Pastor challenges believers to follow Jesus as their model and find a ‘whole new way of being human’

Grappling with tough issues one night concerning the bride of Christ, Pastor Jonathan Martin wrote “A Letter to a Ravaged Bride.” Martin’s letter challenges God’s people to “once again become the beautiful people of God for the world,” he writes.

In Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You’re More Like Jesus Than You Think?, Martin discusses how it is possible for the church to become beautiful by following Jesus’ example on how to live. Martin sees Jesus as a model for believers—“God’s prototype for a whole new way of being human.”

The author argues that each child of God must begin with an accurate understanding of his identity, just as Christ knew his true identity—that He “was loved by God the Father.” He explains that if believers encounter God like children, with innocence and trust, before fear and disappointment crept in, they can see that they, too, are God’s beloved simply because they exist. When believers know this deeply, Martin says, it affects their every decision, and they become more like Jesus.

Martin also examines what he calls “obscurity.” While it is not valued in our culture, he says, separating oneself from the busyness of life and focusing on God are important so that God can deepen the believer’s relationship with Him. In this type of wilderness, the Christian is strengthened, identity is reinforced, and he or she is freshly able to distinguish the voice of the accuser, as Jesus did in His wilderness experience. 

Obscurity then leads to calling, even though believers are all unlikely workers for God’s purposes, as Moses and David were, Martin said. At the author’s church, Renovatus in Charlotte, N.C., members embrace the reality that all believers are misfits. They call themselves “a church for people under renovation.”

Further, Martin points out that following Jesus involves the sacraments, the “bodily, physical practices” of baptism, communion and caring for the sick. He emphasizes community—with depth of relationship—and says that when we understand how much God loves us, we long to tell others our story of “belovedness” because it is part of a larger story, of what “God has in store for His creation.”

Prototype includes a study guide and releases this month from Tyndale Momentum, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers. To order, call Tyndale at 800-323-9400 or visit www.tyndalebooksellers.com.

Richard Stearns, president of Christian relief organization World Vision, has spoken to countless people worldwide from all walks of life, and found that many express a common concern. In Unfinished: Believing is Only the Beginning (9780849948510, $24.99, Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins Christian Publishing), Stearns observes that believers want to be sure they are living out God’s calling for their lives.

The April 30 release is a book about “what it means to be a follower of Christ in the 21st century,” Stearns told Christian Retailing. 

The book’s title has a dual meaning, he said. It refers to the unfinished mission Jesus gave His disciples: to preach the gospel to the whole world. But it also refers to how many Christians “feel incomplete in our faith, that’s something’s missing.” 

More than evangelism, Stearns said the Great Commission is “really what Jesus always called the kingdom of God … going into the world and showing the world a different way to live, a different way to relate to one another, a different way to relate to God, caring for the poor and the vulnerable and the widow and the orphan, being people of integrity, people of compassion, people of justice.”

However, Stearns writes, with the endless details of everyday life, many believers have lost sight of God’s larger narrative. To help them recover what that is, Unfinished begins by investigating a big question, “What is Truth?” and then summarizes God’s grand story. 

Stearns describes what he calls the clash between “the magic kingdom”—the affluent Christian life—and “the tragic kingdom”—the Christian life shaped by poverty. He says neither reflects the true kingdom of God, which requires individuals submitting to God’s rule, communities governed by His values and people going into the world as His ambassadors. 

Among the examples he cites are Steve Reynolds, who introduced U2 frontman Bono to Ethiopia’s famine, and the Stu and Robin Phillips family, who sold their Wyoming ranch to build God’s kingdom. 

Stearns’ previous book, The Hole in Our Gospel, also from Thomas Nelson, won the 2010 Christian Book Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. 

To order, call 800-251-4000.

Robert Benson, author of 17 books, has written a tribute to his mother and her journey through the darkness of dementia in Moving Miss Peggy: A Story of Dementia, Courage, and Consolation. For practical assistance, the book includes his family’s establishment of a care plan, as well as resources related to the family dynamics and healthcare issues that accompany dementia. Abingdon Press releases Moving Miss Peggy in hardcover this month for $15.99.

Through the viewpoint of Lazarus and in narrative form, Frank Viola recounts Jesus’ many visits to Bethany in God’s Favorite Place on Earth (David C Cook), which releases May 1 in softcover for $14.99. Based on Scripture and historical research, the book brings the biblical scenes set in Bethany to life with additional dialogue and action, revealing Jesus’ views on several issues and highlighting struggles common to all Christians. 

Walking on Eggshells: Discovering Strength and Courage Amid Chaos is the memoir of Lyssa Chapman of A&E’s hit reality show Dog the Bounty Hunter. With award-winning author Lisa Wysocky, Chapman recounts how she emerged from a nightmare of molestation, violence and teen pregnancy to a rewarding, positive life. Chapman seeks to inspire others to break the cycle of abuse and rise from extreme adversity. Howard Books releases Chapman’s book on May 7 in hardcover for $24.99.

Ian Morgan Cron, best-selling author and Episcopal priest, examines the life of Saint Francis of Assisi in Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale ($14.99, softcover). Cron makes the case that the life and legacy of Francis—a life of radically generous living—is an ideal model for today’s evangelical churches to follow. The author uses the format of wisdom literature—blending fiction, nonfiction and historical teaching—with a semi-autobiographical narrative. Zondervan releases Chasing Francis on May 7. 

In Undefeated: Ditch the Poor Choices and Live Free, Allen Griffin, associate pastor and founder of AG Ministries, says the main obstacle between believers and their divine purpose is undefeated sin. He aims to help readers increase in power and effectiveness in their walk with God by ending repetitive sins and vicious cycles without fear and guilt. Retailing for $14.99, Undefeated releases in softcover May 7 from Passio, an imprint of Charisma House.

Author and TV host Guillermo Maldonado discusses how believers can discover God’s kingdom, enter it and expand its dominion in The Kingdom of Power: How to Demonstrate It Here & Now. Maldonado is founding pastor of King Jesus Ministry in Miami and serves as apostle to churches worldwide through the New Wine Apostolic Network. Whitaker House will release the book simultaneously in English and Spanish in two formats, softcover ($14.99) and hardcover ($22.99), May 1.

In Born to be Blessed: Releasing God’s Promises Into the Lives of Those You Love, John Hagee, pastor and New York Times best-selling author, discusses how to unleash the power of God’s prophetic blessing in families. Hagee combines scripture and teaching from his best-seller The Power of the Prophetic Blessing and includes more than 75 prophetic blessings for a variety of circumstances. Worthy Publishing releases Born to Be Blessed ($14.99) on May 7.

Fortune 500 CEO Steve Kubicek shows readers how to adopt an uplifting mind-set in Up and In: Seven Keys to Unlocking Your Potential (Summit Partners). Distributed by Advocate Distribution Solutions, a division of Send The Light, this collection of 42 daily readings presents a self-guided, inspirational tour toward achieving their potential, addressing such issues as uncovering true worth, confronting damaging thinking and habits and developing the tools to rebound from setbacks. Releasing May 14, the book is available in hardcover ($22.95) and softcover ($19.95), as well as e-book.

Latest project: Killing Jesus: The Unknown Conspiracy Behind the World’s Most Notorious Execution (9781617951879, Worthy Publishing).

Why did you choose to write Killing Jesus? We can’t allow a gloss to form over the brutality of the crucifixion. It is the central event of our faith. Everything that leads to the death of Jesus was redemptive. I wanted to tell this story beyond what can be said in an Easter sermon or the usual Bible study. Frankly, it is a very gruesome tale, more gruesome in some cases than Mel Gibson’s film [The Passion of The Christ]. 

Why did you think it important to explain Jesus’ execution in gritty realism? The story demands it. The sacrifice demands it. My gratitude for what Jesus endured demands it. We are told in Scripture that, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.” I don’t want to be guilty of laziness in searching out anything concealed about the sufferings of Jesus. 

What research did you conduct? I relied on scholars in Israel, Turkey and at major universities here in the United States. I also used “old school” scholars like Alfred Edersheim and “new school” scholars like Marcus Borg. Of course, any book of this kind has to involve Josephus and Tacitus—all the classical writers who shine light on the pages of Scripture. 

You did not write this book in your office, as you typically do. Where did you write? I found it too gritty and disturbing to put on the page in my very comfortable office. I know this sounds odd, perhaps even contrived, but I did genuinely write in public places. It seemed fitting. I wrote in Washington, D.C.’s Union Station and sitting with Israeli troops at the Citadel of David, for example. I just had to be among crowds and human drama to get this on the page. 

How is the material organized? It is chronological with several of what I call “periscope” chapters. These are chapters in which I stick my head out of the historical moment and look back over Jesus’ life in summary fashion. 

Will you explain your use of present tense and multiple perspectives in the narrative portion? I did it for dramatic effect, certainly, but I also did it so that the reader can better imagine himself on the scene. Some very wise professors of mine taught me to read the Bible “architecturally,” meaning actually inside the story looking around. It has made a profound difference in my orientation to the Bible. 

You write that the conspiracy to kill Jesus should not be read hastily. Why do you think this caution is necessary? Understandably, we Christians read about the crucifixion of Jesus a bit overly eager to get Him in the tomb. We tend to miss the meaning of what comes before. For example, is there any connection between Jesus driving moneychangers out of the temple courts and His death? I say there is and that it is extremely important, but we often miss this in our eagerness to get to the victorious moments in the story. I share that excitement—I’m a Christian! But every word in Scripture was written for a reason and we should take time understand the meaning intended.

ASK THE AUTHOR: Angela Hunt
LATEST PROJECT: The Offering: A Novel (May 14).
PUBLISHER: Howard Books.

What is The Offering about? 

The Offering is a story about a woman who agrees to become a gestational carrier in order to earn extra money for her family. But problems arise, so she has to make crucial decisions in the course of unfolding events. It’s a story about family. 

Where did you get the inspiration for this novel? 

My agent actually dropped the idea into my lap. Knowing that I have a keen interest in adoption and other life issues, she told me about a trend for military wives to serve as surrogate mothers.

What kind of character is the protagonist, Amanda? 

She’s a young mother, a wife and an often-bewildered member of an extended Cuban family. Since her father died years ago and her mother lives in another city, she’s grateful for her husband’s family’s support. 

How does her concept of family change in time?

She begins to truly appreciate family instead of taking them for granted. She has been “adopted” by her husband’s Cuban relatives, but she doesn’t really appreciate them until much later in the book. Finally she comes to understand that love, not blood, is what binds a family together. 

Amanda is sometimes influenced by her dreams. Why did you use this device? 

Dreams were perfect for this story because women really do have unusual dreams during pregnancy. The experience is common enough that many women dream the same sorts of dreams, so dreams were the perfect device to use in this story. 

What research did you conduct for this novel? 

Obviously, I had to do a lot of research on surrogacy, in vitro fertilization and Cuba. Fortunately, I’ve written other books that dealt with most of the elements of this story, so it was simply a matter of seeing how the landscape had changed, so to speak.

Did you draw on personal experience to write The Offering? 

I am an adoptive mother who waited years for her babies to arrive, so a lot of this story felt very personal to me. The emotions were there, I simply had to tap into them—and keep some tissues handy.

What else would you say to Christian retailers as they promote The Offering?

Surrogate mothers—more accurately referred to these days as “gestational carriers”—are increasingly more common. Unfortunately, many people who investigate surrogacy aren’t fully informed about the process, particularly in the area of what happens in in vitro fertilization [IVF]. I have no problem with IVF per se, but all too often too many eggs are harvested, too many are fertilized and too many are frozen. These are tiny human lives, and we cannot lightly dismiss them. I’m hoping that this story will help people think about all the repercussions involved in these procedures. My book club just finished reading this book, and I was amazed at how the book touched those ladies, particularly those who have had some experience with adoption.

‘Jimmy’ encourages viewers to look past the obvious in relating to the mentally challenged

Based on a best-selling novel by Robert Whitlow, Jimmy (095163885410, $19.95) tells the story of mentally challenged 14-year-old Jimmy Mitchell (Ian Colletti). Jimmy  is “slow,” according to the people in his hometown of Piney Grove, Ga.

However, Jimmy has an uncanny ability to see and hear a lot, including angelic beings he calls “Watchers.” When his lawyer father Lee Mitchell (Patrick Fabian) asks Jimmy to testify in a crucial trial, the town’s residents are amazed when his testimony saves a man from going to jail, while leading to far-reaching consequences for himself and the people he loves.

Directed by Mark Freiburger, the movie features the tag line: “Once you see the world through Jimmy’s eyes, it will never look the same again.”

“Jimmy is a charming story with heartfelt performances, reminding us to value each and every child,” said brothers Jon and Andy Erwin, who directed last year’s pro-life drama October Baby.

Singer-songwriter Matthew West added: “As a storyteller myself, I always look for a movie to tell a great story and move me. Jimmy did just that.”

The film has garnered some strong reviews, including one reviewer who said it has its “share of thrills, drama, compassion, love and perseverance.”

 Another reviewer added: “Filled with Southern characters at once familiar and unexpected, Jimmy is an extraordinary tale about growing up in the midst of real struggle. From the first encounter with Jimmy to the last triumphant goodbye, Jimmy will enthrall and delight.”

 After the movie was screened for the first time in Charlotte, N.C., where it was filmed, Whitlow said, “there weren’t many dry eyes in the crowd by the time the credits started to roll.”

“Jimmy has always occupied a special place in my heart, and it is a thrill to see the characters come to life on the screen,” he added. 

Releasing this month, the 95-minute, Dove Foundation-approved film is distributed by Bridgestone Multimedia Group. For more information, visit www.jimmymovie.com. 

To order, call Bridgestone at 800-523-0988.