BCC Books

Boundaries in Marriage
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Boundaries in Marriage helps couples:
• Set and maintain personal boundaries and respect those of their spouse
• Establish values that form a godly structure and architecture for their marriage
• Protect their marriage from different kinds of “intruders”
• Work with a spouse who understands and values boundaries—or work with one who doesn’t

Short Meditations on the Bible and Peanuts
By: Robert L. Short

Using dialog by familiar cartoon characters and commentary, Short leads the reader to reflect on everyday life and Christian faith in contemporary culture. Colloquial style, humor, and wide sympathies suit the book to its intended general audience and remind the reader that these 20 brief meditations are Short's own: the reader is encouraged to reflect on biblical story and teaching in a fresh and creative way. Recommended for public libraries.

The Gospel According to "Peanuts"
By: Robert L. Short

In 1965, a 28 year-old pastor named Robert Short turned a popular slide show he'd been presenting while working his way through seminary into a book called "The Gospel According to Peanuts," using Schulz's characters to explain the Christian faith. He explained that Lucy, in her headstrong impulsiveness, often represents original sin. In the "Hound of Heaven" chapter, Short shows how Schulz used Snoopy to stand for Christ or ideal Christians. A small Presbyterian publishing house (John Knox) published it in hopes of inspiring some Sunday-school teachers to think outside the box, and, behold, their wish was fulfilled. Over 10 million copies were sold. Thirty-five years later the publisher has issued an anniversary edition....Short demonstrates a broad and deep grasp of Scripture, theology, and popular culture, all without any of the personal narrative that dominate today's religious bestsellers. After reading Short's Gospel, I know less about him than I do about my insurance agent. His only narrative is the gospel: original sin, the wages of sin are death, sin makes us aware of our need for redemption, salvation is entirely a work of grace motivated by divine love.

The Gospel According To America: A Meditation On A God-Blessed, Christ-Haunted Idea
By: David Dark

Using icons from music, literature, film, and politics, David Dark hope to provide fodder for lively conversation about what it means to be Christian and American in this "weird moment" in which we live. The end result of this conversation, Dark hopes, will be a better understanding that "there is a reality more important, more lasting, and more infinite than the cultures to which we belong," the reality of the kingdom of God.

The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust
By: Mark I. Pinsky

Pinsky, Orlando journalist and author of The Gospel According to the Simpsons, sets his sights on a larger, yet more elusive target: the Magic Kingdom. As Pinsky argues, Disney's cultural influence is enormous: "millions of children around the world know much of what they do about the practical application of right and wrong from Disney." The "Disney gospel" is simple enough in outline: believe in yourself, never give up, good will be rewarded and evil punished. Unfortunately, the book bogs down amidst the massive Disney canon; and organizing it in "episode guide" format, rather than thematically, does not help. There are sparkles of marvelous, irreverent wit: "Tinker Bell, it is immediately apparent, has undergone some alterations over the decades, including breast reduction surgery and liposuction on her derriere." But for long stretches, the critical tone turns sober, even snarky, as Pinsky picks off obvious targets such as Snow White's passivity or Mowgli's haircut rather than surfacing the hidden spiritual gems he found so often in The Simpsons. Even considering the variety of Disney creations, he seems torn between admiring "Walt's dream, to communicate lessons to children across cultures," and debunking its "uplifting, family-friendly fare" as "a sentimental notion—naïve at best and disingenuous at worst." Still, readers will be struck by Pinsky's cogent observations about Disney classics.

The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous Seeker
By: Connie Neal

The author of more than 30 books, Neal (What's a Christian To Do with Harry Potter) makes another entry in the field of explication of Harry Potter according to Gospel standards. While such an effort may seem ill-conceived to the casual observer, Neal's attempt is far from the first of its kind (think of The Gospel According to Peanuts) and not alone in the current book market (think of The Gospel According to the Simpsons, by which the author admits she was inspired). Neal's approach is not surprising, drawing moral lessons from Rowling's explicitly moral books, adding her own Scriptural parallels but her defense of the books should be a welcome ally for many librarians and readers who have seen the Potter series assailed for its depiction of magic. For most collections.

The Gospel According To Oprah
By: Marcia Z. Nelson

Unlike some other "gospel according to" books on pop-cultural figures, this one doesn't much relate its subject to Jesus Christ. Although she has strong roots in the Baptist church of her childhood, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson says, steers clear of formal religious language on her long-running TV show and her Web site and in the magazine O. Yet like a good pastor, she tells stories and does deeds that encourage good actions by others. Drawing on the Web site and magazine as well as the show, Nelson expands on 10 reasons for Oprah's pastoral effectiveness. Oprah "is very human"; acknowledges and tries to relieve suffering; provides a community for her audience; encourages self-scrutiny; teaches gratitude; communicates simply; listens well; teaches generosity; fosters forgiveness; and reminds viewers of the good they can do. Nelson must be one of the most sympathetic, least defensive apologists Oprah has ever had, one who gently suggests that Oprah's harshest critics are more ignorant of her work and temperamentally resistant to her manner than they are substantive or merely cynical.

The Gospel According to the Beatles
By: Steve Turner

John Lennon famously proclaimed the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Music journalist Turner says they were a kind of religion in themselves, and in this entertaining look at their religious and spiritual influences and ideas, he examines each of the Beatles' attitudes toward religion. Lennon, who sang in his local church choir while growing up in Liverpool, was fascinated by the life of the historical Jesus. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr didn't have particularly strong religious feelings. George Harrison increasingly leaned toward Eastern religion. They had in common skepticism toward orthodox religion. Turner follows the arc of the Beatles' remarkable career and also examines their individual lives. While much of the information and anecdotes Turner relays is familiar to Beatles fans, his spiritual perspective refreshens it all. A longtime Beatles admirer, Turner clearly loves the band and the music they created. Fellow fans are sure to appreciate the personal engagement that he brings to the material.

The Gospel according to The Simpsons
By: Pinsky

A companion to the best-selling The Gospel According to The Simpsons: The Spiritual Life of the World’s Most Animated Family, this 10-session study, for youth and adults, embarks on an exploration of the religious themes prevalent in the popular animated comedy series. Each session correlates to a chapter in the book and suggests an episode for viewing prior to the discussion. Topics include prayer, morality, God, pluralism, the institutional church, hell and the devil, and the Bible.

The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-Earth
By: Ralph Wood

Like a perfectly popped kernel of corn, this production reveals the interior of what may be a dense text to some. Illuminating the hidden depths of the entire Tolkien universe, Wood has done both the reader of Tolkien's books and the curious a service, flawed only by a narrator who does not seem to have grasped the nuances of that universe. Nadia May gives incorrect pronunciations for Tolkien's fine-tuned languages, which rankles the listener and shows a lack of detail on the part of the director. But her voice carries the tone of the text effortlessly, and true fans should be forgiving when given such a rich indulgence

The Parables of Peanuts
By: Robert L. Short

Maybe you thought Snoopy was a beagle. Turns out he's actually a Christ symbol, according to Robert L. Short's ingenious book, Parables of Peanuts. Cartoonist Charles Schulz, a devout Christian, once asked, "If we are all members of the priesthood, why cannot a cartoonist preach in the same manner as a minister, or anyone else?" This book explains that many of Schulz's cartoon strips, like Jesus' parables, combine "the proclamation of God's love for the world, and [depiction of] the world as it really is." Parables reproduces many classic Peanuts strips, including some rare early Red Baron strips. The illustrations are accompanied by some fairly heavy interpretations, laying out the basics of a conservative Reformed Protestant view of the gospel, with extensive references to theologians such as Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Soren Kierkegaard.

The Peanuts' Guide To Life
By: Charles M. Schulz

Essentially, this is the best of the best 50 years of Peanuts, the comic strip by the late Charles Schulz featuring Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, and the rest of the beguiling little gang. Peanuts debuted in 1950 and became a global phenomenon, with book collections selling more than 300 million copies in 26 languages and television specials rerun year after year. To create this all-new Peanuts Guide to Life we've combed through decades of comic strips to find those single panels which contain such pithy observations as "Babysitters are like used cars. You never know what you're going to get," and bits of wisdom like "Never lick ice cream off a hot sidewalk." Each droll, stand-alone "speech bubble" or punchline appears with cartoon art. The panels are organized into short chapters, such as "Love" and "Life's Little Quirks." For the millions of faithful Peanuts fans, this is a collection of "greatest hits" to cherish and enjoy again and again.

Waking up Just in Time: A Therapist Shows How to use the Twelve Steps Approach to Life's Ups and Downs
By: Abraham J. Twerski

Waking up Just in TimeA gentle and practical guide to the Twelve Steps way of life.Learn to:Set Priorities and Manage StressRepace rationalization with honestyOvercome obsession and triumph over failureExplore the personal nature of spiritualityAlcoholics Anonymous has made famous its twelve steps to sobriety.In Waking Up Just in Time, Dr. Abraham J. Twerski shows how you can use the twelve steps to cope with any of life's difficulties, from dishonesty and intolerance of others to substance abuse.Dr. Twerski leads the way through AA's twelve steps toward a happier, more fulfilling life.A few years ago, Dr. Twerski found that the Peanuts comics of Charles M. Shulz were helpful in his work with psychiatric patients.The humorous words and pictures in Peanuts gave patient and doctor a common ground for talking.Now Dr. Twerski again calls on Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and friends to help illustrate his points in their own inimitable way.

When Do The Good Things Start?
By: Abraham J. Twerski

A therapist looks at life's ups and downs (with a bit of help from Charlie Brown and his friends).From the author of Waking Up Just In Time and Life's Too Short.A down-to-earth and inspirational guide that will help you* Overcome low self-esteem* Build confidence* Put guilt in its place* Dispel lonelinessEverybody reads the comics. A chuckle, and then on to the serious stuff. One cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, has for years done more than just make us laugh. He has offered a treasury of thought, philosophy and psychology.Dr. Abraham Twerski, during his career as a clinical psychiatrist, has turned his patients toward Peanuts comic strips. Time after time he has found that the wit and wisdom in Schulz's strips is just what his patients needed to see themselves in a new light. It is a unique and effective jumping-off point for the practical, down-to-earth counseling that Dr. Twerski provides.Let Dr. Twerski help supply the answers to a better life for you, and if you get a few laughs along the way, so much the better.

Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes When to Say No To Take Control of Your Life
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Draw the line . . . Used with its companion book, Boundaries, this workbook will provide practical, non-theoretical exercises that will help you set healthy boundaries with parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even yourself . . . by drawing on God's wisdom. Being a loving and unselfish Christian does not mean never telling anyone no. This workbook helps you discover what boundaries you need and how to avoid feeling guilty about setting them. It will give you biblically based answers to questions you have about boundaries.

Boundaries in Dating
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Between singleness and marriage lies the journey of dating. Want to make your road as smooth as possible? Set and maintain healthy boundaries -- boundaries that will help you grow in freedom, honesty, and self-control. If many of your dating experiences have been difficult, Boundaries in Dating could revolutionize the way you handle relationships. And even if you’re doing well, the insights you'll gain from his much-needed book can help you fine-tune or even completely readjust important areas of your dating life. Written by the authors of the best-selling book Boundaries, Boundaries in Dating is your road map to the kind of enjoyable, rewarding dating that can take you from weekends alone to a lifetime with the soul mate you've longed for.

Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Some people are good for us, some are not. Safe people are people who help drive emotional healing and character growth. Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend show how we can find the people who will help us down the path to healing and void those who may damage our emotional health. Safe People: How to Find Relationships that are Good for You provides practical ground-breaking help which lays a firm foundation for personal growth. Safe People is important, practical reading for today's modern world.

How to Get a Date Worth Keeping
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Geared for the reported 3.5 million evangelical Christian singles in America, this guide by Cloud-author of the bestselling Boundaries series of relationship books-offers sound advice on the dating game. Some of his tenets may take Christian readers by surprise: he asserts, for example, that there's no one Mr. or Ms. Right for each person, and that people should stop waiting around for a dream individual to sweep them off their feet. ("God guides and provides," Cloud states, "but he also requires us to do our part.") He also asserts that dating is not just a precursor to marriage, disagreeing with those Christians who refuse to date unless they glimpse a tiered wedding cake at the end of the rainbow. Non-serious dating, Cloud writes, is an essential step in the process of eventually finding a mate, because it teaches people what they need and want through trial and error. Cloud unveils a whole program for "getting out there" in the dating world: singles should keep a log of all the eligible people they meet; go places where other singles go (Cloud calls this "changing your traffic pattern"); consider joining a dating service; and forget the "love at first sight" myth. He even suggests dating non-Christians-which will raise some evangelical eyebrows-while repeating his proviso that dating is not marriage. Most of the book's examples are of women seeking men, but all Christian singles can benefit from this practical, down-to-earth manual.

Changes That Heal: How to Understand the Past to Ensure a Healthier Future
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Never before has an expert defined the steps toward self-fulfillment and satisfying relationships with such clear, insightful, and easy-to-follow guidelines. In Changes That Heal, Dr. Henry Cloud, a renowned clinical psychologist, combines his expertise, well-developed faith, and keen understanding of human nature in a four-step program of healing and growth. Dr. Cloud's down-to-earth plan shows you how to: bond with others to form truly intimate relationships, separate from others and develop a sense of self, understand the good and bad in yourself and others, and grow emotionally and spiritually toward adulthood. Filled with fascinating case studies and helpful, easy-to-adopt techniques, Changes That Heal offers sound advice that helps you get the most out of your life, heal the wounds of your past, and build lasting, loving relationships.

Making Small Groups Work
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

This book provides small-group leaders with everything they need to know to help their small group of any kind. It's an operating system for small groups. You'll get the most out of your group, no matter your topic, from divorce recovery to marriage enrichment, from grief recovery to spiritual formation—grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.

Boundaries with Kids
By: Dr. Henry Cloud

Keys for establishing healthy boundaries--the bedrock of good relationships, maturity, safety, and growth for children and adults.

To help their children grow into healthy adults, parents need to teach them how to take responsibility for their behavior, their values, and their lives. The authors of the Gold Medallion Award-winning book Boundaries bring their biblically based principles to bear on the challenging task of child rearing, showing parents:
* how to bring control to an out-of-control family life
* how to set limits and still be loving parents
* how to define legitimate boundaries for the family
* how to instill in children a godly character

Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction
By: Dr. Patrick Carnes

Sex is at the core of our identities. And when it becomes a compulsion, it can unravel our lives.. "Out of the Shadows" is the premier work on this disorder, written by a pioneer in its treatment. Revised and updated to include the latest research--and to address the exploding phenomenon of cybersex addiction--this third edition identifies the danger signs, explains the dynamics, and describes the consequences of sexual addiction and dependency. With practical wisdom and spiritual clarity, it points the way out of the shadows of sexual compulsion and back into the light and fullness of life.

Don't Call It Love: Recovery From Sexual Addiction
By: Dr. Patrick Carnes

In Carnes's diagnosis, sexual addiction is marked by compulsive, self-destructive behavior and takes many forms, such as child abuse, sadomasochism, reliance on erotic fantasy as a coping mechanism, obsession with one individual, anonymous sexual encounters or cycles of disastrous affairs alternating with sexual binging. Behavior therapist Carnes ( Out of the Shadows ) and fellow researchers targeted some 1000 sexual addicts and their "co-dependent" partners through surveys and interviews. Those who suspect that they may be sexually addicted, or know someone who is, should read this clear, helpful, well-organized guide. It shows that sexual compulsives come from all walks of life, and its advice-giving testimonies by recovered and recovering persons, combined with the author's clinical insights, point the way toward healing twisted relationships and reclaiming healthy sexuality.

The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure: A Holistic Approach to Total Recovery
By: Chris Prentiss

Alcohol and drugs are not the problems; they are what people are using to help themselves cope with the problems. Those problems always have both physical and psychological components - anything from anemia, hypoglycemia, or a sluggish thyroid to attention deficient disorder, brain-wave pattern imbalances, or deep emotional pain. You will be reading later about the steps to recovery that address these causes, but foundational to them all is this key premise: when the underlying problems are discovered and cured, the need for alcohol or drugs disappears.

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