Kevin Johnson Books

Pray the Scriptures Bible | Sample

You can now flip through a 16-page online sample of the full Pray the Scriptures Bible, coming in late October 2012. It includes spreads from Exodus and John plus my introduction. The sample looks like the finished product with a bonus of animated page turns. And you can always see more in the already-published Pray the Scriptures Bible: Psalms and Proverbs.

The Bible will release in three trim styles and a Kindle edition and is already available for preorder. This first-of-its-kind project combines the full text of the readable and reliable God's Word translation with thousands of responsive prayers. It also includes book introductions, articles on authentic prayer, a topical index, and a second index of every prayer in the Bible. 

Learn more about Pray the Scriptures Bible.

Once-A-Day Bible for Teens

Here's the new Bible that pairs with the Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens. Each day gets you three readings--a selection from the Old Testament, New Testament, and either Psalms or Proverbs--wrapped up with my brief "rewind" of the passages. The cover art happens to look stunning sitting on the shelf next to the devo, but that is SO not what these books are meant for. They're a smart way to read every word of the Bible in a year.

Using this Bible alongside the Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens makes it easy to access those three Scripture readings plus an indepth look at one of the passages.

By the way, you can start anywhere in the Bible and on any day of the year. It's all good.

 

Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens

The Once-A-Day Devotional for Teens cuts straight to the the heart and meaning of Scripture. As part of Zondervan's popular Once-A-Day line, the book provides a plan to read the complete Bible in a year, with each day offering right-sized chunks from the Old Testament, New Testament, and either Psalms or Proverbs.

My goal in this book was to take one of those daily readings and dig in. Instead of extended stories, hooks, and illustrations--I've written plenty of those in earlier books like Total Devotion--I go straight for what a passage means and how it applies to real life.

I just received preview copies, so look for the book to release in early October 2012. Here's a sample of what you can expect.

The devotional can be used alongside The Once-A-Day Bible for Teens, which arranges the plan's Scripture readings in easy day-by-day order. I worked on that project as well, writing short recaps that explain the gist of the day's readings. Expect that in early October too.

READ it. PRAY it. LIVE it. REPEAT.

 

Crazy | A Range of Writing

I remember agonizing on the couch about a dozen years ago. Right after seminary I had pastored a group of several hundred middle schoolers, a rare and amazing privilege. I started writing books during that time. After five years I left to oversee the adult nonfiction line at a major publishing house, another stretching opportunity. By day I signed, developed, and edited überserious adult books, and by night I continued to write thoughtful and occasionally funny books for youth. After five years as senior editor of adult nonfiction I so badly missed working with youth that I took a position as an executive at a non-profit serving at-risk teens.

A few months later when that job didn't unfold so well I sat wondering what I was supposed to do with my life. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to expend myself working with adults... or students... and I hated being torn between the two. In the end I decided I was done trying to make that decision. I was crafted to work with both adults and youth, and I was going to keep living in both worlds as long as I could.

My work includes projects for adults, students, and kids. After twenty years of writing and more than fifty books published I've done contemplative prayer Bibles and practical books aimed at adults... youth books that gently jab at minds, hearts, and hormones... children's products splashed with color, cartoons, and computer generated art... and multimedia intergenerational projects mixed in too. I work hard at all of it. I love all of it. Whatever the target audience, I don't take any chance to write for granted. And I hope to never stop doing any of it, even if the crazy assortment doesn't make sense to anyone else.

 

Rock Solid Faith Study Bible | Released!

Our high school daughter has already nabbed the purple faux-leather version of the new Rock Solid Faith Study Bible, the first of three projects I did for Zondervan coming out in the next few weeks. Grab a look at this must-see video on Scripture produced for the release. And here are details from the back cover, minus the rugged fonts:

 

 A FOOTHOLD.

Feeling uncertain about your life? The world? Your future? Looking for something secure to hold onto in turbulent and confusing times? Wanting to know about God?

Address your questions and build a steadfast foundation for your faith with the NIV Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens. Find traction for your beliefs and promises for your future. Discover constant and concrete truths rooted in the unchanging love and promises of God.

FEATURES INCLUDE:

Rock Solid TRUTH: Examines Christian beliefs and exploration of other religions.

Rock Solid PRINCIPLES: Applies the Bible to daily decisions and challenges.

Rock Solid PROMISES: Calls out what is (and is not) promised in the Bible.

Rock Solid PLANS: Explores God's plans and will for your life.

Unshaken PEOPLE: Provides scriptural examples of overcoming difficulties.

Unshaken GOD: Points out God's unyielding attributes.

Reading plans, 8 pages of color maps, book introductions, and more!

 

One of this Bible's best features are indexes with Bible references and page numbers for every article. I concepted and wrote the notes for this Bible (other than the book introductions) for a generation of youth shaken by coming of age in an era of relentless economic, political, social, environmental, and spiritual tumult.

 

Dive Deep | Deep Blue Kids Bible Trailer

I had only a small part in this project, but this trailer highlights the vivid appeal of this study Bible for ages 8-12. Big answers for big questions. Turn up your speakers and have a look.

Deep Blue Kids Bible (Trailer) from Rule29 on Vimeo.

 

Deeper and Higher | Youth Discipleship Bible Studies

A few years back I got a rare chance to rework a series into several new books. I grabbed my Early Teen Discipleship (ETD) books from Bethany House and thoroughly rewrote, reformated, and republished them with Youth Specialties. I split eight original titles into the Deeper series for junior highers (Trust, Stick, Pray, and Choose) and the Higher series for high schoolers (Follow, Thrive, Think, and Soar).

I liked these books the first time around, but do-overs are sweet. My writing is cleaner, my punchiness recast for a new generation of youth, and the formatting makes the 20 studies in each book easy to complete. Both Deeper and Higher lead youth through the Bible's most relevant passages to help them discover how to meet and follow Jesus for themselves.

 

The Writing Process | SeaWorld Penguin Cam

As part of my neverending quest to stay alert for hours of writing, I've found lately that the SeaWorld Penguin Webcam can't be beat. Tucked in the corner of my monitor, it throws off a perfect level of visual distraction and noise, and the random antics and group screams are more than a little amusing. At times the video fades to black as the habitat mimics Antarctic darkness. I can't say what current project requires this kind of adrenalin bump, but honestly, this is how books happen.

 

Unshakeable Truths | The Rock Solid Bible

I have a stunt double with a soul patch. Zondervan put together this potent video on Scripture to promote Rock Solid Faith Study Bible. I didn't write the script, and I was jolted by a couple of lines. But I did concept this student Bible to speak to a generation that will forever be marked by growing up in the Great Recession. I also wrote the notes other than the book introductions and outlines.

Look for the Bible to release in September, and in the meantime, check out this sample containing the full book of Mark.

 

  

 

Transit of Venus 2012

I worried I would have to drive a couple hours west to dodge clouds that threatened to hide the Transit of Venus. But instead I went to Onan Observatory at Baylor Park, a site of the Minnesota Astronomical Society not far from home. A few dozen telescopes and hundreds of observers were out for this event that won't come around again until 2117. The Twin Cities Pioneer Press covered the story and reporter Richard Chin quoted me at the end of his article.

I really wanted to nab a photo. The black-and-white shot was my best of many attempts with a Nikon D5000 and 10-inch scope with a solar film filter. The shadow of Venus is the circle at the upper right. The other blotches are sunspots, and the texture is the granularity of the sun's surface. The "heat" and duo-tone "blue" versions were created with simple clicks in Google's sweet Picasa photo software. The colors have nothing to do with anything real. Just photo effects.

The links below open large versions. Windows users can open and right click the photos to save or set as your computer desktop. You can see more of my photos at kjphotos.

Transit of Venus 2012--Large Heat

Transit of Venus 2012--Large Blue

Transit of Venus 2012--Large White