Free/Bargain Christian Interest November, 2013

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How the Bible Came to Be by J. Daniel Hays is one of Baker's Ebook Shorts and is free at B&N and Amazon.

Christians believe that the Bible is divine communication--God's message to human beings. But how did ancient people capture the very words of God? How were these words passed down? Why were some books included in the Bible while others were not? And how do we know that these texts have been faithfully translated over the ages?

Discover the answers to these questions and more in How the Bible Came to Be. In this succinct ebook you'll find up-to-date biblical scholarship from leading evangelical scholars, covering the inspiration, canonization, translation, and transmission of both the Old and the New Testament. From the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint to the first English translations and the most recent translations, How the Bible Came to Be immerses you in the fascinating story of the most important book of all time.

Compassion: A Call to Take Action by James W. Goll and Michal Ann Goll is free at B&N and Amazon.

Jesus demonstrated compassion in everything He did and everyone He touched. Jesus lived it and breathed it. He was and is compassion itself.

Authors James and Michal Ann Goll share lessons they have learned from the Lord that will rekindle the compassion within you. As God is the source of all compassionate action, you will discover that your compassion is a reflection of His unfailing love.

Through the profiles of nine compassionate women who were instrumental in helping millions throughout a hurting world, you will be inspired and encouraged to become a pioneer of compassion in your own world.

Models of compassion include:

• Catherine Booth & Florence Nightingale
• Mother Teresa & Hannah More
• Elizabeth Fry & Nancy Ward

Do you wonder what it takes to be a compassionate person? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Follow the example of Jesus--He converted desire into deed, and made all the difference in the world.

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HarperCollins has a couple of interesting books for $2.99. I linked B&N and Amazon, but I expect that they'll be the same price at other stores.

Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe for the Next 1,500 Years by John Philip Jenkins
B&N Amazon

Jesus Wars reveals how official, orthodox teaching about Jesus was the product of political maneuvers by a handful of key characters in the fifth century. Jenkins argues that were it not for these controversies, the papacy as we know it would never have come into existence and that today's church could be teaching some-thing very different about Jesus. It is only an accident of history that one group of Roman emperors and militia-wielding bishops defeated another faction.

Christianity claims that Jesus was, somehow, both human and divine. But the Bible is anything but clear about Jesus's true identity. In fact, a wide range of opinions and beliefs about Jesus circulated in the church for four hundred years until allied factions of Roman royalty and church leaders burned cities and killed thousands of people in an unprecedented effort to stamp out heresy.

Jenkins recounts the fascinating, violent story of the church's fifth-century battles over "right belief" that had a far greater impact on the future of Christianity and the world than the much-touted Council of Nicea convened by Constantine a century before.

The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us by Douglas A. Knight and Amy-Jill Levine
B&N Amazon

In this lively and fresh introduction to the scriptures of ancient Israel (what Christians call the Old Testament and Jews call the Tanakh), two preeminent biblical scholars, Douglas A. Knight and Amy-Jill Levine, combine their passion and expertise to examine not just what the Bible says but what it means. Through their eyes we see anew the Bible’s literary brilliance, moral profundity, historical settings, and implications for our faiths and our future.

Passed down for generations, compiled between 500 and 100 BCE, and finalized around the time of Jesus, the various accounts in the Hebrew Bible took shape under a variety of cultures. Drawing on their extensive biblical scholarship, Knight and Levine explore this diverse history and equip us with the critical tools necessary to understand what the ancient texts originally meant. With long experience in teaching candidates for the ministry as well as undergraduate and graduate students, they also explore the possible meanings the texts hold today for churches, synagogues, and anyone interested in the Bible’s legacy.

Knight and Levine begin with the broader biblical story—its historical context, literary artistry, and geographical setting. They then turn to the major biblical themes with which modern readers continue to wrestle: law and justice, human evil and God’s response, belief and practice, chaos and creation, war and peace, gender and sexuality, politics and economics, practical wisdom and apocalyptic vision. For each topic, they provide both general overviews and specific analyses of select biblical passages, explaining how and why their approaches reveal new insights and offering various strategies for informed interpretation.

Throughout, Knight and Levine inspire us to ask new questions and develop a deeper understanding of one of the greatest collections of literature known to humankind—as illuminating today as it was two thousand years ago.

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New freebies:

Flabbergasted: A Novel by Ray Blackston
B&N Amazon

Jay is new in town. He's young, successful, and single, and he's not afraid to plop down in a church pew to scope out the females. But in the murky waters of the South Carolina singles scene, Jay's whole world is in danger of being turned upside down.

ReLaunch by Dr. Mark Rutland
Publisher page with links

A church in deep debt with attendance down by the thousands. A college that had lapsed into a coma, its buildings in shambles, its faculty demoralized, its enrollment at rock bottom. A university facing lawsuits, scandal, and near-bankruptcy. Each situation involved different financial needs, different lost dreams, different personal wounds. But they each had one thing in common: each needed a leader who could restore hope, vision, and viability.

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason
Publisher page

When Zac Sparks's mother dies, he's sent to live in Five Corners with his cruel old Aunties. It isn't long before Zac knows something strange is going on. Five Corners is populated with weird characters—a midget butler, a girl who doesn't speak, a blind balloon seller, a mysterious singer, and the Aunties' father, Dada. Zac's first encounter with Dada is so terrifying that he faints dead away.

The one bright spot is Sky Porter, a friendly soul who encourages Zac and shows him kindness. But Sky isn't what he seems either, and when Zac learns Sky's amazing secret he sees that this wonderful man may have a very dark side as well. Discovering that Dada is an evil magician who is intent on stealing the ultimate treasure, Zac knows that many lives are at stake, including his own.

How People Change by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp
Publisher page

A changed heart is the bright promise of the gospel.

When the Bible talks about the gift of a new heart, it doesn't mean a heart that is immediately perfected, but a heart that is capable of being changed. Jesus' work on the cross targets our hearts, our core desires and motivations, and when our hearts change, our behavior changes. It's amazing to watch people who once seemed stuck in a pattern of words, choices, and behaviors start living in a new way as Christ changes their hearts.

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The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord's Prayer by John Dominic Crossan is on sale for $2.99.
B&N Amazon

Every Sunday, the Lord’s Prayer echoes in churches around the world.

It is an indisputable principle of Christian faith. It is the way Jesus taught his followers to pray and distills the most essential beliefs required of every one of the world’s 2.5 billion Christians. In The Greatest Prayer, our foremost Jesus scholar explores this foundational prayer line by line for the richest and fullest understanding of a prayer every Christian knows by heart.

An expert on the historical Jesus, Crossan provides just the right amount of history, scholarship, and detail for us to rediscover why this seemingly simple prayer sparked a revolution. Addressing issues of God’s will for us and our response, our responsibilities to one another and to the earth, the theology of our daily bread, the moral responsibilities that come with money, our nation-states, and God’s kingdom, Crossan reveals the enduring meaning and universal significance of the only prayer Jesus ever taught.

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Risen: 50 Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything by Steven D. Mathewson and Craig Blomberg is free at B&N and Amazon.

Have you ever wondered why it's important that Jesus didn't just die on the cross but also rose again? In fifty brief chapters, Risen answers your questions and offers faith-filled meditations on the resurrection, taking these ancient truths and applying them to contemporary life. With compelling insight, Steven Mathewson shows not only why Jesus had to die but why his resurrection was necessary--and how our lives change when we understand and embrace this essential truth of the Christian faith.

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New freebies:

Storm Warrior: A Believer's Strategy for Victory by Mahesh Chavda, Bonnie Chavda, Bill Johnson
B&N Amazon

Are you facing a challenge? A defeat? A serious threat? Then you need to know more about Jesus' strategy for His people. Join seasoned prophetic evangelists and renowned authors Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda in implementing the authority that is already yours in Christ. Through keen biblical insight and astonishing living examples, they help you embrace as never before the fact that the perfect Storm Warrior sits on the highest seat of authority in heaven. He reigns over all--disease, calamity, even death. And He gives an impartation to all who commune with Him in truth. As you become saturated with the Lord Jesus, you, too, become a carrier. You become a storm warrior of God.

Jesus provided the example and the empowerment for you to be victorious in any circumstance. You already have the equipment you need to manifest the Kingdom. This believer's handbook will show you how to use it.

The King's Legacy by Jim Stovall
Publisher page

In a land and time far from our own, there was an enchanted kingdom ruled by a benevolent and much-loved king. He had led his people through times of uncertainty and turmoil into a golden age of prosperity and peace. Now, nearing the end of his storied reign, the king longs to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.The king's most trusted advisor steps forth with a remarkable idea: To discover the wisdom of the ages, the greatest secret of the known world to benefit the entire human race. Little does the king know that the profound answer will come from the most unexpected and unassuming of places.

The Language of Sparrows by Rachel Phifer
Publisher page

Brilliant and fluent in too many languages to count, 15-year-old Sierra Wright can't seem to communicate what is important to her in any language. Though April Wright stubbornly keeps an upbeat attitude about her daughter's future, she has let her own dreams slip away. Just across the bridge lives old Luca, scarred from his time in a Romanian gulag years before. Though he has seemingly given up on people, Sierra is drawn to him despite his prickly edges.

No one else is comfortable with the unpredictable old man spending time alone with Sierra, not even Luca's son. Yet it is this unconventional relationship that will bring two families together to form friendships and unearth their family stories, stories that just might give them all the courage to soar on wings toward a new future.

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A few more freebies:

The Scent of Water: Grace For Every Kind of Broken by Naomi Zacharias
Christianbook Amazon

Follow Naomi as she talks to women working in brothels in Mumbai; survivors of an Indonesian tsunami in which more than 160,000 lives were lost; a young girl waiting on an operation to save her life; and victims of domestic violence horrifically burned by fire. Be still with her when she realizes the pain she feels in the face of these extreme injustices reveals a common struggle that exists within all of humanity. And rise with her as she wrestles with confusion over her identity, comes face to face with redemption, and then begins to understand her own story...and to find her calling.

The Scent of Water will open your eyes to the complexities of the world, showing you pain can also be beauty, and how each are found in the unlikeliest of places.

A Stubborn Sweetness and Other Stories for the Christmas Season by Katherine Patterson seems to only be available at Amazon.

A Stubborn Sweetness and Other Stories for the Christmas Season is a collection of modern-day short stories by Katherine Paterson, award-winning author of Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins- both loved by children and adults for over twenty years. This compilation includes stories of real-life people such as a shopping mall's night watchman, a lonely widower, a pregnant teenage runaway, a political prisoner in China, a grieving mother, and a privileged American, who have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas because of loss, pain, greed or circumstances. Through unexpected and uplifting ways, each is reminded of the first Christmas story and the vision of hope and peace it offers the world. They realize that even in the darkness, the light and song of Christmas can be seen and heard.

This heart-warming gift book, filled with stories of real people finding hope, courage, and faith amidst life's circumstances, radiates the spirit of the season and reminds each of us what Christmas truly means. Originally written to be read during her church's Christmas Eve service, this collection of holiday stories is perfect for individuals, families, and churches to read and share during the season.

The Lawman Claims His Bride by Renee Ryan is available at other stores, but for some reason is a free preorder at Amazon.

For five years, U.S. Marshal Logan Mitchell has dreamed of returning to his sweetheart in Denver. He never imagined he'd find Megan Goodwin locked in a prison cell. Megan has no memory of what happened the night the outlaw was murdered. And though Logan is sure of her innocence, proving it is only half the battle. Remembering the killer's identity will clear Megan's name but could lead danger right to her door. Logan will protect her life with his. But forging a true marriage takes trust, faith and the courage to open their hearts to God's plan—wherever it leads….

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Zondervan has put several interesting books that are normally $6.99, on sale for $2.99. The publisher pages below each have a "Buy now" link that will take you to your favorite retailer.

Kobo is listed, but is the only one that hasn't dropped its prices (both books are still $6.99 at the moment). If you want to gamble on waiting, Zondervan books are eligible for coupons at Kobo and in addition to the various contest codes and sometimes-working 80% off mentioned in this thread, UNLIMITED50 is a multi-use, 50% off coupon that's good all weekend.

Note that all of these books are presented from an evangelical Christian point of view and presuppose the historical accuracy of the Bible.

The Bible among the Myths: Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature? by John N. Oswalt
Publisher page

Sixty years ago, most biblical scholars maintained that Israel’s religion was unique---that it stood in marked contrast to the faiths of its ancient Near Eastern neighbors. Nowadays, it is widely argued that Israel’s religion mirrors that of other West Semitic societies. What accounts for this radical change, and what are its implications for our understanding of the Old Testament? Dr. John N. Oswalt says the root of this new attitude lies in Western society’s hostility to the idea of revelation, which presupposes a reality that transcends the world of the senses, asserting the existence of a realm humans cannot control. While not advocating a “the Bible says it, and I believe it, and that settles it” point of view, Oswalt asserts convincingly that while other ancient literatures all see reality in essentially the same terms, the Bible differs radically on all the main points. The Bible Among the Myths supplies a necessary corrective to those who reject the Old Testament’s testimony about a transcendent God who breaks into time and space and reveals himself in and through human activity.

The rest of these are the (currently) five volume Ancient Context, Ancient Faith series.

The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge
Publisher page

As the early church moved away from the original cultural setting of the Bible and found its home in the west, Christians lost touch with the ancient world of the Bible. Cultural habits, the particulars of landscape, even the biblical languages soon were unknown. And the cost was enormous: Christians began reading the Bible as foreigners and missing the original images and ideas that shaped a biblical worldview.

This new book by New Testament scholar Gary Burge launches a multivolume series that explores how the culture of the biblical world is presupposed in story after story of the Bible. Using cultural anthropology, ancient literary sources, and a selective use of modern Middle Eastern culture, Burge reopens the ancient biblical story and urges us to look at them through new lenses. Here he explores primary motifs from the biblical landscape---geography, water, rock, bread, etc.---and applies them to vital stories from the Bible.

Finding the Lost Images of God by Timothy S. Laniak
Publisher page

Images are frequently used in the Bible to describe God and his relationship with his chosen people. Without an accurate understanding of the images, we cannot comprehend the profound biblical revelations they communicate. Understanding these cultural vehicles of communication comes by learning the cultural background of those who created them. Timothy S. Laniak illuminates this background for readers “from the ground up” with his archaeological and anthropological explanations of the contexts the authors lived in. Suitable for students, pastors, and lay leaders, the Zondervan ebook Images of God and His People links these cultural characteristics with the images of God with corresponding images of his people found in the Old and New Testaments. This complementary approach reveals a rich relationship between God and the people he loves and calls into his service.

Encounters with Jesus by Gary M. Burge
Publisher page

Christian readers of the New Testament study the great stories about Jesus through the lens of western culture. In this series of books, Gary Burge uses his extensive knowledge of the first century world and the Middle East to offer insights not available to the average person. Each book will develop important cultural themes and wrap them around well-known New Testament passages. And the result will be insights rarely gained elsewhere.
See Jesus through the eyes of two men and three women. Each character in the story---a tax collector, a Phoenician woman, a centurion, etc.---brings along elements from their own world now hidden from us because we do not share the culture of Jesus' world. Insights from the first century Middle East abound to unlock profound insights about Jesus and his audience.

Jesus and the Jewish Festivals by Gary M. Burge
Publisher page

Christian readers of the New Testament study the great stories about Jesus through the lens of western culture. In this series of books, Gary Burge uses his extensive knowledge of the first century world and the Middle East to offer insights not available to the average person. Each book will develop important cultural themes and wrap them around well-known New Testament passages. And the result will be insights rarely gained elsewhere. Observe how Jesus celebrated the great festivals of Judaism. In each of the six accounts, you will explore the Jewish festival as it was celebrated in the first century and then examine how Jesus used the imagery of the festival to unveil his own mission. Explore the Jewish Sabbath, Passover, Tabernacles, and Hanukkah as Jesus knew them.

Bringing Jesus to the Desert by Brad Nassif
Publisher page

This Zondervan ebook sketches out the rise of the great Desert Fathers and Mothers of the 3rd - 6th centuries, and then shares the stories and sayings of five of their greatest leaders. It will instill wisdom in the everyday lives of modern Christians through the storytelling of great monastic biographies taken from Egypt, Palestine and Syria.

This book is written so that common Christians can follow the lives and teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers as a contemporary guides to the spiritual life. It applies the timeless principles of their lives without advocating for their particular lifestyles in the desert. Desert disciples from the 3rd to 6th centuries will be our compelling models of Christian living by inspiring us to live to our fullest potential through their moving stories and timeless teachings. Their tender stories and colorful sayings offer key insights for living in the heart of the urban desert today.

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Two new freebies from Baker Publishing:

God Girl: Becoming the Woman You're Meant to Be by Hayley DiMarco
B&N Amazon

When you become a God Girl, your life will never be the same.

The God Girl is the most amazing girl on earth. She loves God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. She knows where she came from and where she is going. Her life isn't perfect--sometimes it's messy. But what makes her different from just any girl is her relationship with the Creator of the universe. A God Girl isn't just interested in God, she's connected to him.

Not a Sparrow Falls (The Second Chances Collection Book #1) by Linda Nichols
B&N Amazon

In this powerful story of redemption and love, a prodigal young woman from the hills of Virginia flees the men who lured her away from a godly upbringing into a life of desperation. Taking on a new identity, Mary Bridget Washburn escapes to the quaint city of Alexandria, Virginia, where her path crosses that of a widowed minister with three young children and daunting problems of his own. Can Mary Bridget and her tainted past stay hidden long enough for her to bring hope to a family falling apart?

Additionally, The Scent of Water: Grace for Every Kind of Broken is now free at B&N.

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New freebies:

Drawing Closer to God: 365 Daily Meditations on Questions from Scripture by Dianne Neal Matthews
B&N Amazon

The Bible is full of questions asked by God, Jesus, ordinary people, Satan, and even a donkey. Some are questions that we wrestle with but are reluctant to voice. Others are asked to comfort, to convict, or to reinforce spiritual principles.

With Drawing Closer to God, you'll uncover amazing and insightful spiritual truths from 365 of these questions. Each devotional includes Scripture and a question designed to encourage reflection and prayer, leaving you with practical takeaway for your day and a renewed appreciation for God's Word.

Long Story Short by Marty Machowski
Publisher page

Christian parents know the importance of passing the gospel story on to their children, yet we live in a busy world filled with distractions. Schedules collide, there is homework and yard work and dishes and laundry, the car's oil should be changed, there are phone calls to make and before you know it, everyone is getting to bed late again. The Bible can seem like a long story for an active family to read, but when you break it down into short sections, as Marty Machowski does, family devotions are easy to do.

Long Story Short will help busy parents share with their children how every story in the Old Testament points forward to God's story of salvation through Jesus Christ. You won't find a more important focus for a family devotional than a daily highlighting of the gospel of grace. Clever stories and good moral lessons may entertain and even help children, but the gospel will transform children. The gospel is deep enough to keep the oldest and wisest parents learning and growing all their lives, yet simple enough to transform the heart of the first grader who has just begun to read. Ten minutes a day, five days a week is enough time to pass on the most valuable treasure the world has ever known.

You Are God's Plan A by Dwight Robertson
Publisher page

Every day and everywhere, everyone can live a powerful life of Kingdom impact ... Jesus-style!

One ordinary life making a powerful difference—that's God's amazing "Plan A" on display. Using real-life, riveting stories and a contemporary scriptural lens, Dwight Robertson shows how God's exciting kingdom-building plan takes life—literally—in ordinary individuals. Robertson explains how God calls and equips average, everyday people—even those who don't think they have anything special to contribute—to creative ministries that are as distinct and unique as the individual. God's Plan A encourages average Christians everywhere to follow the model of Jesus: ministering up close, one life at a time, outside church walls in our everyday lives. God's Plan A involves all of us ... and there is no Plan B.

Songs in the Key of Solomon: In the Word and In the Mood by John and Anita Renfroe
Christianbook (DRM-Free) eChristian (DRM-Free, Watermarked) B&N Amazon
Update: They added a publisher page.

Ladies, are you tired of trying to engage your man in something he is reluctant to do? Let’s face it: husbands are not normally seen running to bookstores to buy a couple’s devotional.

And guys, are you tired of feeling like the term “devotional” is code for “boring? You may be thinking, Please, not one more thing to check off my daily to-do list. Plus, you and your wife have different views on what intimacy is all about, right?

If either of you is wondering if you’re living more with your “roommate” than your “soulmate,” then this devotional can help you meet on common ground and discover each other in new ways. You won’t even need an alarm clock to wake you when your “devotional time” is finished.

Filled with insights from a real couple on real issues, Songs in the Key of Solomon will get you and your spouse laughing, thinking, sharing, touching, and praying – possibly all during the same reading. Each offering in this devotional is designed to spark connections around issues that matter, so you’ll deepen your emotional, spiritual, and physical unity and ignite new levels of intimacy. (One devotional involves a bathtub and some candles...try not to get stuck on that one page over and over again.)

Here is an invitation to hear the music in your marriage – maybe for the first time…or maybe once again.

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Wounded Women of the Bible: Finding Hope When Life Hurts by Dena Dyer is free at B&N and Amazon.

Imploding relationships, incapacitating losses, injurious personal mistakes, or spiritual failures-whatever the issue, the wounds are the same. Whether it's a lapse in judgment by Bathsheba or the moral failure of the women's ministry leader in your local church; the spiritual insensitivity of Martha or the compulsive obsessions of your church's care circle chairwoman; the terror of an abandoned single mother like Hagar or the struggling single mother in your prayer group-the time and circumstances are different, but the wounds are equally deep and spiritually devastating. Dena Dyer and Tina Samples get it. They have their own stories of pain before healing-along with similar experiences of their families and friends. Offering more than pat affirmations or vicarious shoulders to cry on, Dena and Tina delve deep into the shared emotions and injuries that women of all ages have in common-and move readers toward the recovery and healing that only God can provide. No matter what hurts you've experienced, Wounded Women of the Bible proves that God understands and that healing is not only His intention but His delight! This is a book not to be missed!

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Some bargains:

Jesus and the Gospels by Craig L. Blomberg is is on sale for $4.99 at Christianbook (DRM-Free), eChristian (also DRM-Free) and B&N. It's $4.64 at Amazon. It's $19.99 to $39.99 elsewhere.

This second edition of Jesus and the Gospels prepares readers for an intensive study of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the events they narrate. Craig Blomberg considers the historical context of the Gospels and sheds light on the confusing interpretations brought forth over the last two centuries. The original 1997 book won a Gold Medallion Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, and this updated version, factoring in new scholarship, debate, critical methods, and the ongoing quest of the historical Jesus, ensures the work will remain a top tool for exploring the life of Christ through the first four books of the New Testament.

Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses by Bruce Feiler is $2.99 at B&N, Kobo and Amazon. It's a HarperCollins book, so ineligible for Kobo coupons in the US.

Both a heart-racing adventure and an uplifting quest, Walking the Bible describes one man's epic odyssey—by foot, jeep, rowboat, and camel—through the greatest stories every told. From crossing the Red Sea to climbing Mount Sinai to touching the burning bush, Bruce Feiler's inspiring journey will forever change your view of some of history's most storied events.

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Two Christmas-themed freebies from Baker Publishing:

Devotions for Advent (Ebook Shorts): Meditations Based on Best-Loved Hymns by Robert J. Morgan
B&N Amazon

Grow closer to God through the hymns you love to sing

The great hymns of the faith are not only meaningful songs we love to sing--they teach us about God and ourselves. They are miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly toward worship, testimony, exhortation, prayer, and praise. They clear our minds, soothe our nerves, verbalize our worship, summarize our faith, and sing our great Redeemer's praise.

In Devotions for Advent, bestselling author Robert J. Morgan has gathered favorite hymns as well as classic, lesser-known gems to guide your quiet time with God during Advent. Each devotional contains an opening story about the hymn or its writer, the lyrics to the hymn, and a closing Scripture. Hymn titles are listed in the table of contents so you can find your favorites easily.

Perfect for any music lover, this is a unique journey into the songbook of praise that has defined our worship for centuries.

When Mother Was Eleven-Foot-Four: A Christmas Memory by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt
B&N Amazon

"This is the story of the Christmas of 1963, which is the Christmas that I learned what it means to be a giver of gifts."

In a beautifully written holiday memoir, the author tells the story of his mother, whose romantic nature and love for Christmas left a lifelong impression on her son. From her, he learns that sometimes you need to give what "your head tells you you can't afford, and your heart tells you you can't do without."

Mother has always celebrated Christmas with a flourish. So when she loses the Christmas spirit, her three young sons work hard to remind her what the season is about. The way her astounded reaction turned a corner for the family is something the author has never forgotten.

And neither will you. With vivid characters who are as timeless as the message, this delightful story will become a treasured part of your holiday traditions.

I also want to mention that I've started reading Jesus and the Gospels and it's really good. It was written as an introductory text for undergrad theology students and offers a pretty comprehensive overview of the historical context of early Christianity and the New Testament. I'm not far enough into the book to have reached the discussion of the gospels themselves, but if the rest of the book is as good as what I'm reading now, $4.99 is an absolute bargain.

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The Reunion: A Novel by Dan Walsh is free at B&N and Amazon.

Aaron Miller knows a thing or two about loss. He's lost love. Dignity. Second, and even third, chances. Once honored for his heroism, he now lives in near obscurity, working as a handyman in a humble trailer park.

But God is a master at finding and redeeming the lost things of life. Unbeknownst to Aaron, someone is searching for him.

With deep insight into the human heart, consummate storyteller Dan Walsh gently weaves a tale of a life spent in the shadows but meant for the light. Through tense scenes of war and tender moments of romance, The Reunion will make you believe that everyone can get a second chance at life and love.

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New freebies:

Who Jesus Is and Why It Matters by Jim Wallis
B&N Amazon

Who was Jesus? Why did he come? Some people think it was to save them from their sins, so their spiritual focus is personal salvation. Others appreciate Jesus's teachings but see little connection between the wise teacher of old and how they live life here and now.

Both groups have lost the true vision of who Jesus is--a vision that changes everything about us and our world. What we believe about Jesus has the power to transform how we treat all our neighbors--including the poor, the marginalized, and our enemies--and promote the common good.

Jim Wallis steps into our current context with this timely invitation for fellow sojourners on the road of faith to change the world in sustainable, life-giving ways. He explores what Jesus himself said about why he came and why it matters today, showing that our faith impacts our household values, our community values, and our institutional behaviors for the sake of the world. He suggests "Ten Personal Decisions for the Common Good" that will inspire you on your journey.

Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends by Leighann McCoy
B&N Amazon

Evil is real, and Christian women know it. While most books on the topic of spiritual warfare take a charismatic approach, Spiritual Warfare for Women aims directly at the center of the evangelical market, giving instruction and assurance to all women who want to protect themselves and the ones they love. McCoy provides spiritual wisdom and practical tips on identifying the enemy's strategies, overcoming fear, and exercising the power that comes from God. The book is structured around the battle between God's love and Satan's lies. Once a woman can embrace the first and reject the second, she is well on her way to victory.

The Twenty-Piece Shuffle by Greg Paul
Publisher page

In the dark corners of the inner city, the most destitute people in society are searching for anything to numb their hurting souls. And there are some who display the most extreme mix of need and anticipation: the twenty-piece shuffle, a jittery walk marked by wide-eyed desperation, named after the street tag for a piece of crack cocaine.

But the addiction to whatever will numb a troubled spirit is not confined to the streets. Suffering is not bound by social class, and pain is not held at bay by white-picket fences. In a wealthy society that equates money with happiness, we often remain unaware of our own addictions -- the things we chase to sooth our spirits. And while our need may not be as visible, it is no less real.

Greg Paul believes that the rich, the impoverished, and everyone in between can learn much from each other if they're willing to walk together. Join Greg as he takes a look at a remarkable paradox, where the poor can miss their blessedness while the wealthy overlook their own desperate needs, and reveals why God has always called the wealthy and powerful to care for people who are poor or excluded.