Latest project: The Sky Is Not Falling: Living Fearlessly in These Turbulent Times (Worthy Publishing, Sept. 6).

Many today have lost faith in government. How do you think Christians should conduct themselves in this volatile time? Many people today are exasperated by government, frustrated because it doesn’t seem to be functioning. But as Christians we don’t give up on the system because government is one of the three institutions which God specifically ordains: marriage, government and the church. Government’s function is to preserve order and do justice. When it exceeds its biblical warrant, then it’s fair game for us to oppose it. But we cannot be respectful of those who govern us and give up on the institution at the same time. Remember, the only thing worse than bad government is anarchy.

How do you defend the culture wars when many think Christians shouldn’t be involved? I can’t think of a single issue that Christians have introduced into what is called the culture wars, whether it’s the deconstruction of marriage or the erosion of religious liberties or the encroachment upon the sanctity and dignity of human life; every attack has been made by secular liberalism. Christians are merely defending, as we are commanded to do, a biblical view of justice in society. When it comes to life and marriage, these are specific biblical mandates. We have no option but to defend those. As for religious liberty, it is in our DNA as Christians. We are made to be free in God’s image, with a free will. Freedom is part of human nature, so obviously we must defend it. No one can responsibly blame us for the culture wars. 

John Piper—best-selling author, pastor and leader of the Desiring God ministry—was once a racist, he admits in Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian (978-1-433-52852-1, $19.99), releasing Sept. 30 from Crossway.

In the Civil Rights era, Piper grew up in Greenville, S.C., where “enforced segregation was almost absolute,” he writes. Comparing his world to that of Jesse Jackson, who lived just across town, he observed that it was no wonder Jackson attended a liberal theological institution rather than a fundamental or evangelical school in the South, which were “committed to segregation.”

Despite his racist tendencies, Piper had an affection for Lucy, a black woman who came to clean the family’s home every week. His mother, a “gutsy Yankee fundamentalist,” invited Lucy to their church for his sister’s wedding—a daring move in 1962 when the congregation had voted not to allow blacks into services. Piper’s mother was the lone voice against the motion.

Along with his mother’s good example, Piper was strongly affected by a comment by an Urbana missions convention speaker in favor of interracial marriage. God’s work in his life regarding his racist attitudes continued at Fuller Seminary and beyond. 

Today, working in an urban parish, he doesn’t see himself as a model multi-ethnic pastor, but his congregation is intentionally aiming for greater diversity, and not long after he turned 50, he and his wife, Noel, adopted an African-American little girl.

Piper wrote Bloodlines with the aim of seeing Christ-followers learn to live “the kind of lives that advance the cause of Christ-exalting racial diversity and Spirit-enabled racial harmony.” He sees the gospel as “the only sufficient power for this effort, and the only power that in the end will bring the bloodlines of race into the single bloodlines of the cross.”

He devotes much of the book to the gospel remedy for racism, and addresses the Reformed church, acknowledging that some of its representatives have not always been good examples of racial reconciliation.

Piper also warns against another extreme—making race an idol. “Some churches have never taken the first baby steps in thinking biblically about race and ethnicity. Others devote so much focus to it that people get sick of the issue, and backlash sets in,” he writes, urging a God-centered balance.

To order Bloodlines, call 800-323-3890, or visit www.crossway.com.

Author aims to help people ‘connect again’ in·meaningful relationships in best-seller follow-up

Having co-authored many a related title with Henry Cloud, clinical psychologist John Townsend now offers a follow-up to the book that started it all—1992’s Boundaries, now considered a Christian self-help classic. 

Building on the earlier’s book’s principles, Beyond Boundaries: Learning to Trust Again in Relationships helps those who have set limits in their lives “jump back in the relationship pool and have a good, meaningful relationship and yet not get hurt,” Townsend said.

Much of the author’s time these days is occupied with leadership and executive-coaching work, and so he observed the need for a specific kind of Boundaries book. 

With Denver Bierman at the helm, Denver & the Mile High Orchestra has been entertaining and inspiring audiences for 13 years. New album Groovy releases this month from GFK Records.

 How did you decide on the album title?

It’s a little bit of something old and a little bit of something new. That’s what I love about our music … it reminds you of something long ago and yet has kind of a fresh and exciting energy to it, so it made perfect sense. … This is one of these records that makes you want to bop your head and get up and dance and clap your hands. We’re like, “This is going to be a pretty groovy album.” 

 Did you write all of these songs?

I arranged all the music for Groovy, and I co-wrote with Jamie [Statema of Go Fish] three or four songs for the album, and then I wrote solely probably another two or three.

Who did you have in mind as your listener? 

I started writing a lot of songs that were geared for my children to not just entertain them but to teach them things. … Over the course of a few years, I felt like I’d written some songs that would be really applicable to the American family and to the Christian family out there.

 Anyone who has grown up in Sunday school will appreciate “Sunday School Swing.” You had fun on that one, didn’t you?

The “Sunday School Swing” is a classic big-band rockabilly arrangement that the Mile High Orchestra has been known for all of these years. ... Tunes like “This Little Light of Mine,” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” “The B-I-B-L-E,” “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho”—we were able to fit all of these songs into one tune called the “Sunday School Swing,” and it is so upbeat and fun.

 On “Man Gave Names to All the Animals,” the reference to Fuzzy Wuzzy will get a laugh—did that one take you back?

That’s an old Bob Dylan song about how Adam had named all the different animals living there in the garden in the very beginnings of creation, so we were able to do a duet with Go Fish, which is by far one of the most creative groups out there.

 Do you have a favorite?

There’s a very happy song on this album called “Brand New Day” … the kind of song that just reminds us all that God came with a clear purpose to redeem us, to give us hope, to give us a future.

Staff recommendations of products always help, but at this busy time of year, there may be too many shoppers to assist in person. 

Another way to engage guests is with shelftalker reviews—short and simple, handwritten and signed by a staff member. “A fast-paced suspense story that kept me up all night! Made me realize God is always in control!” signed Cheryl. 

In the children’s area, where out-of-town grandparents and relatives may be purchasing gifts, a shelftalker like this could be helpful: “Teaches children ages 4-8 that we can talk to God anywhere, anytime,” signed Amy. 

Some children’s titles, like The Action Bible, will nearly sell themselves if shoppers see the interior art, so have a copy open. 

Staff rewards

Incentivize your staff to read and talk about the books in your store by recognizing the staff member in front of other staff and maybe give a Starbucks’ card occasionally. Let each participating staff member pick out his or her favorite book of the week, then highlight and sale-price it for customers.

Guests in specialty stores expect higher-level service and atmosphere—especially at Christmastime. Fragrant wassail, seasonal music and a few Christmas cookies can help create a hospitable environment. 

Cross-promotion of products—DVDs with books and gift items, for example—will assist a guest in the gifting mindset. Stack books on tables in tree-shaped pyramids. 

Consider gift-wrapping items you expect to sell a good number of during the season, with some stacked on display ready for purchase and gifting. 

Private sales

Private sales for your top customers are really the time to pull out all the stops—with food, music, free drawings and more. The best time to do this is off-hours on your slowest day of the week and early in the season so you are on their minds and they can visit several more times before Christmas. You want guests 
to stay as long as possible, so consider putting a jigsaw puzzle out on a table ready to play.

Tent cards can be reminders: “Don’t forget the babysitter,” “Grandma would love this” or “Perfect for a co-worker.” Hand guests a printed sheet with suggestions. 

Asking each customer about an impulse item at checkout—“Would you like to add a copy of ___ for just $4?”—can really add up. Change these out every week so there is always some new surprise deal. 

Check with various publishers for overstock or even out-of-print items at 80%-90% off to make great margin on this add-on item.

Marilyn Largent is senior director, trade sales at David C. Cook.

Sharon Ewell Foster

Next release: The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part One: The Witnesses (August).

Publisher: Howard Books.

Who is the historical figure Nat Turner?

He was sort of the slave version of Nathan Hale. In 1831, he led a group of fellow slaves in Southampton County, Va., in a fight for freedom. In fact, Turner—who read, wrote and was called Prophet—is considered to have lead the largest and most successful slave rebellion in American history. His story—or at least what is supposed to have been his story—was published as The Confessions of Nat Turner as told to Thomas Gray.

Who are some of the other historic figures in this work?

The Resurrection of Nat Turner is set, primarily, between 1831 and 1856. Harriet Beecher Stowe has published Uncle Tom’s Cabin and is researching a possible book about Nat Turner. … Stowe figures prominently in the work—she’s sort of the tour guide for readers—as do the abolitionists [Frederick] Douglass and Stowe’s brother Henry Ward Beecher.