"How do I forgive the church?" is an interesting question. Many ask it. Many can't answer it. Abuse by a church leader is horrendous and evil. It often goes outside of anything we ever thought or imagined a pastor or church leader could do. The very persons we thought we could trust betray by abusing.

Are you familiar with what abuse in the context of the church looks like? Child sexual abuse, sexual assault, physical and emotional abuse, breaching confidentiality, undue influence, fraud, defamation, and clergy malpractice are some examples. When trust is betrayed because of wrongful behavior by a church leader, confusion, harm, and anger set in.

Faced with the effects of abuse, a victim is torn about how to recover and heal. Sleepless nights, fears, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, fatigue, low energy, and irritability are all common symptoms of abuse. Because of the abuse, relationship issues, fears of intimacy, family problems, and shame are thrust into the victim's life and she struggles with how to handle the problems. Pair that up with the abuser being a church leader, and the entire process for recovery, healing, and forgiveness exceeds most people's understanding. Life that was once simple and good now becomes something that is nearly impossible to handle.

"Forgiving the Church" helps church leaders, church members, and faith communities understand what abuse looks like and how churches have a responsibility to help victims forgive. It provides stories and examples of how the church abuses and gives ideas for how to help victims begin the process of forgiveness. Although it is the victim's responsibility to forgive, the church should take specific actions to help ensure a greater possibility that the victim can begin the forgiveness process.

Church leaders, this book will help you understand abuse in the church and what you should do to help victims begin the process of forgiveness. Victims, this book will help you begin to understand how you can start the forgiveness process when you've been abused by the church.

Managing Clergy Lives gives a unique insight into the everyday lives of Church of England parish priests. It examines how men and women priests manage their many and everyday commitments to God, the Church and their personal relationships. In a fast-changing world, Managing Clergy Lives shows how the vocational commitment of priests to their ordinal vows remains steadfast. For today's clergy, the ordained life means obedience, sacrifice and a loss of intimacy, embodied in spiritual self-discipline and the ultimate dedication of body and soul to God. Written by an Anglican Bishop (Peyton) in Dundee and a Senior Lecturer from Lancaster University (Gatrell), Managing Clergy Lives opens a window onto clergy households in terms of personal relationships, spirituality and work-home balance. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with 46 Area/Rural Deans, it reports their everyday experiences using their own words. The book reveals the stories behind the enduring commitment within the Church and gets behind the scenes in order to understand the staying power of men and women who are 'becoming priests' across a lifetime.

Allow yourself to let go, be healed and enjoy life again Forgiveness has often incorrectly been associated with negativity and weakness. It has even been said that it means agreeing with sin and hurt. Yet genuine forgiveness says: ''It hurt me. You hurt me. But I choose to let go, so I can be healed. I give you over to God.'' Dealing with forgiveness has been one of the most challenging issues of my life. Bitterness can cause deep wounds, which can steal your joy and make you ill. However, the good news is that deliverance is possible through forgiveness. Once I discovered the freedom of letting go, I regained my confidence, my abillity to enjoy life and the courage to love again. John 8:36: ''If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.''

"My wife and I had filed for divorce when Chris shared the materials in this book. That was more than five years ago. Now we are not just married, we are living happily ever after."

-Tim Quintario, a happy husband

Statistics say that fifty-two percent of marriages end in divorce and that more than half the children in America do not have a father figure in their life.

This is a tragedy, but it's one that can be remedied one husband at a time-starting with you. In "21 Days to Happily Ever After," author Chris Broughton presents a twenty-one day program for Christian husbands centering on nine responsibilities designed to help strengthen marriages.

A compilation of lessons learned during Broughton's thirty-two years of marriage and fifteen years of ministering to marriages, this guide offers a series of biblical truths to help men become better leaders, providers, lovers, warriors, advocates, standard bearers, forgivers, reconcilers, and intercessors.

With engaging stories and appropriate analogies, "21 Days to Happily Ever After" communicates what God expects of every man and shows you how to apply these principles to everyday life in order to live happily ever after with your wife.

Many people make a profession of faith and sincerely desire to serve God, but there are struggles and strongholds in their lives, and it appears that there is no way out. Rooted and Grounded can help any person who desires to know and serve God walk through this journey; break free of strongholds, and enjoy all that God has planned for them.

It's like drinking multivitamins that will assist in several areas of growth, development, and maturity.

The traditional Catholic Church views true celibacy as a gift from God. But today's reality paints a much different picture. In "Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood, " the Most Rev. Lou A. Bordisso reviews the research on sexual activity and celibacy among Catholic priests. Featuring heart-wrenching, anonymous, and candid self-disclosures about the sexual behaviors of heterosexual, gay, and bisexual priests, Bordisso explores the meaning of celibacy in accordance with Roman Catholic Church teachings, doctrine, and canon law. "Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood" provides an honest and frank study of current perspectives on celibacy in light of priestly sexual behaviors. It allows for Roman Catholic priests to speak out in their own voices about their struggles and the conflicts they experience between celibacy and their sexual activities. At a time when most are disgusted with the sexual scandal cover-ups, smokescreens, and veil of secrecy provided by many Roman Catholic bishops and their apologists, "Sex, Celibacy, and Priesthood" tells the truth and encourages us to think imaginatively and compassionately about an issue of crucial importance to the Roman Catholic Church at this moment in history.

Free to Be Fruitful offers unique insight on how God brings freedom from bondage and how people may best minister freedom to one another. Taking key sections of Scripture, Joey Benami presents a comprehensive foundation for healing and freedom from bondage. This book will give you transforming
revelation about:
fruitfulness as the goal of spiritual freedom;
the obstacles to fruitfulness;
generational iniquities and curses;
spiritual bondage and oppression.
Free to Be Fruitful also explores how God redeems people, how He defeats Satan, and how to overcome unfruitfulness.

Connecting Developing Closeness on the Journey of a Lifetime Couple's Edition is a companion to the Leaders edition of the same title. These books also have a companion DVD with five sessions. This set is a tool for pastors and spiritual leaders to use to help couple's build marriages that are fresh, dynamic, growing, and connected. Biblical in content and practical in application, this series is an excellent resource for all married couples-whether they are newlyweds or married many years.

Joseph Butler was an English bishop, theologian, apologist, and philosopher. He was born in Wantage in the English county of Berkshire. He is known, among other things, for his critique of Thomas Hobbes's egoism and John Locke's theory of personal identity. During his life and after his death, Butler influenced many philosophers, including David Hume, Thomas Reid, and Adam Smith

The partial truth about us is hard to accept: We hurt those we love. We fail to step in when others need us most. We do wrong-and we need forgiveness. From others and from God, but also from ourselves. But the full truth about us is liberating and freeing: while we are more deeply flawed than we can imagine, we also are far more valuable and cherished than we can comprehend. To reach the place of self-forgiveness, we must embrace this truth. The gift of God's acceptance frees us from self-blame, guilt, and shame. In this practical, inspiring book, Dr. Everett Worthington identifies six steps to forgiving yourself: Receive God's forgiveness Repair relationships Rethink ruminations REACH emotional self-forgiveness Rebuild self-acceptance Resolve to live virtuously Weaving his own story of struggling with his brother's suicide and his overwhelming feelings of regret, together with psychological insight, scientific research, and biblical truth, Dr. Worthington opens a clear path to freedom from self-condemnation to self- acceptance and most importantly, to the full life that Christ promises.

This book shares with the reader the value of establishing a divorce recovery ministry while also offering practical insights on establishing your own unique church-affiliated program. Whether you are working individually with one divorced person or leading a large group, Divorce Ministry: A Guidebook provides helpful resources to guide you through the emotional and relational issues divorced people often encounter. Why would a church offer divorce recovery? Planning an 8-session divorce recovery program 8 questions divorced people ask 7 myths about the divorce experience 7 myths about marriage Sample flyers, ads, letters, work sheets, and registration forms

The Halo/Sharp is a watershed deck that breaks the influence of the Rider-Waite archetypes and presents an entirely novel and original "new energy" version of the powerful and sacred tarot archetypes. This book provides guidance on how to use the deck in personal spiritual/healing/cartomantic practice, as well as instructions on using the deck in your counseling, healing, or spiritual practice. Each card description provides the "old energy" archetype and the Halo/Sharp new energy version. Each card description also provides a divinatory meaning (cards upright and reversed) that focuses on identifying and removing obstacles and blockages to full spiritual awakening, activation, and ascension. Single card readings and the "three card" Sharp spread are discussed. A glossary of key terms is provided, as well an overview of the emancipating symbology of the Halo/Sharp deck. To purchase a copy of the revolutionary Halo/Sharp deck, visit http: //www.thelightningpath.com/halosharp-deck/

Dr. Stan DeKoven is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist in California, specializing in working with families in crisis. He is the Founder and President of the International Training and Education Network and Vision International University. Dr. DeKoven is also the founder of The International Association of Christian Counseling Professionals and the Family Care Network. He is the author of over 40 books in practical Christian living for the maturing of God's people. Dr. DeKoven is a widower, and has two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel, and three beautiful grandchildren. About This Book "On Belay" is a French mountain climbing term indicating that all is secure for the climb up the mountain. This text presents a thoroughly Christian introduction to effective care and counseling, with the goal to assist trained and compassionate men and women to help others overcome the mountains of life. Home fellowship leaders, pastors, counselors, and caring Christian lay leaders can benefit from this book. Among the important topics covered: Why Christian Counseling? The Biblical Mandate How We Become Who We Are Problems in Human Dynamics The Process of Counseling Ministry Spiritual Dynamics of Christian Care-giving

Do your fears and anxieties get in the way of living a spirit-filled life? Have you ever been victim to the illusion of control? Are you looking for spiritual recovery and personal growth? Are compulsions interfering in your relationships with others and with God? Do you have the peace that you want? While completing more than forty thousand hours of psychotherapy over thirty years, with individuals, couples, and families, Dr. Krummel realized that the fears, roles, and themes in his life were not unique. He became aware that his psychological and spiritual journey was a common one. Dr. Richard Krummel's new book, Fear, Control, and Letting Go: How Psychological Principles and Spiritual Faith Can Help Us Recover from Our Fears offers life-changing tools for recovery and transformation. The book provides tremendous insight into how one can grow behaviorally, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. "While you are waiting for someone or something else to change, change yourself." --Dr. Krummel "Give as you are able, according as the Lord has blessed you." (Deuteronomy 16:17) Dr. Krummel donates $1.00 from the sale of each book to several charities.

Caregivers face an ongoing challenge in dealing with the difficult emotions of those we care for and nurture. When it comes to anger, despair, guilt, or sorrow, what are the best ways to respond? What does it mean if a person we are caring for feels anxious, fearful, frustrated or stressed? If we notice apathy, aggression, shame or suspicion, what can we do to try and understand what a person is feeling as we work to help them? In Healing Our Hurts, Daniel Bagby identifies and explains all the dynamics at play in these complex emotions. Offering practical biblical insights to these feelings, he interprets faith-based responses to separate overly religious piety from true, natural human emotion. This book helps us learn how to deal with life's difficult emotions in a redemptive and responsible way.

1 Corinthians 16:14 says to do everything with love. This book uses love to delicately approach the subjects that are most often avoided in everyday conversation. "We Overcome All Things "is a great book for the individual seeking healing and restoration, the counselor or group facilitator to invoke conversation, and as a companion to the Bible in life recovery programs. Healing is within our grasps, and we overcome our hang-ups as Jesus overcame the world.

Second only to the study of God is the study of human behavior. Of particular interest is how people related to one another in groups, and how groups affect individual lives, for good or ill. This book investigates the how people interrelate with each other, sometimes in the most subtle of ways, and influence each other. Of special interest is how groups within the life of the church can be used to benefit the Body of Christ, the family of God. Several issues related to group interaction and types of groups will be discussed, including: Counseling Related Groups Recovery groups Growth Groups Principles of Psychology and Theology as applied to groups Dynamics of Group life in Local church

The book of Proverbs is one of the most informative books of the Bible; however, it is not structurally friendly. Now you can have the vital information contained in this book in a format useful for transforming your mind so that your life will reflect the changes. Use this book in your daily Bible studies and as a tutorial for your children. Once you have been given the knowledge, you can begin following instructions of the Lord. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

I believe that the Bible teaches assertiveness as the most mature, biblical way of living. In very simple terms, assertiveness is when we say, "Come sit with me. Let's talk about our relationship. What is working for us and what needs to change?" When we are assertive we do not run and hide from relationship difficulties, neither do we demand that things are done our way. Instead, we face the problems head on, and in a calm, but firm manner, we address the issues that need to be resolved.

When I have been privileged to help people become assertive, they have not only improved their interpersonal relationships, they have developed a healthier self-esteem, and for people with a faith in God, that relationship has also deepened.

Because I have seen such positive changes in the clients I have worked with, I have become passionate about the importance of being assertive. My own relationships have also improved when I have practiced assertiveness.

Before I worked as a counselor, I taught school for several years. Later, as a counselor, I wished that someone would design a course on assertiveness that could be used in the classroom. If children would learn the value of assertive behavior early in life, they would struggle less with relationships throughout their lives.

Women Who Are Hurting, but Don't know It - was birthed from my own emotional hurts and hurts I've witness from other women. God used my pain to heal and strengthen my spirit so I may share with women who have experience similar hurts this truth - God wants to heal them too.

Dealing with Death God's Way reveals biblical truth's which help ease the pain of a lost loved one and offers an incredible hope for moving forward. This book deals with tuff issues and misconceptions such as suicide and cremation, to name a few. Being a Pastor for over 30 years I've heard a lot of teaching on death that is contrary to God's character and nature, even some things I've heard at funerals are out right lies. For that reason this book is full of truths and is concise so you can find help immediately.

The person-centered approach to counseling, psychotherapy, and education is about openness to change. This book is about encouraging change in the person-centered approach. A good theory and practice has to be flexible enough to allow a new generation to put its own slants on it. This works seeks to question the jargon of the approach such as unconditional positive regard, nondirectiveness, and nonjudgmentalness. However, it also offers replacements to those terms. It is also about hoping other thinkers and practitioners in the discipline will present their own ideas and thoughts about what it means to be person-centered, whilebeing within the domain of what has come to be called Rogerian.

What you can expect And He Restoreth My Soul is An Anthology providing: Methodologies from experts in their field Case histories, narrating the impact and affect of sexual abuse on victims of all ages Survivors describe in depth their experiences and why they are sharing their story Incite about sexual abuse, including the extraordinary such as: the "hearing impaired," the "elderly community," and a "child group home" Steps to protecting the congregation, and different departments/ministries of the church.......... Equipping the pastor, the counselor, the therapist, the spiritual leader, the spokes person of the group, the................And He Restoreth My Soul will invite you to: Test your knowledge of sexual abuse topics by taking the True/ False Tests Answer the questions.....Is our ministry meeting the needs of the abused? If not, What changes can we make? And He Restoreth My Soul is detailed, encouraging, and professional - a wonderfully positive approach to a very diverse problem. This resource provides hope, knowledge, love, and caring for God's direction. Most of all, it is meant to provide insight into the haven of unrest and a spiritual and emotion covering for healing.Gladys Olsen, PhD This informative and comprehensive guide moves one beyond the identification of sexual abuse to the healing path of God's redemptive love. As believers, this book provides useful tools to understand, tohealing path of God's redemptive love. As believers, this book provides useful tools to understand, to minister, and to offer hope to the hurting of sexual abuse. Since sexual abuse is a component of domestic violence, we will incorporate And He Restoreth My Soul as a practical and valuable resource within FOCUS Ministries.Paula SilvaPresident FOCUS Ministries, Inc.

Philip Lee Gardner was born and lived on a farm in Indiana. He is a part of a family of preachers as his father, his three brothers and his brother-in-law as well as he himself were part of the ministry in one phase or another. He graduated from Mays High School in Mays, Indiana and then from Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo. Later he received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree for the work he did in India, Russia and Haiti. His ministries have been for churches with membership from 15 to 1,100. A lot of his time was spent in counseling and helping people working through marital problems.He has personally seen and experienced many of the things he writes about as he has been in more than one marriage. Because of his background he desires to help other people profit from his mistakes. He wants to pass on lessons he has observed others learn, as well as what the scriptures say on the subject. He is not an advocate of a second marriage but he has been there and done that and wants to help others be more successful in following God's plan for the home.