JUBILEE IN YOUR MAIL-BOX — deep discounts on Jubilee-ish book packages ONE WEEK ONLY

I hope you took the extra few minutes it took to read my essay describing some key books, authors and overlapping connections in my post-Jubilee column a few days ago — you can find it at our Heartseverything matters.jpg & Minds website here. 

I named some books and authors that we really believe in, and that mean a lot to us, described as I explained some of the moving experiences we had at the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh.

The campus ministry organization CCO runs Jubilee and (in partnership with the outstanding Serving Leaders ministry of Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation) the adult mini-conference Jubilee Professional, events that bring together speakers and students and so many others to celebrate God’s gracious care for all areas of life. 


Andy Crouch’s Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power (for the adults gathered at the JubileePro pre-conference) and his magnificent Culture-Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling  (for the big opening Friday night for the students) framed much of the event.  

Our launching there the brand new books Learning for the Love of God: A Student’s Guide tolearning for the love of god.jpgvisions of vocation.jpg Academic Faithfulness by Derek Melleby & Donald Optiz and Steve Garber’s Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good made this year’s event particularly meaningful and joyous for us. 

CCO talks a lot about the unfolding flow of the Biblical narrative, and the main-stage plenary conference talks are about the goodness of creation, the shame and dysfunction of sin, the grace of Christ’s mercy seen in the offer of gospel redemption, and the surprising hope for a renewed cosmos where all things are made new.  

Ycfrc - W.jpges, the creation/fall/redemption/restoration acts of the drama, explored so well by N.T. Wright (or, more succinctly, in Al Wolter’s Creation Regained) shapes the very structure of Jubilee conference, inviting participants into this developing saga as the weekend evolves. 


Brilliant! (Kudos Chris Carson!)

Within this broad framework for Biblical thinking (drawing, almost subconsciously) on the generous, historic insights of Dutch neo-Calvinism (which is to say, the theological writings of the likes of Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, and Abraham Kuyper, and even the philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd, for those who follow such things) there is a strong emphasis on what they call the “cultural mandate” of Genesis 1:26-28. 

That is, we learn from Genesis 1 & 2 (and the creation poems and hymns in Psalms and Job) much about the goodness of creation, God’s delight in creating things (in love), God’s wise ordering of things, and the wonder and beauty and glory of it all.


The Biblical story does not — it. does. not. — start with original sin, but original blessing. 

But, perhaps more importantly (if only because it is often not plumbed for its deep meaning) the cultural mandate tells us that we are made in the image of a creator/worker God who is in relationship, and who authorizes us women and men to be image-bearers, reflecting God’s rule over the good, and potential-laden creation. In other words, as Andy Crouch so wonderfully put it Friday night, we are to “make stuff and make sense.”  

We are call to “take dominion” which of course does not mean to stomp down or abuse or conquer, but to tenderly steward all that is around us. Genesis 2:15 retells this part of the creation story by using the famous gardening metaphorculturemaking.jpg.  Adam and Eve are to “tend and keep the garden” of creation.


This is why environmental concerns are always part of the workshop selections at Jubilee.

And it seems to me that it is why there is a connection between Jubilee and Jubilee Pro.  Creation bids us to be busy, and to find meaning in daily work.


This mandate really is the first and only task given to humankind before the fall into sin: to be busy developing the raw stuff of Earth and giving shape to history.  Interestingly, Adam firstly named the animals, and even wrote a little couplet for his wife, using his God-given language abilities. From the playful use of arts and natural sciences, and more, creation is to be developed by humans; we are, indeed, culture-makers, Earthlings with dignity, invited into partnership with the God we reflect, doing God’s work as the teeming, good creation is developing into societies. (Not a few writers in this tradition observe that the flow of the Bible itself starts in a garden but ends in a city.) This is what it means to be made in God’s image: we rule/serve and develop culture on God’s behalf as managers, house keepers, stewards, vice-regents; we play and we work, we create and we rest.

That’s a lot of freight to get out of one or two verses, but there you have it. We “occupy creation” as Jamie Smith evocatively put it a few years back from the Jubilee stage.  Too few churches teach much about this foundational stuff, from our book of beginnings. We are proud that the CCO Jubilee team thinks enough about this to arrange the conference itself this way.

Plumbing the depths of the cultural mandate and how we image God in this way isn’t unique to the Dutch neo-Calvinist tradition, but Abraham Kuyper (even in his newly translated work on common grace) makes a big deal of it.  It is the start of what Jubilee is all about, helping college students develop theological resources for “making stuff and making sense” particularly as they relate their faith and their future careers to this robust vision of a Biblically-informed way of seeing things.

Similarly, Jubilee explores the other “acts” in the Biblical drama. The fall and the alienation and pain of human sin and shame were explored in plenary gatherings by IJM human rights activist Bethany Hoang and the exquisitely honest psychologist and author Dan Allender (who came to faith in the 70s along with his roommate Tremper Longman, the now-famous Biblical scholar, with the help of thisyork moore.jpg broad vision of Christian thinking as CCO staff befriended him in his own college days at Ohio Wesleyan.)  It won’t do to minimize the pain and injustices of this fallen world, so we face it head on.


The grace of the gospel was brought home in utter clarity by the passionate black preacher from urban Philadelphia, Eric Mason, on Saturday night, and what a service it was! 


Sunday morning reminded us of the “all things new” hope for the (re)new(ed) creation and how that wedding imagery of final consummation can become our own wedding-work, now.  Kudos to author York Moore for a very thoughtful sermon, developing and consummating much of the work of the conference that went on that jam-packed weekend.

And, of course, that was just the four major plenary gatherings — which also featured the best and most talented and most lively worship band I’ve ever been with, hilarious skits and tomfoolery, testimonials from important ministries and organizations (three cheers for Margot Starbuck and her good Compassion International pitch.  She reminded us of a lot, and observed that sexual trafficking and child slavery is simply “off the table” when a child is adopted through Compassion. Wow.)  

There were dozens of workshops exploring faith and learning, vocation and calling, making a difference and growing in practices of whole-life Christian discipleship.

AByron on stage w_ D Jubilee 2014.jpgnd then there are my book announcements.

What a joy to get to highlight key books and important resources in front of thousands of people.  We don’t take this responsibility lightly and spend a lot of time thinking it through, finding a good and coherent mix of titles and authors.

Which brings me to this.

Sometimes I have great success in highlighting some books succinctly, and it seems to strike a nerve, with students snapping up almost everything I suggest.  

Or not.  One never knows what resource capture people’s imaginations and what will sell well at gigs like this.

Sometimes, there are just so many good workshop leaders recommending their own resources, and so many books by powerful keynote speakers (we sold out of almost every Dan Allender book we took!) that we have plenty of books left over.  

It is precious for us to realize the role we get to play in this work, and through God’s grace, it seems to be considerable. It blows us away every single year when somebody says that the books they bought the year before changed their life, or brought them to faith, or encouraged them to explore more faithful living in some aspect of their work. The spontaneous bookish testimonials are just amazing to hear! 

Quite a few people tell us that the book display and our non-stop conversations there about books, ideas, resources, and further study, are central to their Jubilee experience.

We hear that often, at other events, too, to be honest, and we are very grateful to be able to serve atderek stack of books.jpg various sorts of gatherings and conferences. Buying books at events allows participants to take ideas home, interact more thoughtfully with those ideas over time, maybe joining with others to think through “next steps” gleaned from an educational event where motivation and energy is high. Careful later study is, we believe, a key aspect of attending events, allowing a process of engaging with and an avenue for applying truths and dreams and insights learned.

We had over 75 categories of books at Jubilee this year.  And we sold stuff from every single category, from prayer to politics, math to mothering, social work to sexuality, racial diversity to theological diversity.  Where else do we get to focus on worldview and work, the mind and the body,jubilee  booktable.JPG too.  No wonder I want to tell you about it.


So, you couldn’t be at Jubilee, you say?

You can still be a part of the post-Jubilee follow-up, taking in the core insights and the practical application of a Kingdom vision, living into the dream of a creation restored.


We’ve come up with take-home idea.

You can buy some books and start up a Jubilee-ish reading plan.  Maybe get some pals to join in.


Here is an introductory Jubilee reading list, and we will send to you Jubilee in a box (minus the almost 3000 folks, high energy, loud music, joyful tomfoolery, cross-cultural opportunities, mighty, youthful prayer and amazing conversations that surrounds the actual event.)


And they are at great discounts. 


Discounts good for one week only, until February 28th, 2014.

JUBILEE IN A BOX 

PACKAGE 1.

Pick one from each category and get 25% OFF 

PACKAGE 2.

Pick two from each category and get 30% OFF

And we’ll throw in some good freebies, too, we promise.

The regular prices are shown; we will deduct either 25% or 30% off.

These offers are good this week only, expiring February 28, 2014. While supplies last.

CATEGORY A

BOOKS ABOUT  CALLING, WORK & CAREER

Wwork matters smaller.gifork Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work Tom Nelson (Crossway) $15.99  Written by the pastor of one of the nation’s best congregations nurturing of culturally-engaged, thoughtful expression of the gifts and insights of laypeople and professionals for marketplace service.  Nelson has learned to equip the people for relating faith and work, Sunday and Monday.  They are really doing it, and their vision for why it all matters is nicely spelled out in a way you’ll surely appreciate.  There are numerous two-page sidebars, too, documenting the stories of some of the folks in the church—a brilliant, Christ-honoring architect, an ethical businessperson, a good teacher, a Christian lawyer, and the like. 

If this topic is somewhat new to you, consider buying this (and, even better, buy one for your pastor.) It is excellent.

Eevery good e.jpgvery Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Plan for the World  Timothy Keller & Katherine Leary Alsdorf (Dutton) $26.95  I hope you know about the Redeemer Presbyterian Center for Faith & Work, one of the premier ministries offering encouragement to professionals in several spheres of service. This book emerges from Keller’s good concern for the laypeople in his Manhattan church and his strong realizations that we are all called to serve in various institutions across all of culture as agents of God’s Kingdom.  

Early on, he knew to hire a director for this ministry who had extensive corporate experience, and who knew how to relate faith and work in ways that are gospel-centered, profound, and practical. Ms Alsdorf knows as much about this as anyone, was the perfect leader for this job, and her role as co-author is important, giving the book an extra gravitas and informed realism.

Many of our readers know the intellectual integrity and clear insight offered by Keller’s helpful books. This is the very best book on a theology of work; that Katherine Leary Alsdorf co-wrote it, as I’ve said, makes it that much better. It is a must-read, must-have book for anyone who cares about this topic.  As a review in Comment magazine put it, “This book is theologically rich and philosophically informed, yet accessible and filled with practical wisdom. Drawing on decades of study and ministry, Every Good Endeavor may soon become one of the most important contemporary books on faith and work.”  A classic.

Wwork a kingdom p.jpgork: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor Ben Witherington (Eerdmans) $18.00  This is pretty short but don’t be deceived by its simple size.  Witherington is one of the finest New Testament scholars around and has a profound awareness of the NT teachings about the Kingdom of God.  As he writes about work one can sense his practical, Biblical insight, especially as he unpacks some of the parables of Jesus to help us get a Kingdom vision for our jobs and labor. This helpfully breaks down the pagan sacred-secular divide and calls us all to a robust way of life where discipleship colors all we do, even our daily 9-to-5 labor. 







Wwork matters stevens.jpgork Matters: Lessons from Scripture R. Paul Stevens (Eerdmans) $16.00  Paul Stevens, professor at Regent College in B.C., has long been one of the most steadfast allies in the effort to educate about the meaning and dignity of labor. He has encouraged this conversation for decades, and he has written very widely about it.

Stevens’ newest book is gleaned from hundreds of workshops, lectures, and classes where he has offered Biblical case studies of those who viewed their jobs as related to the unfolding work of God. He avoids forced or cheesy interpretations, but has the eyes to see remarkable insights in stories as familiar as Joseph in Pharaoh’s empire and Daniel exiled in Babylon, and as freshly interesting as Bezalel and Ezekiel. He visits Ruth, to teach about “survival work,” David, to ponder “royal work,” and Martha, to esteem “contemplative work.” I can hardly think of a better small group study or adult Christian education resource that combines insightful Scripture reflections and helpful application as we think about our work as integral to God’s mission in the modern world. Discussion questions are included. 

Kkingdom calling.gifingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good by Amy Sherman (IVP) $16.00 We have celebrated this excellent book on several occasions, thinking it to be one of the very best books ever on this topic.  Truly, this is masterful and adds excellent new insight, new layers of meaning, and teaches in great and helpful detail about four ways of relating faith and work.  Kingdom Calling is a serious, thorough, study of how our jobs can become avenues of social change honoring God and loving neighbor as we steward our vocations for the sake of the common good.  Not for beginners, but if you’ve read a book or two on calling and on work, this is simply a must-have, must-read. 

CATEGORY B

BOOKS ABOUT VARIOUS SPHERES OF LIFE

By Design: Ethics, Theology and the Practice of Engineering  Brad Kallenberg (Wipf & Stock)by design.jpg $36.00  Pretty serious; fantastic to see this kind of discourse. We sold a number of books about engineering and the philosophy of technology, and I wish more folks knew about this one.

The Space Between: A Christian Engagement with the Built Environment Eric O. Jacobsen (Baker) $25.00  I’ve raved about this for two years, now.  His Sidewalks of the Kingdom is a fine introduction to new urbanism, but this is brilliant.  What a great book!

Making a Difference: Christian Educators in Public Schools  Donovan Graham (Purposeful Design) $16.95  Always popular at Jubilee.  Nicely done, about character formation and more.

Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing Judith Shelley & Arlene Miller (IVP) $25.00  Still my go-to book for anyone in health care related fields.  So important.

Of God and Games: A Christian Exploration of Video Games  Kevin Schut  (Baker) $16.99 Really, really good by a thoughtful young man who is not only a gamer, but has spent time pondering the joy and dangers of this complex, popular arena. Somebody you know will love this.

Christianity and Counseling: Five Views edited by Stephen Greggo & Timothy Sisemore (IVP) $22.00 A wonderfully provocative study, with fivec and c 5 views.jpg impressive Christians who are professional counselors in dialogue with just how faith shapes counseling and what model or approach they think is most faithful and fruitful.  We told students at Jubilee that this sort of thing is a very helpful way to get up to speed on the conversations happening among Christians in this field, an opportunity to do foundational thinking about basic matters.  Every career should have this kind of mature, comparative overview.  I is my hunch that many devout church folks who happen to be counselors just use whatever model they were taught by whichever teacher they most liked during their formative training.  This kind of book may be a chance to revisit what we do, if we do this kind of work, and why.  There is also a more theoretical, and more foundational one called Christianity and Psychology: Five Views edited by Eric Johnson (IVP; $22.00.)

Healing for a Broken World: Perspectives  on Public Policy Steve Monsma (Crossway) $16.99 Balanced, thoughtful, a fine introduction, with Kuyperian nuance.  Highly recommended.

Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity Lauren Winner (Baker) $14.99 Simply the best. I think every adult should read this, although it is especially poignant for younger adults who are unmarried.

Bbusiness-for-the-common-good-a-christian-vision-_publication.jpgusiness for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace  Kenman Wong & Scott Rae (IVP) $24.00 One of our top few books on this vital topic.  Anyone who does business should know this.

Shaping Digital Culture: Faith, Culture and Computer Technology  Derek Schuurman  (IVP) $18.00 Again, there isn’t much in this field that is comprehensively Christian.  I raved about it in a long review last year, and appreciated his thoughtful presence at Jubilee.

Eat with Joy: Redeeming God’s Gift of Food  Rachel Marie Stone (IVP) $16.00  Love it.  Love it some more.  We take this everywhere we go, and showed it from up on the main stage at Jubilee.

Ppced.jpgopcultured: Thinking Christianly About Style, Media, and Entertainment Steve Turner (IVP) $17.00  I think we should all read a couple of books on this topic from time to time, helping us navigate wisely the ubiquitous pop culture air we breath.  Some books in this genre are too cantankerous, some are needlessly academic and not much fun,and some are hardly faithful in Biblical discernment. This is simply the best recent one and really, really great. Gladly, it includes good insights about fashion and advertising, video games and some other stuff not in the earlier books that focused mostly on film and music.


Turner is nothing short of brilliant, so you should read whatever he does.  This one rocks.

Nnot just science.jpgot Just Science: Questions Where Christian Faith and Natural Science Intersect edited by Dorothy Chappell & E. David Cook (Zondervan) $24.99  I tout this at Jubilee some years, as it is a fine overview of many different scientific specialities, including the natural sciences, but also astronomy, pharmacy, engineering, math, chemistry, agronomy, and more.  Very useful.

It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God edited by Ned Bustard (Square Halo Books) $24.99 We took almost everything Square Halo Books publishes to Jubilee, and they are always shown off with great pride.  They are excellent books, and this is their finest. A must-read collection for anyone interested in the arts.

Why Study History? Reflecting on the Importance of the Past  John Fea (Baker)$19.99 The latest by our friend from Messiah College, the award-wining historian, John Fea. Short and solid.

Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession  Michael Schutt (IVP) $24.00  Again, this is simply the best book in this field. So glad for Mike’s work and this fine resource.

A Little Manual for Knowing Esther Lightcap Meek (Cascade) $14.00  Dr. Meek has been workinlittle manuel on knowing.jpgg for years using the insights of (among others) of the brilliant philosopher of science, Michael Polanyi, to come up with a Biblically-shaped, wholistic vision of what it means to know. Yada, yada, yada, you know.  With endorsements from friends of Jubilee like Gideon Strauss and Steve Garber, you can tell she is respected and working on important stuff.  Her valuable work needs to be more widely known. While her major book on covenantal epistomology is excellent for philosophers this handy little book is useful for anyone. 

Creating a Missional Culture: Equipping the Church for the Sake of the World JR Woodward foreword by Alan Hirsch (IVP) $16.00 Of course we have plenty of books about the nature of the church and thinking fruitfully about congregational life.  This one seems appropriate today, thoughtful and urgent.

CATEGORY C

BOOKS ABOUT MISSIONAL SERVICE IN THE WORLD

Ppreemptive love.jpgreemptive Love: Pursing Peace One Heart at a Time Jeremy Courtney (Howard) $24.00 We named this a Best Book of 2013 and having Jeremy fly to Jubilee from Iraq where he does medical missionary work– procuring heart surgery for the epidemic of heart problems among children in that war-torn country — was a major event for us.  He left Pittsburgh, heading to the nationally-known LA Justice Conference. This is a very, very moving book.

Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World Gary Haugen (IVP) $16.00 The first book by the founder of IJM, thoughtful and nuanced and wise. Highly recommended.

Just Courage: God’s Great Expedition for a Restless Christian Gary Haugen (IVP) $18.00 Dramatic and powerful chapters, mostly talks and sermons and passionate invitations to live for others, seek public justice, and make some sort of effort to better the world.

Mmany colors.jpgany Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church Soong-Chan
Rah (Moody) $17.99 Doubtlessly one of the most important books to
explore multi-ethnic stuff, racial reconciliation, and the need for
greater competency in cross cultural ministry.
Concerns about racism should continue to be on our radar screen, it seems to me, and a celebration of multi-ehnic ministries has long been important to the CCO. We are proud for their efforts in this area, and proud to say that Rah spoke from the main stage at Jubilee a few years ago. He is an very astute observer and highly recommend reading widely in this field.

Living in Color: Embracing God’s Passion for Racial Diversity  Randy Woodely (IVP) $18.00  This is another go-to standard book we often recommend, highly recommended for anyone, anywhere. This names the sins of racism, but also happily explores the Biblically-required realities of multi-racial faith communities, and celebrates ways the Body of Christ, inspired by the same Spirit that united tongues at Pentecost, can bring us together in bold acts of racial healing.

Ppermission granted.jpgermission Granted: And Other Thoughts on Living Graciously Among Sinners and Saints  Margot Starbuck (Baker) $14.99 Oh, my, having Margot at Jubilee was such a joy — she’s a passionate, funny, creative, caring woman of such color and such integrity.  What a good writer, sharing with us all how to push the boundaries and be every more full of grace and care. Very inspiring and a very enjoyable read.


Why Cities Matter: To God, the Culture, and the Church  Stephen Um (Crossway) $15.99 Strategic stuff from a gospel-centered angle, inviting us to think about the role of urban life in the new century. 

Evangelicals on Public Policy Issues: Sustaining a Respectful Political Conversation  Harold Heie (Abilene Christian University Press) $17.99  I reviewed this in my CPJ “Capital Commentary” column this month, noting how lovely it was to see seven different thoughtful authors engaging in civil dialogue around key issues.  Narrated by the gentle and discerning Dr. H. Heie, this is a grand example of how to think about justice and peace and citizenship — and civility. Nice.

Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action Mae Elise Cannon (IVP) $16.00 Oh my,just spirituality.jpg how I love this book. It includes a whole bunch of short but informative biographies of great justice leaders, showing us about their deeper spirituality, and how their interior lives and contemplative practices informed their outward mission, service and activism.  From well known Catholic leaders to evangelical missionaries, this is fabulous for understanding the relationship of faith and action, prayer and politics, spirituality and service.  Right on.

Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and DIe for Bigger Things Ken Wytsma  (Nelson) $19.99 Some of our Jubilee speakers made a bee-line out to Los Angeles for the very impressive Justice Conference the following week.  Wystrma is the man who cooked that who thing up, and this is the fabulous handbook explaining why justice matters, and why evangelicals, especially, should continue to engage the issues of the day, pouring our lives out for others, and standing for God’s mercy in the world.

CATEGORY D

BOOKS BY (some) JUBILEE SPEAKERS

Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling  Andy Crouch (IVP) $20.00  Okay, this is just essential. Pivotal stuff, refreshing and helpful.

Pplaying god.jpglaying God: Redeeming the Gift of Power Andy Crouch (IVP) $25.00  We named this one of the top books of last year, and it is a wise and provocative study of institutions and taking up power within them. My, my, how we recommend this, a superlative book, grappling with questions few of explored.

Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Believe and Behavior Steve Garber (IVP) $17.00 Started out as a study of how higher educational practices do or do not help young adult Christians develop lasting faith, it ended up being a classic for any serious thinker about culture, sustained faith, wholistic discipleship and the ways in which “convictions, character and community” can be shaped over the long haul of whole-life discipleship in a complex world. It is one of the most influential books I know, with very important folks indicating that this book is one of their all time favorites. You should know about it.

Vvisions of vocation.jpgisions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good Steve Garber (IVP) $17.00  I said much about this in a little review inviting folks to pre-order this from us and it became the largest pre-order of a book in our three decades of book-sellilng.  I ruminated a bit about how influential it was in yesterday’s column, and trust you believe me when I predicted that it will be one of the most talked books of the decade.  Simply amazing.

Sabbath (The Ancient Practices Series)  Dan Allender (Nelson) $12.99 Dan Allender was tapped by Phyllis Tickle to do the “sabbath” teaching in this seriessabbath.jpg of “ancient practices” books, and it is fantastic. He makes the case that playfulness is central to sabbath-keeping.  Re-creation, you know. This is very interesting, and a bit different then some of the other standard books available on sabbath and rest. This is an important aspect of living into our freedom in Christ, and a nearly counter-cultural practice. Nice.

You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Faith…and Rethinking Faith David Kinnaman (Baker) $17.99  The definitive book on this topic, drawing from thousands of interviews with un-churched young adults.  Very, very impressive.  Having David at Jubilee again was a true privilege.

In Search of Deep Faith: Pilgrimage into the Beauty, Goodness, and Heart of Christianity Jim Belcher (IVP) $17.00  You know how much we think of this, since we named it one of the Best Books of 2013. It is truly a luminously written narrative of his journey to key cites in Europe, helping re-capture (and explain to his kids) the wonder of historic faith, as learned from the likes of Lewis, Bonhoeffer, Trocme, Ten Boom, Van Gogh, and more. Steve Garber calls it “a 21st century Pilgrim’s Progress” and it deserves to be considered so highly. Very, very nicely done, thoughtful, rich, rewarding.

CCMYK book.jpgMYK: The Process of Doing Life Together Justin McRoberts (Justin McRoberts) $24.99  Hanging out late at night with Justin was one of the high-points of Jubilee for me; missing his concert was one of the low-points. We love this colorfully designed book of stories, inviting us to wonder, to honest struggle, to be in community, to seek authentic faith in tough times. What a great storyteller, and what a great collection. Highly recommended.

Learning for God’s Sake Derek Melleby & Donald Opitz (Brazos) $14.99  Okay, we announced this at Jubilee, and I raved about it in yesterday’s column. It is the best book of its kind, hands-down, about something that few explore with much passion, although I am convinced it is absolutely essential to comprehend.  Written with the Jubilee conference in mind, naming Hearts & Minds as a resource, it is a topic, and a book, as you can tell, something I am very, very committed to.  Can’t have “Jubilee in a box” without something like this!

Kking of the campus_house.jpging of the Campus Steve Lutz (House Studio) $17.99  I love this book and it deserves to be on the shelf of anyone in college, or anyone who does campus ministry. It is, basically, a guide to multi-faceted living, growing in gospel grace, and helping reader name and appreciate the ways in which the cross can defeat the idols of the campus. There are not too many books on basic Christian growth for students and this is the best of ’em all.  One of the highlights is that there is a section on “academic faithfulness” and he cites Kuyper’s “every square inch.” It’s a CCO-ish handbook, ideal for anyone wanting to mature in grace and obedient faith.

Deepening the Soul for Justice  Bethany Hoang (IVP) $5.00  A small booklet, with a big, big message, all about praying for justice, and doing justice work out of a deep awareness of the heart of God for these concerns.  Lovely.

Growing Your Faith by Giving it Away: Telling the Gospel Story with Grace and Passion R. York Moore (IVP) $15.00  Yes, this is a book about evangelism. And, yes, we all need to brush up on this great adventure of sharing faith with others.  The theme of this includes this interesting notion that we grow and understand our own faith better as we explain it to others and have to say what we believall things new.pnge and why.  I think this is an overlooked gem, and should be highly recommended.

All Things New: God’s Dream for Global Justice R. York Moore (IVP) $15.00  It was perhaps on the strength of this great study that York was invited to do the grand final sermon on Sunday of Jubilee, tying together God’s great story of creation/fall/redemption/consummation. It includes a good study of future hope as found in Revelation and a bit of concrete storytelling about his own passion to fight sexual trafficking and abolition.  He has quite a story, and good eye for bringing together things that matter.  This is a very useful book, unlike almost any you’ve ever read.

Fframes season 1 collection.jpgRAMES: Season 1: The Complete Collection Boxed Sets edited by Roxanne Stone & David Kinnaman $59.99  You may recall our reviewing each of these pocket-sized research booklets, each wise and smart and fun.  Kinnaman and Stone were interviewed on the main stage of Jubilee, and it’s cool to offer all 8 of ’em in this handsome boxed set. Buying the boxed set is itself quite a bargain, and with this discount, it’s a really sweet deal.  You can learn about each of these Frames books and their authors, here.  In a way, these were ideal for Jubilee — brightly colored, solid up-to-date data about trends that matter, excellent writing, helping us think anew about current issues. Yes!





BONUS OFFER


If you are buying either PACKAGE 1 (one from each of the four categories at 25% discount) or PACKAGE 2 (two from each of the four categories at 30% discount) you may then order any of these, also at either a 25% discount or 30% discount (matching your discount level from your package.)

These are fantastic, important, worldview-shaping books that we featured at Jubilee 2014.  Offers good while supplies last.

Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation James K.A. Smith (Bakerimagining the kingdom cover.jpg Academic) $22.99  If anyone has deepened the evangelical conversations around worldview and education and what it means to be shaped in the ways of wanting God’s Kingdom, it is this serious, young philosopher from Calvin College.  You need this book.

Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works James K.A. Smith (Baker Academic) $22.99 This is the second in this series on cultural engagement, the role of litanies, and the power of liturgy. This is heavy stuff, especially important for anyone who works in the church, hoping that worship is deep and thick.

Whwho.pngo Is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus John Ortberg (Zondervan) $22.99  This is just a lovely book, clearly written, informative, inspiring. Perfect for any seeker, or anyone who wants to be struck anew by the power of this spectacular person who once walked His Earth.

Common Grace Book 1 Volume 1 Abraham Kuyper (Christian’s Library Press) $25.00  We talk about Kuyper a lot and I am the first to admit that reading 19th century theology is, well, an acquired taste. But if you want to buckle down and dig deep, this is historic stuff, important to have in English, as it was so seminal shaping neo-Calvinism and its celebration of God’s goodness in sustaining ordinary life and wholesome culture.

Aabraham-kuyper-short-personal-introduction-richard-j-mouw-paperback-cover-art.jpgbraham Kuyper: A Short and Personal Introduction Richard Mouw (Eerdmans) $16.00 One of my favorite books, this explains the Kuyperian vision and why his pioneering work at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th was a way out of the brewing dead-end between liberal social gospel stuff and fundamentalist pietism. This is the third way, wise and epic, explained simply by one of the finest example of gracious, Kingdom thinking writing today. Mouw, by the way, was influential in the early days of the CCO; his friend, the Dutch philosophy titan, Peter J. Steen, had us reading him in the early and mid 70s.





Heaven is Not My Home: Living in the Now of God’s Creation Paul Marshalheaven is not my home.jpg (Nelson) $15.99 Marshal says he was inspired to write this by Os Guinness, and it draws out uniquely Christian insights for thinking about key spheres of life.  Kuyper’s fingerprints are seen here as he offers playful stories and riveting teaching about politics, work, education, art, science, leisure, worship, and more. If ever there was a post-Jubilee handbook, this is it!

Reality, Grief, Hope: Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks Walter Brueggemann (Westminster/John Knox)reality grief hope.gif $15.00  We take a lot of Brueggemann books to Jubilee, but many youngsters aren’t quite ready for his evocative, profound insights, and his dense, moving rhetorical stylings. This is nearly a sequel to Prophetic Imagination, and invites serious consideration about what it means to be prophetic in our day and age. 

DVD Love Does Small Group Study (Zondervan) $36.99 Yes, the popular Jubilee speaker, storyteller, prankster and global human rights activist, has distilled his book, telling stories live and shared some of himself live, in this very well produced, fascinating 5-part video curriculum.  Wow. Just wow.  You. will. love. this.


Hgoff- ballooons.jpgere is a short video promo about the Love Does  book upon which the DVDs are based.

Here is an short video promo for the DVD curriculum.

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