CBA Christian Living Finalists

"A philosophy professor at Calvin College delivers a lyrical exploration of how faith intersects with history and time. He posits that many Christians live 'nowhen' and 'imagine themselves wholly governed by timeless principles. . . .' This incisive and eloquent volume will expand readers' minds,"---Publishers Weekly. 208 pages, hardcover. Brazos.

As we age, we experience the loss of physical stamina, independence, and career fulfillment. Yet within each of these losses is a holy invitation to grow. God calls us to let go of our need for accomplishment and embrace the gift of fruitfulness so that we might be transformed in this final season of our lives. In Aging Faithfully, spiritual director Alice Fryling explores how to navigate the journey of retirement, lifestyle changes, and new limitations. In this season of life, we are invited to hold both grief and hope, to acknowledge ways of thinking that no longer represent who we are, and to receive peace in the midst of our fears.

We all age differently, and God calls each of us to new spiritual birth as we mature. When we embrace the aging process, we grow closer to God and experience his grace as he renews us from within. Whether you are approaching the beginning, middle, or end of your senior years, you are invited. Come and be transformed.

The New York Times bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head offers practical solutions for creating true community, the kind that's crucial to our mental and spiritual health.

In a world that's both more connected and more isolating than ever before, we're often tempted to do life alone, whether because we're so busy or because relationships feel risky and hard. But science confirms that consistent, meaningful connection with others has a powerful impact on our well-being. We are meant to live known and loved. But so many are hiding behind emotional walls that we're experiencing an epidemic of loneliness.

In Find Your People, bestselling author Jennie Allen draws on fascinating insights from science and history, timeless biblical truth, and vulnerable stories from her own life to help you:

• Overcome the barriers to making new friends and learn to initiate with easy-to-follow steps
• Find simple ways to press through awkward to get to authentic in conversations
• Understand how conflict can strengthen relationships rather than destroy them
• Identify the type of friend you are and the types of friends you need
• Learn the five practical ingredients you need to have the type of friends you've always longed for

Is there a disconnect between how you long to parent and what your day actually looks like? Earley shares a proven paradigm for bringing spiritual formation into family life, creating more meaningful---and peaceful---moments! With easy-to-implement daily rhythms, you'll develop a bedtime liturgy for little ones, discover discipline as discipleship, plan regular household mealtimes, and more. 240 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

When life crumbles, how can we discern God speaking? Exploring Jesus' journey to Emmaus, Greig draws on various Christian traditions---including the evangelical emphasis on hearing God in his Word, the charismatic commitment to listening to God in the prophetic, and the contemplative practice of perceiving God's "still, small voice"---to help you understand how God is talking to you! 192 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

Today in the west, many consider the church to be dead or dying. Christianity is seen as outdated, bigoted and responsible for many of society’s problems. This leaves many believers embarrassed about their faith and many outsiders wary of religion. But what if the Christian message is not the enemy of our modern Western values, but the very thing that makes sense of them?

In The Air We Breathe, Glen Scrivener takes readers on a journey to discover how the teachings of Jesus not only turned the ancient world upside down, but continue to underpin the way we think of life, worth, and meaning. Far from being a relic from the past, the distinctive ideas of Christianity, such as freedom, kindness, progress, and equality, are a crucial part of the air that we breathe. As Scrivener says in his introduction: “The extraordinary impact of Christianity is seen in the fact that we don’t notice it".

This is a book for both believers and sceptics—giving Christians confidence to be open about their faith and showing non-Christians the ways in which the message of Jesus makes sense of their most cherished beliefs. Whoever you are, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the values you hold dear as you discover the power and profundity of Jesus and his revolution.

In The Soul of Desire, psychiatrist Curt Thompson suggests that underneath all our longings is the desire to be known—and what's more, that this fundamental yearning manifests itself in our deep need to make things of beauty, revealing who we are to others. Desire and beauty go hand in hand.

But both our craving to be known and our ability to create beauty have been marred by trauma and shame, collapsing our imagination for what God has for us and blinding us to the possibility that beauty could ever emerge from our ashes. Drawing on his work in interpersonal neurobiology and clinical practice, Thompson presents a powerful picture of the capacity of the believing community to reshape our imaginations, hold our desires and griefs together, and invite us into the beauty of God’s presence.

The Soul of Desire is a mature, creative work, weaving together neuroscience and spiritual formation to open up new horizons for thinking not only about the nature of the mind, but about what it means to be human.