We have four kids and one granddaughter. I love watching and playing sports, reading, and drinking coffee.

  • When did you first want to write a book?

I have had a heart to write a book since college. I love the idea of expressing a biblical message that could go places that I will never go and reach people after I am gone.

  • Which writers inspire you?

Too many to list.

  • Have you always enjoyed writing?

Growing up I enjoyed creative writing.

  • What inspired you to write this book, about this topic?

The world is a negative place. I wanted to inspire positive hope from all over the Bible. The format of the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series let me offer a daily dose of hope for a whole month.

  • Do you have a specific spot where you enjoy writing most?

I like writing in coffee shops.

  • What book are you reading now?

I am reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I am trying to pick up some of the classics that I missed earlier in my Christian life.

  • Other than the Bible, do you have a favorite book? 

Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

  • Do you have a favorite author? Who is it and why?

Daniel Silva can write a spy novel so compelling that it almost reads itself. I love losing myself in his stories on long plane trips.

  • Do you have a favorite quote?

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” —Jim Elliot

It is a great reminder to keep one eye on eternity. 

  • What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Writing a book takes way longer than you would think. Be patient. Editors are helping your book be better, not destroying your art. 

  • Do you have a favorite book that you have written?

Probably Graciousness: Tempering the Truth with Love. 

  • At what time of day do you write most?

My best time is mid-morning. 

  • What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

As a pastor, I take it very seriously if someone thinks I have misused Scripture. The best compliments have been about my books helping readers understand and apply the Bible to their lives.

  • Is there anything you would like to add that you have not been asked about?

I have eaten Pizza Hut in over 20 international cities. 

  • Favorite food?

Pizza

  • Favorite flavor of ice cream?

Cookie Dough

  • Favorite animal? Why?

Tiger—powerful and sleek 

  • Do you have a favorite movie? What is it and why?

Gladiator. It is an inspiring story of leadership, responsibility, and overcoming.

  • What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

George W Bush. I would love to ask him about what he was thinking during some of the crisis moments of his presidency

  • Favorite sport to watch? Favorite sport’s team?

My favorite sport changes by season. Boston Red Sox.

  • How can readers discover more about you and your work?

NOW AVAILABLE — Hope: Living Confidently in God

Amazon: $9.99

Christianbook: $8.49

P&R Publishing: $7.50

PCA Bookstore: $7.79

WTS Books: $7.63

Kindle: $6.99

Karl Barth — Newest Release in the Great Thinkers Series

Posted on by Kim

Today is the release of Karl Barth (Great Thinkers series) by Shao Kai Tseng.

Karl Barth by Shao Kai Tseng

256 pages | $15.99 $8.00 | SAMPLE CHAPTER | Kindle: $8.99

Swiss theologian Karl Barth (1886–1968) has made a monumental impact all along the spectrum of theology and ethics. Among evangelicals, however, myths and caricatures have arisen that must be dismantled to achieve a critically and selectively fruitful engagement with his work.

A fresh look at Barth is necessary. Inviting readers to suspend their assumptions and calling evangelicals and Barthians to mutually edifying dialogue, Professor Shao Kai Tseng, a notable Barth scholar, seeks to establish a fair interpretation of Barth’s writings that honors his texts and heeds his intellectual-biographical and intellectual-historical context. He also provides a valuable overview of Barth’s theological impact in both the East and the West to the present day. In the words of Professor George Hunsinger, “This welcome volume takes ecumenical dialogue [on Barth] to a whole new level,” and Professor Michael Horton writes, “I know of no other work that . . . explains Barth’s theology with such skill.”

Endorsements

“Believing that Karl Barth has often been misunderstood by evangelicals, Shao Kai Tseng makes a solid case for taking another look at the Swiss theologian and shows us a way to read him charitably and profitably. If Herman Bavinck engaged and even learned from Kant, Schleiermacher, Hegel, and Feuerbach, the author argues, we can and need to learn from Barth. He’s right about that, and one need not agree with every detail of Tseng’s revisionary reading of Barth to profit a great deal from it. This is a model of how to read theologians with whom one disagrees.”

—John Bolt, Jean and Kenneth Baker Professor of Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Calvin Theological Seminary

“Evangelical and Reformed engagement with the theology of Karl Barth continues to develop and mature, and may enter a new era with Shao Kai Tseng’s work. He advances the conversation by bringing Barth into dialogue with the voices of Herman Bavinck and Geerhardus Vos and also by probing more deeply than either knee-jerk rejection or slavish acceptance of what Barth offers. This study will prove invaluable not just to those who teach on Barth but to all interested in some of the most pressing concerns of the Christian worldview in the twenty-first century.”

—David Gibson, Minister, Trinity Church, Aberdeen; author, Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth

“Karl Barth died more than fifty years ago, but he keeps on being a provocative theologian to new generations. In this book, a fine summary of Barth’s Reformed theology, neo-Calvinist theologian Shao Kai Tseng enthusiastically proposes and participates in a conversation with evangelicals about the core value of Barth’s theology and theirs, to the benefit of both.”

—George Harinck, Professor of the History of Neo-Calvinism, Kampen Theological University

“On many points, as Professor Tseng shows, Barth has been misunderstood by friend and foe alike. I know of no other work that, in brief compass, explains Barth’s theology with such skill and engages it from a confessional Reformed perspective. Tethered to the primary sources, this work also displays the continuities and discontinuities with post-Barthian scholars—in Asia as well as the West. This is a gem.”

—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Theology, Westminster Seminary California

About the Author

Shao Kai (“Alex”) Tseng (MDiv, Regent College; ThM, Princeton Theological Seminary; MSt, DPhil, University of Oxford) is research professor in the philosophy department of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. He is the author of Karl Barth’s Infralapsarian Theology and Barth’s Ontology of Sin and Grace, as well as books on Hegel, Kant, and Barth in the Great Thinkers series, and a contributor to the Oxford Handbook of Nineteenth-Century Christian Thought.

All books in the Great Thinkers series are currently 50% off. Click HERE to view all books in the series.

Author Interview with Kevin Halloran

Posted on by Kim

This week’s author interview is with Kevin Halloran. He is the author of When Prayer Is a Struggle: A Practical Guide for Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer.

  • Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’ve lived in Chicagoland most of my life. That’s where I grew up, met my wife Jazlynn, and where I live now with my wife and daughter. I’ve traveled to Latin America for ministry about a dozen times and have a heart to see the church in that region of the world strengthened and built up. I especially have a heart for Ecuador, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. I’m also excited for the probable release of my book in Spanish.

  • What inspired you to write this book, about this topic?

I wrote When Prayer Is a Struggle in large part for myself. About ten years ago, I realized that I complained too often about how prayer was hard. I also realized that I didn’t do much about it. One time as I complained, God stopped me in my tracks and reminded me what such an attitude said about Him and His gospel. I repented then and told the Lord I was going to do whatever I could do to grow, and that I wanted to help others overcome their obstacles as well. One of the most encouraging things I’ve learned in this process is that if we have a growing faith and love for the Lord, learning a few simple practical tools can help us overcome most of our struggles and pray more faithfully. That’s why I wrote this book. 

  • Do you have a favorite quote? What is it and why?

It’s hard to narrow down a favorite, but one quote that I love and use often (including in a footnote of my book) is this one by J.I. Packer:

“Christian fellowship . . . is not an end in itself. Fellowship between Christians is for the sake of fellowship with God.”

I love it because it reminds me of the link between knowing God and live together as the church, the body of Christ. Yes, sometimes life in the church has its challenges, but it has the best possible goal.

  • What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write as much as you can, get as much feedback from wise and gifted writers/editors as you can, and simply put in the work. It helps to know the goals you’re going after and to make a plan to achieve those goals. If you want to write a book, learn about the publishing process and break the project into pieces. Play the long game, and be faithful over the long-term.

Also, don’t let people tell you you’re too young to write. Robert Murray M’Cheyne died in 1843 at the age of 29, and his writings continue to influence many today. If you have a message burning inside of you that you’d like the world to know, do your best to get it out! You don’t want to die before you can bless people with it. You want to give your work as much time in the wild to bring as much blessing to the world as possible. But conversely, don’t rush the process without need.

  • The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia?

I’m so thankful for both. But if I had to pick one, I’d choose Narnia for a couple of reasons. The first reason is nostalgia. I never got into LOTR as a kid but loved the idea of a magic wardrobe as soon as I heard about it. (I admit I didn’t read the books as a kid, rather my parents would check out VHS copies of the old BBC version of Narnia from the church library!) Another reason I’m more of a Narnia guy may seem petty to some, but it is the length of the books. I can get through a Narnia book much quicker than the longer LOTR books. I don’t have as much time to read as I would like and I value finishing fiction books!

  • Tea or coffee?

Coffee. Strong and black.

  • Do you have a favorite band to listen to? Or a favorite music genre?

I have a unique mix of musical interests and enjoy most genres. When my wife and I were dating, one of the ways we knew we were perfect for each other was realizing that we both liked Christian rap, Spanish worship music from the 80s/90s, and Juan Luis Guerra (a popular mainstream Latin artist who has some Christian songs). We both thought we were the only ones in the world with the same taste! I also enjoy Christian music from decades past like Keith Green and Petra.

  • How can readers discover more about you and your work?

NOW AVAILABLE — When Prayer Is a Struggle

Amazon: $13.99

Christianbook: $11.49

CVBBS: $9.50

P&R Publishing: $10.50

PCA Bookstore: $10.91

WTSBooks: $10.68

Kindle: $9.99

Also available as an audiobook!

Author Interview with Jenilyn Swett

Posted on by Kim

This week’s author interview is with Jenilyn Swett. She is the author of the new book, Singleness: Living Faithfully (31-Day Devotionals for Life series).

  • When did you first want to write a book?

It may have actually been during childhood (I at least wanted to be published as a journalist!), but the first time I gave any real thought to writing a book was about ten years ago.

  • Have you always enjoyed writing?

I have. I loved writing when I was a kid, and was given many opportunities to explore and practice different forms of writing (correspondence, poetry, research, journalism, essays, etc.). In my first year or two of college, one of my favorite professors put a note in the margin of one of my papers: “You write well. What will you do with that?” That was the first time I began to realize that perhaps this thing I enjoyed could serve a greater purpose.

  • What inspired you to write this book, about this topic? 

I’ve always wanted to be married, and grew up with the expectation that marriage was the natural trajectory of my life. But as the years went on and marriage didn’t happen, I started to ask more questions about singleness. How do I live as a single adult? How do I relate to others who are married? What do I do with my longings, desires, and disappointments? It was hard to find answers to these questions. My pastors, professors, and ministry leaders hadn’t experienced extended singleness. There were few solid resources on the topic of singleness. As I began answering some of my own questions “out loud” for others to read, I realized how much of a hunger there was for thoughtful, biblical writing on singleness. That’s when I began to think and pray about writing a book on singleness. I didn’t initially expect that book to be a devotional, but I’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to write Singleness: Living Faithfully for the 31 Days series! This is a devotional I wish I’d had at 20, and 30, and am thrilled to have published at (almost) 40.

  • Do you have a specific spot where you enjoy writing most?

Before the pandemic, I spent a lot of time writing at two different coffee shops that had high-top bar seating along a window. I loved being able to enjoy the energy of a coffee shop while also being able to stare out the window when my eyes and brain needed a break. One of these coffee shops closed during the pandemic, and one lost its window seating when it relocated, so now that writing in coffee shops is possible again, I’m on the hunt for a new spot! The majority of this book was written at a desk in the corner of my bedroom.

  • Do you have a favorite quote? What is it and why?

For several years now, my e-mail signature has included this quotation from Madeleine L’Engle’s book Walking on Water: 

“… the purpose of the work, be it story or music or painting, is to further the coming of the Kingdom, to make us aware of our status as children of God, and to turn our feet toward home.” 

I’ve embraced these words as something as a mission statement for both my writing and the way I seek to live my life.

  • What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I still feel like an “aspiring writer” myself! My advice is to keep writing and to keep reading. Pay attention to what resonates with you as you read others’ work. Write well and artfully when you have the opportunity (even if it’s just in an e-mail or thank-you note), but also take time to just dump words on the page sometimes without overthinking.

  • Favorite food?

I love anything eaten in the company of good friends! I especially enjoy anything that involves either bread, cheese, gochugaru, brown butter, roasted veggies, or noodles.

  • The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia? Why?

The Chronicles of Narnia, because I’ve never been able to make it through The Lord of the Rings (I know, I’m a terrible Presbyterian! I share this because I’m guessing there are others out there who can relate).  

  • Tea or coffee?

Coffee! I take it black, which is something I never expected I’d do.

  • What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

I’d love to meet Terry Gross, who hosts NPR’s Fresh Air. She has had conversations with so many fascinating people over the years, and I’d love to get to know her and experience what a conversation with her would be like! 

  • Favorite sport to watch? Why? Favorite sport’s team?

My extended family is from Wisconsin, so thanks to their influence I love watching and cheering for the Green Bay Packers.

  • How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Now Available — Singleness: Living Faithfully

Amazon: $9.99

Christianbook: $8.49

P&R Publishing: $7.50

Reformation Heritage Books: $6.50

WTSBooks: $7.63