Tyndale House Publishers chose Sept. 11, the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist bombings, to release Joel C. Rosenberg's Inside the Revolution (978-1-414-32626-9, $24.99), a 90-minute documentary examining the dangers from the ongoing instability in the Middle East.

Based on his travels and research for his best-selling book of the same name released in March, Rosenberg's film includes interviews with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former CIA Director Porter Goss and Hormoz Shariat, a former Shia Muslim convert to Christianity now known as the "Billy Graham of Iran."

"There are more people converting from Islam to Christianity in the Middle East than any time in history," said Rosenberg, who has also authored several best-selling novels addressing current issues in the region.

In the documentary made in conjunction with Solomon Productions based in Albuquerque, N.M., Rosenberg identifies three revolutions he says are taking place simultaneously in the Middle East—led by "radicals," "reformers" and "revivalists." He contends that U.S. government leaders are in danger of underestimating the fanatical ideology of the Iranian government.

"We are at the most dangerous stage of the Iranian Revolution at this moment," he said.

Tyndale has also released the Inside the Revolution Study Guide, including more than 100 questions and Scripture references, retail price $7.99. To order the guide or the DVD, contact the publisher at 800-323-9400.

The remarkable story of reconciliation taking place in a nation haunted by genocide is captured in the award-winning documentary As We Forgive (8-99459-00201-3, $16.95).

Released last month, the 53-minute program traces the journey toward forgiveness of people whose lives were irrevocably changed by the 1994 bloodletting in Rwanda that saw more than 1 million people killed in a frenzy of ethnic violence between Hutus and Tutsis.

Laura Walters traveled to the small African country to record the efforts of what the makers of the film describe as a "radical and, frankly, unreal" reconciliation project established by Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana, which brings together victims and perpetrators of the violence.

As We Forgive follows Rosario Bankundiye, pregnant when she was widowed and seriously injured herself in the clashes, as she meets the neighbor who had murdered her sister. One of many involved in the killings who has been released from prison and returned to his home area, the man—Nemeye Saveri—builds Bankundiye a new home as part of the bishop's project.

Walters also filmed Chantale Ukebereyinfura, who lost 30 of her family members during the bloodshed, as she met John Nzabonimpa, a former family friend who murdered her father.

As We Forgive—narrated by actress Mia Farrow—won a 2008 Student Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Laura Waters Hinson, founder of Image Bearer Pictures, premiered the film in Rwanda in July as part of the Festival of Hope commemorating the 15th anniversary of the killings.

Hinson's documentary inspired Catherine Claire Larson's book of the same name. Released in February by Zondervan, the book tells other stories from the Rwanda reconciliation project.

To order As We Forgive, contact Mpower Distribution, 310-899-5548.

Popular author Max Lucado's newest book is being packaged for children with a message to help them feel significant.

To be released Nov. 3 by Tommy Nelson, The Tallest of Smalls (978-1-400-31514-7, $16.99, jacketed hardcover) is a parable based on Lucado's Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear, released last month by Thomas Nelson.

Featuring colorful illustrations by Maria Monescillo, the 32-page hardcover picture book tells the story of Ollie, a young boy in Stiltsville, where the villagers are obsessed with the biggest and best, and their most special citizens. These important people are rewarded with stilts to tower over the rest of the town.

Ollie fears that he will never be special enough to earn such an honor. When he finally gets a chance to use stilts and be perceived as someone special to the rest of the town, it isn't what he expects at all as he falls from his high place to the ground. Alone and once again afraid, Ollie is visited by Jesus who tells him that he is precious and special just the way he is.

Lucado's message in The Tallest of Smalls aims to show children who have ever felt insignificant, small or hurt to know that they don't have to fear being alone or unloved because they are special and chosen by God.

The book will be marketed and publicized by Tommy Nelson in conjunction with Lucado's Fearless.

For more information and a digital flipbook of The Tallest of Smalls, visit www.tngiftbooks.com/tallest-of-smalls1.html.

A video of Lucado talking about Ollie and his adventure is also available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruf8DK39jzo.

To order, contact Thomas Nelson at 800-251-4000

An illustrated reference book released this month by Barbour Publishing hopes to introduce children to the amazing, funny, even "gross" side of the Scriptures.

Designed for children ages 8 to 12, Kids' Bible Facts (978-1-602-60476-6, $9.97) offers more than 800 entries on the people, places and ideas of God's Word.

Written by Ed Strauss, the book highlights what's weird and important in the Bible, featuring hundreds of fascinating facts and nearly a hundred pictures to inform and entertain young readers.

"Who's That?" biographies spotlight both the heroes and villains of Scripture—from Aaron to Delilah and Jonah to Zipporah. The "Peoples & Places" entries explain people groups like the Canaanites and Edomites as well as the nations of Bible times.

"And That Means..." definitions describe key Bible terms like atonement, covenant and great white throne.

"The Big Story" accounts describe lesser-known events of the Bible, including dead saints coming back to life when Jesus died on the cross. The "I Love Lists!" section features tidbits like "8 People Who Came Back from the Dead" and the "3 Fattest Men in the Bible."

The "Fun Facts" sidebar information includes nuggets like Herod Agrippa being eaten to death by worms as a result of his pride.

Strauss, whose previous children's books include Bible Freaks & Geeks (2007), Big Bad Bible Giants (2005) and Seriously Sick Bible Stuff (2007), all published by Zonderkidz, said he wanted to create a book featuring "gross, interesting details and humor, (which) will help draw young readers in and help the Bible facts to stick in their brains like burrs."

Strauss "did a great job of highlighting the fun stuff of Scripture, while also explaining some really important Bible truths," said Paul Muckley, senior editor for nonfiction at Barbour Publishing.

Every entry in the book is accompanied by a Bible reference, so children can follow up with their own study of Scripture.

Like a previous book in the series—Kids' Bible Dictionary by Jean Fischer—Kids' Bible Facts is a 160-page softcover volume.

For more information on Kids' Bible Facts, visit www.barbourbooks.com. To order, contact Barbour Publishing at 800-852-8010.

The works of best-selling author Philip Yancey are mined for 366 daily readings in the new devotional release Grace Notes: Daily Readings With a Fellow Pilgrim (978-0-310-287728, $19.99) from Zondervan.

Drawn from Yancey's writings, the book includes articles the author has contributed to magazines as well as material from his best-selling books What's So Amazing About Grace?, The Jesus I Never Knew, Disappointment With God and Where Is God When It Hurts? Twelve of Yancey's books have received the Gold Medallion Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), and two have been designated ECPA Book of the Year.

"I have been writing full-time for three decades, long enough for a publisher to propose this book of readings drawn from twenty-some books and numerous articles," Yancey writes in the book's preface. "As I read through them, I feel a bit like Rip Van Winkle, going over experiences and thoughts from as long as twenty or thirty years ago. I've doubted, believed, doubted again, changed, grown."

Yancey said he considers his works "his children," which have taken on a life of their own.

"This book pulls together selections from my 'children' written over several decades, appearing in twenty-two books and forty-five different articles as well as a few unpublished selections," he writes. "Reviewing them, I give thanks for the privilege of working with words and for the unlikely linkages they made possible."

Grace Notes concludes with a short bibliography, an index of selections by their sources and a descriptive bibliography of Yancey's books, with personal thoughts and commentary.

Zondervan is planning a national media campaign to launch the devotional, including print and electronic media, a blog tour, online advertising and consumer advertising in targeted periodicals.

For more information or to order, call Zondervan at 800-727-1309, or visit www.zondervan.com.

In It's Your Time, Joel Osteen's follow-up to his 2007 Become a Better You, the best-selling author delivers a message of encouragement for readers struggling in an uncertain economic climate.

Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, said his new book has been influenced by people he has encountered at church and around the country.

"People need hope and inspiration more than principles right now," he told Christian Retailing. "The purpose of this book is to jumpstart your faith and get us to believing again."

Combating what he sees as "so much negativity in the world today," Osteen said It's Your Time is a little different than his previous release, focusing more on encouraging stories than "principles and how-tos." The new book is intended to "let people know that new seasons are coming. God will take care of us in the midst of difficult times."

Osteen began working on the book two years ago, doing a "little bit on it each week" while addressing the subject in sermons and lessons.

Although intended to provide hope for those struggling, the author also believes the book will be a help to others.

"It's not just for the type of people that are really down and out, but I think it could help anybody," he said. "(It's for people who need to say,) 'I think I will see more of God's favor when I believe, when I trust, just do some simple things.' "

Osteen has also contributed to The Hope for Today Bible (Free Press/Simon & Schuster), which was released in March. The Bible's launch was successful, he said, and he believes it was a good starting point for new readers of the Scriptures.

"It's been really well-received," he said. "I felt like it was the right thing to do. So many of the people that watch us, they weren't raised in church like me and they ask, 'How do I read the Bible?' I like that the NLT (New Living Translation) is easy to understand, and it really has taken off."

To promote It's Your Time, Osteen is changing the name of Lakewood's traveling tour, currently The Night of Hope, to the It's Your Time Tour, which will hit various U.S. cities this year and next. In addition to extensive mainstream media promotion, the book will also be featured on Lakewood's podcasts, 60 million of which are released every year.

For more information or to order, contact Simon & Schuster at 800-732-9576, or visit www.simonandschuster.biz.