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Build a Fire: On Manhood that’s Honest, Strong, and … Weak?

 

Excerpt from Wes Yoder’s Bond of Brothers: Connecting with Other Men Beyond Work, Weather and Sports (eBook). // There’s a story behind this excerpt’s appearance today. Recently on our Facebook post about the Mom’s Devotional Bible Contest, a gentlemen asked, “What do you have for dads?” … I realized I had no giveaway for dads! But then I remembered Yoder’s book, which to me was as nourishing as home-smoked venison. Hope you enjoy. -AF

 

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Build a Fire

In the end, if you are a man at all, you will be an honest man. Or you will be dishonest, something less than a complete man, with a dead or dying heart. Not even you can fully convince yourself you are a real man as long as your heart is dead.

But the choices are yours. You will be false, or you will be true. You will be hard, brittle, and acerbic, or you will be strong, gentle, and true. You will be authentic and present in the circumstances and relationships of your life, or you will be a counterfeit, irrelevant, and emotionally absent man when it really matters. You will display courage in the face of danger, or you will fold in fear. You will demonstrate dignity and honor, or not…

 

Build a fire with your brothers; identify your masks — your false self — and then throw them into the roaring flames.

As you continually mature, you will find you are strong and courageous in one setting and a fearful shell of a guy in another. Don’t be afraid to think and to ask yourself what part of your manhood is completely formed and what part must yet grow into the person you really are, into the person God says you are… Build a fire with your brothers; identify your masks — your false self — and then throw them into the roaring flames. You’ll walk away together with a renewed fire in your hearts for the adventure ahead.

 

Build a fire with your friends

Image: Men of the US Army Company A, 16th Infantry; in San Jeronimo, Chihuahua, Mexico, 1916.


What is Manhood About?

Manhood, then, is first of all about being authentic, for God who created masculinity calls men to be honest and alive in the presence of others, including your wife or girlfriend (one at a time, please, and in the right order). It means being alert and honest, available “in spirit and in truth” to your father and mother, your children, your employer, your brothers, as well as to the guy whose interior emptiness drains the life out of the room at work, at church, or at the club.

 

Manhood is also about initiating a confessional life, acknowledging “when I am weak, then I am strong” … Just as you, in a broken world, cannot know the greatest joy there is to know without knowing something about the greatest sorrow in the world, so you cannot know and experience your true strength until your weakness is no longer a precious secret within you. You may as well admit your weaknesses and failures, first to yourself, then to God, and then to those who love you most. They already know. God certainly does.

 

Don’t become or continue to be the invisible man, the dad your family wishes they knew… If you are that man already, today is a new day in which the mercy of God is available for the asking. The specific name of this mercy is friendship…

 

Try asking your friends a few questions about what being a man is all about, and watch where the conversation goes.

- Wes Yoder

 

Question: What’s one essential ingredient of manhood?

 

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-Adam Forrest, Zondervan

 

(Some styling above is a web-exclusive feature not included in the text of Bond of Bros. Image attribution: [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer’s personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

 

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Failure’s Not Fatal: The Latest Chapter in God’s Good News [Excerpt by David Garland]

 

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(Excerpt from NIV Application Commentary: Mark [eBook] by David E. Garland.)

 

God is a God of beginnings. The good news of Mark is that God begins again with the chosen people by sending his Son.

At the end of the Gospel … things look far more gloomy. The women slink away from the empty tomb and are mute from fear [See Mark 16].

 

The empty tomb

They thought the story was over. Instead they found an empty tomb, and a new part to play. See Mark 16.

Failure, denial, and fear are not the end of the story, however. When things seem to end, there is a new beginning. The gospel is good news because one can begin again.

 

God is the one who consistently makes something out of nothing.

One may wonder how these discredited disciples could ever emerge as leaders of a growing church and fulfill their mission, but we know that their failure was not fatal. Neither is ours. God is the one who consistently makes something out of nothing. What seems like the end, and a pathetic one at that, is only a new beginning. God will continue to work with and revive the people.

 

Mark makes it clear that "the church exists because of what God has done in Christ, not because of any outstanding abilities in its first members." The gospel proclaims that the one "who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6)…

 

How will we continue the story?

Christianity is not a closed book, and Christian readers are the latest chapter in a continuing story of God's good news. The question for us is … the same as it was for those early disciples, "Where do we go from here?" The next stage is up to us. How will we continue the story? Will we cower in fear or boldly proclaim the glad tidings of Jesus to the world?

 

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Question for Discussion: Did the first disciples have any advantages over us in sharing the gospel? Do we have any advantages over them? Leave your comments on this post.

- Adam Forrest, Zondervan


(Images & some styling above are web-exclusive features not included in the text of NIVAC Mark eBook. Image attribution: From "An Illustrated Commentary on the Gospel of Mark" by Phillip Medhurst. Section Z. the empty tomb. Mark 16:1-8. By Philip Devere [FAL], via Wikimedia Commons. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

 

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Mysterious Christmas Poem Discovered in a 190-Year-Old eReader

 

Update 1/3/12: The "Load Your eReader" Sale is now closed. Thank you for your interest!

Experts are befuddled by the discovery of an antique eReading device and its bizarre contents, a poem that appears to be the original version of the classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas" written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore. Oddities in this alleged version of Moore's poem include "reincamels" instead of reindeer, and surprisingly accurate details on a "Load Your eReader Sale" from Zondervan.

 

"The poem is a hoax," claims the foremost historian of eReading, Dr. Heim Pullenure-Legg. "How in blue blazes could Moore have known about eReaders, let alone a specific sale on eBooks from Zondervan, nearly two hundred years before the eBook's advent? Someone alive today must have faked the poem and the eReader!"

The eReader in question was discovered within this antique sugar plums box
The eReader was discovered inside this antique sugar plums box.

Dr. Pullenure-Legg's logic is strong, but forensic evidence is stacking up against him. "This eReading device is certainly over 185 years old," says forensics specialist Imogene Aryfriend. "What's more, we've found DNA from Clement Clarke Moore on the touchscreen." The touchscreen in question is made of stained glass, while the body of the device is carved from an extinct species of cherry tree that was last seen in Moore's day. These facts and more have persuaded some that the eReader and the poem are authentic. But there's a loose end…

"You see how the poem's references to "reindeer" are replaced by "reincamels"? That's a dead giveaway," observes historical zoologist I. M. Knottreel. "Raincamels weren't introduced to the New World until their debut in the Ringling Bros. Circus in 1907. That's about 40 years after Moore's death, so there is no chance Moore wrote this poem."

Other explanations abound. "It was time travel!" says the speculative philosopher known as Bo Gus. "Moore predicted the future," asserts philosopher Jacque Fraidso. "Moore's not special, it's all just coincidence," says a philosopher who is also named Jacque Fraidso.

Who can we believe? Is the eReader authentic, but the poem a hoax? Or vice versa? Or are both phony? The scholars may never reach consensus, but they all agree on this point: Zondervan's "Load Your eReader Sale" is quite real, and you can see for yourself at http://zndr.vn/s8klMl. [Update: Sale ended on 1/2/2012.]

 

An Excerpt from the Poem in Question, "Twas Christmas Vaction" 

Twas Christmas vacation and all through the edifice,
Ev'ry creature was enjoying their eReading-device.
I e'en placed a Kindle Fire in the chimney with care,
And we all shared a good laugh at the visual pun there!

Later the kids nestled all snug in their places,
iPhone and iPad screens alighting their faces.
And Mamma with her Kindle and I with my Nook,
Were settling our brains in our favorite eBooks.

When up on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter…

[Several of the next stanzas are identical to the version we all know. Major changes begin again with the appearance of St. Nick:]

No bundle of Toys had St. Nick on his back,
He just browsed on a tablet, clicking this, clicking that.
Without speaking a word he visited zndr.vn/s8klMl
And purchased eBooks and Bibles for his reincamels,
Plus several kids' books for the children in my family,
And nonfiction for Mamma, and some novels for me.

From the roof we heard reincamels twinkling their toes,
And St. Nick laid his finger aside of his nose,
He gave me a nod, and up the chimney he rose!
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he flew out of view,
"Happy Christmas to all, and good reading to you!"

 

- Adam Forrest, Zondervan Internet Team

 

Visit the eBook and Bible Sale
Visit the "Load Your eReader" eBook and Bible Sale

 

About Clement Clarke Moore

Clement Clarke Moore

Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) was an American college and seminary professor who allegedly composed the poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Moore may or may not have invented primitive eReaders, traveled through time, or witnessed the rare reincamel. If you possess any information on these matters, please leave a comment on this post. 

(Hey, is this post true? The "Load Your eReader Sale" was a valid sale available through January 2, 2012. Everything else in this post should be taken as a work of fiction, as satire for entertainment only. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives; the writer's opinions are his own. Pictures are used at the courtesy of Wikemedia Commons and its creative commons license. To receive new blogposts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

 

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Gift Idea for Grandma: The Grandmother’s Bible eBook

Did you know last Sunday was National Grandparents Day? In honor of Grandmothers, this week The Grandmother's Bible eBook is just $3.99.

The Grandmother's Bible is about "nourishing grandmothers to nurture grandchildren," so the Bible includes special features like Bible Stories to Share with grandchildren; Talking Points, which are tips on discussing issues like friendship and salvation; and Praying the Scriptures for Your Grandchild. Grandmother-blogger Lynda Freeman reviews some of these special features in her post about how The Grandmother's Bible helps her grow as a grandmother.

This Bible also includes 365 Devotional Readings. Here's a sample:

"Made in God's Image" by Lori Copeland
Read | Genesis 1:1-31

I was a very young grandmother. This was not all that surprising since I had been a young bride and a young mother, but when Randy, our firstborn son, married and gave us our first grandchild, I was completely unprepared. I was especially unprepared for the love I would feel for this baby. I was amazed that the love I had felt so strongly for my sons—a love I was positive would never be duplicated—tripled when my first grandson’s newborn eyes slowly opened to meet mine. Oh, those eyes, so trusting and innocent. I gave my heart so completely, so swiftly to this new little one named James that the bonding left me breathless.

When I left the hospital, I was filled with joy, with songs of joy. I recalled the words of the psalmist, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:2), as I enjoyed my ecstatic state. Little did I know that this child was not only a precious gift to me (though he was), but also he was God’s special gift to the world. God in his miraculous grace was enlarging his Kingdom through this tiny scrap of humanity created in his image.

James is a grown man now, a youth minister. Twice a year he ministers to the Kagora tribe in Africa, and through God’s unending grace, he leads lost souls to Christ. As a thirty-nine-year-old grandmother, I had no idea what God had placed in my life the day my first grandson was born; but now, many years later, I stand astounded at his marvelous workings.

Thank you, God, for placing this child in our life, in our grandparental care. As we watch him grow, lead him in the ways of righteous that his days may be long and fruitful on this earth. Amen.


Find the Grandmother's Bible eBook for $3.99 – This Week Only
The regular price is $16.99, so if deals excite your grandmother as much as they excite mine, tell her you found it for 77% off.  :-)

Amazon Kindle: http://zndr.vn/mTcK6w
Apple iPhone & iPad: http://zndr.vn/mW2oPO
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://zndr.vn/qV63qA

You can also find the eBook on Christianbook.com: http://zndr.vn/mPtu0w

(-Adam Forrest, Zondervan Internet Team)

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Zondervan Tackles 2,000 eBooks + New eBook Highlights

 

Zondervan's eBook team has now produced over 2,000 eBooks, and they're available on Zondervan.com and your favorite online book retailers.

 

When the eBook team recently informed Zondervan Blog of this milestone, they added, "Did you know we produced one half of those eBooks within the last year?"

 

I thought they were fibbing, and I told them so. So they showed me a list of the eBooks they produced since last March, and … they weren't fibbing. I can also tell you there's something for everyone in Zondervan's latest eBooks: thrillers, historical fiction, books for Bible study and seminary, full-color kids books, and a lot more.

 

Below you'll find some highlights from our recent eBook releases. But first I want to thank the dynamic duo that make up our eBook team: Ayannah Mers, Digital Production Coordinator; and Jake Noorman, Assistant Manager, Digital Production.

Ayannah and Jake
Zondervan's intrepid eBook Team: Ayannah Mers, Digital Production Coordinator; and Jake Noorman, Assistant Manager, Digital Production.

Jake and Ayannah seem to read as many eBooks as they produce, so Zondervan Blog asked them to share their latest recommendations:

Ayannah's Top 5 eBook Recommendations
1. Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
2. Unshaken by Dan Woolley
3. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
4. I See the Rhythm of the Gospel by Toyomi Igus
5. The Princess and the Three Knights by Karen Kingsbury 

 

Jake's Top 5 eBook Recommendations
1. What Happened to My Little Girl? by Nancy and Jim Rue
2. Eli: A Novel by Bill Myers
3. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
4. The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg
5. Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide? by Karen Spears Zacharias

 

New eBook Highlights

Below are some new eBook highlights listed by genre. If you've read any of these eBooks, or have recent favorites of your own, we'd love to hear your feedback. Happy reading!
-Adam Forrest (Zondervan Internet Team)

 

Read More…

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NIV eBook Special: “Buy One, Give One” Through Jan. 4

BUY ONE, GIVE ONE: For every digital copy of the updated NIV Bible sold through Jan. 4, 2011, Zondervan will donate a New Testament of a new NIV-like Hindi translation through Biblica, the worldwide publisher and translation sponsor of the NIV Bible. Read on for more about the new NIV eBook and the "NIV+" Mobile App.


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128 million people.

53 countries.

6 continents.

1 Word.

 

Since 1809 Biblica has been providing Bible resources to people all over the world. As a result, hundreds of millions of lives have been transformed—from desperation to hope, from brokenness to peace, from questions to answers. Ever since Biblica began their work, they have stayed true to the ir goal: to give every person in the world the chance to encounter Jesus through God’s Word and be transformed. To date, more than 400 million copies of the NIV have been distributed worldwide through Biblica, Zondervan and other publishing partners.

 

As part of the NIV eBook release, Zondervan launched a holiday BUY ONE, GIVE ONE campaign. For every digital copy of the updated NIV Bible sold through Jan. 4, 2011, Zondervan will donate a New Testament of a new NIV-like Hindi translation through Biblica, the worldwide publisher and translation sponsor of the NIV Bible and a global Bible and publishing ministry. Zondervan and Biblica hope to donate 30,000 copies of the all-new Hindi translation of the New Testament.

 
About the NIV eBook
With quicker page turns and a numbered footnoting system that allows you to easily jump from Bible text to footnote and back again, this NIV eBook is faster and more robust than ever before. And with a new “How to Use This Bible” page included, navigating the Bible has never been easier. Learn More


Learn More about NIV Plus App Now Available

About the NIV+ App
You can choose from any digital Bible materials including devotional materials, study Bible materials, academic reference materials, atlases and maps.  The NIV+ App also allows you to turn on or off different layers of text and customize Bible reading for whoever is using the Bible.  For example, the Women’s Devotional Study Bible and Busy Mom’s Bible materials can be used by mom and then turned off in order for her daughter to view the True Images Bible notes which are age appropriate for young girls. Learn More

Platforms: iPad/iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry.

 

 

 

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Hide-and-Seek in Small Group Catalog: Get Free eBook

Our friend Gertie Groundhog has hidden somewhere in our digital Small Group Catalog.

If you find Gertie and click on her, she’ll give you a free eBook download!

(From which book? It’s a surprise, and we think you’ll like it.)

We like Gertie. She’s not anything like her cousin Phil, who just yesterday declared six more weeks of winter.

We’re coming to find you, Gertie – thanks for the download!

Go find Gertie now

(Oh, one more thing—Gertie likes to make new friends, so share the url http://bit.ly/cuPBsl so your friends can get a free download, too.)

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Teens: Want to Win an iPod Touch?

Last Breath Cover

Teens ages 13-18, here’s your chance to win an Apple iPod 8GB Touch pre-loaded with Always Watching and Last Breath eBooks!

Here's how to enter:
Send an e-mail with your name, birth date and phone number to: lastbreath@zondervan.com
Or send info by mail to: The Zondervan Corporation, 5300 Patterson, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530, Attn: Sara Maher.

Contest runs from October 19, 2009 to November 16, 2009. For more information please visit http://brandilyncollins.com/books/lb_contest.html.

About the Book:
Last Breath is an exciting suspense novel and the the second book in The Rayne Tour Series by Brandilyn Collins and Amberly Collins. Check out an excerpt of Last Breath, or get caught up on the series by watching the trailer for Always Watching.

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