Christian Lifestyle
 Hard Corps
Combat training for the man of God
by Dai Hankey
DJ, rapper and church-planting welsh pastor looks at men of courage and heroism in the Bible and uses them to model a robust Christian walk for 21st centuiry men.
Good Book Company. Paperback. 124 pages. £7.99
 Loving Mercy
by Simon Ponsonby
The truly Spirit-filled life is one that has a heart for the marginalized - looking outward rather than inward. The more we become Christ-like, the more we will focus our hearts and minds on spreading justice in every practical way. Justice is God's design plan, his DNA, the hallmark of righteousness. Salvation and social transformation are inextricably linked - Jesus was a leper lover, he had time and space for the poor, he called for justice. How do we reflect these attitudes?
Published by Monarch. Paperback. 181 pages. £8.99
 Working successfully with screwed-up People
by Elizabeth B Brown
A practical book about coping with fellow-workers who don't listen, don't care or aren't willing to compromise, the incomprehensible supervisor, the person in the next office who chats more than works, the customer who is always right! Published by Revell. Paperback. 272 pages. £7.99
 Stumbling Blocks
Conquering the Stuff That Holds You Back
by Gavin and Anne Calver
A book that looks at some of the things that hinder faith - the problem of suffering, leaders who behave disgracefully, unanswered prayer, the number of oddballs in the church.
Published by Monarch. Paperback. 158 pages. £7.99.
 Pure Joy
by Christopher Ash
Conscience is a God-given part of being human, with tremendous potential for good. 'This book is about the joy of a clear conscience in every day of living and in the day of death,'' enthuses Christopher Ash. 'With a clear conscience, we can enjoy not just the stuff we think of as "spiritual", but all sorts of things like sleep, sport, friendship and holidays.
Published by IVP. 200 pages. Paperback. £9.99
 Flirting with the Forbidden
by Steven James
In this life temptation lurks round every corner. But just because we must live with temptation doesn't mean we have to let it master us. Steven James reflects on temptation, discipleship, and grace to help us grow in discernment and develop a deeper, more intimate walk with Christ.
Published by Revell. 186 pages Paperback. £7.99
 Moving in the Right circles
by Chick Yuill (IVP)
Packed with stories and illustrations, this book explores how Christians can live life to the best. Chick Yuill explores the four concentric circles that make up the authentic Christian life:
• walking in the company of Jesus
• growing in the community of believers
• engaging with the culture of the times
• looking to the coming of the King
 The Radical Disciple - Wholehearted Christian Living by John Stott (IVP)
So many of us avoid radical discipleship by being selective, choosing rather those areas in which commitment is appealing, and steering well clear of areas where it will be costly. But because Jesus is Lord, we have no liberty to pick and choose.
John Stott looks at eight characteristics of Christian discipleship, which are commonly neglected yet deserve to be taken seriously.
 Outlive your Life
by Max Lucado
What sort of legacy will each of us leave after this life?
This is Max Lucado's call to each of us to seize our 'once-in-history opportunity' and make a difference.
100% of the royalties from Outlive your life products are devoted to benefit children and families through World Vision and other faith-based ministries of compassion.
 The Dangers of a Shallow Faith
by AW Tozer
Spiritual lethargy is one of the greatest dangers to confront a believer in his or her day-to-day walk with God. In this never-before-published book, Tozer issues a warningl for all Christians to awaken to the times in which we live and stand boldly against spiritual and moral slumber.
Published by Regal Books. Paperback. 217 pages. £9.99
 Crazy Love by Francis Chan
With a foreword by Chris Tomlin and endorsements from Joni Eareckson Tada and Louie Giglio, this book should appeal to a wide readership. This is the first book by an American pastor with a passion to see Christians more wholly devoted to God.
After chapters that look at the awesomeness of God, human mortality and God's "crazy, relentless, all-powerful love" Chan challenges his readers to take risks for God. He seeks to inspire us rather than shame us into total commitment, and yet his message does challenge our lukewarm, self-engrossed response to God's love.
 The me I want to be
Becoming God's best version of you
by John Ortberg (pub: Zondervan)
In his latest book, the author of If you want to walk on water you've got to get out of the boat reminds his readers that life is not about any particular achievement or experience. The most important thing is not what you do but who you become.
Your life is God's project. His vision for you is not just that you are saved by grace, but that you also learn to live by grace, flourishing with the Spirit flowing through you.
 I’m a Christian aren’t I - Growing in confidence with God by Dan Clark (IVP)
Many people think of themselves as Christians but aren't quite clear what that means. Some feel confused, or disappointed with God. Others have never fully embraced a relationship with Jesus.
Dan Clark helps the reader put together all the pieces of what being a follower of God really means. Challenging us to explore what Jesus' priorities are, readers will discover a richness in their Christian life which may have been lacking.
 A Skeptic’s Guide to Faith by Philip Yancey (Zondervan)
For some people religious faith seems to come easily but for others it comes in a swirl of doubts and questions. Philip Yancey, like many of us, has struggled with his faith. In this book, previously published as Rumors of another World, he asks the question “Is the physical world around us all there is?” and then proceeds to examine the possibility of two coexistent worlds – the visible and the invisible.
 Last things first - Living in the light of the future by Graham Beynon (IVP)
Why think about the future? After all, 'what will happen, will happen', it only leads to controversy and argument, and it's irrelevant to life now. Graham Beynon shows that the real danger is that we don't think about the future. God in his Word puts last things first - the whole gospel is shaped around what is to come. God has a plan for where he is taking this world, and his people are called to live in the light of that future.
 Right Side Up – Life as God meant it to be by Paul Grimmond. (Matthias Media)
In a book originally intended for new Christians, but relevant to people at all stages on the Christian life, an Australian pastor explores what it means to put Jesus first in our lives and let him turn our world upside down – or is it right side up?
 Love & War - Finding the marriage you’ve dreamed of by John & Stasi Eldredge (Hodder)
Following John Eldredge’s book for men, Wild at Heart and Stasi & John’s book for women, Captivating, the couple turn to a book on marriage. Drawing upon their own 25 years of marriage they talk frankly, separately and jointly, about the high’s and lows of marriage. Provocative chapter titles include “A perfect storm”, “How to have a really good Fight” and “Back to back with swords drawn.”
 The Message of Holiness - Restoring God's masterpiece by Derek Tidball (IVP)
The concern for 'holiness' has been central to the evangelical movement since its inception - and the way evangelical Christians have understood it has been far from uniform. In this wide-ranging volume, Derek Tidball expounds key biblical passages by letting them speak for themselves, rather than adopting a systematic perspective. His ultimate objective is to see the lives of God's people increasingly transformed, in conformity with his character.
 The Universe Next Door - A basic worldview catalogue by Jim Sire (IVP)
For more than thirty years, The Universe Next Door has set the standard for a clear, readable introduction to worldviews. In this new fifth edition James Sire offers additional student-friendly features to his introductions to theism, deism, naturalism, Marxism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern monism, New Age philosophy and postmodernism. Included in this expanded format are a new chapter on Islam and informative sidebars throughout.
The Universe Next Door has been translated into over a dozen languages and has been used as a text at over one hundred colleges and universities in courses ranging from apologetics and world religions to history and English literature.
 Fearless by Max Lucado
His Latest Book!
Max Lucado looks at things that make us fear.
Fear of not mattering ... Fear of Worst-case Scenarios ... Fear of violence ... Fear that God is not real ... Fear of global calamity ... and much more
 Cherished by Rachel Gardner
A book for teenage girls from a publisher you can trust (IVP) written in a contemporary, anecdotal style to help girls know they are lovable, unique, full of potential and cherished.
Working without Wilting
by Jago Wynne
Another book from IVP, this time for those just starting work and those who want to stick at it, to help them apply their faith in the workplace. The author has worked as a Management Consultant and as Workplace Minister at All Souls Langham Place, London.
Do nothing to change your life
by Stephen Cottrell (Bishop of Reading)
 The quote on the front cover affirms that this book is “A joyous affirmation of life for anyone feeling exhausted, bitter or dismayed by the pace of modern life”. The author encourages his readers to take a step back from the busyness of everyday life in order to take time to become more aware of the inner self and the places where their lives and God’s life might touch. By doing nothing, a person’s experience of life can be changed. This small book (89 pages) is grounded in Stephen Cottrell's reflections on experiences in his everyday life.
Facing your Giants by Max Lucado
 David - you could read his story and wonder what God saw in him. His life has little to offer - the unstained, straight-A saint. He fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. But for those who know the sound of Goliath, David gives this reminder:-
Focus on Giants - You Stumble
Focus on God - Your Giants Tumble
This book shows once again Max Lucado’s gift as a storyteller. In ways so simple everyone can understand, yet challenging, Lucado explains the basics for defeating the problems that seem to control our lives. Suitable for everyone, from new Christians to the more experienced.
Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels
 Just Walk Across the Room, takes its title from an incident at a cocktail party when a man detached himself from his cosy group and walked across the room to talk to a lone stranger. That really says it all!
The book is about personal witness. Hybels, one of the authors of Becoming a Contagious Christian, advocates building up a relationship of trust over a period of time, following a “3D” approach – first develop friendships by engaging in the lives of other people, then discover their stories, and finally discern the next steps.
Review by David Williams. Appeared first in 'Christian Marketplace'
For Young Women Only - by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa A. Rice
 Written by the same author as For Women Only, For Young Women Only attempts to answer the question, ‘Why are guys so weird?’. Using a national scientific survey, and personal interviews, this book gives the low-down on what’s going on inside men's heads. It explores issues like body language, inner and outer beauty, and what the phrase ‘guys are visual’ actually means. Men of different ages and backgrounds attempt to explain why they value respect more than love, and how ‘Mr. Tough Guy’ may actually have a tender heart.
This book is your chance to find out what he’s thinking; about himself, and also about you! A must read for girls aged 15 to 20!
The Way Of The Wild Heart - John Eldredge ISBN: 0785288686
 “This is a book about how a boy - and a man - becomes a man.” So reads the tagline to John Eldredge’s follow-up to his now classic Wild At Heart. His aim is not to provide a manual to manhood (there are plenty of those). Instead this is a roadmap and, like all roadmaps, it is a guide, a heads-up to give you the lay of the land while leaving you free to choose how to cover the terrain before you.
This is essential reading for a generation of men frequently bereft of father figures. Manhood, says Eldredge, is not something that comes overnight. There are distinct stages one must go through, all of which are important and essential, and largely ignored by today’s instant culture. This is a book with two goals – to guide men into the way of real manhood, and to show fathers how to do the same for their sons. And most importantly, it counters the myth many men buy into that this is something we must do alone. We have the greatest father figure of all, our heavenly Father. And there is no greater rite of passage or adventure than that on which the untameable Holy Spirit will take us, if we allow him.
Desiring God by John Piper - £9.99
 “This is a serious book about being happy in God. It’s about happiness because this is what our creator commands.” So begins John Piper’s classic book, drenched in the liberating and radical truth that pursuit of pleasure, far from being frowned on by the Bible, is in fact a command of God: that we glorify Him by enjoying Him forever. He shatters the distinction that the pursuit of pleasure and the pursuit of God are mutually exclusive, rather they are one and the same. He asserts that biblical self denial does not mean a life of sobriety but to “Deny yourselves lesser joys so you don’t lose the big ones.” Doing good should not be a duty but a joy. Again and again, John Piper encourages us to turn from the crumbs of earthly pleasures to the great banquet of joy that is our inheritance.
As well as a new study outline this updated edition includes new material such as the chapter ‘Suffering: the Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism’. Written partly as a response to 9/11, it explores how God has appointed suffering for all His children, but that much of it is a choice in response to joy in the hope set before us.
When I Don’t Desire God (How To Fight For Joy) by John Piper
 In his earlier book Desiring God John Piper gave us the liberating truth that joy in Christ is fundamental to the Christian faith. However the reality is that many don’t experience that joy or desire. “If it is true that being happy in God is what our creator commands, many will cry WHAT ABOUT ME!?”
When I Don’t Desire God is John Piper’s response to that. As the subtitle suggests, true Christ-centred joy - indeed faith - is not something we experience without effort but something for which we must fight. He shows how we must use prayer and a knowledge of God’s word to “fight for joy like a justified sinner.” These are not cosy truths. His aim is “not to soften cushions but sustain sacrifice.” This is a book for all those defeated Christians, both to encourage and give hope, and also to exalt them to stand up and fight the good fight of the faith.
Wild at Heart by John Eldridge - £7.99
Every man once was a little boy. And little boys, have big dreams. Whether it’s jetting into space or scoring the FA Cup winning goal. But what happens to those dreams when the little boys become men.
This book is designed to encourage men to recover their masculine heart, to start becoming more like Jesus by showing that although Jesus was meek and mild he was also a man of strength who challenged the Pharisees and the ideals of his time without compromise.
It then goes on refining its message with some of the writer's own experiences. This book from start to finish is an engrossing read that leads you through how to become stronger, more masculine in its truest form and ultimately more like Jesus.
Travelling Light by Max Lucado
 There are certain weights in life you simply cannot carry. The suitcase of guilt. The trunk of discontent. A backpack of anxiety and a hanging back of grief. Add on a briefcase of perfectionism, an overnight bag of loneliness, and a duffel bag of fear. No wonder we are so tired at the end of the day.
Using the phrase of Psalm 23, Max Lucado identifies 17 different burdens we often carry around and shows us the first steps of releasing them. He says "Your Lord is asking you to set them down and trust him. He is the father at the baggage claim. When a dad sees his five-year old son trying to drag the family trunk off the carrousel, what does he say? The father will say to his son what God is saying to you. 'Set it down, child, I’ll carry that one.' What do you say we take God up on his offer? We might just find ourselves travelling a little lighter."
On Making Choices by Margaret Silf £4.99
 In this book the author looks at many aspects of making choices. She seeks to ‘make the process less stressful, more focused and more fruitful’. This book offers tools that combine the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions with the common sense of the 21st century. She encourages us to trust the processes of our own hearts and minds rather than offering rules.
Margaret Silf is a retreat leader and popular author.
Age of Opportunity A Biblical Guide to parenting teens - by Paul David Tripp - £12.50 
At the end of this book, the author encourages parents who are daunted by the challenges they face that God “calls us to climb mountains in small steps”. He is realistic about the challenges of the teenage years and offers help in understanding what is happening, as well as offering practical suggestions for relating to teenagers, and dealing with issues that arise during the teenage years.
The crime of living cautiously by Luci Shaw – £9.99
Luci Shaw encourages her readers to make an active choice to live by faith rather than by fear, with the assurance that God will “either provide us with something rock-solid to land on and stand on, or He will teach us how to fly”.
This Biblically-based book also includes examples of Luci’s poetry. Chapters include “God’s call or my impulse?”, Breaking the fear barrier” and “The risky adventure of the unknown”.
God will make a way by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr John Townsend - £9.99
Subtitled What to do when you don’t know what to do this book offers both ‘principles for the way’ and ways of working out the principles in everyday life and its challenges. There are lots of examples that show how these principles can make a difference to life. All of this is in the context of God’s ongoing love and involvement in every aspect of life.
The Highway Code to Marriage by Michael & Hilary Perrott - £6.99 
“Good marriages do not just happen – they are made. Marriage is not just the sharing of four walls, a bank account and a bed.” So say the authors of a new book, The Highway Code for Marriage, published by Crusade for World Revival.
The Highway Code for Marriage, is intended for couples who are about to get married, people who are giving up on their marriage, and people who want to make their marriage even better. It is an attractively-produced pocket-sized book of 106 pages presented in a punchy point-by-point Guide Book format with liberal use of bullet points, bold shoulder-heads and tinted boxes to assist readability.
It suggests seven secrets for a happy marriage –
- Communication
- Affection
- Respect
- Encouragement
- Forgiveness
- Unselfishness
- Loyalty
The Highway Code for Marriage includes sections on money, in-laws, children, “affairs” and, of course, sex. The book is sprinkled with pithy, thought-provoking statements – “Do not spoil an apology with an excuse” … “The most important sexual organ is the mind” … “Women think aloud, men talk silently” … “ ‘I’m proud of you’ works wonders” … “Forgive or fester” … “Apology is a sign of strength not weakness” … “Talk her up not down”.
The Highway Code for Marriage is written from a Christian perspective but is suitable for people of any faith or no faith. It is not full of religious jargon or Bible verses and could be given to non-christian friends or colleagues who are about to get married or struggling with their marriage.
The Highway Code for Marriage, by Michael and Hilary Perrott, 106 pages, is published by Crusade for World Revival and priced £6.99 (ISBN 1-85345-331-5).
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