Publishing Books Today

Modifying the original paradigm of how publishing takes place

03
Apr
2020
When Life Turns Upside Down

When Life Turns Upside Down

When Life Turns Upside Down

I’ve mentioned my friend, John A. (Jay) Younts once or twice before (you could read the post HERE) and it’s a special delight that he resides not too far away from where I live in the upstate of South Carolina. Jay has contributed extensively to the Shepherd Press blog over many years. He and I share much the same kind of worldview, seeing all of life as belonging to God, and the direct involvement of God in day-to-day events.

With what we are now thinking of as the new normal, the advent of the corona virus, I was in discussion with friends at Shepherd Press about how we might be able to provide a resource that would meaningfully address this situation. Enthusiastically and unhesitatingly, Dr. Tedd Tripp saw the importance of the idea. “Ask Jay,” he guided me. “He could do this.” An email or two later, and Jay had confirmed that he would do it, requesting prayer for the project. And it made good sense for Tedd to contribute the foreword to the book!

Over the next few days, as he was writing the first draft, we kicked around some prospective titles, soon settling on When Life Turns Upside Down: Finding Stability through God’s Comforting Peace. The table of contents maps out nicely what is in the small book:

Foreword: An Upside-Down World
Introduction: Prayer Keeps Life Right-Side Up
Who Controls Tomorrow: Do Humans Control Tomorrow?
When Life Turns Upside Down: The Power of the Earthquake
The Fear Factor: Fear and Emotional Protection
The Dangerous Blame Game: The Game That Comes Naturally
Understanding the Fall: The Groaning Creation
Perspective: Throughout History, God Remains Faithful to His Promise
When Upside Down is Really Right-Side Up: So There Is Good News!
The Gospel is Your Anchor: The Lord Renews Your Strength
Your Future Is Secure: Death Is Swallowed Up in Victory
Appendix 1: Teach Your Children to Live Right-Side Up
Appendix 2: Comfort for Your Community

It was an interesting exercise figuring out what kind of cover design would work best for the project. Thankfully, there were various people on Facebook who shared what they liked, or did not like, about various proposed cover options!

My view is that this is a vitally important little resource to put in people’s hands. It’s available as an eBook, and coming soon–within a week or so–as a mini-book paperback of 88 pages. It’s easy enough to read in one sitting of under one hour, but also full of biblical content and application to life. Get one for you and your family, and several copies for your neighbors, friends, and work associates. Be sure to check out the Shepherd Press site to find out more about the book and the discounted offers HERE or read some pages from the book HERE.

Endorsements

Over the years, Jay Younts has been my personal Gandalf, my Mr. Miagi, my Paul. With fatherly wisdom and genuine care, Jay offers us this prayerful life-guide, showing us how to live life from God’s perspective and not our own, keeping us right-side up in a world that feels upside down.
Kirk Cameron: Actor, Film Producer

Younts turns our attention to hope found in the mercy of God and the provision he has made for mankind in the sinless life and sacrificial death of his Son, Jesus Christ. This book will provide encouragement and hope in these scary times.
Dr. Tedd Tripp: Author, Pastor, Conference Speaker

About Jay Younts

John A. (Jay) Younts is the author of this book as well as other materials on parenting and the Christian life. He is an experienced blogger, having served Shepherd Press in this capacity for several years. He has been teaching and speaking on current issues for over thirty years. He serves as a ruling elder at Redeemer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Moore, South Carolina. He and his late wife, Ruth, have five adult children.

Follow Jay on Social Media
YouTube Channel: EverydayTalk 24/7
www.everydaytalk247.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.younts
Twitter: @wordsmatter247
jayyounts@gmail.com

 

Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Gospel, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Windows on My Work, Worldview, Writing, 0 comments
03
Apr
2020
Where Shepherds Meet

Where Shepherds Meet

Where Shepherds Meet

It’s been several years since it was last opportune for me to attend the Shepherds’ Conference, an annual event held at the Grace Community Church (pastor-teacher, John MacArthur) just outside of Los Angeles, but it happened again this year. A book that guided through the editing and production process for Shepherd Press, Seven Key Principles for Effective Ministry (subtitled Nurturing Thriving Churches in a Postmodern Culture) was selected for promotion and giveaway, and so the publisher was invited to attend and also make available other resources on offer.

At the last minute, my good friend Anthony Russo, also from Greenville SC, was able to attend, so we had a blast as we traveled, encouraged each other along the way, engaged with others, shared the gospel, and enjoyed the fine hospitality of the members and friends of Grace Community Church.

Being the year 2020, it seemed fitting that the conference theme picked up on the idea of having perfect (2020) vision–in a nutshell: Doctrinal Clarity for a Confused Generation. The mission statement provides a succinct generic introduction to the event:

The mission of the Shepherds’ Conference is to provide the opportunity for men in church leadership to be challenged in their commitment to biblical ministry and to find encouragement as together we seek to become more effective servants of our chief Shepherd.

Anthony and I enjoyed meeting with hundreds of men who minister not only in North America, but around the world. Enjoy viewing the dozen or so pictures below!

Posted by Jim Holmes in Friendship, Memories, Networking, Publishing Books Today, Reflections, Spirituality, Windows on My Work, 0 comments
09
Jan
2020
“My Name Shall Be Great Among the Nations”

“My Name Shall Be Great Among the Nations”

“My Name Shall Be Great Among the Nations”

The quote is from Malachi 1:11, a declaration by the LORD (Jehovah) of Hosts–the God of the armies of heaven and earth. It’s a declaration of certainty and fact, not a wish or a whimper. It’s as certain as certain can be!

When I was approached late last year by a representative of The Master’s Academy International with a view to helping produce a book of daily readings, I was immediately excited and energized by the prospect. The ministry has numerous staff and graduates in far-flung parts of the world, and each with a conviction and burden to make Christ’s name great in the location in which he serves.

Enjoy reading and reflecting on the reading for January 10 from a brother serving in South Africa

January 10

Kind in Heart, Humble in Spirit

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit
1 Peter 3:8

David Beakley: Christ Seminary | South Africa

Loving and caring for others is a difficult task. It is even worse when it is a command and the “others” don’t particularly care for your love. But when it is done out of joy, the world takes note. When Peter told his readers “to sum up” in this verse, he was summing up his instructions that were very pointed and directed toward fellow believers in submitting to bad governments, bad employers, and bad marital relationships. And, if that were not bad enough, Peter gave this call of submission to people who were already suffering and experiencing persecution for their faith! How is this possible?

South Africa is a very complex country, with a complex history that has been checkered with oppression, strife, and hypocrisy—largely in the name of the “state” church, which at the time was professing evangelical. In 1994, the government changed and the servant was now the master. Needless to say, there was a backlash against “White Christianity.” But, when a student-pastor from Christ Seminary understood these words from Peter, and saw a converted “enemy” from the previous regime, he went to meet his foe only to discover a brother. After they discovered and rejoiced in their “unity of mind,” they both preached together in a Township church to a full house.

The result was a testimony that resounded throughout the country. A secular and polarized culture was now hearing—and intrigued by—the gospel message of peace from two unlikely brothers.

How might you demonstrate loving submission, kindness of heart, and humility of spirit to those around you today?

Did you enjoy reading this excerpt? You may purchase the physical book on Amazon HERE or the Kindle version HERE.

Featured Image: A beautiful landscape panorama that has been used for the cover of the book.

Posted by Jim Holmes in Gospel, Guest Post, Publishing Books Today, Reflections, Spirituality, Windows on My Work, Writing, 0 comments
08
Jan
2020
God, Evil, and Suffering: The Crucifixion

God, Evil, and Suffering: The Crucifixion

God, Evil, and Suffering: The Crucifixion

The post below is excerpted from God, Evil, and Suffering: Understanding God’s Role in Tragedies and Atrocities, a mini-book written by Dr. David A. Harrell, and published in the Compact Expository Pulpit Series, an imprint of Great Writing Publications and joint venture with Shepherd’s Fire Ministries.

Dave is currently the senior pastor-teacher of Calvary Bible Church where he has served since 1994. After attending the Moody Bible Institute, he graduated from Grace College, Grace Theological Seminary, and the Omega (formerly Oxford) Graduate School where he earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Integration of Religion and Society. He is a former Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling at the Master’s University, Santa Clarita, CA., and founder of Shepherd’s Fire, the mass communication arm of his ministry. He and his wife, Nancy, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Many thanks to Dave for contributing this post. Readers are welcome to share this provided they include the content at the beginning and end of this post.

The Tragedy and Atrocity of the Crucifixion of Christ

Reflecting once again upon my short conversation with the Sunday School class, it was obvious to each of them that indeed the crucifixion of Christ was the greatest of all evils; that God was more, not less, glorified because of it and, as a result, sinners are able to experience more, not less, happiness. But several in the class struggled, and understandably so, with the idea of God’s providential working in the lives of evil men who, by His sovereign decree, independently chose by their own free will to act wickedly in participating in heinous acts. Most indicated that they had never thought about it that way.

Obviously, none of what happened caught God by surprise nor were the choices of those wicked men a violation of His sovereign will. This was evident in the prayer of Peter and John when they stated, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:27).

Every Christian would do well to remember that the Father’s wrath of judgment against sin was poured out upon His Son and our substitute, Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding the responsibility of wicked men who cried out for Him to be crucified, Peter made it clear that God ordained His murder when he said, “this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death” (Acts 2:23).

What an amazing concept: Jesus willingly chose to suffer and die on a cross because God ordained Him to do so. He was delivered up by the “predetermined plan.” The word predetermined is the Greek word horizo, meaning “to mark out a boundary beforehand,” from which we get our English word horizon. The word plan translates the Greek word boule used in Scripture to describe God’s will of purpose; that which He has designed, ordained, or decreed in eternity past. Sometimes this is referred to as His decretive or sovereign will. So Peter is literally saying that our sovereign God decreed that Jesus would die on the cross; it was His predetermined plan.

Furthermore, he attributes His sacrificial death to the “foreknowledge of God.” The word foreknowledge is the Greek word prognosis meaning “to foreordain”—a meaning that far exceeds the English concept of merely knowing something ahead of time. Moreover, grammatically speaking, since the term is in the instrumental dative case, it must be understood that Peter was actually saying, “It was God’s foreknowledge (foreordination) that was the sole cause or the means by which the men nailed Him to a cross.” Stated simply, Jesus did exactly what God ordained Him to do, yet those who called for His death and hung Him on the tree were responsible for His murder. Here again we see not only the mysterious convergence of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, but also God deliberately ordaining an evil event to exist as a part of His plan and purpose to glorify Himself—the greatest act of evil in all of history: the murder of Jesus Christ.

Unlike the misguided musings of the Sunday School class, the testimony of Scripture plainly reveals that God is indeed sovereign over His creation. And though He is never responsible for sin, He does bring it about through the voluntary choices of men and He holds them accountable for their actions. Moreover, not only is God removed from actually doing evil, but never do we find an instance in Scripture of any act of evil surprising God and requiring Him to react with a “Plan B.”

In light of all this, it is obvious that no example can be found supporting the Arminian notion that God merely allowed the possibility for evil to exist in order to give His creatures freedom of choice, thereby guaranteeing that man’s choices would always be meaningful, as some would suggest. Instead, we see a sovereign God orchestrating His universe through the use of both good and evil.

This excellent little book (and several others in the series) may be purchased from online vendors such as Amazon HERE or directly from the author HERE.

Posted by Jim Holmes in Gospel, Guest Post, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Theology, Windows on My Work, 0 comments
03
Jan
2020
He To Rescue Me from Danger Interposed His Precious Blood

He To Rescue Me from Danger Interposed His Precious Blood

It’s a delight to share the labors of faithful authors. Roger Ellsworth is one such author, gifted with the ability to write seriously yet simply, and opening the Scriptures in a way that children as well as adults can understand. This guest post draws material from Roger’s Big Book of Coffee Cup Meditations, a book recently published, and available from bookstores or Amazon worldwide. More info HERE.

“He, to Rescue Me from Danger,
Interposed His Precious Blood”

From God’s Word, the Bible…

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
1 Peter 1:17-20

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood. . .
(Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson, 1758)

These words take us to the heart of Christ’s saving work on behalf of His people. It was a matter of Jesus interposing His blood! That act of interposition makes His blood precious to every believer.

More about that in a moment! First, let’s think about that word “danger.” Frightening word! When we hear the word “danger,” we tend to think of the people and the things that threaten our wellbeing and happiness in this world. There is no shortage of them.

There is, however, another type of danger which is much worse than any posed by this temporal realm. It is the danger of experiencing the wrath of God in eternity. People these days like to play down that danger, but no fair reading of the Bible will allow us to do so. All are agreed that the Old Testament places a heavy emphasis on the matter, but we must not think that the teaching of God’s wrath is confined there. The same teaching is evenly distributed throughout the New Testament. It is in the Gospels (Matt. 3:12; 7:13-14; 22:13-14; 23:33; 25:30,41,46; Mark 9:42-29; Luke 16:19-31; John 3:36), in the epistles of Paul (Rom. 1:18-19; 2:5; 3:5; 4:15; 12:19; Eph. 2:3; 5:6), and in the other epistles as well (Heb. 10:27; 12:25-29; James 5:9; 1 Peter 4:17-18; 2 Peter 2:4-9).

It is the dominant theme of the book of Revelation (Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:10,19; 15:1,7; 16:1,19; 19:15; 20:11-15; 21:8; 22:11,15).

And for those who blissfully say: “Just give me the loving God of John 3:16,” the wrath of God is powerfully present in the word “perish” which is mentioned in that very verse.

We will never understand Christianity until we realize that it is all about rescuing people from this danger! Jesus came to this world for the express purpose of dealing with that danger.

God is holy. He cannot merely ignore our sins as if they never happened. He has to pronounce a sentence on them and also has to carry out that sentence. What is His sentence on our sins? It is His wrath, which is eternal separation from Himself in hell.

The glory of Christianity is that Jesus on the cross took the wrath that we deserve for our sins. There He “interposed” or inserted His blood between the wrath of God and guilty sinners. The word “blood” means that He poured out His life in death. To say He interposed His blood is to say He interposed Himself. On the cross He took the position between the wrath of God and guilty sinners. The wrath fell on Him, and there is now no wrath left for all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. John 3:36 puts it perfectly: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

But how could Jesus in the space of the six hours that He was on the cross (from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon) receive an eternity’s worth of the wrath of God for all sinners who believe in Him? The answer lies in the special nature of Jesus. He was no ordinary man. He was the God-man, fully God, fully man at one and the same time. As God, He was an infinite person, and as an infinite person, He could receive in a finite length of time an infinite measure of wrath. In other words, Jesus as an infinite person could receive in a finite measure of time what we as finite people would receive in an infinite measure of time.

When we truly understand what Jesus did on the cross for sinners, we gladly respond to Robert Robinson’s phrase “precious blood” with a hearty “Yes!”

Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Friendship, Gospel, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Reflections, Spirituality, Theology, Windows on My Work, Writing, 0 comments
30
Dec
2019
Some 2019 Projects in Review

Some 2019 Projects in Review

Some 2019 Projects in Review

The year has been one of steady focus on numerous editing, production, and publishing projects. Here, in no particular order of priority, are some insights into them…and this is by no means an exhaustive list!

Devotional Poems

IMMANUEL: Poems and Meditations on the Life of Jesus: This is the second in a series of Christmas books produced for EvangAlliance Publications, an 80 page full color cloth-bound book (with loose dust jacket), with beautiful poems and is truly a magnificent production. It is a companion to a book we worked on last year, INCARNATION Poems, also by poet Tom Worth. See more HERE.

The One Anothers of the New Testament

31 Ways to be a One Another Christian An email from Dr. Stuart Scott initiated this one. He and Andrew Jin had been working on a script that teased out the implications of what the New Testament has to say about “one another.” Would Shepherd Press be interested, he asked? Of course! The year was well progressed, and an ACBC deadline for launching the book was approaching with uncomfortable rapidity, so we accelerated the editing and production and were able to launch this excellent book in October. More info HERE.

365 Plus…

Daily Readings books have a special place in my heart. There are two that have been under my purview this year, both relatively late in the year.

The first is a compilation of the wonderful My Coffee Cup Meditations books by Roger Ellsworth and family. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to get all twelve of these volumes into one big book. And the name that came to mind was simply The Big Book of Coffee Cup Meditations. It is truly a magnificent book, cloth-bound, nearly 800 pages in length. Roger writes on the back cover as follows:

Early mornings are very predictable for lots and lots of Christians. Roll out of bed, turn on the coffee pot, pour a cup, settle into a favorite chair and enjoy what is called “the daily devotional.” This usually consists of reading a passage from the Bible and a selection from a daily readings book. It concludes with prayer.

Believers who follow this pattern can go through a good number of devotional readings as the years go by. So they are always looking for new material—something to go along with their Bible and their coffee.

Hoping that I could be helpful in supplying the need for more of these kinds of readings, I gathered up some articles I had written and put them in a book—A Dog and a Clock. The idea was to supply brothers and sisters in Christ with enough devotions to carry them through one month. That quickly led to another book—The Thumbs Up Man—to carry “devotion-doers” through another month—and so on.

You can guess what happened after three or four books came out. There are twelve months in the year. So why not provide enough books to cover a year? Well, off we went and out the books came until there were finally twelve! Since these books were designed to go with the Bible and a good cup of coffee, it seemed right to call them My Coffee-Cup Meditations. Here are all twelve books in one big volume—372 readings in total!

More information HERE.

A good friend and former colleague connected me with new friends in TMAI–The Masters Academy International–in California who were in the final stages of preparing a large devotional book with multiple authors for publication. Would I help guide it through the process? The timing was tight, but the outcome is a beautiful (nearly 400 page) book, Declaring His Glory among the Nations. An edition of this book is available on Amazon HERE.

Esther: For Such a Time as This

Colin Mercer labored faithfully in Greenville, SC, for about a decade. I got to know him and appreciate his preaching at Faith Free Presbyterian Church. Friends there, Charles and Verta Koelsch, worked tirelessly on Colin’s sermon notes to prepare a very useful book on God’s care and providence as seen in the Old Testament book of Esther–with the title For Such a Time as This: The Sovereignty and Goodness of God in the Book of Esther. The outcome is a beautifully produced book of 176 pages. An edition of this book is available on Amazon HERE.

Tennessee Author Friends

Reggie Weems is a good friend in ministry in Eastern Tennessee, and we just released an excellent introduction to C.S. Lewis. In his series of “Ten Things About…”, the new The Man Who Made Narnia is a welcome addition to a man whose influence is truly remarkable. Also in preparation for 2020 is Good, But not Safe. The first title is available on Amazon HERE.

Dave Harrell, also a pastor in Tennessee, wrote a very good book on pastoral leadership. It was my pleasure to guide this through the editing and publishing process at Shepherd Press early in 2019. Soon after this was complete, Dave reached out to me with the thought of how his ministry, Shepherds Fire, could publish mini-books. After conferring on some strategic options, we came up with the idea of “The Compact Expository Pulpit Commentary Series,” small books of around 88 pages, each one packing a powerful punch in terms of both content and application. You can read more about Dave and his ministry HERE and obtain his books on Amazon as follows:

  • God, Evil, and Suffering HERE
  • God’s Gracious Gift of Assurance HERE
  • Our Sin and the Savior HERE

South African Connections

Dr. Francois Carr is based in Pretoria, South Africa, and has a global ministry in calling people to Christ and a consecrated walk with Him. One of his earlier books, Lead Your Family in Worship, had gone out of print. Francois reached out to me with the question: How could this book be brought back into print? Well, we found a way! We did a couple of prototype runs and the book has a few tweaks to go, and we expect to launch the agreed final version early in 2020. 

“It is an old but good saying that families which pray together stay together. This refreshingly up-to-date book on family worship is a valuable contribution to a much-neglected area of Christian practice. May God be pleased to bless its teaching to many.”–Rev. Maurice Roberts: Minister, Free Church of Scotland Continuing, Inverness, Scotland

The contents for Francois’ book are good for whetting the appetite:

Introduction
1: A Forgotten Command of God
2: Why is Family Worship Necessary? (A)
3: Why is Family Worship Necessary? (B)
4: Why Don’t Families Worship Together Anymore?
5: Common Excuses for Not Having Family Worship
6: How Do I Prepare Myself and My Family for Worship?
7: How Do We Worship as a Family?
8: What are the Foundations of Family Worship?
9: A Final Encouragement
Appendix 1: Where Do I Start?
Appendix 2: Suggested Format for Family Worship
Appendix 3: Suggesed Format for Family Worship
Appendix 4: An Example of Family Worship

The Man in the Gap Martin Holdt was my pastor for many years in South Africa. A good and godly man, the story of his life is more than worthy of being told. Friends Rex and Esta Jefferies in South Africa have labored hard to prepare a biography, and they and I have been exchanging files for a couple of years or more to get the text prepared for publication. We anticipate launching this book in the first quarter of 2020. Dr. Joel Beeke in the Foreword describes this as a “must-read” book!

Here are three fragments from Dr. Beeke’s  Foreword

I love good biographies of godly men. They are so stimulating, convicting, edifying, moving, challenging, and alluring. This is one of those biographies. It is a “must read” book—one that is so true to a godly pastor who lived, by God’s grace, wholly for Christ and out of love for the souls of people.

Martin Holdt was one of the very best friends in Christ Jesus that I have ever had. He was also one of the most godly people I have ever known. When he died so suddenly in the last week of 2011, I grieved as if I had lost a brother—because I did. He was like an older brother to me.

Read this book prayerfully, meditatively, and slowly. I pray God that Martin Holdt’s life story will move you to follow him insofar as he followed Christ.

Posted by Jim Holmes, 0 comments
18
Dec
2018
The Discipleship Process: How Iron Can Sharpen Iron

The Discipleship Process: How Iron Can Sharpen Iron

A Post I Prepared for Through the Lens of Scripture

(For more info, see HERE)

I remember when I was in Bible school how a visiting chapel speaker made this point one day in the form of a leading question: “Did Jesus say that we are to go into all the world and get people to make decisions?”

His thesis was that we are to make disciples, and not just converts. A disciple is, in essence, a learner or a student, as the origin of the Greek word for disciple presses us to understand it. Jesus had twelve such learners or students around Him, and He, the God-Man, discipled them in a wonderful way for three remarkable years as He spoke to them—and demonstrated their application—words of grace and truth.

Disciples or Decisions?

Monty Sholund: A picture probably taken in the 1980s.

“The discipleship process is a continuum,” remarked Monty Sholund, then principal of the Bible college I mentioned above. “You have not demonstrated your own discipleship until you have yourself made disciples. Turn with me to 2 Timothy 2:2,” he instructed as he leafed through his well-worn, leather-bound copy of the Bible. His head inclined at a slight angle, he spoke with a tone of gentle urgency: “You guys are emphatically not a part of that continuum until you have done what the apostle Paul said Timothy should do. Do you see it in the text?” His finger jabbed his Bible for emphasis. “It is in this process of not only being a disciple but forming other disciples that you will be blessed in the demonstration of your obedience to the Savior. And in the measure that you are responsive to introducing new converts—disciples—into the church, that is the measure of your success in demonstrating your obedience to the Great Commission as articulated by Jesus in Matthew 28.”

Monty’s words resonated strongly with me, and they do so nearly four decades later. Of course, our primary influence is with people is often in a face-to-face context, usually as we are in at least an informal relationship with them.

But the transfer of information, insight, knowledge, wisdom, convictions, values, and passion—and so much more—via the medium of writing comes in a significant second place to that which is primarily relational and personal and face-to-face in character. Books are wonderful facilitators of the disciple-making process!

Printed Media Has a Long Shelf Life

I love anecdotes such as how a scrap of paper that had been used for wrapping some food (and on which had been imprinted some catechism questions and answers) led to the “coincidental” conversion of the reader who just “happened” to be eating the food—and then there is the story of how a piece of literature that lay in the dust and darkness of an attic for over a generation was instrumental in blessing the eventual reader with the knowledge of God’s way of salvation, through repentance and faith, in the light of day when the attic was being cleaned out.

So, how can writing, editing, and book production further the process of disciple-making? Well, think with me of Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, who made these three comments:

  • Reading makes a full man;
  • Writing makes an exact man;
  • Conference (discussion) makes a ready man.

The first two in the triad suggest the deliberate use of words in the formation of character. We might like to paraphrase Bacon as saying something like this: “By reading the right kinds of materials, you will gain a breadth of knowledge and insight that is way beyond that of others, and that will be of benefit to you in your worldview and in the way in which you navigate the pathways of life; writing is similarly valuable: if you take the discipline seriously, you will consider carefully the meaning and value of words, and you will harness their power and effectiveness for communicating with laserlike clarity, economy, and efficiency.”

One of the titles for Jesus is the Word, the point made so emphatically by John in the opening comments of his Gospel. The words of the wise are as goads (Ecclesiastes 12:11). A goad is an instrument of prodding to propel others forward. Words used rightly can have the most amazing outcome with respect to motivation for behavior and transformation of values and character.

So, to join some dots together, think of it this way: In the continuum of discipleship, it is desirable that the learner make progress—progress in grace and knowledge of Christ, in particular (2 Peter 3:18)—progress in sanctification, becoming more like Jesus (the goal of our salvation), gaining greater understanding of how God’s Word and ways guide us along the pathway He has prepared for us, increasing in understanding of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), becoming more discerning with respect to error and heresy (often so prevalent in Christian circles these days) and becoming increasingly useful in practical things like parenting, being a godly spouse, being an effective employee in the workplace, and an instrument of God’s grace in bringing the knowledge of the gospel to people in darkness, ignorance, and confusion.

And what better a way to facilitate this wonderful process of transformation than through words—words of godly people who themselves have imbibed God’s Word, and who have been equipped by Him not only to explain the content and concepts of that Word, but also to draw clear lines of application from the body of Scripture to the real circumstances of life, whether in helping shape attitude or transform behavior!

Valuable Values

With respect to Shepherd Press, the kinds of authors we love to see investing into writing and publishing books that will enrich the continuum of discipleship are those who embrace the three core values of the publishing mission of Shepherd Press. This means that whatever is seriously considered for publication should be:

  • Life changing
  • Heart driven
  • Gospel centered

Publishing occupies the remarkable position at the intersection of the two disciplines of reading and writing. I so appreciate the words of the godly Richard Baxter, a Puritan pastor, who made the point that it was not in the reading of many books that benefit was to be found, but in the careful reading and consideration of the right ones.

At Shepherd Press, being involved in the publishing process provides remarkable opportunities to envision—and to think through—how the material that is being considered for publication, and is subsequently in the process of developmental editing, will challenge and enrich the minds and hearts of readers.

I often make the point that the publishing process is incomplete until the books have… wait for it… not merely been produced, and, no, not even been sold with money in the bank to prove it, but have actually reached into the hearts and minds of the readers they are meant for.

Please pray for us at Shepherd Press—and pray for all publishers committed to the model of preparing and presenting excellent, scripturally based materials—not just for the success of the publishing process, but to the end that Christ might be glorified, sinners saved, and a robust paradigm of Word-based discipleship might come about as a result.

Are you a disciple-maker? Suggest two or three areas in your calling (whether at work, at home, or at school / college / university) in which you could naturally foster a disciple-making mindset with potentially good outcomes.

Jim Holmes is a freelance publishing consultant who serves Shepherd Press in editorial and related matters. You may find out more about him at www.blogspot52.com or follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jameswholmes1

Thanks to Shirley Crowder of Through the Lens of Scripture (for whom this post was originally prepared) to share this on my own site.

Posted by Jim Holmes in Family and Friends, Gospel, Publishing Books Today, Spirituality, Writing, 0 comments
30
Sep
2018
The Writing Apologetic Ministry of Edgar Andrews

The Writing Apologetic Ministry of Edgar Andrews

The Writing Apologetic* Ministry of Edgar Andrews

*Apologetic: Here meaning having to do with the defense of, or reason for, the faith that one holds.

I first met Professor Edgar Andrews in 1999. I recall him, distinguished, articulate, erudite—in many ways, just what you might expect a professor to be. At the time, he was chairman of Evangelical Times and Evangelical Press. I had just relocated to England and was finding my feet in a new climate, adjusting to a new work situation, meeting new friends, discovering the joys of navigating around English traffic roundabouts (“Who gives way to whom, or do you just pray and take a chance?”) and experiencing many other new things. Our pathways would cross at occasional board meetings and when he would come to the Faverdale office in Darlington to oversee the production of the monthly paper.

We enjoyed good interactions whenever we met. I knew Prof. Andrews was much more than a brain on legs, but I always felt somewhat in awe of his great intellect—a man who knew so much about the science of materials, and yet who was at home with English literature, history, theology, ancient Greek, and many other disciplines.

I had first known of him through various of his writings, and in South Africa had enjoyed selling his books in several of my sales initiatives through Reformation Heritage Trust, subsequently renamed Barnabas Book Room. Always solid in their content, always clearly written, always with modern application, his books resonated with me and with the reading clientele Sue and I served…

So when Edgar contacted me again some years after I moved to the USA, I was delighted to have the opportunity of working with him again on some new projects. One of his earlier publications, Who Made God?, had captured the imagination of the reading public, selling tens of thousands of copies. “I’ve been working on a new book, one on the origin of man, titled What is Man—Adam, Alien or Ape?—do you think you could help promote it?” Edgar asked me. His explanatory email was predictably through in his description of the text and his plans for promoting it internationally. Of course, I was delighted to do so, and once it was in print, it was my pleasure to review it in these words—which you may read on Amazon HERE. (It’s a very good book—as I think you will see from my review notes.)

My Amazon Review Notes

A sequel to his bestselling book, “Who Made God?”, Edgar Andrews’ book “What is Man?” is a carefully thought-through, well prepared, wittily and engagingly written piece.

The author’s background in both arts and science (he is a well-rounded intellectual) eminently qualifies him to write both at length and in depth in areas of science, philosophy, literature, art, and the Christian faith—the latter from a well-informed perspective of faith. He engages robustly with some important minds along the way.

While Professor Andrews might be described as a “brain on legs,” he is a very capable communicator, taking complex concepts and subjects, breaking them down into bite-sized examples, making judicious use of illustrations to simplify them (yet without being simplistic) and then drawing lines of application to modern life and especially in challenging the thinking of people who may have mistakenly and uncritically imbibed the presuppositions and worldview of a generation who have more often been informed by talk-shows and TV than by well-reasoned scientific disciplines and carefully considered theological and philosophical conclusions.

To sketch the book by way of overview, Professor Andrews takes readers, as it were, by the hand (never condescendingly) and guides them page by page, step by step, idea by idea, through a maze of considerations considered within three categories: Man and the Cosmos, Man and the Biosphere, and Man and the Bible.

Under the first part, (Man and the Cosmos) the author gives consideration to key concerns such as the identity of humankind, the impossibility of the universe being self-creating, the willful conjecture of the media in inventing and embellishing highly detailed “facts” when there is no undergirding evidence, the habitability of the world (what he refers to as a fine-tuned universe) and the difficulties posed by the conceptualization of a multiverse.

Part 2 (Man and the Biosphere) considers people as unique creatures, traces the ramifications of the complexity of genetic mapping, spends some time on speculations that have arisen in light of fossil research and dating, and rounds off with some philosophical and ontological sketches with respect to human consciousness.

The third part of “What is Man?” (Man and the Bible) begins to draw many of the ideas heretofore explored into a unified conclusion, and provides a probing analysis of worldviews, the historicity of the fall of our first parents, the imago dei, Christ as the Second Adam, and the undeniability of the resurrection of Jesus.

Is this a “preaching, condescending kind of book”? I didn’t find it so. The author’s calm writing style, his eloquence, his gentle wit—these are all engaging features. In it all, I felt he was letting his readers come to their own conclusions at their own speed. Truth is compelling. Truth has the power, under God, to be life-transforming. This is the kind of book most people will easily be able to read. Be sure you are one of them and get one—and an extra one or two, too, for a family member or work colleague whom you might like to challenge to rethink some aspects of life!

Other Writings of Professor Edgar Andrews

I have worked with Edgar in lightly editing, reformatting, and republishing his most helpful book on Galatians (EP Books used to have it in the Welwyn Commentary Series—though Great Writing Publications it is titled Free in Christ—The Message of Galatians for Today) (more about that in another blog entry another time) and it’s on my radar soon to have his excellent commentary on Hebrews—A Glorious High Throne—back in print, also in the Great Writing Publications imprint.

 

Posted by Jim Holmes in Biblical Creationism, Current Issues, Gospel, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Worldview, Writing, 0 comments
24
Sep
2018
“Ten Things About” from Reggie Weems

“Ten Things About” from Reggie Weems

A Longstanding Friendship Brings About New Book Series

I first met Reggie Weems at one of those conferences I was attending in the early 2000s–I do not recall whether it was Together for the Gospel or, maybe more likely, Shepherds’ Conference near Los Angeles. Anyway, we connected. I was living in the UK at the time, and he was residing in eastern Tennessee.

I remember speaking to him by phone one day. Somehow, he had gotten my number, and the distinctive tones of his voice enabled me to remember that he was “the man I had met at the conference.” The name and the face (at the stimulus of the voice) immediately connected with me.

“Might you be able to write a book on missions?” I remember asking him once while we were having dinner in Johnson City (I was visiting him and a book distributor on the same trip). He had already contributed a few books to the publisher I served at the time, Day One. He had me enthralled as he told me of his various strategies for fostering a vision and sensitivity for global missions in his church, a Southern Baptist congregation, well named Heritage Baptist Church. It was my pleasure to superintend the publishing process of that book, as well as having overseen the earlier publications.

Smoky Mountain Range: Hills of North Carolina / Eastern Tennessee, not far from where Reggie lives.

Thinking of a New Series. . .

With changes in my circumstances and my no longer working for the same UK-based publisher, the friendship continued without interruption. Then one day Reggie called me: “I have some manuscripts that I think could work well for books,” he informed me. “They are the fruit of some things I am doing with my congregation at the moment, and deal with real issues my people are struggling with.”

As he continued, the vision grew for me. Reggie, ever practical in meeting the needs of his congregation, ever faithful in his application of the Word of God, ever hardworking and diligent to present the counsel of the Scriptures in an understandable format, outlined to me the kinds of topics he wished to write on. He intended them to be “a series of books that offer biblical encouragement and practical direction on matters of concern to modern Christians.” That may be a broad-brush description, but take a look at some of the titles that we were to kick off with:

  • Marriage and How to Create a Godly One
  • Pornography and God’s Grace to Husbands
  • Revival and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
  • Unanswered Prayer and How to Live with It

“You’ll need a website to help promote these,” I guided him. “I think there is enormous potential in this concept. When can we start?”

Start we did late in 2017 and worked intensively to produce the first four. The books are available for physical purchase in print as well as in Kindle format. Each book is under 10,000 words in length, produced on a small, paperback format (small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, usually around 80 pages), and written in brief, easy-to-read chapters with key review points and quotes highlighted for easy reference. You can find out more about the series (and check out some previews) at the dedicated website HERE.

The books are available worldwide and Amazon offers easy purchasing and shipping options for most customers.

 

 

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Posted by Jim Holmes in Current Issues, Friendship, New & Noteworthy, Publishing Books Today, Spirituality, Writing, 0 comments
21
Sep
2018
Let’s Chat with Two Christian Publishers

Let’s Chat with Two Christian Publishers

A Guest Post from Shirley Crowder

This Post by Guest Blogger, Shirley Crowder, InspiredPrompt.com, reproduced with their kind permission from HERE

I first became aware of Focus Publishing in the late 1990s when Martha Peace visited South Africa (where I lived at the time) for ministry and to promote her excellent, newly released book, The Excellent Wife. Much more recently I have connected with Shirley Crowder who also takes writing seriously. She asked if I would answer some questions to do with publishing in my role at Shepherd Press. Of course, I was delighted to do so, and even more pleased when I discovered that Shepherd Press was to be sharing the post with Jan Haley of Focus Publishing!

Let’s Chat with Two Christian Publishers

by Shirley Crowder

I am proud to introduce two “small”—perhaps in name recognition in some circles, but not in production of Christ-edifying books—Christian publishing houses you may not be familiar with but need to know about. I have close connections with both, and yes, I’m proudly partial to both of them!

I’m excited for you to “listen” as I chat with Jan Haley of Focus Publishing and Jim Holmes of Shepherd Press.

At the end of the interview you’ll find more info about Jan Haley /  Focus Publishing and Jim / Shepherd Press.

Let’s get started!

What advantages are there in publishing through a smaller Christian publisher?

Jan: If you find a publisher that has an established market in your writing target, you will be more likely to reach a successful audience. A successful, smaller Christian publisher has refined their niche market and there you will find your customers.

Jim: Working with a smaller Christian publisher does facilitate a higher level of intimacy with the staff there and yet also brings the benefits of professional editing, production, and things like marketing and distribution portals.

Trends in Christian publishing are ever changing. Are there any of which our readers need to know?

Jim: I guess there is the good and the not-so-good! On the positive side, book production is getting better and better. We have access to great software that enables better graphic production, nicer book layout and design, and some efficiencies that facilitate much better outcomes. Not so positively, some publishers are less discerning on what they will bring into print, and there is always the temptation to print and promote a book because of commercial rather than ministry priorities. I always like to encourage authors, whether established or would-be ones, that the publisher that will do best for them is the one that is informed by biblical standards and is committed to a God-glorifying approach in the whole process.

Jan: I like to keep a pulse on current social problems and publish biblical resources to help hurting and confused people and to offer hope. For us, that means providing biblical answers not found in psychology.  It is a priority that our books be 100% biblical. Christian publishers also need to help keep the church of Jesus Christ accountable for their response to the “trends” in our culture today.

If someone has a “really great” idea for a book, is there a process you recommend for developing that idea?

Jan: You must develop and write that “great” book before you send it to a publisher.  I would suggest starting with an outline, research what you want to say, and then begin to “flesh it out.”  After you have written a chapter, set it aside for a week or more and then re-visit it, editing and making changes as they become obvious.  For me, Scripture quotations must be absolutely accurate, for example.  If you quote something, footnote the source.  Pay attention to detail.

Jim: Test it out with a small focus group and measure the response!

What are some common mistakes authors make when working with a publisher and submitting a manuscript? AND/OR What would you have them do differently?

Jim: For anyone proposing a manuscript, the key thing to keep in mind is to state VERY succinctly what the book is all about.

Jan: An author really needs to seek the help of an editor who can help them determine whether they are staying on message or drifting off on “rabbit trails.”  Do that before you send the manuscript to a publisher.

What does your publishing house look for in a manuscript?

Jan: Because we are a small publishing house, we look to fill a counseling void, or at least a void in our catalog.  We have found that shorter “booklets” are very popular.  This is not surprising in our “McDonalds” culture.  We want our food fast and our answers fast.  We believe our large collection of booklets supply that desire.

Jim: We’re interested in writing projects that will glorify God in meeting needs and three criteria, as Tedd Tripp so well states, the text should be (a) gospel-driven—the grace of the gospel is not just for sinners; it is for saints, too. (b) The work should be heart focused. Lasting growth takes place as the heart is changed by grace. And, (c), the submission should be writing that will have a life-changing effect on readers.

What do you like best about your interactions with your authors?

Jim: It’s important, in my mind, to help authors express themselves in their own words, and yet in a medium that requires editorial development and very specific care. And I love teasing out how visual metaphors (as in cover designs and book typography) can help express these in practical ways, that are meaningful to the end users of the book once it is in print.

Jan: I know the depth of Bible study these men and women have completed to be in (mostly) counseling and pastoral situations, pointing people to God’s Word for hope and help with their struggles in life. I am more than honored and humbled to be part of their ministries, as they are part of ours.

How can our readers pray for you personally and your publishing house?

Jan: Pray that we can stay so close to the Lord that we may feel the “pulse” of what Christians need to help them grow spiritually.  Pray that God will continue to bless our efforts here so that more people in this generation will realize there is only one true source of hope and help in this world today.

Jim: Please pray for us in the ministry of Shepherd Press that we would be guided by the Lord in all matters and that we would stay faithful to Him in each detail of His calling to us. These are challenging days, and it is vital that we be sensitive to the needs and challenges of ministry the times in which He has called us to serve.

Click to Tweet: I loved learning how to work with “smaller” Christian Publishers, @focusresources1 and @shepherdpress, from @ShirleyJCrowder #publishing #amwriting http://bit.ly/2NtjlLt

After you read about these publishers and their publishing houses, you will want to go to my blog: ThroughtheLensofScripture.com to find (As Paul Harvey would say) “The rest of the story.”

Jan Haley

Jan says, “It has been amazing for me to look back and see how God has sent resources that would grow what I consider to be His Company and our ministry.  One book has led to another, and that to another and so on.”

Jan is the founder and owner.  She pretty much makes all the major decisions about the company and which resources to publish, editing as she reads.

Jan says, “I am both humbled and excited about the quality of books we publish, knowing that as we depend on God through His Holy Spirit, He has brought the authors and resources to our door.  What a joy it is to be useful to the Kingdom.”

Visit: Focus Publishing

Follow Focus Publishing:
Twitter: @focusresources1
Facebook:  Focus Publishing   

Jim Holmes

Jim says, “I love to say that Shepherd Press is a small publisher with a big heart. The key point to make is that Shepherd Press is committed to producing books that are life changing, but with changes being driven from the heart, that is, a heartfelt response to the truths that are written in each book.”

Jim’s role is a fairly broad-spectrum one. He has some oversight when it comes to submissions, and is also involved in several of the editing and production aspects, as well as new-idea development and strategic thinking.

Jim says, “It is stimulating work being involved with talented authors, and I love the interface with our cover designers and typesetters.”

Visit: Shepherd Press and Shepherd Press blog

Follow Shepherd Press:
Twitter: @shepherdpress
Facebook: Shepherd Press

Posted by Jim Holmes in Interviews, Publishing Books Today, Writing, 0 comments