New Releases by Jesse Florea

Average Boy is here to make you laugh and encourage you in your faith! The Average Boy series features humorous writing and whimsical illustrations to help readers embrace the idea that life isn't always about being the smartest, most athletic, or best-looking kid in the neighborhood. Faith, family, and friends are far more valuable than being perceived as cool. What happens when "Average Boy" Bob Smiley gets to the end of an above-average school year? Why, it's time for an above-average summer, of course! If things go according to plan--and Average Boy always has lots of plans--then this summer will be his best one ever. You see, Average Boy isn't going to sleep in until noon this summer--at least not every day. No, he has big goals for the next few months. This summer is when Average Boy will finally build that tree house he's been planning with his best friend, Billy. This summer is when he will brush his teeth every morning (as soon as he finds his toothbrush). And this summer he's setting a goal to invite everyone in town to church. There will be challenges along the way--challenges like Donny the school bully, or Sarah and Everley, who always seem to have water balloons in hand. But his biggest challenge this summer is the Huge Hairy Hisser, who lurks in the woods behind Average Boy's house and seems determined to ruin his tree house-building plans. It will definitely be a summer to remember!

Loaded with activities, puzzles, and jokes, Devos for Brave Boys is an exciting 60-day devotional that will challenge boys to see God's power in the Bible, to love others courageously, to share their faith boldly, and to trust in God's protection. Daily readings will get boys into the habit of opening their Bibles and reading directly from God's Word, and the corresponding devotions and prayers will help them learn how to apply it to their own lives. With updated devotions from the best-selling One Year Devotions for Active Boys, Devos for Brave Boys is a devotional that boys will look forward to reading every day.

Why do you believe in God? Answering that question might seem hard, but it’s important. And this book can help. This introduction to apologetics offers one hundred devotions that will give you real tools and real answers for why you believe in God and why you trust the Bible. You’ll dig in the dirt to uncover archaeological evidence. You’ll be inspired by stories of real-life defenders of the faith, and you’ll see God’s fingerprints all over creation. So ask the hard questions. Find the answers. And be empowered to defend your faith.

One of the most awkward things about growing up is learning to communicate with the opposite sex. What is she thinking? Why did he do that? Teen guys and girls know they often don't understand the opposite sex or know how to talk to one another. Communication is a key tool in life. We interact with words, gestures, and movements. The devotions in Girl Talk Guy Talk give insights that focus on different aspects of teen life to help both guys and girls better understand and communicate with the opposite sex. Various styles of devotions, including stories, checklists, quizzes, fact-based news, text messages, and skill-building tips will encourage and equip young girls and guys to understand how the opposite sex is wired and how to best relate with them.

Grace can be a tricky thing to understand, but in this adaptation of New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel's The Case for Grace, kid-friendly language and personal stories of grace in action help children eight to twelve discover firsthand what grace is, why it's so amazing, and how God uses his gift of grace to forgive, care for, and strengthen us ... as well as show kids how they can pass along the message of grace to others. Usually, in order to get something important, we have to do something in return, right? Like get good grades so you can get that puppy your parents promised. Or sell the most chocolate bars at school to win that epic pizza party. Which is why the idea of grace can be so hard to understand--being forgiven from all your sins and getting rewarded with eternal life as well because you told God you were sorry and repented seems a little too easy. In The Case for Grace for Kids, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Lee Strobel presents relatable stories from real people who have seen God's grace work in their lives to show you exactly how grace works, why God freely offers it to us, the amazing things grace can do, and what it means for your life today. Because grace is a gift you definitely want to receive. The Case for Grace for Kids Makes the complex idea of grace easy to understand by breaking down the questions kids ask and answering them in a way they will understand Contains short questions at the end of each chapter that can be used to apply the chapter to a child's experience Explores the grace God gives us, as well as the grace we can give to others Has illustrations and callout graphics to make the topics memorable for kids eight and up Can be used on its own or alongside other books like The Case for Christ for Kids, The Case for a Creator for Kids, and The Case for Faith for Kids to help children with faith development and answer questions they wonder about most

A daily devotional for boys combines engaging spiritual messages with scriptural excerpts and themed jokes, riddles, puzzles, and hands-on activity suggestions that reveal how to apply biblical principles to everyday challenges.

Super Average Boy is back with another thirty fun-filled devotional readings for kids. For both boys and girls, these devotionals address real-life situations faced by kids 8 to 12, through the antics and adventures of “Average Boy.” These creative stories and devotions encourage young readers to embrace the joy of being Super Average, as they find purpose and peace with the person God made them to be. This second book in the series covers topics like texting/cyberbullying, handling homework, the importance of reading, finding a mentor, missing curfew, confidence, overscheduling, preparing to serve God as an adult, conflict resolution, and more.

Meet the "starting lineup" of talented major league players with fascinating faith stories in Playing with Purpose: Baseball. Just in time for the new pro season, this paperback edition chronicles the lives of several players who stand strong for their Christian faith on the diamond. Veteran CBA author Mike Yorkey, whose Playing with Purpose biography of NFL rookies Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Colt McCoy was a best-seller, now profiles major league stars both established and up-and-coming--including Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Beltran, Stephen Drew, Adrian Gonzalez, Ben Zobrist, Mark Teixeira, Jeremy Affeldt, and Mariano Rivera. Playing with Purpose: Baseball will introduce you to talented athletes with compelling faith stories.

No athletic scholarships, ignored by the NBA draft, waived by team after team, yet Jeremy Lin remained positive and never doubted God’s plan. Finally picked up by the New York Knicks, a teammate’s injury placed Lin on the court after weeks on the bench. Since then, Lin has captivated the sports world with his incredible basketball skills as a New York Knick and now a Houston Rocket. This is his remarkable story.

He's a Hall of Famer in every possible way--and Playing with Purpose: Mariano Rivera is an easy-to-read, color-illustrated biography of the baseball's all-time saves leader. What's really cool is that when his storied career with the New York Yankees ends, Mariano Rivera plans to save souls in the ministry! Part of Barbour's exciting "Playing with Purpose" series, this account covers Mariano Rivera's life from his earliest days in Panama to his multiple World Series appearances and titles (even the 1999 MVP award), all the way through the 2012 Major League season. It's a story of sports and faith for all ages.

As girls enter their tween and teen years, it's especially important for them to have an open and growing relationship with their father. Unfortunately, this is often the time when parental relationships are strained. The One Year Father-Daughter Devotions can foster communication and understanding; and it's a wonderful way for a father to bond with his daughter during a crucial point in her life. Each of the 365 devotions begins with an introductory story, then daddy-daughter time provides discussion questions, activities, or other practical applications of the daily lesson. A "What's the Word" section gives a related Bible verse to help bring God's Word alive as father and daughter apply the Scripture to their lives. Written by three fathers, the devotions have a tone that is conversational and relatable: the authors use everything from flavored potato chips to the Etch-A-Sketch game to share truths about God's Word and to help fathers and daughters relate to each other.

Linspired reveals the inside story of the remarkable and meteoric rise of Jeremy Lin, superstar of the New York Knicks the first Asian-American-born player of Chinese/Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. Discover the journey of the underdog who beat the odds to reach his current stardom and catch the attention of the sports world with both his incredible basketball skills and his on and off-court example of faith, persistence, and hard work. After receiving no athletic scholarship offers out of high school and not being drafted by an NBA team after graduating from Harvard, Lin signed a deal with his hometown team of the Golden State Warriors. After only his first year of play he was waived by the Warriors, but he was picked up by the Houston Rockets. Again, he was let go, on Christmas Eve, 2011. In spite of this disappointment, Lin always remained positive and trusted that God had a plan for his life and talents. Soon after, Lin was picked up when the New York Knicks needed a guard. After weeks of sitting on the bench, a teammate’s injury placed Lin on the court, and since then he has captivated sports fans throughout the world with his tremendous skill and humble response.

Yes, you can catch spiritual truths from sports, games, and crazy competitions! This devotional is perfect for kids who love sports, fun facts about sports, trivia about sports heroes, and stories about sports figures who overcame odds and performed the extraordinary. This devotional for kids covers a large variety of sports, including sports both girls and boys will enjoy reading about. From the Polar Bear Club's New Year's Day swim to football to yo-yo records, the stories will encourage budding athletes to connect their interests to faith. Each reading in this daily devotional features: What's the Score: A spiritual lesson that connects sports trivia to Scripture On the Ball: A quick question or activity to help children remember the point of the devotion Coach's Comment: A Bible verse to help kids get into God's Word for themselves Through these 365 devotions, young sports fans will be inspired to be champions on the field and in their walk with Jesus.

The average boy with above-average advice weighs in on what to do when you don't know what to do.

These 365 daily devotionals encourage kids to build a personal, active faith based on the core beliefs of the Bible and the Christian faith.