Teens and Young Adults

The 12 virtues we must all acquire to be happy in this world and to save our souls. Many of our readers rate this the most beautiful and inspiring book they have ever read. For absolutely all! One of TAN's top 5 best-selling books. Impr. 210 pgs, PB

Dive into 40 captivating stories of history's greatest women whom God used to change the course of time and the lives of those around them.

In 40 Unstoppable Women, author Harold Sala paints portraits of forty Christian women who were used by God to change the lives of the people around them. This book will inspire Christians and help them discover the path for their own lives. Stories told in this book include:

Joni Eareckson Tada

Corrie ten Boom

Susanna Wesley

Mother Theresa

Elisabeth Elliot

Amy Carmichael

Rosa Parks

and many more

These women's lives span thousands of years and several professions, challenging readers with the truth that God can work in and through anyone willing to serve him--even in the face of poverty, hardship, or disability. Sala features women who had an appointment with destiny and served others at great personal cost; he hopes their examples inspire others to make a difference, one person at a time.

3 Key Features of 40 Unstoppable Women

1. Concise and In Depth: Each chapter gives an overview of one woman's life and ministry, highlighting how her faith enabled her to persevere through difficult circumstances and serve God with her particular calling.
2. Personal Reflections: At the end of every chapter is a "Take-away Thought" asking readers to reflect on what they have learned from the story and how these lessons are applicable to their own lives.
3. Practical Applications: Includes tips to help the reader discover the path for their own life.

Paperback, 192 pages, 5.25 x 8.5 inches, ISBN 9781628629651, eBook available.

About the Author

Harold J. Sala holds a PhD in English Bible and has completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California, Fuller Seminary, Denver Seminary, Winona Lake School of Theology, and California Baptist Seminary. He is an internationally well-known speaker, author, and Bible teacher, and he has served as founder and president of Guidelines International, Inc. since 1963.

Following Christ isn't always easy. You need faith, courage, patience, and love.

Colleen Swaim looks at eight young souls who became saints for the against-the-current, selfless heroism of their teen years. In addition to the inspiring stories, Ablaze includes maps, recipes, prayers, journal prompts, scripture references and reflection questions to help the reader apply the saints' experiences to every day life.

Read how an Italian high school student inspired thousands as she faced cancer joyfully. Follow a new Christian as he marches to his death by fire after standing firm in his faith in the face of a wretched king. Lock arms with a young man and his crucifix as he dares brawling teens to throw the first stone.

We are all called to follow Christ in our own ways. This book will inflame your heart with vivid storytelling, saintly challenges, prayers, images, and more. Discover how you can set your world ablaze with love for the Lord!

Features: Saint Dominic Savio; Saint Teresa of the Andes; Saint Kizito; Blessed Chiara Luce Badano; Saint Stanislaus Kostka; Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception; Blessed Pedro Calungsod; and Saint Maria Goretti.

View sample pages.

Paperback

Review by Lisa M. Hendey, CatholicMom.com webmaster:

If you're a mom of teens like me, you're constantly on the lookout for books and resources that will help inspire your family. With this new book by Colleen Swaim -- her first, but hopefully just the start of a prolific writing career -- we discover a treasure of the faith for Catholics young and old.

Ablaze is aimed at teens, but truthfully, the resources contained within this book will aid anyone looking to grow in sanctity and faith. Colleen profiles the lives of eight young saints and blesseds, sharing their path to sainthood with accounts that are filled with insight and detail. She has a voice that truly manages to bring these stories to life. Perhaps it's her work as a high school teacher that has provided her with an insight into what will move, challenge and inspire young people. Ablaze is filled with so much more than simply biographical details, including sidebars, vocabulary descriptions, maps, sacramental lessons, and even recipes. Journal prompts, prayers, scripture references and reflection questions help the reader to fully interact with the content presented, applying it to the challenges of every day life.

Each of the saints profiled, though living in different periods of history, has a freshness and a relevance to the world our teens face today. Colleen Swaim aptly brings their heroic virtues to light in a way that will have teens (and grown ups too!), eagerly interacting with her content and asking for more. I give Ablaze my highest recommendation and will enjoy sharing it with my own son this summer.

This book manages to be entertaining and educational, as well as fanciful and inspirational. It draws from the lives of Jesus Christ and Yogi Berra, Joseph of Nazareth and Joe DiMaggio, Moses and Hank Aaron, Saint Peter and Jackie Robinson. And God Said, "Play Ball!" makes the Bible more approachable by relating it to a game loved by both children and adults. It shows that baseball is not only a game, but a never-ending series of lessons about life, as well. And God Said, "Play Ball!" will appeal to Christian Athletes of any denomination.

The author has been a baseball fan for more than forty years and a Catholic a lot longer than that. He has played, coached, watched, or taught baseball since he was seven years old. He is very active in lay ministry and catechetics at his Catholic parish in Seattle, and has found both the Bible and baseball to be among the greatest teachers in his life.
This book includes 8 pages of timeless photographs. You won't find a more inspiring gift for that baseball player in your life--of whatever age--or that fan in front of your TV!

Paperback

PDF Samples

Selected Excerpts

Listen to an interview with Gary Graf.

Pope Francis' words to those seeking to give a firm profession of faith--which has always been the particular effect Catholic tradition has ascribed to confirmation--ring true for all of us. In Anointed, Jayme Stuart Wolfe has compiled the Holy Father's words about wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord as special gifts for those continuing the commitment of their baptism into confirmation and beyond, as well as appropriate Scripture readings and prayers.

Armor of God pamphlethelps teachers and leaders bring Apostle Paul's message to the Ephesians (6: 10-18) to life. This bestselling pamphlet provides historically accurate background of a Roman Centurion's armor then draws vital correlations to the spiritual armor God gives his children: the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, Feet Prepared with Gospel of Peace, The Shield of Faith, The Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. Full-color and glossy, this pamphlet helps those you teach learn to stand firm in the faith.Size: 8.5x 5.5, unfolds to 33 long. Fits inside most Bible covers. Help students put on the full armor of God when facing temptations and struggles. The key to this best-selling pamphlet is the insights brought by Paul's knowledge of a Centurion's armor. Having a correct picture in mind is important to accurately teaching and understanding this portion of Scripture. While many other illustrations of The Armor of God show armor from the Middle Ages, or other time periods, the Rose illustration presents historically accurate Roman armor. In a side-by-side fold-out format, The Armor of God pamphlet describes each piece of armor, its historical background, and its application to our spiritual battles today. The Apostle Paul knew how important it was for believers to understand the provision of spiritual armor that God made for them. Paul's teaching to the Church at Ephesus was born out of firsthand knowledge of Roman Centurions armor. He saw them up close on many occasions. The Armor of God pamphlet provides the following information: A detailed description of the armor of God Historical background on how the armor was put on andits purpose The application of the armor to our lives today, such as how the Belt of Truth prepares believers to be truthful Other biblical passages Greek or Latin terms The pamphlet also presents:
The passage of Ephesians 6: 10-18 verse-by-verse alongside an illustration of a Roman Centurion in full armour Background information on Paul, his missionary journey, and life in Ephesus A chart that helps believers stand firm in spiritual warfare by contrasting the Devil's Schemes with God's plan and the armor or weapon to combat it, and a Scriptural reference. For example: One of the Devil's schemes is LIES. God's plan/armor is Truth. Proverbs 14: 25 would be a good reminder of God's plan

The college years are full of life-defining questions and concerns. Dr Budziszewski (aka Professor Theophilus) offers his expert opinion to help students achieve personal insight about the most controversial and confusing topics they may face.

It's about time--finding God in the good times, the bad times, party time, ordinary time, all the time. In these questions and answers from his online column, Ask the Bible Geek(R), Mark Hart helps young people make time for God, "the timeless One who entered time and space" for each of us.

With wisdom and wit, Hart tackles such questions as:
What does it take to change your life?
Do peers pressure you?
Are you dealing with divorce in your family?
No date on Valentine's Day?
Are you affected by hatred or racism?

Ask the Bible Geek(R) 2 will help you "slow down long enough to encounter God in time, all the time, until the end of time."

Sometimes the answers aren't enough. Sometimes you want to know why they're the answers.

Any Bible can answer questions. This is the one that explains why those answers are the answers.

In twenty-five very compelling tabs spread throughout the Bible text, Prove It! The Catholic Teen Bible gives the why to the biggest questions of all. To the questions you've been asking your parents, your teachers, your friends yourself:

What's life all about and where do I fit in?

What's my life all about, and where do

God, family, friends, and all the rest fit in?

How do I know God even exists, and what

do the life and death of Jesus have to do

with me right here, right now?

If God loves us all, why should I bother

taking my Catholicism seriously?

If all religions are pretty much the same,

why be a Catholic at all?

From New York Times bestselling author comes The Beautiful Pretender!

After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king's approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn't select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse--far deadlier--consequences

Lucid and inspiring, Behold the Man is a unique exploration of Catholic spirituality for men. Much of the literature written for Catholic men focuses on topical issues such as fatherhood and sexuality. While this book does not exclude these subjects, it is the first to present a comprehensive picture of Catholic male spirituality.

What is authentic male Catholic spirituality? What distinguishes it from Protestant male spirituality? How does masculine spirituality complement feminine spirituality? These questions and many more are answered in this book.

Drawing from Scripture and Church teaching, the author roots Catholic male spirituality in a covenant relationship with God and the cross of Jesus Christ. He demonstrates that when a man embraces the cross he is truly able to be himself--the man that God created and calls him to be. Behold the Man can deepen a man's experience of Christ and help him to know the Lord more intimately.