Being a youth minister is not for the meek
Youth ministry is difficult and you need every useful resource you can get your handson. "The Whole Youth Worker, 2nd Edition" is advice straight from the heart of a guywho has been in the youth ministry trenches for over a decade. Whether you are a youthminister rookie or a seasoned pro, "The Whole Youth Worker, 2nd Edition" should be onyour resource shelf. Inside the new 2nd Edition, you will find advice on: Being a professional inside the officeDealing with criticismBalancing family and ministryChallenging your congregation's definition of successCreating a more parent-friendly ministryCreating a clear vision for ministryMinistering to others when your spirit is strugglingStaying health as a form of worship
And new insights available only in this edition include:
Advice on interviewing wellHow not to let an event become bigger than GodCelebrating successesWhen good kids make bad choices
Youth Ministers and Pastors Acclaim for "The Whole Youth Worker"
"Here is a brass-tacks companion for those who would aspire to being not a masterbut a servant, one who is willing to put forth great effort on the young, even thoughnot all the recipients will be appreciative. Jay Tucker is the opposite of preachy, he ispractical and instructional with down-to-earth language that brings a smile."--Most Rev. Heyward B. Ewart, PhD, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop, Holy Catholic Church International
"If you want to hear from the heart of a youth worker who struggles to enjoy the Monday-to-Friday part of youth ministry and wants to help you get through it too, then you need to read The Whole Youth Worker."--Mike Kupferer, Youth Ministry Exchange
"In The Whole Youth Worker, Jay gives us a glimpse at what it's like to be in the trenches--both good and bad. You will read this book and say, 'Been there--it's good to know I'm not alone '" --Rev. Bill Fisackerly, IV, Gulf Cove United Methodist Church
Learn more at www.JayTucker.net
The Spiritual Discovery Series from Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealing.com

Leadership is changing. Not only are established leaders passing the baton to up-and-coming leaders, the very nature of leadership is being transformed. Veteran leader and cultural observer Jimmy Long has discerned how leadership positions and roles have changed in light of societal shifts. Authority is no longer derived from positional status but is earned from relational credibility. Leaders focus not only on tasks but on community. And leadership is less about directing followers to a particular destination, and more about empowering others on a shared journey. Existing leaders cannot write off emerging leaders because they work differently. Nor can younger leaders dismiss the contributions of those who have gone before. Here is a book that offers a positive vision for intergenerational partnership and leadership transference rather than competition. The practical tools outlined here will help existing and emerging leaders understand each others' leadership styles and collaborate fruitfully for the sake of the kingdom.

The Spirit is speaking. Can you hear him? If you're longing to become more attentive to God--to listen to him, know his voice and experience his love, spiritual direction can point the way. In Seeking God Together, experienced spiritual director Alice Fryling offers a unique introduction specifically for group spiritual direction: a place where individuals can experience what it means to be listened to and loved by others, so that they can learn to listen more attentively to God in their daily lives and be used by God. Out of her years of being both director and directee, Fryling offers practical, step-by-step guidance for those who would like to start, lead or participate in group spiritual direction. Her book will help you know what to expect and fully equip you for the different aspects of the group experience, including learning to listen to God, using Scripture in a group, navigating different personalities, setting group expectations and asking life-giving questions. She also provides an appendix with opening exercises for use in your meetings together. "The intentional goal of group spiritual direction," Alice writes, "is to help each participant become more aware of God in their lives, for the sake of others. Spiritual direction leads you to an awakening of the soul." The Spirit is speaking to you and to others. Here is a book to help you and a group of soul friends listen for and with each other as you seek God together.

This is a textbook on preaching from an ecumenical perspective, covering the foundations and practice of preaching. In our rapidly changing world, Christian preaching is as important as ever, but makes even greater demands of the preacher than in the past. It is being challenged by new forms of worship and communication at a time when it is becoming more difficult for preachers to address the complex issues of modern life in relation to Christianity. This book is designed to help preachers to sustain themselves and each other in their work and to realize their full potential by helping them to re-affirm the importance of preaching by rehearsing its biblical and theological basis and to understand the cycles, dynamics and rhythms of their vocation and to engage with them constructively. It offers clear guidelines on how to construct a sermon and use contemporary professional support services throughout their preaching ministry and to develop their own support networks. So the book emphasizes what preachers themselves, personally and through supportive networks, can do to sustain and develop their preaching ministries.

This book challenges the church to ask whether or not the gospel as we commonly interpret it today really embodies the jubilee vision of the Bible. Imagine a group of forty adults living in a community, assisting each other to buy houses, sharing material wealth and releasing the surplus to help others as a practical outworking of the biblical principles of jubilee.Kim Tan was part of this group and in The Jubilee Gospel seeks to unpack these principles of sacrificial generosity, stewardship and social holiness.Starting with the OT principle of jubilee and tracing the themes through the Bible, we discover a way of living that reflects Gods justice and compassion and embraces kingdom politics and economics.What may seem buried deep in the early parts of the OT is brought up to date as were confronted by Jesus teaching and principles of wealth distribution, cancellation of debt, hospitality and storehouses.

Stephen Greggo offers an in-depth exploration of care group leadership from a Christian perspective. Care groups are worth pursuing because they can create a biblically grounded context for corrective healing relationships. Care group leaders engaged in pastoral care, counseling services or spiritual formation will catch a vision for how the core interpersonal process can be instrumental in reshaping character, redeeming relationships and realizing sanctification.

Building on Haddon Robinson's philosophical approach to preaching, this book brings together accomplished evangelical preachers and teachers to help students and pastors understand the worlds--biblical, cultural, and personal--that influence and impact their preaching. The contributors explore the various inner and outer worlds in which a preacher functions with the goal of helping preachers sharpen their craft. Foreword by Bryan Chapell.

A burgeoning body of literature on death and dying is organized into a comprehensive, carefully outlined, annotated list in this volume, which cites more than 2200 books, articles, chapters, monographs, and reports primarily concerned with the counseling and theological aspects of death and dying. Compiled by a member of the clergy involved in hospice care, this bibliography recognizes the wide range of topics that comprise the human experience of death and dying, as it accesses information from the pastoral to the medical, the historical to the topical, and the philosophical to the technical elements of thanatology. This multidisciplinary approach provides helping professionals as well as those involved with mortuary science and the study of thanatology with an extensive guide to specific and general information. Introductory material both reviews the current trend towards specialization in thanatology and the need to preserve a holistic approach towards death and dying, and suggests uses for the sources cited in the pages that follow. The annotated entries are descriptive and critical, and are arranged to introduce the topic historically. They are followed by relevant theological and philosophical issues and conclude with works that address the care of the dying and bereaved. All the sources are fully indexed by author, title, and subject matter.

To live as Christ lived we must love as He loved. A challenging, practical approach of viewing love as Christ did: a choice made for the highest good of another.

In a clich -free zone, 'Twenty Four' suggests practical ways that we can discover a more 24/7 approach to discipleship. It is real, stimulating and designed to make you think about the stuff that makes up the daily diet called life. Taking a day in the life of an ordinary person, it is designed for Christians everywhere to gain an exciting new perspective on all parts of their lives and shows how every aspect can be part of worship. Each chapter is filled with illustrations from modern culture and the biblical viewpoint on each area is considered. Through Krish Kandiah's thoughtful and original teaching, we see how to serve and worship our amazing God in each of these.With a brand new cover and internal design. Twenty Four now includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Twenty Four can be used in small groups or in mentoring situations.

Have we replaced the glory of God with our church programs. If so, is there anything we can do to get the glory of God back into our gatherings and individual lives? While we have good music, well-written songs and history to learn from, we can still miss having the presence of God in our meetings the way it was in Bible times. In this challenging and often provocative book, Jarrod Cooper deals with these important questions. Providing plenty of biblical illustrations to support his concerns, Jarrod shakes up more of our conventional thinking on the subject or worship. Can we for example only worship in the presence of the microphone, worship leader and powerpoint. What if all these were stripped away and it was just God and us? What would our worship be like then?

As a pastor, do you ever get the feeling that no matter what you try, nothing much seems to change? That is because the ministries themselves are not redemptive--they are not up to you. Only Jesus' ministry is redemptive. Jesus has to "show up." Theologian Andrew Purves explores at the deepest level the true and essential nature of Christian ministry. He says that the attempt to be an effective minister is a major problem. Ministers are "in the way." He radically claims that ministries need to be crucified. They need to be killed off so that Christ can make them live. Rooting church service in Christ's own continuing ministry, Purves provides a vision for students and practicing clergy to reclaim the vital connection between Christ and participation in his ministry today, even if it means letting Christ put to death the ministries to which pastors cling so closely. A radical appraisal for a critical malady affecting the life of the Christian church written in plain, down-to-earth language.

Putting your trust in the world is a recipe for disaster. The only way to live well is to put every aspect of your life into God's hands. Entrusting everything to Him gives peace unlike any material possession or worldly relationship can provide.

"Trust in the Lord" is an inspiring collection of short essays that offers hope to the hopeless. Raised in the Christian church, author Folake Odusanya shares spiritual manna for the days of famine that each Christian goes through. Her words, accompanied by pertinent Bible verses, will help you renew your mind and put you on the path to redemption.

Each chapter gives you a new perspective on how to trust the Lord. Whether it's spiritually, financially, emotionally, or even socially, Odusanya's wisdom will show how relying and resting on God is the only way to find peace.

God's love for his children is unconditional. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Lift up your spirit today and give your worries to God with the help of Trust in the Lord.