Zondervan Blog

Author David Dark Speaking in Grand Rapids September 21

David Dark, author of the newly released title The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, will be speaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 21 at the Calvin College Meeter Center (3:30 p.m.), 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, and the Ladies Literary Club (7:00 p.m.), 61 Sheldon Blvd SE.

At Calvin, Dark’s talk with be “On Not Lying: Faithfulness in the Age of ‘Hurry Up and Matter!’” In it he explores the possibility of communicating honestly and authentically in a world of sound bites, conversation stoppers, and false, first impressions. Drawing from literature, film, and popular music, Dark asks how people of faith might resist the temptation of instantaneous, commercial appeal and bear a more faithful, truthful, though perhaps less successful-feeling witness.

At The Ladies Literary club, Dark’s talk with be “Don't Believe Everything That You Breathe.” In it he commends the sacred practice of redemptive skepticism within a culture enthralled by "the con," those myriad forms of confidence-selling, and calls to worship that cry "INSERT SOUL HERE" at every turn.

Exploring the ways fake urgency often trumps real urgency and promises of pseudo-intimacy often crowd out the possibility of real relationships, Dark considers the ways religious traditions and popular culture offer resources for questioning the status quo and reorienting ourselves.

Both events are free.

Poets, Prophets, and Preachers with Rob Bell, Shane Hipps, and Peter Rollins

With the focus of reclaiming the sermon as the ancient art form that it is, Rob Bell, Shane Hipps, and Peter Rollins will be spending the first part of this week in Grand Rapids, MI talking with hundreds of pastors.

Last night Rob Bell began by talking about the sermon and its coming “resurgence as the world becomes more twitterized.” He explored what the “sermon” has looked like over the years and what it takes to compellingly communicate God’s message to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

In conclusion, Bell encouraged the pastors in attendance with two key ideas. First, words create new worlds. They create new possibilities for not just solving problems or answering questions but for beginning a dialogue about what the Word says today. The sermon needs to move the Word of God from just words to actual “flesh and blood” action in the hearer’s life.

Second, pastors should preach “not because you have to say something but because you have something to say.” It’s better to preach a message from the heart than to preach out of obligation.

The discussions to follow through out the remainder of the conference will focus on everything from theology to exploring concepts to the practical nature of preaching the word of God effectively today.

If you’re in the Grand Rapids, MI area, I would encourage you to attend the remaining seminars.  Stop by the Devos Performance Hall and get a ticket before they sell out! For more information visit www.robbell.com.

Kary Oberbrunner to Team Up with Gabe Lyons for Church Seminar

Zondervan author Kary Oberbrunner (The Fine Line) will be teaming up with bestselling author Gabe Lyons (UnChristian) this July in order to teach a three day seminar called The Changing Face of the Church.

The seminar will be part of the Equip 09 conference in Columbus, Ohio. Other Zondervan authors speaking at Equip 09 includes Gary McIntosh (Evaluating the Church Growth Movement) and Neil Anderson (Christ-Centered Therapy).

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Technorati tags: Kary Oberbrunner, The Fine Line, Gary McIntosh, Neil Anderson, Gabe Lyons, Church, UnChristian, Zondervan

Rob Bell Seminar: Poets, Prophets, & Preachers. Don't Miss It!

Join Rob Bell, Shane Hipps, and Peter Rollins for
POETS, PROPHETS, & PREACHERS,
a seminar for those serious about reclaiming the art of the sermon. Here's a sampling:

• Rob Bell — The Original Guerilla Theatre
• Rob Bell — The Story We're Telling
• Peter Rollins — Returning to the New: An Introduction to Transformance Art
• Shane Hipps — How Technology Shapes the Sermon
• Rob Bell — The Fig Tree and the Failure of Language
• Rob Bell — Fumbling Around with Your Radar
• Peter Rollins — For Those With Ears to Hear: Parables and the Lost Art of Provocation
• Shane Hipps — You Are the Medium
• Rob Bell — The One Thing I've Never Heard Someone Talk About That Has Changed Everything for Me

Bring a spouse or a friend (one registration covers 2 people)

Learn More about the Seminar

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Technorati tags: Rob Bell, Shane Hipps, Peter Rollins, seminar, Zondervan

New Rob Bell Seminar—Save the Dates!

POETS, PROPHETS, & PREACHERS
a seminar for those serious about reclaiming the art of the sermon

Save the Dates:
July 5-7, 2009
Grand Rapids, MI
DeVos Performance Hall

Rob Bell
Shane Hipps
Peter Rollins

"Let's talk about sermons. That ancient, sacred, inspiring, provocative, art form. We unapologetically celebrate the power and mystery and beauty of sermons. Join us this July in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the epicenter of progressive culture, for a seminar celebrating the art of the sermon." —Rob Bell

Bring a spouse or a friend (one registration covers 2 people).

More about the Seminar

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Technorati tags: Rob Bell, Shane Hipps, Peter Rollins, seminar, Zondervan

STORY Conference Announcement and Giveaways

STORY is a first-of-its-kind experience for communicators of the Gospel, the greatest story ever told. Speakers include Donald Miller, Nancy Beach, Dave Gibbons, Ed Young, Stacy Spencer, Chris Seay and Mike Foster. A day of workshops will follow on October 29 featuring illustrators, designers, scholars, authors, and communications experts. Learn More

Register for the conference here and enter to win 2 free trips to the Kilns, C.S. Lewis' home in Oxford, England

Zondervan is offering a copy of The Inklings of Oxford to the first 5 conference registrants.

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Technorati tags: Story Conference, Gospel, Nancy Beach, Dave Gibbons, Donald Miller, Zondervan

Meet Robin Lee Hatcher at the Christian Books Sale March 28

For those of you who live in the North East part of the US, Christian Books is having a warehouse sale this Saturday, March 28 (click here for details). In addition, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., get your books signed by Robin Lee Hatcher. Robin’s latest book, When Love Blooms, is available in stores everywhere.

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Technorati tags: Robin Lee Hatcher, When Love Blooms, book signing, Christian books, Zondervan

Join Us for Some Family Fun at the ECPA Book Expo

I invite you to attend the Christian Book Expo at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas this Friday through Sunday, March 20-22.  This unique family event includes more than 200 of your favorite Christian authors hosting seminars, signing books, reading their books, participating in panel discussions, and more!

Please stop by Zondervan’s Booth number 513 to browse through our newest titles, get your books signed, and purchase Zondervan products for 25% OFF!  Bring the kids along to play, draw, and read in the KidZone, brought to you by Zonderkidz. Look for us throughout the convention, too, as we'll be brining the Bible Across America RV onto the show floor and premiering the latest NOOMA, 023 Corner!

Zondervan authors will include:
•    Michael Berenstain
•    Terri Blackstock
•    Bryan Davis
•    Mary DeMuth
•    Robert Elmer
•    Randy Frazee
•    Ruth Graham
•    Scot McKnight
•    Bill Myers
•    Nancy Rue
•    Lee Strobel
•    Mike Thaler
•    Lyn Cote
•    Mark Strauss

Don’t miss out on this fun-filled weekend!

Keith

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Technorati tags: ECPA, book expo, Christian authors, Bible Across America, family fun, Dallas, Zondervan

Kate Gosselin on Dr. Phil February 11, 2009

Tune in to Dr. Phil on Wednesday, February 11, to catch Kate Gosselin, co-author of The New York Times bestseller Multiple Blessings, as she talks about raising a family of multiples.

Multiple Blessings  by Jon and Kate Gosselin with Beth Carson reached The New York Times and the USA Today Bestseller lists after just one week of sales. The book tells the amazing story of how the Gosselins survived the overwhelming odds and the emotional roller coaster of birthing and raising two sets of multiples — twins and sextuplets — in three years. BUY NOW

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Technorati tags: Dr. Phil, Kate Gosselin, Multiple Blessings, twins, bestseller, sextuplets, Zondervan

Zondervan and TNT Share Inspirational Story of Ben Carson

Zondervan announces a special partnership with TNT centered around the brand new TNT Original movie GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY. Zondervan offers two books that correspond with the movie (Gifted Hands and the Gifted Hands TV Tie-in edition) starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Dr. Ben Carson that airs February 7 on TNT. Read More

 

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Technorati tags: Cuba Gooding, TNT, TV, Ben Carson, Gifted Hands, Hollywood, Zondervan