Every Life Is Precious

Each year one Sunday in January is designated as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHLS). On and around this day, many churches and other organizations sponsor activities and events to focus on the intrinsic value of human life and the fundamental right to life.  The day is scheduled in connection with the January 22 anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions, which were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973. (Read more about SOHLS here and the preciousness of life here. Watch a video about the sanctity of life here.)

In honor of Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, here are three books that honor life.

Proclaiming the Pro-Life Message by Larry L. Lewis, editor

January 22, 1973, truly was a day of infamy for the United States of America. On that day the U.S. Supreme Court, in the Roe v. Wade decision, opened the floodgates of the evils of abortion throughout the country. Since then, millions of innocent babies have died at the hands of abortionists.

Evangelical Christian leaders at first were slow to respond to this tragedy. But when they did, the Evangelical community became the most potent force in the fight against abortion and other anti-life positions being advocated by the abortionists.

Proclaiming the Pro-Life Message draws together the very best of what has been written and preached by these Evangelical leaders during the past 26 years. The editor, Larry Lewis, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Home Mission Board, led the charge against abortion in the SBC.

The list of authors reads like a Who's Who Among Evangelicals in the Pro-Life Movement: Chuck Colson, W.A. Criswell, Jimmy Draper, Carol Everett, Gerald Harris, O.S. Hawkins, Jim Henry, Ron Herrod, Junior Hill, Anthony Jordan, D. James Kennedy, Beverly LaHaye, Adrian Rogers, George Sweeting, Kristen White, and Sylvia Boothe. Each articulates his or her perspective on what being pro-life today means and what Evangelical Christians must do to eradicate this evil from our land. All royalties for the sale of this book go to Alternatives to Abortion at the SBC's North American Mission Board.

Gathering the Missing Pieces in an Adopted Life by Kay Moore

(Now available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, and iPad)

Even surrounded by the love and security of the only family she had ever known, Kay Moore wondered constantly about her unknown past. Her search for information and connection led Kay to other adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth families. She discovered that her feelings were the shared legacy of people everywhere who want the whole truth about who they are. Their stories, told here, yield a wealth of inspiration and practical direction, which Kay presents with a sensitivity possible only from one who has "been through it" herself.

In the book, the author knows what questions you'll need to answer for a successful search and includes a listing of resources you can use along the way. You'll see just how to pull together the missing pieces in your own past and fully discover your God-given heritage.

Reporter Kay Moore’s three-part newspaper series on finding her birthfamily was a widely read installment in the Houston Chronicle and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Kay has spoken widely on the subject of adoption. She is a graduate of Baylor University. She and her husband, Louis, are parents of two children.

 Adopting Darrell by Carol V. Weishampel

Carol Weishampel joyfully opens her heart and home to angelic-looking Darrell—a "shaken", abused baby, whose horrific injuries leave him blind and retarded.

But adopting Darrell quickly becomes an hourly, uphill struggle, even for this seasoned mom and professional educator, who holds a doctor of education degree. This single parent and her other, subsequent adopted children literally are held hostage by Darrell's violent temper tantrums and untrainable behavior.

What difference can Weishampel possibly make in the life of this uncommunicative boy? What purpose do those such as Darrell have on earth? Weishampel's poignant search for answers to these and other profound questions leaves a helpful legacy of hope for anyone who has ever had responsibility for such a child.

What Would Jesus Do?

In the classic In His Steps by Charles Sheldon some Christian group members make this motto their guide for daily living. Their lives are set aglow for Christ.

But that was in 1890! Would the same commitment work today? Another group of Christians decides to try it.

Heather, a homemaker, obsessed by her beautiful home, is the central character whose experiences and decisions interweave with those of the other members. A professional baseball player and his pregnant wife; an ambitious car dealer; a beautiful, withdrawn matron in a home for adults who are mentally challenged; a doctor and his sensitive wife; and a brilliant computer expert and his librarian spouse all face inner frustrations and outside obstructions to fully yielding their lives to Christ. Prestige, money, possessions, past sorrows, and personal time have to be sacrificed or at least put in second place.

Only then will they gain the spiritual help, joy, and satisfaction God is willing and waiting to give those who allow Jesus to truly live His life through them.

* * * * * * * *

Marti Hefley, a prolific freelance writer, was graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary and is the author of Strictly Feminine. She has co-authored numerous books including The Liberated Palestinian, Dawn over Amazonia, God's Tribesman, and Uncle Cam. As a 16-year-old she read In His Steps and thought, "Somebody ought to write a version for today." In His Steps Today is the fulfillment of that comment. In His Steps Today by Charles Sheldon some Christian group members make this motto--What Would Jesus Do?-- their guide for daily living. Their lives are set aglow for Christ. is a re-release of a highly popular book by Hannibal Books co-founder Marti Hefley. The original was released in 1976.

Families Can Learn About Depression Era Through This Classic Read-Aloud

Depression-Era memorabilia has become highly sought-after. People are digging for recollections, remembrances, and tips for how others lived in that frightening time in the last century so today's folk might learn insights to help in these days of startling economic meltdown.

No more profound truths about the late 1920s and early 1930s can be found than in the pages of In Care of the Conductor, a boy's heart-warming memoir of growing up during that tight Depression era and how individual families coped.

Author Jim Rogers' single mom is unable to find work in her rural Southern town, so she moves to the big city, where she secures a job. This means little Jimmie has to ride a train by himself from his grandparents' farm to enable him to see his mother at all. In this endearing tale, as he travels Jimmie has to wear around his neck a sign that reads, "In Care of the Conductor."

The book reveals the woes as well as victories that families experience during a time when they have to live on next-to-nothing. Nothing is wasted, every inch of everything is put to good use, all meals are made "from scratch", and people consider themselves wealthy merely if they can enjoy fellowship with friends and family.

The book shows young Jimmie's awareness of the importance of faith to see him through and his realization that his life, despite its troubles, depends on the Great "Conductor" to guide him and his loved ones to better days.

This book is an economically priced family-read-aloud selection or ideal for Homeschool families to help today's youngsters learn about life in another economic meltdown time.

Don't Forget Spiritual Resolutions

With January already here, many of us will begin to make New Year's resolutions. What will you decide to change? If you're considering your health, dont' forget to think about your spiritual wellness. Although most New Year's resolutions center on physical health, Stephanie Dean, author of Fit to Serve (Dec 08), says your spiritual health goes hand-in-hand with your overall wellness.

The book is a six-week Bible study designed for use in group meetings. Fit to Serve contains five lessons each week for six weeks that combine spiritual disciplines, nutrition and exercise for a comprehensive wellness program. Ms. Dean coordinated with Don and Carol Mathus, fitness experts, and Julie Bender, a nutritionist, to create a step-by-step plan to improve one’s wellbeing. The plan centers on the spiritual condition as the foundation for a healthy life.

In Fit to Serve, each daily lesson includes a spiritually-focused study, which often includes Ms. Dean’s first-person experiences, and a Health Bite with tips and specific exercise guidelines. The spiritual portion is divided into six disciplines – one for each week: Bible study, prayer, worship, service, solitude and simplicity. Spiritual topics such as anxiety, forgiveness and faith are studied from a biblical perspective. Participants are asked to answer various questions for more in-depth reflection. The Health Bites include tips for staying motivated, exercising correctly, eating a balanced diet and setting goals – all with the overarching theme that “health improvement is forever.” A leader guide is included to help facilitate group sessions.

“Fit to Serve provides insight into two important areas of one’s life: physical health and spiritual health. The authors propose logical, fact-based solutions to weight-control issues as well as insightful guidance for spiritual growth. This book offers reliable, practical, and timely information about staying healthy in a busy world,” writes LuAnn Soliah, Ph.D., R.D, in an endorsement of the book.

Stephanie Dean is a dietitian, author, and speaker. She earned a B.S. in nutrition sciences from Baylor University, completed the dietetic internship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, and completed a certificate in adult weight management by the American Dietetic Association. She works in Dallas as a registered and licensed dietitian and is completing a master's degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Welcome!

Welcome to Hannibal Books' blog, a place to find all sorts of information about Hannibal, its authors and its books. We'll include details on new authors and books, author events, book excerpts, author interviews, details on media coverage and more!

Hannibal Books is a Christian publishing company specializing in books and other written materials for helping families and individuals develop healthy patterns and skills in order to become all that God created them to be.

Our products include dramatic missions stories that motivate and move; books that equip and inspire families toward spiritual health; Christian commentary on critical issues in our world; and cutting-edge, small group curriculum.

Hannibal Books was founded in the mid-1980s by Jim and Marti Hefley, authors of more than 50 books. At that time, the Hefleys lived in Hannibal, Missouri--hence the name of the company. In 1999, the Hefleys sold Hannibal Books to Louis and Kay Moore, (left) veteran newspaper journalists and book editors and authors. The Moores moved Hannibal Books to their hometown--Garland, Texas. Today the company has grown and continues to publish quality Christian books at affordable prices.