If Philip Yancey were a musician, his latest book, What Good is God? In Search of a Faith That Matters (978-0-446-55985-0, $23.99, FaithWords) might in some ways be considered a remastered or live greatest-hits package.

Releasing this month and subtitled “In Search of a Faith That Matters,” the 304-page collection of essays and talks finds him revisiting some topics and events that will be familiar to readers of some of his best-selling titles and other writings, but finding new life and light in them.

Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter--releasing Oct. 5--is the best-selling band's 11th studio project. Rhythm guitarist Matt Odmark (right in group photo) talks about the project on behalf of the band, whose other members are lead singer Dan Haseltine, pianist Charlie Lowell and lead guitarist Stephen Mason.

To which of your past albums would you compare the new release?

Probably the best comparison for The Shelter to any of our past projects would be The Redemption Songs, as these are really the only two projects Jars of Clay has ever produced where we are having a direct conversation with the church primarily. Most of our music and our art are aimed at a more general conversation, people that find that they have a faith or people that don't, or people that are just interested in music that explores the deeper issues of life and touches on those places that are universal and that are uniquely human, so that's kind of in general what most of our career has been about.

Missionary Sarah Young has written a children’s edition of her best-selling devotional Jesus Calling. Thomas Nelson releases Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids this month.

How did the idea of a children’s version of Jesus Calling come about?

More than anything, we hear that Jesus Calling touches people’s hearts by taking scripture and sharing it in language that helps people experience Jesus’ presence. Children desire that same relational experience with the Lord and that is what I hope we’ve provided in this 365-day devotional. Creating a children’s version allows Jesus Calling to be a family experience so that children and parents will receive the same devotional theme each day.

Was it easy to convey the same messages to younger readers?

Because the devotionals are based on Scripture, we were able to take the thoughts for each day and simplify some of the language and examples. The core of the message remains true to the Bible text and is accessible to all ages.

What led to the publication of Jesus Calling?

In 1996 I followed a two-hour retreat guide based on Matt. 14:22-23, where Jesus calls Peter to walk on the water with Him. Toward the end of this retreat time, I encountered the question: What is Jesus calling you to do that feels as impossible as walking on water? I knew the answer immediately—write for publication. So I made a commitment to do this, even though I had no idea what I would write. Three years earlier I had begun “listening” to Jesus first thing in the morning, writing down what I heard (or saw) in my mind. I began to compile the best of these writings into daily readings. These eventually became Jesus Calling.

When did you first realize it connected with people so powerfully?

I realized this several years before it was published. With my permission, friends made copies of my manuscript and gave it out to others, who also made copies to give out. Then, after Jesus Calling was published, I was astonished to hear people say time after time: “Each day’s reading seems to be written just for me.” These and similar comments came from such a diverse range of people that I realized God’s Spirit was working powerfully to accomplish this.

Have you been surprised by its success?

Yes. I was hoping Jesus Calling would sell steadily for a long time, but I wasn’t expecting it to become a best-seller. I’m thankful and amazed!

Where has your missionary calling taken you?

We have lived and worked on two continents, in two countries and in two cities in each country. In Japan we worked in the Tokyo area and in Suzuka—a much smaller city. The two cities in Australia are Melbourne and Perth—on opposite coasts of the continent.

Where are you serving now and with whom?

We currently live in Australia, where we work with the Presbyterian Church of Western Australia—doing church planting.

Will there be more writing projects?

I am doing a little writing these days, but I cannot commit myself to a writing project until my health improves.

You have been struggling with sickness recently?

Since 2001 I have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease and primary hyperparathyroidism. I’m convinced that the prayers of God’s people have kept me going—and kept me writing.

Which devotional writers and books have enriched your own life?

Streams in the Desert; Andrew Murray’s devotional books in “The Secret” series; The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence; Frank Laubach’s letters; God Calling.

They might not be found on the latest Top 100 list, but books that have stood the test of time are steady sellers and need a prime location in your store. Classics by the likes of A.W. Tozer, Corrie ten Boom, Matthew Henry, A.B. Simpson, D.L. Moody, F.B. Meyer and many others can offer stability and dependability to your store.

It takes real discernment to purchase books that provide your customers with uncluttered direction for their spiritual growth. Although written many years ago, great classics give us insight into human nature and use Scripture to speak to today’s issues. A classic will inspire and motivate with stories of individuals, no matter their race, age, culture or religion.

Tozer is one of the prime, classic authors who crosses over denominational and theological lines. His best-seller The Pursuit of God—one of more than 50 Tozer titles we keep in stock—has sold more than 2.5 million copies and continues to sell steadily.

One of the ministries of every Christian bookstore is to direct its customers to books that will help them grow spiritually. When God gives the call to start a bookstore, He doesn’t mean you should simply put a lot of books on shelves. Your responsibility is to provide product that will meet people’s needs.

From our experience as a publisher of classics, here are some ways to successfully promote them in your store:

PRAY for discernment regarding which classics to stock and recommend to customers.

LEARN about God-directed authors through a time of self-education. Read the classics yourself. You will quickly learn that each classic author has his or her own strengths that will meet the needs of the reader. Pay attention to who preachers, speakers and contemporary authors are quoting.

For instance, Tozer’s words on the church, worship and spiritual life are often quoted in sermons and books addressing these subjects today. Also, be sure to check with publisher sales representatives, telemarketers and catalogs from the industry for suggestions of popular classics.

CREATE a “Classic Books” section in a prime location with attractive and informative signage.

DIRECT customers to the classics. Train your staff to become familiar with the classics so they can help customers choose books that provide timeless spiritual insights.

More information about WingSpread Publishers’ classics, and our list of recommended core titles and publishers, is available at www.wingspreadpublishers.com or by calling 800-884-4571.

Pamela Brossman is the editor at WingSpread Publishers in Camp Hill, Pa.

A former Marvel and DC Comics artist, Brazilian-born Sergio Cariello is the illustrator of The Action Bible, an updating of the David C. Cook’s successful Picture Bible, releasing this month.

How does your faith inform your art?

Because my parents brought me up taking me to church and Sunday school, I learned about the Bible at a very young age. Even as I kept drawing and getting published, I had a strong desire to know God better, so I went to a Bible school to study God’s Word full time at age 16. But I never stopped drawing and I dreamed of one day combining the truths of the Word with my ability to draw.

How did your career develop?

After I finished further Bible training in New York, I applied to an art school there and was accepted. I became a janitor in a church 40 miles away in order to attend (art school). Later I entered the business as a letterer for Marvel. Soon I was fulfilling my dream of drawing comics for a living, working at home.

What was your greatest professional achievement prior to this Bible?

I was fortunate to be able to draw Spider-Man, Avengers, Batman, Wonder Woman and many iconic characters in comics, but one character who got me an Eisner (Award) nomination for best new series in 2007 was The Lone Ranger.

How do your illustrations differ from the original in The Picture Bible?

I have a great respect for the original work done by (André) Le Blanc. Mine differ in style, just by being a different artist with (my) own personal tastes. Maybe also in the dynamics introduced, where I tried to jazz it up and modernize it, adding more impact and action to it, hopefully implementing what I’ve learned in my career as an artist for so many different genres.

What is it like to draw Jesus?

It’s a great thrill combined with a great weight of responsibility. I imagine Jesus not as portrayed in most history books, with very delicate, angelic gestures, but someone strong, well built, ready to walk a few miles on foot and work hard as a carpenter, always ready for the task ahead of Him—even the one that took his life for three days.

Which was the hardest Bible story to illustrate and why?

The battle scenes were the hardest ones because of all those people I had to draw (laugh).

Don’t cartoons trivialize the Word of God?

Only if the ones behind the production don’t have the respect and the seriousness of the content. No matter if the style is cartoony or different from one someone might be used to seeing, the key is the motivation behind it.

Latest project: Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope (Revell/Baker Publishing Group), with Ellen Vaughn.

Where did the title of your book come from? As most people know in the Christian music industry, in 2008 my husband and I lost our youngest daughter (Maria) in an accident involving our youngest son (Will Franklin). That obviously was a horrific time in our life. … There’s really deep places of hurt and disappointment and wrestling with God where the whole idea of “choosing to see” came out.

When we lost our little girl, she left some art on the art table, and my husband and two boys and I after the accident really started praying, “God, will (you) let us see you in this horrific time in our lives and in this deep place of sorrow?” When we went home the next day after the accident to gather some things up for the memorial service is when we found this piece of art that she left for us with her little six-petal flower, and when you turn the paper over, she had written, I love mommy, I love daddy and her name, but she had never written this word before, and it was the word “see.”

In Steven’s foreword, he says the working title of your book was Mary Beth vs. God. Is that how it’s been much of your life? Yes, that is a very appropriate working title. I am a work in progress to where God is really just showing me that I can completely rest in Him, that He is sovereign and He does have a plan for me. Sometimes it’s not a plan that we necessarily like.

How have your family members grieved the loss of Maria? It has been a little over two years now, and I’m interviewing with you today as I’m in China and I’m sitting in a place called Maria’s Big House of Hope. It is a special-needs orphanage, a foundation that Steve and I founded. We help about 150 special-needs orphans and are able to provide care, and we also have a floor for severe special-needs orphans who will probably never be adopted. We dedicated that one year ago this summer, and it was a year after Maria left, and that has been a huge source of healing for us, turning our grief into something that can be used to help. …

I believe the enemy comes to destroy, and I will not understand all of the reasons why it had to be this way or what God’s plan is because it doesn’t feel like a good plan at all, but I do believe that when this is all said and done and we can see the whole picture that it will be unbelievable what was built from what happened to our family.

You’ve had a battle with depression through the years. What is that like? I have probably struggled with depression since my teen years and didn’t even talk about it until I adopted our second child (Stevey Joy) and I did an interview. It was that place of, “If I’m going to do this, then I’m going to be authentic and open, and I can’t put the smile on my face and pretend.” With God, I’m going to win it, and I just want to be authentic about the fact that I know that I know that I know that He’s going to be showing me more about Himself through it, but I also know that there are professionals that can help me. If there’s been a battle, and it’s ongoing, then it’s better to praise God. Obviously when I lost my daughter, it knocked it back a few hundred miles, and we still have these deep places of sadness, and I, of course, being more prone to the depression, tend to kind of feel a little bit deeper. But God always meets me.

On a lighter note, you tell on yourself in this book, some embarrassing stories? God has a way of making us not take ourselves so seriously. I thought, well, I should put something funny in there because we have so many funny stories we could tell on ourselves.