Each and every one of us is driven by our past, present or the unseen future being (positive or negative) depending on the individual choices we make. "He who controls the past also controls the future". However, this book enlightens our mind, refreshes our thoughts, reshapes our behaviour and empowers us to take control over our past in order to create the future we desire. As you read this book, you will discover that it is to your benefit to let go of any past hurts, resentment, bitterness and disappointment and to depend on God who is able to turn your negative situation into positive. The future is only obtained by those who make positive decisions to rise above all limitations by renewing their mind with God's word The future is for those who see potential treasures in trash. The future is created by those who make demands on it and not those who just wish things will happen to them. Perhaps you have given up on yourself because nobody believed in you, trusted you again, or written you off from successful ventures. It does not matter how terrible your background was. Your future is brighter than you think. This book also gives you some biblical characters that were not qualified in the sight of men but God qualified them and used them greatly to fulfil their destiny, impacted the world and influenced the people around them. Jacob was a cheat, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. Now, what's YOUR excuse? Can GOD use you or not? GOD doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the CALLED! Your background is not the ultimate. Nobody can stop you from getting to your destiny except you. God will definitely give you a Tomorrow that will surely make you forget your Yesterday. Let Go and let God take over.

Continuing the extract from the Blog (http: //s201453435.onlinehome. Duane Andry us/); these are More Ravings of a Religious Fanatic. These topics are edgy--while maintaining spiritual accuracy--analyses of religious principles, practices and doctrine: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) Our destination is this: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:14-17) These are tools to strengthen the thrust of the sword of the Spirit. However, you cannot just repeat what you read here; rather, you must also apply Scripture: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) Do not let circumstances push you to the point of accepting mediocrity in worship. Regardless of the challenge that faces you, stay strong in the Lord; keeping the example of the life of the apostle Paul in mind, as a reminder of the grace that allows us to overcome any contrary persuasion. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

Continuing the extract from the Blog (http: //s201453435.onlinehome. Duane Andry us/); these are More Ravings of a Religious Fanatic. These topics are edgy--while maintaining spiritual accuracy--analyses of religious principles, practices and doctrine: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) Our destination is this: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:14-17) These are tools to strengthen the thrust of the sword of the Spirit. However, you cannot just repeat what you read here; rather, you must also apply Scripture: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) Do not let circumstances push you to the point of accepting mediocrity in worship. Regardless of the challenge that faces you, stay strong in the Lord; keeping the example of the life of the apostle Paul in mind, as a reminder of the grace that allows us to overcome any contrary persuasion. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

"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.

Why are some marriages more successful, more satisfying, and more enduring than others?

The answer to this question is perhaps the most widely studied and best-known part of our marriage and family-therapy literature, although arguably, it is the least understood and certainly the least followed in terms of avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unsuccessful marriages. What this book proposes as an answer to this question is the nearest thing we have to a manifesto for marriage and family living. It provides us with a clear description of what married life should be like. No words or ideas sum up the intention of this manifesto better or indicate more clearly its challenge to contemporary marriages than the words "making marriage user-friendly."

Why are some marriages more successful, more satisfying, and more enduring than others?

The answer to this question is perhaps the most widely studied and best-known part of our marriage and family-therapy literature, although arguably, it is the least understood and certainly the least followed in terms of avoiding the pitfalls that lead to unsuccessful marriages. What this book proposes as an answer to this question is the nearest thing we have to a manifesto for marriage and family living. It provides us with a clear description of what married life should be like. No words or ideas sum up the intention of this manifesto better or indicate more clearly its challenge to contemporary marriages than the words "making marriage user-friendly."

Do you have a dream? Are you pursuing it? Is there a man in your life who has a dream, but they are simply waiting for it to happen? This book may be just the inspiration that you or that special someone needs. In "So You Have a Dream...Now What? A Man's Guide to Dream Pursuit.," Michael Ford II discusses practical ways to move closer to dream fulfillment while applying scriptural references that will help dreamers in their pursuit. Within the pages of this brief, yet engaging manuscript, you will find humor, personal testimonies, and inspiring dialogue that will certainly help any reader propel themselves to the fulfillment of their dreams; all while pleasing God in the process. The first step in the process is opening this book. Go ahead; turn the page and begin the journey.

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

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.

"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.

Do you have a dream? Are you pursuing it? Is there a man in your life who has a dream, but they are simply waiting for it to happen? This book may be just the inspiration that you or that special someone needs. In "So You Have a Dream...Now What? A Man's Guide to Dream Pursuit.," Michael Ford II discusses practical ways to move closer to dream fulfillment while applying scriptural references that will help dreamers in their pursuit. Within the pages of this brief, yet engaging manuscript, you will find humor, personal testimonies, and inspiring dialogue that will certainly help any reader propel themselves to the fulfillment of their dreams; all while pleasing God in the process. The first step in the process is opening this book. Go ahead; turn the page and begin the journey.

Are you depressed? Do you feel hopeless? Do you feel distant from God?

There are many Christians who suffer from depression, but many feel alone in their struggle with it. There is still much stigma attached to the illness of depression, but this stigma is two-fold for Christians. They have stigma attached to them not only from society as a whole, but also in the place where they are supposed to find support and understanding-the church.

Those suffering from depression may see the cause of their depression attributed to being weak, not being a good Christian, not having enough faith, or having some hidden sin. If a Christian is receiving care through a community agency that provides counseling, psychiatric services, or case management services, there is a tendency to find limited support for their Christian views or encouragement from the Bible.

In this guide, author Derrin Drake relies on his twelve years of work experience in the mental health field as well as the Bible to provide hope, encouragement, stability, and direction through the illness of depression. Regardless of where a person is at in dealing with the illness of depression, "Hope Is Not Lost: Staying Connected with God in the Midst of Depression" can help you once again feel connected to God, find encouragement, find strength, and find hope for the journey.

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

God Created Sex is a candid study on human sexuality from a Biblical perspective. Secular society has misused, abused, and perverted sex to the point that it is an embarrassment to mention the word. Yet it is God that created sex. God intended intimacy to be enjoyed within the bonds of marriage. The Bible speaks on every aspect of human sexuality. This book is necessary information for every marriage couple and spiritual leader. If you have unanswered questions about sex, this book is for you.

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.

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

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

The text before you is an effort by the author to identify the reasons why counseling fails. He judged through his experience that too many counselees were simply walking away from counseling. They stated there had been no growth, or change, only dissatisfaction with their "life in Christ." Thus, there seemed to be a "missing" ingredient. Following a study of the principal themes of Proverbs the author become certain about what was lacking. He determined that his clients were working without 'The Fear of the Lord." Their approach lacked a sincere reverence for God and few desired to make Him preeminent. Thus failure was certain. "The Fear of the Lord" is the means by which wisdom, knowledge and understanding is bestowed; humility is gained and true charity becomes the practice of the Believer's life. Not until one truly makes God preeminent does real, biblical change: sanctification, satisfaction and true joy, become possible.

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.

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.