What's New at Cross Reference Library - Coach Tony Dungy, Biblical Wisdom and Movies for Kids

Join Our Daily Bread author Dave Branon for an investigation into the book of Philippians. As you read the words of the apostle Paul and enter the story and lives of believers in ancient Philippi, you’ll uncover a spiritual foundation that makes us strong and unshaken in our faith during the trials of life. Examining the meaning and teaching of Paul’s letter, Stand Firm provides an easy to read and engaging narrative, challenges Christians to have confidence in their faith and experience God’s peace, and includes questions for personal reflection and discussion. Featuring forty eight life lessons written in a down-to-earth style, this creative commentary and devotional combination brings clarity to Scripture and challenges us to be grounded in Christ no matter what life may bring. This is perfect for individuals or a small group study.

When Tony Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI - and made history as the first African American coach to win the big game - millions of people, amazed by the success of his quiet, authoritative leadership style, wondered: how does he get it done? In the pages of Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy (with Nathan Whitaker) reveals the secrets to his success - principles, practices, and priorities that have kept him on track despite overwhelming obstacles, including firings, stereotyping, and the tragic loss of a child. His thoughts on leading, succeeding and attaining true significance will inspire you to take a long, hard look at the things that really matter in your own life.

How does faith survive, let alone flourish in the places of life that are overcome with the darkness of sin, despair, and hopelessness? Join Nik Ripken as he tells the story of being taught by believers in persecution how to follow and love Jesus, and how to walk with Him day by day. We may think that we would rather live like the world than do the “insane” things Jesus asks of us, but are we really more joyful than those walking the darkest, craziest paths? What does it mean if we are not? Is God truly enough? Have your questions answered in The Insanity of God.

Unleashing and equipping people to effectively help the poor requires repentance and the realization of our own brokenness. When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert articulates a biblically based framework concerning the root causes of poverty and its alleviation. A path forward is found, not through providing resources to the poor, but instead by walking with them in humble relationships. Whether you’re involved in short-term missions or the long-term empowerment of the poor, this book helps teach you in three key areas: Who are the poor? Should we do relief, rehabilitation, or development? And how can we help people effectively here and abroad? An additional two chapters and conclusion will help you apply the teaching to your situation and take the next steps more quickly. It’s your best way to a true understand of poverty and a plan to make a difference.

As a young boy, Ari Thalberg was raised as one of the Party’s elite - East Germany’s hope for dominance in a future world system. But Ari leads a double life: a loyal party member by day, the brilliant organizer of student protests to overthrow communism by night. When the conspiracy is uncovered, Ari is marked for destruction. Now a fugitive without a country, only one nation will take him in - and there he must finally face the truth about his despised heritage and the forces that have controlled his destiny. Will Ari’s love for Miriam cause him to heed her warnings before it’s too late? Or will his fateful obsession to establish world peace drive him into a diabolical chess match with powers beyond his control? Find out in Sanctuary of the Chosen by Dave Hunt.

Katie Bennett is new in town and just can’t seem to make friends. But she does have one very angelic best friend, Faith. The problem is, no one else can see her! When Katie’s mom and aunt suggest that she start the Precious Girls Club, Katie needs a little bit of faith to believe in herself. Will she be able to convince the girls at school to attend? Maybe if she puts up bright posters, or makes pretty friendship bracelets, or lets it slip (oops!) that she has her own guardian angel. Find out in Precious Girls: A Little Bit of Faith how Katie discovers that a little bit of faith can help her overcome big challenges.

Barbie magically comes to life in her third animated movie Barbie of Swan Lake. Based on the music of Tchaikovsky and the beloved fairy tale, this movie stars Barbie as Odette, the young baker’s daughter who follows a unicorn into an Enchanted Forest. While there, she is transformed into a swan by Rothbart, an evil wizard intent on defeating the Fairy Queen and taking over the forest. The Fairy Queen is able to counter Rothbart’s spell so that Odette retains her human form by night but transforms into a swan by day. Odette learns that, even though she feels she is the wrong person for the task, it is her destiny to save the Enchanted Forest from Rothbart. But how can a young girl - armed with only her courage, honesty and intelligence - accomplish this, all while the handsome Prince Daniel is falling in love with her?

The world is in trouble… and it’s up to the Care Bears to save it! Starring everyone’s favorite animated characters and featuring the voices of Mickey Rooney, Georgia Engel and Carole King, The Care Bears Movie will dazzle and delight viewers of all ages. Way up high where the clouds and rainbows live, the Care Bears watch over the Earth and make sure everyone is kind and friendly to one another. So when they see an evil spirit trick a lonely boy into helping make people mean, the huggable heroes jump into action! They come to the rescue with the animals from the Forest of Feelings - but it’s going to take an awful lot of love to defeat the spirit’s powerful spell.

“Oh no!” Elizabeth’s eyes widened in horror. They were gone! Her love letters to Scott Norris were gone! For a whole year, Elizabeth had been in love with handsome, twenty-year-old Scott Norris, but Scott didn’t know she was in love with him. The love letters Elizabeth wrote to Scott stayed in her desk drawer - until now! Who had taken the letters? Would the thief show the letters to Scott when he came for Thanksgiving? Elizabeth still had a lot to learn about trusting God with her problems, but she was learning. Read how God sent Elizabeth love and understanding from an unexpected source in Elizabeth Gail and the Missing Love Letters by Hilda Stahl.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Apologetics, New Thrillers & More

Creation or evolution? This debate is one of the most vital issues of our time. It is extremely important for all people to know the truth about origins. The Christian especially needs to know the truth of the Genesis account of creation. After all, if the Bible is false on its very first page, then how can any rational person have confidence in what follows from it? Fortunately, you don’t need a doctorate in science to understand the basic lines of scientific evidence that surrounds the creation/evolution controversy. Nor do you need a theological degree to understand the basic theology and moral implications of creation. Written and reviewed by a wide variety of experts, Creation Basics & Beyond offers a thorough yet understandable introduction to the basic questions involved in the creation/evolution debate.

Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours. Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis, he’s just a normal Italian teenager - but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior. In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier - a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured he is recruited to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders. Now Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.

You’re invited on a journey of suspense and the supernatural as four of your favorite bestselling authors team up for a unique series. From the minds of Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky, Invitation compiles the first four episodes of Harbingers. Each following a different character: Brenda (the street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future), The Professor (the atheist ex-priest ruled by logic), Andi (the professor’s brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns), and Tank (the naive, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power). Brought together for the first time, the four soon realize pockets of darkness are emerging throughout the world. Whether it involves a mysterious house, the inexpiable death of animals around the world, or an otherworldly little girl, each puzzle they solve brings them closer to the ultimate explanation of what’s happening. But will they discover the truth in time?

September 1999 - A series of apartment bombings in Moscow shock the world. The Russian government immediately blames Chechen terrorists, and Oleg Kraskin, a sharp young lawyer in love with the president’s daughter - has no reason to doubt it. Yet when he joins the First Family of Russia, and the president’s personal staff, he has no idea how radically the bombings will one day altar the course of world events, or what role he himself will play.
September 2001 - Just after the Twin Towers and the Pentagon are attacked, Marcus Ryker enlists in the Marines and is sent to Afghanistan to defend his country. In time, he joins the United States Secret Service and works his way up to the elite Presidential Protection Detail. It’s his dream job, until a tragic accident causes him to rethink his priorities. Neither Marcus nor Oleg are aware of just how much they themselves will change history when their paths cross in The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel C. Rosenberg.

Is there more than one way to get to heaven? In How Good is Good Enough? bestselling author Andy Stanley addresses this popular belief held even among Christians. But believing that all good people go to heaven raises major problems - is goodness not rewarded then? Is Christianity not fair? Maybe not. Readers will find out why Jesus taught that goodness is not even a requirement to enter heaven - and why Christianity is beyond fair. The author leads believers and skeptics alike to a grateful awareness of God's enormous grace and mercy.

When rebellion creeps into their family, Charlie and Alice realize their approach to raising children isn’t working, and they start searching for answers. But is it too late? FamilyLife’s first feature film explores the joys and heartaches of parenting. Through a story that unfolds over 50 years, Charlie and Alice discover the power of family and their need for God. Like Arrows stars Micah Lynn Hanson and Alan Powell, and is executive produced by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Dennis and Barbara Rainey, and Bob Lepine.

Scholars have identified more than eighty specific Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled during the two days we now celebrate as the passion of Christ. Their implications are enormous, for they reveal that Jesus was not an unsuspecting victim. Instead, He died exactly in the manner God intended. The fulfillment of prophecy authenticates that Christ was, indeed, the promised Messiah. And Jesus said, "...all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled" (Luke 24:44). The Prophecies of the Passion is a 58-minute documentary that explores millennia of Biblical revelation and its fulfillment through the life and death of Jesus Christ. For those who already believe in the miracle of the Christ's death and resurrection, this film provides a new source of insight, encouragement and confirmation of faith. For those who doubt, it is a powerful apologetic argument for the veracity of the Scriptures and the life of Christ.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Historical fiction, the power of prayer, and the latest from Karen Kingsbury

Raised by her aunt and uncle at the rectory in the small English village of Grimston Way, lovely Evy Varley remembers little of her parents and nothing of South Africa, the land where she was orphaned during the Zulu War of 1878. But when Sir Rogan Chantry, the arrogant and handsome son of the local Squire accuses Evy’s mother of stealing the infamous Kimberly Black Diamond, Evy sets out to prove the rogue wrong and clear her mother’s name. Secrets abound, however, from the diamond mines of South Africa to the halls of her own beloved rectory. A stunned Evy finds that her own aunt and uncle may have concealed disturbing truths about her family, and the rakish Sir Rogan has his own reasons to seek the Black Diamond. Now, faced with a dangerous past and an uncertain future, Evy must draw upon her wits and her faith to pursue Tomorrow’s Treasure by Linda Lee Chaikin.

The day before a teenage Ellie moved from Georgia to California, she and her best friend Nolan sat beneath the Spanish moss of an ancient oak tree where they wrote letters to each other and buried them in a rusty old metal box. The plan was to return eleven years later, dig the box up, and read the letters. But now, as that date approaches, much has changed. Ellie has abandoned the faith she grew up with, her days consumed with loving her little girl and trying to make ends meet. Sometimes she watches TV to catch a glimpse of her old friend Nolan, now an NBA star, whose faith is known by the entire nation. But few know that Nolan’s own personal tragedies have fueled both his faith and athletic drive. Despite his success, Nolan is isolated and lonely, plagued by a void in his heart that has remained since that night beneath the old oak tree with Ellie. For both Ellie and Nolan, the coming date is more than just a childhood promise. It’s the chance to make sense of it all - the chance to find out if it’s ever too late to find love again. Karen Kingsbury weaves a moving tale of heart-wrenching loss, the power of faith, and the wounds that only a forever kind of love can heal in The Chance. She delves deeply into a theme that resonates within us all - Hope lives for those willing to take a chance.

In Karen Kingsbury’s novel Where Yesterday Lives, Ellen Barrett is a Pulitzer prize winning journalist with an uncertain marriage, a forgotten faith, and haunting memories of her picturesque hometown and the love she left behind. The eldest of five siblings, Ellen longs for the time long ago when they were happy - when they were a family. Then tragedy strikes - Ellen’s beloved father is dead, and she must leave Miami and return to her childhood home on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, Michigan. And she returns to the world that was, an avalanche of memories is unleashed. And so Ellen’s quest begins - a quest to make peace with the people who still live there, with the losses and chances that time has wrought, and with the future God has set before her.

In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. When they finally leave, he decides on one more week of frivolity, which ends in the banishment of his favorite wife, something he never intended to do. But in Star of Persia by Jill Eileen Smith Xerxes discovers Esther, and he is sure he has a second chance at happiness. In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes’ wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther’s adoptive father. Caught in the middle of palace politics, Esther will find herself in an impossible position: risk her life or consign her people to annihilation.

Prayer is the Christian’s mightiest weapon. And as you come to know the character of God by his many names, you’ll renew your prayer life and your relationship with God in ways that will astonish you. In Praying Through the Names of God by Tony Evans, you will experience God as Jehovah Jireh, “the Lord will provide”, allow God to be El Simchath Gili, “God my exceeding joy”, make God your Jehovah Ori, “the Lord my light”, know peace through Jehovah Shalom, “the Lord our peace”, take God as your power source as Jehovah Uzzi, “the Lord my strength”, and make wiser decisions by sitting at the feet of Peleh Yo’etz, “Wonderful Counselor”.

Most of us feel utterly ransacked. We are waylaid by endless demands and stifling routines. Even our vacations have a panicky, task-like edge to them. “If I only had more time“ is the mantra of our age. But is this the real problem? In The Rest of God, widely acclaimed author Mark Buchanan states that what we’ve really lost is “The rest of God - the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of himself we can know only through stillness". We have forgotten the ancient wisdom, rooted in God’s own rhythm of work and rest, of Sabbath. Sabbath is an elixir and antidote. It is a gift for our sanity and wholeness - to prolong our lives, to enrich our relationships, to increase our fruitfulness, to make our joy complete. Sabbath restores our bent and withered parts. The gift of Sabbath is essential to our full humanity and faith. God, knowing that, and knowing how easily we might neglect it, made it a command. We’ve neglected it anyhow. We’ve lost the rest of God. This book seeks to change that - to help us receive anew the gift of Sabbath, this day of rest and play and replenishment. Sabbath, truly kept, is delightful. It is a weekly festival that subverts the tyranny of clock and chore. Sabbath allows us to live more fully into our status as free people, people released from the grueling, incessant demands of taskmasters. We anticipate, in the sweet shadow of Sabbath, the ultimate rest, heaven. Far from being some starched and dour day only to be endured, Sabbath is a day wide and bright, brimming with laughter, enough to lend beauty to all our other days.

What would you do if Jesus appeared to you in a dream? What if He came to you in a vision and told you to follow Him? What if these visions continued for over thirty days? Would you believe? Would you put your trust in Him? Would you devote your life to Him? Would you if you were Muslim? Pastor Tom Doyle has spent eleven years as a full time missionary in the Middle East and Central Asia, spreading the Word of Jesus Christ. Throughout his journey, he has encountered a staggering number of Muslims who were first introduced to Jesus through a vision or dream so powerful they eventually turned from their lifelong religion of Islam and embraced Christ as their Savior. Despite living in a culture where converting to Christianity can result in execution, these former Muslims have found the hope, peace, and inspiration that comes from knowing Christ. Their stories will amaze you. Jesus is reaching out to Muslims and they are responding. Dreams and Visions by Tom Doyle is a remarkable collection of stories directly from the world of Islam. Doyle not only relates these stories but also addresses the questions: Why would God use dreams to reach the Muslim world? Can dreams be trusted? What happens after these dreams or visions occur? Travel to the heart of the Middle East to meet new believers who have truly been touched by Jesus in the most miraculous way - through their nightly dreams.

Many have expressed concern over our future as a nation. Will we give in to moral decay? Or will we continue to receive the blessing and favor of God? It sometimes seems that we are on a dangerous course, and we wonder how we can turn our nation around. Evangelist James Robison offers a solution: a return to God through prayer and action. In The Soul of a Nation, he offers 30 days of directed prayer for our future and our children’s futures. He gives reflections on current events, passages of Scripture presenting a godly perspective on those events, and importantly, a prayer for God’s will to be done. Prayer holds a vital key to our success or failure. The collective prayers of Christians who match their words with actions have the power to turn the tide. This book offers a guide for that kind of life-changing prayer.

Cross Reference Library is located at 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE,
and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - The New Pilgrim's Progress, Bethany Hamilton's Latest Documentary and New Mysteries

In the midst of a global war, two forsaken souls search for peace in The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin. In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the US Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers’ betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for - fulfilling the recurring dream of his death. Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family - the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago. After Clay saves Leah’s life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay’s recurring dream comes true?

Millie Sullivan plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of a palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where her great-grandmother was a real guest ninety years ago. When Millie learns of a lost diary that may contain the location of a hidden treasure on the estate and reveal the identity of her great-grandfather, she sets out to find the truth of her heritage - and the fortune she desperately needs. But it won’t be easy… When security guard Ben Thorton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. Still, her story seems too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up. Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners - A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight.

When he prodigal brother’s return to Yancey, Alaska, is shattered by his arrest for murder, Piper McKenna is determined to protect him. Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he’s also sworn to find the truth. And he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. Some unexpected leads complicate this investigation in Dani Pettrey’s Shattered, and pursuing the truth puts Landon’s career in jeopardy. When Piper launches her own investigation, Landon realizes he must protect her from herself - and from whatever complications await as the two follow clues deep into Canada’s rugged back country. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.

The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan’s classic allegory of the Christian life, has endured like few other literary masterpieces. Describing the adventures of the pilgrim on his Christian walk, Bunyan’s work is rich with application and timeless inspiration for Christians. Because today’s readers often struggle with the vocabulary of the original edition, Judith E. Markham has discreetly modernized its language while retaining as much of Bunyan’s style and form as possible. To enhance readers’ understanding, Warren W. Wiersbe’s extensive notes explain Bunyan’s references to his own life, to the culture of his day, to his theological perspective, and to the numerous Scripture quotations and allusions. The Pilgrim’s Progress offers as much encouragement to those who are serious about their Christian walk today as it did when first published in 1678.

Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she’s correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie. With time running out, Amara must convince others - and herself - that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy is alive. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home. A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of Collision of Lies.

Written and illustrated by Steve and Becky (Hale) Morgheim, The Soap Box Beagle is a whimsical blend of fact and fiction that commemorates bygone summers along America’s legendary Oregon Trail, when industrious young dreamers piloted their gravity-fueled racers down the roadway at Scottsbluff National Monument.

Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton is a global icon and inspirational beacon. She rose from the personal tragedy of losing her arm to a tiger shark at the age of thirteen to become one of the world’s leading female surfers. Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable is the complete and untold story that follows Bethany’s journey from childhood into motherhood - the ups, downs and her powerful resilience against all odds. Featuring exclusive family footage and breathtaking imagery from waves around the world, this film captures Bethany’s journey up-close and personal as she takes on four of her professional surfing goals - Aerials, Barrels, Competition, and Big Waves - and becomes a mother in the process. From chasing her toddler, to chasing the biggest waves, Bethany is continually rewriting the rules on being a fearless athlete, capturing what it means to be unstoppable.

A sacred season is about to unfold for three women whose hearts belong to God. Elizabeth is barren, yet her trust in God remains fertile. Mary is betrothed in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God’s Son. Anna is a widow full of years, yet she waits patiently, prayerfully for the Messiah to appear in the temple courts. Following in their footsteps, you too can prepare for the Savior to enter your heart, your mind, and your life in a vibrant, new way this season. Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs explores the biblical stores of Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna unwrapping each verse with tender care and introducing you afresh to The Women of Christmas.

Who knew that getting robbed could put into play a chain of events that would eventually lead Hope Jensen, a young, bright, aspiring newspaper writer, to discover the powerful miracle of charity? In Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright, discover for yourself how the Christmas jars story and tradition has become a national phenomenon. Who will you anonymously give your Christmas jar to this season?

What's New At Cross Reference Library - Romance, Action and Prayer

How do we practice 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “tearing down strongholds by captivating our minds with the knowledge of God? Beth Moore shows you how in Praying God’s Word, a topical prayer guide addressing fourteen common strongholds and what Scripture reveals about each of them, and presents Scriptures in prayer form to be incorporated into your daily prayer life. God’s Word, through prayer, helps you overcome bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness, setting you free from each and every stronghold which claims your life and replacing it with the mind of Christ.

God desires to bless your family, and he wants you to be a part of His work. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle, Born To Be Blessed by Pastor John Hagee shows you how to bless children of all ages and in all circumstances. Through words of hope, bounty, and richness, He can speak through you to give purpose and direction to your loved ones. Hagee combines Scripture with teaching from his best-selling book to make God’s profoundly personal in your life. Come learn how the Prophetic Blessing can transform your family forever.

Honorably discharged from the Army after an explosion nearly killed her, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams has set up shop to help others, but her days of helping military personnel are over. She’s got her own battles to fight from her time overseas, and she’s not equipped to take on more. Former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James could handle anything that war sent his way. The only thing that scares him now is sleep. As the shadows close in, the nightmares begin. Finally convinced that he needs help, Asher makes an appointment with a counselor. When he arrives at her office, she isn’t there - but a dead body is. When it becomes clear that Brooke was the real target of the attack, and that her secrets go even deeper than his own, Asher vows to protect her no matter what in Lynette Eason’s romantic suspense novel Collateral Damage.

Haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong, former pararescue jumper Orion Starr has no desire to join Hamilton Jones’ elite rescue team. But he also can’t shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali in Alaska. Jenny Calhoun’s yearly extreme challenge with her best friend is her only escape from her guilt. The former CIA profiler and psychiatrist green-lighted an operation against the Taliban that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she’ll be forced to trust her life to the most dangerous of heroes - the man she nearly killed. In The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren, Orion and Jenny will have to put their wounds behind them to save their friends… and their hearts.

Sarah Troyer never expected to raise her children on her own, but when her husband dies in a tragic accident, she finds refuge in the home of her parents in the Amish community of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Sarah is taken completely by surprise when a stranger arrives claiming connections to her husband’s past - even though he had told her he was an orphan with no family. From Luke, she learns her husband hid a secret life, one with ramifications that will change her own. Sarah’s family, concerned for her and her children, encourages her to marry again. It should make sense… but Sarah’s heart says no. She feels trapped. Should she marry a man she doesn’t love? Or discover if her growing interest in Luke can be trusted? Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania in A Promise of Hope by Amy Clipston, where you’ll meet the delightful women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery. As each woman’s story unfolds, you’ll share in her joys, dreams, and secrets. You’ll discover the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle and, most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families.

Unflinching and plainspoken, Tessa Swan is not your typical eighteenth-century woman in An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz. Born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with. Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical eighteenth-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the Seven Years’ War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa’s long lost friend, Keturah, a redeemed Indian captive like himself. Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when she is taken captive by the tribe Clay left, his hand - and heart - are forced, leading to one very private and one very public reckoning.

In The Maiden of Mayfair by Lawana Blackwell, an orphanage in the slums of London is the only home young Sarah Matthews has ever known. But she is suddenly whisked away from poverty to live as a wealthy widow’s ward in the prestigious Mayfair district of the city. Sarah can’t fathom why this elderly woman, a stranger to her, would desire her company, but Dorothea Blake has reasons she isn’t willing to reveal. As Sarah blossoms into a young woman, the secret Mrs. Blake harbors threatens to break her heart and make both of them outcasts among London’s social elite. When a visitor to the Blake mansion unknowingly stumbles upon the truth, he puts Sarah at risk of losing all that has become dear to her, including the recent attention of a handsome new curate who has captured her vulnerable heart. Will the mystery of Sarah’s birth remain buried forever?

Back and broke in Stoney Ridge, Jimmy Fisher has coasted through life as long as he could on charm, good looks, and deep-set dimples. They always worked just fine for him - until they didn’t. His smile has no effect on the violet-eyed beauty he met at the Bet N’Dent, the one with that stunning horse. She’s offered him a job, but nothing else. The last thing Sylvie Schrock King needs around Rising Star Farm is a grown boy working for her, especially her neighbor Edith’s son. The woman holds a serious grudge against Sylvie, and hiring Jimmy Fisher will only fan the flames of Edith’s rancor. But Sylvie is desperate for help on the farm, and Jimmy understands the horses like no one else. While Jimmy’s lazy smile and teasing ways steal Sylvie’s heart, Edith is working on a way to claim her land. Has Sylvie made another terrible mistake? Find out in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s romance novel Two Steps Forward.

Jorie King’s life is on hold. She has been waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for him to settle down and join the church. Waiting to marry him. But when news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie is devastated. She finds unlikely comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. Friendship ripens into love, and two broken hearts plan for a life filled with promise of a fresh beginning - until their worlds are turned upside down. With her realistic characters whose weaknesses develop into strengths, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers a reading experience that rises above the others. You will love growing in spirit with these complex people living the simple life as The Waiting transports you into a world where things aren’t as simple as they seem.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Overcomer, Devotionals, and New Books for Kids

Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team. Urged by the school’s principal to fill-in and coach a sport he doesn’t know or like, John is frustrated and questioning his worth… until he crosses paths with a student struggling with her own journey. Filled with a powerful mix of faith, a twist of humor, and a ton of heart, the Kendrick Brothers return to theaters with Overcomer, their newest feature following Facing The Giants,  Fireproof, Courageous, and the #1 box-office hit War Room. This inspiring family film stars Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, Shari Rigby, Cameron Arnett, and introduces Aryn Wright-Thompson.

I Shall Not Want is a powerful devotional by Dr. Mike Evans designed to fill your heart with God’s promises and help you claim them day by day for your life.

Real power - that is, the power that brings true revival and transforms lives - in preaching comes from God alone. This is why it is so essential to follow the pattern for preaching given in Scripture, and the apostle Paul gives that pattern in 1 Corinthians 2:1-9. In The Kind of Preaching God Blesses, longtime pastor and Bible expositor Steven J. Lawson helps you fulfill your higher calling in ministry as you come to understand the priority of biblical preaching, the poverty of modern preaching, and the power of the Spirit in preaching. You will receive an abundance of guidance and encouragement as you explore how to carry out God’s ministry in a way that honors Him.

Wisdom is God’s greatest treasure, and with it you will enjoy meaningful relationships with God and with other people. You’ll make the best decisions possible. And you will live a fulfilling, joy-filled life. In just a few minutes a day, you can open your heart to God’s wisdom. Each brief selection provides just the right amount of reading for your quiet time. Short devotional introductions guide you as you meditate on thirty of Psalms’ and Proverbs’ most life-directing insights. Let God share His wisdom with you in 30 Days Through Psalms and Proverbs.

What is God’s will for my life? Should I take the job? Marry that person? Move to this city? Invest in that opportunity? Sometime the questions are endless, but God has bestowed an incredible gift in the heart of every believer that gives sure and certain answers. He has given you an internal compass to help guide your life, your family, your children, your finances, and more. Jentezen Franklin reveals in Right People, Right Place, Right Plan how you can tap into the heart through the holy spirit and mind of the Almighty. Use your supernatural gift of spiritual discernment so that you can associate with the right people, be in the right place, and have the right plan. In this expanded edition of Franklin’s classic, enjoy added teaching as well as prompts and questions to apply his truth directly to your life. God wants you to know that you are the one, this is the place, and now is the time!

In Five Green and Speckled Frogs, five frog friends are hungry and hot. They can sit on their log and slurp tasty bugs, or they can cool off in the pond. Which will they choose? Count and sing along with this funny favorite. Plus, there’s sheet music at the back of the book!

Tom is so intrigued by the special doll a classmate brings to school that he takes it home without telling anyone. Find out what happens next in Tom’s Terrible Secret!

Every once in a great while the hand of God is easy to see - and so it was with a lonely Patuxet brave and a struggling band of Pilgrims, as told in Squanto: The True Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas. In 1608, a 12 year old boy named Squanto was captured in America and taken to Spain as a slave. With the help of Spanish monks who taught him about God, Squanto made his way to England and finally back to his homeland. Squanto arrived to find an empty village - a deadly virus had wiped out his entire tribe. In their place, a small group of struggling Pilgrims settled and called their new community Plymouth. Because of his time with the monks and in England, Squanto could communicate with the Pilgrims and knew about God. Soon he became their valuable guide and true friend.

It’s time to get ready for Christmas in Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. The holiday comes wrapped up with lots of laughs as the literal-minded Amelia Bedelia stuffs the stockings, trims the tree, and pops corn - all in her own silly, silly way!

Charlie Brown tries to impress his red-headed dream girl at a football game, but Lucy won't cooperate in It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown. This unique book includes a read-along record.

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

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.

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.

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Fighting the World’s Lies, Living Generously and Resources for Church Leaders

Come see what’s new at Cross Reference Library, 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE!
Open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.

Filled with little known facts about our nation’s history, Freedom Tide by Chad Connelly sheds a hard light on where we are and how we got here, pointing out when and where we turned our backs on the solid values that once formed the bedrock of American society. Now you can make a difference! Most importantly, Freedom Tide is a call to action - a challenge to blaze a trail that will return our country to its founding principles before it’s too late!

Jesus is decidedly optimistic that His people can end extreme poverty - that’s why Fast Living by Scott C. Todd, PhD is unapologetically hopeful. Riveted with eye-opening economic progress, and firmly rooted in God’s words, Todd’s keen biblical insights and on-the-ground experience will change forever how we live the “true fast” of Isaiah 58. And in dramatic fashion, he reveals the truth: Jesus never said the poor will always be with us. For a generation of Christians tired of cliches or messages of guilt, Fast Living lifts our expectations to live our noble callings and demonstrate the Good News in a history-making way.

How should the Church respond to an increasingly antagonistic government? What should be our biblical responsibility? What has been the response of the Church historically to the opposition and hostility from government? Following Jesus and His disciples, our answer and hope must rest in the gospel as the power of God for the salvation and transformation of our nation. The praying and gospel-preaching Church is, and always has been, the means used by Christ to transform lives, societies, and nations. The concern of David J. Andersen in Christ’s Kingdom Commission is to encourage a return to these biblical means of grace in order to know the same power experienced in the Early Church, the Great Reformation, and subsequent national awakenings which transformed peoples, rulers, and nations, and which provided the resulting peace and freedoms enjoyed at various points in history.

“I’m not good enough…” “God doesn’t speak to me…” “I can’t be forgiven…” Let the lies go! Ever since Eve faced the serpent in the Garden of Eden, woman have been influenced by Satan’s deception. If lies limit your joy and potential, join author Cheryl Brodersen on a liberating, uplifting journey toward truth and purpose in When A Women Lets Go of the Lies. Engaging teaching, intriguing examples from real life, and biblical guidance will help you let go of insecurity, confusion, guilt, and temptation. With the addition of questions for reflection and an inspiring Embracing Truth Journal, you can finally exchange the burden of deception for the fruitfulness God intended from the very beginning for the garden of your life.

True generosity is the liberal giving of one’s possessions, abilities, influence and assets to serve the interests of others. In a world that is increasingly self-centered and insensitive, generosity goes against the tide. It stands in opposition to the me-first attitudes so prevalent in modern culture. In Revolutionary Generosity, Kirk Nowery issues a clarion call to a generous lifestyle. This is a message that holds the promise of tremendous spiritual benefit, because when you put into practice the principles of revolutionary generosity there is an unstoppable result. Attitudes are changed. Perspectives are sharpened. People are blessed. And God is honored.

“Does working at your church interfere with your communion with Christ?” That question may have saved author Anne Jackson’s life, as you’ll read in Mad Church Disease. As the daughter of a pastor, Anne saw firsthand the struggles leaders face and the toll it can take on their families. She vowed her life in ministry would be different. Yet years later, as a church leader, she was hospitalized because stress began wreaking havoc on her body. She had burned out. Anne developed a website that allowed church leaders to share their struggles. Within a few days, she was flooded with over a thousand responses from people pouring out stories of pain. Mad Church Disease, born out of that experience, is a lively, informative, and potentially life-saving resource for anyone in ministry - vocational or volunteer - who would like to understand, prevent, or treat the epidemic of burnout in church culture.

Does the silence, as taught by many of today’s Christian teachers and leaders, really take us into the presence of God, or is it a door that opens to the great delusion and falling away of which the Bible speaks? Ancient mystical practices are being introduced into countless churches under the umbrella of the spiritual formation movement. Also known as contemplative spirituality, this belief system has roots in mysticism and the occult. A Time of Departing by Ray Yungen exposes the truth about the new spirituality that is entering the Christian church.

In Called to Stay, Caleb Breakey takes a refreshingly honest look at the church, the problem of millennials leaving, and the stark reality of why the church desperately needs them. He holds nothing back as he unleashes an ambitious rallying cry to heal the church and inject his generation’s desire for truth, passion, and conviction into other believers. Caleb knows that answering the challenge of his own generation leads to a transformed church.

In this age of the megachurch, does your small church suffer from an inferiority complex? A remedy has arrived in All Churches Great and Small, where Kirk and Rosie Farnsworth say smaller is actually better! The authors cite a major study that identifies significant advantages of small churches, including growing spiritually, sharing faith, and empowering leadership. They offer 60 specific ideas for those who want their churches to become more effective in areas such as worship, caring, praying, studying, giving, and witnessing. Used regularly, the ideas in All Churches Great and Small will help small churches become great churches.

Is your church struggling just to survive, let alone thrive? Are you wondering whether to try something new or fall back on tradition? You know something needs to change - but you have no idea how to make that happen. David Laubach’s 12 Steps to Congregational Transformation offers the practical tools to get you started. Drawing on years of experience in helping churches pursue transformation, Laubach has identified primary principles and top priorities for church leaders who are passionate about fulfilling their congregation’’s mission in the world. Each step includes a relevant biblical text and commentary, along with questions for reflection and action. With inspiring anecdotes, candid personal illustrations, and comical cartoons, this practical resource uses a light touch on a heavy topic. If you are a leader ready to embark on the journey of transformation, this book serves as a much-needed roadmap. Let an expert lead you through the right questions before you invest in a library of books that claim to offer the right answers!

What's New at Cross Reference Library - Health, Raising Kids, and a Collection by Erwin Raphael McManus

Come see what’s new at Cross Reference Library, 209 East 15th Street in Scottsbluff, NE!
Open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.

The alarm sounds. Your feet hit the floor and carry you into another day. But what does that day hold for you? Will you be punching your timecard at work, catching up on TV at home, and crashing into bed before you rinse and repeat the next day? Or will you dare to dig deep and discover the incredible potential lying dormant within you? In Wide Awake, Erwin Raphael McManus challenges us to put an end to all the sleepwalking and settling, because each of us was created by God for a reason. He has called you to live as Jesus did - a heroic life, void of monotony, teeming with danger, adventure and the unknown. Living wide awake is about realizing that the world desperately needs you to lie up to your greatness. There is a future that needs to be created, and it is waiting for us all to wake up and get out of bed. The alarm has sounded, and it is time to shake off the slumber. It’s time to live, to create, to imagine, to dream… wide awake.

The search of your life is the search for your life. Erwin Raphael McManus’ Soul Cravings is an exploration of the human spirit; a journey into our deepest longings, our desires, our needs, our cravings, our souls. Our need for intimacy, meaning, and destiny point to the existence of God and our need to connect with Him. This book will deeply stir you to consider and chase after the spiritual implications of your souls' deepest longings.

This book is for those who are ready to join an uprising - a revolution of the soul that will change an ordinary life into an extraordinary one. It is only for those who want something more out of life, who desire to tap into the divine potential that was placed in them at their creation. You were in God’s imagination before you were ever born. All the talent, gifting, and creativity you possess was placed in you by God Himself. Can you imagine the things you could do if you tapped into the dreams God has for your life? In Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul, Erwin Raphael McManus boldly invites you to join the revolution. Find your true purpose and destiny in the pursuit of the passion and character of God. Be a part of a revolution that changes a life of imitation and mediocrity into one of passion and character… a radical revolt that will forever change the world.

We all have dreams, hopes, and aspirations. Why, then, do some of us realize our dreams and advance forward while others watch timidly from a distance and hope for a break? In Chasing Daylight, Erwin Raphael McManus reveals the direct relationship between passion and initiative. But how do we know that the dreams we pursue are God’s will for our life? How can we live with a clarity that frees us from apprehension and hesitation and catapults us forward with confidence and courage? Chasing Daylight is a call to live a life of blazing urgency. We have but one life. We are given one opportunity to pursue our dreams and fulfill our divine purpose. Every moment counts, and we must engage them with fierceness and zeal. Put an end to passive observation, paralyzed by the need for perfect opportunity, and start seizing the raw, untapped potential of your life with God. Are you willing to risk failure? Are you ready to get in the game? You may stumble but you will find yourself falling forward, propelling toward the God-inspired adventure He intends you to live.

Where Do Babies Come From? is the second book in the Learning About Sex series for boys, and will aid parents in the often difficult task of introducing and explaining human sexuality. Boys ages 7 to 9 will better understand how a new baby develops using simple and accurate language.

In the pages of Arthritis Reversed, Dr. Mark Wiley will show you how to determine the underlying—and sometimes hidden—causes of your arthritic symptoms. These are actually obvious root causes and contributors that are only “hidden” because you have not yet been taught to look for and identify them. Dr. Wiley shows you how to do this and then how to use that knowledge to reduce your pain and halt or slow the progression of the condition, typically within 30 to 90 days.

Growing up we didn’t have the internet, and text messaging wasn’t even on the radar. Today’s young people are bombarded by media of all kinds, and have instant access to any subject and any topic of their choosing. Their media saturated lives are inescapably inundated by chat rooms, movies, and instant messaging. How do we help guide our children to live Godly lives amidst this kind of cultural climate? In Media.Faith.Culture: Parents 101, Brett Ullman discusses sensitive topics affecting today’s young people including cutting, suicide, substance abuse, sex and violence. Bringing hope and awareness to today’s parents, Brett sheds a light on how adults can be more discerning in their parenting strategies and better able to anticipate the needs of their children as they navigate the often challenging waters of adolescence.

Today, Jordan Rubin is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and founder of Garden of Life and Ancient Nutrition. But at the age of 19, Jordan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease - an incurable digestive ailment. In one of the most dramatic natural healing stories ever told, Jordan discovered a natural path to complete healing and sustained health. In this updated and expanded edition of Patient Heal Thyself, Jordan Rubin shares his monumental discoveries, teaching you how to take control of your own health and unlock your body’s phenomenal healing potential. The simple, life-changing strategies and ancient principles found in this book will help you chart a path to wholeness. Get in the driver’s seat and take control of your health journey today!

What’s New at Cross Reference Library - Dystopia, Mystery and Sci-fi Come to the Fiction Section

In Winterflight, Joseph Bayly imagines an America not too many years in the future. An America that seems perfect on the surface, but whose ethical underpinnings have totally collapsed. An America where abortion is the rule for imperfect fetuses and euthanasia is mandatory at age 75. Jon and Grace Stanton’s allegiance to God is about to be put to the ultimate test in this future society. As they struggle to protect two members of their family from the law of the land, they must rely on each other and their faith as they never have before.

Full of hard-won wisdom and truth, The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans is a compelling and inspiring novel about hope, healing, grace, and the meaning of life. Reeling from the sudden loss of his wife, his home, and his business, once-successful advertising executive Alan Christoffersen has left everything he knew behind and set off on an extraordinary cross-country journey. He is walking from Seattle to Key West, carrying only a backpack to the farthest destination on his map. Now almost halfway through his trek, Alan sets out to walk the nearly 1,000 miles between South Dakota and St. Louis, but it’s the people he meets along the way who give the journey its true meaning: a mysterious woman who follows Alan’s walk for close to a hundred miles, the ghost hunter searching graveyards for his wife, and the elderly Polish man who gives Alan a ride and shares a story that Alan will never forget.

In Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins, novelist Darell Brooke is struggling to pick up the pieces after an auto accident derailed his career. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he only wants one thing - to plot a new novel and regain his reputation. Kaitlan Sering, his twenty two year old granddaughter, is rebuilding her life after struggling with addiction; but in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she is about to discover a third. Even worse, she realizes the culprit is her boyfriend, who is also the police chief’s son. Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather and begs for his help. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the murderer… but can Darell’s muddled mind do it?

Wise-cracking Gil Beckman has kept his sense of humor. It’s a good thing too, considering his humbling career move from homicide detective to security guard in a California theme park. Nothing exciting happens on the graveyard shift, at least that’s what he used to think - until a chance discovery in the back of a ride changes his life forever. A heinous crime has been committed, and Gil wants to know why. With few clues and no apparent motive, he sets off on his own fast-paced investigation. So what if the police have already arrested someone? So what if his superiors want him to back off? Gil knows he’s on the right trail. And he won’t stop until he uncovers the guilty party in Suspended Animation by W.E. Davis.

Reporter Christine McKay is captivated and disturbed by the headline “Teenager Murdered in Arizona Desert” in the mystery Sedona Storm by Barbara Scott and Carrie Younce. The death appears to be linked to cult rituals, and similar reports have recently appeared in England and Peru. An authority on the occult and Satanism, Christine’s search for the truth leads her to Sedona, Arizona, a picturesque artist colony and center of New Age activity. With the help of John Delarosa, an artist and former New Ager, she follows a trail of clues that implicate influential members of the community. But Christine, a skeptic and an agnostic, is not prepared for the terrifying evil that surrounds her investigation. As she gets closer to the truth, she places herself in peril, both physically and spiritually. Can Christine uncover the evil forces behind the ritual murders before darkness destroys her very soul?

Every morning Dr. Spencer Reston, dream research scientist on the space station Gotham, woke up exhausted. His head felt like an overripe cantaloupe ready to burst, and he had the nagging feeling something terrible was about to happen. Only later, with all of civilization hanging in the balance, does Spencer find out that he has become a vital link in a cosmic coup masterminded by a mysterious creature known as the Dream Thief. This is science fiction on an epic scale, yet grounded in a Christian worldview. Dream Thief by Stephen R. Lawhead has it all: fast-paced adventure, exotic off-world settings, wonderful character development, cliff-hanging suspense, an epic plot, and an authentic Christian sensibility.

Disgusted with big-city hospital politics, Dr. Lukas Bower has decided to practice emergency medicine in a small town. But in Hannah Alexander’s novel Sacred Trust, Lukas’ ER director vows to send him packing when his no-nonsense style clashes with the local establishment. For Lukas, medicine is more than a vacation - it’s a sacred trust. Everyone who enters his medical world, whether a cardiac patient or a suicidal widower or an obese man struggling for a sense of dignity, deserves the best he has to offer. But no case will ignite his emotions like that of ten year old Tedi, whose father’s alcoholism has put her at tremendous risk. Will Lukas be able to help these struggling patients and keep his job at the same time?

In Fallen Angel by Roger Elwood, a fallen angel named Observer is commissioned by his master to write a chronicle of world events justifying Satan’s single-minded dedication to the destruction of God’s creation. With book and pen in hand, Observer criss-crosses time and space to gain a Satan-side perspective of famous events, places and personalities: The Flood. Auschwitz. The Kennedy Assassination. Muhammed. Michelangelo. Gorbachev. The Middle East. But the more he sees and records, the more appalled Observer becomes with Satan’s unmitigated ruthlessness. He begins to doubt. To question. To wonder if his choice to follow Satan was the right one… and if he can still turn back.

A pair of books by Gregory J. Smith, Captive Planet and Operation Master Planet follows an unlikely hero, Lam Laeo, as he joins rebels from the planet Tsu in their revolt against the oppressive rule of the Dominion. Reluctantly pushed into leadership, Lam is also brought into a dramatic person-to-person confrontation with the Source and Power who truly rules over the galaxies. It’s sci-fi, action, intrigue and romance laced together with powerful truth.