Nowhere But Up - UK Facebook Page Goes Live!

Hello to all those who're waiting to see what will happen with our countdown to Nowhere But Up! The first piece of news is that our UK specific Facebook page is now live! We will be posting information, pictures, competitions and anything we think is interesting.

We need your input! So please post & please do circulate information about the page, or from the page!  We want lots of chat here in the UK about the book... (please!)

Just one point. We know that some less helpful or over-enthusiastic posts are sometimes left on FB, so we are announcing right up front that we reserve the right to remove any snarky, snipy, unrelated, un-nerving, nasty, inappropriate, 'troll-ish', or just too downright weird comments if we feel it necessary to do so. :)

Nowhere But Up - Coming (Very!) Soon

Pattie with Her Book!

"It's not just teen moms who struggle or need to find hope. Whether you're a single mom, an addict, or a victim of abuse . . . whether you're on the verge of bankruptcy or the brink of divorce . . . whether you're in a dysfunctional family or the product of a broken home . . . whether you battle depression or struggle with anxiety . . . whether you live in fear or hide in shame . . . whether you've been abandoned, rejected, or ignored--there is hope.

It doesn't matter where you find yourself today--broken, hurting, wounded, or shamed. If God can help me find my way up, I promise, He can do the same for you."
Pattie Mallette

We're now about to start counting down to the publication of Nowhere But Up, the autobiobraphy of Pattie Mallette, known to many as Justin Bieber's mum. This is important of course, but Pattie has her own inspirational story to tell too.

From 18 September the book will be available in the UK through all good bookshops, and on-line.

Many Christian bookshops will be carrying a counterpack which will look very like this, so you know what to look for!  Other shops which are not taking the counterpack for space or other reasons will still have the book, and we plan to post lots of pictures of shops with stock!

Our 'countdown proper' starts on Monday 10 September, so watch out here and via our Twitter stream (@BPGUK) for daily updates from Monday!

Every day, every hour, every minute of our lives we have the opportunity to either say "yes" to God or "yes" to ourselves.  That's why Jesus emphasized something I don't hear much about at churches these days - denying  yourself: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).  I think he found it necessary to say that because, while most of us want to do what God wants, we also want to do what we want.  And that's where the problems begin.

* * * * *

Over the years I've read lots of books about following Jesus.  Typically, they tend to make me feel guilty because I'm either not rejoicing enough or witnessing enough or going to church enough or tithing enough or praying enough.

Or they make following Jesus sound like a piece of cake: that life will just keep getting easier and easier as I get holier and holier and put into practice the Five Time-Tested Tips and Seven Life-Changing Principles that the author has based his current book, seminar series, website, or DVD curriculum on.

But I find very few books that lay out the paradoxical truth of the matter - (1) following Jesus isn't always easy, practical, fun or popular because temptation hounds us every step of the way, every day of our lives, (2) through it all, God's grace and forgiveness are powerfully available and instantly accessible to everyone, everywhere, all the time.  We live in the middle of a deep and rich paradox.  Grace and truth, pain and healing woven through our world, through time itself.

The greatest saints of the ages have discovered something most of us haven't.  Not only are they familiar with their own shortcomings and sins, they're also aware of the outlandish grace of God.  By being mindful of both their fallen nature and Jesus's risen love, they're able to live on the escarpment of evil without constantly toppling over the side.

Steven James, Flirting With the Forbidden

A Place at the Table - 1

Lent has arrived, and I'm now reading Chris Seay's A Place at the Table and adjusting my eating and drinking to reflect on what it's like for the poor of the world - including those in our own country. 

Because I am walking this journey alone and because I thought that sticking to one thing for six weeks might be a step too far for me, I decided to vary my approach each week.  This week I have reduced my food budget.  Next week I will be living mostly on the staple foods of someone living in poverty in India.  The week after that is going to be about water rather than food, so I will be limiting my intake of all drinks EXCEPT water during that week. 

So this week I decided to reduce my usual weekly spend by 2/3.  On a tight budget there's no way you can impulse buy or shop without planning first so I set off for the supermarket with a list I'd made of exactly what I'd need for the coming week's meals.  I made it under budget, just.

The shopping was the toughest part of the week so far to be honest but it hasn't proved necessary to live on baked beans on toast for a week after all.  That said, my trip to the supermarket was IT for this week.  No nipping in for extra or forgotten items.  With 83p left in my purse after my main shopping trip there just isn't the cash for additions.

Of course I recognise that it is very much tougher for those living hand to mouth week in and week out 'for real' though.  And that's why I like the element of this process which is about doing something practical for others.  For me, shopping on a tight budget has been a reminder of a tough couple of years early in my working life.  So this week I'm donating the money I saved on my weekly shopping to CEF Oxford (Community Emergency Foodbank). 

Is Living Joyfully Really Possible?

Kay Warren (the wife of Rick Warren) says that it is, and she has spent a long time teaching women what joy really is, where to find it, and how to choose to live joyfully even in the tough times.

Now that teaching is made available to women far and wide, in her forthcoming book Choose Joy (April 2012).

Split into four sections, the book addresses joy as your inheritance, joy as a conviction of mind, joy as a condition of the heart and joy as a behavioural choice.

It might be a relief to know that Kay herself says that joy doesn't come easily to her - so she knows what it's like to have to work at it.  To Kay, the bottom line is that joy is a choice, and that choice is completely up to you, and is not dependent on anyone else.  This makes sense when you stop thinking of joy as merely an emotion.  Kay's definition of joy is:

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things."

And therein is both reassurance and challenge.

The book stands on its own, but will also be a DVD pack available containing two disks, and a Participant's Guide for those working through the book in a group.

See below for information on our marketing and publicity plans. For more details feel free to contact me.

Sneak Peek for Anne Elisabeth Stengl Fans!

Here it is - the cover for the fourth book in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series: Starflower.

You can find out a little more about the story on Anne's blog.

Quite a few authors write blogs, and I love reading them.  (Especially those by our Baker Publishing Group authors of course!) They're a fantastic way to find out all sorts of things about the author themselves, and what motivates or influences them and their writing.  On blogs like Anne's, you also get to discover a whole lot more about the characters you meet in her books!  Plus she's good at tantalising sneaky peek posts to keep you coming back...

So, dear reader, do you read author blogs, and if so, do you have a particular favourite you can recommend?  If so, PLEASE leave a comment.  (OK, that sounded a bit like a desperate plea, but if it works...!)

Just a reminder to those who've already discovered Goldstone Wood, Moonblood is out in the UK in May, which gives a nice amount of time for those still to venture into the tales to read Heartless and Veiled Rose! 

In fact, let's try a little prize draw:

If you'd like your name entered to win free copies of Heartless AND Veiled Rose just leave a link to one of your favourite author or book related blogs in the comments section below.  As this is a UK-based draw, please also confirm that you live in the UK.  The winner will be announced on the 29 February - purely because it's fun to have something to look out for on such a rare day!

There are No Unimportant People

You were created on purpose, for a purpose.  Sometimes it's tough to accept that fact, especially in a world with such a flimsy view of what success and importance looks like. 

In You're Born an Original (Don't Die a Copy) John Mason helps you to recognise that God has given you unique qualities and encourages you to be brave enough to use them.  Here's a snippet to whet your appetite:

* * * * *

You’re not insignificant. Never view your life as if Jesus did nothing for you. Make the most of yourself; that’s exactly how God made you. Evan a small star shines in the darkness from millions of miles away. The first and worst of all frauds is to limit oneself.

Too many people never begin what God wants them to do because they are waiting to sing like Sandi Patti, preach like Billy Graham, or write like Max Lucado. God knew what He was doing when He put you together. Use what talents you possess…the woods would be silent if the only birds singing were those that sang the best.

“All history is a record of the power of minorities, and of minorities of one” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). If you deliberately plan to be less than you’re capable of being, you’ll be frustrated for the rest of your life.

View others in this same light. Each person is valuable and precious. Each person knows something you don’t. Learn from them. We’re all created for achievement and given the seeds for greatness, but each in our own way. What is greatness? What is achievement? Doing what God wants you to do and being where He wants you to be. There are no unimportant people.  (Bold highlighting mine. Anne)

Christians are new creations, not resurfaced sinners. With God’s help, you can be one of His few successes, not one of His thousands of disappointments. Don’t ever forget that God calls you a friend (see John 15:13). What an incredible statement that is! He also says you’re “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).

God made you special for a purpose. He has an assignment for you that no one else can do as well as you can. Out of billions of applicant for the job, you’re the most qualified. You have the right combination of what it takes. God has given each person the measure of faith to do what He’s called them to do. Every person is gifted.

You are never who you ought to be until you are doing what you ought to be doing. God holds us responsible not only for what we have, but for what we could have; not only for who we are, but for who we might be. People are responsible to God for becoming what God has made possible for them to become.

Your life makes a difference. Although we’re all different, no mixture is insignificant. On judgement day, God won’t ask me why I wasn't Joshua, Billy Graham, or Pat Robertson…but why I wasn’t John Mason. Jerry Van Dyke said it best: “The best rose bush is not the one with the fewest thorns, but that which bears the finest roses”

You’re the best person to do what God has called you to do.

Price: £8.99
UK Publication Date: December 2011

A family. A farm. A heart. All in need of repair.

Suzanne Woods Fisher’s book The Keeper tells the story of a young Amish girl struggling to keep her family’s farm going after her father develops heart problems. Dreaming of her wedding to her fiancé Paul, she is devastated and angry when he calls off the wedding – for the second time. And she’s sure she knows whose fault it is that Paul has got cold feet.

I loved this book. It’s full of interesting (and sometimes infuriating!) characters, who are all really well evolved people. This isn’t a book which has a few central roles, with the rest of the ‘cast’ merely cameos. It tells an involving and entertaining story with energy and a good side dose of fun. I especially liked the character of Fern, and enjoyed wondering about the significance of ‘the man with the panama hat’. M.K. and Menno were both super characters too. By this you can see that the book is more than simply ‘Julia’s love story’, and for me this makes it a much more interesting read.

I read a lot of books, but not all that many of them keep me reading far too late into the night. This one did.

Highly recommended – I’m looking forward to the next already.

Price: £8.99
UK Publication Date: February 2012
Video trailer

New from Alister McGrath

"Apologetics is not to be seen as a defensive and hostile reaction against the world, but as a welcome opportunity to exhibit, celebrate, and display the treasure chest of the Christian faith."

So says Alister McGrath in the introduction to his new work on apologetics.  He goes on to say:

I have tried to make this book accessible, interesting, and useful, while giving pointers to more advanced resources that will allow you, the reader, to take things further in your own time.  It is not comprehensive... nor is it committed to any particular school of apologetics.  Rather than limiting itself to any one specific school or approach to apologetics, this work draws on their collective riches.  It aims to help you get an idea of what the issues are and how Christians can respond to them.

All the material used in this book has been tested on student audiences and in public addresses over a period of six years, primarily in a foundational lecture course I teach at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics entitled "An Introduction to Christian Apologetics." 

This has been supplemented by material developed for summer schools in Oxford and at Regent College, Vancouver, dealing with the central themes of apologetics and how they enable the church to engage positively and powerfully with the questions our culture is asking.

Price: £8.99

UK Publication Date: February 2012

More information

Less Than Six Weeks Until Lent!

Are you one of the thousands who gives up chocolate or alcohol for Lent?

I don't know about you, but I have been thinking quite a lot lately about the things which I have, and the general drive for consumption which affects most of us. It's easy and convenient to generalise, and talk about 'our society' but in fact 'our society' includes me and if I'm honest I can easily get swept along with the urge for a 'retail splurge' on things which I don't actually need, and I definitely can over-do the eating..! (As a result of which I then have to over-do the gym, which is a whole other issue.)

So to go back to my opening question - do you give something up for Lent? If so, are you really finding yourself bored with doing the 'same old thing' every year?

Or are you one of those who doesn't really think much of 'giving stuff up for Lent', dismissing the whole idea as pointless, so ignores it.

What about doing something different this year?

A Place at the Table is a challenge to do just that. It's not simply about giving up chocolate or whatever, but about connecting in a far more fundamental way with those who have less than we do. And that's a lot of people. Even for those of us who don't consider ourselves rich.

So I will be taking up the 40 day A Place at the Table challenge through Lent 2012. And as well as eating and drinking differently, I plan to adjust my 'aquisition focus' - meaning that I plan to reduce my consumption in general, especially during Lent, and take the chance to value what I already have and be thankful for it.

The idea of starting is quite scary actually. I'm already afraid that I'll mess it up at some stage. But I'm going to start out anyway, and see where the journey takes me. Lysa Terkeurst (author of Made to Crave) says of the challenge that it is "a place to stop the rut of constant inhale. Taking in, taking in, taking in. It clogs the soul. So for 40 days, let us learn to exhale with great thanksgiving... For pondering what God might bring close... For this place where our souls breathe and dream once again." That sounds good to me. I'll let you know how I get on.

By the way, I am hoping that lots of people will be joining in with the 'A Place at the Table' challenge, and would love to hear from anyone taking part, via the comments on this blog, or via twitter or our soon to be launched Facebook page.