Quick to point to a background that includes stand-up comedy rather than theology, the author uses humor to make his points, such as Christians pretending their lives are perfect, which he addresses in the first chapter.

"When we are public about the 'rough stuff,' we communicate that God is able to deliver us through the 'rough stuff,' " he said. Other chapters look at materialism and lack of patience, transformation and when God says "no." The end of each chapter "skews toward where we are landing in the right direction," he said.

While the book includes many points that will challenge readers, Steele insists he's not a cynic concerning the church, but that he is, first and foremost, addressing his own problems.

"I think it's easy to look at a title like Christianish and wonder if I'm taking a jab at the church, but it's actually an attack on my own life," he said.

"I started questioning how many of my decisions and actions and words actually line up with the way He wants me to live."

For more information or to order, call 1-800-323-7543, or visit bookstores.cookministries.com.

Lucado presented a series of sermons on the theme for his church, prompting a strong reaction from his members.

"I was surprised at the number of congregants who told me they lived in a state of fear," he said. "For all of us, fear is a challenge, but for some people, fear is their challenge, like drinking could be a person's challenge."

While fear can be paralyzing when allowed to an extreme, Lucado believes there is a place for a healthy measure of fear.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," he said. "Fear serves a purpose when it knocks on the door. The danger is when we invite it in for dinner and then invite it to spend the night."

Thomas Nelson will support the release with a multi-channel marketing campaign, including a full-color consumer promotional newspaper called The Fearless Times. More than 1 million copies of the paper will be distributed prior to the book's release. The paper will include a book excerpt and advertising for ancillary Fearless products, including an upcoming worship CD.

"We haven't seen a book enjoy this much anticipation in quite some time," said David Moberg, senior vice president and group publisher for Thomas Nelson.

For more information or to order, call Thomas Nelson at 800-251-4000, or visit www.thomasnelson.com.

In 18 years as a Christian music staple, Phillips, Craig & Dean has achieved longevity in an ever-changing industry, and is now releasing Fearless, the trio’s 10th studio album.

Uniquely positioned in their dual roles as musicians and full-time senior pastors in three different cities, Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig and Dan Dean know well the struggles people face and are taking the opportunity to respond to them in life and song through the new record.

"We were talking about how afraid our church members are today," Phillips said. "A look at your finances right now might mean kids who wanted to go to college can't, and so on. The fear that brings can be so paralyzing; it puts you in a cage.

"But then we asked ourselves, 'Shouldn’t believers who have the heart of eternity in them be different?' That's when we found our theme—fear less, hope more. We've written or chosen songs that say: 'Break out. Live large. This is an opportunity to show our power is in God alone.' "

"Revelation Song," an anthem rising in churches across the country, is among the songs featured. Leaning more in the worship category, Phillips co-wrote "The Spirit of God Is Here" with Paul Baloche ("Open the Eyes of My Heart") about the privilege of prayer. "Nothing to Prove"—an adult contemporary, spot-on relatable account of what life really means—was written by Dean after a close friend and church member lost his father to cancer, and offers life principles.

Nearly two decades after the group's first record, the three men are still grateful to release music that appeals to listeners.

"If you told me we'd still have an audience after all these years, I'd be stunned," Phillips said. "That’s just God."

To order Fearless, call Provident-Integrity at 800-333-9000, or visit www.providentmusicgroup.com.

Courtney Hyder is a publicist with The M Collective in Franklin, Tenn.

Heralded as the John Grisham of Christian literature, Singer pleads an interesting case with a fascinating twist in his latest novel The Justice Game.

An innocent woman is murdered on national television. Her husband seeks justice but who is to blame? The murderer, the man who illegally sold the gun or MD Firearms, the manufacturer of the weapon?

Jason Noble, with the second amendment on his side, and Kelly Starling, the voice of the oppressed, face off to try the case.

The Sherwood Pictures film starring Kirk Cameron, which opened at No. 4, went on to gross $33 million at the box office, becoming the most successful independent film of 2008. It then debuted at No. 1 on the SoundScan DVD chart upon its home-viewing release in January.

Phil Stacey’s Christian label debut, Into the Light, brings the artist full circle, from his early days of singing gospel music before gaining national prominence as a top five finalist on the sixth season of the hit TV show American Idol.

After the competition, Stacey performed with the American Idol finalists on a 55-city tour and appeared on Oprah, Live! With Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show, Ellen, Today show, Larry King Live and Nickelodeon’s Me:TV.