What's New at Cross Reference Library - Biblical Fiction and Testing Your Faith

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In Isaiah’s Daughter by Mesu Andrews, the Hebrews are a divided nation. Israel’s ten tribes have bowed to pagan worship. In Judah’s two tribes, an evil king mocks King David’s legacy while a remnant of Yahweh’s faithful cling desperately to their one true God. Caught in the middle of the war is an orphaned girl named Ishma, meaning “desolation”; her short life already mirrors the name. Ishma enters the prophet Isaiah’s home as a household servant, but her quick mind and lively spirit gain the friendship of Prince Hezekiah. When Isaiah sees their relationship mature, he adopts Ishma and gives her the name Hephzibah, “delight of the Lord”, and the desolate captive becomes Judah’s queen. But loving Hezekiah will require more of Hephzibah than she ever imagined.

Standing in the shadow of his famous father, young King Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, longing for a love that is true and pure - a love that can be his cornerstone. A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah has known since she first laid eyes on Solomon that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father secures a promise from Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams will come true. But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon’s harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart? Mesu Andrews expertly weaves the words of Song of Solomon into Love’s Sacred Song, a touching story of the power of love from the master storyteller.

Mischievous but good-natured Tom Sawyer lives life to the fullest - and gets into plenty of scrapes along the way. Join Tom as he hunts for buried treasure, makes a nighttime visit to the graveyard, and explores some dark and secret caves. Tom can turn any day into an unforgettable adventure in this retelling of Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Some people would say he had it all - the car, the clothes, the best education, the flashy girlfriend at his side. But Tim Devon is no different than anyone else. He wanted something more - he wanted to meet the father he had never known. That’s what brought Tim to Amsterdam, and that’s where he learned things that the privileged seldom do. He learned that life can be a sewer, and it’s pretty easy to get swept away by the current. Fortunately for Tim, there was one person who wasn’t afraid of the stench, who put unselfish love and raw courage into action to reach down and rescue no matter what the cost. Caught by Gregg Lewis is the story of an American kid in Europe who had a second chance, because another stranger in a strange land was unable - and unwilling - to look the other way. This is a story of God’s love reaching out across cultures and across time, pain, and anger.

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The phrase “wall of separation” was coined by Thomas Jefferson in his private 1802 letter of response to the Danbury Baptist Association, wherein he reaffirmed the federal government’s intention to protect the public’s rights of conscience to believe and practice their faith without fear of interference from government. Several prominent citizens rights organizations will contend that this purported wall is being routinely breached by people of faith, yet others will assert that any action by the government to impede an individual’s right to pray in school or at a public event, to display a Christmas tree in public, or to say “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance is itself a violation of the First Amendment. In Wall of Misconception, Dr. Peter Lillback examines our nation's historic understanding of the our Constitution’s relationship to matters of faith, ethics, and morals, taking into account the historical and biblical context as well as the concept’s relation to today’s culture. This is both the layman's and professional's definitive guide to the separation of church and state and, indeed, the separation of God and government.

Islam at the Crossroads by Paul Marshall, Roberta Green and Lela Gilbert explores the history of Islam, its basic beliefs and practices, and its polarizing divisions. Discover how the vibrant history of Islam has been inspired by core beliefs such as jihad, or holy war. Consider the worldview of a religion that does not separate church and state, sacred and secular. Examine the similarities and differences among Muslim groups and between Islamic and Judeo-Christian teachings. And gain insight into today’s events through a panoramic view of invasions and campaigns, from those of the Prophet Muhammad to present-day acts of terrorism. Accessible and engaging, Islam at the Crossroads is an exceptional primer for understanding Islam. It not only presents Islam’s basic foundations and historical facts, it also reveals the varied world of Islam today, calling for support from the millions of moderate Muslims who wish to simply live their lives in peace.

Is the emerging church movement just another passing fad, a more contemporary approach to church, or the discontent grumblings of young people looking for answers? Faith Undone by Roger Oakland reveals that, in fact, it is much broader and is influencing Christianity to a significant degree. Grounded in a centuries-old mystical approach, this movement is powerful yet highly deceptive, and it draws its energy from practices and experiences that are foreign to biblical Christianity. The path the emerging church is taking is leading right into the arms of an interfaith perspective that has prophetically profound ramifications. It is indeed a new way of being Christians, and in every conceivable manner, it is striving to bring about a new reformation. Without a doubt, it will have an impact on all churches in the Western world and far beyond. For behind this new kind of church is a well-designed strategy and maneuver by the prince of this world, the enemy of our souls, to literally take apart the faith of millions - it will be nothing less than faith undone.

Everyone has a religion. And most in America think theirs is Christianity - but they’re wrong. Too many self-professing Christians hold a schizophrenic worldview - a toxic mixture of Christian and humanist beliefs that undermine Biblical living and the potential to change the world for Christ. Recognizing the problem, Brannon Howse developed a test to help people assess their personal worldviews. Since it was first put online in 2002, more than 50,000 people have taken the test to rank themselves on a scale from “Strong Christian Thinker” to “Secular Humanist Thinker”. Using Brannon Howse’s worldview test questions as a springboard, Put Your Beliefs to the Test helps make sure your belief systems lines up with the Bible, and it clarifies why the Biblical position is correct.