Artbeat of America, a leading brand-management company based in Colorado, debuted its "Gracefully Yours" greeting cards at the International Christian Retail Show, last month.

Featuring 36 everyday boxed cards and 56 counter cards, the line combines winning entries from the International Christian Art Competition with a message of grace and celebration. Each greeting features related scripture from the King James and New International Version translations of the Bible.

Home-based Show Offs Arts' designs celebrate 'energy and hope'

Show Offs Art has released two new lines of art and gift products, featuring four exclusive designs on gallery-wrapped canvases, art plaques and packaged note cards.

The "Retro" line, full of the color and whimsy that Show Offs Art is known for, features four new designs, each with a unique image and appropriate scripture verse. The art and scripture in the four new exclusive designs of the "Whimsical" line are for young girls, tweens and teens.

Both lines feature products at various price points, with the gallery-wrapped canvases retailing for $56. Art plaques retail for $15 and the pack of eight note cards is $8.

Show Offs Art founder Annette Atwood said: "We believe the Christian life is a joy-filled life, a life full of excitement and energy and hope. And so we want to create fun and funky, faith-based art and designs that serve as regular reminders of all that joy and hope."

The "Retro" line comprises Happy Camper (Ps. 16:9); Joy Ride (John 10:10); Peace (Phil. 4:7); and Road Trip (Prov. 3:5-6).

The "Whimsical" line is made up of Brown Flowers (Phil. 4:13); I am Loved (Jer. 31:3); Pink and Green Cross (Prov. 3:5); and I am a Masterpiece (Ps. 139:14).

"When we started Show Offs Art around the kitchen table a couple of years ago, our goal was to help find ways to get Scripture in the homes of young families," Atwood said.

"We have three young daughters, and so we developed the 'whimsical' line out of experiences with our girls and our desire to help them always remember that God created them just the way they are, and that they are God's masterpiece," she added.

For more information or to order, call Show Offs Art at 615-390-4991, or visit www.showoffsart.com.

Jeff Atwood is the co-founder of Show Offs Art.

A former investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Strobel uses his research skills to examine The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith and The Case for a Creator, programs based on his Gold Medallion—winning books by the same names. Originally released 2006-2008, the three programs look at the historicity of the Gospels, barriers to belief and the origins of life.

Running 71 minutes, The Case for Christ's special features include "Faith Stories" of scholars and theologians interviewed for the main documentary discussing their own personal faith and ministries, and a collection of additional resources.

At 79 minutes, The Case for Faith also includes a "Dealing With Doubt" featurette and "The Least of These," a discussion about the Christian response to evil and suffering. For The Case for a Creator (60 minutes), extras include questions and answers about science and God, and a "How Did Life Begin" feature. Other extras include the soundtrack of the original music score composed by Mark Edward Lewis. To order the set, distributed by Thomas Nelson, call 800-251-4000, ext. 1480.

Former Miss Houston Erica Lane offers a fly-on-the-wall look at the Christian music industry in Inspired Ambition (7-45638-00998-7, $29.98, Cloud Ten Pictures), released this month.

A 13-part reality TV series originally broadcast on Christian channels JCTV, the Trinity Broadcasting Network's youth network, and FamilyNet, the three-disc set follows Lane's journey as she leaves behind a career as a schoolteacher to pursue a calling to Christian music ministry.

Along the way, she meets and learns from a virtual who's who of the Christian music world, from former Petra lead singer John Schlitt and longtime favorite Sandi Patty to newcomers Family Force 5.

One episode follows Lane as she performs at the Life Light Festival and gets turned down by some radio stations, while another tracks her as she meets veteran musician Dennis Jernigan during GMA Music Week in Nashville. Other artists she speaks with include Building 429, Bebo Norman, Michael Tait, Grits and The Crabb Family.

"Letting others see my vulnerabilities is sobering, yet it reminds me of how God calls us to be humble and to depend on Him completely," said Lane of having her highs and lows along the way captured on tape. She said she hoped others "find inspiration by observing my experiences."

The series was directed by Kyle Saylors, Lane's husband, who with his brother, Kenny, has produced and directed TV programming, documentaries, music videos and movies through their Saylors Brothers Entertainment.

Left Behind movie producers Cloud Ten picked up the series for distribution because representatives met Lane "and felt a strong connection to their roots as an independent studio trying to find its way in the very competitive film business," said Jeff Jordan, CBA sales rep for E1 Entertainment. "People helped Cloud Ten along the way, and (they) felt compelled to assist Erica along in her journey."

Since shooting the first series, Lane continues to tour, and has plans for a follow-up series in the works. Inspired Ambition includes a bonus 13-song CD of Lane's music.

To order, call E1 Entertainment at 615-579-1826, or go to www.inspiredambition.com.

Having sold millions of its popular "Bible Promise" books in the last 20 years, Barbour Publishing is targeting a new demographic with a new collection of "365 Bible Promises" to introduce 3- to 5-year-olds to the many assurances of Scripture.

To release next month, My Everyday Promise Bible (978-1-602-60475-9, $14.97) is written and illustrated by Phil A. Smouse, whose Jesus Wants All of Me was the official children's version of Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest (Barbour Publishing).

"The 'promise' idea makes this Bible absolutely unique," said Smouse, who also illustrated Wanda E. Brunstetter's children’s book The Wisdom of Solomon (Lapp) (Barbour Publishing). "I'm sure it will even appeal to folks who've already purchased a typical children's story Bible or two."

Since the full-text Bible could overwhelm children under 5, Smouse selected a single scriptural promise for each day of the year for the project. Besides a paraphrased scripture, each page of the 384-page My Everyday Promise Bible features a brief devotional and colorful illustrations.

An example of the Bible's concise passages include Proverbs 22:9, which says, "A man who loves to give good things to others will be showered with blessings from the Lord."

For bedtime reading, morning devotions or for youngsters to carry to church, My Everyday Promise Bible comes in a 5-by-7-inch format, which looks and feels like a Bible.

For more information on My Everyday Promise Bible, visit www.barbourbooks.com. To order, contact Barbour Publishing at 800-852-8010.

Angie Brillhart is publicist for Barbour Publishing.

Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the God's Word Translation, Baker Publishing Group will release next month the God's Word Children's Bible (978-0-801-01339-3, hardcover, $22.99).

The full-text Bible is intended for children who have outgrown Bible storybooks, but who would struggle to read the small type of most Bibles. The 12.5-point type and single-column format makes it easy for children with little reading experience to see the words clearly. To make this Bible even more practical for children ages 6-12, it includes a presentation page as well as Teachings of Jesus and Application indexes.

Another feature of the God's Word Children's Bible is the full-color illustrations of biblical scenes by award-winning illustrator Craig Phillips. Done in the graphic linear style popular among children, the artist's work draws on a broad range of influences—from Japanese wood—block prints to classic book illustrations and contemporary comic book art.

To support the Bible's release, Baker is planning a significant national advertising campaign—targeting evangelical households—that launches next month and runs through Christmas.

Promoted as "Today's Most Readable Bible," the God's Word Translation has received endorsements from Billy Graham, the late D. James Kennedy and many other Christian leaders. The translation combines scholarly fidelity to the original languages with clear, natural English presented on a fourth-grade reading level. Some of the translation’s popular titles include God's Word for Girls, God's Word for Boys and God's Word for Students.

God's Word Translation was first published in 1995 and then re-introduced to the Christian book market in 2003, when it was acquired by Green Key Books. Baker acquired the publishing rights in March 2008.

This fall represents the first season Baker will publish new editions using God's Word Translation. Besides the God's Word Children's Bible, Baker will release four other titles: God's Word Personal Size Giant Print Edition, The Apocrypha, Promises From God's Word and God's Word Outreach Bible.

To order the God’s Word Children's Bible, call Noble Marketing at 800-877-2665, or in Canada, contact David C. Cook Distribution Canada at 800-263-2664.

Brian Vos is director of Bibles and e-commerce for Baker Publishing Group.