Pastors’ kids have it hard, feeling the weight of undue expectations and the observing world around them. In Surviving the Fishbowl, Catherine J. Stewart assembles an experienced group of authors to give advice for those feeling the pressure of life lived in the scrutinized house of a minister. With contributions from pastors and their wives, as well as from former pastors’ kids, this book gives sage advice for those navigating difficult waters. Whether you are pastor’s kid struggling to understanding your identity, dealing with troubling social pressures, or just wishing you could escape it all, read this book and see that these trying days are survivable and even attended with blessings you may not have considered before. Table of Contents: Foreword by David Strain Part 1: Laying the Foundation 1. Identity Crisis: PK or Child of the King?—Jasmine Holmes 2. Expectations: Who Sets the Standard?—Megan Hill 3. Count Your Blessings: Enjoying the Benefits of Being a PK—Joel and Mary Beeke 4. Friendships: The Glorious Gift of Extended Family—Terry and Emily Johnson 5. Loving the Church: Pressing on Through Family Highs and Lows—Tom and Donna Ascol Part 2: Sharks in the Bowl 6. Criticism: The Godly Response—Mike and Mae Milton 7. Loneliness: Choice or Inevitability?—Amanda Martin 8. Cultural Change: Adapting to New Surroundings—Carl and Catriona Trueman 9. Depression: The Dark Night of the Soul—Neil and Catherine Stewart 10. Rebel PK: The One that Got Away (Almost)—Ike Reeder 11. Financial Crisis: High Calling with a High Price—Daniel Wakefield

Helping pastors understand that a solid family life helps them meet the needs of their congregation

Fifteen-year-old Jackie Stone's father is dying. When Jackie discovers that her father has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, her whole world starts to crumble. She can't imagine how she'll live without him . . . Then, in a desperate act to secure his family's future, Jackie's father does the unthinkable--he puts his life up for auction on eBay. Jackie can do nothing but watch and wait as an odd assortment of bidders, some with nefarious intentions, drive the price up higher. The fate of her entire family hangs in the balance. But no one can predict how the auction will finally end, or any of the very public fallout that ensues. Life as Jackie knows it is about to change forever . . . In this brilliantly written tragicomedy told through multiple points of view--including Jackie's dad's tumor--acclaimed author Len Vlahos deftly explores what it really means to live. "A weird, sardonic delight with the shape of an allegory and the heart of a joyful song." --Brenna Yovanoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement "Surprising, original, political, and deeply affecting . . . It is one of those rare works of art that keeps you guessing up to the very last page." --Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life "It will tear you apart, and yet it's an absolute joy." --Adi Alsaid, author of Let's Get Lost and Never, Always, Sometimes

Being a pastor has its rewards and pleasures. But churches can be unsafe places. They are filled with broken, imperfect people. Many ministers of the gospel walk into a church naive about the potential hazards of their vocation. They are vulnerable to difficult people, unresolved conflict, incompatible visions, hidden agendas, mission drift, and sin--their own and that of others. Other pastors feel trapped in a ministry hurricane and don't know what to do. They feel like failures. They're thinking about leaving the ministry. They are looking for help and hope--not from an "expert" detached from the real world of ministry--but from someone who has suffered through church hurricanes and lived to share the story. Moreover, they need to know they are not alone. Surviving Ministry: How to Weather the Storms of Church Leadership includes the author's own story as well as true stories from other pastors who have been in the eye of the hurricane. Discouraged ministers looking for biblical, practical, gospel-centered advice for storm proofing their churches, homes, and hearts have found a friend. Surviving Ministry will equip them to stay resilient before, during, and after seasons of difficulty.

At the core, it doesn't matter what you believe governs the fate of man and Earth, what matters is that humans, as a global society, build a future that is sustainable and peaceful. This is the ultimate human evolutionary development, this is our challenge. By tracing our existence from where we began to what we have become today, this book explores the evolution and, should we continue on our current path, the subsequent possible obsolescence of human beings. Far from a doomsday tome, The Fishbowl Principle challenges readers to expand their worldview. We need to change our measure of a successful life from simply existing to prospering. The authors refuse to accept that life as we exist today is "as good as it gets". We argue that humans have reached a fragile tipping point; and that instead of fragmenting and isolating ourselves in a future of despair, we can and will work together to an even higher apex. As a human race, we examine what can be achieved if we look to our similarities instead of our differences. If we could harness communication as a powerful and cost effective tool to bring us together and educate ourselves in a way that fosters sustainable and responsible population growth, the positive transformation to our lives would be immeasurable. Whether you exist today as a peasant in a tribal setting or as an urban dweller we explore fostering a sense of global community based on common ground, not just niche existence. We present tangible alternatives and pose thought-provoking questions. Our vision is a collaborative one, and requires your participation. A path back to evolution starts with you, and includes all of us.

“Drs. Julius and Jude Austin have written a most informative and engaging guide for students navigating the demands of their academic program and internships. They provide practical wisdom in each chapter and serve as mentors to their readers through their self-disclosure and the lessons they have learned. This book needs to be in the hands of every counseling student, as it offers extremely useful pointers and encouragement to survive and thrive in their program.” —Marianne Schneider Corey, MA, LMFT, NCC —Gerald Corey, EdD, ABPP, NCC Professor Emeritus of Human Services and Counseling California State University, Fullerton “This is a valuable resource for students in graduate-level training in counseling or counselor education and supervision. In addition, it will be a useful update for counselor educators regarding the experiences of contemporary graduate counseling students.” —Richard E. Watts, PhD, LPC-S Sam Houston State University Written for graduate students who want to get the most out of their experience, this book presents down-to-earth discussions and suggestions on counselor training and life after graduation. The authors, both millennials and recent doctoral program graduates, draw upon their own personal and professional training and career experiences, as well as shared insight from a diverse group of current graduate students, recent graduates, and new professionals. The realistic, personal, and often humorous narratives throughout the book give an insider’s perspective on graduate school and illuminate the emotional journey of students and new professionals. Topics include choosing and getting into a program, handling the opportunities and challenges that each year of the program presents, gaining emotional maturity, dealing with setbacks, managing conflicts, increasing cultural awareness, getting a doctoral degree, searching for a job, finding a supervisor, and obtaining licensure. Readers will also be able to peek behind the curtains of faculty meetings to glean what faculty members expect, develop skills for their first session, and create and maintain a self-care plan for improving work-life balance. *Requests for digital versions from ACA can be found on www.wiley.com. *To purchase print copies, please visit the ACA website *Reproduction requests for material from books published by ACA should be directed to [email protected] Julius A. Austin, PhD, isa clinical therapist and coordinator for the Office of Substance Abuse and Recovery at Tulane University. Jude T. Austin II, PhD, is an assistant professor and clinical coordinator in the Professional Counseling Program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.