Many congregations today are dealing with changes that have led to decline and significant loss. In Embracing God's Future without Forgetting the Past, Michael K. Girlinghouse argues that until a congregation comes to terms with its perceived losses through a healthy process of grief, it will be paralyzed in the present and unable to think creatively about the future. Acknowledging and expressing grief will give the congregation the courage to redefine its relationship with the past and draw strength and encouragement from its memories as it steps into the future. Drawing on more than thirty years of ministry experience in varied settings and concurrent study and teaching about loss, grief, and nostalgia, Girlinghouse shows clergy, church staff, and lay leaders how they can work through the experience of loss and grief, both personally and in their congregation. Part 1 discusses loss and grief using a contemporary, task-based model for the grief process. It also introduces recent research on the value of nostalgia. In part 2, Girlinghouse helps leaders tell their congregation's story, including its losses, examine how that story fits in our current social context, and explore ways to accept the reality of its losses and express grief over them. Part 3 considers ways congregations can think more adaptively and creatively about the future without forgetting or devaluing the past. Girlinghouse presents appreciative inquiry as a tool to discover and build on a congregation's strengths while coming to terms with its losses. Part 4 is about embracing God's future for the congregation, "remembering forward," and making the changes necessary to move from the sadness of loss to the joy of taking up life again. Each chapter includes a Bible study and questions for reflection and discussion.

Why is forgiveness so hard? People who refuse to forgive often sabotage their future and create an emotional cancer that spreads into every other aspect of their lives. Even those who genuinely desire to forgive often struggle to get beyond their wounded emotions. In Forgive, Let Go, and Live, Deborah Pegues provides specific guidelines to help us better understand what forgiveness is and what it's not how to overcome seemingly unforgivable hurts when to restore, redefine, or release a hurtful relationship how it's possible to forgive without forgetting why learning how to forgive is a process Pegues showcases the triumphs of famous and everyday people as well as biblical characters who decided to pursue forgiveness and also the tragedies of those who chose to wallow in anger and revenge. If you've been wounded by another, this book will empower you to find joy, freedom, and peace as you let go of your desire to avenge the wrong and make a commitment to release the offender from his debt.

This is a book about the social, political, philosophical, religious, and economic presuppositions we have believed to be inherent truths that we are now discovering were built on geo-ecological flaws. We are being faced with an existential threat. There is the possibility of human extinction. And unlike threats in the past to all forms of life on the planet, this one will not be determined by a random meteorite/asteroid or natural planetary happening. It will be self-inflicted. We are that species. Where have we all gone wrong? Could it be that certain elements in our thought process laboriously pieced together from the beginning of our bronze/iron/agricultural age are now working against us? And if so, what are those elements? Finally, the question is, How could we, the most clever and brilliant primate ever to evolve, be bringing this on ourselves? Is it that we have an evolutionary self-destructive neurotic/psychotic cranial imperfection? And if this is the reason, at what stage of our evolution did that imperfection occur? Finally, do you and I biologically/psychologically/neurologically have the ability to move away from that imperfection?

An accessible user's guide to overcoming trauma from the creator of a scientifically proven form of psychotherapy that has successfully treated millions of people worldwide. Whether we’ve experienced small setbacks or major traumas, we are all influenced by our memories and by experiences we may not remember or fully understand. Getting Past Your Past offers practical techniques that demystify the human condition and empower readers looking to take charge of their lives. Shapiro, the creator of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), explains how our personalities develop and why we become trapped into feeling, believing and acting in ways that don't serve us. Through detailed examples and exercises readers will learn to understand themselves, and why the people in their lives act the way they do. Most importantly, readers will also learn techniques to improve their relationships, break through emotional barriers, overcome limitations, and excel in ways taught to Olympic athletes, successful executives, and performers. An easy conversational style, humor, and fascinating real life stories make it simple to understand the brain science, why we get stuck in various ways and how to achieve real change.

In this book, Evangelist Ella Knight shares the deep, dark valleys of life that God allowed her to travel through. From a rough marriage, severe financial struggles, vicious attacks by evil workers and more, she shares the experiences that almost caused her to go over the edge. But even more, this book is a guide to overcoming the spirit of fear with which Satan wants to suppress us all. Evangelist Knight couldnt understand why our All Wise and Almighty God Jehovah allowed her life to be so hard, difficult and fearful, until the Lord spoke and said unto her You cant lead where you havent been, you cant teach what you dont know and you cant share what you havent experienced. Therefore, she had to go through the obstacles and be attacked by the demons, devils and evil spirits that our Heavenly Father allowed to be laid in her path, to draw her closer to Him. Now she is able to understand, identify and help His people as they go through the attacks that they dont understand. This minister of God never imagined that life could be so fearful, hard, miserable and difficult until God allowed her enemies to come upon her to chase her into the Potter Hands. Now she cant believe the faith and bravery that God has planted in her and the peaceful, prosperous and joyful spirit that now lives within her. In this book, the author shares that journey from fear to fearlessness.

A handbook for sufferers, those who treat them, and those who love them. What distinguishes a fear from a phobia? How do I know if I have one? What treatments for phobias have proven most effective? These and many other questions are addressed in this guide to the complex issue of phobias—which come in many forms and many degrees of severity. Based on scientific and clinical research as well as patients’ experiences, Phobias and How to Overcome Them delves into topics including: *Recognizing the symptoms of phobias *Stories of successful treatments *Specific phobias both common and uncommon *Medical evaluation and treatment of phobias *The roles of counseling, psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therap *Other anxiety disorders and mood disorders that may underlie phobias *Resources for additional help In addition, Dr. Gardner provides an Anxiety Toolkit that can be used to combat and conquer phobias—offering new techniques and new hope for people who experience these debilitating fears that can not only affect physical health but also interfere with full and joyful participation in life.

Organizations often fail to reach their potential growth. The book identifies the hidden dilemmas and pitfalls of strategic planning. It creates awareness of the planning traps, so companies can create a breakout strategy. This is not another theoretical book. It is written for the Board, CEO and Executives who are responsible for creating the company's future.It is a hands-on book reflecting the practical insights of the author's own experiences conducting strategic planning. It includes process guidelines along with an organizational assessment tool to identify areas that an organization needs to work on to create strategic success. The book emphasizes participative planning, awareness building, reality checks, innovation, differentiation, tactical testing, execution, change management, perfomance planning and strategic controls. Above all the book will enable your firm to come to grips with its organizational capability, enabling it to identify new opportunities for a breakout strategy.