A paintbrush, watercolors and a canvas are typical art supplies, but the Bible is the one tool of the trade that Caroline Simas can’t do without. The Charlotte, N.C., native’s passion is combining her colorful art with scripture so that it touches people’s lives.

With her unique designs covering everything from textiles to home furnishings and with a list of 12 licensees and growing, her art is making an impact. 

Gift retailers likely will be pleased that social media darling Facebook has given up the idea of selling physical goods through its Facebook Gifts service. Instead, the company will continue to sell a gift card—known as the Facebook Card—that may be used with a variety of retailers.

Facebook did not make an official announcement about the change in sales strategy, “but reports have noted that 80 percent of the sales on Facebook Gifts were already in the form of gift cards,” according to PC World.

American credit card usage declined for the second month in a row in July, while overall borrowing—which includes auto and student loans—grew.  The decline in credit card use suggests consumers remain cautious, a trend that could hold back economic growth.

Overall borrowing increased $10.4 billion in July to a record high of $2.85 trillion, the Federal Reserve said.  That increase came on the heels of a $11.9 billion gain in June.  Mortgages, home equity loans and other loans secured via real estate were not included in those figures.

Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO for LifeWay Christian Resources, offered reflections and positive news to company trustees at their regular fall meeting, held Aug. 26-27 at Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina.

“Significant changes have taken place at LifeWay over the last eight years,” Rainer said. “Had we not made these changes, LifeWay would be in serious trouble today.”

MacLarry and the Stinky Cheese Battle (Big Idea/Word) conquered the Family Entertainment best-seller list for the week ending Aug. 31, according to CBA’s CROSS:SCAN sales data.

Sara Horn, military wife and author of My So Called Life as a Submissive Wife (Harvest House Publishers) will be interviewed on The Today Show on Sept. 11 with Kathie Lee and Hoda. Horn  also will be interviewed on The Better Show, Sirius XM Radio and Fox News.com.

The founder of Wives of Faith, a ministry for military wives, Horn wondered if a woman could really live a happy life while choosing to submit to her husband as the Bible commands. Despite cultural pressure and the independent role of today’s woman, she  opted to do her own personal experiment by living in marital submission as a wife and “helper” for one year.

The top three spots on the ECPA Bible best-seller list for the week ending Aug. 31 were held by different editions of the New International Version (all Zondervan).  The Story, NIV Adventure Bible, and The NIV Journey Bible topped the list, while the NIrV Adventure Bible holds the No. 4 slot.