Greetings, friends!
Welcome to the site, and thanks for your interest. I hope you'll find some encouragement and helpful resources here.
Grace and I had a wonderful time of rest over the Christmas and NewYear holidays. We enjoyed time with our kids, my parents, and with each other in the beautiful South Florida sun. I had lots of time to be outdoors enjoying God's beautiful creation - from dolphins in the Gulf to gopher tortoises in the sand hills, from rattlers and gators in the Everglades to pelicans and herons along the shore. After a really busy year in 06, this was a needed and appreciated rest, and a great way to begin the New Year.
I've finished Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope. An author loves each of his books, and feels a little like an unfair parent when speaking of having favorites, but I must say I have never had as much anticipation about the release of a book. It should be available in October this year.
In the meantime, if you haven't read The Secret Message of Jesus (SMJ), the softcover edition is now available. Several of my books have been very popular for study groups, but SMJ is generating the most positive responses of any of my books from group leaders. People are telling me that it brings completely unchurched people together with long-time churchgoers and with alienated ex-church people. In fact, I've heard of Christians and Muslims studying the book together with good response. This new edition has an additional chapter and study guide questions included. I hope you'll consider forming a reading group with some friends ... or using the book with a class or fellowship group.
Also, I'm thrilled to report that some of my earlier books have been re-released in new editions with new material. Finding Faith is now available as two shorter books: A Search for What Makes Sense and A Search for What is Real. These two books - along with SMJ - are written especially for people who are not yet connected or committed to God. More Ready Than You Realize also has been re-released; this is the book I wrote to help people rediscover "the E-word" (evangelism)... not as argumentative religious proselytizing, but as honest spiritual friendship and open conversation. And my first book, Church on the Other Side, has also been re-released with updates and some new material. This book is probably my "gentlest" resource to help a church leadership team begin thinking about what ministry in the emerging culture can mean.
Regarding future plans, two things stand out.
First, Grace will be accompanying me to Africa in May, first for a week in South Africa and then for a week in East Africa with Amahoro-africa.org.
Second, we have our list of cities for the EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE tour in 2008. Between January and May, we'll be visiting 11 cities for a Friday-evening Saturday gathering. These will be my only US speaking engagements in 2008, so I hope you'll stay tuned and set aside a weekend to be part of one of these gatherings. Plans are developing, so please check back often!
Thanks, as always, for your prayers and encouragement. I feel sustained and hopeful and grateful to be plotting goodness with you.
Warmly, in grace and peace - Brian