{Giveaway} Inspired by “Grace Unplugged”

Two books, one movie, and some good music. Throw in a faith-building story. Yes, please. That’s what “Grace Unplugged” looks to be about. It opens in theaters Oct. 4.

{Check here to see if the movie is coming to your town.} I can’t give you the movie or even tickets to it, but I can give one of you a copy of the book based on the movie and another book that’s part of the movie’s story. Stay tuned for details about that later in this blog post.

But first a little more about the story.

About “Grace Unplugged” :: It’s a book by Melody Carlson based on the motion picture of the same name that stars A.J. Michalka {Super 8} and Kevin Pollack {A Few Good Men} and includes performances by award-winning musicians Chris Tomlin and Jamie Grace.

Grace Trey is an 18-year-old singer as passionate about her Christian faith as she is her phenomenal, God-given musical talent. Both traits come from her father, one-hit-wonder Johnny Trey who found Jesus after losing his chart success two decades ago. When Grace encounters her own music break of a lifetime, the sudden dive into the “real world” puts her deeper beliefs to the test. Pop superstardom is just within reach but appears to require some spiritual compromise. Will Grace reject her faith, or will she own it?

Thing is, I remember being 18. I can’t carry a tune or play an instrument, but I was determined to be an adult as far away from my childhood home as possible. For me, that meant four hours away on the other end of the state. That’s as far as I got, physically. But, spiritually, I started sorting out what faith meant in my daily life.

College was a chance for me to become an independent person, meshing where I had come from with where I believe God wanted me. Life is a process. But so many fundamental things happened those four years. It’s like that for Grace in the book. She’s chasing a dream … and her faith.

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About “Own It” :: This book is featured in the movie version of “Grace Unplugged” and challenges readers by asking what it means to really own faith rather than follow blindly in the footsteps of friends or parents. Best-selling authors Hayley and Michael DiMarco help readers understand what to do when faith meets real world challenges. Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be.

Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than 30 books including “Dateable,” “Marriable,” “Mean Girls,” and “The Woman of Mystery.” She has been a featured speaker at Women of Faith, Precept National Women’s Conference and MOPS International and has consulted on the creation and enhancement of some of the largest stadium events for teens and young women in North America. Her husband, Michael, is a skillled communicator and teacher who has authored more than a dozen bestselling books including the 2010 Christian Book of the Year for Youth “B4UD8 (Before You Date).” They have one daughter and live in Nashville, Tenn.

Perhaps my favorite quote from “Own It”:

“Faith signals a change, not only in your eternal destination, but in your heart, your mind, and yes, even in your personality. When you own your faith, those things that used to control you lose their power. The stuff that used to scare you is uneventful. Faith — true faith — changes you from the inside out. … A new creation is a changed creation.” {page 89}

Through stories, quotes, scriptures, and personal testimony, the DiMarcos challenge readers to devote themselves to developing personal journeys to God. Faking it, borrowing it, renting it and pretending to have it don’t work when it comes to faith. Only faith in God will lead to truth. And that truth leads to transformation, a new life just like 2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about.

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And one of you can win a copy of each book! Just use the Rafflecopter below to earn multiple entries by commenting and liking/tweeting/following in other ways. The giveaway is open through Sunday, Sept. 15 to U.S. and Canadian residents. A winner will be chose randomly to receive a copy of “Grace Unplugged” and “Own It.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UPDATED: Congratulations, Laura! You won the books! They’ll be headed your way in the mail soon.

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I received these books for free from FlyBy Promotions in exchange for this review on my blog, but I only recommend products I actually support. I’m disclosing this because the Federal Trade Commission likes it that way. 

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