Best Books

Jane Found on Jane Lane is a heartwarming true story of Jane, a stray dog who was found wandering on Jane Lane in Oklahoma. Tom Benz, the founder of Bridges of Faith, adopted Jane and took her to his Christian ministry for Ukrainian orphans. It was evident that Jane was special because the children at the ministry camp gravitated toward her. Animals like Jane have a unique universal trust among children. Most of the volunteers couldn’t speak the Ukrainian language to communicate but Jane had no problem.  

Benz has been involved in the Ukrainian orphan ministry for over 25 years. He would bring three different groups of orphans to Alabama for a month stay three times a year. Full-time volunteers would stay at the camp and minister to these orphans. When Russia invaded Ukraine, we could no longer bring orphans to our camp in Alabama. We transitioned into doing ministry in Romania where orphanages sought safety.

I always dreamed of writing a book. As I read to my second-grade class at West Jefferson Elementary, I often saw a sparkle in their eyes as the story captivated them. I thought then, one day I would write my own children’s book. I retired from teaching in 2017 and joined the Bridges of Faith ministry. As I petted Jane one day, I realized I could tell the story of Bridges of Faith through a dog’s eyes.

So, I began writing stories of her life at the camp with the orphans and Jane Found on Jane Lane was born. I wanted my theme to highlight the power of God’s love expressed in kindness and how it can transform lives. When I’m reading my book at libraries and schools, I always tell children that sometimes all it takes is for you to give someone a simple hug or show kindness and it will brighten their day. I reinforce this idea at the end of the book where you will find Ephesians 4:32 ESV, “Be kind to one another…”

Presently, Bridges of Faith operates a school in Romania for Ukrainian orphans and other Ukrainian refugee children. A portion of the proceeds from Jane Found on Jane Lane will go to these children in Romania. The book is written in memory of David, an orphan, who came to know the love of God at Bridges of Faith. David died as a soldier in the war against Ukraine. To learn more about Jane Found on Jane Lane, visit www.servicedogjane.com. 

-Nancy Long Benz

Author of Jane Found on Jane Lane

Best Books

Would it surprise you to discover you share something in common with professional athletes? Goal Line Devotions by Del Duduit invites you to dress out and join the faith huddle with some of the NFL’s most prolific players. These men may be superstars and fantastic athletes on the field, yet at their core, they are men of faith. Men who face daily struggles and challenges, like you. Men who choose to rely on God, like you. Men who dig deep and keep their faith moving downfield toward victory. If you need inspiration to dig deep and keep moving downfield, join the team and let them inspire you to persevere. 

Sure, people want to talk about their successes on the field, but in Goal Line Devotions, it’s the stories of faith that will inspire you to be a better person every day. Learn from All-Pro and Pro-Bowl players like Jalen Ramsey, Melvin Ingram, Jessie Bates III, Trey Henrickson, and Damar Hamlin how to find strength for challenges, hope for the future, and courage to push through to victory. See how Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts shake off struggles to be victorious in life. Once you realize these athletes serve the same Lord as you and face similar challenges, you too can join the team and keep pushing, keep moving, and go for the goal line!

Author Del Duduit is an award-winning author and sportswriter and covers the NFL for his newspaper. His work has been recognized by the Ohio Associated Press and the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association. He has covered Super Bowls as well as the Final Four and major PGA events, but he enjoys broadcasting high school football games on local radio.

Visit shop.ironstreammedia.com to learn more about Goal Line Devotions. †

Best Books

Trusting a cop could open a new door to danger… But what if it’s her only chance at freedom? First-grade teacher Riley Vreeland is terrified. When the attention from a recent acquaintance escalates from creepy to threatening, she flees to Village Green. With its limited employment, housing, and amenities, the tiny town is the last place someone would choose to settle. And hopefully, it’s the last place her stalker will look.

Serving and protecting the people of Village Green is hard-wired into police officer Sam Walker’s DNA. The new teacher’s fearful response to him and his offer to help sets his suspicions on high alert. What is she hiding? He’s determined to find out. After Sam delivers a stray dog to her, Riley softens toward the nosy cop. It’s hard to hate the man who supplied her with her four-footed best friend. And his rapport with her first graders is heartwarming. Riley is tired of looking over her shoulder. Can she trust the small-town superhero with her secret, or will the loyalty she admires in him bring danger to her door?

Award-winning author Nancy Lavo credits both her love for happy endings and a community college fiction-writing course for jump-starting her publication journey. When she’s not writing, which happens more often than it should, Lavo can be found enjoying the beauty of the outdoors, reading cookbooks cover to cover, or grabbing lunch with friends. She married her college sweetheart, and they have three wonderful children and eight delightful grandchildren. She and her husband make their home in the great state of Texas.

Lavo loves happy endings and describes the tone of her books as “Light. Think Hallmark movie with a side of Jesus.” To learn more about The Perfect Getaway, book three in the Lone Star Loves series, visit shop.ironstreammedia.com. †

Best Books

College football fans have welcomed Birmingham’s own Emmy Award-winning ESPN sideline reporter Lauren Sisler into their homes weekly since 2016. For years, the popular journalist known for asking insightful questions and her signature “Sideline Shimmy” viral dance videos, shielded a tragic secret. Her mother and father died within hours of each other, victims of their hidden battle with prescription-drug addiction. She’s now put the experience and the truths she’s learned from it to paper in her new book, Shatterproof: How I Overcame the Shame of Losing My Parents to Opioid Addiction (and Found My Sideline Shimmy). 

“It’s a deeply personal and painful story, one I’ve shared for a while now in speeches across the country, but the book goes into depth I can’t get into on the stage,” Sisler says. “I’m excited to finally be able to place the story, painful as it is, into the hands of readers- because I think it has the power to bring great healing to many, to help them learn to fall in love with their own stories.”

As Sisler shared her story in speeches, she realized that people often had more questions, and she wanted to be able to give them something to take home and lean into. She went back and forth on when to write Shatterproof. “I got to the point where I was ready to uncover the whole story,” Sisler says, adding that she found great freedom in owning and sharing her story. “I didn’t realize how much healing this process of writing a book would bring.” 

Sisler’s prayer for anyone that reads Shatterproof is that “they find strength and hope in their own stories. I hope that through my journey, readers realize they are not alone in their struggles and that resilience is within reach for us all. I pray they embrace their vulnerabilities, recognizing that our challenges do not define us but rather shape us into stronger, more compassionate individuals,” Sislers says, adding, “May they be inspired to share their own stories, using their voices to spark influence and positive change in their communities. Above all, I pray that each reader finds the courage to fall in love with their story and know that every chapter is stitched together as God’s masterpiece.” Shatterproof releases on October 1, 2024. It is available for preorder now at www.laurensisler.com. †

Best Books

Can dogs really teach us more about God? Award-winning authors Michelle Medlock Adams and Wendy Hinote Lanier say yes! That’s why they’ve teamed up to write Paws-itive Inspiration: 90 Devotions for Kids and Dog Lovers (Revised Edition). This book is a great way to help dog lovers connect with God and learn more about their favorite breeds.

Paws-itive Inspirations will have kids and adults alike digging up treasures about their favorite pups, as well as discovering new breeds and learning important Biblical truths in every devotion. Each Fido-themed entry encourages readers to dig deeper into God’s Word as they uncover fascinating facts about our canine friends. The 90 devotions cover different dog breeds and include:

• Unleashing the Truth (key Bible verses)
• Digging Deeper (self-reflection questions)
• Fido 411 (interesting tidbits about the breed)
• Weekly Tail-Waggers (activities to reinforce each lesson)

Adams is an award-winning author of over 100 books with close to four million books sold, including her best-selling What Is . . .? board book series. She has written countless articles, helped pen a New York Times bestseller, hosted TBN’s Joy in Our Town TV program, and taught at more than one hundred writers’ conferences. Lanier is a Texan, dog lover, and only child who always wanted a puppy rather than a brother or sister. She is a former elementary teacher who writes and speaks for children and adults on a variety of topics and is an award-winning author of more than 50 books for children. 

Paws-itive Inspirations blends faith, fun, and canine facts to give readers a deeper understanding of God’s Word. The interactive format makes for a meaningful and memorable faith journey. Paws-itive Inspirations is available September 17, 2024, wherever books are sold. †

Best Books

What was evil. Used for good. That’s the overarching words of encouragement found in Mark White’s new children’s book, Rylee’s Big Challenge. In August of 2023, White, host of the The Mark White Show, received a message from a show listener looking for help in a bullying situation. “Having been bullied in school myself, I had shared some of my experiences with my show audience. A mom reached out to me about her daughter, Rylee, and what she was going through with bullies. When I found out that Rylee loved softball, I reached out to former UAB softball coach Marla Townsend,” says White.

What Coach Townsend did next would give Rylee some supporters she would never have dreamed of having. “Coach Townsend contacted softball players at Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and UAB. They all sent video messages to Rylee to encourage her,” shares White. Although Rylee loved softball, she had decided not to try out for her school team. “When the videos began coming in, I would share them with Rylee’s mom, and she would share them with Rylee. The day after she received videos from the players was tryout day for the school team. Rylee was so encouraged by the videos that she changed her mind, tried out for the school team, and made it,” he adds.

A few months later, White was sitting in his recliner at home when the idea for Rylee’s story hit him. “I was sitting there thinking of this young lady and all the things that came together for her to overcome the bullies. I thought it was a great message for a children’s book, so I started typing out the story.” As for illustrations, White had someone special in mind- Kim Soderberg who is known for her personal and professional passion for helping children grow in kindness through visual storytelling. “She is an incredible illustrator,” says White. “She, along with a couple of authors who had used her as an illustrator, had been on my show before and I really wanted her for this project.” Soderberg agreed but White still needed a publisher. “I reached out to Carissa Lovvorn who had written several children’s books. She had experience and I asked if she would be my publisher,” White says, adding, “She agreed, and the book was published under Starbeams Publishing.” Almost exactly one year after having the idea for the story, Rylee’s Big Challenge was released in August 2024.

White says he hopes Rylee’s story will encourage other young people to find success despite being bullied. “I want kids to know that they are cared about and that they can overcome big challenges.” Rylee’s Big Challenge can be purchased at www.TheMarkWhiteShow.com. You can also meet Mark White and purchase a copy of his book at the Celebrate the Family Expo on September 14, 2024 at the Hoover Met Complex’s Finley Center. Learn more at www.birminghamchristian.com/expo2024. †

Best Books

Do you want to live an abundant life? If you long to live a life overflowing with hope, peace, and joy, perhaps what your life needs is an intentional center. We all have one- that nucleus upon which we obtain our energy and discern our purpose. Perhaps until now, your center has been based on shopping, entertainment, or sports. Or maybe you are like many others and have centered your very existence upon your children, family, or career. 

What if those things you’ve placed at the center of your life will not bring you the abundance you desire? What if you need a true center? Bible scholars through the ages have insisted that the book of Colossians is the most Christ-centered book in the entire Bible. If that is true, then we, as twenty-first-century believers, must choose to study this Jesus-centric epistle with enthusiasm and with intention. Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture by Carol McLeod takes readers on a deep dive into the sacred pages of Scripture. By the end, your life will shout to the world, “I am Christ-centered! He is my source, my joy, my all in all!” Erica Wiggenhorn, national speaker with Aspire Women’s Events and author of An Unexpected Revival says about McLeod’s new book, “The book of Colossians will enlarge your view of Christ, His immense power, and the great purpose He has given you. Grab your copy of Overflowing and walk in the fullness of life Christ secured for you! Drink deeply of His love for you and refresh your faith!”

McLeod is a best-selling author and popular speaker at women’s events, where she teaches the Word of God with joy and enthusiasm. She encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical Biblical messages. McLeod is a prolific author and loves digging for treasure in the Word of God. Learn more about her new book at www.carolmcleodministries.com/overflowing. †

Best Books

Did you know that Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is the only yet-to-be-fulfilled book of prophecy in scripture? Did you know that Jesus’s beloved disciple John is believed to have written the book after receiving a vision when he was 91 years old and exiled to a cave on a Greek island? And did you know that this vision he received from God and His Son Jesus through an angel has everything to do with you and me today? Well it is, and it does! 

Most of us have, at some point, thought about the book of Revelation, and these thoughts have led to questions. The one question most people would like to have answered is this: What does the Revelation have to do with me today, in real time, right here and right now? And the answer is…everything. How can that be, you might ask. How can I relate to a prophecy — a prediction — about the future and end of our world? How are the seal and trumpet and bowl judgments mentioned in Revelation relevant to me? And what about the elders and thrones and crowns and angels and creatures? What about the infamous four horsemen and the Battle of Armageddon and the Tribulation and the Millennium?

These questions have been hounding me for most of my life, so I recently decided to try and find some answers, to try and get a grasp on Revelation and why it’s in our Bible. When I started my journey, I had two primary questions of my own: can I find Jesus in this book of prophecy, and if so, what does Jesus want this prophecy to mean to me today? And here’s what I’ve found. The book of Revelation is many things. It’s both complicated and simple, both frightening and comforting, both challenging and rewarding. But most of all, it’s powerful. Revelation is about God’s patience and forgiveness and how He gives the people He created chance after chance to turn to Him. So, at its core, it’s about God’s love for people and His desire for us to turn to and love Him in return.

What an inviting and beautiful message this book contains on every single page. I would be truly honored if you’d join me on my journey through the Revelation, where together we’ll discover what’s going to happen, why our forevers matter, and how the return of Jesus will finally and forever complete us.

-Katy Shelton

www.katyshelton.com

Best Books

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 

Chosen- An Intricate Weaving of Art, Scriptures and Memories brings together God’s word, memories, and stories that create a beautiful tapestry of resilient women. These tales pay tribute not only to my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother but also to all the women who have shaped our lives. By intertwining personal experiences with reflections on God’s word, this book ignites a connection between the past and the present, breathing life into faded memories and illuminating the shared experiences of previous generations. It gives insight into the lives of those who came before. 

I have written this book with the intention of immersing readers, both young and old, in the captivating memories of generations past. It serves as a bridge, connecting the gaps between different ages and laying the foundation for understanding and celebration of future generations. For girls, this book offers the opportunity to gain insights into the bygone times through shared memories, enabling them to develop a better understanding of the generations that preceded them.

As they read these stories, they will be able to connect with their own experiences and relate to the tales in a whole new way. Mothers, on the other hand, will find a deeper connection with the stories as they recall their own personal experiences. They will be able to share their own stories and create a dialogue with their daughters, fostering a deeper bond and understanding between generations. Finally, grandmothers will delight in retracing the footsteps of days gone by, reminiscing about a simpler world that they once knew. The stories will bring a smile to their faces, evoking cherished memories and sparking conversations with their granddaughters.

Ultimately, this book aims to create a sense of unity, appreciation, and reverence for the past. It encourages readers to reflect on the experiences of those who came before and to embrace the journey that lies ahead, collectively celebrating the beauty and wisdom of each generation. Visit www.janelazenbyart.com to learn more.

-Jane Lazenby

Best Books

In an uncertain world, children need God more than ever. In her latest book, You Can See Him, Little Eyes Looking at a Big God, Birmingham author Anna Nash, known affectionately as “Nanna Anna,” draws upon her extensive experience as an author, speaker, and teacher to address the challenge of conveying the complexities of faith to young minds. 

Fueled by her own experiences as a grandmother and a lifelong fascination with children, Nash offers a captivating narrative that effortlessly intertwines simplicity with profound truths. Through vibrant illustrations by Birmingham artist, Jane Lazenby, and carefully crafted storytelling, You Can See Him not only introduces children to the wonders of God but also equips parents, educators, and caregivers with a valuable resource for fostering faith and curiosity in the next generation. 

You Can See Him weaves together words and pictures in childlike language to help children see God through fresh eyes and tender hearts. The children’s book encourages readers to recognize God in relatable ways. While the book’s primary audience is children, its universal messages resonate with readers of all ages. Fifty pages of creative words and colorful pictures provide opportunities for both grownups and children to look and see God in magnified ways through the simple, personal everyday life of a child. You Can See Him launches June 1, 2024. For details on surrounding events such as book signings and children’s gatherings to celebrate, visit  www.annanash.net. †