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Got a question for Joe or Bob or any of the characters in Red Like Blood? Fire away in the comments below and you just might get an answer.

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  • Jim Richter

    Is “Red Like Blood” available in an audio format?  A guy with terminal cancer can’t read very much at a time and is struggling with guilt over past adultery and divorce.  He wants to be “right with God” but is struggling with guilt.  If the book is available in audio he might be able to listen to it.  If there are other resources in audio you could recommend please let me know.

    • Bob

      Glad you asked. Joe and I completed the audio recording sessions for the audiobook last week. I’m not sure how long the engineering process will take. Hopefully it will be released soon! 

      Here’s a link to the best source I know source for Christian audiobooks: http://christianaudio.com/

  • Robb

    How do I find an old post?

    • Bob

      Trying to find an old post? Thanks for asking!
      If you know the title, topic, or a key word, enter it in the SEARCH box at the top right of the home page. 

      Or to peruse all the old posts by month published, cursor down the homepage looking at the far right column until you see ARCHIVES. It’s after/under the cover shots of the other books. 

  • Barb Jenkins

    would like information re: your music and choir

  • Crislamiller

    Is Rita still living in Boca? I live nearby and would love to meet her

  • Guest

    I don’t get it.  I read your book, and I don’t get it.  I understand everyone keeps forgiving everyone, but doesn’t that get old after awhile?  Doesn’t even God get tired of forgiving everyone all the time?  Especially repeat offenders?  HA!

    And I also don’t get “go to the cross.”  Go to the cross and do what? 

    Maybe I’m just simple minded and I’m missing the point, but if God’s grace covers everyone no matter what, then what does it matter?

    Another thought, and I know thinking is most likely where I go wrong, but I thought “Christians” were sure of their faith with a moment of conviction and presto their lives were changed!  Maybe presto isn’t the right word, but you know what I mean.

    • FanofRLB

      Maybe you haven’t known the level of Grace in this book… I know I haven’t. I have only experienced several gallons… well, no maybe a public swimming pool, full of bloody, costly, dirty, raw, all-sufficient, miraculous, undeserved, grace. The people in this book have experienced an ocean. God never tires of forgiveness because “it is finished.” He paid it all … already. We get tired of forgiving, we run out of patience, we discard people who don’t seem to change… He waits and waits. I don’t “get it” either…. but I get that I don’t get it… if that makes sense? Grace can piss you off… revenge, justice, payment, judgment, punishment, ahhh now that “feels” better. Until it is YOU that needs it…needs grace, and I do. I definitley do…….. don’t you?

  • Revjeffwells

    who were the dead old guys that bridges encouraged you to read?

    • Bob

      Rev Jeff:
      1. John Owen, Overcoming Sin and Temptation, Crossway (that edition was not yet published at the time, but it is the best version of it today). 

      2. H. Bonar, God’s Way of Holiness

      3. Thomas Wilcox, Honey Out of the Rock 

      #2 & 3 are available free from The Chapel Library. http://www.MountZion.org. I eventually re-wrote/updated Honey Out of the Rock as an exercise for Jerry. The original skips around from theme to theme, so I re-organized it. This was never published.

      PS I love it when people ask me this question!

      • Derek

        I love Horatius Bonar and his brother Andrew. They knew the gopsel and the human heart very well.

  • Joe Coffey

    I think it is a fair question. We actually talked about it quite a bit before we actually decided to keep it the way I wrote it. I guess I was thinking a couple of things. I was writing the way my dad was thinking at the time. He wasn’t thinking that sex was a gift from God. I was also thinking my audience would be young and either seeking or barely found. In talking with the friends of my kids it seems there is a suspicion that Christian authors really don’t know what their life is like, or how they really think. This was my attempt to let them know right up front that this was going to be a book that understood something about how a sinner thinks and how grace actually feels. It might very well have been unnecessary. I hope it doesn’t detract from the message of grace.

  • Laprez1

    Thanks,for writing the books and your transparency(loved todays blog entry :) ) 
    Ok
    so only one negative. I almost thought-nah-not important but,since you
    have made yourself so available(via e-mail,and blog) I thought you would
    appreciate the input. And if not,that’s completely ok,and heck what do I
    know anyway?

    So here goes.The only part of the book(actually
    one tiny sentence,well one phrase) that I took issue with was In Chapter
    2-first sentence. Yikes. Now,I am no prude and probably used that
    phrase in my BC days-but it seemed so off for a pastor to write that.I
    had to re-read it a few times to make sure thats what he meant! yup.
    Well,in my mind I thought-hmmm,not sure if I would pass this on to my
    pastor. Ok so,I gave a copy to a friend-and we were discussing it this
    past Sunday morning-how awesome the stories were,how we both are
    realizing the power of Gods grace in our daily lives,in a whole new
    way,since reading RLB. Then she(my friend-in her NJ accent) mentions
    that very sentence-(without actually saying it) I knew exactly what she
    meant! “so whats up with the pastor guy,pretty crass(did I mention shes
    from NJ-and I’m a native NYer btw)?”  So-all that to say that I guess
    maybe it wasn’t necessary to use that phrase,is all. And I wonder maybe
    I’m not the only one. Some people are just a little more sensitive,and
    especially when
    describing and act that’s really quite wonderful between married
    folk.And the fact that Pastor J wrote it(not someone who didnt know
    better)   I of course still love and recommend the book,and gave away
    the three copies  I won (ty!!!!) and will probably re-read again myself.
    Just makes me hesitate to recommend to certain people. Kind of like
    when I watched  the movie “the Kings speech” LOVED IT-but was hesitant
    to buy for pastor and his family because of the F bomb. Really funny,but
    unnecessary.
    Ok so,hope you take that in the right way.  Thanks again  to both you
    and Pastor Joe (and Jerry Bridges!) for re-introducing me to Gods Grace
    again. Oh and my husband loves the CD-I usually play worship,or CCM-so I
    had it blasting Saturday morning-he just loved it-we were dancing
    around the kitchen groovin to the beat!!

    • Joe Coffey

      one more thought. i really did try to choose a middle of the road euphemism. i wanted to let people know this was going to be a different kind of book. There is a rawness to sin and to grace. I wanted that to come out. But i didn’t want to be crude either. It was a line to walk. If this stepped over the line then it was a mistake albeit an honest one.
       

      • Laprez1

        thanks for the thoughtful response. I’m thinking maybe for me-it’s the expression itself that’s offensive(especially to woman),so it may just be a personal thing. I totally get your reasoning-and yes- a huge part of the appeal of RLB is the honesty and rawness of the testimonies presented. I guess it just seemed “off ” (to me) and I’m thinking it wouldnt be something you would say naturally when discussing your parents to whoever (young,seeker,etc)you were talking to in real life,and not writing a book. I so respect your consideration,and thoughtfulness in your response…and I do plan on buying your new book :)

  • BYGK

    Rita – Thank you for sharing. Could you please elaborate on the sovereignty of God and how your absolute belief in that sovereignty aided you in your ability to forgive. Is it possible that God permitted/caused the circumstances of all the lives involved, so that His grace might reign supreme and that all would be brought to greater faith? Thanks you.

  • BYGK

    Rita – It appears that your forgiveness of Bob and Amy was the major part (possibly the “key”) to the successful outcome of this story. Without your forgiveness, it is doubtful the book would have been written (in no way is this intended to diminish from God’s grace). From a human standpoint, most people would not be inclined to forgive and accept if you had not first forgiven. How did you do it?

    • Ritabevington

      “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Eph.4:31,32)     Dear Mark, this scripture is a command. It includes an implied “you.” Briefly, there are several guiding truths that have helped me be obedient to God: Absolute belief in His sovereignty over all circumstances, Absolute belief that God can use the sin of others to accomplish godly change in my life if I trust Him, Knowledge that I am responsible before God for my actions and sin, not for the actions and sins of others, and finally that How I respond to being sinned against, exposes the true presence or absence of faith in my heart. All of us are sinners. Life is short and fragile. I want what I do here to count for eternity. Forgiveness always involves sacrifice. It requires a willingness to suffer by trusting in our Savior who suffered and died for us.

      • Cea

        Rita, I just wanted to say thank you for your God-glorifying, grace-saturated example. My 22 year marriage ended with my husband walking out for a younger friend of mine. I’m not fully healed, but you have given me hope! Thank you.

  • BYGK

    Rita – It appears that your forgiveness of Bob and Amy was the major part (possibly the “key”) to the successful outcome of this story. Without your forgiveness, it is doubtful the book would have been written (in no way is this intended to diminish from God’s grace). From a human standpoint, most people would not be inclined to forgive and accept if you had not first forgiven. How did you do it?

  • BYGK

    Rita – It appears that your forgiveness of Bob and Amy was the major part (possibly the “key”) to the successful outcome of this story. Without your forgiveness, it is doubtful the book would have been written (in no way is this intended to diminish from God’s grace). From a human standpoint, most people would not be inclined to forgive and accept if you had not first forgiven. How did you do it?

  • Bill_young

    This is my first attempt with a BLOG. There is a new internet posting (I found posted on Facebook): Centuries of Lying in the Name of Christianity: A Review of Bart D. Ehrman’s ‘Forged’    (So many errors, that it is hard to respond without “running on and on”) 
    Is there a way to respond, short and to the point?
     

  • Guest

    On page 36 you said: “In the 60s, the Civil Rights Movement identified the injustices done to the Native Americans…” Historically speaking, the Civil Rights Movement also African American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the American Indian Movement also Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 are all separate movements. I’m curious about how you were thinking here given that most authors refer to the “Civil Rights Movement” as that led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Why do you speak of the “Civil Rights Movement” in the context of only Native American injustices? Thank you.

  • ScottV

    Would you recommend your book for a small group discussion? Is there a leader’s guide and/or participant questions available? I lead a small group couples study at my church and am looking at using your book… God bless. Thanks.

    • Bob

      Scott- I think RLB would be a good way to use the vehicle of story to get discussions going. Each chapter ends solidly with the gospel.

      But one of my other books, The Bookends of the Christian Life (co-authored by Jerry Bridges) has been a big hit with small groups and has a free on-line study guide.
      You can see free excerpts of it at: http://www.thebookendsbook.com/

  • Doughornberger

    Will this book be available on kindle? If so when?

    • Bob

      Yes, Red Like Blood will absolutely be available on Kindle. They haven’t announced when it will be released, but I know the formatting is in progress. I’m also pretty sure there will be two free sample chapters available. Watch the site and/or the RLB Facebook page for updates.

  • Lindsey

    I tried to order the book with the 50% discount and it told me no shipping options were available to my location. I live in TX, any idea why it would say that?

    • Bob

      Lindsey! Thank you for trying to order our book! Sorry about the glitch!

      Believe me, it’s nothing personal. Joe and I love the state of Texas better than most states. I had an epiphany in Amarillo once. Can’t go into that now except to say it involved one of those hares with the extra tall ears. Wow.

      Anyway, I will ask someone over at Shepherd Press get back to both of us once this is fixed.

    • Bob

      According to the publisher, something got “corrupted.” Not sure what they mean by that. Not sure I want to know. But here’s what you can do. Call your order in at: 800.338.1445

      You will still get the pre-release discount. I made sure of that. (It’s not what you know, it’s who you know).

      • Lindsey

        Thank you so much for looking into this! My husband and I used to attend HCC but obviously have moved. We still watch online every once in a while and I’ve loved the blog so I can’t wait to get the book!

    • Anonymous

      Lindsay,

      I posted this but in case you don’t see it for a while, here’s what I

  • Smabee

    do you guys love me?

    – Scott Mabee

    • Bob

      Yes. We definitely love you. But Jesus loves you more and I can prove it.

  • Joel Lusz

    Is this book any good?

    - Joel Lusz

    • Bob

      Good question. Our mothers think it’s good. To decide for yourself, try watching the video and reading the endorsements (especially the one by author and policeman, Greg Lucas). And within a couple days there will be a bunch of free downloadable excerpts including a new free chapter. And Joel, if you read the book, let us know if you think it’s any good . . . or not.

    • Joe Coffey

      Dear Joel, for those others who are reading this, Joel was my best friend in high school and college. Joel, you are fortunate you are not in the book. It would have made it better but I wanted you to keep your job. Love you buddy.

      • Bob

        Joe- Maybe you should tell us at least one Joel story before he tells one on you!

        • Joe Coffey

          Bob, It will be difficult to tell a story about Joel that doesn’t implicate me as well.

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