(M.A. ’08), Zondervan, March 2016. San Bernardino was the most lethal terror attack on American soil since 9/11, and it came on the heels of a coordinated assault on Paris. There is no question that innocents were slaughtered in the name of Allah and in the way of jihad, but do the terrorists’ actions actually reflect the religion of Islam? How are we to understand jihad in relation to our Muslim neighbors and friends? Why is there such a surge of Islamist terrorism in the world today, and how are we to respond? In Answering Jihad, bestselling author Nabeel Qureshi answers these questions from the perspective of a former Muslim who is deeply concerned for both his Muslim family and his American homeland.

, by Greg Peters (associate professor, Torrey Honors Institute), Baker Academic, August 2015. Some evangelicals perceive monasticism as a relic from the past, a retreat from the world or a shirking of the call to the Great Commission. At the same time, contemporary evangelical spirituality desires historical Christian manifestations of the faith. In this accessible book, Greg Peters offers a historical survey of monasticism from its origins to current manifestations. He recovers the riches of the monastic tradition for contemporary spiritual formation and devotional practice, explaining why the monastic impulse is a valid and necessary manifestation of the Christian faith for today's church.

, by Clinton E. Arnold (dean of Talbot School of Theology) and Jeff Arnold (’08), Baker Books, September 2015. This accessible reference offers short and to-the-point answers to 50 pressing questions people have about God, the Bible and Christianity, including: What will heaven be like? Can a Christian be demon possessed? Do science and faith conflict? Is hell a real place? Is it possible to prove God exists? What is God like? What is my purpose in life? This book is for those who want a clear introduction to the essential teachings of Christianity to help them grow in faith and in preparation to share the basics of Christian belief.

, by Joanne J. Jung (associate professor of biblical and theological studies), Zondervan, October 2015. By replicating, customizing and incorporating the best and most effective practices of what a great professor does in on-campus classes, reimagined for an online delivery system, Jung shows how a higher level of learning and transformation can be achieved through online learning communities. Handy and practical, this user-friendly book provides guidance, helpful tools and effective suggestions for growing learning communities in online courses that are marked by character growth in students — the kind of growth that is central to the mission of Christian higher education.

, by Emily Pardy (’00), Mountainview Books, May 2015. When should I start a family? Why do I want to become a mother? How will my life change after having a baby? It’s easy for questions like these to plague the mind of an already multitasking woman who just wants to shop for cute onesies. In For All Maternity, writer and professional counselor Emily Pardy encourages newlyweds and would-be parents to ask the hard questions while humorously sharing her own tumultuous journey into motherhood. From sitting awkwardly in marriage counseling to learning how to breast-pump in the middle of the workday, her bumpy road to motherhood encounters lessons about body image, boundaries and belief in a God who is more trustworthy than any baby book around.

, by Arlene Pellicane (’92) and Gary Chapman, Northfield Publishing, September 2014. In this digital age, children are spending more time interacting with a screen and less time playing outside, reading a book or interacting with a parent. While technology can benefit us, it can also erode a sense of togetherness and hinder a child’s emotional and social development. In Growing Up Social, Chapman and Pellicane will empower you with the tools you need to make positive changes starting today and take back your home from an overdependence on screens. You’ll also learn to teach the five skills that every child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology and attention.