Most Popular Books by Ed Strauss

“Strong” often means physical strength and a powerful presence … but according to the Bible, being a mighty man means learning to listen, speak up, and do the right thing even when it’s hard. In Devotions to Make You Stronger, ninety days of quick, short, easy-to-read and boy-friendly devotions help young guys 8 and up discover the strong person God made them to be inside and out, and how they can grow up to be powerful in the ways that count no matter their physical appearance. David was part of a group of mighty men. Samson could lift heavy doors and defeat entire armies with a jawbone. Joshua led an entire nation in battles against the giants and warriors of Canaan and won. But those impressive feats aren’t what actually made them “strong.” In fact, those things aren’t even what made them heroes. What really made them strong and able to take on anything was the stuff happening inside their hearts. The good news? You can be just as strong and amazing by following their good habits—and avoiding their mistakes. Each of the ninety devotions in this book take a few minutes to read (some are even funny!) and explore the entire Bible to show you the secrets to building your brain muscles and making your body healthier so you are ready for any challenge. Plus, every devotion shows exactly how the Bible applies to you, so you can confidently go out and do powerful things no matter what you face. Devotions to Make Your Stronger: has devotions that can be read in under five minutes, making time with God and exploring the Bible easy to do contains age-appropriate, biblically sound information in words meant to appeal to boys 8 to 12 and their interests contains large text and an open page design, making it perfect for reluctant readers is part of a series of 90-day devotionals for boys that includes Devotions to Make You Smarter and Devotions to Make You Deeper

Written in the humorous, gross style of the 2:52 line, designed to ignite the interest of boys.Devotions to Make You Smarter focuses on the mental side of boys’ natures, helping them to grow wiser, the way Jesus did as described in Luke 2:52. In thehumorous, cheeky, and sometimes gross style that makes the 2:52 series so engaging and fun, this ninetyday devotional guides boys ages eight to twelve in developing their minds. It explores many facets of the mental process, such as learning, making decisions, and thinking before acting and speaking. It also warns of the dangers of zoning out, being impulsive, and harboring a critical attitude. Combining important principles with practical messages, the book teaches lessons boys need to learn and helps them put this valuable knowledge into practice. Each devotion presents a Bible verse, explains it, and shows how it relates to boys’ lives, then offers tools to help boys cope with growing up, inspiring them to make choices that will ensure they grow up smart.ED STRAUSS By his early teen years, Ed Strauss was writing several novels at once. He had a dresser for his clothing, but Ed had different priorities. The bottom drawer held his comic books—mostly Spider-Man, Tarzan, and Turok. The middle drawer overflowed with his story notes, research, and maps.The top drawer was stuffed with clothing. On a nearby shelf was Ed’s favorite reading material, an encyclopedia set he had won on a nationwide kiddie show. Ed lives in Chilliwack, BC.

Perfect for boys ages 8 to 12, the 2:52 series is based on Luke 2:52: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Focusing on four primary areas of growth, this guiding verse can help boys become more like Jesus mentally (smarter), physically (stronger), spiritually (deeper), and socially (cooler). From Bibles and devotionals to fiction and non-fiction, with plenty of gross and gory mixed in, there is something for every boy. Devotions to Take You Deeper helps boys ages 8 to 12 tackle the spiritual aspect of growing up the way Jesus did as described in Luke 2:52. In the humorous, cheeky, and sometimes gross style that makes the 2:52 series so engaging and fun, this 90-day devotional guides boys in developing their faith. It explores many facets of spiritual growth, such as Bible study, worship, and prayer. It also warns of the dangers of harboring bitterness, storing up treasures on earth, and worrying all the time. Combining important principles with practical messages, the book teaches lessons boys need to learn and helps them put this valuable knowledge into practice. Each devotion presents a Bible verse, explains it, and shows how it relates to boys’ lives, then offers tools to help boys mature in their walk with God, inspiring them to make changes that will ensure that their spirituality grows deeper and deeper.

If you like movies, you’ll love The Movie Lover’s Devotional—a collection of 60 readings that draw engaging, contemporary spiritual points from film. From 2001: A Space Odyssey to The Wizard of Oz, from Ben-Hur to Wall-E, from Chariots of Fire to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the films run the gamut from the 1930s to the present, from comedies to dramas to animated features to science fiction to westerns. Each entry features details on the film itself, and describes a moment of truth to be found in the film. “Further thought” questions encourage critical thinking about the movies. If you like movies, get The Movie Lover’s Devotional!

When you have questions about your faith, turn to Explore Your Faith—it provides concise, biblical answers to 75 common questions about the Christian faith. This easy-to-understand guide to faith addresses topics from “How can I know God exists?” and “How can I figure out what God’s will is?” to “Why do we have to keep praying for the same thing?” Each entry also includes discussion questions that are great for further study. Explore Your Faith will encourage you to dig deeper into your faith—and enhance your spiritual growth!

There’s a reason the Bible has stood the test of time—actually, many reasons. And Why the Bible Makes Sense explains just why you can trust God’s Word. Here are 75 easy-to-read entries on why the Bible as we know it is trustworthy—from its origin as a written (not oral) record, to the care professional scribes used in copying the texts, to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, to the confirmation of the Dead Sea Scrolls. And then there are the teachings—the highest moral aspirations on earth. Find out here why the Bible makes sense. . . as history, as ultimate truth, as guide for life.

This 52-week devotional will help tween boys understand what being smarter, stronger, deeper, and cooler is really all about according to Luke 2:52, helping them grow up the way Jesus did—in God’s Word. In the humorous, cheeky, and sometimes gross style that makes the 2:52 series so engaging and fun for boys, this year-long devotional combines important principles with practical messages, teaching lessons boys need to learn and helping them put this valuable knowledge into practice. Each devotion presents a Bible verse, explains it, shows how it applies to boys’ lives, and offers tools to help boys live in a godly way.

Does prayer really matter? Absolutely—and this book will show you why praying makes sense, in the Bible, in history, and in your life today. Here are dozens of easy-to-read entries on what prayer is, what it can accomplish, and why you should pray. More than just “getting things from God,” prayer is inseparably intertwined with many issues vital to the Christian life—faith, love, trust, and obedience among them. Learn how prayer can truly be a two-way communication with the heavenly Father—from the lives of great Bible characters, the lives of devoted Christians through history, and in your life right now.

Can you really trust the Bible? And if so, and you really understand it? The answer to both questions is yes—as this book makes plain. Here, under one cover, are two powerful titles that make God’s Word accessible to any reader: Answers to Your Bible Questions, providing clear, concise, encouraging responses to 75 questions skeptics raise about scripture; and Understand Your Bible, which explains just how to read God’s Word—from the perspective of its historic, geographic, literary, and other contexts. This powerful book will start you on a journey of understanding that can truly change your life!

Start your day off right—every day of the year with Daily Wisdom for Men—and experience the encouragement of God’s Word. These inspiring devotionals were written specifically for a man’s heart and mind. Each reading includes a relevant scripture to compliment the devotional and will give you the assurance needed to walk in biblical wisdom each day.

If God really cares about people, why does He allow terrorism, disease, war, and financial hardships? Good Always Wins honestly tackles these very tough questions, concluding that, yes—God cares, and He cares deeply. Somehow, He is working in and through the tragedies of our world—from school shootings to crib deaths, from devastating typhoons to automobile accidents—to redeem them and ultimately bring good from the evil. Bible-based answers are provided for key questions such as “Why does God allow suffering?”, “Why natural disasters?”, “Why wars and senseless violence?”, and “Does God truly care?”

Devotions for Difficult Times offers more than 200 scripture-based readings, covering 50 topics that everyone deals with from time to time.

Written in the humorous, gross style of the 2:52 line, designed to ignite the interest of boys.Bible Freaks & Geeks—This book helps boys to grow smarter, stronger, deeper, and cooler by showing them how hurtful name-calling can be. In a fun, engaging format, the book highlights biblical examples of machos, jocks, goons, wonks, slackers, airheads, and more. Through the biblical examples of characters who some would likely classify in these terms today, we learn what kind of people God has used throughout history to accomplish his plans. In Bible Freaks & Geeks we also discover that not only are people wrongfullylabeled today by such general and unkind terms, but that even in ancient times, humans exhibited the same traits that we see today. Readers will learnmore about the characters in the Bible, and also how to discern between descriptive labels and harmful stereotypes.Seriously Sick Bible Stuff—This book gives boys the lowdown on what living in ancient Israel was really like. In fun and engaging 2:52 style, it offers humorous, gross facts about day-to-day life in Bible times, shattering any illusions boys may have about how much easier things would have been if they had lived during Jesus’ day. This book exposes boys to the truth:sleeping next to goats (and cleaning up after them in the morning!), eating food that was spiced because it was spoiled, drinking water that was probably unsafe, and using bathroom accommodations that made outhouseslook good. Not to mention the tough, boring work kids had to do! Seriously Sick Bible Stuff helps boys understand the people of Jesus’ time—making them grateful for the life God has given them today. ED STRAUSS By his early teen years, Ed Strauss was writing several novels at once. He had a dresser for his clothing, but Ed had different priorities. The bottom drawer held his comic books—mostly Spider-Man, Tarzan, and Turok. The middle drawer overflowed with his story notes, research, and maps. The top drawer was stuffed with clothing. On a nearby shelf was Ed’s favorite reading material, an encyclopedia set he had won on a nationwide kiddie show. Ed lives in Chilliwack, BC.

If you enjoy J. R. R. Tolkien--even if you''re new to his classic stories--you''ll love A Hobbit Devotional featuring 60 humorous, challenging, and encouraging devotionals. Soon to be a major motion picture, The Hobbit has fascinated readers for more than 70 years. Now, this tale of humble folk who overcome fear, discouragement, and despair through steadfastness, courage, and hope forms the basis of a brand-new devotional book. Each reading sketches a scene from The Hobbit, relates it to a contemporary life situation you might experience yourself, and brings in the teaching of a relevant Bible story or verse.

Level up and handle life like a pro with 100 devotions to encourage faith, build resilience against tough challenges, and learn practical tips for daily life. Navigate Life Like A Pro provides faith-based guidance for issues like anxiety, self confidence, bullying, faith conversations, and more all packed into 100 daily devotionals that tween and middle grade boy will connect with. Imagine your life armed with confidence and clarity, ready to take on life''s challenges. Growing up is like navigating through a maze full of surprises, challenges, and decisions that can be difficult, thankfully God’s right there alongside you. Filled with captivating stories, meaningful reflections, and practical advice, in this 100-day devotional you’ll find: Themes of empowerment that become your go-to guide for transforming challenges into opportunities and making confident moves. Real-life wisdom for issues such as dealing with bullying to self-esteem to making tough decisions in life, including sex, drugs and other social anxieties Faith-based guidance providing insight and advice rooted in solid biblical wisdom to help you grow stronger in your walk with God Ways to surround yourself with friends who share your values and support your goals. Whether it''s through church youth groups, school clubs, or sports teams, find places where you can meet like-minded people. Build confidence, strengthen your faith, and develop personal growth with action-oriented devotionals that feature practical steps you can take to apply in your everyday life.

When you have questions about your final forwarding address as a Christian, turn to What the Bible Says about Heaven. This quick reference provides a topically arranged, easy-to-read resource on the heavenly subjects in scripture. Explore your ultimate home—through relevant scriptures, biblical insights, and quotes from Christian leaders like D. L. Moody and Charles Spurgeon. It''s excellent for personal use or ministry opportunities.

“Mom, how big is God? “Dad, why do people get old and die?” Kids have questions—important questions. And they expect their parents to have all the answers. But what do you do when your children come at you with those head-scratchers that are sometimes hard even for adults to understand? Bible Answers for Parents of Curious Kids is a fantastic resource for moms and dads of 5- to 8-year olds. This book includes 101 questions and answers written for parents, giving you the tools you need to engage your children in kid-friendly, faith-building conversations. Other questions and answers include: How could Jesus walk on water? Why do we pray if God already knows everything? Does God have a mom and a dad? What will people do in heaven? How did so many animals fit on Noah’s Ark? How could a fish be big enough to swallow Jonah? Why did God make germs? Every answer is backed up with scripture and includes questions for further discussion, making this little book perfect for families with curious young minds!

“Can you actually find spiritual truths in comicbooks and superhero movies?” Yes, you can! For more than 75 years of comic book history and dozens of gigantic cinematic releases, Superheros have captivated our imagination--filling our senses with heart-pounding adventures, riveting plots, and spectacular special effects—and sometimes they have profound messages woven into them. Often the underlying themes reveal a Judeo-Christian influence, and even when it isn’t intentional, you can still draw deep lessons from them. Whether it’s the self-sacrifice and humility of Captain America and the Hulk’s struggles with anger or the parallels between Superman and Jesus or between Black Widow and a ruthless Bible heroine, your favorite heroes and heroines (and even villains) have much to teach. If you’re a fan of this good vs. evil world, you will love The Superheroes Devotional—featuring 60 interesting, challenging, and encouraging readings. With devotions drawn from dozens of favorite superheroes from both the Marvel and DC Comics universes—well-known names like Captain America and Batman and lesser-known heroes like Shazam and Gambit—each reading includes spiritual lessons relating superheroes to the heroes of the Bible in themes like faith, hope, courage, pride, and power. You’ll also enjoy reading about the history and background of each superhero, shared by author and lifelong fan Ed Strauss. Read on, True Believer, and may you draw inspiration and encouragement from the characters and stories that you know and love from comicbook pages and big screen movies alike.

This edition of The Bible Promise Book® will help you build and grow your faith—featuring topics like prayer life, faith, trusting God, seeking God''s will, loving others, and dozens more.