More than a decade after spotlighting the consequences of negative thinking in her best-selling Battlefield for the Mind, popular Bible teacher and author Joyce Meyer returns to the topic with specific strategies for those caught in the conflict.

Power Thoughts: 12 Strategies to Win the Battle of the Mind (978-0-446-58036-6, $21.99, FaithWords), releasing Sept. 14, presents lessons and insights Meyer has gathered in the years in between, including details of scientific research that underscores how much thoughts can impact physical and mental health.

“The mind is definitely the battle ground where we do war with Satan and his evil, deceptive thoughts,” she writes. “If we do not war against them, they will turn into actions and our lives will be ruined.”

Though developing a positive outlook on problems and challenges may not alter circumstances immediately or directly, it can bring about a brighter attitude that makes it easier to go through tough times and can lead to changes in situations, she says. Forgiveness is also essential, she adds.

While advocating an aggressive approach to one’s thought life, Meyer emphasizes that she does not believe “that we can think into existence anything that we want.” That is humanism, she says, but “simply recognizing the fact that thoughts are powerful is ... quite biblical.”

After reviewing the importance of right—God-centered—thinking, Meyer mixes biblical examples with stories from the business world and her own life—including the hurdle of starting a gym regime at age 64—to illustrate a dozen Power Thought chapters. Each focuses on what Meyer says is a key foundation, such as, “I will not live in fear” and “I am disciplined and self controlled.”

Providing space to answer “Think About It” questions in each section, she encourages readers to work through the chapters a week at a time in a three-month period or a month at a time in the course of a year.

For more information, visit www.faithwords.com. To order, call 800-759-0190.

Best-selling author challenges Christians to follow lead of the early church

Mega best-selling author Max Lucado celebrates his 25th year of publishing—appropriately—with his 25th book, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference, describing it as “a call to compassion” for Christians.

Examining life in the first church according to the book of Acts, Lucado said: “The assumption of the book is that we can do what they did. We still have the same God, the same Spirit, I wonder if we might have the same impact. The whole theme of the book is, let’s just do our best to do what they did.”

Challenging believers to live in such a way that their lives will make a difference for generations to come and even will be talked about in heaven, Lucado says the early church addressed both spiritual and physical concerns.

“You’re not even out of Acts chapter 2 before you realize that they were helping each other meet each other’s needs in the community as they reached out to one another,” he said. “We come with a message of the heart and the message of the body.”

Practicing what he preaches, Lucado is seeing that all proceeds from the book’s sales go to World Vision to build water wells in northern Uganda and to the James 1:27 Foundation to minister to the needs of single mothers.

He emphasizes that every Christian can have an impact when exercising compassion. “Not one person can do everything,” he said. “Bill Gates can’t do everything. Barack Obama can’t do everything. Not one person can do everything. Everybody can do something. All I do is challenge people to identify one personal mission that you have.

He encourages “a tri-focal view of the world”—meeting the immediate needs in our own community, addressing the needs in our region and then remembering needs around the world “because the truth of the matter is, some people are born in the conditions that are simply overwhelming.”

Wisdom as to where resources should go is necessary, however, as “some people are poor because they’re lazy and I’m not talking about those people,” he said. “Some people are poor because they were simply born in the wrong place and born on the wrong latitude, born in a place where the government does not provide clean water or good roads—those are the kinds of people that we can help.”

Rather than putting hope in government or a large organization, Lucado rests in God who is in control of all things. “I am big about contributing the holiness that is in each of us and trust that the sovereignty of God is going to redistribute that according to His plan and use that to reach the people around the world,” he said.

Lucado says he hopes that every reader will identify his or her own strategy for dealing with the needs of the poor around the world, “that every single person would put the book down and say, OK, I cannot do everything, but I can do something. Here’s my something. Here is the thing I’m doing. … If enough of us do one thing, then God will take all of our one things and build something that’s greater than all of us.”

Companion products, including a teen book and curriculum, will be released. Lucado also will travel on the Make a Difference fall tour with Michael W. Smith, Third Day, TobyMac and Jason Gray, where concert-goers will be challenged to be one of 25,000 new World Vision sponsors.

To order, call 800-251-4000, or visit www.thomasnelson.com.

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

How did you discover your love for drawing?

As a child I was fascinated by everything I saw--living things, inanimate objects, drawings,TV cartoons, comic books. I soon was drawing not only what I immediately was contemplating but also what my creative mind produced. At 5, I made up my mind: I told my parents I wanted to draw comics when I grew up.

When and how did you come to the U.S.?

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. 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 nomination for best new series in 2007 was The Lone Ranger.

Which superhero character did you you most enjoying illustrating and why?

I love drawing Batman because it was not only a favorite of when I was a kid, but it was also in its comic where I learned about the school of cartoons I ended up attending  and where I later became an instructor.

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.

How do your illustrations differ from the original?

I have a great respect for the original work done by (Andre) Le Blanc. Mine differ in style, just by being a different artist with his 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.

A youth pastor in Oceanside, Calif., Jim Britts is the scriptwriter for the inspirational teen drama To Save a Life, released in theaters earlier this year and available on DVD this month from Affirm Films, Sony Pictures' faith-based movie division.

How did the movie do at theaters?

"Relatively well. We were in just over 750 theaters between the U.S. and Canada for about three months total. The feedback has been unbelievable. There are 155,000 Facebook friends, and stories are still going up every day on our Web site about how the film impacted them."

What sort of stories?

"From people that shared how the film saved them from not attempting suicide or inspired them to stop cutting. There are also many people who now feel empowered to reach out to the hurting and lonely in their worlds."

Are there any extras with the DVD?

"There are several deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes video, a couple of music videos, a blooper reel and a running commentary."

What additional/ancillary resources are available?

"We made a youth curriculum that thousands of groups have used that goes along with the film. It's really based off the belief that you're never more like Jesus than when you are reaching out to the hurting and lonely. A second youth curriculum is set to come out in August as well.

"There is also an adult curriculum, "To Save a Family," that an entire church can go through using the film. We also created Devo2 Go, which comes from the movie. It's a devotional that you listen to on your mp3 player.

"There's a nonfiction book helping teens live lives where they can make a difference. Finally my wife and I wrote the novel, and a sequel novel will be coming out this October."

Any plans for a follow-up?

"Yeah, I think so. I can't tell you much except the new script is about empowering people to help orphans around the world find families to live with. We're really excited."

How do you balance film-making with pastoring young people?

"I'm learning. I love it when the two really cross over. Not only was the film great in reaching teens, but it was also the best opportunity our youth group has ever had in reaching teens. I've definitely learned that I'm a youth pastor first and then also a screenwriter/author. It's really cool to see how God loves to break the mold and have very unique callings on our lives. I love being able to share that with students and be a dream giver in their lives."

What do you think of the Christian resources for teens that are on the market?

"There are some great ones. I really believe that if a teen isn't in love with the church and in love with the Word of God by the time they graduate, then they are probably a goner once they are done with high school. We need to keep creating ways for students to read the Bible on their own and get connected with the whole church."

For a Christian bookstore, soundtracks are like milk and bread to a grocery store—they are staples that no Christian retailer should be without. What began as a small specialty—type product has evolved in the past three decades into a powerful ministry tool in churches and numerous other venues.

Having been in the Christian soundtrack business for more than 30 years and having talked to thousands of singers who use tracks on a regular basis, I am convinced that what these people are looking for from a retailer is breadth of title selection and availability.

This is important because, as one of the most exclusive products in Christian retail, soundtracks are typically not sold in any other retail outlet. This exclusivity allows stores to build strong niche markets.

In fact, because of deep discounts offered by suppliers, tracks have become one of the highest profit centers for Christian retail stores. Additionally, traffic from soundtrack customers often results in add-on sales of other merchandise.

Combine inventory with technology

Soundtrack buyers often wait until the last minute to purchase tracks. Unfortunately, if a retailer does not have sufficient inventory, these customers will not look to that store as a soundtrack source, and loyal repeat customers are lost.

With the addition of in-store burn machines, retail stores are able to offer a larger selection of tracks. While this technology is certainly great, retailers must never forget the importance of having physical inventory. The top soundtrack stores in the United States have learned to create a balance between physical product and technology applications.

Selection is key

Because of widely diverse music tastes in today's society, it is important to have well-rounded selections from various music genres, even though certain regions lean more toward one style or another.

Remember, the most successful retailer is one who creates selection, selection, selection.

Position for maximum impact

Place new releases front and center in your soundtrack department. Use any and all promotional materials from suppliers in order to showcase these new titles, ensuring that they capture your customers' attention.

Mark A. Stevens is CEO and president of Christian World Inc.

Though best known as a leadership expert, pastor Bill Hybels believes that the greatest fruitfulness is found in a Christian life open to the quiet "nudges" from God that can sometimes upend the best-laid plans and programs.

The founder and leader of the famed Willow Creek Community Church looks at how to become more sensitive to the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit in The Power of a Whisper (978-0-310-32074-6, $22.99), releasing this month from Zondervan.

Hybels shares stories from his own life and the lives of many members of his congregation, intertwining them with lessons from the ways God spoke to Bible characters such as Elijah, Samuel and Paul, to illustrate how it is possible to detect what he describes as "the quiet whisper of the transcendent God."

Subtitled "Hearing God. Having the Guts to Respond," the 400-page book suggests that those inner promptings that can all too easily be dismissed are often intended to offer affirmation, admonition or a call to action. Hybels also presents a five-part filter of discerning questions: Is it from God? Is it Scriptural? Is it wise? Is it in tune with your character? What do others you trust think about it?

Far from encouraging over-dependence on feelings, Hybels contends that straining to hear God's whispers should cause Christians to press deeper into His Word to seek confirmation of what they are sensing.

Drawing on personal experiences as a parent and times of struggle and challenge in his ministry, Hybels also reveals how "divine direction" has been the catalyst for Willow Creek's taking pioneering stands on issues like women in ministry, immigration and racial reconciliation. He asserts: "When people hear from heaven, they are rarely the same again."

For more information, visit www.zondervan.com. To order, call 800-727-3480.