My new book Dug Down Deep comes out January 19. But for anyone wanting to give it to friends as a Christmas gift, we're making a special offer available for the next three weeks.

Pre-order the book from any of the online retailers below, and at no additional charge we'll mail you a Dug Down Deep-esque "the book is coming" card to give to your friend, along with an autographed bookplate (a sticker that they can place in the front of their book when it arrives.)

So you give them the card (which you can write a note in) and let them know that right around January 19 their book will be arriving in the mail. In the meantime they can carry around their card and the autographed sticker in breathless anticipation. Okay, maybe not, but hopefully they'll enjoy the book when they get it.

This little Christmas pre-order offer only lasts until December 10 (and unfortunately we can only offer it to people in the U.S.) so please place your order and fill out the following form soon. You can request as many cards/bookplates as the number of books you ordered.

I've enlisted Shannon and kids to stuff envelopes and we'll be mailing them out by December 12 so they'll get to you in time for Christmas.

So, to recap, here's how to do this:

1. Pre-order Dug Down Deep from any of the following online retailers, and have it shipped to your friend's mailing address.

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Borders
• ChristianBook
• LifeWay
• Parable
• Westminster

2. Fill out and submit the form below.

3. Give the card and autographed bookplate to your friend as a gift.

4. Their copy of Dug Down Deep will arrive around January 19.

Note: Sorry, but I cannot personalize the signed bookplates.

Thank you!

I'm really excited about this series of conferences that my father is doing for parents. I can't improve on the description that my brothers Alex and Brett shared on their blog:

Ever since we started this blog, and especially after Do Hard Things was released, we've gotten tons of emails from parents who want to know what our parents did to raise us kids. Our response is always that we're far from perfect, but by God's grace -- and largely through decisions our father and mother made before we were born -- we've seen God use our family in ways we never could have dreamed.

Our dad is our hero. Nobody has influenced us more than he has -- both in what we're doing today, as well as how we think about life. So we've encourage him (for a long time) to put his best ideas and insights into a new conference for parents (and teens). It's called Raising Kids to Do Hard Things, but it's not your average seminar -- it's more like a strategy session with our dad, who brings a boatload of biblical wisdom and 35 years of practical experience raising us and our siblings.

For any of you who have attended one of our Do Hard Things conferences, you know what a powerful and paradigm-shifting speaker our dad is. For all of you, his new conference is a terrific opportunity to find out for yourself. There currently ten conferences scheduled in ten cities across the United States -- beginning in Los Angeles, CA in February and ending in Orlando, FL in December 2010.

You probably noticed that this "parenting" seminar is for both parents and teens. There's a reason for that -- and it's very similar to the reason why we encourage parents to attend our "teen" conferences every year. As young people you probably live with your family. And being a rebelutionary gets a lot easier when you're doing hard things with your parents on board. They can give you wise advice, provide needed resources (and snacks), drive you around, and help you keep going.

We're excited about how God will use our dad's new conference to get parents and teens excited about doing hard things together. Your job is to let your parents know about it -- and encourage them to make it a family event! You'll be glad you did.

The Righteousness of Christ from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

This sermon, by Joshua Harris, was preached Sunday, November 8, 2009, at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md. The first message in the series, "Bookends of the Christian Life," Joshua considers how the doctrine of Christ's righteousness is essential to the Christian life and helps keep all the other aspects of life in balance.

Yesterday I preached the first message in a new series entitled Bookends of the Christian Life that will carry us through the end of the year. The series, inspired by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington's book by the same name, gives us a chance to study how the doctrines of the righteousness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit bring stability in the Christian life. Read a little more about the series and see the schedule here.

I titled yesterday's message from 2 Corinthians 5:21, "The Righteousness of Christ." My focus was the glorious truth of how God views believers in Christ--with Jesus' perfect righteousness credited to their account.

Options:
• Listen online or download an mp3 of the message.
• Download a summary outline in PDF format.
• Use these questions by Don Devries to reflect on how to apply the message.

1. Have you ever said, "I just can't do it all" or "I feel like I'm doing nothing well" or "I don't even feel like I'm a Christian"? What do these statements reveal about what you are leaning on?

2. What does the Bible mean by "righteous"? What is God's standard for the level of righteousness He requires of us? Is it attainable?

3. What difference will it make to live moment-by-moment in the good of having our sin transferred to Christ and Christ's righteousness credited to us? What's the effect when we forget these truths?

4. Josh invited us to complete the statement, "I'm OK because __________ (I read my Bible everyday; I'm a good parent; I attend this church; I'm respected; I have a good job, etc.) What does your answer reveal about the bookends of your life?

I find the following quote from John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life deeply challenging...

One of the marks of this peacetime mind-set is what I call an avoidance ethic. In wartime we ask different questions about what to do with our lives than we do in peacetime. We ask: What can I do to advance the cause? What can I do to bring the victory? What sacrifice can I make or what risk can I take to insure the joy of triumph? In peacetime we tend to ask, What can I do to be more comfortable? To have more fun? To avoid trouble and, possibly, avoid sin?

If we are going to pay the price and take the risks it will cost to make people glad in God, we move beyond the avoidance ethic. This way of life is utterly inadequate to waken people to the beauty Christ. Avoiding fearful trouble and forbidden behaviors impresses almost no one. The avoidance ethic by itself is not Christ-commending or God-glorifying. There are many disciplined unbelievers who avoid the same behaviors Christians do. Jesus calls us to do something far more radical than that.

People who are content with the avoidance ethic generally ask the wrong question about behavior. They ask, What's wrong with it? What's wrong with this movie? Or this music? Or this game? Or these companions? Or this way of relaxing? Or this investment? Or this restaurant? Or shopping at this store? What's wrong with going to the cabin every weekend? Or having a cabin? This kind of question will rarely yield a lifestyle that commends Christ as all-satisfying and makes people glad in God. It simply results in a list of don'ts. It feeds the avoidance ethic.

The better questions to ask about possible behaviors is: How will this help me treasure Christ more? How will it help me show that I do treasure Christ? How will it help me know Christ or display Christ? The Bible says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). So the question is mainly positive, not negative. How can I portray God as glorious in this action? How can I enjoy making much of him in this behavior?

Oh, how many lives are wasted by people who believe that the Christian life means simply avoiding badness and providing for the family. So there is no adultery, no stealing, no killing, no embezzlement, no fraud--just lots of hard work during the day and lots of TV and PG-13 videos in the evening (during quality family time), and lots of fun stuff on the weekend--woven around the church (mostly). This is life for millions of people. Wasted life. We were created for more, far more.

There is an old saying: "No man ever lamented on his dying bed, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office."' The point being made is usually that when you are about to die, money suddenly looks like what it really is, useless for lasting happiness, while relationships become precious. It's true. When my mother was killed in 1974, I wrote to the chairman of my department at Bethel College, where I was teaching, and reversed my request to teach an overload the next semester to make more money. Standing beside your mother's grave with a wife and child makes things look different. Money loses its pull.

But that saying about spending less time at the office can be misleading. We need to add this: No one will ever want to say to the Lord of the universe five minutes after death, I spent every night playing games and watching TV with my family because I loved them so much. I think the Lord will say, "That did make me look like a treasure in your town. You should have done something besides provide for yourself and your family. And TV, as you should have known, was not a good way to nurture your family or your own soul."
--John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life, page 118-120

Last week we were grabbing some clothes for the kids at Old Navy. While we were checking out I looked over and realized the kids were standing amidst the main clothing display acting like mannequins and trying to freak people out who entered the store. What can I say? I have wacky kids.

Together for the Gospel: T4G 2010 Conference from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

On Sunday I preached the final message in our Proverbs series, "The Woman of Valor," from Proverbs 31. From the text, I focused on four characteristics of the valiant woman, in order of importance:

She fears the Lord.
She gives her life away.
She is capable.
She is influential.

Options:
• Listen online or download an mp3 of the message.
• Download a summary outline in PDF format.
• Use the following questions prepared by Don Devries to reflect on how to apply the message to your life.

1. A godly woman knows and fears the Lord. Is there anything you are living for--personal success, a husband, your children, etc.--more than you are living for God and His Kingdom?

2. Josh taught us that the Proverbs 31 woman is capable. How can this chapter stir godly ambitions for the Lord?

3. As Josh taught, the Proverbs 31 woman gives her life away. Is there need around you that the Lord is calling you to help meet?

4. Concerning godly womanhood, are you following what the world values or are you valuing what God says is praiseworthy?

5. In what one Proverbs 31 quality would you like to grow?

6. Men, how can you encourage, cherish and honor the values of womanhood described in Proverbs 31?

I'm preaching this Sunday from Proverbs 31 on the woman who fears the Lord. I found this quote in Bruce Waltke's commentary compelling:

"[T]his valiant wife has been canonized as a role model for all Israel for all time. Wise daughters aspire to be like her, wise men seek to marry her, and all wise people aim to incarnate the wisdom she embodies, each in his own sphere of activity."

from The Book of Proverbs Chapters 15-31 by Bruce K. Waltke

Sunday I preached from Proverbs 14:31 which states, "Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him."

I don't know about you, but over the years I know I've been guilty of skimming past verses like this in Proverbs and focusing instead on the verses that relate to immediate questions or decisions that I'm facing. But I'd encourage you to take time to study Proverbs with an eye for verses that talk about the importance of justice for those who are oppressed and compassion for those who are in need. (Check out Proverbs 21:13, 22:9, 22:16, 22:22-23, 23:10-11, 24:11-12, 31:9).

What I find compelling about Proverbs 14:31 is that it shows very clearly the connection between our attitude toward the needy and our attitude toward God. How we relate to those in need reveals how we relate to God himself.

You can listen online to the sermon. And here's a summary outline (PDF) of the sermon created by fellow-pastor Don Devries.

On Sunday we did some filming for a promotional video for Dug Down Deep. This project is being produced by Don Nalle with Andrew Gallo behind the camera. I'm so grateful for these friends and their kindness in helping to produce this. The video will be posted on book seller websites like Christianbooks.com, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Don found the incredible location pictured above and God gave us beautiful weather Sunday afternoon. We had about six people who were kind enough to read the book come and share their thoughts. A big thanks to everyone who helped.

Photo by Carissa Gallo.

I had the chance to meet A.J. several years ago when I visited Mars Hill in Seattle. I'm excited to hear about the church/campus he's starting and I was deeply encouraged by his powerful testimony. For women considering abortion his story is a very moving example of how God can redeem any situation.

(Hat Tip: Zach Nielsen and Challies)

"Like nothing else could ever do, the gospel instills in me a heart for the downcast, the poverty-stricken, and those in need of physical mercies, especially when such persons are of the household of faith.

When I see persons who are materially poor, I instantly feel a kinship with them, for they are physically what I was spiritually when my heart was closed to Christ. Perhaps some of them are in their condition because of sin, but so was I. Perhaps they are unkind when I try to help them; but I, too, have been spiteful to God when He has sought to help me. Perhaps they are thankless and even abuse the kindness I show them, but how many times have I been thankless and used what God has given me to serve selfish ends?

Perhaps a poverty-stricken person will be blessed and changed as a result of some kindness I show him. If so, God be praised for His grace through me. But if the person walks away unchanged by my kindness, then I still rejoice over the opportunity to love as God loves. Perhaps the person will repent in time; but for now, my heart is chastened and made wiser by the tangible depiction of what I myself have done to God on numerous occasions.

The gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the same generosity that has been lavished on me. When ministering to the poor with these motivations, I not only preach the gospel to them through word and deed, but I reenact the gospel to my own benefit as well." - Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians

I've been so encouraged by the incredible response to the Dug Down Deep Film Contest. We received nearly 100 submissions. It's so good to see so many of you out there who are developing your gifts and who desire to glorify God with your art.

It was no easy task to choose just ten finalists to participate in the contest. I wish I could have included everyone. And to those who weren't chosen, please don't be discouraged. But after much evaluation we chose ten gifted filmmakers to produce short films illustrating content from Dug Down Deep. In no particular order, the following are the ten finalists with links to their work (To be clear: These are samples of each artist's work--not his actual submission for the final contest):

• Tristan Carnahan
• Guy Camara
• Josh Boston
• Ben Cantrell
• Stephen McGee
• Steve Nelson
• Jared Hogan
• Derek Hammeke
• Bobby Shook
• Donald Martin

These ten filmmakers are receiving an advanced copy of Dug Down Deep, as well as an audio recording of a short excerpt from the book. The clips are all different and will be assigned randomly to be used in the films. Even with these parameters, I expect widely different and creative films.

The filmmakers have till January 7 to submit their films. Then they'll be shared here on the website, and judged by our panel of judges. We'll give you the chance to cast a vote as well. After all this the winning film will be announced and the winning filmmaker awarded the prize of a Canon EOS 7D SLR camera.

Our panel of six judges were chosen because of their love for film, involvement in filmmaking and their desire to encourage Christian filmmakers:

• Lukas Naugle (Desiring God)
• Andrew Gallo (VsTheBrain)
• Carolyn McCulley (Citygate Films)
• David Altrogge (Vinegar Hill Pictures)
• Don Nalle (Covenant Life Church, Communications Director)
• Katherine Reynolds (Covenant Life Church, Josh's Assistant)

Here's the first chapter of my forthcoming book Dug Down Deep. The book will be released January 19, 2010, but can be pre-ordered now. I'd love to hear what you think. And I'd be grateful for your help in sharing this with others. You can post this chapter on your Facebook page or blog through Scribd.

A Less Busy Heart (October 17, 2009) - "The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn't offer us a... ( Keep Reading » )

Dug Down Deep Audio Recording (October 13, 2009) - I spent six hours today recording the audio version of my new book Dug Down Deep. We got to page 85 today. Next week we have two more days scheduled to finish the book. I wore these massive headphones that... ( Keep Reading » )

Hold That Thought, God. Need to Check My Email (September 30, 2009) - ( Keep Reading » )

Gospel-centered resources in 40 languages (September 29, 2009) - Those doing or connected to work in international missions may be helped in their work by the volunteer-driven initiative Gospel Translations, which now distributes biblical resources in about 40 languages. Below is a sampling from their library. Spanish David Powlison's... ( Keep Reading » )

Self-Control in a Wired World (September 28, 2009) - Yesterday I preached a sermon about self-control from Proverbs 25:28 that says, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." I focused on the issue of media, the internet, and today's new technologies. I... ( Keep Reading » )