"Destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality" ( "Los Angeles Times" )-- "Tattoos on the Heart" is a series of parables about kinship and redemption from pastor, activist, and renowned speaker, Father Gregory Boyle--now in paperback.
For twenty years, Father Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles--also known as the gang capital of the world. In "Tattoos on the Heart," he has distilled his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith.
From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JC Penney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God's love. From ten-year-old Pipi we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Lulu we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the dark--as Father Boyle phrases it, we can only shine a flashlight on a light switch in a darkened room.
This is a motivating look at how to stay faithful in spite of failure, how to meet the world with a loving heart, and how to conquer shame with boundless, restorative love.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the injustices that we see in the world. We don't know what to do and might think that we don't have anything to offer. But by using our gifts in collaboration with others, we can do more together than we ever could on our own. Activist Terence Lester knows it's hard to change the world. But mobilizing and acting together empowers us to do what we can't do as isolated individuals. Lester looks at the obstacles that prevent us from getting involved, and he offers practical ways that we can accomplish things together as groups, families, churches, and communities. He helps us find our place in the larger picture, discerning the unique ways we can contribute and make a difference. By connecting with our neighbors and discovering our own paths of service, we can drastically change how we follow Christ and see God moving in the world. Togetherness and community give visible testimony of the power of the gospel. In this broken world, the body of Christ can transform society-when we stand together.

Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Constructs assists researchers and practitioners by identifying and reviewing the best scales/measures for a variety of constructs. Each chapter discusses test validity, reliability, and utility. Authors have focused on the most often used and cited scales/measures, with a particular emphasis on those published in recent years. Each scale is identified and described, the sample on which it was developed is summarized, and reliability and validity data are presented, followed by presentation of the scale, in full or in part, where such permission has been obtained. Measures fall into five broad groups. The emotional disposition section reviews measures of general affective tendencies, and/or cognitive dispositions closely linked to emotion. These measures include hope and optimism, anger and hostility, life satisfaction, self-esteem, confidence, and affect dimensions. Emotion regulation scales go beyond general dispositions to measure factors that may contribute to understanding and managing emotions. These measures include alexithymia, empathy, resiliency, coping, sensation seeking, and ability and trait emotional intelligence. The interpersonal styles section introduces some traditional social-psychological themes in the context of personality assessment. These measures include adult attachment, concerns with public image and social evaluation, and forgiveness. The vices and virtues section reflects adherence to moral standards as an individual characteristic shaped by sociocultural influences and personality. These measures include values and moral personality, religiosity, dark personalities (Machiavellianism,narcissism, and subclinical psychopathy), and perfectionism. The sociocultural interaction and conflict section addresses relationships between different groups and associated attitudes. These measures include cross-cultural values, personality and beliefs, intergroup contact, stereotyping and prejudice, attitudes towards sexual orientation, and personality across cultures.

Como luchar contra la desesperanza e interactuar con el mundo con un corazon bondadoso? Como superar la verguenza y tener fe a pesar del fracaso? Sin importar en donde vivamos o cuales sean nuestras circunstancias, todos necesitamos un amor ilimitado y restaurador. Magnifico y reconfortante, "Tatuajes en el corazon "demuestra ampliamente el impacto que puede tener el amor incondicional en nuestras vidas.
En su condicion de parroco que trabaja en el vecindario con la mayor concentracion de actividad pandillera y criminal en Los Angeles, Gregory Boyle ha creado una organizacion para ofrecer empleos, capacitacion laboral y estimulos para que los jovenes puedan trabajar juntos y aprender el respeto mutuo proveniente de la colaboracion. "Tatuajes en el corazon "es una impresionante serie de parabolas producto de sus experiencias con personas del barrio durante las dos ultimas decadas. Clasificados por temas y llenos de humor fresco y generosidad abundante, estos ensayos nos ofrecen una vision conmovedora sobre la forma tan plena en que podemos vivir nuestras vidas si encontramos la alegria en amar a los demas y en ser amados incondicionalmente. De Cesar, el joven enorme y lleno de tatuajes haciendo compras en JCPenney recien salido de la prision, aprendemos a sentirnos dignos del amor de Dios. De Lula, el chico de diez anos, aprendemos la importancia de ser conocidos y aceptados. De Pedro, entendemos el tipo de paciencia necesaria para rescatar a alguien de la oscuridad. En cada capitulo recibimos el regalo de la sabiduria maravillosa y duramente lograda por Boyle.
Estos ensayos eruditos, realistas y completamente alentadores que discurren sobre la hermandad y la redencion, son ejemplos reconfortantes del poder que tiene el amor incondicional en los tiempos dificiles y de la importancia absoluta de luchar contra la desesperanza. Gracias a la orientacion de Gregory Boyle, podemos reconocer nuestras propias heridas en las vidas fracturadas y en las luchas descomunales de los hombres y las mujeres que figuran en estas parabolas, para aprender a encontrar la alegria en todas las personas que hay a nuestro alrededor. "Tatuajes en el corazon "nos hace recordar que ninguna vida vale menos que otra.