5 Years of Resisting Gossip

Rejoice with me!

Resisting Gossip was released 5 years ago today. Back in September of 2013, I could never have imagined all of the places it would go and the ways it has been used by the Lord. Today, my heart is overflowing with thankfulness for the blessings of the last half decade.

To name just a few:

- Resisting Gossip is now translated into 5 other languages around the world: Spanish (including an e-book), French [in both Canada and France], Russian, Romanian, and Korean. I’m excited to think that I’m getting to teach people God’s Word that I would never meet nor ever be able to converse with all over the globe.

- Resisting Gossip has been a bestseller for CLC Publications every single quarter since its release. For me, those sales translate into real people I hope have been helped to win the war of the wagging tongue in their own lives.

- Resisting Gossip has been recognized by many readers and leaders as helpful in the fight for holiness and love. The gracious words of folks like Kevin DeYoung (and on video), Tim Challies (once, twice, and then thrice at World Magazine!), Joe Valenti, Deb Welch, Monergism.com, Andy Naselli, Alex Chediak, Steve Kemp at BILD, Greg Strand, Bob Kelleman, Daniel Holmquist, Todd Hardin at the Biblical Counseling Coalition, Marci Ferrell at the Thankful Homemaker, Benjamin Vrbicek at Fan and Flame, Will Turner, and Mark Lauterbach at TGC have encouraged me to no end. It’s got 67 reviews on Amazon, and all but 1 of them are very positive. I'm also very thankful for the heartening support that WTSBooks has always shown for the book, as well.

- The message of Resisting Gossip and Resisting Gossip Together continues to resonate with people through online videos [Vimeo, YouTube], live seminars, podcasts, articles, and personal interactions. I love getting to share at conferences like CCEF and Challenge, teach at retreats, camps, and schools like Miracle Mountain Ranch, and speak in local churches such as the upcoming event at Hope EFC in Fertile, Minnesota. I feel so grateful to get to be used in this way.

Into the future:

Unfortunately, the global gossip plague continues to rage on unabated. My little book is just a drop in the bucket of what is needed to effect large scale change. I knew that going in (see the “final word” “The End of Gossip” on pg. 151). But hopefully it’s a drop in the right bucket and continues to be used by the Lord to move the right people in the right direction. That’s my prayer.

The good folks at CLC Publications are making arrangements right now to offer a special 5 year anniversary sale price and maybe even release an audiobook version of Resisting Gossip this Fall. I’ll let you know when I know more about those things. What I do know right now is that I never could have predicted how this would have turned out, and I give all the praise to Jesus Christ. May He receive all the glory due Him forever.

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E-Book Versions of "Resistiendo el Chisme"

Rejoice with me!

Resistiendo el Chisme, the Spanish version of Resisting Gossip, is now available as an e-book in multiple formats:

Kindle

Nook

Kobo

iTunes (iOS devices)

Google Play

This is so encouraging to me, especially because I know it's already being used in online classes for Christian leaders by educators like Dr. Tim McIntosh. Tim had asked for a digital version for his students, and the good folks at CLC Colombia and CLC Publications made it happen!

When it first came out, Resistiendo el Chisme was featured in a 18 minute segment on the morning show of Channel One television in Colombia (see YouTube Video below). When I wrote the original book, I never expected it to be used by people all around the world. Praise the Lord!

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Yo estoy resistiendo el chisme!

The CLC Colombia team sent me these photos from the launch of Resistiendo el Chisme at the international book fair in Bogota last spring. I love it! 

(Scroll down to the bottom for a translation.)

(l-r) Lorenzo Rincon, Colombia Sales Department Manager, Iris Vargas, Public Liaison of CLC Colombia, Carlos Galeano, Colombia Seller of Editorial and Marketing, Maria del Carmen Castañeda, CLC Mexico Director; David Pabón Serrano, CLC Colombia Director, Ruben Reyes, Wholesale Assistant in Miami Warehouse.

Blanca Garzon, the publisher of CLC Colombia, translates for me:

"The phrases are: (front picture) 1,3,5,6 and 7 T-shirts tell:

Did I tell you a gossip?  (¿Te cuento un chisme?) 

The answers in the back  T-shirts 1,3,5,6 and 7 tell:

I am resisting the gossip!  (Yo estoy resistiendo el chisme!)

The phrases in front picture, people 2nd and 4th are:

You know what is coprolalia? It is the pathological tendency to dirty talk, rude words and double meanings.

The answers in the back T-shirts 2nd, and 4th are:

Speak well, live well!"

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"Resistiendo el Chisme" on Colombian National Television

One of the joys of being published by CLC Ministries is seeing my book show up all over the world. CLC is an international mission with a presence in over 50 countries.

Yesterday, Resistiendo el Chisme was featured in a 18 minute segment on the morning show of Channel One television in Colombia (see YouTube Video below).

I have very little Spanish, but from what I understand, they do a great job of covering the contents of the book. The hosts interview a representative of CLC Colombia named Carlos David Galeano who (without notes!) explains my definition of gossip and lists the 5 gossips of the rogue's gallery in chapter 3.

My favorite moment is near the end when the host reads the "warning label" on the back cover of the book, and they all laugh at my little joke. I'm glad to know that my corny humor translates into other languages.

On the same day, Dave Almack, the publisher at CLC who took a risk on my book sent me this picture from a CLC bookstore in Panama. Dave is pictured with a customer who is purchasing a copy of Resistiendo el Chisme.

When I signed up with CLC, I didn't realize that my book would one day be translated into Spanish (and soon French, Russian, and Korean, as well) and help people to win the war of the wagging tongue all over the world. What a great surprise!

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Mail Call

Look what came in the mail this weekend!

Me and Resistiendo el Chisme

Me and Resisting Gossip Together

All four Resisting Gossip resources, including the new DVD of the video teaching series!

Nothing like physical copies to make it all seem real. I'm a blessed man.

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"Resistiendo el chisme" Is Now Available

Rejoice with me!

Resistiendo el chisme, the Spanish translation of Resisting Gossip is now available in Latin America from CLC Colombia.

I'm told that we'll also have them here in the US by the end of this month!

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A Year of "Resisting Gossip"

"Happy 'Resisting Gossip' Day!"

That's how my publisher, Dave Almack, greeted me on the phone one year ago today as Resisting Gossip was officially made available to the public.

What an exciting year it has been!

Yesterday, I went through all of the posts on this blog marked Resisting Gossip and praised God for the many many blessings He has poured out on us in this process.

It's been so fun to talk about the book in radio interviews and live seminars, to find positive reviews online, and to see it at the top of book lists from people I respect. But the thing I've enjoyed the most is hearing back from readers who have been helped by reading it. How encouraging! It makes it worth all of the effort.

What's Next?

You may have noticed that this blog has been pretty quiet for the last month or so. That's because we've been busy getting ready for the launch of Resisting Gossip Together a new participant's guide and Bible study that takes individuals and groups deeper into the biblical teaching about gossip. Resisting Gossip Together is set to release October 7th.

We've also been putting the finishing touches on the 10 videos of the Resisting Gossip Teaching Series that we filmed in the Spring. Spencer Folmar has been editing up a storm, and I look forward to their release.  These 10 short videos (10-12 minutes each) correspond to the chapters in both Resisting Gossip and the lessons in Resisting Gossip Together and will be a gift to the world from CLC Publications--completely free, downloadable and sharable. They will also be available for sale on DVD. I'll let you know as soon as they are out.

Translations On the Way

I expect to hear any day now that the Spanish version, Resistiendo el Chisme, is available in both Latin America and in the United States. 

And some day soon there will be translations into both Korean and French, as well. I'm constantly surprised and pleased to see how God is using this teaching in people's lives--including in places I'll probably never go.

So, that's a lot--we've been incredibly blessed and it really hasn't slowed down yet. If you want to know what all is happening, continue to follow this blog and/or sign-up to receive the Resisting Gossip Update Newsletter.

Thanks for your prayers for me and for the ministry of this book!

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First Look at the Official Cover of "Resistiendo el Chisme"

Exciting news! The Spanish translation of Resisting Gossip, entitled Resistiendo el Chisme is due out in just a few weeks! And here's a first look at the cover:

And here is the back cover and spine, as well, with the author photo courtesy of the talented Schenley Pilgram! [Click on the image for a closer look.]

How exciting to see it all come together for the first translation, courtesy of CLC Colombia (catch them on Facebook here)!

I'll let you know when we have information about how to purchase them.

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