Free/Bargain Christian Interest, December 2013

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Free:

The World of Jesus: Making Sense of the People and Places of Jesus' Day by Dr. William H. Marty
B&N Amazon

Know Jesus Better by Understanding What Shaped His World

Sometimes it's hard to find your bearings in the New Testament, as you enter the time and place of Jesus and His disciples. There are confusing practices, new people groups, and even unexplained religious conflicts. How did it all come about?

Dr. William Marty walks you through the history leading up to the arrival of Jesus in order to help you better understand His life and teachings. He answers such questions as:

• Why did "Israelites" start being called "Jews"?

• What's a "synagogue" and what happened to worshiping in the temple?

• Who were the Pharisees and why was Jesus so upset with them?

• Why didn't anyone like the Samaritans?

Get to know the times in which Jesus lived, so you'll better understand His teaching and ministry. And along the way, discover how God prepared the world for the One who would turn it upside down.

The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside your Door by Jay Pathak, Dave Runyon
B&N ($9.99 at Amazon)

When Jesus was asked to sum up everything into one command, he said to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Most of us have turned this simple idea of loving our neighbors into a nice saying, putting it on bumper stickers and refrigerator magnets and then going on with our lives without actually putting it into practice.

What would happen if every follower of Jesus took the Great Commandment literally? Is it possible that the solution to our society's biggest issues has been right under our noses for the past two thousand years?

I'm No Angel: From Victoria's Secret Model to Role Model by Kylie Bisutti
B&N Amazon

In December 2011, 21-year-old Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel Kylie Bisutti stunned the fashion industry when she chose faith over fame and fortune and made the switch from supermodel to role model.

In I’m No Angel, Kylie shares her story—from her early years struggling to make it big in the cut-throat world of modeling, her “big break” winning the Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel competition, and the disillusionment and spiritual warfare that followed, to the moment she realized that she could no longer reconcile her career with her Christian beliefs, surrendered her life to God, and dedicated her life to preaching a message of modesty and inner beauty.

Along the way, Kylie talks about her personal struggles with inadequacy, low self-esteem, and her near-constant quest for approval in a world where you can never be thin enough, pretty enough, or sexy enough. She helps readers understand that true beauty lies within and that real fulfillment comes from knowing, loving, and serving Christ.

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Free for Kindle only:

Where's My Edward?: Seeking A Twilight Romance by Laura Gallier
Amazon

He’s passionate, thoughtful, courageous, and committed. Edward is more than Bella’s Twilight soul mate—he’s an icon for what nearly every woman hopes to find in a man. In response to the masses of women asking, “Where’s my Edward?” author Laura Gallier insightfully separates fact from fiction and presents the reality of what it takes to find and cultivate a lasting love connection. Single and married readers will find answers to their most pressing love-related questions and uncertainties, along with timeless, biblical principles for finding and maintaining romance. Twilight fan or not, you will be encouraged that in the midst of widespread relational instability, marital conflict, and divorce, it is possible to cultivate a healthy, lasting love
relationship.

Ireland Rose by Patricia Strefling
Amazon

Baltimore-born Ireland Rose, daughter of Irish immigrants, must be married by her seventeenth birthday. Rose's father finds a suitable husband, Captain Camden Lovell, twenty-seven years her senior. Captain Lovell takes his bride to Charleston, provides her with a beautiful home on the Battery and good standing in Charleston Society.

Three years later Rose is a widow. Captain Wyatt, her husband's trusted employee is now in charge of her affairs. Rose senses he does not like her. One day he brings a young woman with child to her - and a secret that must be kept. A little girl is born, and Rose becomes a mother. Captain Wyatt offers to marry her in name only to protect her from Charleston society gossip, but she is determined she will not marry a second time for protection. She will marry for love or live alone.

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New Freebies:

Chasing Superwoman: A Working Mom's Adventures in Life and Faith by Susan DiMickele
Publisher page with links to ebook retailers

The Christian community tends to operate under the assumption that the only women attending church are traditional stay-at-home moms. But in truth, more than 75% of mothers with school-age children work outside the home.

Chasing Superwoman gives these working mothers what they’ve been craving—a funny, intelligent, relevant exploration of what it means to live out a vibrant faith amidst the many demands placed on their time and energy. Chasing Superwoman provides a much needed dialogue (not a formula) about the complex spiritual struggle of the working mother, plus a lot of laughter and encouragement for working women to embrace their busy life and trust God’s grace for getting it all done.

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson
B&N Amazon

The small town of Parrish Springs is not ready for Matilda Honeycutt. A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town's quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn't fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.

My Glimpse of Eternity by Betty Malz
B&N Amazon

In this bestselling, beloved true story, twenty-seven-year-old Betty Malz was pronounced dead. Almost thirty minutes later she returned to her body--to the amazement of her grieving family and the stunned hospital personnel.

This is her amazing account of what she saw, felt, and heard on the other side of the dividing wall that we call death. And it's the moving, real-life story of how God changed a young mom who had to die to learn how to live.

The Love Shack Don Nori
Amazon (it looks like Destiny Image books are free only at Amazon now)

What makes a best-selling Christian book? The author touches your spirit, tingles your soul, and disturbs your confortableness. Author and publisher Don Nori examines current and past runaway-sales books and discovers a common thread that leads to the Love Shack-a place where all people are welcome and cherished. Books such as The Shack, The Purpose Driven Life, and The Love Dare stir spiritual hunger. But do they truly lead to the totally satisfying destination and real fellowship with the living God? How do you get from excitement and encouragement to the experimental reality we all want? Take a step-by-step journey toward finding ultimate peace and joy at the Love Shack where you will experience God's Ultimate best.

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Zondervan is having a sale on books by John Ortberg that ends either December 15 or 16 (both are mentioned).

The sale page at Zondervan's site lists the books and clicking the "Buy Now" next to each book brings up a list of ebook retailers. The sale prices are reflected at Kobo, where Zondervan titles are also eligible for coupon codes in the US.

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Making Your Differences Work for Your Marriage by Rick Johnson
B&N Amazon

No matter how well you get along, you and your spouse are two different people. You have individual backgrounds, tastes, experiences, and personalities. Because of this, you each bring unique contributions to the table. And your marriage is at its best when you can use those differences to complement each other rather than work against one another.

Now relationship expert Rick Johnson shows you how to embrace your individuality, understand your spouse's needs and desires, and work together to build a strong marriage based on mutual respect and understanding.

Your marriage can be a loving, dynamic, lifelong experience. The best times of your life together are yet to come.

The Purpose and Power of Love & Marriage by Myles Munroe
Amazon

Probably no other dimension of human experience has been pondered, discussed, debated, analyzed, and dreamed about more than the nature of true love. Love is everywhere—in songs and in books, on televisions and on movie screens. Yet, for all of our thinking and talking, how many of us truly understand love and where can we turn for genuine insight in matters of true love? In The Purpose and Power of Love & Marriage, Dr. Myles Munroe provides the answers to questions surrounding the true nature of love as he also exposes the false images created in our culture. Throughout this book he eloquently illuminates the many facets of love while at the same time tackling the really tough subjects of separation and divorce. This book is sure to become a classic that will last for a lifetime and beyond as it responds gently and practically to those seeking to resolve the challenges of human relationships.

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Open Mind, Faithful Heart by Jorge M Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) is free at Amazon. Other than Amazon, the ebook seems only to be available (for $22.99) at the publisher's site.

These challenging meditations on the scriptures provide valuable insight into how Pope Francis understands the person of Jesus and the Christian calling. Anticipating his retirement as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio gathered together his most probing reflections on the meaning of Christian discipleship. In these profound texts Cardinal Bergoglio draws on the Gospels and the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius to explain how all Christians are called to follow Jesus in the struggle to make God’s reign a reality on earth.

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The NRSV Daily Bible: Read, Meditate, and Pray Through the Entire Bible in 365 Days is $3.99 at B&N, Kobo and Amazon. It's published by HarperCollins, so it's not eligible for Kobo coupons in the US.

The NRSV Daily Bible helps you read and pray through the entire Bible in one year. now you can seamlessly integrate Scripture into your day, making reading through the Bible simpler and more meaningful.

Each of the 365 daily Bible readings is accompanied by a thought-provoking excerpt from a Christian spiritual classic. With these useful aids, readers will more easily find the motivation for setting aside time each day to read, meditate, contemplate, and pray the Bible from start to finish.

Key features of this Bible include:

• A daily reading plan that can be started at any time during the year
• Readings that take only ten minutes per day
• Wisdom from the classic writings of Christian luminaries such as Mother Teresa, Henri Nouwen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Frederick Buechner
• Individual book introductions to aid in the practice of prayerful reading
• The New Revised Standard Version text—the most trusted, accepted, and accurate translation of the Bible on the market

[KyBunnies]

All I Have to Give: A Christmas Love Story by Melody Carson Free at Amazon

Anna and Michael have been trying for years without success to have a baby. Now in her late thirties, Anna has given up on the hope of motherhood after heartbreaking miscarriages and shattered dreams. As Christmas nears, she has to consider the possibility that it might be time to empty out the nursery and convert it to a guest room. Amidst her heartache, Anna secretly struggles with strange health problems that have her very worried.
But, as often happens at Christmastime, there are miracles in store for Anna and Michael. As each tries to give the other the perfect Christmas gift the magic of Christmas is working its way into their lives. And what each of them unwraps for Christmas will surprise everyone.

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All I Have to Give: A Christmas Love Story by Melody Carlson
B&N Amazon

Anna and Michael have been trying for years without success to have a baby. Now in her late thirties, Anna has given up on the hope of motherhood after heartbreaking miscarriages and shattered dreams. As Christmas nears, she has to consider the possibility that it might be time to empty out the nursery and convert it to a guest room. Amidst her heartache, Anna secretly struggles with strange health problems that have her very worried.

But, as often happens at Christmastime, there are miracles in store for Anna and Michael. As each tries to give the other the perfect Christmas gift the magic of Christmas is working its way into their lives. And what each of them unwraps for Christmas will surprise everyone.

No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Series #1) by Maggie Brendan
B&N Amazon

Nothing in her past had prepared her for a Colorado cattle drive--or Luke Weber.

Longing for a new start, Crystal Clark arrives amid the splendor of the high country in June 1892. After the death of her father, Crystal is relieved to be leaving the troubles of her Georgia life behind to visit her aunt's cattle ranch. Despite being raised as a proper Southern belle, Crystal is determined to hold her own in this wild land--even if a certain handsome foreman named Luke doubts her abilities.

Just when she thinks she's getting a handle on the constant male attention from the cowhands and the catty barbs from some of the local young women, tragedy strikes. And saving the ranch from a greedy neighboring landowner means taking charge of a cattle drive, ready or not. Can she rise to the challenge? Or will she head back to Georgia defeated?

Inescapable (Road to Kingdom Book #1) by Nancy Mehl
B&N Amazon

Lizzie Engel is used to running away. At eighteen, she left her Mennonite hometown, Kingdom, Kansas, with plans never to return.

But five years later, the new life she built is falling apart. Lizzie knows she's being followed, and she's certain the same mysterious stranger is behind the threatening letters she's received. Realizing she'll have to run again, the only escape Lizzie can manage is a return to the last place she wants to go.

Once she arrives in Kingdom, Lizzie is confident she'll be safe until she comes up with a new plan. In reacquainting herself with the town and its people--especially her old friend, Noah Housler--she wonders if she judged her hometown and her Mennonite faith too harshly. However, just as she begins to come to terms with her roots, Lizzie is horrified to discover the danger she ran from is closer than ever.

No longer sure who to trust and fearful for her life and the lives of those around her, Lizzie finds she has only one place left to run--to the Father whose love is inescapable.

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The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People is $2.99 at B&N and Amazon. It's currently $12.99 at Kobo, but the price may drop and it's eligible for coupons in the US.

'The Greatest Story Ever Told' is more than just a cliche. God has gone to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God's great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters---and using the clear, accessible text of the NIV---this rendering of the Bible allows its stories, poems, and teachings to come together in a single, compelling read. The Story sweeps you into the unfolding grand narrative of the Scriptures, and like any good story, it is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption. From the foreword by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee: 'This book tells the grandest, most compelling story of all time: the story of a true God who loves his children, who established for them a way of salvation and provided a route to eternity. Each story in these 31 chapters reveals the God of grace---the God who speaks; the God who acts; the God who listens; the God whose love for his people culminated in his sacrifice of Jesus, his only Son, to atone for the sins of humanity.' NIV 2011. The New International Version (NIV) translation of the Bible is the world's most popular modern-English Bible---easy to understand, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages.

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I guess I should have looked a little more before posting the last one, because Zondervan has a few more on sale at Barnes & Noble. Only some of these are marked down at Amazon and none is marked down at Kobo for the moment, but I linked them because they're likely to all be marked the same in the next few days and they're eligible for Kobo coupons.

Incidentally, the price of the Archaeological Study Bible has gone up at B&N ($33.99), but it's still $24.99 at Kobo. If you've got a 75% off coupon from the contest burning a hole in your pocket, now might be the time to use it.

NIV Study Bible is $4.99
B&N Amazon Kobo

NIV Bible Study Commentary is $2.99
B&N Amazon Kobo

NIV Adventure Bible is $2.99
B&N Amazon Kobo

Halley's Bible Handbook with the New International Version--Deluxe Edition is $2.99
B&N Amazon Kobo

The Amplified Bible is $3.99
B&N Amazon Kobo

Not Zondervan, but Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Wise Men's Journey to Bethlehem by Brent Landau is $1.99. It's HarperCollins, so not eligible for coupons at Kobo in the US.
B&N Amazon Kobo

Each Christmas, adults and children alike delight at the story of the kings from the East who followed the star to Bethlehem to offer gifts to the newborn Christ. While this familiar tale is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, another little-known version later emerged that claimed to be the eyewitness account of the wise men. This ancient manuscript has lain hidden for centuries in the vaults of the Vatican Library, but through the determined persistence of a young scholar, Brent Landau, this astonishing discovery has been translated into English for the very first time as the Revelation of the Magi.

Everything we know about the wise men is based on only a few verses from the Bible. With the Revelation of the Magi, we can now read the story from the Magi's perspective. Readers will learn of the Magi's prophecies of God's incarnation from the beginning of time, their startling visitation in the form of a star, the teachings they receive from the baby Jesus, and the wise men's joyous return to their homeland to spread the good news.

This ancient version of the Christmas story is guaranteed to astonish and delight. It will also raise larger questions of the significance and meaning of Christ's birth, and the mission to spread the good news to every corner of the globe. All the drama and intrigue of the brief description of Jesus's birth in the Bible is filled out in greater, more colorful detail, offering for the first time the complete story of these beloved characters.

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Today's David C. Cook freebies:

The Sacred Search Couple's Conversation Guide by Gary Thomas
Publisher page

In this companion resource to The Sacred Search, Gary Thomas helps dating and engaged couples work through the critical issues and questions they must address before they decide to marry. The Sacred Search Couple's Conversation Guide features 9 sessions of biblical study for couples, as well as a pastor/counselor's premarital plan for walking a couple through the guide.

Reimagining Church by Frank Viola
Publisher page

Author Frank Viola gives readers language for all they knew was missing in their modern church experience. He believes that many of today's congregations have shifted from God's original intent for the church. As a prominent leader of the house church movement, Frank is at the forefront of a revolution sweeping through the body of Christ. A change that is challenging the spiritual status quo and redefining the very nature of church. A movement inspired by the divine design for authenticity community. A fresh concept rooted in ancient history and in God Himself.

Join Frank as he shares God's original intent for the church, where the body of Christ is an organic, living, breathing organism. A church that is free of convention, formed by spiritual intimacy, and unbound by four walls.

Quest for More by Paul David Tripp
Publisher page

Paul David Tripp expertly traverses the deepest recesses of the human heart and compassionately invites fellow Christian travelers to journey with him into God's bigger kingdom.

The author promises readers that they will be encouraged, excited, and motivated by hope as they learn how to set aside their "little kingdom" attachments which can expertly masquerade within the church as Christian activism, legalism, emotionalism, formalism, creedalism, and externalism; in favor of God's expansive and soul-freeing eternal quest. Tripp demonstrates through sound biblical principles how humanity is made by God to transcend far beyond the mere physical realm and is likewise created to be "glory junkies;" those whose visionary lives are governed by God's grand purposes rather than existing only within their narrow self-interested confines.

Writes the author, "It is a fundamental denial of your humanity to narrow the size of your life to the size of your own existence, because you were created to be an 'above and more' being. You were made to be transcendent." Tripp then shows Christians how to "transcend" through daily, moment-by-moment, practical methodology that transforms individuals into the image of Christ. It is within this purpose-driven framework, this "Quest for More", that Paul Tripp compels believers to see beyond the worldly deception of personal achievement, success, materialism, in order to break free from this ungodly fulfillment that is too easily satisfied with a mediocre walk with Christ. Instead the author invites committed sojourners to a life characterized by an unyielding passion that pursues God simply for the pleasure of his glorious company and in the process, affect eternal change in a hurting, hopeless world.

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Thomas Nelson has put several editions of the NKJV on sale, as well as the newly released NIV edition of The MacArthur Study Bible. These are all eligible for Kobo coupons in the US. If you don't have a better one from the contest, 50Dec gives you 50% off and is reusable.

The plain, vanilla NKJV ebook is $3.99
Kobo B&N Amazon

The NKJV Study Bible is $4.99
Kobo B&N Amazon

The Chronological Study Bible is $4.99
Kobo B&N Amazon

The NKJV edition of The MacArthur Study Bible is $4.99
Kobo B&N Amazon

The NIV edition of The MacArthur Study Bible is $4.99
Kobo B&N Amazon

The NKJV Daily Bible is $5.99
Kobo B&N Amazon

I'll mention a couple of things that may be helpful. First, the plain NKJV doesn't split the text into paragraphs. Instead, each verse is on its own line and paragraph breaks are marked by bolded verse numbers. Second, The MacArthur Study Bible study notes are nearly identical between different translations, so if you've got one, you've got them all.

[LovesMacs]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

Open Mind, Faithful Heart by Jorge M Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) is free at Amazon. Other than Amazon, the ebook seems only to be available (for $22.99) at the publisher's site.

It's not free anymore at Amazon, now it's $9.99. Glad I picked it up when it was free.

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Originally Posted by LovesMacs

It's not free anymore at Amazon, now it's $9.99. Glad I picked it up when it was free.

That was quick!

In case anyone was waiting, Amazon and Kobo have updated prices on the Zondervan books.