Bücher veröffentlicht von Zondervan

White-knuckling can never get you where you want to go. But grace can.You already know because you've tried: repeated attempts to earn God's love and approval get you nowhere and leave you exhausted. When performance taints our relationship with him, the Christian life can turn into an unholy hustle. It was never meant to be like this.In Saving the Saved, Pastor Bryan Loritts reveals the astonishing truth that God doesn't want your spiritual scorekeeping. He simply wants your surrender. The punchline of the gospel of Matthew is just thata message of grace and performance-free love to do-good, try-harder Jews who thought they had to earn their way into God's favor. It's an ancient message, yet it can be a lifeline to us today as we live in a world of performance metrics. Just as Matthew wrote to the Jews in his gospel, we were never meant to flounder under the pressures and anxieties of show Christianity. Make no mistake: we are called to live in obedience, but Jesus wants us to save us from the illusion that our actions can ever earn God's acceptance of us.In Pastor Bryan's relevant, uncompromising style, Saving the Saved proclaims the good news that once the pressure is off to perform, we are free to abide. Beyond the man-made rules and the red tape, there is a God who knows you by name. Come and meet him as you've never known him before.

Build your second marriage on more than a hope and a prayer. Beat the odds and make remarriage the best thing that's ever happened to you. Sixty percent of second marriages fail, but yours can be among the ones that succeed. Relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott show how you can beat the odds with flying colors and build a future together that is everything marriage can and ought to be. More than a million couples have used the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts to prepare for life-long love. And now, with Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts, Les and Leslie have added material for couples where one or both individuals are entering marriage for the second time. Uncover and understand the unique shaping factors you bring into your marriage as a woman. Prepare for some surprising and helpful insights, for honest, intimate, and enjoyable relationship-strengthening conversations with you and your fiance, and for engaging discussions with a small group. EXERCISES: 28 Self-Tests to Put the Book into Action Twenty-eight assessments will help couples identify and meld your love styles. Shed amazing new light on the way you are put together, how that affects specific aspects of how you and your loved one relate, and how you can improve those areas to build a better relationship. You will gain unprecedented insights into topics such as: facing the myths of remarriage honestly exploring unfinished business your personal ';Ten Commandments' making your roles conscious assessing your self-image getting your sex life off to a great start cultivating intimacy listening to your self-talk avoiding the blame game how well do you communicate? your top ten needs mind reading how to listen identifying your ';hot topics' money talks your spiritual journey becoming soul mates DISCUSSION GUIDE SESSIONS: 9 Questions to Ask Beforeand AfterYou Marry Les and Leslie will help you enjoy lively and eye-opening interaction with each other and with a small group through nine sessions on the DVD (sold separately). The discussion guide, included in this workbook, guides you through an opening exercise, note-taking as you watch the video, linking to the workbook exercises, and group discussion, concluding with an exercise each couple can do together over the next week. Designed for use with Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Men Updated (9780310875598) and Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts Video Study (9780310885436), both sold separately. The SYMBIS Assessment(R) shows two people how their personalities mesh in marriage. For information about completing the SYMBIS Assessment, which is recommended for both partners prior to beginning the SYMBIS course, visit http://www.symbisassessment.com.

Build your second marriage on more than a hope and a prayer. Beat the odds and make remarriage the best thing that's ever happened to you. Sixty percent of second marriages fail, but yours can be among the ones that succeed. Relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott show how you can beat the odds with flying colors and build a future together that is everything marriage can and ought to be. More than a million couples have used the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts to prepare for life-long love. And now, with Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts, Les and Leslie have added material for couples where one or both individuals are entering marriage for the second time. Uncover and understand the unique shaping factors you bring into your marriage as a man. Prepare for some surprising and helpful insights, for honest, intimate, and enjoyable relationship-strengthening conversations with you and your fiancee, and for engaging discussions with a small group. EXERCISES: 28 Self-Tests to Put the Book into Action Twenty-eight assessments will help couples identify and meld your love styles. Shed amazing new light on the way you are put together, how that affects specific aspects of how you and your loved one relate, and how you can improve those areas to build a better relationship. You will gain unprecedented insights into topics such as: facing the myths of remarriage honestly exploring unfinished business your personal ';Ten Commandments' making your roles conscious assessing your self-image getting your sex life off to a great start cultivating intimacy listening to your self-talk avoiding the blame game how well do you communicate? your top ten needs mind reading how to listen identifying your ';hot topics' money talks your spiritual journey becoming soul mates DISCUSSION GUIDE SESSIONS: 9 Questions to Ask Beforeand AfterYou Marry Les and Leslie will help you enjoy lively and eye-opening interaction with each other and with a small group through nine sessions on the DVD (sold separately). The discussion guide, included in this workbook, guides you through an opening exercise, note-taking as you watch the video, linking to the workbook exercises, and group discussion, concluding with an exercise each couple can do together over the next week. Designed for use with Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Women Updated (9780310875710) and Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts Video Study (9780310885436), both sold separately. The SYMBIS Assessment(R) shows two people how their personalities mesh in marriage. For information about completing the SYMBIS Assessment, which is recommended for both partners prior to beginning the SYMBIS course, visit http://www.symbisassessment.com.

You can do more than hope. Safeguard your relationship and build a love that not only goes the distance but fulfills your deepest dreams. More than a million couples have used the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS for short) to prepare for life-long love. The Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Men will help you uncover and understand the unique shaping factors you bring into your marriage as a man. Prepare for some surprising and helpful insights, for honest, intimate, and enjoyable relationship-strengthening conversations with you and your fiancee, and for engaging discussions with a small group. EXERCISES: 24 Self-Tests to Put the Book into Action Twenty-four assessments will shed amazing new light on the way you are put together, how that affects specific aspects of how you and your loved one relate, and how you can improve those areas to build a better relationship. You will gain unprecedented insights into topics such as: your personal ';Ten Commandments' making your roles conscious exploring unfinished business assessing your self-image getting your sex life off to a great start cultivating intimacy listening to your self-talk avoiding the blame game how well do you communicate? your top ten needs mind reading how to listen identifying your ';hot topics' money talks your spiritual journey DISCUSSION GUIDE SESSIONS: 7 Questions to Ask Beforeand AfterYou Marry Les and Leslie will help you enjoy lively and eye-opening interaction with each other and with a small group through seven sessions on the DVD (sold separately). The discussion guide, included in this workbook, guides you through an opening exercise, note-taking as you watch the video, linking to the workbook exercises, and group discussion, concluding with an exercise each couple can do together over the next week. Designed for use with Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Women Updated (9780310875475) and Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Updated Video Study (9780310875734), both sold separately. The SYMBIS Assessment (R) shows two people how their personalities mesh in marriage. For information about completing the SYMBIS Assessment, which is recommended for both partners prior to beginning the SYMBIS course, visit http://www.symbisassessment.com.

Signs have been almost as much a part of the modern church as the front doors. For that matter, they've been the entry into church life for countless people who have responded to their brief but cogent message. Your church sign has more potential than you may imagine -- if you're smart in using it. Your Church Sign offers you sound pointers on signage. You'll find tips on impactful sign placement, captions, themes, and how to write effective messages. And you'll get more than one thousand ready-made, eye-catching sayings. Some are humorous, some are encouraging, some are wise, some are convicting. All are designed to turn scant seconds of drive-by time into active spiritual awareness. Arranged by theme, Your Church Sign offers captions on: -Marriage and the Family - Prayer - Going to Church - Seasonal Themes - Christian Living - God in Charge - Evangelism - The Bible - Speech . . . and more. Turn to this practical, easy-to-use book for fast ideas and proven advice for helping your church sign make a difference in people's lives.

True Christian faith is a profoundly transformational experience in which every part of our being is marked by God's change and energized by his presence. This transformation takes us far beyond mere sin avoidance to a robust "e;full-bodied"e; holiness in which we make ourselves "e;holy available"e; to God every minute of the day. From Starbucks, to the office, to the soccer fields, to the boardroom, believers have the opportunity to carry the presence of Christ wherever they go. God offers the reader more than mere forgiveness; he wants to radically change and fill them with his presence, so they can experience an entirely different kind of life based not just on what they do or don't do but on who they are.Yet while many Christians today profess belief, their Christianity has no pulse. Holy Available is a manifesto of fully alive faith. Gary Thomas issues a compelling call for readers to see with Christ's eyes, feel with Christ's heart, and serve with Christ's hands. We make ourselves available to become "e;God oases,"e; places of spiritual refuge where God can bring the hurting and lost to enjoy his presence and ministry.

Sixty percent of second marriages fail. Yours can be among the ones that succeed. Relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott show how you can beat the odds with flying colors and make remarriage the best thing that's ever happened to you. Do you have the skills you need? Now is the time to acquire them--and build a future together that is everything marriage can and ought to be.Also available: men's workbook, women's workbook, and abridged audio cassette version

What does it take to raise great kids? If you've read any books on parenting, conflicting opinions have probably left you feeling confused. Get tough! Show acceptance. Lay down the rules. Lighten up, already!There's got to be a balance--and there is. Joining their expertise with the wisdom of MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend help you provide both the care and acceptance that make grace real to your child, and the firmness and discipline that give direction. Avoiding the twin extremes of permissiveness and over-control, Drs. Cloud and Townsend show how you can help your child cultivate six necessary character traits: attachment, responsibility, reality, competence, morality, and worship/spiritual life.At last, here is an effective middle ground for raising up children who will handle life with maturity and wisdom. Raising Great Kids will help you equip your son or daughter to accept life's responsibilities, grow from its challenges, and freely and fully explore all that it has to offer.

It doesn't take a long list of statistics to convince you that our world is broken. Mission trips, service projects, and supporting children through relief organizations are just a few of the ways that many youth workers engage their students in serving the least, the last, and the lost. As good and helpful as these things may be on the surface, that's where they remain-at the surface. The problems run far deeper than an occasional paint job or fundraising project can solve. But it's not hopeless. Deep social justice is possible in your youth ministry.Following their bestselling book, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, Kara Powell and Chap Clark provide you with research and insights that will help your ministry get to the next level. In addition to helping you further understand the Deep Design method (introduced in their previous book), their practical Kingdom of God theology will help you go beyond simply trying to motivate your students to serve those in need, and invite your students (and maybe even your leaders) to wrestle with why those people are in need in the first place. You'll hear from well-known social justice leaders and youth workers who are making a difference in urban, suburban, and small town settings including:* Jim Wallis (Sojourners)* Tony Campolo (Eastern University)* Lina Thompson (World Vision/Vision Youth)* John Perkins (Christian Community Development Association)* Shane Claiborne (The Simple Way)* Larry Acosta (Urban Youth Workers Institute)* Rudy Carrasco (Harambee Christian Family Center)* Jeremy Del Rio (Community Solutions, Inc.)* Noel Castellanos (Christian Community Development Association), and more In addition to expanding your personal justice commitments, Deep Justice in a Broken World will help you reflect with your own leadership team, and will provide you with online resources to take you even deeper into the journey. So go ahead, dig deeper into what it means to heal the broken world in which we live. Take your ministry deeper into social justice.

What if your child's "e;life-after-divorce"e; could be better than you've hoped for?As the post-divorce dust settles, your child's chances of leading a healthy, successful life are directly linked to how you and your former spouse relate. So instead of listening to statistics, read this book to discover real world co-parenting strategies from author, counselor, and co-parent Tammy Daughtry.Discover how you can make positive co-parenting work for you and your child by:* Understanding how today's actions will affect your child in five, ten, and twenty years* Teaming with your child's co-parent to develop strategies in the best interest of your children* Helping your child feel at ease in both homes* Increasing your child's self-esteem while minimizing anxiety* Integrating stepparents into your co-parenting teamCo-parenting isn't easy. But with these strategies for success, you'll be prepared to create an enjoyable childhood and a healthy upbringing that will impact your child for a lifetime. Take heart-the future can be better and brighter than you've dared to hope.

Yes, you CAN say no to your child and still be a loving parent. Discover how boundaries make parenting better today!What the award-winning, bestselling Boundaries has done for adult relationships, Boundaries with Kids will do for you and your children. Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend provide the help and guidance you need for raising your kids to take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions.With wisdom and empathy, they take you through the ins and outs of instilling the kind of character in your children that will help them lead balanced, productive, and fulfilling adult lives. Learn how to:set limits and still be a loving parentbring control to an out-of-control family lifeapply the ten laws of boundaries to parentingdefine appropriate boundaries and consequences for your kids. . . and much more!Plus, check out Boundaries family collection of books dedicated to key areas of life - dating, marriage, raising teenagers, and leadership. Workbooks and Spanish editions are also available.

In her moving spiritual memoir, Mary DeMuth traces the winding path of "e;thin places"e; in her life-places where she experienced longing and healing more intensely than before. As DeMuth writes, "e;Thin places are snatches of holy ground, tucked into the corners of our world, where we might just catch a glimpse of eternity. They are aha moments, beautiful realizations, when the Son of God bursts through the hazy fog of our monotony and shines on us afresh."e;From losing her earthly father to discovering a heavenly Father who never leaves, from singing Olivia Newton-John songs to the sky to worshiping God under a French sun, from surviving abuse as a latchkey kid to experiencing the joy of mothering three children, DeMuth's story calls readers to a deeper understanding of their own story. With unusual spiritual wisdom, she looks for God in the past so that she might experience him more profoundly in the present. Her powerful words invite readers to know God in a new way-a God ready to break through any ordinary day or extraordinary pain and offer a glimpse of eternity.

The letters L.O.V.E. represent four personality dimensions that make up your personal "e;love style."e; Once you know your own love style and that of your spouse, you will be able to love him or her in a way that will help you get the love you need in return.Relationship experts Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott stand on a mountain of research to show you how this single insight can draw you closer together. Never before have we had such an easy-to-use and scientifically proven tool for pinpointing each person's approach to love. You'll discover how much these dimensions inform your love style:L - Leader: The Take-Charge SpouseO - Optimist: The Encouraging SpouseV - Validator: The Devoted SpouseE - Evaluator: The Careful SpouseThe L.O.V.E. online assessment, in combination with this book, will show you how you are designed to approach everything from communication and conflict to sex and intimacy. This is not your typical marriage book. It's a practical tool for learning how to express love to your spouse and feel truly loved in return.

Choose the parent you'll be--and you choose the child you'll raise.When it comes to parenting, who you are is more important than what you do. After all, your child internalizes your traits more than anyone else's on the planet. And that's why Les and Leslie Parrott--in a parenting book like no other--give you a proven plan for cultivating the traits you most want your child to have.Discover:the most important question you'll ever ask as a parentthe three-step method to avoid being the parent you don't want to bethe secret to making your "e;intentional traits"e; stick on even your worst days. . . and much more.A husband and wife team made up of two of today's leading relationship experts, Les and Leslie Parrott reveal their personal experiences as parents to help you fulfill the most important calling you will ever have. The Parent You Want to Be is inspiring, warm, and filled with a transformational power for your entire family.

We know the bedrock themes upon which the Christian faith stands: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. As Christians, we live within these great moments of God's plan for humanity and all of his creation. In other words, our lives are part of Christian theology-every part of our lives, even surgery.As a part of Zondervan's Ordinary Theology series, The Scalpel and the Cross recounts New Testament professor Gene Green's encounter with open-heart surgery and carefully examines the many ways in which Christian doctrine spoke into the experience. The result is a short book that avoids shallow explanations and glib promises, instead guiding readers to deeper understanding and enduring hope in the face of one of modern life's necessary traumas.

People are leaving the church J.D. Greear pastors. Big givers. Key volunteers. Some of his best leaders and friends. And that's exactly how he wants it to be.When Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission, he revealed that the key for reaching the world with the gospel is found in sending, not gathering. Though many churches focus time and energy on attracting people and counting numbers, the real mission of the church isn't how many people you can gather. It's about training up disciples and then sending them out. The true measure of success for a church should be its sending capacity, not its seating capacity.But there is a cost to this. To see ministry multiply, we must release the seeds God has placed in our hands. And to do that, we must ask ourselves whether we are concerned more with building our kingdom or God's.In Gaining By Losing, J.D. Greear unpacks ten plumb lines that you can use to reorient your church's priorities around God's mission to reach a lost world. The good news is that you don't need to choose between gathering or sending. Effective churches can, and must, do both.

BETTER INFORMED,BETTER EQUIPPED TO MINISTERto today's blurred youth cultureMobile. Connected. Wired in. This is a generation that skips over perceived cultural boundaries and resists definition. They are a mash-up of identity, a blur of old categories and classes. Creators and consumers of a rapidly changing culture.But how does one reach a demographic that is so difficult to pin down?Many of the most popular approaches to youth ministry today begin by portraying youth as collections of fixed snapshots, "e;profiles"e; based on sociological research studies. Yet according to Dr. Jeff Keuss, today's teens cannot be adequately characterized by these simplistic and static descriptions. Keuss argues that what is needed, instead, is a qualitative approach to describing young people, one that recognizes the "e;blurred"e; nature of today's mobile youth culture.Jeff Keuss presents an optimistic new way of thinking about youth, one that sees them more holistically and less clinically. As we learn to see youth culture through this new lens, we will become better informed and better equipped to minister to the teens of today's rapidly changing world.

Charles is 78 years old and there is much he cannot remember. He cannot remember the names of his children, why he lives in a nursing home, or even whether he ate breakfast today. His forgetting causes confusion, and in his fear and uncertainty he sometimes lashes out at those who try to care for him. But when someone reads a favorite Psalm he quickly joins in, reciting each cherished word. When he hears an old hymn of faith, his hand slowly raises and he breathes out each word quietly, his face reflecting a peace that passes all understanding.Alzheimer's disease has been described as the "e;defining disease"e; of the baby boomer generation. Millions of Americans will spend much of their retirement years either caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or experiencing its effects on their lives firsthand. When a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they face great uncertainty, knowing that they can expect to live their remaining years with increasing confusion and progressively greater reliance upon other people to care for them. As the disease advances it seems to overwhelm a person, narrowing their focus and leading them to forget critical truths about the Lord, their life with him, and his promises.Through the personal stories of those affected and the loved ones who care for them, Dr. Benjamin Mast highlights the power of the gospel for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Filled with helpful, up-to-date information, Dr. Mast answers common questions about the disease and its effect on personal identity and faith as he explores the biblical importance of remembering and God's commitment to not forget his people. In addition, he gives practical suggestions for how the church can come alongside families and those struggling, offering help and hope to victims of this debilitating disease.If you are a Christian who knows or loves someone with Alzheimer's disease, have recently been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease, or are a pastor or ministry leader seeking to better understand and minister to people with Alzheimer's disease this book will encourage you with the good news of God's faithfulness and the future hope he calls us to.

Do Work That MattersProductivity isn't just about getting more things done. It's about getting the right things done-the things that count, make a difference, and move the world forward. In our current era of massive overload, this is harder than ever before. So how do you get more of the right things done without confusing mere activity for actual productivity?When we take God's purposes into account, a revolutionary insight emerges. Surprisingly, we see that the way to be productive is to put others first-to make the welfare of other people our motive and criteria in determining what to do (what's best next). As both the Scriptures and the best business thinkers show, generosity is the key to unlocking our productivity. It is also the key to finding meaning and fulfillment in our work.What's Best Next offers a practical approach for improving your productivity in all areas of life. It will help you better understand:* Why good works are not just rare and special things like going to Africa, but anything you do in faith even tying your shoes.* How to create a mission statement for your life that actually works.* How to delegate to people in a way that actually empowers them.* How to overcome time killers like procrastination, interruptions, and multitasking by turning them around and making them work for you.* How to process workflow efficiently and get your email inbox to zero every day.* How your work and life can transform the world socially, economically, and spiritually, and connect to God's global purposes.By anchoring your understanding of productivity in God's purposes and plan, What's Best Next will give you a practical approach for increasing your effectiveness in everything you do.

This Coffee Shop Conversations Ebook, by Dale and Jonalyn Fincher, will help you discover the fine art of sharing your faith ... without losing your friends.There are as many different styles of faith these days as there are ways to order your latte. So how do you talk to people about Jesus without offending them? By learning to cultivate respect and love for those who are different. Dale and Jonalyn Fincher will help you:* Gently invite others to share.* Cultivate an attitude of tolerance.* Avoid the buzzwords that will stop a conversation cold.* Talk about Jesus as a unique spiritual leader.* Listen more effectively.* Strengthen your own knowledge of your faith.Make the most of those casual, coffee shop moments. Find common ground as you gently and lovingly invite people to become followers and students of Jesus. It's all here for you in this Ebook-Coffee Shop Conversations: Making the Most of Spiritual Small Talk.

Raised near New Orleans as one of six children, Dorothy Newton was surrounded by abuse and poverty as she grew up. But she became the first in her family to graduate from college and moved out of poverty. She then began to live out her dreams in Dallas of a better home and life when she married celebrity superstar football player Nate Newton. She had gone from poverty to the pinnacle of success. She was married to a handsome, successful, famous professional athlete, who was a three time Super Bowl Champion and six time Pro-Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys.But all that glittered was not gold.Before long the relationship turned abusive. She found herself living in the world she thought she had escaped in her years growing up. The world did not see her suffering behind closed doorsshe was betrayed, treated abusively, threatened continually. Dorothy was trapped with no one to talk to and nowhere to run. In this book Dorothy shares her experiences of pain, loss, survival, hope, recovery, and victory. A gripping story throughout, A Silent Cry is a testament to Dorothy's will to live and the peace that comes with hope in the God who sees and hears your tearseven when no one else does.

Small groups of couples can learn important skills and revitalize their marriages with this fun and unique approach. "e;You will love growing together while going out together."e; -John Gray Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus Remember back to your dating daysthe excitement you felt? Now you can reclaim that same spark, connection, and creativity in your marriage through ten intentional, memory-making dates. This proven approach to relationship growth is low-key, purposeful, effective, easy, and fun , and will help you * Communicate better * Put the sizzle back in sex * Process anger and resolve conflicts * Develop spiritual intimacy * Appreciate your differences * Balance busy lifestyles * And much more! Enjoy your dates alone as a couple or start your own 10 Great Dates group in your church or community. You probably already know 5-6 couples who could benefit from time-out to build their marriage and enrich their relationship with 10 Great Dates. See 10 Great Dates DVD Curriculum for everything you need to lead this effective, husband-friendly and fun program.

In Our Mothers, Ourselves, Henry Cloud and John Townsend show how understanding how our mothers have profoundly influenced our lives can set us on a path toward wholeness and growth.No one has influenced the person you are today like your mother. The way she handled your needs as a child has shaped your worldview, your relationships, your marriage, your career, your self-image - your life. Our Mothers, Ourselves can help you identify areas that need reshaping, to make positive choices for personal change, and to establish a mature relationship with Mom today.The Phantom MomThe China Doll MomThe Controlling MomThe Trophy MomThe Still-the-Boss MomThe American Express MomYou'll learn how your mom affected you as a child and may still be affecting you today. Our Mothers, Ourselves is a biblical, realistic, and empowering route to wholeness and growth, to deeper and more satisfying bonds with your family, friends, and spouse - and to a new, healthier way of relating to your mother.This book was previously titled The Mom Factor.

In Jesus, Continued J.D. Greear focuses on a central truth that unites us: God wants to be vitally present in and through his people. To live empowered, fruitful lives, we have to become intimately aware of where God is moving in our lives, how he is speaking to us, and how he has gifted us.

It started with a simple question: How can we help them? It became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up. When Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 11, she chose to focus not on herself but on bringing joy and hope to other children suffering from cancer.During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the "e;Joy Factory"e; (originally their garage) making JoyJars(R)-packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars(R) being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries. Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars(R), and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children's hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer.Join the movement at www.negu.org.

Less is more. And more is better. This is the new equation for church development, a new equation with eternal results.Rejecting the "e;bigger is better"e; model of the complex, corporate megachurch, church innovator Dave Browning embraced deliberate simplicity. The result was Christ the King Community Church, International (CTK), an expanding multisite community church that Outreach magazine named among America's Fastest Growing Churches and America's Most Innovative Churches. Members of the CTK network in a number of cities, countries, and continents are empowered for maximum impact by Browning's "e;less is more"e; approach. In Deliberate Simplicity, Browning discusses the six elements of this streamlined model:* Minimality: Keep it simple* Intentionality: Keep it missional* Reality: Keep it real* Multility: Keep it cellular* Velocity: Keep it moving* Scalability: Keep it expandingAs part of the Leadership Network Innovation Series, Deliberate Simplicity is a guide for church leaders seeking new strategies for more effective ministry.

In her chatty and breezy style, typical of any online conversation, Bethany Hamilton shares information on a wide variety of topics about her life and faith.

Author and pastor Bob Roberts Jr. is one of the architects of what church and Christian community can become in this new century. His unique approach to Christianity is based on what he calls T-Life (transformed life), which leads to a T-World (transformed world). Drawing inspiration from early church history and the emerging church in the developing world, Roberts envisions a new way of engaging the local church to achieve common goals. He calls for building a church culture rather than a church program. Glocal churches create disciples who, transformed by the Holy Spirit, are infiltrating today's culture on a global and local scale. In Roberts's terms, when we establish a relationship with Jesus Christ and begin applying his principles, we experience T-Life (transformed life). Transformation begins with a growing, interactive relationship with God that includes personal and corporate worship. This, in turn, results in community. As community serves others, transformation has both a global and local (glocal) impact and creates T-World. Transformation redefines the focus and practice of the church, not from external bells and whistles, but from the internal transformation of the very character of its people.