Audiobook Appreciation Month at the Cross Reference Library

June is Audiobook Appreciation Month! A time dedicated to celebrating the growing impact and popularity of Audiobooks in the United States.

Audiobooks are a hot topic among readers. The debate on whether listening to audiobooks count as reading has left a huge divide in the book community.

But did you know that the history of audiobooks dates all the way back to 1877? When Thomas Edison invented the phonograph he wanted to be able to record books to make reading more accessible for the visually impaired. However, due to the phonograph's limited capacity, only being able to record around 4 minute audio clips, it wasn't until the rise of CDs that audiobooks really took off.

Despite their controversy, audiobooks have been proven to increase general literacy. In a study published in the journal of neuroscience, researchers found that listening to a story and reading a story stimulate similar parts of the brain, making the two equally beneficial. They can help improve comprehension and fluency skills, all while providing an introduction to the world of reading. The National Literacy Trust released a series of statistics stating that "in 2024, almost 2 in 5 (37.5%) of children and young people said that listening to audiobooks had sparked their interest in reading."

Today, 40% of audiobooks are consumed through public libraries.

The Cross Reference Library has it’s own selection of audiobooks! Featuring authors like C.S. Lewis, Dave Ramsey, Beverly Lewis, and my personal favorites, our collection of audio dramas based on G.A. Henty’s works.

And don’t forget to check out our collection of your favorite Saturday morning programs from Hope Radio’s “Sonshine Station” such as Your Story Hour, Adventures in Odyssey, and The Pond. A perfect way to pass the time on your upcoming family road trip!

It's All a Matter of the Heart

Let’s open the Book of Truth and delve:

Psalm 53:2 (ESV) “God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV) “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

I don’t mean to always sound like a broken record, but God has a lot of servants. They are called angels. But His free will children are rare. They are those who have decided there is nothing that matters more than belonging to Him. They haven’t left this world yet, but they are anxious to be with Him for all eternity. And they want what He wants.

Remember Mary and Martha? Martha was busy about her serving. She even wanted Mary to get up and help her serve. What was Mary doing? She was sitting in front of our Lord drinking in all of His words. Jesus said she had chosen the better!

This might sound radical, but God does not need our help. What He wants is our loyalty and faithfulness. But we have fallen into the trap of thinking about our ministries instead of focusing entirely on our relationship with Christ. Yes, He might want us to do something for Him, but it is more likely for our benefit than His need.

“It’s all about the relationship, the work can come later!”

— Craig Stevens

We think, just keep our heads down and plow ahead. In so doing we miss out on something so wonderfully abundant and don’t comprehend the beauty we are missing. It’s all about the relationship, the work can come later! I know there are some church leaders who would be terribly appalled by this writing. They already are overburdened by all they must do for the church and need help. But there is a better way:

The Holy Spirit! He knows exactly what to do all the time and every time. If we would stop to listen for His whisper then we would begin to hear the will of God. Isn’t that what we really want anyway? But how do we get there?

Ask, seek, and knock by combing through His Scriptures. All the truth and answers are in there if we would only seek. Then let’s obey what we find. Let’s be His children and heirs to all His promises. Like Mary!

Amen?

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This series of blog posts titled, “Pondering Hope”, are written by Craig Stevens. If you are interested in reading more from him you can find his blog at ponderinghope.com.

Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson | New to The Cross Reference Library

Kidnapping. . .Murder. . .Revenge.

In this collection of stories by Tracie Peterson set in Medieval England, three women face trials that will teach them about faith and love.

A Kingdom Divided
Raised in a home filled with violence, Arianne Pemberton experiences love and gentleness only after her arranged marriage to Richard, Duke of Gavenshire. But before she can feel confident both in Richard's love and in God's personal care for her, a mysterious enemy from Richard's Past over-powers the castle and takes Arianne hostage. Who is Tancred, and why is he set on revenge? What fuels the animosity between the two men? Exercising her new faith, Arianne risks her life to restore peace and unite a kingdom divided. 
 
Alas, My Love
England in the Middle Ages is far from a jolly place for an unprotected young woman. Yet the savagery of her stepbrother and the devious schemes of her stepsister have given golden-haired Helena Talbot little choice. She must find shelter elsewhere. Afforded protection by the magnanimous Duke of Gavenshire, Helena nonetheless lives under an assumed name, ever fearful her whereabouts will be revealed to her stepbrother. Only one dream transports her above her worries, the desire that one day she will be reunited with brave Tancred. Years have passed since they were together and now an ocean and a king's decree keep them apart. But are those obstacles stronger than a woman's prayer for love? 
 
If Only
The year is 1349, the place, England. As the bubonic shadow spreads across the land, Mary Beckett finds herself alone and desperate. Her father, a physician who has been accused of consorting with the devil, has been murdered. Even her own interest in medicine has brought cries of witchcraft. Mary's only hope is to journey north to the home of her godly grandmother, a woman her father once rejected. Doctors and pilgrims will cross her path, and, last but not least, Peter Donne, a knight on a mission from the king. Hundreds will beg her to heal them. Will Mary Beckett, a lonely pilgrim herself, find a way to help her people and herself? If only she could reach her grandmother's home, if only she could find her own way to God. . . .
 

Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio | New to The Cross Reference Library

“These thoughts are not of God. No, they’re from the Enemy lurking, ready to seize any opportunity to lie his way into your mind and claim control over your life.”

In the book “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table,” bestselling author and pastor, Louie Giglio, unpacks Psalm 23 to break down the enemy's lies and find peace and spiritual security in any circumstance or situation.

This study goes over the tactics of the enemy and the battle field in the mind. Offering biblical insight into restoring peace in your life by taking authority over your thoughts, recapturing your emotions, and and breaking free from the endless cycle of destructive thinking.

The Reader will learn how to:

• Cancel the lies that will wreck your life and take the empowering steps to live fully alive in Christ

• Restore peace and rest in your life by taking authority over your thoughts

• Break free from the endless cycle of destructive thinking and recapture your emotions

• Embrace the true purpose behind your journey through challenging circumstances

“The Enemy wants to define you by your scars. Jesus wants to define you by His scars.”

Why did God make women who were raped marry the men who raped them?

It can be tough to read some parts of the Bible, especially parts which make it seem like God doesn’t understand justice or doesn’t care about us or our suffering.

However, if we are to believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then it is important we truly understand what it says, even if it is hard to face. And, from my experience, when these intimidating sections of the Bible are faced head on, and are studied within their proper historical, Scriptural, and cultural context, they turn out to be the opposite of what I had feared them to be.

Let’s take a look at one of these difficult topics which is in Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (NIV):

“If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.”

It seems to me that women who have been raped wouldn’t want to marry their rapist. In fact, in many cases having to even be in the same room as their rapist would be a nightmare. So, why would God require them to marry their rapist?

To understand this, we need to understand what a woman who had been raped in 1400 BC (when Deuteronomy was written by Moses) would have been facing in the culture she was living in. 

In their culture if a woman was raped they most likely would never get to get married because marriage was considered a transaction and, according to the men of the time, a woman who wasn’t a virgin had lost her value. Women also needed men to provide for them financially and to keep them safe. So, if a woman was raped and the man who raped her didn’t marry her, then she would most likely be destined to live under her father’s roof for the rest of his life and then a brother’s. If she ended up with neither option she would end up homeless. This is why the consequence for the rapist was to pay her father’s household and to marry her. It is the equivalent of financial restitution in our culture. The man was forced to provide for the woman’s needs for the rest of her life.

“God took rape as seriously as He took murder.”

— Amanda Hovseth

But, to fully understand this situation, we need to understand this law within the context of other laws which the Israelites would have had in mind while adding this law to the mix. Let’s start by looking right before these verses where we will see God’s opinion on rape. He took it as seriously as murder.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27 (NIV) says:

“But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes her, only the man who has done this shall die. Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor, for the man found the young woman out in the country, and though the betrothed woman screamed, there was no one to rescue her.”

This part of the law shows us that God views rape as a sin worthy of execution. And the only difference between the situation in these verses and the one in the next, is the fact that this woman was already betrothed to be married and had someone to provide for her, while the other wasn’t betrothed and may not have anyone to provide for her. The rapist’s life is spared in the second situation solely because the woman’s life depended on him providing for her.

As the Christian Research Institute says:

“If the woman was not engaged, the rapist was spared for the sake of the woman’s security. Having lost her virginity, she would have been deemed undesirable for marriage—and in the culture of the day, a woman without a father or husband to provide for her faced a life of abject poverty, destitution, and social ostracism. As such, the rapist was compelled to provide for the rape victim for as long as he lived. Thus, far from barbaric, the law was a cultural means of protection and provision.”

Furthermore, this law would have been understood in addition to the law in Exodus which they had already been given by God through Moses years earlier. 

Exodus 22:16-17 (NIV) says:

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.”

So, the Israelites would have understood that the woman didn’t have to marry the man who raped her. The man was legally required to marry the woman, but the woman wasn’t legally required to marry him, she had that as an option, but she could take a different path. If she had a father and he could provide for her, or if there was the potential for a different husband, then her father could refuse to have her marry the man who raped her. And the rapist still had to pay the bride price in order to make restitution and to provide for the woman’s future. So, even if her father wasn’t wealthy she could potentially stay in his household instead of getting married, but still be provided for financially.

However, if the woman had no other options for her future, no father, and no other potential husbands, then in most cases, the only way she could survive was to become the wife of the man who raped her, forcing him to provide and care for her for the rest of their lives.

“The law was not designed to force the rape victim into an unbearable marriage, but to secure her future and that of her children.”

— The Christian Research Institute

With all of this in mind it is clear that God’s heart when it comes to these laws was with the women. His desire was to make sure the women who had been wronged wouldn’t end up dying destitute and homeless because of what had been done to them. This means that even though it wasn’t God’s desire for women to have to live completely dependent on men who had hurt them, He understood that, realistically, this was what the women in 1400 BC were facing. So, God wrote His laws accordingly, to make sure the women were provided for the best they could be within their society’s culture and that the men took responsibility for their actions.

Yes, it’s clearly not ideal. Through the context of the Bible, we see that God makes it clear that the ideal would be the sinless world He intended, but humans “muddied the waters”. And, instead of giving up on us–like God as an all-powerful being could have easily done–God decided to walk with us through the mess we create, trying to guide us to best possible outcomes amongst the mess, and then He even redeemed us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross so that someday we can live the painless ideal reality which He desires for us.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

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This series of blog posts titled, “Holding on to Reason”, is named after Amanda’s favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”

Click here for more things written by Amanda Hovseth.

Lord of Lords

Mark 4: 35-41 (NASB) says:

On that day, when evening came, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’

• Even the wind and the sea!

• What about Christ’s math? Five loaves of bread and two small fish, certainly not enough to feed twenty people let alone five thousand. Yet we get caught up in arguing that it was only five thousand men.

• The raising of Lazarus. He was dead and buried four days already stinking and decaying. Does that not declare Christ’s mighty authority?

• His own resurrection, personally conquering death once and for all.

• Then His ascension up through the clouds.

• And His promise to return in the same way.

I would say most of the Jews missed who He really was. They were looking for a remake of King David. Someone who would rid them of the Romans and give them their land back. They could not comprehend an eternal kingdom and undershot His true glory. They wanted Him to give them more earthly food not the everlasting manna. And the Pharisees were the most blind of all. They couldn’t get over Christ healing on the Sabbath. That was their line in the sand?

At Christmastime, we celebrate the sweet baby child lying in a manger. We see Him in His swaddling clothes being visited by shepherds and the three wise men. All is soft and gentle. We are able to accept Him as a little child. No real pressure on our belief system.

At Eastertime, we see Him beaten and bruised, covered in scars of blood, dying on a cross for our sin. We praise His sacrifice for us and some of us even shed a tear on Good Friday. Then on Easter morning we celebrate an empty tomb. We say, “Thank you Jesus.” But do we truly know Him? What exactly is our relationship with Christ? And where is He?

As Americans we have never had a king. We have presidents that we vote in and out of office every four years. We have no comprehension of kingship. In today’s world, in other countries it seems to be the prime minister who does all the work, and the king is only a figurehead. That is definitely a false assumption when it comes to Christ. We do not respect Him nearly enough. His very essence is complete sovereignty and majesty.

There is a throne at the right hand of God where Christ rules all, both heaven and earth. The wind and the sea obey Him. The angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy!” The stars shine His glory. Even the demons cry out, “He is the holy Son of God.” The Father gave Him the throne of honor at His own right hand and certified that His name is far above any other name. He is the one and only true Eternal King. If only we could understand!

Where do you think the true power of faith comes from? He is who the bible says He is. His full disclosure is written in there. We should not put Him in a manger. Don’t hang Him on a cross. There is no one more than Christ. There is no one better than Christ. He is master of all. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. When you look to Christ, see Him as such. It will change all your perceptions and give power to your faith.

Amen?

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This series of blog posts titled, “Pondering Hope”, are written by Craig Stevens. If you are interested in reading more from him you can find his blog at ponderinghope.com.

What's New in the Cross Reference Library? The Jesus book & workbook by Max Lucado

The Book - For thirty-three years Jesus felt everything you have ever felt: weakness, weariness, sadness, rejection. His feet got tired and his head ached. He was tempted and his strength was tested. And you know why? Because in becoming human, Jesus made it possible for us to see God. His tears, God's tears. His voice, God's voice. Want to know what matters to God? Find out what matters to Jesus. Want to know what in the world God is doing? Ponder the words and life of Jesus. For more than three decades, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado has shown us Jesus. In this capstone book, he takes us further on the journey to know the life and character of the Savior.

The Study Guide - This book describes both the person Jesus was on earth and how to live in a personal relationship with him. It is divided into six sections:

• Immanuel

• Friend

• Teacher

• Miracle Worker

• Lamb of God

• Returning King

This compilation from Max Lucado gives readers the chance to become more familiar with the man at the center of the greatest story ever told. Max explores Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, including how Jesus interacted with his friends and his enemies, what he did with time alone, and how he acted at a party.

What's New in the Cross Reference Library? How to Grow Spiritually. . .

Thrive - The only way to be the hands and feet of Jesus is to love him and serve others out of our love for him. But to do that we must first be deeply rooted in our life with God. In Thrive, Mark Hall, lead singer for the popular band Casting Crowns, shows us what it really looks like to walk with Jesus. In part 1, Digging Deep, Hall demonstrates how to truly engage with the Word and a community of faith, worshiping and pursuing God wholeheartedly as our hearts and minds are transformed. In part 2, Reaching Out, we see the fruits of our engagement with the Word and the community, the grateful giving back of service and love. Using relatable stories, grounded teaching, and great application, Hall helps everyone who wants to take the next step of faith and see their life grow deep and strong.

So, You Want To Be Like Christ? - Practice makes perfect. And readers of So, You Want To Be Like Christ? learn how to cultivate spiritual discipline through projects, activities and exercises that lead to the essence of what it means to be a Christian. Inspired by the acts of sacrifice and discipline exemplified by the D-Day generation as well as the current generation of young American soldiers, many Christians today are looking for an obedient, disciplined approach to faith. In this user-friendly study, Chuck Swindoll guides readers toward a greater understanding of eight spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith-- prayer, humility, self-control, sacrifice, submission, solitude, silence, and hope.

What’s New in the Cross Reference Library? The Life You're Meant to Live from author John Bevere

Extraordinary - Isn’t it true that we long to see the extraordinary, experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp. Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God inspired longing…for the extraordinary. Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were “meant for more,” extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.

Extraordinary: Devotional Workbook - The Extraordinary Devotional Workbook is linked with John’s dynamic book and teaching series that will launch you into your journey of unveiling the hero within. You’ll discover the eye-opening connection between faith and God’s empowering grace, and how it’s possible to please our flawless Father. Each of the 12 chapters features revealing questions, an inspiring devotional and prayer, fascinating facts, important definitions, plus special sections like…

• Heaven’s Appeal - life transforming words from Scripture

• Voice of the Ages - timeless truths from heroes of the faith

• John’s Quotes - power statements from the book and teaching series

• The Bottom Line - a concentrated overview of the entire lesson, encapsulating the highlights and insights you’ll want to remember

Night of Darkness

I’ve read the gospels many times but as I was reading Mark the other day, it struck me that we have no real perception or understanding of what Jesus experienced the night they came for him.

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ He said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from Him. ‘Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’”

-Mark 14:32-36 (NIV)

Jesus knew something horrific was about to happen to Him. I think we all assume it was fear of knowing that He would be tortured and put to death, but it was so much more. Yes, there had to be fear, after all Jesus was human, but He also knew He would have to face it alone and He must’ve felt deep heartache. He knew that one of His close friends had betrayed Him and He knew that Peter would deny Him. And possibly the most critical thing happening was that He was taking on the sins of the world:

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

- 2 Cor 5:21 (NIV)  

Jesus also knew and felt His Father turning away, Notice that He uses the name “Abba” when praying, not Yaweh or Adonai or any other of God’s names. No, He used Abba, which was the familiar term people used when speaking to their human fathers (dads). Oh, what loneliness and sorrow He must’ve felt!

Hebrews 10:5-7says:

“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.’”

And when Peter drew his sword and cut off the officer’s ear, Matthew 26:53-54 tells us that Jesus said:

“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that says it must happen in this way?”

Luke 22:53 (NLT) tells us that when the officers and temple guard went for Him, Jesus spoke:

“…But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”

Satan must’ve been celebrating what he thought was a victory!

So, we know that Jesus willingly took on our sins as He allowed Himself to be a sacrifice so that we would have the freedom to choose life! What is required is that we believe in Him and that we confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Jesus told Nicodemus (in John 3) that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again. If we sincerely believe in Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, repentance is a natural thing that happens as we realize that we are so unworthy. That is when I believe the Holy Spirit gives birth to our spirit and we become alive in Christ and born again.

Nothing complicated, just believe!

-Della Stevens (Work of Joy)

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This series of blog posts titled, “Pondering Hope”, are written by Craig Stevens. If you are interested in reading more from him you can find his blog at ponderinghope.com.