What's New at Cross Reference Library - Lots of New Books for Kids!

Adventures With The King is a series of picture books for children ages 4 to 8 by Sheri Rose Shepherd that will help them understand their identity in God and their relationship with Him. Each book conveys a single Bible principle in a fun way and ends with "A Letter from My King" (God's message to the child) and a "Treasure of Truth" (an applicable Bible verse).

1. In The Lord's Army, Jake tries to force his dog to be part of his "army." When Jake's dad comes home from his military assignment, he teaches Jake that the best leaders lead like Jesus.

2. In A Hero's Prayer, Carter wants to be a superhero so he can help others. After giving his snack to a girl who couldn't afford to buy her favorite treat, Isaac learns that he already is a hero, because true heroes have hearts like God's.

3. In God, Where Are You?, Emmy Joy wonders why she can't see God and decides to invite Him to her birthday party. She learns that she can see God in everything He's created and that He is always with her.

4. In A Princess' Prayer, Elise longs to be a princess with a sparkly crown and beautiful dress and asks God to make her a real princess. She learns that she already is a real princess because she is the daughter of the King of kings.

Every little girl dreams of being a princess. And for the one who trusts in God, the Word heralds a most beautiful truth: She is the chosen daughter of the King of all kings. She is a true princess! The Little Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd is a majestic gift for that special young one in your life - personal letters written from her King. Each day a new letter will inspire her to live and act like the radiant princess she is!

Big and small, short and tall, fluffy and prickly . . . these playmates of all shapes and sizes are the best of friends. Share some giggles with your little one about how fun friendships and differences can be in God Bless My Friends by Hannah C. Hall.

The cuddly bear brothers and sister are back! I Love You Even When by Donna Keith, with a comforting message of unconditional love even when you do something wrong, tells a story with the bear brothers and sister through sweet rhyming text and cozy illustrations from the same author and illustrator as I Love You All the Same.

Join Elizabeth and the Camp Club Girls as they embark on a series of clue-filled adventures and crack the case in this entertaining and action packed 4-in-1 mystery collection written by Renae Brunbaugh Green.

1. What’s really going on at Camp Discovery Lake? When Alexis, Bailey, Elizabeth, Sydney, McKenzie, and Kate end up as roommates at summer camp, they soon suspect there’s more going on than crafts and Bible quizzes. Will the put the puzzling pieces together before time runs out?

2. What’s so important about a missing bag of marbles? Elizabeth and McKenzie are roped into a mystery as big as Texas, when a strange man shows up in town, asking about a special tip left to a waitress thirty years ago. Will their skills be a match for this mixed up mystery?

3. Is foul play to blame for the strange string of unfortunate events that threaten the River City Cruise Boat business? While helping out with ministry activities at the Fiesta Noche Del Rio on the Riverwalk, Kate and Elizabeth investigate! Will the girls reveal the source of the trouble before the River City Cruise Boat business goes bust?

4. Who’s the thief responsible for stealing a valuable Gibson guitar? Elizabeth and Bailey investigate the case in Music City. With only a handful of clues, will the girls be successful in turning up the missing music maker and returning the guitar to its rightful owner?

   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 - New novels from Colleen Coble, Janice Cantore and more

In The Inn at Ocean’s Edge by Colleen Coble, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine in 1989. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year - and until now, Claire didn’t know she had ever been missing. But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface… despite her parents’ best efforts to keep them forgotten. Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year. With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire’s very life depends on unscrambling her past… even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone - maybe everyone - is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light.

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years in Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble. But when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered, and her childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left without a word years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life and her beloved teenage daughter, their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her fathers’ killer - it is also about finding herself again, and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

A beautiful woman stands by the side of the road, barefoot and bleeding, a child in her arms. Someone just tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t even recognize him if she saw his face. She doesn’t even remember her own name. A suburban cop surveys a kitchen in disarray - a woman and child missing, a chilling note. This crime scene is unlike any he has ever seen. The man who calls himself Gideon waits and plans. He sees himself as a destroyer of evil, one who rids the world of abominations. He has already killed five, and he will kill again. And somewhere in the wilderness, in a secret geocache near where the wild swans gather, lies the unspeakable clue that links them all together. Michigan’s rugged and beautiful Upper Peninsula is the setting for Haven of Swans by Colleen Coble, an absorbing tale about love and loss, beauty and terror, grievous sins and second chances.

For Havyn Powell, growing up on her grandfather’s dairy outside the 1904 gold-rush boomtown of Nome, Alaska, offered all she needed. She had the love of her mother, two sisters, and grandfather. But now Havyn realizes the stability of her life may soon vanish. Havyn is determined to find a way to keep the family together, but her grandfather’s health is declining and everyone seems to be holding secrets from one another, including the handsome, dark-haired stranger who recently arrived. When tragedy strikes, Havyn and her sisters plan to use their beautiful voices and musical talents to perform and earn money at a local roadhouse. They’re an immediate hit, and it looks like the plan will save their family. But will they realize the peril before it’s too late? Will the secrets that have been hidden for so long prove to destroy their happiness? Find out in Forever Hidden by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse.

As goes the man, so goes the family, the church, the nation. Every statistic, from porn to paternity to divorce to detention rates, shouts with astounding clarity: “Men are in trouble!” Men are struggling not to slip into superficial, self-indulgent secularism when so many on every side are running in that direction. The need is urgent and the time is now for real revival in the hearts of men. If you are seeking a path forward - an action to get some traction in a better direction - Act Like Men by James MacDonald is that path. Men want to be challenged and stretched, tested to their limits of who we are. That’s how God designed us. If you know you’re not the man God created you to be, if your relationship with God is far from transforming your life, if you don’t even have a clue what the next steps should look like - it’s time for you to take a step toward living out God’s calling.

In Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore, a possible serial killer may be stalking elderly women in Long Beach, California. Homicide detective Abby Hart’s best lead is Luke Murphy, a irritating private investigator who saw a suspect flee the scene of the latest homicide. But as she works with the handsome PI to unravel the serial killer case, she must also confront the spark between them. When Abby discovers that the most recent victim is related to the governor, she’s anxious to talk to him about a cold case that’s personal to her, one Luke is interested in as well. As she learns more about the restaurant fire that took her parents’ lives years ago, Abby discovers why Luke is so invested in finding the ones responsible. With everyone else telling her to walk away from the case, Abby and Luke search for evidence buried beneath years of deceit… and soon realize that someone will do anything to make sure this case remains cold.

After months of investigating the brutal homicide of a young girl, Detective Abby Hart finally has the evidence she needs. But when the arrest goes terribly wrong, Abby begins to doubt her future as a police officer. As she wrestles with conflicting emotions, old questions about the fire that took her parents’ lives come back to haunt her. “There is proof” - PI Luke Murphy can’t stop thinking about what Abby’s former partner, Asa Foster, mumbled just before he died. When Luke uncovers a clue to the murder of Abby’s parents and his own uncle, he’s reluctant to tell Abby, despite his growing feelings for the beautiful detective. A decade-old abduction case brings Luke and Abby together, but will his secret tear them apart? Find out in Burning Proof by Janice Cantore.

In Crisis Shot by Janice Cantore, Tess O’Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way… until the night she responds to a call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press. Winning over the residents of Rogue’s Hollow might be more difficult than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small, backwater town. Especially when her closest friend, the pastor’s wife, goes missing and the woman’s cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue’s Hollow’s first murderer, she worries that she’s breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.

Bible prophecy expert Mark Hitchcock is noticing a dangerous trend: the nation of Iran remains in the newspaper headlines for all the wrong reasons. In Showdown with Iran, he reveals why this rogue nation is so dangerous and how that connects to what the Bible says about what’s to come while encouraging readers to remain alert, aware, and hopeful as the end times near. He tackles questions such as: Does Iran still plan to wipe Israel off the map? What does this mean for the future of the Middle East? Where does Iran stand in Bible prophecy? What will be the role of the United States in Bible prophecy? The warning of what will happen is not new. In the book of Ezekiel, the Bible records a multitude of predictions about the region then known as Persia as well as about the nation of Israel. These ancient prophecies foretell an end time rise of Iran, as well as Turkey. But are the prophecies still unfulfilled today?

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 - Life Advice, Novels from Michael Phillips and more

What is the secret to your relational happiness and meaning? You want a life that is real and meaningful - we all do. Today’s culture offers its own prescription to find that meaning, and the church offers another. Yet in The Deceivers by Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler, Sarah Milford and Ryan Ortiz are caught in the middle. They’ve discovered that what the world promises isn’t that fulfilling, but neither is their experience in the church. That’s about to change. Sarah, Ryan, and others in their youth group are about to embrace a certain truth about God that will forever change their lives. That is until Ratsbane, a hideous demon from hell, marshals his forces to deceive them into believing a lie - a lie that will keep that truth forever hidden.

Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in Betsy St. Amant’s novel All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes. At twenty six, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana, still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery, still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree… and still single. But when Lucas Brannen, Kat’s best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary, and a job at a famous bakery in New York. As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. He wants the best for Kat, but the only thing he wants for himself is suddenly in danger of slipping away.

Have you ever wondered, '“Do I have to get past my weaknesses before God can use me?” The answer is no! In Hidden Potential, Wendy Pope explores the life of a fearful murderer on the run with a speech problem and anger issues - also known as Moses - to show us God’s power and grace. Through Moses’ story, Wendy helps us see how we can be faithful, even when we are afraid, included in God’s plan, even with our faults, useful, even when we’ve failed, and valuable, even when we feel damaged. This book includes discussion, reflection, and Bible study questions along with powerful, real life stories from other women to remind each of us that we are a worthwhile possibility.

Meet Denver, raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana until he escaped the “man” in the 1960’s by hopping a train. Non-trusting, uneducated, and violent, he spent another 18 years on the streets of Dallas and Fort Worth. Meet Ron Hall, a self-made millionaire in the world of high priced art deals -- concerned with fast cars, beautiful women, and fancy clothes. And the woman who changed their lives, Miss Debbie. She helped the homeless and gave of herself to all of God’s people and had a way of knowing how to listen and helping others talk and be found – until cancer strikes. Same Kind of Different as Me is a tale told in two unique voices – Ron Hall & Denver Moore – weaving two completely different life experiences into one common journey where both men learn that whether they are rich, or poor, or something in between, this earth is not our final resting place. Bonus material in this special movie edition include a new epilogue with updates on the authors since the release of the original book, how it got made, and the incredible experiences while filming in Jackson, MS, as well as photos from the movie set.

Hattie McNair chronicles the adventures of the residents of the FairAcres retirement community while her own writing career gains momentum in Over The Hill: Notes from the Pasture by Effie Leland Wilder.

When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that The Cottage (by Michael Phillips) is not at all what she expected - nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir. The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman, let alone an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man that meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place - and the character of its most prominent citizen - that soon gets under her skin. Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whales Reef. David’s cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni’s hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni’s very life in danger.

Loni Ford’s unexpected inheritance of substantial real estate - not to mention a title - in the Shetland Islands has caused more than a stir in the quiet fishing hamlet of Whales Reef. How can life ever be the same with an outsider - and a woman at that - laying such a pivotal role in the life of this traditional community? But it isn’t just the locals who have deep misgivings about the current situation. Loni herself never imagined this in her wildest dreams and wonders whether she’s cut out for it. Loni would hardly let herself acknowledge that she’s falling in love - with Whales Reef, with its hardy people, and with local chieftain David Tulloch, whose inheritance she has usurped, at least in the eyes of some. Or has she merely been seduced by the simple, peaceful way of life that exists here? Yet life in Whales Reef is rarely without drama. Deep rifts exist between certain lifelong neighbors, and when a dead body is discovered, suspicion is cast in the direction of the Tulloch family. How Loni and David face up to this challenge will profoundly shape their relationship, as well as the future of the island in The Legacy by Michael Phillips.

On a wintry October night, a mysterious letter was left at the base of the angel monument which overlooks the grave of Andrea Parkin, the only child of David and MaryAne Parkin. In The Letter, the unforgettable conclusion to the Christmas Box collection, Richard Paul Evans writes “I discovered the letter in the winter of 1949 pressed between the pages of a diary that belonged to the child’s father, and at first glace, I regarded it as of little consequence. It was only after I had read the diary that I learned of the letter’s great significance and the events it set in motion.” It is within the final pages of this beautiful novel that David and MaryAne Parkin face love’s greatest challenge. And in finding love’s truest meaning, they learn the lessons that are echoed throughout the Christmas Box story.

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 - New DVDs and Medieval Fiction from Melanie Dickerson

Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her - a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand the emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny in The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson.

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf le Wyse, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made ever worse by the proximity of the lord’s bailiff - a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the bailiff’s vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord le Wyse. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf’s future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and in The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed.

Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie’s one chance at freedom - but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents, Rose and Wilhelm, by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl’s inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible, he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven they find help, but they also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now in The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson they must not only protect each other from the dangers around them, they must also protect their hearts.

Small towns have long memories, and the people of Dogwood, West Virginia, will never forgive Will Hatfield for what happened. Still he returns, intent on pursuing the only woman he has ever loved - only to find there is far more standing in his way than lost years in prison. Karin has buried her shattered dreams by settling for a faithful husband whose emotional distance leaves her isolated. Loaded with guilt she tries to raise three children and survive the best she can. In Dogwood by Chris Fabry, the secrets of Will and Karin’s past begin to emerge through Danny Boyd, a young boy who wishes he hadn’t survived the tragedy that knit those two together - as well as tore them apart. But the trigger that will lay bare their past and force them to face it is the unlikely figure of Ruthie Bowles, a withered, wiry old woman whose prying and persistence forces unexpected consequences.

Tired of getting history from a dusty old book? In a fast, fun style all his own, Dave Stotts explores history in Drive Thru History: New York and New Jersey and Washington’s Warriors. Learn about New York’s Freedom Trail, the place of George Washington’s inauguration and much more! This jam-packed series also includes stories on Saratoga, West Point and the Revolutionary War battles of Trenton and Princeton. As always, Dave includes the Christian influences that have shaped history.

This isn’t your typical tour of ruins and dusty artifacts. It’s history as exciting today as it was 2000 years ago! Ride along with host Dave Stotts in another installment of the award winning Drive Thru History video series, as he takes a fast-paced drive through American history. Drive Thru History: Discovering America’s Founders, based on the work of leading Christian historian David Barton, will take you to Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Virginia to learn about the life and times of the Adams Family: John, Abigail and John Quincy; the Benjamins: Franklin, Rush, and Banneker; and other Revolutionary heroes like George Washington, Haym Salomon and Noah Webster. Come along for the ride to discover how faith and commitment to God and Country contributed to the founding of our nation!

For the first time ever, the greatest story ever told is being presented as a multi-season show. The Chosen: Season One from VidAngel Studios digs deeper into the backstories and context of the people and events of the gospels. This first season of the #1 highest crowd-funded media project of all time introduces you to Biblical figures such as Simon Peter, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, Matthew and Jesus in a way never before seen on film.

Last Ounce of Courage is an intergenerational story about family, free expression, and taking a stand for cherished principles. A family is struck by tragedy when a young man dies in combat overseas, leaving behind a wife and young son. Years later the fallen soldier’s father, Bob Revere, serves as mayor of a small town where powerful Washington interests seek to stamp out religious expression. The soldier’s son, now a young man, inspires his grandfather to take a stand for the ideals and traditional values that our heroes in uniform sacrifice everything to protect. In honor of his son, Revere embarks on a personal mission to reignite the latent patriotism and faith of his fellow citizens and reassert the cherished rights guaranteed to all Americans.

He is Risen is the story of the greatest miracle of all - the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Sorrow and despair at the Lord’s crucifixion become complete joy and love as the disciples behold their resurrected Master three days later. The events of the real story of Easter teach of the atonement and resurrection, providing hope to Christians all around the world.

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 - Encouragement, Inspiration and Captivating Fiction

CIA officer Talie Inger may have reconciled with the man who assassinated her father, but that doesn’t mean she wants him hovering over her every move and unearthing the painful past she’s trying to put behind her. Still, she’ll need him - and the help of his star grifter, Valkyrie - if she hopes to infiltrate the Jungle, the first ever crowdsourced crime syndicate, to rescue a group of kidnapped refugee children. But as Talia and her elite team of thieves con their way into the heart of the Jungle, inching ever close to syndicate boss The White Lion, she’ll run right up against the ragged edge of her family’s dark past. In this game of cat and mouse in Chasing the White Lion by James R. Hannibal, it’s win… or die. And in times like that, it’s always good to have someone watching your back.

Software engineer Beck Easton is a secret member of the National Security Agency. He is also ready to give up his double life when an unexpected assignment - and the captivating Angela Brower - change his plans. Following the trail of an Al-Qaeda operative, Beck uncovers a plot that could kill thousands. Suddenly an already perilous assignment turns into a race against time, complicated by Angela’s presence and Beck’s growing attraction to her. Caught in a web of intrigue and danger, Angela and Beck must join forces to stop a deadly enemy before it’s too late. Tom Morrisey’s taut pageturner Dark Fathom takes you deep into a world of espionage, ocean diving adventure.

Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility and those associated with them are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia, but danger lurks in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers begin to suspect a young boy left in her care might be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement Asylum offer permanent refuge? Also in A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green, militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate his hard-won farm near Asylum, but he soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young French woman who recently arrived from Paris, they are drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.

Thirty years in the making, Audacious is a deep dive into the message that has compelled Beth Moore to serve women around the globe. Glancing over the years of ministry behind her and strengthening her resolve to the call before her, she came to the realization that her vision for women was incomplete. It lacked something they were aching for. Something Jesus was longing for. Beth Moore identifies that missing link by digging through Scripture, unearthing life experiences, and spotlighting a turning point with the capacity to infuse any life with holy passion and purpose. What was missing? Well, lets just say it’s audacious and it’s for all of us. And it’s the path to the life you were born to live.

We all have those days: when small problems become crises, when doubt begins to overwhelm faith, when exhaustion hits and depression colors the world black. Fact is, the daily grind of life is not going away! Since we cannot escape it, we must find a way to live beyond it. And the book of Psalms holds the answers, offering words of surpassing strength and comfort for those difficult and demanding times. In Living the Psalms, Charles R. Swindoll explores such pressing themes as fear of the unknown, discouragement and worry, how to handle difficult people, and what to do when God is silent. Through twenty six engaging weeks in the Word, one of Christianity’s foremost pastors will guide you not just to read the Psalms but to live them - reminding you of a grace that never fails and a God who is constantly at work to transform the daily grind into a daily miracle.

Everyone knows how to be joyful in the peaks of life. When all your fondest hopes and wildest dreams come true, and your heart nearly explodes with happiness, it’s easy to feel joyful. But what about the valleys? When nothing seems to go your way? When everything is falling apart? When God is silent and you feel all alone? Where does joy fit into those moments? In Choose Joy, acclaimed author and Christian leader Kay Warren shares the path to experiencing soul-satisfying joy no matter what you’re going through. Joy is deeper than happiness, lasts longer than excitement, and it is more satisfying than pleasure and thrills. Joy is richer. Fuller. And it’s far more accessible than you’ve thought. Joy comes from God… and it can be yours!

Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda focuses on the lives of fifty two prominent and not so prominent women in Scripture to help you approach the story of salvation with fresh eyes. The updated and expanded edition of this bestselling book features refinements and new material designed to enhance its usefulness for both personal devotions and group study. It offers a unique devotional program, combining five elements: inspiration, background information, Bible study, Bible promises and prayer. Each week quickly becomes a personal or group retreat focused on the life of a particular woman. Vital and deeply human, the women in this book encourage through their failures as well as their successes. You’ll see how God acts in surprising and wonderful ways to draw them - and you - to Himself.

God’s people are hiding in plain sight. Tens of millions of Christians live in China today, leading double lives to hide from a government that relentlessly persecutes them. By day, he was a teacher in a communist school; by night, he was a preacher in an underground house church network. This edge of your seat book tells the true story of Bob Fu’s conversion to Christianity, his arrest and imprisonment for starting an illegal house church, his harrowing escape, and his subsequent rise to prominence in the United States as an advocate for his oppressed brethren. God’s Double Agent will inspire you to boldly proclaim and live out your faith in a world that is at times indifferent, and at other times murderously hostile, to those who spread the gospel.

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 - Frank Peretti, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Anne Graham Lotz, and Gloria Gaither

From acclaimed Christian thriller author Frank Peretti: They operate undercover. Blink and you’ll miss them. They could be anyone, anywhere… even the person walking by you right now. They’re the Veritas Project team - but only a handful of people know who they really are. Elijah and Elisha are teenage twins who, along with their parents, have been secretly commissioned by the President to investigate strange mysteries that delve into the paranormal and supernatural. Their job is to find out not only what happened, but why - the veritas (Latin for truth) behind the seemingly impossible phenomena. In Nightmare Academy, what was once a normal fifteen year old boy has suddenly become nothing. His whole mind seems to have been erased. Now he only stares into space and whispers two ominous words - “Nightmare Academy” - and the only way to solve the case is for Elijah and Elisha to step inside his nightmare. In The Hangman’s Curse, three popular student athletes lie in incoherent comas with loss of muscle coordination, severe paranoia, and hallucinations. It’s whispered that they’re the victims of Abel Frye, a ghost that’s haunted the school since a student hanged himself there in the 1930’s. Now the hangman’s curse is spreading, and students are running scared. The Veritas Project is headed to Washington, looking for answers to the recent appearance of a ghostly figure with a glowing hawk perched on his shoulder. Is this Abel Frye’s ghost, a dark angel… or something else? And who is responsible for the bizarre hangman symbol that suddenly appears scrawled on the victims’ lockers?

Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him. He has been allowed to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions - first, he must make a sincere apology to each person he’s hurt, and second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused. Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused isn’t so simple - in fact, it’s gut-wrenching - and his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm, and Luke’s clumsy efforts to befriend her only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. Her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge in Mending Fences by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Schoolteacher Mollie Graber has come to Stoney Ridge for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child’s heart and knit them back together. Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights, but what she gets are sleepless nights and police at the door. There’s only one thing that breaks through the girls’ hard shells - an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, horse trainer Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie’s chaotic life. What he didn’t expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart… just in time. Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the little Amish community of Stoney Ridge for a touching story of the power of love in Stitches in Time.

What Are Christmas and Easter All About? by John R. Cross explains the most important story in the Holy Bible - it’s a story that tells us the purpose behind Christmas and Easter. However, this book doesn’t stop with the stories of these two festivals. It explains much more - it tells us the Bible’s answers to life, death and life after death, and it helps us understand what the Bible is all about.

What began fifty years ago, when two high school English teachers in a small Indiana farm community began writing songs to express their beliefs and experiences, has become a collection of standards that declare the faith and assurance of millions. As the Gaither’s voices have traveled across the world, their songs have traveled into people’s hearts and homes. In this once in a lifetime treasury Something Beautiful, Gloria Gaither shares the very personal stories and events that inspired over a hundred of their most beloved songs. The sources of inspiration are frequently surprising: from a single blade of grass, a tornado ravaged farm, a toddler's bad day, an extra long session on a lawn mower, and a K-Mart wedding ring have come songs of profound spiritual insight. In each Gaither song is a kernel of truth that gives comfort for the broken, encouragement for the weary, vision for the creative, or direction for the adventuresome. In short, Gaither songs give sustenance for the journey of life.

It’s finally here: a comprehensive source of practical, trustworthy, biblically based answers to the tough questions commonly asked by recently married couples - all in one accessible volume. Written by Focus on the Family counselors who bring timely help to thousands of couples every year, The Complete Guide to the First Five Years of Marriage is designed to help spouses build a strong foundation for a lifetime partnership that’s filled with genuine love and joy. It can be read from beginning to end or as needed for specific, practical answers. Discover how to keep your marriage burning bright with love, romance and lasting commitment.

When we call ourselves Christians, we expect that our love for Jesus, our hunger for His presence, our urgent longing to see Him again will be a constant, motivating force in our lives. Yet sometimes the longing becomes complacency, and we sleep through opportunities to be with Him. Anne Graham Lotz knows from personal experience that it’s then, as we’re drifting in comfortable complacency, that we most need a wake up call - a jolt that pushes us to seek out a revival of our passion for Jesus that began as blazing fire but has died down to an ineffective glow. The revival we need now is not a tent meeting or a series of church services designed to save the lost… it’s something completely different - authentic, personal revival. In I Saw the Lord, Anne shares the revival lessons she has carried to audiences throughout the world, showing you how you can experience an authentic, deeper, richer relationship with God in a life-changing, fire-blazing revival.

Have three minutes to spare? You’ll find the spiritual pick-me-up you desire in 3-Minute Devotions for Women. Written especially for the woman’s heart, this delightful daily devotional packs a powerful dose of comfort, encouragement, and inspiration into just-right-sized readings for women on the go. The first minute gives you Scripture to meditate on, the second minute provides a short devotional reading, and the third minute has a prayer to jump-start your conversation with God.

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 - 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?