The Walrus and the Carpenter Podcast

Listen in to my interview with Garry and Jason at the curiously titled podcast "The Walrus and the Carpenter."

They asked me questions about the 4 year anniversary of the release of Resisting Gossip and about how its teaching relates to prayer requests, pastoral ministry, and a bunch of other things. It was fun to hang out with a couple curious pastors who are passionate about ministry.

They are currently running a contest to win a free copy of Resisting Gossip provided by CLC Publications. Listen to the podcast to find out how to win.

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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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2016 Deep and Wide Conference

I thoroughly enjoyed spending the weekend with the folks at Faith EFC in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland for their "Deep & Wide" Conference.  Our theme was "Overflow of the Heart" on the source and power of words [audio]. 

Thank you, Pastor Jeff and Vivian Kroll, and the FEFC church family for your hospitality and deep engagement with the biblical teaching!

Here are a few pictures to give a sense of the flavor our time together:

"Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

"The tongue is a fire. Whom have you recently burnt?"

Me and Jeff, one of the leaders at Faith

Oh yummy food! International dinner. "Wide" stands for global outreach and my expanding wasteline after eating this big meal!

Meeting some of the FEFC elders 

Pastor Jeff joking with me in the introductions.

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Gossip is bearing bad news behind someone's back out of a bad heart.

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Three Years of "Resisting Gossip"

Aww. Our little book turns three today!

It's hard to believe, but Resisting Gossip: Winning the War of the Wagging Tongue was released on September 3, 2013.

Yesterday, I went through all of the posts on this blog marked Resisting Gossip, and reviewed what a wonderful adventure it has been over the last twelve months.

This year has definitely been a quieter year than the previous one when we had the release of Resisting Gossip Together, the ten-part Resisting Gossip Video Teaching Series (free online!), and the Spanish translation Resistiendo El Chisme (remember that time it was on Colombian national television?!?!).

But even though it hasn't been as busy, I am still amazed at how far Resisting Gossip has traveled and thankful for how it continues to have an effect on people's lives.

En français!

A year ago, the French version, Résister à la médisance was released in both France and Canada.

I got to actually be present for the Canadian release. Dave Almack of CLC Ministries and I traveled up to the beautiful city of Montreal where I got to meet Antoine Roberge and the rest of the CLC Canada team and share the message of my book through a translator.

In a word, this experience was "Merveilleux!"

In Wales, Too

The next international stop was an article in the Welsh magazine originally titled, "Y Cylchgrawn Efengylaidd," or in English, "The Evangelical Magazine." They published an adapted form of chapter 6, "Instead of Gossip: Listening."  Thank you to CLC Publications for giving them permission to share this with their readers.

CCEF National Conference

In between those two international events, I had the privilege of presenting a breakout seminar at the CCEF National Conference entitled, "Behind the Back: When Gossip Distorts Side-by-Side Ministry."

Speaking at CCEF was a "bucket list" level event for me and brought Resisting Gossip full circle as it started its life as a doctoral project encouraged by Ed Welch. I spoke to a room full of highly-engaged listeners who asked great questions to interact with what I had to share. I would do it again in a heartbeat.



Hope Church

In January, I had the opportunity to present the Resisting Gossip Seminar and preach at Hope Church in Spenser, Iowa which is pastored by my friend Russell Muilenburg. Russell wove the seminar into a sermon series he was doing on "Taming the Tongue" for which he interviewed me.

Still Being Read

I'm encouraged that Resisting Gossip continues to be a bestseller for CLC Publications, and I still get emails and mail from readers who are being helped to fight the good fight against this pernicious temptation.

I'm so glad that we went with CLC as our publisher, especially because of their international missions outreach. In April, I was invited to be the speaker for their special 75th Anniversary Celebration at their annual conference in Philadelphia. What a joy to be with those precious people who pour out their lives to get solid evangelical literature into the hands of the nations!

More Still To Come

The good folks at CLC tell me that the Russian translation has been completed, and they hope to release it this Fall and that the Korean translation is in the final stages of translation and may even be out this month. How exciting to think about the impact of our little book on people around the world.

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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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Merveilleux! “Resisting Gossip” in Montreal

I had a wonderful experience last weekend in Quebec.

Dave Almack (the US director of CLC Publications) and I traveled together to Montreal for the launch of Résister à la Médisance. This was my first time in Quebec, and I can sum it up with one word: "Merveilleux!"

Dave did a great job of describing our time there in his article, “A Fifteen Minute Walk to the Cross.” He explains the cultural and spiritual context that surrounded our trip and why our book launch was a day of small but significant beginnings.

While in Montreal, I got to meet Antoine Roberge, the director of CLC Canada (which has been in existence for 60 years!), and his ministry associate Rod. Antoine and Rod gave us a tour of this beautiful French-speaking city. We got to visit two attractive CLC stores, an open air market, two seminaries, the downtown of the Old City, and the overlook of Mount Royal (for which the city was named by Jacque Cartier himself). I was also treated to a traditional French dinner of cassoulet. Next time, poutine!

On Friday evening, I got to speak to a gathering of people interested in resisting gossip at the SEMBEQ headquarters, hosted by my friend Daniel Henderson. It was my first time being translated as I speak–I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of bilingual communication. Afterward, I signed books and tried to chat with folks on my own. They were all much better in English than I am in French!

One lady who attended the book launch event told me that she had experienced deep injustice in her past and needed help knowing whether or not talking about her hardships with others was gossip or not. I think my teaching that night really helped to both reassure her that her seeking help was not gossip and be reminded that our Lord will ultimately right all wrongs. What a rich time sharing the gospel!

I think I might have acquired a taste for international travel from this trip. It would be neat to get to travel to other countries to talk about winning the war of the wagging tongue in still other languages and cultures. Who knows? Maybe France, Colombia, Korea, or Belarus might be next?

Merveilleux!

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Two Years of "Resisting Gossip"

It's hard to be believe, but Resisting Gossip has just turned two years old.

Yesterday, I went through all of the posts on this blog marked Resisting Gossip, and reviewed what a fun ride it's been over the last twelve months.

Some highlights from this second year:

Resisting Gossip Together

In October, CLC Publications released Resisting Gossip Together: Participant's Guide and Bible Study as a companion book. This Summer, RGT already went into its second printing. I'm thankful for the chance to provide this study guide for folks who want to go deeper into God's Word on gossip. I was able to include material that didn't make it into the original book.

For more information, see this page on my blog which include even more resources and my interview with the Biblical Counseling Coalition.


A great place to purchase Resisting Gossip Together is Westminster Bookstore who also has a starter pack of 5 books and study guides at 35% off the list price.

The Resisting Gossip Video Teaching Series

At the same time, CLC Publications also released a complementary set of videos featuring me teaching on the ten chapters of Resisting Gossip. They were produced, filmed, and directed by Spencer Folmar of Third Brother Films and have great music from The Gray Havens.

What I love most about these videos is that they are available for FREE to the world--downloadable and sharable. The first video has already been viewed more than a thousand times. (A DVD set is available for those who need it.)

Restiendo el Chisme on Colombian National Television

I never saw this one coming!

On March 31st, the Spanish version was featured in an 18 minute segment on the morning show of Channel One, the national television station in Colombia. (Click on the picture here to got to the YouTube video.)

I don't know much Spanish, but from what I can tell, they did a great job of covering the contents and even the corny humor from the book.

I love the international reach of CLC Ministries.

The Korean and Russian translations are in production, and I can't wait to learn how the Lord might use those in parts of the world I will never see.

Disciplemaking, Not Just Resisting Gossip

The best part of being the author of this book is that it's not about me, it's about ministry. It's not just about resisting gossip; it's about making disciples of Jesus Christ.

So, my favorite part is hearing stories from people who have been helped by the material.

Stories from folks like Allison Bies, the Federated Church's Adult VBS, this ladies' Bible study group, this family, Uche in Sudan, and this anonymous pastor.

It's a great privilege and joy to be used in ministry.

What's Next?

1. Résister à la médisance!

The French translation has just been released by CLC France in Europe and will soon be released in Quebec by CLC Canada.

I'm particularly excited about this new release because I get to be a part of it in Montreal! On September 25th, Dave Almack and will be traveling up Montreal for the launch of Résister à la médisance. I'll be sharing more about this event as it gets closer.

CLC France has posted the cover, table of contents, the foreword, introduction and a bit of the first chapter in French.

2. "Side by Side."

Next month, Heather and I will be traveling to Virginia Beach to participate in the 2015 CCEF National Conference. I've been asked to teach a breakout session on "Behind the Back: When Side by Side Ministry is Distorted by Gossip."

I love the ministry of CCEF so I consider it a great honor and a high privilege to get to serve in this way. I can't hardly wait!

In preparation for the conference, CCEF ran a new version of my article on how to keep gossip out of prayer requests.



My heart is full of thanks to God for all of these blessings (and also the countless ones I have no idea He's sending me). May He get the glory now and forever.

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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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"Resistiendo el Chisme" is Now Available on Amazon!

Rejoice with me!

The Spanish version of Resisting Gossip is now available here in the United States on Amazon.

Resistiendo el Chisme is published by CLC Colombia and is made available here in the US through CLC Publications.

I'm so encouraged that this resource can now be accessed by a host of people who would never understand the original version.

A request: If you read Resistiendo el Chisme, I'd really appreciate it if you left a positive review on Amazon.

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CLC World Magazine

It's neat to see Resisting Gossip on this shelf--twice!

I'm blessed to be partnering with a publishing mission that is focused on getting edifying Christian books into people's hands around the globe.

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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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